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.