0203 成為「世界上的污穢」
人還把我們看作世界上的污穢…《哥林多前書4:13》
這些話並不誇張。對我們這些自稱為福音傳道人，我們可能不真是如此的唯一原因，不是保羅忘記或誤解了它們的確切真實，而是我們太過於謹慎和關心自己的慾望，以至於不容讓自己成為「世界上的污穢」或廢物。「要在我肉身上補滿基督患難的缺欠」（歌羅西書1:24），這不是成聖的聖潔結果，而是聖化的證據—是被分別出來，「特派傳神的福音」（羅馬書1:1）。
「親愛的弟兄啊，有火煉的試驗臨到你們，不要以為奇怪。」（彼得前書 4:12）。 如果我們真的認為所遇到的事情很奇怪，那是因為我們害怕、膽怯。 我們如此密切地關注自己的利益和慾望，以至於我們在遠離泥潭，說：「我不會屈服，我不會低頭或彎腰。」而你確實不必如此，如果你願意的話，你可以僅僅勉強得救。你可以拒絕讓神將你視為「特派傳神的福音」的人【為福音被分別出來的人】。 或者你可以說：「只要福音被傳揚，我不在乎是否被當作『世界上的污穢』。」一個真正耶穌基督的僕人，是願意為神的福音的真實而經歷殉道的人。當一個有道德的人面對蔑視、不道德、不忠或不誠實時，他會因被冒犯而感到非常厭惡，以至於轉身，絕望地對冒犯者關閉了自己的心。但神救贖真實的奇蹟，在於最壞、最卑劣的冒犯者永遠無法耗盡祂的愛。 保羅不是說神將他分別出來，是要展示祂使他成為多麼了不起的人，而是 「將祂兒子啟示在我心裡…」【要在我裡面顯出祂的兒子…】（加拉太書1:16）
來自章伯斯的智慧
神設計環境要看我們如何行事。我們會成為天父的孩子？或會再次回到卑鄙、常識的態度？我們會冒一切風險並忠於他嗎？「你要至死忠心，我就賜給你生命的冠冕。」生命的冠冕意味着我將看到我的主最終獲得了勝利，甚至在我身上也是。《至善—朝聖者歌集》
0203 Becoming the “Filth of the World”
We have been made as the filth of the world… —1 Corinthians 4:13
These words are not an exaggeration. The only reason they may not be true of us who call ourselves ministers of the gospel is not that Paul forgot or misunderstood the exact truth of them, but that we are too cautious and concerned about our own desires to allow ourselves to become the refuse or “filth of the world.” “Fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ…” (Colossians 1:24) is not the result of the holiness of sanctification, but the evidence of consecration— being “separated to the gospel of God…” (Romans 1:1).
“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you…” (1 Peter 4:12). If we do think the things we encounter are strange, it is because we are fearful and cowardly. We pay such close attention to our own interests and desires that we stay out of the mire and say, “I won’t submit; I won’t bow or bend.” And you don’t have to— you can be saved by the “skin of your teeth” if you like. You can refuse to let God count you as one who is “separated to the gospel….” Or you can say, “I don’t care if I am treated like ‘the filth of the world’ as long as the gospel is proclaimed.” A true servant of Jesus Christ is one who is willing to experience martyrdom for the reality of the gospel of God. When a moral person is confronted with contempt, immorality, disloyalty, or dishonesty, he is so repulsed by the offense that he turns away and in despair closes his heart to the offender. But the miracle of the redemptive reality of God is that the worst and the vilest offender can never exhaust the depths of His love. Paul did not say that God separated him to show what a wonderful man He could make of him, but “to reveal His Son in me…” (Galatians 1:16).
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
God engineers circumstances to see what we will do. Will we be the children of our Father in heaven, or will we go back again to the meaner, common-sense attitude? Will we stake all and stand true to Him? “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” The crown of life means I shall see that my Lord has got the victory after all, even in me. –The Highest Good—The Pilgrim’s Song Book, 530 L