4月30日
标 题： 为他人受苦
经 节： 现在我为你们受苦，倒觉欢乐；并且为基督的身体，就是为教会，要在我肉身上补满基督患难的缺欠。（歌罗西书一章24节）
事工必得付上昂贵的代价。当天父要由罪中拯救祂所创造的人类，祂发现除非牺牲自己的儿子，别无他法（罗马书五：8）。圣经赤裸裸地描写救主为我们的救恩所付上的代价：“祂被藐视，被人厌弃；多受痛苦，常经忧患……。”（以赛亚书五十三：3）如果基督是你事奉的榜样，为了他人的利益，你不能拒绝上十字架。我们的主付上昂贵的代价，才换取救恩。如果“背上自己的十字架”跟随耶稣，是要把救恩带给你周围的人所付的代价，那么我们一定要预备与祂一同迈入受难之地。
如果要把人带到基督的面前，一定要甘冒被人拒绝之险，就像我们的恩主从前一样。人们可能会令我们失望，误解我们的动机，甚至藐视与迫害我们。祂并没有让痛苦阻止自己完成神救恩的计画，把救恩带给那些神所爱的人。对天父的爱是祂愿意付出代价的动力。你是否正在神所呼召你的事奉中，陷入苦境？你是否开始怀疑自己付的代价太高？花时间思考神为你的救恩所付出的代价。你是否因着为祂付这代价而高兴呢？你难道不愿意为了添加祂的事工，而付上必要的代价，把救恩带给你周围的人们吗？
Suffering for Others
I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is
lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the
church. (Colossians 1:24)
Ministry is costly. When the heavenly Father wanted to save His creation
from sin, He could find no other way except the sacrifice of His Son (Rom.
5:8). Scripture gives a stark picture of the price our Savior paid to obtain
our salvation: “He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and
acquainted with grief” (Isa. 53:3). If Christ is your model for ministry, you
cannot avoid going to the cross for the sake of others. Salvation comes with a
great price, and if we are going to “take up our cross” and follow Jesus, then
we must be prepared to go with Him to the place of suffering if that’s what it
takes to bring salvation to those around us.
If our goal is to bring others to Christ we must be willing, as He was,
to risk rejection. People may disappoint us, misunderstand our motives, even
despise and persecute us. Our Savior did not let suffering prevent Him from
being used by God to bring salvation to those He loved. Love for His Father
provided all the motivation that was necessary. Are you presently experiencing
hardship because of the ministry to which God has called you? Have you begun to
wonder if the price you are paying is too great? Take a moment to reflect on
the price God was willing to pay in order to bring salvation to you. Are you
glad He was willing to do what was necessary? Will you not join Him in whatever
is necessary to bring salvation to those around you?
