9月9日──一生足矣 The life is worth enough.
讀 經：使徒行傳20章17-32節
(New living translation)
17 But when we landed at Miletus, he sent a message to the elders of the church
at Ephesus, asking them to come and meet him.
18 When they arrived he declared, “You know that from the day I set foot in the
province of Asia until now 19 I have done the Lord’s work humbly and with many
tears. I have endured the trials that came to me from the plots of the Jews. 20
I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or
in your homes. 21 I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike—the necessity
of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus.
22 “And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what
awaits me, 23 except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail
and suffering lie ahead. 24 But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it
for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others
the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.
25 “And now I know that none of you to whom I have preached the Kingdom will
ever see me again. 26 I declare today that I have been faithful. If anyone
suffers eternal death, it’s not my fault, 27 for I didn’t shrink from declaring
all that God wants you to know.
28 “So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his
church, purchased with his own blood —over which the Holy Spirit has appointed
you as elders. 29 I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in
among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. 30 Even some men from your own
group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following. 31 Watch
out! Remember the three years I was with you—my constant watch and care over you
night and day, and my many tears for you.
32 “And now I entrust you to God and the message of his grace that is able to
build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he has set apart for
himself.
17
保羅從米利都打發人往以弗所去，請教會的長老來。
18 他們來了，保羅就說：你們知道，自從我到亞西亞的日子以來，在你們中間始終為人如何，
19 服事主，凡事謙卑，眼中流淚，又因猶太人的謀害，經歷試煉。
20 你們也知道，凡與你們有益的，我沒有一樣避諱不說的，或在眾人面前，或在各人家裡，我都教導你們；
21 又對猶太人和希利尼人證明當向神悔改，信靠我主耶穌基督。
22 現在我往耶路撒冷去，心甚迫切（原文是心被捆綁），不知道在那裡要遇見甚麼事；
23 但知道聖靈在各城裡向我指證，說有捆鎖與患難等待我。
24 我卻不以性命為念，也不看為寶貴，只要行完我的路程，成就我從主耶穌所領受的職事，證明神恩惠的福音。
25 我素常在你們中間來往，傳講神國的道；如今我曉得，你們以後都不得再見我的面了。
26 所以我今日向你們證明，你們中間無論何人死亡，罪不在我身上（原文是我於眾人的血是潔淨的）。
27 因為神的旨意，我並沒有一樣避諱不傳給你們的。
28 聖靈立你們作全群的監督，你們就當為自己謹慎，也為全群謹慎，牧養神的教會，就是他用自己血所買來的（或作：救贖的）。
29 我知道，我去之後必有兇暴的豺狼進入你們中間，不愛惜羊群。
30 就是你們中間，也必有人起來說悖謬的話，要引誘門徒跟從他們。
31 所以你們應當儆醒，記念我三年之久晝夜不住的流淚、勸戒你們各人。
32 如今我把你們交託神和他恩惠的道；這道能建立你們，叫你們和一切成聖的人同得基業。
金 句：「無論是生是死，總叫基督在我身上照常顯大。」（腓立比書1章20節）
20 For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will
continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my
life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die.
一位年長的基督徒渴望地說：「喔！我真希望能將時光倒退20年，所以我可以繼續服事主。」這是值得讚美的期望卻是不可能實現的，我們所有的人都被賜予一條生命。不管是長是短，只要在上帝掌管的目標之內，這一生就足夠了。
A senior Christian longingly said: "Oh! I really hope that I can back up for 20
years, therefore I may continue serve God." This is the expectation which is
worth praising, but it actually is impossible to realize, All of us are granted
for one life. No matter life is long or short, as long as in the goal which God
governs, then it is worth enough.
在使徒行傳20章22-23節及21章11節，上帝透露說有患難及死亡的可能在耶路撒冷等待著保羅。保羅並沒有逃避前往耶路撒冷，反而說：「我卻不以性命為念，也不看為寶貝，只要行完我的路程，成就我從主耶穌所領受的職事，證明上帝恩惠的福音。」（20章24節）保羅的目標並不是延長他的宣教工作而是把它完成。
In Acts 20 22-23 and 21:11, God disclosed "There are the adversity and the death
possibly waiting for Paul in Jerusalem." Paul did not evade going to Jerusalem,
instead said: " But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing
the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News
about the wonderful grace of God." (20:24)
Paul's goal certainly is not to extend his missionary work but is to complete
it.
我們的目標和保羅相同，「無論是生是死」，應該是要以我們的身體來榮耀基督。那麼，假如有需要的話，我們就禁得起以喪失我們的自由及生命做代價，我們可以確定上帝將會用別人繼續他的事工並且把它完成。
Our goal is the same as Paul, "Whether we live or die", should be glory Christ by our body. Then, if it has the need, we can endure to lose our freedom and the life for the price, and we may confirm God will be able to use the others to continue his work and to complete it.
保羅的死亡並沒有結束他的影響力。在使徒行傳20章28節，他把宣教事工傳給教會的監督，直到今日，我們仍舊從他生命的益處中收取回報。
Paul's death did not certainly finish his influence. In Acts 20:28, he gave
missionary works to elders in the church. Until today, we still get the profit
from his life.
生命短暫就如「一片雲霧」（雅各書4章14節），藉著基督的幫助，讓我們把生命投資在能比我們更持久的某些事物上。
Your life is like the morning fog (James 4:4), Depending on Christ's help, let
us invest on things which are more lasting than our life.
唯有這個時刻是屬我的，主啊！
願它能為你所用；
願每個消逝的時刻，
都有永恆的價值。
Only this time is mine, Lord!
May it be able to use for you;
May every elapsing time,
all have the eternal value.
默想：
為基督而活使生命活出價值來。
Meditation:
For the sake of Christ to live in order to live in the value of life.