2月3日 公然断绝关系

人还把我们看作世界上的污秽。（林前四13）

这并非夸大的话。我们这些称为福音的使者，看不见这话在我们身上实现，不是因为保罗这话不真确，而是我们仍有太多恋栈不舍的事物，以致未让自己成为“世界上的污秽”。“为基督的苦难而受苦”，并不是成圣的证明，乃是“为福音分别出来”的表现。

彼得说：“有火炼的试验临到你们，不要以为奇怪。”我们若对所遇的事以为奇怪，乃是由于我们懦弱胆怯。我们顾惜面子，保持自己不掉入泥泞中去——“我不要低头，我不要折腰”。你大可不必，你是可以咬紧牙根过关的。你可以拒绝神，不让他将你为福音分别出来。你也许会说：“只要福音被传扬，即使自己被看作地上的渣滓，也不介意。”耶稣基督的仆人，就是肯为福音而殉道的人。一个徒有道德修养的人，当他接触到卑污、邪淫和诡诈，人性的良善使他感到极度的恶心，以致退缩不前，在绝望中把心门关闭起来。反之，神救赎的最奇特之处，就是他也爱那些罪恶滔天的人。保罗并没有说神把他分别出来，要造成一个怎样可爱的人，而是“把他儿子启示在我心里”。

祈祷◆噢，主啊，请你以温柔抚慰那被你的话语所刺透而经历破碎的心灵和生命。

February 3 Becoming the “Filth of the World”

We have been made as the filth of the world . . . —1 Corinthians 4:13

These words are not an exaggeration. The only reason they may not be true of us who call ourselves ministers of the gospel is not that Paul forgot or misunderstood the exact truth of them, but that we are too cautious and concerned about our own desires to allow ourselves to become the refuse or “filth of the world.” “Fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ . . .” (Colossians 1:24) is not the result of the holiness of sanctification, but the evidence of consecration-being “separated to the gospel of God . . .” (Romans 1:1).

“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you . . .” (1 Peter 4:12). If we do think the things we encounter are strange, it is because we are fearful and cowardly. We pay such close attention to our own interests and desires that we stay out of the mire and say, “I won't submit; I won't bow or bend.” And you don't have to— you can be saved by the “skin of your teeth” if you like. You can refuse to let God count you as one who is “separated to the gospel . . . .” Or you can say, “I don't care if I am treated like 'the filth of the world' as long as the gospel is proclaimed.” A true servant of Jesus Christ is one who is willing to experience martyrdom for the reality of the gospel of God. When a moral person is confronted with contempt, immorality, disloyalty, or dishonesty, he is so repulsed by the offense that he turns away and in despair closes his heart to the offender. But the miracle of the redemptive reality of God is that the worst and the vilest offender can never exhaust the depths of His love. Paul did not say that God separated him to show what a wonderful man He could make of him, but “to reveal His Son in me. . .” (Galatians 1:16).