患难 [Tribulation]

书卷：罗马书（新约）
作者：保罗

罗马书5章3节：“不但如此，就是在患难中也是欢欢喜喜的。因为知道患难生忍耐，”

今日默想：患难和受苦是基督徒正常的经历，因为使徒行传14章22节告诉我们，进入上帝的国，必须经历许多艰难。患难不仅只是信徒不可避免的命运，更是真信仰的特色，成为一种记号，见证帖撒罗尼迦后书1章5节，表明上帝算那些忍受患难的人配得祂的国。我们如果充分明了将来所要得的是何等的荣耀，就必能在患难中也是夸耀的，因为哥林多后书4章16～17节告诉我们，这至暂至轻的苦楚，要为我们成就极重无比永远的荣耀。当我们遭遇患难的时候，要紧的不是巴望着难处早日消散，而是把握良机，学习所该学取的功课。我们往往过分注意这些难处，忘却了那准许它们进入我们经验中的上帝。我们不要被患难压倒，相反的，我们可以喜乐地把这些看为操练属灵生命成长的机会。当我们知道“患难生忍耐”时，我们才得了属灵长进的窍。真正经过患难所产生的忍耐，乃是面对极大的障碍和极强的反对下，仍有余力继续不断地坚持向前。

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Book: Romans (New Testament)
Author: Paul

Romans 5:3 :“And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulations produce perseverance;”

Today’s Meditation: Tribulations is a common experience among Christians because Acts 14:22 tells us that we must go through many tribulations to enter the kingdom of God. Tribulations not only cannot be avoided, but also as a speciality of a true faith. This witnesses 2 Thessalonians 1:5 that we may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God. We can glory in tribulations if we really know the glory we will be inheriting in the future. 2 Corinthians 4:16~17 reminds us that the light affliction which is but a moment is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. We should precious every chance of tribulations to learn what we should learn. We often care too much of the tribulations and tend to forget that we can experience God within them. We should be not suppressed by tribulations, but rather seeing these as a chance to improve our spiritual life. We can only earn the key to improve spiritual life when we understand “tribulations produce perseverance”. A perseverance that withstands tribulations has the strength to continue its path ahead even when facing lots of challenges and oppositions.