This video with John Piper is powerful and challenging. What do we expect in the Christian life? How real is Christ to us? In what or who are we putting our hopes? What does our lifestyle say to the lost around us? Are we ready to suffer? 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. - Romans 8:16-18 16 圣 灵 与 我 们 的 心 同 证 我 们 是 神 的 儿 女 ； 17 既 是 儿 女 ， 便 是 後 嗣 ， 就 是 神 的 後 嗣 ， 和 基 督 同 作 後 嗣 。 如 果 我 们 和 他 一 同 受 苦 ， 也 必 和 他 一 同 得 荣 耀 。 18 我 想 ， 现 在 的 苦 楚 若 比 起 将 来 要 显 於 我 们 的 荣 耀 就 不 足 介 意 了 。 - 羅 馬 書 8:16-18 "It is coming, if you walk with him." "The purpose of God in creating the universe is to display the greatness of the glory of his grace, supremely in the suffering of his Son. That's yesterday. Today, the summons; will you join the Son in displaying the supreme satisfaction of the glory of grace in joining him on the Calvary road of suffering because there's no other way the world is going to see the supreme glory of Christ today except that we break free from the Disneyland of America (or materialistic UK, China...) and begin to live lifestyles of missionary sacrifice that looks to the world like our treasure is in heaven and not on the earth. It is the only way... It's not the way you're going to win your campuses - dressing the coolest, driving the coolest, typing on the coolest; it's not going to get any praise for the suffering Christ... He calls you to another way. We join him (Jesus) in that suffering to display the nature of it; how are they (those who are lost) going to see how satisfying he is in us if we look like it's the computer toy that is really satisfying?" - John Piper Lord, give us grace to follow you - YOUR kingdom come, YOUR will be done - not mine. Amen. 12 亲 爱 的 弟 兄 阿 ， 有 火 炼 的 试 验 临 到 你 们 ， 不 要 以 为 奇 怪 （ 似 乎 是 遭 遇 非 常 的 事 ） ， 13 倒 要 欢 喜 ； 因 为 你 们 是 与 基 督 一 同 受 苦 ， 使 你 们 在 他 荣 耀 显 现 的 时 候 ， 也 可 以 欢 喜 快 乐 。 - 彼 得 前 書 4:12-14 "If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for him." - C.T.Studd, missionary |
Reflections - ID >