Our Birthright in Christ 我们在基督里的身份
Dexu Xia
The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. Acts 11:26
Today's Scripture Acts 11: 19-29
Today's Insights
For gentile converts, the experience of being persecuted would’ve been a new and likely shocking experience. The Jewish people had experienced generations of suffering as a minority culture group and had therefore developed ways of understanding suffering and even dying for their faith. But the gentiles had been completely at ease with and accepted in their culture before their conversion to belief in Jesus. Experiencing suffering might have even caused them to doubt the truth of the gospel if they thought God’s favor should lead to their prosperity. To address this, the apostle Peter emphasizes that there’s nothing “strange” (1 Peter 4:12) about suffering for Christ. Instead, those who bear His name could view suffering for Him as a way of participating in His own suffering and could eagerly wait for the day they’d share in His glory too (vv. 13-14). As believers in Jesus, we belong to Him, and God will help us live in a way that brings honor to His name
Today's Devotional
The owner of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks offered a Chicago sports-talk host $100,000 to legally change his name to "Dallas Maverick." In addition, he said he would donate $100,000 to the man’s favorite charity. After some soul-searching, the radio host held firm and told the owner no. He explained, “I'd be saying I'd do anything for money, and that bothers me. My name is my birthright. I’d like to preserve my integrity and credibility.”
Just as the radio host’s name is his birthright, early believers in Jesus took on the name “Christian” as their spiritual birthright. Barnabas and Saul ministered a year in Antioch, and through the preaching of the good news, the church grew. The early believers in Antioch lived so much like Christ that people who didn’t believe in Jesus—called them “Christians” (Acts 11:26). So “Christians” were those who belonged to Christ. Bearing that name ultimately became a source of persecution. But Peter encouraged believers to “not be ashamed” of their birthright and of suffering for bearing that name (1 Peter 4:16).
For those who believe in Jesus, “Christian” is our birthright, and no amount of money, suffering, or abuse should cause us to compromise that name. We have a responsibility, as God provides what we need, to live every day to bring honor to the name of Christ.
Reflect & Pray
When people hear the name “Christian,” what do you think fills their thoughts? What does it mean for you to be called a Christian? Dear Jesus, please help me to live in a way that honors Your name.
by Marvin Williams.
“门徒被称为基督徒，是从安提阿开始的“。（使徒行传 11:26）
今日经文：使徒行传 11章19-29节
今日洞见：对外邦信徒来说，为信仰受迫害对他们来说是全新的经历，而且很可能是令人震惊的。犹太人这个少数民族群体，经历过世世代代的苦难，因此他们已经形成能够理解苦难，甚至为信仰而死的观念。但在归信耶稣之前，外邦人在自己的文化中一直生活得安逸自在，被社会所接纳。如果他们认为上帝的恩宠应该带来繁荣，那么遭受苦难甚至可能使他们怀疑福音的真理。为了解决这个问题，使徒彼得强调，为基督受苦并非“奇怪”的事（彼得前书 4:12）。相反，那些为基督的名受苦的人可以把为祂受苦看作有份与基督自身苦难的一种方式，为此，他们可以热切地盼望，有一天也能分享祂的荣耀（13-14节）。作为耶稣的信徒，我们属于祂，上帝会帮助我们以荣耀祂名的方式生活，即使是在苦难中。
今日灵修 NBA达拉斯小牛队的老板出价10万美元，要求一位芝加哥体育脱口秀主持人合法地把他的名字改成“达拉斯小牛”。他还表示，会向这位主持人最喜欢的慈善机构捐赠10万美元。经过一番深思熟虑，这位电台主持人坚守原则，拒绝了老板的提议。他解释说：“如果我这样做，就等于说，我为了钱什么都肯做，这让我感到不安。我的名字代表我生而有之的身份。我想维护我的正直和信誉。”
正如这位电台主持人看自己的名字是他生而有之的身份一样，早期信徒也把“基督徒”这个名字视为他们属灵的身份。巴拿巴和扫罗在安提阿服事了一年，通过传讲福音，教会不断发展壮大。安提阿早期信徒的生活方式如此像基督，以至于那些不信耶稣的人把他们称为“基督徒”（使徒行传 11:26）。所以，“基督徒”就是那些属于基督的人。最终，拥有这个名字成为了遭受迫害的原因。但彼得鼓励信徒“不要以”自己基督徒的身份和因背负这个名而遭受的苦难为耻”（彼得前书 4:16）。 对于信奉耶稣的人来说，“基督徒”就是我们的身份，无论金钱、苦难或虐待都不能使我们放弃这个身份。既然上帝供应我们所需的一切，我们就有责任每天都活出与这身份相配的荣耀基督之名的生命。
反思与祷告 当人们听到“基督徒”这个名字时，你认为他们会想到什么？对你来说，被称为基督徒意味着什么？
亲爱的耶稣，求你帮助我活出荣耀你名的生命。 作者：马文·威廉姆斯