第1085号 基督徒像精兵,可以面对..
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第1085号 基督徒像精兵,可以面对..
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MR No. 1085 - Christians, Like Soldiers, May Face Hardships, and Must Work Together in Unity
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(1886年7月于瑞士巴塞尔写给J.H.凯洛格医生)
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我心里多么渴望见到那些在我们的出版社、我们的学院和健康机构工作,通过明智地使用主所赐给他们的每一能力来作出改善的人啊。每一才能都属于上帝,要用来荣耀祂。主越是配得尊荣,我们作为仆人就应该献上越有效的服务。{14MR 26.1}[1]
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(Written to Dr. J. H. Kellogg, in July, 1886, from Basle, Switzerland.)
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Oh, how my soul desires to see those who are connected with our publishing houses, our colleges, and health institutions making improvement through the wise use of every power the Lord has given them. Every faculty belongs to God, and is to be used to His glory. The worthier the Master, the more efficient service should we render as servants. {14MR 26.1}[1]
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从事上帝的圣工造福同胞的人应当尊荣上帝,将自己最好的努力献给祂。半心半意自私的工作祂根本不悦纳。祂要求我们将祂赐给我们的所有能力都积极运用,以便得到力量和培养。{14MR 26.2}[2]
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Those who are connected with the work of God to benefit humanity should honor God by rendering to Him the best that they are capable of doing. Half-hearted, selfish work He does not accept at all. He claims of us that every power He has lent us shall be put to active exercise, that it may receive strength and culture. {14MR 26.2}[2]
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古时候不许人们将残废的、瘸腿的、瞎眼的祭物献在上帝的坛上,上帝也不喜悦人们今日献上最低劣的供物。祂要求最好的。我们若是将软弱无力的智力和训练不良的活动、因滥用而阻塞变弱以致不能从事很好服务的官能献给上帝,上帝就无法悦纳这种奉献。为主从事特别服务的人是受过良好训练的精选的人;从事圣工的任何部门工作的人也应该这样。他们明智而审慎地运用每一官能,因积极使用自己的全部能力而感到欣喜。{14MR 26.3}[3]
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In ancient times men were not allowed to lay on Gods altar and maimed, the halt, the blind, and God is no better pleased with the poorest offerings today. He requires the best. If we offer to God weak and feeble intellect and ill-trained movements, faculties clogged and weakened by disuse, and then be unable to do good service, God cannot be pleased with such offerings. The workers for the Lord in special service were well trained, picked men; so should those be who are connected with any department of the Lords work. They exercise judiciously every faculty, rejoicing in the vigorous use of all their powers. {14MR 26.3}[3]
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我们应当研究如何藉着不断追求达到完全来向上帝献上最完全的事奉。在上帝的日子里将会看到,虽然许多人负了操心挂虑的担子和沉重的责任以致缩短了他们的效用和寿命,然而这种牺牲却是因为有那么多人没有在做上帝让他们去做的工作。有那么多懒惰的仆人。他们若是教育和训练过自己的能力,原能证明自己是值得信赖的仆人,真正的旗手,就不会质疑放在他们身上的责任。上帝的每一个儿女都需要培养勇敢的努力和忍耐之心,以致当蒙召投入积极的服务时,他们不会昏倒或失败。{14MR 27.1}[4]
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We should study how to render to God the most perfect service by constantly seeking to reach perfection. In the day of God it will be seen that while many have carried heavy loads of care and weighty responsibility that have cut short their usefulness and their life, this sacrifice was because there were so many who were not doing the work which God had left for them to do. There are so many slothful servants. If they had educated and trained their powers, they could have proved themselves to be trustworthy servants, true standard bearers, and there would be no question about placing responsibility upon them. Heroic effort and patient endurance is necessary to be cultivated by every son and daughter of God, that when called into active service they will not faint or fail. {14MR 27.1}[4]
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没有人相信在战时参军会有望过安逸、放任、悠闲、赢利的生活。他们知道艰难和困苦是在所难免的;只要战争没有结束,他们就只能靠配给的粗粮过活,日间长途跋涉行军,忍受艳阳的曝晒,夜里在旷野支搭帐幕,遭受暴雨风霜的侵袭,在敌人的枪林弹雨下,冒着健康与生命的危险。{14MR 27.2}[5]
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No one would think of entering an army in time of war hoping to have ease and self-indulgence and a real pleasant and profitable time. They know that hardships and privations are the liabilities, and as long as the war lasts they will have coarse food and often short rations, long, weary marches by day, enduring the heat of the burning sun, camping out at night in the open air, exposed to drenching rains and chilling frosts; venturing health and life itself as they stand as targets for the enemy. {14MR 27.2}[5]
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基督徒的生活可以比作战士的生活,不可能有安逸和自我放纵的日子。以为基督徒士兵可以避免战斗,摆脱考验,享受属世的安逸,甚至过奢侈的生活,这种想法太荒谬了。基督徒的生涯是战斗与行军,需要忍耐。要完成艰巨的任务。凡加入基督军队的人,若抱着贪图享乐安逸的错误观念,在经历试炼的时候,就往往会给他们的基督教信仰带来致命的影响。上帝不会奖赏在世上一辈子享乐放纵的人。{14MR 27.3}[6]
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The Christian life is compared to the life of a soldier, and there can be no bribes presented of ease and self-indulgence. The idea that Christian soldiers are to be excused from the conflicts, experiencing no trials, having all temporal comforts to enjoy, and even the luxuries of life, is a farce. The Christian conflict is a battle and a march, calling for endurance. Difficult work has to be done, and all who enlist as soldiers in Christs army with these false ideas of pleasantness and ease, and then experience the trials, it often proves fatal to their Christianity. God does not present the reward to those whose whole life in this world has been one of self-indulgence and pleasure. {14MR 27.3}[6]
