Category: 260灵修

第十一章

¹⁶   我再說，誰也不要以為我是愚昧的；就算這樣，也要接納我這個愚昧的人，使我可以稍微地誇口。   ¹⁷   我這樣滿有自信地誇口，不是照著主所吩咐的，而是好像愚昧人在說話。   ¹⁸   既然有許多人按著世俗的標準誇口，我也要誇口。   ¹⁹   你們那麼精明，竟然樂意容忍愚昧的人。   ²⁰   如果有人奴役你們，侵吞、榨取你們，向你們趾高氣揚，打你們的臉，你們就容忍吧！   ²¹   說來慚愧，我們太軟弱了。說句愚昧的話，如果有人在甚麼事上是勇敢的，我也是勇敢的。   ²²   他們是希伯來人嗎？我也是。他們是以色列人嗎？我也是。他們是亞伯拉罕的後裔嗎？我也是。   ²³   他們是基督的僕人嗎？說句狂話，我更是。我受更多的勞苦，更多的坐監，受了過量的鞭打，常常有生命的危險。   ²⁴  我被猶太人打過五次，每次四十下減去一下，   ²⁵   被棍打過三次，被石頭打過一次，三次遇著船壞，在深海裡飄了一晝一夜；   ²⁶   多次行遠路，遇著江河的危險、強盜的危險、同族的危險、外族的危險、城中的危險、曠野的危險、海上的危險、假弟兄的危險；   ²⁷   勞碌辛苦，多次不得睡覺，又飢又渴，多次缺糧，赤身挨冷。   ²⁸   除了這些外面的事，還有為各教會掛心的事，天天壓在我的身上。   ²⁹   有誰軟弱，我不軟弱呢？有誰陷在罪裡，我不焦急呢？   ³⁰   如果必須誇口，我就誇自己的弱點。   ³¹   主耶穌的父　神是應當永遠受稱頌的，他知道我沒有說謊。   ³²   在大馬士革，亞里達王手下的總督把守著大馬士革城，要拘捕我，   ³³   我就被人放在一個大籃子裡，從城牆的窗戶縋下來，逃脫了他的手。

 

默想

1. 慢慢地讀這段經文，處身其中，好像親自經歷這些苦難，風暴、監牢、被打、被搶、饑寒交加、無眠無休、各樣危險。這樣一個偉大的屬靈領袖的履歷，與今天社會上所訴求的領袖，有何不同？
2. 神今天仍然在尋找軟弱的人，好在他們身上來彰顯神的能力。我要這份福氣嗎？

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在“靈程筆記”簿上面。

 

 

CHAPTER 11

¹ I hope you will put up with me in a little foolishness. Yes, please put up with me! ² I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. ³ But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. ⁴ For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.

⁵ I do not think I am in the least inferior to those “super-apostles.”^{. 6} I may indeed be untrained as a speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way. ⁷ Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge? ⁸ I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. ⁹ And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so. ¹⁰ As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, nobody in the regions of Achaia will stop this boasting of mine. ¹¹ Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!

 

MEDITATION

1. Both Jesus’ and Paul’s gentleness was misunderstood as weakness.  How has that resulted in blessing (Mt 5:5)?  Where, in my life, do I need to embrace their example right now?
2. God is still looking for “weak” people in whom to display His strength.  Am I willing to “apply” for the job?

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

第十章

1我保羅與你們見面的時候是謙卑的，不在你們那裡的時候，卻是放膽的。現在我親自以基督的謙遜溫柔勸你們，2求你們使我在你們那裡的時候，不要滿有自信地放膽對你們，我認為要以這樣的自信，勇敢地對付那些以為我們是照著世俗的標準（「世俗的標準」原文作「肉體」）行事的人。3我們雖然在世上行事，卻不是按照世俗的方式作戰，4因為我們作戰所用的兵器，不是屬於這世界的，而是在神面前有能力的，可以攻陷堅固的堡壘，5攻破詭辯，和做來阻擋人認識神的一切高牆，並且把一切心意奪回來，順服基督。6我們已經準備好了，等你們完全順服的時候，就懲罰所有不順從的人。⁷   你們看事情，只看表面。如果有人自信是屬於基督的，他就應該再想一想：他是屬於基督的，同樣，我們也是屬於基督的。   ⁸   主把權柄賜給我們，是為了要造就你們，不是要破壞你們，就算我為這權柄誇口過分了一點，也不會覺得慚愧。

