神的旨意──你認識嗎？
羅馬書八章28至30節
28我們曉得萬事都互相效力，叫愛神的人得益處，就是按他旨意被召的人。
29因為他預先所知道的人，就預先定下效法他兒子的模樣，使他兒子在許多弟兄中作長子。
30預先所定下的人又召他們來；所召來的人又稱他們為義；所稱為義的人又叫他們得榮耀。
信息分享
當逆境臨到，我們很難看見它會帶給我們任何好處。而神的旨意在此顯明，請讀第29節，神定意要我們變成祂兒子的形像。我們是否明白這點，或是只是停留在第28節的上半句，卻漠視它的下半句？第28節提出神的旨意，但是，要到第29節才把神的旨意說出來。
我們要緊記兩點：首先，這幾節經文沒有應許我們，成了基督徒後，我們便會生活順遂、事事如意。反之，神會讓我們經歷各種考驗，為的是建立我們，使我們更像基督。
其次，第28節並非如某些人所言的「基督徒宿命論」──比如，「我們的兒子跌斷了腳，但不要緊，萬事都互相效力。」這絕非經文的意思。「萬事互相效力」──效力做甚麼？就是要使我們效法神兒子的形像。這跟我們一般的理解不同，對嗎？
我們有哪些地方像耶穌呢？當有人做了一些傷害我們的事，或用話語中傷我們，我們還會對他流露基督的愛嗎？當失望的事情接踵而來，我們是否仍然信靠神，相信祂會藉此叫我們得益，變得更像基督？這就是神的旨意。我們能夠信靠祂的話，相信祂能藉著各樣境況來成就祂的旨意嗎？
牢記的經文：「就變成主的形狀。」（林後三18）
GOD'S REAL PURPOSE - DO YOU KNOW IT?
Romans 8: 28-30
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified
Message
When adverse circumstances arise, it is hard to see how any good can come from them. Here is where God's purpose comes in. Read verse 29. God's plan is that we might be conformed to the likeness of his Son. Do we realize this or do we stop at the first half of verse 28? Do we ignore the second half? God's purpose is mentioned in verse 28 but it is spelled out for us in verse 29.
There are two points to remember. First, these verses do not promise only happiness and good things to Christians. God allows testing but He wants to use those tests to develop in us more of Christ's character.
Secondly, verse 28 does not mean what has been called “Christian fatalism”. “Our son broke his leg but never mind, all things work together for good.” That is NOT what is meant here. “In all things God works,” doing what? He is seeking to produce more of the likeness of His Son in us. That's a bit different, isn't it?
How much like Jesus are we really? When someone hurts us or speaks against us, how much of Christ's love do we show? When disappointments come, can we still trust in God to turn it to our good and to make us more like Christ? That is what He wants to do. Can we believe His word and trust Him in every situation to work out His will and purpose?
A VERSE TO REMEMBER: “Being transformed into his likeness.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)