双语灵修（葛培理牧师）：10月30日 荣耀盼望

10月30日

荣耀盼望

我为这福音受苦难，甚至被捆绑，像犯人一样；然而神的道，却不被捆绑。所以我为选民凡事忍耐，叫他们也可以得着那在基督耶稣里的救恩，和永远的荣耀。……我们若能忍耐，也必和祂一同作王；我们若不认祂，祂也必不认我们。

提摩太后书2:9-10,12

从某种意义上说，基督是一位流亡的君王，我们这些跟随祂的人常常被人讥笑。在这种境况中与祂认同，难免有些“丢面子”并要受逼迫。但有一天，我们将要成为“君王和祭司”，并得以在祂的国度里有份。

保罗说：“我想现在的苦楚，若比起将来要显于我们的荣耀，就不足介意了。受造之物，切望等候神的众子显出来。”（罗马书8:18-19）。当他说这话时，一定想到了这个事实。

如果我们蒙召一生受苦，这与永恒相比并不算什么。我们是一大片产业的承受人，我们乐意忍受些许的苦难与穷乏，盼望能很快得到那美好的产业。如此荣耀的盼望为现今的苦楚蒙上了一层光环。

当我们在苦楚中意识到自己是王的儿女时，对生命就不会失去热情。怨言变得愚蠢；以世俗为友显得不相配；爱、温柔和谦卑成为崇高的标志。“万事”均可泰然处之；重担成为化妆的祝福；每道伤口就像一次成功的手术，要叫我们得益处；每个十字架上都镌刻着王冠的标记。

每日祷告：

天父，我们生命中所发生每一件事，都有祢的美意。求祢引导、帮助我们，荣耀祢的圣名；奉耶稣的名，阿们。

October 30

HOPE HANGS A HALO

Wherein I suffer trouble,as an evildoer,even unto bonds;but the word of God is not bound.Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sake,that they may also obtain salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.If we suffer,we shall also reign with him:if we deny him,he also will deny us.2 Timothy 2:9-10,12

In a sense,Christ is a King in exile,and we who are His followers are often looked upon with derision.To be identified with Him here and now quite naturally entails some“loss of face,”some persecution;but someday,we are told,we shall be“kings and priests”and shall be active participators in His Kingdom.

Paul must have had this fact in mind when he said,“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God”(Romans 8:18-19).

If we should be called upon to suffer all our lives,it would not be long compared to eternity.We are in the position of heirs to a large estate who gladly endure a few days of suffering and privation with the hope that we shall soon come into our fabulous inheritance.Such a glorious hope hangs a halo over the drab existence of the here and now.

Life cannot lose its zest when down underneath our present discomfort is the knowledge that we are children of a King.Complaining becomes foolish;behaving in the manner of the world is unworthy;and love,gentleness,and meekness become the hallmark of God’s nobility.“All things”are taken in stride;burdens become blessings in disguise;every wound,like good surgery,is for our good;and etched in every cross is the symbol of a crown.

Pray for the Day:

Father,everything that happens in our life is for Your good purpose.Lead us and help us to glorify Your Name;in Jesus’Name,Amen.