 

默想：

1. 從保羅的榜樣看，信徒作領袖的應怎樣來帶領別人？在1—10的衡量表上，我在帶領弟兄姐妹的事上是否有基督的謙卑和溫柔？
2. 這個禮拜中，我可以做些什麼，表示我願意建立（造就）其他信徒？

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在“靈程筆記”簿上面。

CHAPTER 10

¹By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” when away! ²I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. ³For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. ⁴The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. ⁵We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. ⁶And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.

⁷You are looking only on the surface of things. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as he. ⁸For even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than pulling you down, I will not be ashamed of it.

 

MEDITATION

1. From Paul’s example here, what is supposed to be the “normal” way Christians exercise leadership over one another?  On a scale from 1 – 10, how well do I demonstrate Christ’s gentleness and meekness in leading others?
2. What will I work on this week that demonstrates my interest in building people up?

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

第九章

6還有，少種的少收，多種的多收。7各人要照著心裡所決定的捐輸，不要為難，不必勉強，因為捐得樂意的人，是神所喜愛的。8神能把各樣的恩惠多多地加給你們，使你們凡事常常充足，多作各樣的善事。9如經上所說：「他廣施錢財，賙濟窮人；他的仁義，存到永遠。」10但那賜種子給撒種的，又賜食物給人吃的神，必定把種子加倍地供給你們，也必增添你們的義果。11你們既然凡事富裕，就可以慷慨地捐輸，使眾人藉著我們，對神生出感謝的心。¹²   因為這供應的事，不僅補足了聖徒的缺乏，也使許多人對　神感謝的心格外增多。   ¹³   眾聖徒因為你們承認和服從了基督的福音，並且慷慨地捐輸給他們和眾人，藉著你們在這供應的事上所得的憑據，就把榮耀歸給　神。   ¹⁴   因著　神在你們身上的厚恩，他們就為你們禱告，切切地想念你們。   ¹⁵   感謝　神，他的恩賜難以形容。

 

默想

1. 神「給」，因為他「愛世人」。沒有任何給予的實例，比神將愛子主耶穌賜給我們，更崇高偉大。我們能像祂那樣給嗎？自由地、犧牲地、並喜悅地？哥林多教會留給我們一個好榜樣，保羅給他們寫道：我們的錢財是我們的延伸，唯一能夠使我們歡喜地捐獻，就是出于愛的給予。任何其他理由都會使給予者毫無喜樂。沒有喜樂的給予對基督的國度沒有什麼作用，對我們自己也沒好處。（看林前13：3）
2. 保羅提醒哥林多信徒以及我們，樂意捐獻的福氣：（1）捐獻使我們在物質和屬靈上都蒙福（8，10節）（2）捐獻使我們能祝福他人（11，12節）（3）捐獻激勵他人為我們禱告（13，14節）。
3. 我的捐獻是否是臨時心血來潮，還是事先計劃好的？我是個快樂的捐獻者，還是勉強捐獻者？我有沒有得到保羅提到的幾種捐獻的福氣？？在捐獻的事上，我是否需要從新調整？

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在“靈程筆記”簿上面。

 

 

CHAPTER 9

⁶Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. ⁷Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. ⁹As it is written:    “He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” ¹⁰Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. ¹¹You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.   ¹²This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. ¹³Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. ¹⁴And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. ¹⁵Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

MEDITATION

1. God gave His Son because he “so loved the world”.  There is no higher motive for Christian giving than the example God set for us when he gave his only Son.  Can we give like he did – freely and sacrificially, even delightfully?  Yes, in fact, Corinthian church is one fine example.  It was to that church that Paul wrote of the highest motive for giving.  Our money is an extension of ourselves, he argued.  If the money we give isn’t delightfully given, it’s because we aren’t delightful givers.  The only way we’re going to give delightfully is to give out of LOVE.  Any other motive leaves one joyless.  In the long run, joyless giving does little good for Christ’s kingdom – and nothing for us (see 1 Cor 13:3)
2. Paul reminded the Corinthians and us of the blessings that make Christians giving such a joy.  (1) Giving benefits us materially and spiritually. (vv8, 10)    (2) Giving permits us to bless others.(vv11,12)  (3) Giving stimulates others to pray for us.(vv13, 14)
3. Do I give compulsively or with careful planning?  Am I a joyful giver, or a reluctant one?  Have I received the blessings Paul talked about?  In all the causes that I donate, is there a need for adjustment?

