Costly Faithfulness 忠心代价高昂

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Dexu Xia

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Aug 8, 2026, 10:38:29 PMAug 8

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Be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. Psalm 31:2

Today's Scripture Psalm 31:1-13

Today's Insights In his anguish, David turned to God, his “rock of refuge” (Psalm 31:2). God heard his “cry for mercy” (v. 22) and delivered him from his enemies (vv. 8, 15). He hears our cries too and offers us an eternal reward for our faithfulness and perseverance. James 1:12 tells us, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” Therefore, we’re encouraged to “stand firm . . . always [giving ourselves] fully to the work of the Lord,” because our “labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Today's Devotion The film A Hidden Life tells the true story of Austrian farmer Franz Jägerstätter during World War II. Sickened by Nazi atrocities and believing only Jesus is Lord, Franz refused to swear allegiance to Hitler and was arrested. The rest of the film shows the anguish this brave stand brought him.

Franz’s village treated him with contempt for opposing Hitler’s agenda. Cellmates ridiculed his faith, and even some priests thought he was being foolish. “God doesn’t care what you say, only what’s in your heart,” one person says in the film, tempting Franz to “hail” Hitler without meaning it to save his life. “My rock, my fortress,” Franz prays, feeling pressure to recant, “give me strength to follow You.”

Psalm 31 is the prayer of a person facing evil powers. “Be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me” (v. 2), David pleads in the face of his own tyrants (vv. 4, 11). His life in anguish and suffering the contempt of his neighbors, David longs to stay faithful under pressure (vv. 3, 10-13). “Into your hands I commit my spirit,” he prays (v. 5), words later echoed by Jesus on the cross (Luke 23:46).

Our God never leaves costly faithfulness unrewarded. Franz Jägerstätter stayed faithful to the end. Like Jesus, this faithfulness cost him his life. But just as Jesus was raised from the grave, so Franz will rise one day too.

Reflect & Pray

What can you learn from the martyrs who died of faith in God in history? What can you do today to stay faithful in a time of trial?

My Rock and Fortress, please give me strength to follow You faithfully, whatever opposition I face.

By Sheridan Voysey

求你侧耳而听，快快救我，作我避难的磐石，拯救我的堡垒。（诗篇 31篇2节）

今日经文：诗篇 31篇1-13节

今日洞见：大卫在痛苦煎熬中转向上帝，以上帝为他“避难的磐石”（诗篇 31篇2节）。上帝垂听了他“恳求怜悯”的呼声（22节），并将他从仇敌手中救了出来（8、15节）。上帝也垂听我们的呼求，并因我们的忠心与坚忍，将永恒的奖赏赐予我们。雅各书1章12节告诉我们：“忍受试探的人是有福的，因为他经过试验以后，必得生命的冠冕，这是主应许给那些爱他之人的。”因此，我们受勉励要“站立得稳……常常竭力多做主工”，因为我们在“主里面的劳苦不是徒然的”（哥林多前书 15章58节）。

今日默想：电影《隐秘的生活》讲述了二战期间奥地利的一位农民弗朗茨·耶格施泰特的真实故事。弗朗茨对纳粹的暴行深恶痛绝，并坚信唯有耶稣是主，因此拒绝向希特勒宣誓效忠，结果他遭到逮捕。影片余下的部分展现了这一勇敢抉择给他带来的痛苦煎熬。因为他反对希特勒的行径，弗朗茨遭到同村人的鄙视，他的信仰遭到狱友的嘲笑，甚至有些神职人员也认为他的做法很愚蠢。影片中有人对他说：“上帝不在乎你说什么，祂只在乎你内心如何”，以此诱导弗朗茨为保全性命而违背良心，向希特勒行纳粹礼。面对放弃立场的压力，弗朗茨向上帝祷告，说：“我的磐石，我的堡垒，求祢赐我力量跟随祢。”

诗篇31篇是一位面对邪恶势力之人的祷告。“ 求你侧耳而听，快快救我， 作我避难的磐石，拯救我的坚固堡垒”（2节），这是大卫在面对迫害他的暴君时发出的恳求（4、11节）。大卫在生活充满痛苦，饱受邻人鄙视时，他渴望在压力之下依然保持忠心（3、10-13节）。 他祷告时说：“我将我的灵魂交在祢手中，”（5节）；这番话后来也出自十字架上耶稣之口（路加福音 23:46）。

我们的神绝不会让那代价高昂的忠诚得不到奖赏。弗朗茨·耶格施泰特坚守忠诚，直至生命终结。正如耶稣一样，弗朗茨队上帝的这份忠诚让他付出了生命的代价。但是，正如耶稣从坟墓中复活，弗朗茨终有一天也会复活。

反思与祷告你能从历史上忠于上帝的殉道者身上学到什么？你今天能做些什么，使自己在受试炼时保持忠诚？

上帝，我的磐石与堡垒，无论面临何种阻挠，我都求祢赐我力量忠心跟随祢。