6月25日

標 題：福音更興旺

經節：弟兄們，我願意你們知道，我所遭遇的事更是叫福音興旺。（腓1:12）

每件事的發生都能以兩個方式去看待：這件事如何影響你？如何影響神的國度？使徒保羅總是關心如何使用環境來拓展福音。當他被不公平地關入監獄時，馬上觀察自己的入獄，是否成為傳播神救恩的機會（腓1:13；徒16:19-34）。當他被憤怒的暴徒攻擊時，他利用這機會傳福音（徒22:1-211）。當保羅因訴訟事件面謁亞基帕王時，他滿腦子是如何向國王分享自己的信心（徒26:1-32）！即使保羅遇見船難，擱淺在一個島上，他仍使用這個機會分享福音。不管環境如何，保羅最關心的是如何利用當前處境，告訴他人神救恩的好消息。

在面對一個新的處境時，我們最關心的通常不是神的國度。當面臨危機的時候，我們可能變得憤怒或擔憂個人的利益受損，而不去瞧瞧神要藉此施行何事。倘若一直以自我中心，我們會失去許多機會，經歷神在我們身上與周圍人們身上的作為。

祈求神讓你明白，祂要如何使用你的現況，成為他人的祝福。也許你身邊有人必須看到基督如何改變你的生命。你是否願意讓神使用你的環境，向你身旁的人見證祂拯救的大能？

Furthering the Gospel

But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel. (Philippians 1:12)

There are two ways to look at every situation: How it will affect you, and how it will affect God's kingdom. The apostle Paul was always concerned with how his circumstances might aid the spreading of the Gospel. When he was unjustly imprisoned, he immediately looked to see how his imprisonment might provide God's salvation to others (Phil. 1:13; Acts 16:19–34). When he was assailed by an angry mob, he used the opportunity to preach the Gospel (Acts 22:1–21). When Paul's criminal proceedings took him before the king, his thoughts were on sharing his faith with the king! (Acts 26:1–32). Even when Paul was shipwrecked on an island, he used that opportunity to share the gospel there. Regardless of his circumstance, Paul's concern was how he could use his current situation to tell others of God's good news of salvation.

Often when we encounter a new situation, our first thoughts are not about God's kingdom. When we face a crisis, we can become angry or fearful for our own well-being, rather than looking to see what God intends to do through our circumstances. If we remain self-centered we will miss so much of what God could do through our experiences, both for us and for those around us.

Ask God to make you aware of how He could use your present circumstances to bless others. Perhaps someone around you needs to see the difference Christ's presence makes in your life. Are you willing for God to use your circumstances to demonstrate His saving power to those around you?