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

²³因為人人都犯了罪，虧缺了神的榮耀，²⁴但他們卻因著神的恩典，藉著在基督耶穌裡的救贖，就白白地稱義。²⁵神設立了耶穌為贖罪祭（“贖罪祭”原文作“蔽罪所”），是憑著他的血，藉著人的信，為的是要顯明神的義；因為神用忍耐的心寬容了人從前所犯的罪，²⁶好在現今顯明他的義，使人知道他自己為義，又稱信耶穌的人為義。²⁷這樣，有甚麼可誇的呢？沒有可誇的了。憑甚麼準則說沒有的呢？憑行為嗎？不是的，而是以信心為準則說的。²⁸因為我們認定，人稱義是由於信，並不是靠行律法。  28因為我們認定，人稱義是由於信，並不是靠行律法。

 

默想：

1. 一群死刑犯，他們都犯了該死的罪，被判了刑，等候神忿怒的刑罰。他們靜默地坐在黝黑的監牢裡，所有的希望都破滅。但是，突然，牢房門打開了，黝黯變為光明，死亡成為生命，捆鎖變為自由。有一個聲音告訴他們：“你們被赦了！”這段經文告訴我們，這就是我們的光景；但是我如何獲赦的？為什麼會這樣呢？
2. 在我的信仰旅程中，我曾經如何經歷過神的恩典？這個經歷對我現在的生活有什麼影響？

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在“靈程筆記”簿上面。

 

Chapter 3

²³for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. ²⁵God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— ²⁶he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

²⁷Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith. ²⁸For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.

 

Meditation

1. Like prisoners on death row, all people are guilty, condemned and awaiting the execution of God’s wrath. They sit silently in the miserable darkness of their cell, all hope extinguished.  Then abruptly, the door swings open and darkness becomes light, death becomes life, and bondage becomes freedom. “You are pardoned,” a voice tells them.  But how? Why? This passage tells us that this is exactly our situation.  But how did I get pardoned?  Why would it happen?
2. When did the message of God’s grace become real to me?  What impact is it having on my life right now?

 

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

第八章

1弟兄們，我現在把神賜給馬其頓眾教會的恩典告訴你們：2他們在患難中受到極大的考驗的時候，他們滿溢的喜樂和極度的貧乏，匯流出豐厚的慷慨來。3我可以作證，他們是按著能力，並且是超過了能力，4自動地再三懇求我們，准許他們在供應聖徒的事上有分。5他們超過了我們所期望的，照著神的旨意，先把自己獻給主，然後獻給我們。6因此，我們勉勵提多，既然開始了這慈善的事，就應當在你們那裡把這事辦好。7你們在一切事上，就如信心、口才、知識、熱情和愛我們的心，既然都是富足的，那麼，在這慈善的事上，也要顯出你們是富足的。

8我這樣說，不是吩咐你們，而是藉著別人的熱心來考驗你們的愛心是否真實。9你們是知道我們的主耶穌基督的恩典的：他本來富足，卻為你們成了貧窮，要使你們因他的貧窮成為富足。

 

默想

1. 生活在物質主義的社會中，我們很容易就被“獲有慾”所控制 — 去爭取、收藏、看管，就像那個建造倉房的財主，很快連靈魂也失去。“給予”是向「物質追求」的抗衡。聖經教導的「給予」是先將收入的一部分奉獻給神。奉獻的基礎是本于神：若神不先賜我們土地來耕種、體力來勞動、頭腦去思想、社區來工作、生活，我們所有努力的血汗都不會有任何成果。我們所有的一切都是來自神，陽光雨水、豐收繁殖、力量健康，都是來自神。「奉獻」就是承認這個事實，是尊敬祂并感謝祂的方式。
2. 我是否常存感恩的心來奉獻？

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在“靈程筆記”簿上面。

 

CHAPTER 8

¹And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. ²Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. ³For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, ⁴they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. ⁵And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will. ⁶So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. ⁷But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

