百煉成鋼 2013年 07月 16日 讀經: 格林多後書12章1-10節 我的能力是在人的軟弱上顯得完全。 —格林多後書12章9節 全年讀經: 聖詠16-17篇 宗徒大事錄20章1-16節 鑽石是炫麗而貴重的寶石，但它一開始只是普通的碳：黝黑、骯髒、易燃。然而，經過千百年的高溫和高壓，黑炭變得純淨而堅硬。鑽石的形成是屬靈力量很好的比喻。上主用強烈的外在力量，除去我們的雜質，並在我們身上顯出祂完全的能力。 使徒保祿說，上主的能力是在我們的軟弱上顯得完全（格林多後書12章9節）。我真希望這並非事實，因為我憎恨軟弱。在化療與放射治療中，我體會了超乎想像的身體虛弱。然後，一件小事竟也讓我的情緒猝不及防地跌入低谷。原本一個剪壞了的髮型應該是無足輕重，但在我掉了三英尺的長髮，頂著光頭將近一年後，頭髮剪壞了對我來說簡直是大事，使我覺得自己的過度反應真是愚蠢。我們當中有些人能製造出堅強自信的幻覺，但是突然失去健康、工作或所珍愛的人，都強而有力地提醒我們，應當完全倚靠天父上主。 當我們經歷苦難的烈火時，無論是身體上或情緒上的，無論是外來的迫害或內心的屈辱，讓我們謹記，上主慈愛的目的是要使我們純淨和堅強。 主用試煉烈火， 鑄我百煉成鋼； 教我從祂得力， 不靠自己力量。 苦難是上主用以熬煉與堅固我們的爐火。 1若必須誇耀──固然無益──我就來說說主的顯現和啟示。 1It is useless to boast; but if I have to, I will go on to some visions and revelations of the Lord. 2我知道有一個在基督內的人，十四年前，被提到三層天上去──或在身內，我不知道，或在身外，我也不知道，惟天主知道── 2I know a certain Christian: fourteen years ago he was taken up to the third heaven. 3我知道這人──或在身內，或在身外，我不知道，天主知道── 3Whether in the body or out of the body, I do not know, God knows. But I know that this man, whether in the body or out of the body - I do not know, God knows - 4他被提到樂園裡去，聽到了不可言傳的話，是人不能說出的。 4was taken up to Paradise where he heard words that cannot be told: things which humans cannot express. 5對這樣的人，我要誇耀；但為我自己，除了我的軟弱外，我沒有可誇耀的。 5Of that man I can indeed boast, but of myself I will not boast except of my weaknesses. 6其實，即使我願意誇耀，我也不算是狂妄，因為我說的是實話；但是，我絕口不談，免得有人估計我，超過了他在我身上所見到的，或由我所聽到的。 6If I wanted to boast, it would not be foolish of me, for I would speak the truth. 7免得我因那高超的啟示而過於高舉自己，故此在身體上給了我一根剌，就是撒殫的使者來拳擊我，免得我過於高舉自己。 7However, I better give up lest somebody think more of me than what is seen in me or heard from me. Lest I become proud after so many and extraordinary revelations, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a true messenger of Satan, to slap me in the face. 8關於這事，我曾三次求主使它脫離我； 8Three times I prayed to the Lord that it leave me, 9但主對我說：「有我的恩寵為你夠了，因為我的德能在軟弱中纔全顯出來。」所以我甘心情願誇耀我的軟弱，好叫基督的德能常在我身上。 9but he answered, "My grace is enough for you; my great strength is revealed in weakness." Gladly, then, will I boast of my weakness that the strength of Christ may be mine. 10為此，我為基督的緣故，喜歡在軟弱中，在凌辱中，在艱難中，在迫害中，在困苦中，因為我幾時軟弱，正是我有能力的時候。 10So I rejoice when I suffer infirmities, humiliations, want, persecutions: all for Christ! For when I am weak, then I am strong. Hard Way To Strength July 16, 2013 Diamonds are beautiful and valuable gemstones, but their beginning is common carbon—black, dirty, and combustible. Through years of intense heat and high pressure, they become pure and strong. This makes them a good metaphor for spiritual strength; God uses intense outside forces to rid us of impurities and to perfect His strength in us. God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness, says the apostle Paul (2 Cor. 12:9). I wish this were not true because I hate being weak. Chemotherapy and radiation treatments taught me more than I ever wanted to know about physical weakness. Then a minor event plunged me into a state of emotional weakness that caught me off guard. After losing 3 feet of hair and being bald for nearly a year, one bad haircut should not have been a big deal. But it was, and I felt silly for being so weak. Some of us are able to create an illusion of strength and self-sufficiency. But sudden loss of health, employment, or a treasured relationship is a startling reminder of our total dependence on God. When we experience the fiery furnace of suffering—whether physical or emotional, whether persecution from without or humiliation from within—God’s loving purpose is to make us pure and strong. God uses testing in our lives To rid us of impurity And teach us that our strength’s in Him And not in self-sufficiency. —Sper Suffering is the fire that God uses to purify and strengthen us.
Posted on: Tue, 16 Jul 2013 04:45:03 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015