7月5日

標　　題：選擇喜樂

經　　節：約在半夜，保羅和西拉禱告，唱詩讚美神，眾囚犯也側耳而聽。（使徒行傳十六章25節）

身為基督徒，我們的喜樂不應該取決於環境。喜樂乃是從神而來，不應被外在環境所影響。不要愚蠢地任由他人的行為舉止，來決定你的喜樂。真正的喜樂乃是不管外在環境如何，確實知道神自己住在我們心裡與我們相交。真喜樂是清楚瞭解聖潔的神已經完全饒恕我們的罪，甚至祂已經在天上為我們安排了一個住處，讓我們能夠永遠與祂在一起（約翰福音十四：3）。你生活的環境並不能夠改變這些真理！

保羅和西拉面對的是你所能想像到最困難的環境。他們被誣告，被拘捕下監。他們被棍打，並且被上了腳鐐，關在監獄中最黑暗、最寒冷的牢房。然而，他們拒絕讓可怖的環境減少自己的喜樂！他們沒有責怪神讓這些事發生在他們身上，相反地，他們讚美祂的美善！在黑暗的夜晚，他們禱告、唱詩、讚美神。神施行了一個神跡，他們的鎖煉都鬆開，然而，最大的神跡也許是聖靈即使在他們痛苦入監時，仍然充滿他們，使他們的喜樂滿溢！

不要讓困難的事物抵消你作神兒女的喜悅。選擇讓聖靈以洋溢的喜樂充滿你。對那些看你面對試煉的人而言，你的生命會是個神跡。

Choose to Rejoice

But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. (Acts 16:25)

Your joy as a Christian should not depend on your circumstances. Joy comes from God, and therefore it cannot be affected by what is outside of you. Don’t be fooled into letting the actions of others determine your joy. True joy comes from knowing that God Himself lives within you and has fellowship with you, regardless of your environment. Real joy lies in the knowledge that holy God has completely forgiven you of every sin, and even now, He has a home prepared in heaven where you can spend eternity with Him (John 14:3). The circumstances of your life cannot change these truths!

Paul and Silas faced some of the most difficult circumstances imaginable. They were falsely accused, arrested, and imprisoned. They were beaten and shackled in the darkest, coldest section of the prison. But they refused to allow their horrific situation to dampen their joy! They did not blame God for allowing these things to happen to them. Instead, they praised Him for His goodness! In the darkness of the night, they prayed and they sang. God brought a miracle that released them from their chains, but perhaps the greater miracle was that His Holy Spirit could so fill them that even in their painful imprisonment they could overflow with joy!

Do not allow difficult events to cancel the joy of knowing you are a child of God. Choose to allow God’s Spirit to fill you with His unquenchable joy, and your life will be a miracle to those who watch you face the trials that come.