“为义受逼迫的人有福了，因为天国是他们的。” – 太 5:10
今天让我们再次聚焦在马太福音第5章中耶稣的祝福（八福）。这些话一直在鼓励着身处逆境、在搅扰和压迫中挣扎的信徒。然而，在成功和自我满足受到如此高度重视的今天，这些话似乎不那么有吸引力了。今天的经文可能会让我们困惑，因耶稣的缘故受逼迫会有怎样的祝福呢？
为自己的错误受苦往往是一种羞耻。但为义受苦（因着我们跟随耶稣），就可以在主里喜乐。在我们之前，神的先知和使徒为了公义和正直忍受了许多屈辱，因为他们努力按着神的心意而活。同样，耶稣也因为行善和教导神国的事而受到迫害。
使徒保罗说：“凡立志在基督耶稣里敬虔度日的也都要受逼迫”（提后 3:12）。所以作为耶稣的跟随者，我们可能会面临一些苦难。但是，正如保罗所教导的，“现在的苦楚若比起将来要显于我们的荣耀就不足介意了。”（罗 8:18）我们现在享受的福份，只是永恒祝福的前奏！
祷告
主啊，尽管我们可能面临困难，但求你让我们的心充满平安和喜乐，因为我们知道我们将永远与你同在！阿们。
马太福音 5:10-12
10为义受逼迫的人有福了！因为天国是他们的。
11人若因我辱骂你们，逼迫你们，捏造各样坏话毁谤你们，你们就有福了。
12应当欢喜快乐，因为你们在天上的赏赐是大的。在你们以前的先知，人也是这样逼迫他们。
The Happiness Of Suffering
“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 5:10
Let’s focus again today on Jesus’ statements of blessing (beatitudes) in Matthew 5. These statements have been a source of encouragement for believers struggling with adversity, harassment, and oppression. These words may not seem so attractive today, however, when success and self-sufficiency are so highly valued. Our Scripture reading today, especially, might cause us to wonder what happiness there can be in facing persecution because of Jesus.
Suffering for our own mistakes tends to be a source of shame. But to suffer for the sake of righteousness (because we are followers of Jesus) is a cause for joy in the Lord. The Lord’s prophets and apostles who lived before us suffered many kinds of humiliations for the sake of righteousness and justice—just because they were trying to live God’s way. Jesus, likewise, was persecuted for doing good and teaching about the kingdom of God.
The apostle Paul says that “everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12). So we can expect to face some kind of suffering as Jesus’ followers. But, as Paul also teaches, “our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18). The happiness we enjoy now is just a prelude to our eternal happiness!
Prayer
Lord, despite the difficulties we may face, fill our hearts with peace and happiness in serving you, knowing we will live with you forever! Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
