3月13日
忍受试探
“忍受试探的人是有福的，因为他经过试验以后，必得生命的冠冕；这是主应许给那些爱他之人的。”
雅各书 1:12
英文 Perseverance（坚毅） 是一个很严重的词。拆开这个词，前面的 Per 意思是“经历”，后面的 severance 意思是 “被切断”。所以，perseverance 就意味着经历一个被切断的过程。那些经历过恶劣环境的人能够理解这种长期忍耐的极度痛苦。尤其当这种痛苦是由别人强加给他们的，或者也许是因为他们拒绝了某种诱惑，或者是因为他们不肯轻易屈服。
早期的基督徒们遭受逼迫的原因仅仅就是因为他们跟随了耶稣。他们不得不忍受冷酷的待遇和严峻的的现实。他们必须面对恐惧、威胁、失丧和痛苦。他们一定经历了无数次的试探，就是只要放弃信仰，“与时俱进”，就立刻平安无事。但是他们挺过来了。他们痛苦的试炼，见证了他们坚毅的品格，展现了改变世界的奇迹。坚定地跟随耶稣显然不只是简单的信仰告白，而是要做到每日进深灵命，学习活出基督。
今日祷告：
主耶稣，我很软弱，求祢坚立我。求你给我力量，永不放弃。阿们。
March 13 – Persevere
God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
J AME S 1 : 1 2
Perseverance. What a terrible word. Per means “through,” while severance means “to get cut off.” So perseverance means going through a time of getting cut off. Those who have had to persevere through terrible circumstances understand the near-devastating process of longsuffering, especially when the suffering is caused by someone else, or, perhaps, especially when it means saying no to a tempting desire or cheap escape.
The first Christians were persecuted for simply following Jesus. They had to learn to persevere through some terrible treatment, some harsh realities. They had to face fear and threat and loss and pain. It must have been tempting at times to wonder about giving up and pursuing a path
that would help them fit in better with the world around them. And yet they endured. Their trials proved their perseverance, displaying miraculous character that changed the world.
Perseverance for following Jesus does not come from a mild commitment to faith. It comes only from a daily practice of deep devotion, of learning how to live for Christ.
Pray for the Day:
Lord Jesus, I don’t have the strength in me, unless you enable it. Please give me the motivation to never quit. Amen.
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