 The Golden Gate Bridge stands when the world shakes because of its foundation. Its two towers, deeply embedded into the rock underneath the sea, firmly hold the rails that link every part of the bridge.
Many build their foundation on how others see them, focusing on creating a strong personal image to promote themselves. They want to appear smart, rich, strong, honorable, and even spiritual. Paul does the opposite. He described himself as fools for Christ, weak, poor, being brutally treated, laborers, scum of the earth, and garbage of the world. 1cor4:10-13. Others’ opinion could not sway him because only God was his judge. 1Cor4:4. Ignoring image-building liberated him. Solid foundation could not be based on transient things such as money, fame, power, health, and look. These external things could vanish in a split-second. Solid foundation depends on our thoughts, desires, intentions, habits, and character. These internal things form our inner world, governing our life, our minutes, days, and years. Have we lived our life with integrity or despair? What we take to eternity is not our resume or our houses, but the person we have become. Let Christ be our foundation. Then we will become God’s building, under God’s construction. 1Cor3:9. We will be transformed into Christ’s image and will become glorious. 2Cor3:18. Our eternal glory far outweighs our current momentary and light troubles. 2Cor4:17. Gradually, we will be filled with goodness that last, with love, joy, and peace; instead of always in a hurry for our ego and envy, filled with chronic anxiety. We will be truthful and authentic; instead of hiding, faking, and making us look better than we really are. We will not be arrogant because we know we are nothing without Christ. We will not be judgmental toward others because we know we are not even qualified to judge ourselves. Even a clear conscience does not mean innocence because we do not know many of our hidden faults. 1Cor4:4. Psalm19:12. Let God be the judge. One day He would bring everything to light, making them clear. 1Cor4:5. To conclude, listen to and follow Christ. Let Christ be our foundation, and let God build us up. Then even in severe storms with rising streams, we, built on the rock by God, would firmly stand. 1Cor3:9; Matthew7:25. Summarized from the following sermons from John Ortberg. https://menlo.church/series/cross-examine#/modal/message/4756/mlo https://menlo.church/series/cross-examine#/modal/message/4791/mlo 设计生命 当大地动摇时，金门大桥屹立不倒因其基础坚固。两座塔深深地嵌入海底的岩石中，牢牢地支撑着连接桥梁的栏轨。 许多人的基础建立在别人如何看待他们，专注于树立强大的个人形象来提升自己。他们想使自己显得聪明，富有，坚强，尊贵, 甚至虔诚。 保罗则刚刚相反。他形容自己為基督的緣故算是愚拙，軟弱, 贫穷，被残酷对待, 勞苦，被人毀謗，又被别人看为败类，萬物中的渣滓 (哥林多前书4：10-13)。别人的意见不能动摇他，因为他相信只有上帝是他的审判者(哥林多前书4：4)。不塑造形象解放了他。 坚实的基础不能建立在金钱，名望，权力，康健和外表等短暂的事物上。这些表面的事可以在一瞬间消失。 坚实的基础取决于我们的思想，欲望，意图，习惯和性格上。这些内里事情构成我们的内心世界，支配着我们的一生, 每一分钟，日子和岁月。我们是否过着正直或绝望的生活？ 我们不能带着我们的简历或房子到永生。我们只能带我们已经成为的人。 让基督当我们的基础。那么我们将成为上帝的建筑物，由上帝建造 (哥林多前书3：9)。我们将转变成基督的形像，并变得光荣 (哥林多后书3：18)。我们永恒的荣耀远远超过了我们目前短暂和轻度的麻烦 (哥林多后书4：17)。 渐渐地，我们将充满永恒的美好，爱，快乐与平安。而且，我们不会总是为自我和嫉妒繁忙，长期焦虑。 我们将是真诚可信的。而且，我们不会隐藏，伪装使我们看来比实际更好。 我们不会自大，因为我们知道没有基督，我们什么都没有。 我们不会批判别人，因为我们知道我们甚至没有资格判断自己。即使问心无愧也不等于我们无罪, 由于我们不知道很多自己隐藏的错误 (哥林多前书4：4；诗篇19:12)。 让上帝做法官。有一天，祂会把一切都显露出来，使之清晰 （哥林多前书4：5）。 总括来说，听从基督。以基督为基础。让上帝建立我们。然后，即使在暴风雨中，尽管溪流不断上升，因我们是父神在岩石上的建造, 我们将坚定地站稳 （哥林多前书3：9; 马太福音7:25）。 Comments are closed.
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