牧者心聲
是的，不過⋯⋯
周曉暉牧師
2024 年 8 月 17 日 /18 日
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是的！「受苦」是彼得前書的關鍵詞，只是，經文並沒有停在一大堆苦境和苦楚上，卻提出基督徒還要留心一些不過。
我們必須先承認：是的，我們就是怕吃苦、怕挨苦、怕受苦的普通人。不過，彼得卻以命令的語氣告訴我們：「倒要歡喜」（新譯本）、「反而要喜樂」（新漢語）。
受苦帶來喜樂，這絕對是超出一般人的理解。當信徒面對苦境，信心受到考驗，內在生命的雜質就會顯露，只要除掉雜質，信仰就會變得更堅固，困苦會被神轉化為生命的禮物。我們會從中發現，自己是在基督的受苦和將來的榮耀上有分（四13）。在基督所受的苦上有分，意味著我們跟隨基督走對了路。
多年前，我和一位朋友爬天下第一奇山——黃山。根據旅遊資料，遊客只要早上日出前到達山峰，就能看到如同大海翻騰的雲海。於是，我倆凌晨二時出發，好趕及日出前上到山峰拍攝雲海。當時我們摸黑尋找登山的路徑，正好，在一轉角處，有一群背著大相機背囊的人，他們手執腳架和攝影器材，同樣辛苦地走著，我倆決定跟著他們往上行。終於，我們上到了一個山峰，繼續等待。果然，日出之時，雲海四方八面湧現，極之壯觀。太陽升起後，我們看到這群拿著頂級攝影器材的人，原來不是普通觀光客，他們身上都戴著一個名牌：「World Famous Photographer」（世界級攝影大師）。原來，我倆一直有分跟著這些世界級攝影大師的行列，去到了一個最佳觀景的位置。後來，我們在電視記錄頻道裡，看見當日其中一位大師所拍攝的高清雲海片段。我倆有分在這行列中，真的是走對了路。每次想起這事，還是感到興奮。
是的，在人生路上，確有艱苦，不過，這是主基督走過的路；是的，生命會遇上如火般的考驗，不過，我們有更大的現實，就是我們與主從今直到永恆的關係。
Yes! "Suffering" is a key word in the first epistle of Peter. However, the Scripture does not stop at the plight or the pain. It draws Christians' attention to a few related "But's."
Let's first admit this: Yes, we are ordinary people who are afraid of toil, hardship and suffering. Who would like toil, hardship and suffering? But Peter tells us this as a command: "But rejoice" (4:13).
Rejoice in suffering – this really is beyond most people's understanding. When faced with a plight and faith is being tested, the impurities of a believer's inner life would be revealed. But once the impurities are removed, his faith will become stronger. Hardship will be transformed into a gift of life by God.
And we will discover that we are participating in the sufferings of Christ as well as His future glory (4:13). To be able to participate in the sufferings of Christ means we are following Christ in the right direction.
Years ago, with a friend, I climbed "the most amazing mountain in the world" – Huangshan. According to travel information, if climbers manage to reach the top before daybreak, they will see a rolling Sea of Clouds. So, we started out at two o'clock in the morning in the hope that we could reach the top by daybreak and photograph the Sea of Clouds. As we were figuring out which path to take in the dark, we met at the turn of the corner a large group of people carrying large camera backpacks. They were also on their way uphill with tripods and photography equipment in their hands. We decided to follow them. Finally, we made it to the top and continued to wait.
When the first rays appeared, the clouds also appeared from all directions. It was a real splendor. After the sunrise, we could see that the people we followed, who carried first-rate photography equipment, were no ordinary tourists. Each of them wore a badge which says, "World Famous Photographer."
Little did we realize that we were blessed to have followed these world-class photographers and made our way to the best viewing position. Later, in a TV documentary, we saw a high-definition episode by one of those great photographers. Our participation in their procession was indeed a right decision. I get excited every time I think about this experience.
Yes, the path of life is marked by suffering. But this is the path that Christ our Lord has gone through. Yes, there are fiery ordeals in life, but we live in the greater reality of our relationship with the Lord from now till eternity.
The Book of 2 Peter differs from 1 Peter in that "suffering" is no longer a key word but "knowledge" is. The emphasis of the book is this: The most important is to have accurate knowledge of Christ the Lord, and everyone needs to know and have relationship with the Lord (2 Peter 1:2). May we, in studying 1 and 2 Peter, grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord (3:18) and really experience and know Him in everyday life.
Yes, there may be uncertainties ahead, but we should still closely follow Christ alone with a pure heart and live out the light of the Lord in our lives.
(This is an excerpt from the foreword of NPAC's 2024 Bible Study Guide on 1 & 2 Peter.)
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