2009年2月2日 星期一

2009-02-02 Devotionals Today

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青草地上


受苦之際仍不忘關心別人

粵語 國語

第2天


讀經:   哥林多後書一章1至11節
你有沒有留意到,保羅在這段經文中用了甚麼措辭來描述他的經歷?有患難、痛楚、苦難、壓力、絕望和致命的危險。由此可見,那並非單一的事件,而是接二連三的經歷。保羅沒有向我們細述每次事件,但他卻突顯了一個無容置疑的事實,就是基督徒也會受苦;保羅本人也為著基督的緣故而多受苦難。

基督徒為甚麼要受苦呢?理由可以有很多,但保羅在這?指出了受苦的其中一個目的,就是基督徒遭遇苦難,可使他更懂得安慰其他在苦難中的人。

高比思(Fanny Crobsy)寫過很多優美的詩歌。當她講述她童年時,如何因醫生的誤診而導致失明時,她曾經說道:「這個錯誤令那個醫生一生遺憾。誠然,這個不幸可能因醫生的過失造成,但是,神卻是不會弄錯的。我真心相信神的心意是要我在黑暗中生活,以致我能更懂得唱詩讚美祂,並鼓勵其他人頌讚祂。」

患難和壓力對保羅造成甚麼影響呢?第9節告訴我們,它們驅使他更親近神。他從中學會了倚靠神而不再依仗自己,這使他對神的信心不斷加增。要是神能夠帶領他經過那些患難,那麼,祂必能帶領他度過任何境況了(10節)。

同樣地,我們遭遇的每一個經歷,都應該促使我們更信靠神和祂的應許。我們的信心並不是單單建基在人生經歷上,而是要以神自己和祂的話語作為基礎。

此外,我們還得留意,保羅認定朋友的代禱對他很有幫助(11節),他經常提及這些代禱對他來說是何等重要。有沒有朋友急需你的代禱呢?何不今天就禱告紀念他們?在神的恩手帶領下,你的代禱可能會為其他信徒帶來合時的鼓勵和幫助。讓我們就從今天開始!

你今天可以為誰代禱呢?

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SUFFERING BUT STILL CARING
Day 2


Bible Reading:   2 Corinthians 1:1-11
SUFFERING BUT STILL CARING

Do you notice the words Paul used in these verses to describe his experiences? Troubles, sufferings, distress, hardships, pressure, despair and deadly peril - that is quite a list. We are not told the various situations Paul was referring to but it underlines the undeniable fact that Christians can and do suffer. Paul certainly did, for Christ's sake.

Why do Christians suffer? There are many reasons. Here Paul states (v.4) that one purpose of suffering in a Christian worker's (or in any Christian's) life is to make him or her able to comfort others.

The hymn-writer Fanny Crosby told how a doctor mistakenly placed the wrong medication in her eyes when she was very young. Later Fanny Crosby said, "That error was one of the great sorrows of his life. It may have been a blunder on his part, but it was no mistake on God's. I really believe it was God's intention that I should live my days in physical darkness so as to be better prepared to sing His praises and help others to do so."

What had suffering and pressure done to Paul? Verse 9 tells us that it had driven him back to God. He had learned to rely on Him and not on himself. It had increased his faith in God. If God could bring him through those experiences, God could bring him through anything (v.1 0).

In the same way every experience should strengthen our faith in God and in His promises. Faith must not be based on experience alone. It must rest firmly on God and on His Word.

Notice also that Paul acknowledged (v.11) the help of his friends' prayers. He often spoke of what they meant to him. Is there someone in need for whom you should be praying? Why not remember them today? Your prayer may be the means under God's hand for their encouragement or their deliverance. Do it today.

WHO ARE YOU PRAYING FOR TODAY?

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