⁸I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. ⁹For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

MEDITATION

1. Living in a materialistic society, we can easily become dominated by a spirit of acquisition – of getting and storing and then guarding what we’ve gotten and stored. The biblical practice of giving is an offering of a portion of the fruits of our labour to God.  The offering is based upon the conviction that we would have gotten nothing from all our sweat and exertion if God hadn’t first given us the ground to use, the muscles to work, a brain to think, and a community to live and be employed in.  Everything comes to us as a gift from God.  Sunshine and rain.  Fruitfulness and fertility.  Strength and health.  They are all from God.  Our offering is an acknowledgment of that.  It’s a way of honouring him and giving thanks to him.
2. Do I always give with a thankful heart?

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

第七章

8雖然我在那封信上使你們憂傷，但我現在並不後悔；其實我曾經有點後悔，因為知道那封信使你們憂傷，雖然只是暫時的。9現在我快樂，不是因為你們憂傷，而是因為你們的憂傷帶來了悔改。你們依照神的意思憂傷，凡事就不會因我們受到虧損。10因為依照神的意思而有的憂傷，可以生出沒有懊悔的悔改，以致得救；世俗的憂傷卻會招致死亡。11看哪，你們依照神的意思憂傷，在你們中間就產生了怎樣的熱情、申訴、憤慨、戰兢、渴望、熱誠、正義；你們在各方面都表明了自己在那事上是清白的。12因此，從前我雖然寫過信給你們，卻不是為了那虧負人的，也不是為了那受害的，而是在神面前把你們對我們的熱情，向你們顯現出來。13因此，我們得了安慰。在這安慰之外，我們因提多的喜樂就更加歡喜，因為他的心從你們眾人那裡得到暢快。

 

默想

1. 世人的傷心是一種“很難過，我被抓到了”的難過；也為自己，和現在要付的後果難過。屬神的傷痛是為做錯的事而懊悔 — 力求從錯誤中轉回。這樣，才會帶來屬靈的見識和成熟。
2. 我有沒有曾經經歷過這種深度的屬神的憂傷？是為自己？是為別人？

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在“靈程筆記”簿上面。

 

CHAPTER 7

⁸Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— ⁹yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. ¹⁰Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. ¹¹See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. ¹²So even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did the wrong or of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are. ¹³By all this we are encouraged.

MEDITATION

1. The world’s sorrow is an “I’m sorry I got caught” kind of sorrow.  The individual is sorry for himself, and the consequences he now has to pay.  Godly sorrow is grief about the original act, and repentance – a commitment to turn from wrongdoing and to turn back toward God.  We grieve, like Isaiah does in Isaiah 6, not only for ourselves, but also because we belong to a people who are sinful.  With this comes spiritual insight and maturity.
2. Have I ever experienced this deep godly grief, for myself, or for others?

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

第六章

14你們和不信的人不可共負一軛，義和不法有甚麼相同呢？光明和黑暗怎能相通呢？15基督和彼列（「彼列」是撒但的別名）怎能和諧呢？信的和不信的有甚麼聯繫呢？16神的殿和偶像怎能協調呢？我們就是永生神的殿，正如神說：「我要住在他們中間，在他們中間來往；我要作他們的神，他們要作我的子民。」17所以，「主說：你們要從他們中間出來，和他們分開，不可觸摸不潔淨的東西，我就收納你們。」18「我要作你們的父親，你們要作我的兒女。這是全能的主說的。」

 

默想

1. 基督徒要完全分別歸神，這分別像光明與黑暗，基督與撒但，神的殿與偶像之間的尖銳、絕對。因此信徒「應該潔淨自己，除去身體和心靈上的一切污穢」（7:1）。神是我們的父親，但是當我們犯罪，罪的污染將我們與神隔絕，神就不能再用那種親密的方式與我們來往。同樣的，人與人之間親密的關係中，當罪行、欺騙、虛假滲入，立刻會像眼中入沙一般，關係必會受破壞。所以問題不在我能不能與非信徒交往，而在乎我要不要與神保持親密美好的關係。慈愛的天父向我們發出祂的心聲、呼喚：「我要作你們的父親，你們要作我的兒女。」我會怎樣回應神？
2. 想像我正在花園中與主散步，這時候我會對主說什麼？主在聆聽，慢慢地向主傾訴，也細聽主的心聲。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在“靈程筆記”簿上面。

