双语灵修（葛培理牧师）：11月2日 颠倒世界

11月2日

颠倒世界

凡立志在基督耶稣里敬虔度日的，也都要受逼迫。

提摩太后书3:12

这是一条属灵的律，像万有引力定律一样千古不变。我们必须牢牢记住这个事实：我们生活在一个是非颠倒的世界：该爱的时候却恨；该友善的时候却争吵；该和平相处的时候却打斗；该医治的时候却伤害；该分享的时候却偷窃；该做对的时候却做错。

我曾见过一个小丑玩具，它脑袋里装有重物，无论如何摆放，它总是处于倒立的状态。你可以把它放成站着的姿势，或者把它侧身放着；但是只要一松开它，它又变回倒立的姿势。

我们重生之前，就是这样的状态！无论环境如何，我们总会回到颠倒的状态。从小到大，我们总是倾向于做不该做的事，该做的事却不做。这就是我们的本性。我们的脑袋太重了，心里却没有足够的分量平衡，所以一旦放任自流，我们就会颠倒过来。

这就是为什么门徒似乎与这个世界格格不入。对于一个颠倒的人来说，正面朝上的人似乎是颠倒过来的。对非信徒来说，真正的基督徒是怪人、另类。基督徒的善良是对他人邪恶的定罪；他的正面朝上是对世人颠倒位置的倒影。所以冲突是自然会有的，逼迫也是难免的。

今日祷告：

天父，当逼迫临到的时候，求祢帮助我忠心顺服，毫不动摇；奉耶稣的名，阿们。

November 2

RIGHT–SIDE–UP IN AN UPSIDE–DOWN World

All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.2 Timothy 3:12

This is a spiritual law which is as unchangeable as the law of gravity.We must get this fact firmly fixed in our minds:We live in an upside-down world.People hate when they should love;they quarrel when they should be friendly;they fight when they should be peaceful;they wound when they should heal;they steal when they should share;they do wrong when they should do right.

I once saw a toy clown with a weight in its head.No matter how it was placed,it invariably assumed an upside-down position.It could be placed on its feet or on its side,and when let go it flipped back on its head.

In our unregenerate state we are just like that!Regardless of the circumstances,we always revert to an upside-down position.From childhood to maturity we are always prone to do what we should not do and to refrain from doing what we ought to do.That is our nature.We have too much weight in the head and not enough ballast in our hearts,so we flip upside down when left alone.

That is why the disciples seemed to be misfits to the world.To an upside-down man,a right-side-up man seems upside down.To the nonbeliever,the true Christian is an oddity and an abnormality.A Christian’s goodness is a rebuke to another’s wickedness;his being right-side-up is a reflection upon the worldling’s inverted position.So the conflict is a natural one.And persecution is inevitable.

Pray for the Day:

Father,when persecution comes,help me to be faithful and obedient,without wavering;in Jesus’Name,Amen.