Month of Praising - Day 6

1 Peter 1:3-9

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, ⁵ who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. ⁶ In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷ that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, ⁸ whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, ⁹ receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
             ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
One the most notable marks of the world and its prince is the chasing after the wind, hoping in materials that never satisfy, and in rebellion vainly worshiping creation instead of its Creator. The sadness is that though eternity is offered, the world chooses perishing decay as it puts its hope in things which are fading away. Yet, redeemed kingdom people have been born again out of God’s great mercy to a living hope that never perishes, fades, or becomes defiled as it is guarded by God himself, like one defending a fortress. This faith is not without its trials but like gold refined by fire, our tested faith results in genuine praise and glory and honor to Jesus Christ. Remember that true praise is not primarily for materials or blessings but for Christ our Lord; praise is not really for his gifts but for the Giver of those gifts.  
Never think your faith is less because you have not yet seen Jesus with your physical eyes. R.C. Sproul notes, “In the Bible, hope is not uncertainty or wishful thinking, but a confident expectation of future blessing based on facts and promises.” The great fact and promise here is that at the revelation of Jesus at his second coming our salvation will be completely realized. For this brothers and sisters we can praise fervently now and rejoice one day soon with such inexpressible joy!

第 6 天 彼前 1:3-9

3 願頌讚歸與我們主耶穌基督的父神！他曾照自己的大憐憫，藉耶穌基督從死裡復活，重生了我們，叫我們有活潑的盼望，

4 可以得著不能朽壞、不能玷污、不能衰殘、為你們存留在天上的基業。

5 你們這因信蒙神能力保守的人，必能得著所預備、到末世要顯現的救恩。

6 因此，你們是大有喜樂；但如今，在百般的試煉中暫時憂愁，

7 叫你們的信心既被試驗，就比那被火試驗仍然能壞的金子更顯寶貴，可以在耶穌基督顯現的時候得著稱讚、榮耀、尊貴。

8 你們雖然沒有見過他，卻是愛他；如今雖不得看見，卻因信他就有說不出來、滿有榮光的大喜樂；9並且得著你們信心的果效，就是靈魂的救恩。

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

這個世界最顯著的標誌就是屬世界的人追逐如風般虛無的東西，寄希望於無法帶來真正滿足的物質，不敬拜創造萬物的 神，反而去敬拜被造之物。可悲的是雖然 神賜下永生，然而世界卻選擇滅亡，把希望寄托在轉瞬即逝的東西上。然而，在 神的奇妙的恩典中重生得救的人的盼望不會消失、減弱或者被玷污，因為 神親自守護者他們，就像衛兵守護堡壘一般。這樣的信心不是沒有試煉的。但這樣的信心在試煉過後就如精金經過火燒，我們的信心被試煉的結果就是全然的讚美耶穌、榮耀耶穌和尊崇耶穌。請記住，真實的讚美不是因為物質上的得著和祝福，而是單單為著耶穌基督，我們的主。讚美不僅僅是為了他賜給我們的禮物，而且為了賜給我們禮物的這一位。

永遠不要認為你的信心比別人小，因為在肉身上，你並未見過耶穌。 R.C.Sproul寫過：“在聖經裡，盼望並不是不確定的想法或是一種滿懷希望的想法，而是基於事實和應許上對未來祝福的預見和確信。”這個偉大的應許就是耶穌復活升天後將會再次回來使得我們的救恩得以完全。因此，弟兄姐妹們，我們現在可以常常讚美，因著很快將至的那一天而滿心歡喜！