 

 

 CHAPTER 6

¹⁴Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? ¹⁵What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? ¹⁶What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
¹⁷“Therefore come out from them
and be separate, says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
and I will receive you.”
¹⁸“I will be a Father to you,
and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

MEDITATION

1. Christians are to be completely separated unto the Lord, with that separation as sharp as the dividing line between light and darkness, between Christ and Satan, and between the temple of God and a shrine where idols are worshiped.  In short, we are to “purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit.” (7:1) God is our Father, but when we sin, sin’s contamination separates us from God.  He is not able to be a Father to us in the same, intimate way He would if we were in close fellowship with Him.  Similarly, when sin comes into a relationship between two people, it’ll be felt like a grain of sand entering into the eye, the relationship will be affected.  So, the issue isn’t whether I could have intimate relationship with non-Christians, rather, if I want to maintain this close relationship with God the Father.  Our loving father is calling us: “I will be your father, and you shall be my sons and daughters.”  How do I respond?
2. Imagine I am taking a walk with the Lord in the garden.  What would I say to him right now?  The Lord is listening.  Speak to him slowly and listen to his talking, too.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

第五章

1我們知道，如果我們在地上的帳棚拆毀了，我們必得著從神而來的居所。那不是人手所造的，而是天上永存的房屋。2我們現今在這帳棚裡面歎息，渴望遷到那天上的住處，好像換上新的衣服；3如果穿上了，就不會赤身出現了。4我們這些在帳棚裡面的人，勞苦歎息，是由於不願意脫去這個，卻願意穿上那個，使這必死的被生命吞滅。5那在我們身上完成了工作，使我們達成這目標的，就是神。他已經把聖靈賜給我們作憑據。6我們既然一向都是坦然無懼的，又知道住在身內就是與主分開7（因為我們行事是憑著信心，不是憑著眼見），8現在還是坦然無懼，寧願與身體分開，與主同住。9因此，我們立定志向，無論住在身內或是與身體分開，都要討主的喜悅。10因為我們眾人都必須在基督的審判臺前顯露出來，使各人按著本身所行的，或善或惡，受到報應。

 

默想

1. 信徒有勇氣持守基督的呼召，像保羅一樣向世界的價值觀挑戰，是因為知道現今暫時的苦難與最終的獎賞相比，實在微不足道。當我們竭力為神那「更美的道路」奔走，而受到誤會或輕視時，我們仍然有盼望，在神的同在（以馬內利）我們可以全然欣喜。此外，我們亦因在神的智慧上的成長而歡欣。所以我們雖然在地上嘆息勞苦，等候身體得贖（羅8:23），但確實是有益的。
2. 在整理裝扮自己地上的帳棚（身體），和預備天上永存的房屋，這兩件事上，我比較著重的是什麼？若我在自己地上的日子是幾十年，但在天上卻是億萬年，我該花較多的心思在那裡？

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在“靈程筆記”簿上面。

 

 

CHAPTER 5

¹Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. ²Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, ³because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. ⁴For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. ⁵Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

⁶Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. ⁷We live by faith, not by sight. ⁸We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. ⁹So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. ¹⁰For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

MEDITATION

1. Courage to endure the radical call of the Christian claim on our lives comes from the belief that the eventual reward will outweigh the temporary suffering we incur by challenging the world’s values as Jesus and Paul did.  When our valiant struggle for God’s better way goes unappreciated and misunderstood, we have the hope of the Emmanuel God—God with us—utter delight at being in the divine presence.  But we also have the happiness of experiencing our own growth into the splendour of divine wisdom, so that our groaning here for the redemption of our bodies is not without reward in its own right.
2. Which do I spend more time preparing and thinking, my earthly tent (body) or my heavenly dwelling?  If I only spend several decades in my earthly tent, but millions of years in heaven, which one should I devote more thoughts and energy on?

