八福
哀傷的目的
經文
哥林多後書一1-11
1奉神旨意作基督耶穌使徒的保羅和兄弟提摩太，寫信給在哥林多神的教會，並亞該亞遍處的眾聖徒。
2願恩惠、平安從神我們的父和主耶穌基督歸與你們！
3願頌贊歸與我們的主耶穌基督的父神，就是發慈悲的父，賜各樣安慰的神。
4我們在一切患難中，他就安慰我們，叫我們能用神所賜的安慰去安慰那遭各樣患難的人。
5我們既多受基督的苦楚，就靠基督多得安慰。
6我們受患難呢，是為叫你們得安慰，得拯救；我們得安慰呢，也是為叫你們得安慰；這安慰能叫你們忍受我們所受的那樣苦楚。
7我們為你們所存的盼望是確定的，因為知道你們既是同受苦楚，也必同得安慰。
8弟兄們，我們不要你們不曉得，我們從前在亞西亞遭遇苦難，被壓太重，力不能勝，什至連活命的指望都絕了；
9自己心裡也斷定是必死的，叫我們不靠自己，隻靠叫死人復活的神。
10他曾救我們脫離那極大的死亡，現在仍要救我們，並且我們指望他將來還要救我們。
11你們以祈禱幫助我們，好叫許多人為我們謝恩，就是為我們因許多人所得的恩。
信息分享
今天我們繼續來思考主的第二福：「哀慟的人有福了！因為他們必得安慰」。（有福可以解作快樂）「哀慟」這個詞不單指因為親愛的人死去而哀傷，牠也包括生命中所有我們感到受壓、破碎或悲痛的經驗。我覺得在這節經文的譯本中，翻譯得最好的是昨天引述的菲力浦斯譯本。讓我在這裡再次引述：「知道什麼是哀傷的人是快樂的，因為他們將得到勇氣和安慰。」
為什麼我說，那些受困於沮喪或哀傷痛苦中的人應該受到祝賀？經文的結論提供了答案：「因為他們必得安慰」。然後呢？那就是用他們所得到的安慰去安慰別人。請你再思想今天引用的經文，或者參考菲力浦斯（J B Phillips）譯本所說的：「在我們的所有考驗中，他安慰我們，以致我們能夠以一種強烈的同理心，去扶持那些有困難的人。」
我在給基督徒輔導員提供培訓的時候，有一件總是觸動我的事情，就是最好的輔導員往往是那些能夠理解深刻傷痛的人。主有沒有容許你身處逆境？有的話，恭喜你！你可以接受神的安慰，而這安慰會讓你對別人的需要更敏銳，也會加強你在基督裡的服事。無論你做什麼，都不要求神將你從痛苦和哀傷的經驗中釋放出來，因為相比你所付出的代價，這些經歷將為你帶來更大的價值。
「我面對困難的態度將會徹底轉變」
進深研究
約十六1-16，十四26，十五26；林前十四31；帖前五11-14
1. 我們從哪裡得到安慰？
2. 「安慰」這個詞對你有什麼意義？
祈禱
親愛的主，求您幫助我掌握今天所學習的真理，不隻在頭腦上也在我的靈裡。我意識到隻要我能學懂這個真理，我面對困難的態度就會徹底轉變。奉耶穌的名祈求，阿們。
The Beatitudes
The purpose of Sorrow
Bible reading:
2 Corinthians 1:1-11
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God in Corinth, together with all his holy people throughout Achaia:
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,
4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.
6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.
7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.
8 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters,[a] about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself.
9 Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.
10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us,
11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.
Message
We continue meditating on our Lord's second Beatitude: "Blessed [or happy] are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." The word "mourn" has reference to more than just sorrowing over the death of a loved one; it includes all those experiences in life where we may feel crushed, broken or sorrowful. I feel the best translation of this verse is the one given by J. B. Phillips which I quoted yesterday. Permit me to quote it once again: "Happy are those who know what sorrow means, for they will be given courage and comfort."
Why should people who are caught up in the throes of distressing and sorrowful experiences be congratulated? The conclusion of the verse gives the answer: "for they will be comforted". And what then? Out of the comfort they receive, they are able to give comfort to others. Examine the text at the top of this page again, or listen to it as J. B. Phillips paraphrases it: "For he gives us comfort in all our trials so that we in turn may be able to give the same sort of strong sympathy to others in their troubles."
One of the things which often intrigues me in my work of training Christian counsellors is the fact that the best counsellors are those who have known the deepest hurts. Has the Lord allowed you to go through deep waters? Congratulations! You are a candidate for receiving the divine comfort which, in turn, will deepen your sensitivity to others and enrich your ministry in the Body of Christ. Don't, whatever you do, ask God to deliver you from painful or sorrowful experiences - they are worth much, much more than they cost.
"My entire approach to problems can be transformed"
Prayer
Blessed Lord, help me to grasp this fact, not just with my mind, but with the whole of my spirit. I see that if I can learn this truth, my entire approach to problems can be transformed. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.
Further study
John 16:1-16; 14:26; 15:26
1 Corinthians 14:31
1 Thessalonians 5:11-14
1. From where do we receive our comfort?
2. What does the word "comfort" mean to you?
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