 Life is hard, as Scrooge in A Christmas Carol said, “What right have you to be merry? What reason have you to be merry?” But, just before crucifixion, Christ told his disciples they would have His fullest joy (John 16:20-24, 17:13). Christ was about to be tortured and killed, and later the disciples too. Joy? What joy? Let’s learn from Romans 8:28-30.
All of us, to different degrees, will experience or have experienced danger, trouble, hardship, persecution, pain, nakedness, and famine (v35). Bad things happen. In the US, some people sue and assume the side with the truth will prevail. But in reality, all things fall short and are subject to decay, including family and relationships. Anything good that happens to us is grace. Thank God for it. Just don’t be shocked by bad events. Christ wept before the tomb of Lazarus. Sufferings and death may not be blessings in disguise. Christ hated death (John11:33, 38). The death of a child might spur the creation of new laws, but can such laws heal the wound? God didn’t promise His children a comfortable life in this world. Christ didn’t suffer so we wouldn’t suffer; rather, he promised we would. We don’t follow Christ because it is comforting, encouraging or exciting. We follow Him because He is the truth. However, God did promise to accept us as we are. Through Christ, we look good in His eyes (v30). God did promise we would be more like Christ, a person of courage, truth and love (v29). Christ said, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). One day, He would make us new, with no more death. Further, God did promise to glorify His children (v30). This glorification is in past tense, implying a certainty. Christ suffered for the joy set before Him (Hebrews 12:2). Paul suffered but knew that the glory to come eclipsed his sufferings and pain (Romans 8:18). We would suffer. But all things are for the good of those who love God (v28). Bad things will be used for good, though we may not see it during our lifetime on Earth. Always remember that God has accepted us so that we can be more like Christ: renewed and glorified by Him! So, be joyful! Summarized from a Tim Keller sermon, “A Christian’s Happiness.” https://gospelinlife.com/downloads/a-christian-s-happiness-6502/ 人生在世快乐还是痛苦？ 生活并非一帆风顺，乃是充满很多的艰难，正如守财奴（Scrooge）在“圣诞颂歌（A Christmas Carol）” 故事所说，“你有什么权利喜悦？你有什么原因喜悦？”然而基督在被钉十字架之前，告诉门徒将得到满足的喜乐（约翰福音16：20-24, 17：13）。那时基督即将饱受折磨，甚至舍命十架，后来门徒也将受到同一厄運。喜悦？什么喜悦？让我们从罗马书8：28-30中学习。 所有人在不同程度上都曾经历过或将要遭遇危险、患难、困苦、迫害、痛苦、 赤身露体和饥寒交迫（罗马书8：35）。坏事总会发生。 有人以为真理的一方在法庭的诉讼中定然会取胜。 但实际上法律并非总是公平的。万事都有亏缺衰败，包括家庭和其他人际关系。 任何发生的好事都是上帝的恩典，人当为此感谢上帝。只是坏事发生的时候不要震惊。 基督在拉撒路的坟墓前哭泣。苦难和死亡不一定是乔装的祝福。基督也恨恶死亡（约翰福音11：33, 38）。即使一个孩子的死亡可以促成新的法律的产生，这又怎样呢？这些法律可以医治伤痛吗？ 上帝并没有应许祂的儿女在世上享受安逸的生活。基督受苦亦不是为了使信徒在世免受苦难。相反地，祂应许我们会受苦。我们跟随基督不是为了得到安慰，鼓励或振奋。我们跟随基督是因为祂是真理。 然而，上帝确实应许照本相接纳我们。祂透过基督看我们为美好（罗马书8：30）。 上帝也确实应许我们将更像基督一样，做个有勇气、真理和仁爱的人（罗马书8：29）。 基督宣告“复活在我，生命也在我”（ 约翰福音11:25）。那一天祂要更新我们，将不再有死亡。 不仅如此，神还应许荣耀祂的儿女（罗马书8:30）。这里过去式的时态意味着应许的肯定。 基督因为那摆在前面的喜乐忍受苦难（希伯来书12：2）。保罗也曾饱受痛苦，但是知道将来的荣耀远高过现今的苦楚（罗马书8：18）。 总而言之，每个人都会受苦。然而上帝让万事互相效力，让爱神的人得益处（罗马书8：28）。再糟糕的事情上帝也可以利用来赐福，虽然我们在世的日子可能看不到这天。 常常牢记这真理：上帝已经接纳我们，使我们活得更像基督, 被祂更新，因着祂而得荣耀。所以，让我们喜乐起来吧！
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