QT 14/05/2024 Tuesday Acts 9. Suffering for the Name. 为祂的名而受苦。
QT 14/05/2024 Tuesday Acts 9
READ & LISTEN here
https://www.esv.org/Acts+9/
LISTEN TO Acts 9
https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/esv/Acts.9
Just as Saul martyred others, he was now called to be a martyr for Jesus Christ, suffering for Him. "For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name" (Acts 9:16).
It was not suffering for suffering's sake but for the gospel because he was God's "chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel" (Acts 9:15b).
God's choice of Saul, who was "still breathing threats and murder against the disciples" (Acts 9:1) may surprise many. But God intervened and Saul fell to the ground (Acts 9:4).
REFLECTION: No one is beyond being used by God mightily in various ways. You are definitely included - obey His call and come and be willing to suffer for Him. Preach the gospel in the way that God has planned for you. Are you willing?
Harm done to the LORD's disciples = Harm done to the LORD! Saul persecuted believers (Acts 9:2) and Jesus took that persecution as directed towards Himself (Acts 9:4).
REFLECTION: Examine the exertions of your energy. Consider where your energy is targeted - You might just be persecuting Christ.
APPLICATION (1): Suffering and persecution were God's ways of bringing the gospel from Jerusalem to Rome - through the suffering of Saul (Paul). We shall read later that Paul was sent from one authority to another for questioning and trial - by this Paul was able to carry the gospel "before the Gentiles and kings" (Acts 9:15).
APPLICATION (2): Be comforted that Jesus is also feeling our pain and suffering, especially persecution. He knows. He might just be about to act on behalf of the persecuted. Wait upon Him.
星期二2024年5月14日 今日读经：使徒行传9章.
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/Act/9/
听音频使徒行传9章
https://www.bible.com/bible/41/act.9.cnvs
就如扫罗让人成为殉道者，他现在也被呼召成为耶稣基督的殉道者，为祂受苦。“我要指示他，为了我的名他必须受许多的苦”(徒9:16)。
这不是为了受苦而受苦，而是为了福音因为他是神“拣选的器皿，为要把我的名传给外族人、君王和以色列人”(徒9:15b)。
神拣选扫罗，但当时扫罗“仍向主的门徒发恐吓凶杀的话”(徒9:1)，这事或许会让许多人感到惊讶。但神介入了，扫罗扑倒在地上(徒9:4)。
反思：每个人都有可能在不同领域里被神大大地使用。你肯定是其中一个---来顺服祂的呼召，并为祂受苦。神怎么预备安排，你就怎么传福音。你是否愿意？
主的门徒遭到迫害就等于是在迫害主！扫罗迫害信徒(徒9:2)而耶稣也把这些迫害当成是迫害自己(徒9:4)。
反思：检查你精力的去向。仔细思想你把精力投入在什么地方--你或许正在逼迫基督！
应用(1):受苦和受逼迫是神把福音从耶路撒冷带到罗马的方式--藉着扫罗(保罗)的受苦。我们在后面会读到保罗是如何在审讯中，从一个统治者转移到另一个统治者进行拷问--也因此保罗能够把福音“传给外族人和君王”(徒9:15)。
应用(2):我们能够得到安慰的是耶稣也能感受我们的痛苦和苦难，尤其是遭到迫害。祂懂。祂或许正在为受到逼迫的人展开行动。等候祂。
