Joy in Jesus 在耶稣里的喜乐
Dexu Xia
Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12
Today's Scripture 1 Corinthians 13:8-13
Today's Insights As 1 Corinthians 13:12 reminds us, one day we’ll see clearly when we see Jesus “face to face.” Grand and glorious realities await us at death and with the return of Christ, but even now some of those good things are ours to experience. Through the encouragement of Scripture, the life we share with believers in Jesus, and the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, we get “sneak previews” and a “foretaste” of things to come. Such things are particularly meaningful to those undergoing trials. The apostle Peter’s words included the following encouragement: “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:8-9). Today, we can look for glimpses of joy around us as a reminder of the fullness of joy that’s yet to come.
Today's Devotion Do you ever long for something you see glimpses of but can’t quite grasp? C. S. Lewis longed for joy. He wrote, “Our longing to be reunited with something in the universe from which we now feel cut off, to be on the inside of some door which we have always seen from the outside, is . . . the truest index of our real situation. And to be at last summoned inside would be . . . the healing of that old ache. . . . The whole man is to drink joy from the fountain of joy.”
Lewis writes of the joy we’ll experience in full when we see Jesus face-to-face. As believers in Jesus, we have the joy of Christ through our relationship with Him and the work of His Spirit inside us. But sadly our joy is hampered by sin and death, the forces of evil, and the world’s brokenness. Paul writes, “Now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known” (1 Corinthians 13:12). In verse 10, Paul talks of the coming “completeness.” This is when we’ll know and experience joy fully because we’re with Jesus. Although we wait expectantly for that day, He gives us a small foretaste now of the overflowing, unhindered joy of heaven!
Reflect & Pray
What do you think it will be like to see Jesus? What do you most look forward to in heaven?
Heavenly Father, thank You for the moments of joy I experience here on earth. I’m anticipating the day when I can know it in full.
By Alyson Kieda
“如今我们仿佛对着镜子观看，模糊不清（原文作：如同猜谜）；到那时，就要面对面了。我如今所知道的有限；到那时就全知道，如同主知道我一样。”（哥林多前书13：12）
今日经文：哥林多前书13章8-13 节
今日洞见 正如哥林多前书13章12节提醒我们的那样，终有一天，当我们与耶稣“面对面”相见时，一切都将变得清晰明朗。在死亡降临之时，以及基督再来之际，宏大而荣耀的真实景境界正等待着我们去经历；然而，即便就在此时此刻，其中一些美好的事物已经属于我们，可供我们去体验。借着圣经的勉励、我们与主内信徒所共享的生命，以及圣灵在我们心中所做的工作，我们可以预先获得那将要来临之事的“精彩预告”与“初步尝味”。对于那些正身处试炼之中的人而言，这些体验显得尤为意义深远。使徒彼得的言语中便包含了如下的勉励：“你们虽然没有见过他，却是爱他；如今虽不得看见，却因信他就有说不出来、满有荣光的喜乐；并且得着你们信心的果效，就是灵魂的救恩”（彼得前书1:8-9）。在今日，我们可以留意去捕捉那些在周围环境中闪现的喜乐微光，以此提醒我们，要铭记那尚未降临、却必将实现的满溢的喜乐。
今日灵修 你是否曾对某种事物心生渴慕，尽管你已瞥见了它的微光，却始终无法将其完全握在手中？C. S.路易斯便深深地渴慕这种“喜乐”。他曾写道：“我们渴望与宇宙中某种事物重新联结，那种我们如今感到已被隔绝的事物；我们渴望跨入某扇门的内侧，那扇我们此前始终只能从门外遥望的门。这种渴望正是我们真实处境最为确凿的写照。而若最终得以蒙召进入那门内，便意味着那由来已久的隐痛终获医治，到那时，全人将从喜乐的泉源中尽情汲取喜乐。”
路易斯在此所描绘的，正是当我们与耶稣面对面相见时，我们将全然经历的那种喜乐。作为耶稣的信徒，我们借着与祂所建立的生命连接，以及圣灵在我们内心所施行的工作，已经拥有属于基督的喜乐。然而令人遗憾的是，我们的喜乐如今仍受制于罪恶、死亡、邪恶势力，以及这个破碎的世界种种残缺的侵扰。保罗写道：“我们如今仿佛对着镜子观看，模糊不清（原文作：如同猜谜）；到那时就要面对面了。我如今所知道的有限，到那时就全知道了，如同主知道我一样”（哥林多前书 13:12）。在第10节中，保罗提到了那即将到来的“完全”境界。到那时，耶稣同在将使我们完全认识并经历那份喜乐。
虽然我们正满怀希望地等候那日的到来，但如今上帝已经让我们浅尝那来自天国的满溢且毫无阻碍的喜乐！
反思与祷告 你觉得亲眼见到耶稣会是怎样的一番景象？在天国里，你最期待的是什么？ 天父，我感谢祢，让我在世上就经历到种种喜乐的时刻。我满心期盼，等候完全领悟这份喜乐的那日。作者：阿莉森 其达