记念你的保罗

记念你的保罗

“17我以你们的信心为供献的祭物，我若被浇奠在其上，也是喜乐，并且与你们众人一同喜乐。 18你们也要照样喜乐，并且与我一同喜乐。” 腓立比书 2:17-18

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“我以你们的信心为供献的祭物，我……喜乐”
有时候，只有当我们能开眼看到爱我们的人为我们的付出，我们才能明白，原来所得到的一切都不是理所当然，而是那些人付出、奉献、甚至牺牲的结果。是他们付出了代价。想到他们所付的代价，会让我们忧愁吗？
今天的经文中，我们看到保罗为腓立比教会付上了代价，他愿意自己被浇奠，好使腓立比教会得着无伪且活泼的信心。尽管保罗为福音的缘故失去自由（约公元64年，保罗和提摩太在罗马监狱写信给腓立比教会），他仍与所爱的教会分享他的喜乐——看到腓立比教会在信心中健康成长，保罗十分喜乐。同样的，教会也与牧者经历同样的喜乐。信徒感恩保罗的奉献，他们在信心中的回应成了保罗的鼓励。
生命中最美的祝福和喜乐就是认识主耶稣，并作为神的儿女成长起来。我们每个人的生命中都有一个或者几个保罗，他们把我们带到主耶稣面前，帮助我们在主里面成长。如果你的生命因为有主而变得越来越完整，越来越健康，你就知道你的保罗们的付出乃至牺牲都是值得的。如果你为此感恩他们的付出，你也当晓得他们会因此而满有喜乐。如果可能的话，鼓励你今天就告诉你的保罗们你对他们的感谢，并且为他们献上祷告，为他们在你生命中所扮演的角色而感谢神。

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Philippians 2:17-18

Offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy...Sometimes when we see what those who love us have given up for us, we can finally understand that what we previously took for granted as ours was actually given to us by their sacrifice. They paid a price. Should this cause us pain and dismay?
But Today in this reading, we see Paul has paid a price for the Philippian church, he willingly poured out his life as a sacrifice and service so that they may come to a living faith. Paul shares his joy with the church despite the simple fact that he is in prison for sharing the gospel. Seeing the health of the Philippian church fills him with joy. In the same way, the church experiences the joy of their shepherd because they appreciate the sacrifices and have responded in a way that encourages Paul.

The greatest blessing and joy in life is to know Jesus and to grow as a child of God. We all have Pauls in our lives and whether they knew it or not, the opportunities they gave you brought you to Jesus. If you are becoming whole and healthier because of Jesus's love in your life, then you know that their sacrifice was worth it. If you are thankful for their sacrifice, then know that they are filled with joy. Therefore if it is possible, let them know how you appreciate them and are thankful for their sacrifice. For those who are faraway, say a prayer for them tonight, and thank God for their role in your live.
（图片取自网络）