我的老朋友经历了极度痛苦的化疗，如今正在康复中，他是一个忠心的基督徒。我探望他时，他笑容满面和谈笑风生。然而，有一刻功夫，他面色凝重地说：“神要我活多久我便活多久，但我不惧怕死亡，因为我认识耶稣。”
今天这段经文是充满力量的一段话，在这里，使徒保罗论到身为基督徒，我们一生总会经历到痛苦，这痛苦往住是我们人性堕落所带来的后果。保罗知道痛苦和受难是怎么一回事，所以，他是从个人经历和神学思考的角度来讨论这个主题的。
保罗坚称：“现在的苦楚若比起将来要显于我们的荣耀，就不足介意了。”这样说并不能减轻我们现在所受的苦，然而它却更突出彰显了将来的荣耀。
基督如何能够藉着我们受苦得荣耀呢？那就是透过我们宣告对衪的爱、透过我们依靠衪的信实、透过我们在痛苦挣扎中仍然抓住神应许的平安。纵使我们不知道该怎样做，不懂得该怎样为我们的境遇祈求，但圣灵必定会帮助我们。
当你受苦时，要记着神的恩典是真实的。没有任何事物能使你与衪在基督耶稣里的爱隔绝。
我们的父，当我们经历困苦时，求你藉着你的灵来激励我们。纵使我们在苦难当中，也求你提醒我们你在基督里为我们预备的荣耀，阿们。
罗马书 8:18-30
18我想，现在的苦楚若比起将来要显于我们的荣耀，就不足介意了。
19受造之物切望等候神的众子显出来。
20因为受造之物服在虚空之下，不是自己愿意，乃是因那叫他如此的；
21但受造之物仍然指望脱离败坏的辖制，得享神儿女自由的荣耀。
22我们知道，一切受造之物一同叹息、劳苦，直到如今。
23不但如此，就是我们这有圣灵初结果子的，也是自己心里叹息，等候得着儿子的名分，乃是我们的身体得赎。
24我们得救是在乎盼望。只是所见的盼望不是盼望。谁还盼望他所见的呢？
25但我们若盼望那所不见的，就必忍耐等候。
26况且，我们的软弱有圣灵帮助。我们本不晓得当怎样祷告，只是圣灵亲自用说不出来的叹息替我们祷告。
27鉴察人心的，晓得圣灵的意思，因为圣灵照着神的旨意替圣徒祈求。
28我们晓得万事都互相效力，叫爱神的人得益处，就是按他旨意被召的人。
29因为他预先所知道的人，就预先定下效法他儿子的模样，使他儿子在许多弟兄中做长子；
30预先所定下的人又召他们来，所召来的人又称他们为义，所称为义的人又叫他们得荣耀。
"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." - Romans 8:18
An old friend of mine, a committed Christian, was recovering from an excruciating chemotherapy treatment. When I visited with him, he smiled and joked a lot. But at one point his face became serious. “I’d like to live for as long as God wants me to. But I’m not afraid to die, because I know Jesus,” he said.
Our reading for today is a powerful passage in which the apostle Paul discusses living, as a Christian, through the suffering that often comes as part of our fallen humanity. The apostle knows what pain and suffering are all about. So he is addressing this topic both personally and theologically.
Paul maintains that “our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” This does not minimize the pain we are going through. Rather, it elevates the much more outstanding glory to come.
How can Christ be glorified in us through our suffering? By our declaration of our love for him, by our trusting in his faithfulness, by our holding to the peace of God despite our pain and struggle. The Spirit always helps us—even if we don’t know what to do and how to pray about our situation.
In your suffering remember that God’s grace is real. Nothing can separate you from his love in Christ Jesus.
Our Father, encourage us with your Spirit when we go through difficult times. Even in our suffering remind us of the glory you have prepared for us in Christ. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
