God’s Promises 上帝的应许

[Dexu Xia]

What is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18

Today's Scripture   2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Today's Insights  We sometimes fail to consider the connection between suffering and spiritual growth. In Paul’s letter to the people in Corinth, he spoke of the eternal glory that our troubles bring: “Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:17).  This isn’t the only place where Scripture states that our difficulties are actually beneficial for us. The apostle says in Romans, “We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (5:3-4). James too tells us that the testing of our faith is for our benefit: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (1:2-4).

Today's Devotional    It was painful to see my dad losing his memory. Dementia is cruel, taking away all the recollections of people until there’s no remembrance left of the life they lived. One night, I had a dream I believe God used to encourage me. In the dream, He had a small treasure chest in His hands. “All your dad’s memories are safely stored here,” He told me. “I’ll keep them in the meantime. Then one day, in heaven, I’ll return them to him.”    In the following years, this dream comforted me whenever my dad didn’t know who I was. I’d be reminded that his disease was temporary. Because he was a child of God, he’d be permanently restored one day.

It also helped to remember that Paul described suffering as “light and momentary” (2 Corinthians 4:17). The apostle wasn’t underplaying suffering; he himself had suffered much (vv. 7-12). He was emphasizing that in the light of eternity and the future glory that’s ours in Christ, our troubles are light and momentary. All the glorious blessings we already have in Jesus now—and those we’ll one day experience—will infinitely outweigh them all (v. 17).

Because of God and His promises, we can choose not to lose heart. Even as we suffer, we can live each day in faith, relying on His power to renew us (v. 16). Let’s “fix our eyes” on His eternal promises today (v. 18).

Reflect & Pray  What suffering are you experiencing? How can God’s promises and all that you have as His child help you to not lose heart?

 Father, thank You that my suffering doesn’t have the final say. You do.

上帝的应许

所见的是暂时的，所不见的是永恒的。哥林多后书 4:18

  今日读经  哥林多后书 4:16-18

  今日心得  我们有时没有考虑到苦难和精神成长之间的联系。在保罗写给哥林多人的信中，他谈到了我们的苦难带来的永恒荣耀：“我们这至暂至轻的苦楚，要为我们成就极重无比永远的荣耀”（哥林多后书 4:17）。这并不是圣经中唯一说我们的困难对我们有益的地方。使徒在罗马书中说：“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”（5:3-4）。雅各也告诉我们，信心的考验是为了我们的利益：“我的弟兄们，你们落在百般试炼中，都要以为大喜乐；因为知道你们的信心经过考验，就生忍耐。但忍耐也当成功，使你们成全完备，毫无缺少。”（雅各书1:2-4）

今日灵修 看到父亲失去记忆，我很痛苦。痴呆症很残酷，它夺走了人们所有的记忆，直到他们所过的生活完全消失。一天晚上，我做了一个梦，我相信上帝曾用这个梦来鼓励我。在梦里，他手里拿着一个小宝箱。“你爸爸所有的记忆都安全地存放在这里，”他告诉我。“我会暂时保留它们。然后有一天，在天堂，我会把它们还给他。”在接下来的几年里，每当我爸爸不知道我是谁时，这个梦都会安慰我。我会想起他的病只是暂时的。因为他是神的孩子，有一天他会得到永久的恢复。

记住保罗将苦难描述为“轻微而短暂的”（哥林多后书 4:17）也有帮助。使徒并没有轻视苦难；他自己也遭受了很多苦难（第 7-12 节）。他强调，在永恒和我们在基督里的未来荣耀的光芒下，我们的烦恼是轻微而短暂的。我们现在在耶稣里已经拥有的所有荣耀祝福——以及我们有一天会经历的祝福——将无限地超过它们所有（第 17 节）。 因为上帝和他的承诺，我们可以选择不灰心。即使我们受苦，我们也可以每天充满信心地生活，依靠他的力量来更新我们（第 16 节）。让我们今天“注视”他的永恒承诺（第 18 节）。

反思和祈祷 您正在经历什么痛苦？上帝的应许和你作为他的孩子所拥有的一切如何能帮助你不灰心？

天父，感谢祢，我的苦难不能决定什么。祢才是那位决定苦难结果的主。