第三章

⁷ 然而以前對我有益的，現在因著基督的緣故，我都當作是有損的。 ⁸ 不但這樣，我也把萬事當作是有損的，因為我以認識我主基督耶穌為至寶。為了他，我把萬事都拋棄了，看作廢物，為了要得著基督。 ⁹ 並且得以在他裡面，不是有自己因律法而得的義，而是有因信基督而得的義，就是基於信心，從神而來的義， ¹⁰ 使我認識基督和他復活的大能，並且在他所受的苦上有分，受他所受的死； ¹¹ 這樣，我也許可以從死人中復活。

 

默想：

1．  保羅本有傲人的資歷，他的家世、教育、和宗教熱忱，本可使他穩守高位，前途無量。但保羅在與基督相遇時，徹底改變了；他傲人的履歷在主面前毫無用處，所有他以前認為有益的，如今都當作有損了；唯一要緊的，就是他與基督的關係。我們因遇見基督，也必須將一些東西看作是有損的（財產、資歷、和態度等等）。靈命的塑造過程，就是一路上學習認清並捨棄這樣的東西，如此，我們才能專心尋求得著基督。

2．  在我心目中，生命裡，有什麼東西是我引以為傲、甚為珍惜，但卻成為我走天路歷程上毫無價值，反而成為“重擔” 和“纏累的罪”（來12：1）？我當怎樣改變觀點，而將認識我主為至寶，而其他每件事都看為次等？

 

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

⁷But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ ⁹and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. ¹⁰I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

 

Meditation:

1. Paul had credentials.  His family heritage, training, and zeal would have secured him a prominent place in the society.  But Paul’s encounter with Christ radically changed his values.  When Paul stood face to face with the risen Christ, his resume did nothing for him.  And all that Paul had once considered assets he now counted as losses.  What mattered now was relationship with Christ.  Spiritual formation is learning to recognize and abandon those things that must be counted as losses in light of our encounter with Christ (possessions, credentials, attitudes, etc.), so that we might focus on the “gain” of relationship with Christ.
2. What are the things that I count “gain” but actually are “loss” and may become “the weight and the sin that clings so closely” (Heb 12:1) for my heavenward journey?  How can I change my perspective and consider everything as secondary to knowing Jesus as my Lord?

 

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.