忍耐也当成功
当雅各写到，我们在试炼中要喜乐，他在表达的是，挑战我们信心的事物可以帮助我们学习和成长。他要说的是我们作为基督的门徒可能会面临的困难，以及这些困难如何坚固我们的信心，帮助我们分辨神的旨意。
例如，耶稣的第一批追随者经常受到逼迫。使徒们被圣灵充满，传扬耶稣的福音，甚至奉耶稣的名医治病人（徒 2-3章）。而他们却被不相信耶稣并祂复活的执政掌权者关进了监狱。使徒们被送上审判席，质问他们从哪里得到权柄来做这样的事。然而，使徒们并没有退缩。他们被圣灵充满，说：“天下人间，没有赐下别的名，我们可以靠着得救。”而且，“顺从神，不顺从人，是应当的。” 尽管他们因为自己的信仰和行为受到惩罚和残酷的鞭打，他们也心里欢喜，“因被算是配为这名受辱”（见徒 4-5章）。
还有一个应对的例证是，我们总要“常作准备，以温柔、敬畏的心回答各人”，说明我们心中盼望的缘由。因为“因行善受苦，总强如因行恶受苦”（彼前 3:15-17）。
主啊，请赐给我们勇气来服事你，并在试炼临到时勇敢面对，使我们在你里面成长成熟。阿们。
雅各书 1:1-8
1做神和主耶稣基督仆人的雅各，请散住十二个支派之人的安！
2我的弟兄们，你们落在百般试炼中，都要以为大喜乐，
3因为知道，你们的信心经过试验就生忍耐。
4但忍耐也当成功，使你们成全、完备，毫无缺欠。
5你们中间若有缺少智慧的，应当求那厚赐于众人也不斥责人的神，主就必赐给他。
6只要凭着信心求，一点不疑惑；因为那疑惑的人就像海中的波浪，被风吹动翻腾。
7这样的人不要想从主那里得什么，
8心怀二意的人在他一切所行的路上都没有定见。
Perseverance
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
When James writes that we should face trials with joy, he is talking about challenges to our faith that can help us learn and grow. He is talking about hardships we may face as believers in Christ, and how those can strengthen our faith and help us discern God's will.
For example, the first followers of Jesus were often persecuted. The apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit to preach the good news of Jesus and even to heal people in Jesus' name (Acts 2-3). And they were thrown in jail by the ruling authorities who did not believe in Jesus and his resurrection. The apostles were put on trial and asked where they got the authority to do such things. But they did not back down. Filled with the Spirit, they said, "There is no other name under heaven . . . by which we must be saved," and, "We must obey God rather than human beings!" And even though they were punished and brutally whipped for their faith and their actions, they had joy "because they had been counted worthy of disgrace for the Name" of Christ (see Acts 4-5).
Another example can be that we are always "prepared to give an answer . . . with gentleness and respect" to explain the hope that we have in Christ. "For it is better . . . to suffer for doing good than for doing evil" (1 Peter 3:15-17).
Lord, give us the courage we need to serve you and to face trials when they come, that we may grow mature in you. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
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