在腓立比书 3:8希腊原文中有一个不太好的词。这个词经常被翻译成“垃圾”，希腊文实际的意思更接近一堆臭气熏天的粪便。这不是一个文明的词汇，但值得注意的是，保罗使用这个词来形容他从前的宗教成就。在他生命的早期，他作为法利赛人的身份，近乎完美地持守神的律法，这些是他的功绩。他曾确信这些加起来最终会帮他获得金闪闪的进天堂门票。
后来，他在异象中遇见耶稣，神升天的儿子，祂舍弃了自己的生命，付上了我们罪的代价，成就了救恩。保罗一旦意识到要除掉人类的罪孽，代价是多么昂贵，他就知道，他曾经以为我们人可以为自己的罪付上代价的任何想法都是错误的。事实上，任何这样的想法不止是错误：它是垃圾，没用，无关紧要，空洞，像一堆粪土。我们可以感谢圣灵在我们生命中所做的一切。我们不必轻视我们所结的圣灵的果子。但保罗敦促我们，一刻也不要认为这样的事能使你与神联合。这联合需要十字架，需要神的儿子一次为所有人献上生命。愿所有荣耀都归给神！
亲爱的救主，请在我们心中闪耀祢十字架的光芒，好使我们一刻也不以自己的善行取代祢至高的牺牲。奉祢的名祷告，阿们。
腓立比书 3:4-9
4 其实我也可以靠肉体，若是别人想他可以靠肉体，我更可以靠着了。
5 我第八天受割礼，我是以色列族便雅悯支派的人，是希伯来人所生的希伯来人。就律法说，我是法利赛人；
6 就热心说，我是逼迫教会的；就律法上的义说，我是无可指摘的。
7 只是我先前以为于我有益的，我现在因基督都当做有损的。
8 不但如此，我也将万事当做有损的，因我以认识我主基督耶稣为至宝。我为他已经丢弃万事，看做粪土，为要得着基督，
9 并且得以在他里面，不是有自己因律法而得的义，乃是有信基督的义，就是因信神而来的义；
"I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. . . . I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ. . . ." — Philippians 3:8
In Philippians 3:8 the original Greek text includes a word that is not very nice. Often translated as “garbage,” the Greek word actually means something closer to a steaming pile of manure. It is not a word for polite company, but what makes it so striking is that Paul uses this word to describe his former religious accomplishments. Earlier in his life, his status as a Pharisee and a near-perfect keeper of God’s law were his prize achievements. He was sure it all added up to a shiny gold ticket to heaven.
Then, in a vision, he met Jesus, the ascended Son of God, who had made salvation possible by giving up his own life to pay the price for all our sin. Once Paul realized how costly it really was to take away human sin, he knew that any idea he’d ever entertained that we humans could pay for sin on our own was false. In fact, any idea like that was beyond false: it was garbage, useless, futile, hollow, a stinking pile of manure.
We can be thankful for all that the Spirit helps us do in our lives. We need not belittle the fruit of the Spirit we produce. But, Paul urges, do not for one second think that such things reunite you with God. That required a cross and the Son of God’s sacrifice once for all. To God be all the glory!
Shine the light of your cross so brightly in our hearts, dear Savior, that we will not for a moment mistake our good deeds for your supreme sacrifice. In your name, Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
