我们许多人都知道，要在全世界赢得奖牌需要付上怎样的代价。比如说在奥林匹克中赢得奖牌的人，他们的成就并不完全是白白的恩典，或因为有人偏爱他们。不，他们为了变得比别人更强壮、更快，每天都练习好几个小时，并且成年累月。
保罗在这段经文中使用了竞技运动的画面，古代世界的人们也知道，要获得超凡的运动技能需要付出的代价。但是，这些经文如何与神的恩典相协调呢？在之前的经文中，保罗认为他的那些属人的成就都是“粪土”，那么这个奖牌的画面如何与此调和呢？
对保罗来说，认识到耶稣以恩典成就了奇妙救恩，这会激励他以感恩的服事完全献上自己给这位救主。保罗很清楚地知道他不能赚取救恩。但是他同时也知道，我们一旦靠着恩典领受了救恩，就应该有奥林匹克运动员的决心，为了神的荣耀竭尽全力。
当父神看到我们遇见耶稣之后，回应圣灵在我们里面的工作，如何生活，祂说：“你使我想起我的儿子”；我们听见这话岂不是一种喜乐吗？这是一个目标，我们都应以世界级运动员的热情去竭力追求！
亲爱的神，愿祢藉着圣洁福音之美，感动和激励我们每一天都愿意更多地被转化，更像耶稣。奉祂的名祷告，阿们。
腓立比书 3:12-14
12 这不是说我已经得着了，已经完全了，我乃是竭力追求，或者可以得着基督耶稣所以得着我的 。
13 弟兄们，我不是以为自己已经得着了，我只有一件事，就是忘记背后，努力面前的，
14 向着标竿直跑，要得神在基督耶稣里从上面召我来得的奖赏。
"I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." — Philippians 3:14
Many of us know what it takes to win prizes in this world. People who win medals at the Olympics, for example, do not achieve that by sheer grace or because someone decided to be nice to them. No, they practice many hours a day for years to get stronger and faster than anyone else.
Paul uses competitive athletic imagery in this passage, and the ancient world knew as well as we do what it takes to attain athletic prowess. But how do these verses align with the message of God’s grace? Earlier in this chapter Paul deemed his human achievements as “garbage,” so how does this prize image fit with that?
Well, for Paul, the grace-granted knowledge of Jesus’ amazing work of salvation for us motivated him to give his all in grateful service to the Savior. Paul knew full well that we cannot earn salvation. But he also knew that once we receive salvation by grace, we should have all the determination of an Olympic athlete to do our best for God’s glory.
When God the Father looks at how we have lived after encountering Jesus and responding to the Spirit’s work in us, won’t it be a joy to hear him say, “You remind me of my Son”? That’s a goal we should all pursue with the zeal of a world-class athlete!
By the beauty of the holy gospel, dear God, move and motivate us to seek to be transformed more and more every day after the image of Jesus Christ. In his name, Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