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

第四章

7我們有這寶貝在瓦器裡，是要顯明這極大的能力是屬於神，不是出於我們。8我們雖然四面受壓，卻沒有壓碎；心裡作難，卻不至絕望，9受到迫害，卻沒有被丟棄；打倒了，卻不至死亡。10我們身上常常帶著耶穌的死，好讓耶穌的生也在我們的身上顯明出來。11我們這些活著的人，為耶穌的緣故常常被人置於死地，好讓耶穌的生也在我們必死的身上顯明出來。12這樣看來，死在我們身上運行，生卻在你們的身上運行。

 

默想

1. 保羅在本段裡，將傳道者軟弱的性情徹底表明。他處在高壓、困惑、受迫、打倒的底下。這些經歷提醒他，他所有輝煌事工的能力，完全不是從他而來的，而是來自耶穌，他雖軟弱，卻不遭壓迫，也不被厭棄。
2. 不要讓一絲的軟弱阻止我事奉神；事實上，我的軟弱正是神的大能彰顯的環境。
3. 輕聲唱（或讀）這首詩歌，作為今天的禱告：

我本軟弱主剛強，求主保守離罪網；

心靈滿足無憂傷，當我走，求領我近你旁。

主，我願更親近你，與主相親樂無比；

每日同行更親密，親愛主，求你，懇求你。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在“靈程筆記”簿上面。

 

 

CHAPTER 4

⁷But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. ⁸We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. ¹⁰We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. ¹¹For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. ¹²So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

 

MEDITATION

1. Paul was contrasting the weak and ordinary character of the messenger with the overwhelming power of the message.  Paul found himself under pressure, perplexed, persecuted, knocked to the ground.  Everything in his experience reminded him that the dynamic power that had marked his ministry had no source in him.  He credited Jesus, who saves all those who believe in Him, with the fact that despite his weaknesses he had not been crushed, nor drowned in despair, nor abandoned or destroyed.
2. Don’t let a sense of personal weakness keep you from serving God.  The fact that we are weak is the backdrop against which the incomparable power of God is revealed.
3. Sing (or read) quietly this hymn as a prayer to God:

I am weak but Thou art strong Jesus keep me from all wrong
I’ll be satisfied as long as I walk let me walk close to Thee
Just a closer walk with Thee grant it Jesus is my plea
Daily walking close to Thee oh let it be dear Lord let it be.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

第三章

¹²   所以，我們既然有這樣的盼望，就大大地放膽行事，   ¹³   不像摩西那樣，把帕子蒙在臉上，使以色列人看不見那短暫的榮光的結局。   ¹⁴   但是他們的心思遲鈍，因為直到今日，他們誦讀舊約的時候，這帕子仍然存在，沒有揭開，唯有在基督裡才能把這帕子廢掉。   ¹⁵   可是直到今日，他們每逢誦讀摩西的書的時候，這帕子還蓋在他們的心上。   ¹⁶   但他們甚麼時候歸向主，這帕子就甚麼時候除掉了。17主就是那靈；主的靈在哪裡，哪裡就有自由。18我們眾人臉上的帕子既然已經揭開，反映主的榮光（「反映主的榮光」或譯：「對著鏡子看見主的榮光」），就變成主那樣的形象，大有榮光。這是主所作成的，他就是那靈。

 

默想

1. 當我們安息在神的榮光中，就發現自己改變，漸漸地沾上神的榮耀，而這榮耀開始充滿我們。這是聖靈的工作，引領我們成長，逐漸轉化成祂美好和榮耀的樣式，為要榮耀神。
2. 雖然我的生命中還有很多的瑕疵污點，但我裡面的生命在不斷的成長、改變，當轉化的榮光越來越光明時，我看見了耶穌在我生命中，為此我要感謝天父。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在“靈程筆記”簿上面。

 

 

CHAPTER 3

¹²Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. ¹³We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. ¹⁴But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. ¹⁵Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. ¹⁶But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. ¹⁷Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

 

MEDITATION

1. When we rest in the splendour of God revealed by Christ, we find ourselves changed by it.  Gradually, by degrees, we incline toward the divine glory and it begins to overtake us.  This is by the power of the Spirit, which prepared us for such growth beginning at baptism.  We are being transformed into his likeness, the way that God had intended for us to be when he created us.
2. Though there are still warts and blemishes all too visible, I am growing and changing.  In the ever-increasing glory of the transformation taking place, “The Christian is the person who makes it easy for others to believe in God.”  Lord, help me to reflect more of your glory and to become easier for others to believe in you.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.