4月30日

標　　題： 為他人受苦

經　　節： 現在我為你們受苦，倒覺歡樂；並且為基督的身體，就是為教會，要在我肉身上補滿基督患難的缺欠。（歌羅西書一章24節）

事工必得付上昂貴的代價。當天父要由罪中拯救祂所創造的人類，祂發現除非犧牲自己的兒子，別無他法（羅馬書五：8）。聖經赤裸裸地描寫救主為我們的救恩所付上的代價：「祂被藐視，被人厭棄；多受痛苦，常經憂患……。」（以賽亞書五十三：3）如果基督是你事奉的榜樣，為了他人的利益，你不能拒絕上十字架。我們的主付上昂貴的代價，才換取救恩。如果「背上自己的十字架」跟隨耶穌，是要把救恩帶給你周圍的人所付的代價，那麼我們一定要預備與祂一同邁入受難之地。

如果要把人帶到基督的面前，一定要甘冒被人拒絕之險，就像我們的恩主從前一樣。人們可能會令我們失望，誤解我們的動機，甚至藐視與迫害我們。祂並沒有讓痛苦阻止自己完成神救恩的計畫，把救恩帶給那些神所愛的人。對天父的愛是祂願意付出代價的動力。你是否正在神所呼召你的事奉中，陷入苦境？你是否開始懷疑自己付的代價太高？花時間思考神為你的救恩所付出的代價。你是否因著為祂付這代價而高興呢？你難道不願意為了添加祂的事工，而付上必要的代價，把救恩帶給你周圍的人們嗎？

Suffering for Others

I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church. (Colossians 1:24)

Ministry is costly. When the heavenly Father wanted to save His creation from sin, He could find no other way except the sacrifice of His Son (Rom. 5:8). Scripture gives a stark picture of the price our Savior paid to obtain our salvation: “He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Isa. 53:3). If Christ is your model for ministry, you cannot avoid going to the cross for the sake of others. Salvation comes with a great price, and if we are going to “take up our cross” and follow Jesus, then we must be prepared to go with Him to the place of suffering if that’s what it takes to bring salvation to those around us.

If our goal is to bring others to Christ we must be willing, as He was, to risk rejection. People may disappoint us, misunderstand our motives, even despise and persecute us. Our Savior did not let suffering prevent Him from being used by God to bring salvation to those He loved. Love for His Father provided all the motivation that was necessary. Are you presently experiencing hardship because of the ministry to which God has called you? Have you begun to wonder if the price you are paying is too great? Take a moment to reflect on the price God was willing to pay in order to bring salvation to you. Are you glad He was willing to do what was necessary? Will you not join Him in whatever is necessary to bring salvation to those around you?