our daily bread

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Dexu Xia

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Nov 23, 2018, 12:49:34 AM11/23/18

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Confident Hope

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21

Dr. William Wallace was serving as a missionary surgeon in Wuzhou, China, in the 1940s when Japan attacked China. Wallace, who was in charge of Stout Memorial Hospital at the time, ordered the hospital to load his equipment on barges and continue to function as a hospital while floating up and down rivers to avoid infantry attacks.

During dangerous times, Philippians 1:21—one of Wallace’s favorite verses—reminded him that if he lived, he had work to do for the Savior; but if he died, he had the promise of eternity with Christ. The verse took on special meaning when he died while falsely imprisoned in 1951.

Paul’s writing reflects a deep devotion we can aspire to as followers of Jesus, enabling us to face trials and even danger for His sake. It is devotion enabled by the Holy Spirit and the prayers of those closest to us (v. 19). It’s also a promise. Even when we surrender ourselves to continued service under difficult circumstances, it is with this reminder: when our life and work end here, we still have the joy of eternity with Jesus ahead of us.

In our hardest moments, with hearts committed to walking with Christ now, and with our eyes firmly fixed on the promise of eternity with Him, may our days and our acts bless others with the love of God.

Make of me, Father, a willing servant in times of weakness and times of strength.

Sacrifices offered to God are opportunities to showcase His Hope

有把握的盼望

因我活着就是基督，我死了就有益处。-腓立比书1章21节

在1940年代日本侵华时期，华理士（William Wallace）医师到中国梧州从事医疗宣教。当时，他是思达医院的负责人，为了避免步兵不定时的攻击，他要求医院将他的医疗设备搬上驳船，成为往返河面的行动医院，继续救治民众。

华理士医师最喜爱的经文是腓立比书1章21节，在紧急危难的时刻，这段经文提醒他活着就当为主做工，倘若他死了，也有永远与基督同在的应许。1951年，他遭到非法囚禁，在狱中过世，他的死体现了这节经文的意义。

保罗所写的这节经文，反映了自己因为爱主，而愿意全然献上，这也是我们这些耶稣的追随者当努力追求的。这种爱主的心能帮助我们为了耶稣，勇敢面对试炼甚或艰难危险。我们能如此献上自己，乃源自于圣灵的帮助和弟兄姐妹的代祷（19节）。同时这节经文也是一个应许。我们即使必须在艰困的环境中顺服主，继续服事，请不要忘了这个应许：我们的生命和服事虽然在地上走到终点，但前方等着我们的，是与耶稣同在的永恒喜乐。

但愿我们能在最艰难的时刻，立定心志今世与基督同行，并且定睛于上帝永远同在的应许，让我们能靠着上帝的爱，以生命和言行为别人带来祝福。

亲爱的天父，求祢帮助我成为一个甘心服事的仆人，
刚强之时如此，软弱之时亦然。