Strength from Struggle 从苦难中汲取力量

[Dexu Xia]

We know that suffering produces perseverance; . . . and character, hope. Romans 5:3-4

Today's Scripture Romans 5:1-5

Today's Insights    Paul’s argument throughout the book of Romans is complex, and there’s a reason that it forms the foundation of much of our theology of salvation. Chapter 5 comes as the conclusion to his opening argument—that no one is justified (made right) by God on their own. The gentiles failed, and the Jews couldn’t perfectly keep the law. Only through faith (modeled by Abraham as Paul points out in the previous chapter) can we enter into a right relationship with God. But that relationship won’t always be framed in roses. Faith results in more than the hope we have; it’s also experienced in the refinement we undergo as we endure suffering. We become more like Christ as we grow in both character and faith in the midst of our struggles.

Today's Devotion    Jess was getting on in years when he first heard the children’s folktale about the boy and the butterfly. Right away, he understood the story’s lesson on gaining strength from struggle. In the tale, a boy is given a butterfly cocoon but told not to open it. But as the cocoon slowly twists and shudders in his hand, the boy can’t resist using scissors to split it open so the butterfly inside can escape.

Freed from the struggle, however, the butterfly falls to the ground and dies without ever flying. “What happened?” the boy cries. Jess, after a long life, understood instantly. “The boy prevented the butterfly from using the muscles needed to grow strong and fly.”

The children’s lesson may be a fable, but it affirms the bracing biblical truth taught by Paul to persecuted believers in Jesus in Rome: “We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:3-4).

Paul wasn’t saying to celebrate pain or deny its heartbreak. He confirmed instead that God will use life’s troubles to build our character, growing our hope in Him.

It’s in His strength that God develops our trust in His overcoming power. The butterfly was cheated from growing stronger to fly. But in Christ, we can rejoice as struggles lift us with character to God our deliverer.

Reflect & Pray

What’s your attitude regarding struggle? How has struggle grown your trust in God?

 As I face life's struggles, dear Jesus, I thank You for building my character and trust in You.

by Patricia Raybon

 “我们知道，患难生忍耐，……老练生盼望。”（罗马书 5:3-4）

今日经文：罗马书 5章1-5 节

今日洞见：保罗在整本罗马书中的论证十分复杂，而这卷书之所以成为我们救赎神学的基础，自有其原因。第五章是他开篇论证的总结：没有人能靠自己被神称义。外邦人失败了，犹太人也无法完全遵守律法。唯有藉着信心（正如保罗在前一章中所指出的，亚伯拉罕就是信心的榜样），我们才能与神建立正确的关系。但这关系并非总是一帆风顺。信心带来的不仅仅是盼望；它也体现在我们忍受苦难的过程中所经历的磨练之中。在挣扎中，当我们品格和信心都不断成长时，我们就越来越像基督。

今日灵修：杰斯年纪渐长时，第一次听到了关于男孩和蝴蝶的民间故事。故事里，一个男孩得到一个蝴蝶茧，但人们告诉他不要把茧打开。然而，当茧在他手中慢慢扭动颤抖时，男孩忍不住用剪刀把它剪开，想让里面的蝴蝶飞出来。不过，蝴蝶挣脱束缚后却掉落在地上，没能飞起来就死了。“怎么回事？”男孩哭着问。经历了漫长人生的杰斯，立刻就明白了故事中关于从逆境中汲取力量的寓意。他瞬间就明白：“男孩阻止蝴蝶锻炼肌肉，让它无法变得强壮，以致无法飞翔。”

  这则儿童寓言故事或许振奋人心，但它印证了保罗在罗马向受迫害的信徒们传授的振奋人心的圣经真理：“不但如此，就是在患难中也是欢欢喜喜的。因为知道患难生忍耐，忍耐生老练，老练生盼望。”（罗马书 5:3-4） 保罗并非要我们欢庆痛苦或否认痛苦带来的心碎。相反，他肯定了上帝会利用人生的苦难来塑造我们的品格，增强我们对祂的盼望。

  上帝藉着祂的力量，使我们信靠祂得胜的大能。蝴蝶被剥夺了发展能够飞翔的权利，以至于死去。但在基督里，我们可以欢欣鼓舞，因为苦难提升了我们的品格，并且使我们最终来到拯救我们的上帝面前。

 反思与祷告 你如何看待苦难？苦难如何增强了你对上帝的信靠？ 亲爱的耶稣，当我面对人生的苦难时，我感谢你藉着苦难塑造了我的品格，也感谢你让我在苦难中信靠你。

作者： 帕特里夏·雷邦