第一章

⁶ 為了這緣故，我提醒你，要把神藉著我按手給你的恩賜，像火一樣再挑旺起來。 ⁷ 因為神所賜給我們的，不是膽怯的靈，而是有能力、仁愛、自律的靈。 ⁸ 所以，不要以給我們的主作見證當作羞恥，也不要以我這為主被囚的當作羞恥，卻要為了福音的緣故，靠著神的大能，與我同受磨難。 ⁹神救了我們，以聖召呼召我們，不是按照我們的行為，卻是按照他自己的計劃和恩典；這恩典是在永世之先，在基督耶穌裡賜給了我們的， ¹⁰ 但現在藉著我們救主基督耶穌的顯現，才表明出來。他廢掉了死亡，藉著福音把生命和不朽彰顯出來。 ¹¹ 為這福音，我被派作傳道的、使徒和教師。 ¹² 為了這緣故，我也受這些苦，但我不以為恥，因為我知道我所信的是誰，也深信他能保守我所交託他的，直到那日。

 

默想:

1. 我們很稀奇有些人為了某些目標，情願犧牲受苦：運動員願意接受嚴格訓練，為要得到金牌；有些人願意受苦，以攀登高峰；有些人願意受苦，獲得魁偉的身材；還有人為賺更多錢，願意犧牲家庭生活。有些人為了兒女而犧牲一切；有人經歷一次又一次的心碎，為要尋求那理想的丈夫或妻子。
2. 保羅在這裡要求我們為更有意義的事來受磨難。福音是神賜的奇妙恩典，是藉著耶穌表明出來的；福音向人宣告神勝過死亡，並呼喚每個人來接受基督，以得到永遠的生命；這才是值得犧牲受苦的目標。況且，若我們是因為忠於作主門徒的本分而受苦，並將苦難視作學習依靠神大能的機會，這些苦難就成為塑造我們生命的重要時刻。
3. 回想一件我曾受過的苦。思想一下，神怎樣透過這個痛苦的經歷，是我的 生命得到塑造？我對神有怎樣進深的認識與體會？

 

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 1

⁶For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. ⁷For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

⁸So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, ⁹who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, ¹⁰but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. ¹¹And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. ¹²That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.

 

MEDITATION

1. It’s amazing what some people are willing to suffer for.  Athletes are willing to suffer through training to receive a gold medal.  Some are willing to suffer to reach a mountaintop.  Some are willing to suffer to obtain certain physique.  Others sacrifice home and family to make more money on a job that takes them constantly on the road. Some sacrifice everything at the altar of their children. Others suffer through heartbreak after heartbreak as they seek “the one” perfect husband/wife.
2. Paul asks us to suffer for something far more worthwhile.  The Gospel is that amazing expression of God’s grace, revealed in Christ’s appearance, that announces God’s victory over death and invites everyone to come to Him for “life and immortality”.  Now that is something worth suffering for.  Besides, our times of suffering become spiritually significant when they are induced by faithful discipleship and when we see them as opportunities to rely on the power of God.
3. Recall one experience of suffering in the past.  Consider how God through this suffering brought transformation to my life?  What deeper understanding and appreciation of God have I gained from it?

 

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 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.