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是时候了,对于耶稣十字架的真正精兵寄予的期望,男男女女应当有正确的概念。上帝希望在以马内利大君之染血旗帜下服役的人,要充分利用祂所赐的一切能力,执行艰巨的任务。他们将为基督的缘故忍受痛苦的试炼。他们将面对揪心的斗争。但如果他们是忠心的士兵,他们就要与保罗同说:“我们这至暂至轻的苦楚,要为我们成就极重无比、永远的荣耀。原来我们不是顾念所见的,乃是顾念所不见的;因为所见的是暂时的,所不见的是永远的”(林后4:17,18)。{14MR 28.1}[7]
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It is time that men and women have some true idea of what is expected of a true soldier of the cross of Jesus. Those who serve under the bloodstained banner of the Prince Emmanuel are expected to do difficult work which will tax every power God has given them. They will have painful trials to endure for Christs sake. They will have conflicts which rend the soul. But if they are faithful soldiers they will say with Paul, Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal [2 Corinthians 4:17, 18]. {14MR 28.1}[7]
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一支军队如果没有学会服从统帅的命令,就会士气低落。每一个士兵都必须步调一致。团结就是力量。没有团结,一切努力都没有意义。一个士兵不论拥有何等优良的素质,若以为能脱离队伍独立行动,他就不是安全可靠的士兵。这种独立行动不能用于基督的服务。{14MR 28.2}[8]
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An army would be demoralized if they did not learn to obey the order of the captain. Each soldier must act in concert. Union is strength; without union, efforts are meaningless. Whatever excellent qualities a soldier may possess, he cannot be a safe, trustworthy soldier if he claims a right to act independently of his fellow comrades. This independent action cannot be maintained in the service of Christ. {14MR 28.2}[8]
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耶稣基督的精兵必须一致行动,否则最好什么都不做。因为如果一个人说一件事,另一个人提出的想法和道理与同工的相反,就会有混乱、不和与纷争。因此使徒嘱咐凡信靠基督的人都要有一样的心思意念,一样的信心,一样的判断,各人都和谐一致地行动,彼此产生有益的影响,因为他们都顺从圣经的宝贵真理,隶属于一位救主,就是那伟大的亮光与真理之源。{14MR 29.1}[9]
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The soldiers of Jesus Christ must move in concert, else it were better that they do nothing. For if one speaks one thing, and another presents ideas and doctrines contrary to his fellow laborers, there is confusion, discord, and strife. Therefore the apostle charges that all who believe on Christ be of one mind, one faith, one judgment, each moving in concert, influencing one another beneficially, because they are both obedient to the precious truth of the Word of God, attached to one Saviour, the great Source of light and truth. {14MR 29.1}[9]
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自称基督徒的人时断时续、离心离德的努力就像一对共轭的马,都强壮活跃,却没有一起拉。一匹马试着开始拉重荷;另一匹却停在后面不动,两匹并不同时拉。上帝希望祂的工人们齐心协力,不要一个人往一个方向拉,另一个人往相反的方向拉,因为所有这种努力比浪费了还糟糕。{14MR 29.2}[10]
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Spasmodic, disunited efforts of professed Christians are like a span of horses, both strong and active, but yet they do not pull together. One tries to start the load; the other settles back in the harness and both do not pull at the same time. God would have His workers pull together, not one pulling in one direction and another in [an] opposite direction, for all such efforts are worse than wasted. {14MR 29.2}[10]
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更喜爱独立行动的人不是好士兵;他们扭曲的品格需要纠正。他们可能自以为问心无愧,但他们所做的不是基督的工作。他们不能提供有效的服务。基督的祷告是要祂的门徒合而为一,正如祂和天父合而为一,但这种人的工作性质却会制造分离。{14MR 29.3}[11]
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Those who prefer to act alone are not good soldiers. They have some crookedness in their character which needs to be straightened. They may think themselves conscientious, but they do not the works of Christ. They cannot render efficient service. Their work will be of a character to draw apart when Christs prayer was that His disciples might be one as He was one with the Father. {14MR 29.3}[11]
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有些人认为坚定、固执、坚持一些导致他们离开团结一致行动的他们自己的计划和观念的特殊想法乃是一种美德。他们以为一种坚定的意志是出自所形成的基督徒品格,其实那是他们过高估计了自己的智慧。{14MR 29.4}[12]
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There are those who think it a virtue to be firm, set, and determined in some peculiar ideas of their own plans and notions that lead them away from unity and concert of action. They take a firm-set will to be of Christian [character] forming, when [actually] it is in them a too high appreciation of their own wisdom. They do not consider that there is a possibility of their being deceived in the interpretation of Scripture and their duty. {14MR 29.4}[12]
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每一个基督徒若要回应基督的祷告,就必须实行自制。凡不愿意放弃自己的判断和观念、维护统一行动的人,不是好士兵。我们有一位高贵的首领,每一个精兵都必须听从命令。基督的柔和与谦卑总是导致团结,以及团结行动的力量。(《信函》1886年62号3-6页)怀爱伦著作托管委员会1984年8月16日发布于美国首都华盛顿{14MR 30.1}[13]
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Self-restraint is essential to be exercised by every Christian if they answer the prayer of Christ. He is not a good soldier who will not submit his own judgment and his own ideas to preserve unity of action. We have a noble Captain and every soldier must obey orders. The meekness and lowliness of Christ always leads to unity and hence to strength in united action.--Letter 62, 1886, pp. 3-6. Ellen G. White Estate Washington, D. C. August 16, 1984 {14MR 30.1}[13]