November 8, 2009     ODB RADIO: Listen Now |  Download     READ: 1 Peter 4:12-19

If anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. —1 Peter 4:16
金句: 「若為作基督徒受苦，卻不要羞恥，倒要因這名歸榮耀給上帝。」（彼得前書4章16節）

One October morning in 2006, a woman and her six children were forced to witness an attack on their husband and father. His assailants tried to force him to deny Jesus but he refused. He continued to proclaim Christ as Lord and died praying for his family. The family is determined to follow Christ, even in their grief.
2006年10月的某天上午，一名婦女與其六名子女親眼目睹自己的丈夫遭受攻擊。那群攻擊者強逼他否認耶穌，他不但不從，反宣稱耶穌是主，因而遭到殺害，臨死前他仍為家人禱告。這一家人儘管痛失親人，仍堅決跟隨基督。

Another man was sentenced to 3 years in prison for allegedly insulting another religion. He’s an outspoken Christian with a passion for Christ. He and his wife and children continue to be faithful and refuse to deny Him.
另一名弟兄因涉及侮辱別的宗教被判入獄三年。他是個坦率且愛主的基督徒，他和妻子、孩子們堅持對上帝忠心且不願否認他。

Persecution for the Christian faith is as real in our world as it was for the Jewish believers in the early church to whom Peter wrote. He prayed, “May the God of all grace, . . . after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you” (1 Peter 5:10).
在今日的世界各地，仍有很多基督徒因信仰而受到逼迫，如同早期猶太人的教會飽受迫害一般，彼得因而寫信並為他們代禱：「那賜諸般恩典的上帝……等你們暫受苦難之後，必要親自成全你們，堅固你們，賜力量給你們。」（彼得前書5章10節）

Today is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. These prayer points from Open Doors USA, a ministry that’s committed to encouraging persecuted Christians, can help guide us as we pray:
今天是「為受逼迫教會國際祈禱日」，美國的基督教機構「敞開的門」，致力於鼓勵受迫害的基督徒，他們提供了幾個代禱的要點：

• Pray for the safety and faith of the secret believers in countries where it is illegal to share about Christ.
  為那些禁止傳福音國家的秘密信徒禱告，為他們的安全與信心代禱。
• Pray for the health, perseverance, and encouragement of believers who are imprisoned for the gospel.
  為因傳福音而遭拘禁的基督徒禱告，為他們身心能堅固、能得著鼓勵而代禱。
• Pray that those whose loved ones have died due to martyrdom will rely on God for their strength.
  為殉道者的親友代禱，求主成為他們的倚靠，賜予他們力量。

Together, let’s bring our fellow believers before the Lord in prayer.  — Anne Cetas
讓我們同心為主內的弟兄姐妹禱告，把他們交在上帝的手裡。AMC

The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church. —Tertullian
殉道者的鮮血蘊育出上帝的教會。──特土良

1 Peter 4:12-19 (New King James Version)
彼 得 前 書 4:12-19 (Chinese Union Version (Simplified))

Suffering for God’s Glory

¹² Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;
¹² 亲 爱 的 弟 兄 阿 ， 有 火 炼 的 试 验 临 到 你 们 ， 不 要 以 为 奇 怪 （ 似 乎 是 遭 遇 非 常 的 事 ） ，

¹³ but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. ¹³ 倒 要 欢 喜 ； 因 为 你 们 是 与 基 督 一 同 受 苦 ， 使 你 们 在 他 荣 耀 显 现 的 时 候 ， 也 可 以 欢 喜 快 乐 。

¹⁴ If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.^[a] On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.
¹⁴ 你 们 若 为 基 督 的 名 受 辱 骂 ， 便 是 有 福 的 ； 因 为 神 荣 耀 的 灵 常 住 在 你 们 身 上 。

¹⁵ But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters.
¹⁵ 你 们 中 间 却 不 可 有 人 因 为 杀 人 、 偷 窃 、 作 恶 、 好 管 ? 事 而 受 苦 。

¹⁶ Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.^[b]
16 若 为 作 基 督 徒 受 苦 ， 却 不 要 羞 耻 ， 倒 要 因 这 名 归 荣 耀 给 神 。

¹⁷ For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?
¹⁷ 因 为 时 候 到 了 ， 审 判 要 从 神 的 家 起 首 。 若 是 先 从 我 们 起 首 ， 那 不 信 从 神 福 音 的 人 将 有 何 等 的 结 局 呢 ？

¹⁸ Now “ If the righteous one is scarcely saved,Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”^{[c]
18 若 是 义 人 仅 仅 得 救 ， 那 不 虔 敬 和 犯 罪 的 人 将 有 何 地 可 站 呢 ？}

19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.
¹⁹ 所 以 ， 那 照 神 旨 意 受 苦 的 人 要 一 心 为 善 ， 将 自 己 灵 魂 交 与 那 信 实 的 造 化 之 主 。

Footnotes:

1. 1 Peter 4:14 NU-Text omits the rest of this verse.
2. 1 Peter 4:16 NU-Text reads name.
3. 1 Peter 4:18 Proverbs 11:31

The Persecuted Church - Our Daily Bread