八福
當社會反擊時
經文
腓立比書一12-30
12弟兄們，我願意你們知道，我所遭遇的事更是叫福音興旺，
13以致我受的捆鎖在禦營全軍和其餘的人中，已經顯明是為基督的緣故。
14並且那在主裡的弟兄多半因我受的捆鎖就篤信不疑，越發放膽傳神的道，無所懼怕。
15有的傳基督是出於嫉妒紛爭，也有的是出於好意。
16這一等是出於愛心，知道我是為辯明福音設立的；
17那一等傳基督是出於結黨，並不誠實，意思要加增我捆鎖的苦楚。
18這有何妨呢？或是假意，或是真心，無論怎樣，基督究竟被傳開了。為此，我就歡喜，並且還要歡喜；
19因為我知道，這事藉著你們的祈禱和耶穌基督之靈的幫助，終必叫我得救。
20照著我所切慕、所盼望的，沒有一事叫我羞愧。只要凡事放膽，無論是生是死，總叫基督在我身上照常顯大。
21因我活著就是基督，我死了就有益處。
22但我在肉身活著，若成就我工夫的果子，我就不知道該挑選甚麼。
23我正在兩難之間，情願離世與基督同在，因為這是好得無比的。
24然而，我在肉身活著，為你們更是要緊的。
25我既然這樣深信，就知道仍要住在世間，且與你們眾人同住，使你們在所信的道上又長進又喜樂，
26叫你們在基督耶穌裡的歡樂，因我再到你們那裡去，就越發加增。
27只要你們行事為人與基督的福音相稱，叫我或來見你們，或不在你們那裡，可以聽見你們的景況，知道你們同有一個心志，站立得穩，為所信的福音齊心努力。
28凡事不怕敵人的驚嚇，這是證明他們沉淪，你們得救都是出於神。
29因為你們蒙恩，不但得以信服基督，並要為他受苦。
30你們的爭戰，就與你們在我身上從前所看見、現在所聽見的一樣。
信息分享
今天我們要來研讀能帶給我們美好的靈性和心理健康的第八福，也是最後一條處方：「為義受逼迫的人有福了！因為天國是他們的」（太五10）。當我們的態度與基督相配合時，無可避免的結果是，我們的生命會成為對別人一種無聲的審判。沒有人喜歡受審判，因此他們會以迫害作為反擊。有人說：「社會要求一致：如果你夠不上這個標準，它會懲罰你；如果你超越它的標準，它會迫害你。它要求平均、灰暗的一致。」
不過，真正的基督徒並不與人一致，而是站出來。耶穌說：「人都說你們好的時候，你們就有禍了」（路六26）。如果他們說我們好，我們可能太像他們。不要弄錯，公義的人會受到逼迫，這是無可避免的。我們一旦採納基督提出的原則，世人便會以敵意和怨恨作為回應。
瓊斯博士（Dr. E. Stanley Jones）說，一個人成了基督徒後，第一件要習慣的事情便是看見自己的血。這有著相仿的意思。你現在是為義受逼迫嗎？世界是否因為你支援主耶穌基督，而將它的仇恨和敵意發洩在你身上？如果是，請不要灰心。因為那逼迫最終證明了──你是你的主真正的門徒，是神的兒子，是天國的子民。
「我們的生命成為對別人無聲的審判」
進深研究
太十16-42，二十四9；路二十一12
1.我們當如何被差派出去？
2.耶穌的應許是什麼？
祈禱
我的父、我的神，感謝您今天教導快樂的最後一條處方。求您幫助我能夠明白這處方背後所隱藏著的深刻真理。求您堅固我，讓我不怕看見自己的血。奉耶穌的名祈求。阿們。
The Beatitudes
When society kicks back
Bible reading:
Philippians 1:12-30
12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters,[a] that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.
13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard[b] and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.
14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.
15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.
16 The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.
17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.
18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,
19 for I know that through your prayers and God's provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.[c]
20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!
23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;
24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.
25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,
26 so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.
27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit,[d] striving together as one for the faith of the gospel
28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God.
29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him,
30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
Message
Become now to Christ's eighth and final prescription for good spiritual and mental health: "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 5:10). The inevitable result of bringing our attitudes in line with Christ's attitudes is that our lives become a silent judgement upon others. And men and women do not like to be judged, so they kick back in persecution. "Society," said someone, "demands conformity: if you fall beneath its standards, it will punish you; if you rise above its standards, it will persecute you. It demands an average, grey conformity."
The true Christian, however, does not conform - he stands out. "Woe to you," said Jesus, "when all men speak well of you" (Luke 6:26). If they do speak well of us, then it could be that we are too much like them. Let there be no mistake about this, the righteous will be persecuted - inevitably so. Once we adopt the principles which Christ presents, the men and women of the world are going to react with hostility and indignation.
Dr E. Stanley Jones was close to the mark when he said that the first thing a person must get used to when he or she becomes a Christian is the sight of their own blood. Are you being persecuted for righteousness' sake at the moment? Is the world venting its hatred and hostility upon you because of your stand for the Lord Jesus Christ? Then take heart - the persecution is the final proof, if one is needed, that you are a true disciple of your Master, a child of God and a citizen of heaven.
"Our lives become a silent judgement on others"
Prayer
My Father and my God, help me not to miss the deep underlying truth in this, the last of Your prescriptions for happiness. Strengthen me so that I am unafraid of seeing my own blood. In Jesus' Name I ask it. Amen.
Further study
Matthew 10:16-42; 24:9
Luke 21:12
1. How are we sent out?
2. What was Jesus' promise?
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