为刺而感谢 Thanks For Thorns

我为基督的缘故,就以软弱...困苦为可喜乐的

I take pleasure in infirmities,....in distresses, for Christ's sake.

                                                                            (林后12:10)


我们很难在各种境遇下都心存感谢.当我们的身体被疾病毁坏,或刚刚获知我们染上不治之症,或正在失业,又或一种深刻的关系已告破裂,我们就不会觉得感恩了.但我们可以学习感谢神,因他在我们软弱之时赐给我们力量.

To give thanks in every situation is sometimes very difficult. When our bodies are wracked by pain, or we have just learned that we have a physical problem for which there is no cure, or we have lost our job, or a cherished relationship has been broken, we don't feel grateful. But we can learn to thank God because He gives us strength when we feel weak.

这就是为什么使徒保罗说'我为基督的缘故,就以软弱...困苦为可喜乐的'.作为信徒,我们能够心存感恩,是由于透过这些经验,神正成就对我们最好的事务.甚至借着受苦,神仍是为着我们的益处而工作.

That is why the apostle Paul could say, 'I take pleasure in infirmities,...in distresses, for Christ's sake.' and as believers, we can be grateful that through such experiences God is accomplishing what is best for us. Even through suffering He is working for our good

一位苏格兰的传道人兼作家马席孙,他虽然失明,仍发出这样的祷告'我曾为生命的玫瑰和欢乐向神感谢千万次,却从未为我的刺感谢一次...请指教我,懂得我所付十字架的荣耀;教导我懂得'刺'的价值.请让我看清楚,在痛苦的路上我一步一步爬近你.请让我看清楚,我的眼泪已造成了我美丽的彩虹.

Scottish author and preacher George Matheson,who was blind,expressed this prayer:'I have thanked Thee a thousand times for my roses, but never once for my 'thorn'....teach me the glory of my cross; teach me the value of my 'thorn'. Show me that I have climbed to Thee by the path of pain. Show me that my tears have made my rainbow.'

当我们将自己向主降服,并记得他所做的每一件事情都是为了达成我们最终的益处;我们就能感谢神,甚至在我们被刺戳伤的时候.

As we surrender ourselves to the Lord and remember that He is working in everything to accomplish our ultimate good ,we can thank Him when we are pierced by 'thorns'