4 月 8 日 预苦期第五周 星期二

(罗雅各牧师 信望堂)

经文- 腓立比 3:4-14

4 其实我也可以靠肉体，若是别人想他可以靠肉体，我更可以靠着了。 5 我第八天受割礼，我是以色列族便雅悯支派的人，是希伯来人所生的希伯来人。就律法说，我是法利赛人； 6 就热心说，我是逼迫教会的；就律法上的义说，我是无可指摘的。 7 只是我先前以为于我有益的，我现在因基督都当做有损的。 8 不但如此，我也将万事当做有损的，因我以认识我主基督耶稣为至宝。我为他已经丢弃万事，看做粪土，为要得着基督， 9 并且得以在他里面，不是有自己因律法而得的义，乃是有信基督的义，就是因信神而来的义； 10 使我认识基督，晓得他复活的大能，并且晓得和他一同受苦，效法他的死， 11 或者我也得以从死里复活。 12 这不是说我已经得着了，已经完全了，我乃是竭力追求，或者可以得着基督耶稣所以得着我的[a]。

13 弟兄们，我不是以为自己已经得着了，我只有一件事，就是忘记背后，努力面前的， 14 向着标竿直跑，要得神在基督耶稣里从上面召我来得的奖赏。

经文反思

基督教仅仅是关于我们做的好事还是我们避免的坏事吗？保罗曾经这样认为。在这段经文中，他描述了自己以前是如何将犹太教的做法--割礼、宗教仪式和遵守律法--视为获得上帝认可的一种手段。然而，与认识基督相比，他现在认为这些毫无价值。他为什么会有如此大的转变呢？

出于对犹太教的狂热，保罗正要去大马士革迫害基督徒。在那里，他被耶稣抓住了。这改变了一切。保罗被引导去信仰耶稣。保罗明白，公义不是来自人的努力，而是通过对基督的信。

这就是保罗放弃肉身之道的原因，也就是他曾经珍视的所有文化、宗教、哲学和意识形态的归属和身份。现在，他追求的是基督的道路，是神所喜悦的真正的人生目标。

祷告

天父，感谢您启示我们，义不能从我们的文化或意识形态中找到，也不能从我们的善行中找到，而是要通过对基督的信。请像保罗一样，帮助我们放下除耶稣之外的任何依靠。当我们相信自己的工作、成就或地位，而不是单单相信基督时，请饶恕我们。赐给我们追求基督胜过一切的渴望，与认识祂相比，一切都算不得什么。坚固我们，让我们在祂里面朝着永生的目标前进。愿我们的生命全心全意地跟随基督，将荣耀归于您的名。阿门。

应用

在这个预苦期，你可以学会:

审视自己的信仰--反思自己的信仰所在。你是否依靠自己的成就、宗教实践、道德努力、智慧和知识来获得上帝的眷顾？放弃它们，完全相信基督的公义。

检查你的思想--你的思想中有哪些没有反映福音的真理？你的人生哲学、政治立场、文化习俗和原籍地的传统。反思基督的一生，祈求基督的福音帮助你战胜这些影响，引导你朝着赢得永恒奖赏的目标前进。

8 April The Tuesday in the Fifth Week of Lent

(Rev Jacob Law Hope Methodist Church)

Scripture - Philippians 3:4–14

4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Reflections on the Scripture

Is Christianity merely about the good things we do or the bad things we avoid? Paul once believed so. In this passage, he describes how he formerly regarded his practice of Judaism—circumcision, geologies, and adherence to the law—as a means to gain God's approval. However, he now considers them worthless in comparison to knowing Christ. Why did he have such a drastic change?

In his zeal for Judaism, Paul was on his way to Damascus to persecute Christians. There, he was caught up by Jesus. That changed everything. Paul was led to have faith in Jesus. Paul understood that righteousness does not come from human effort but through faith in Christ.

This is why Paul gave up the way of the flesh, that is, all the cultural, religious, philosophical and ideological affiliations and identities that he once held precious. Now, he pursues the way of Christ, a real purpose of life that is pleasing to God.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for revealing to us that righteousness cannot be found in our cultural or ideological causes, nor from our good works but through faith in Christ. Like Paul, help us to let go of anything we rely on apart from Jesus. Forgive us when we trust in our own works, achievements, or status rather than in Christ alone. Give us the desire to pursue Christ above all else, counting everything as loss compared to knowing Him. Strengthen us to press on toward the goal of eternal life in Him. May our lives be wholly devoted to following Christ and bringing glory to Your name. Amen.

Application

In this season of Lent, you can learn to:

Examine Your Faith – Reflect on where you place your faith. Are you relying on your accomplishments, religious practices, moral efforts, wisdom and knowledge to gain God’s favour? Surrender them and trust fully in Christ’s righteousness.

Examine Your Thoughts – which of these in your thoughts doesn’t reflect the truth of the gospel: Your life’s philosophy, political alignments, cultural practices, and traditions from your places of origin. Reflect on the life of Christ, and pray that the gospel of Christ helps you overcome these influences and guide you toward the goal of winning the eternal prize.