白白的救恩—付代价的事奉
哥林多后书十一章23至29节
23他们是基督的仆人么？（我说句狂话，）我更是。我比他们多受劳苦，多下监牢，受鞭打是过重的，冒死是屡次有的。
24被犹太人鞭打五次，每次四十减去一下；
25被棍打了三次；被石头打了一次，遇着船坏三次，一昼一夜在深海里。
26又屡次行远路，遭江河的危险、盗贼的危险，同族的危险、外邦人的危险、城里的危险、旷野的危险、海中的危险、假弟兄的危险。
27受劳碌、受困苦，多次不得睡，又饥又渴，多次不得食，受寒冷，赤身露体。
28除了这外面的事，还有为众教会挂心的事，天天压在我身上。
29有谁软弱，我不软弱呢？有谁跌倒，我不焦急呢？
信息分享
保罗在第24至29节提及的经历，在其他书信并无记载。它们只是保罗作为基督的仆人，而付出的其中一些代价。他在这里说出自己的经历，完全是为了自辩；因为哥林多的假教师为了擡举自己，对保罗作出了种种的人身攻击。
保罗与这些攻击他的假教师有极大的分别。他们不断夸耀自己的行为，以及被欢迎的程度；但保罗却道出自己为基督的缘故忍受的痛苦。而如此的经历实在多得难以列举。
有人曾经说过：「没有人可以在没有牺牲下为神作工。」你可以用一种疏离和专业的态度去服侍基督和教会；可是，除非你准备付出代价，感同身受地去服侍别人，否则无法触动他们的生命。
无论你以甚么方式去服侍基督，你如果要履行你的呼召，就必须付出时间、精神、情感和心力；有时甚至会使身体受到亏损。
这是我们每个人所要面对的挑战。我们愿意为基督付出多少？我们愿意以甚么态度来投入事奉？是因循苟且？抑或全心全意？我们有否付出任何代价？服侍是信徒的特权和喜乐，但必须记住：福音是神白白赐给人的，但真正的服侍却要我们付出代价。
要祝福他人，就必须付出代价。
SALVATION IS FREE - SERVICE IS COSTLY
2 Corinthians 11:23-29
23 Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.
24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one.
25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—
28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.
29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?
Message
In verses 24 to 29 there are references to many incidents about which nothing is recorded elsewhere. They were all part of the cost Paul paid as a servant of Christ. The only reason he mentioned them now was to defend himself. False teachers in Corinth were engaged in 'character assassination' against Paul while trying to build themselves up at his expense.
There were tremendous differences between Paul and his opponents. They boasted of their outward appearance and of their own popularity. Paul spoke of the sufferings he had endured for Christ's sake. It is quite a list.
Someone has said, 'God never intended for His work to be carried out without sacrifice.' You can serve Christ and the church in a detached professional way, but you will never really touch lives until you are prepared to pay the cost of identifying with those lives.
Whatever our service is for Christ, if we want to fulfil our opportunity and calling, it is going to cost us time, effort, as well as emotional and spiritual strain. There may even be adverse physical results.
This could be a personal challenge to each of us. How much are we doing for Christ? How are we doing it? Are we simply going through the motions in the same way we have done for years? Or are we putting our heart into whatever it is? Is it costing us anything? It may be a privilege and a joy but remember, the Gospel is free, but real service is costly.
WHEN WE CEASE TO BLEED, WE CEASE TO BLESS.