試煉中的歌吟 Song of Trial

經文：哥林多後書4：8-11，17-18
8 我們四面受敵、卻不被困住．心裏作難、卻不至失望．
9 遭逼迫、卻不被丟棄．打倒了、卻不至死亡．
10 身上常帶著耶穌的死、使耶穌的生、也顯明在我們身上。
11 因為我們這活著的人、是常為耶穌被交於死地、使耶穌的生、在我們這必死的身上顯明出來。
17 我們這至暫至輕的苦楚、要為我們成就極重無比永遠的榮耀。
18 原來我們不是顧念所見的、乃是顧念所不見的．因為所見的是暫時的、所不見的是永遠的。

洪啓元弟兄把它譜成了一首詩歌。歌詞是這麼說的：
當我四面受敵 不被困住　心裏作難 不至失望
逼迫卻不被丟棄　打倒卻不至死亡 耶穌的生顯明在我身上
將我的眼光　放在未來　讓我的盼望　定睛天上
暫時的苦楚 在榮耀的光中蛻變成不朽的生命與剛強
黎明的曙光即將到來 雨後有彩虹高掛穹蒼
死亡與復活僅是一線之隔　試煉後綻放出屬天的光亮

為什麼這首歌能夠感動人？因為它有保羅生命的見證。這使我想起上週的宣教年會，邱牧師再次提醒我們，我們是世上的鹽和光，只要是基於愛心，自己是否受歡迎並不是最重要的。重要的是我們敢于用生命和生活為主做見證，如此我們就能在生活的四周，將主的光藉著自己反射出去，照亮自己周遭的人。到那日，主必慈愛地對我們說“做得好，我忠心良善的僕人。”

2 Corinthians 4:8-18
8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;
9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.
17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

During our mission conference last weekend, Pastor Chiu reminded us that the problem with today's church is that Christians are afraid of being witnesses to the world, some churches/Christians choose to be "popular" or choose not to offend others. I totally agree with him. As a matter of fact, I can see that happens every single day. May God help us and strength us.