[今日經文 Today’s Reading: 雅各書 James 1-3]
1:2 我的弟兄們，你們遭受各種試煉時，都要認為是大喜樂， 3 因為知道你們的信心經過考驗，就生忍耐。 4 但要讓忍耐發揮完全的功用，使你們能又完全又完整，一無所缺。
雅各書 James 1:2-4
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
我們中國人喜歡討價還價，以爭取到最好的交易。 我曾經聽到有人說他”什麼都吃, 就是不吃虧”。 許多人“成為基督徒” 是為了在地上過上更好的生活。 但耶穌警告我們會因他而，被世界仇恨，而這一警告正應驗在我們的時代。 因此，當我們遇到試煉時，我們不要抱怨或灰心！ 相反，我們應該“都要以為大喜樂”，因為上帝在我們生命中的試煉是有目的的，“因為知道你們的信心經過試驗 ， 就生忍耐 。4 但忍耐也當成功 ， 使你們成全 、 完備 ， 毫無缺欠 。” “以為 Count”是一個財務術語，因此保羅對我們來說意味著要根據試煉所帶來的”利益”來考慮試煉。
台灣軍隊有句諺語：“合理的要求是訓練，不合理的要求是磨練”。 高中畢業後，在我去兵役軍事訓練營之前，我很擔心自己是否能夠應付體能訓練的要求。 但我不斷提醒自己，培訓對我來說實際上是一個很好的機會，所以我把每一個要求和挑戰都看作是對我有益的事情。 抱著這種態度，我盡了最大的努力，令我驚訝的是，我成功地從新兵訓練營結訓且還得獎。
“上帝使萬事互相效力，叫愛祂的人得益處”（羅馬書 8:28）。 毫無疑問，2022年對我來說是一個試煉，因為多次去醫院和住院，但不管什麼事發生在我們身上，讓我們“得到最好的交易”，而不是抱怨，而是“都要以為大喜樂” ，並讓上帝使我們“又完全又完整，一無所缺”。
禱告：親愛的天父，求祢賜給我們信心，讓我們在面對各種試煉時，都能“以為大喜樂”，讓祢的工作成就在我們身上，使我們“又完全又完整，一無所缺”。 奉耶穌的名，阿們。
We Chinese like to bargain for the best deal. I once heard someone say that he would be willing to “eat” anything but disadvantage. Many “become Christians” in order to have a better life on earth. Yet Jesus warned us that we would be hated by the world because of Him, and we see that warning being played out in our lifetime. So when we meet trials, we should not complain or lose heart! Instead we should “count it all joy”, because there is purpose in the trials that God allows in our lives. The testing of our faith will produce steadfastness and cause us to “be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing”! “Count” is a financial term, so Paul means for us to consider trials in terms of the benefit they will bring.
In Taiwan’s military, there is a saying: “The reasonable requirement is the training; the unreasonable requirement is the sharpening.” After graduating from high school, before I went to a mandatory military boot camp, I was very worried about whether or not I would be able to handle the demands of the physical training. But I kept reminding myself that the training would actually be a great opportunity for me, so I counted every demand and challenge as something positive for my life. Holding on to this attitude, I put forth my best effort and to my surprise I successfully graduated from the boot camp with honors.
“God causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him” (Romans 8:28). No doubt the year 2022 has been a trial for me due to the many hospital visits and stays, but no matter what has happened to us, let us “get the best deal”, and, instead of fretting, “count it all joy”, and allow God to make us “perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, may You give us the faith to “count it all joy” when we face all kinds of trials, and let Your work be done in us to make us “perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” In Jesus’ name, Amen.
