尽管谦卑服事，因上帝是我们力量的来源。

Of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 2 Timothy 1:11

我为这福音奉派作传道的，作使徒，作师傅。-提摩太后书1章11节

When my son’s teacher asked me to serve as a chaperone for their science camp, I hesitated. How could I be a role model when mistakes littered my past, when I still struggled, stumbled, and slipped into old bad habits? God helped me love and raise my son, but I often doubted He could use me to serve others.

当儿子的老师邀请我担任他们科学营会的行为监护人时，我不禁感到犹豫。我怎能成为孩子们的榜样呢？因为我仍陷在许多旧有的坏习惯当中，苦苦挣扎、绊跌仆倒。尽管上帝帮助我关爱及养育自己的儿子，但我却经常质疑上帝会使用我来服事别人。

Sometimes I still fail to recognize that God—the only perfect One, the only One who can change hearts and lives—transforms us over time. Then the Holy Spirit reminds me how Paul encouraged Timothy to embrace his on-the-job training, persevere in faith, and use the gifts God had given him (2 Timothy 1:6). Timothy could be courageous because God, his power source, would help him love and be disciplined as he continued to grow and serve those within his sphere of influence (v. 7).

其实，这位完美的独一真神具有改变人心和生命的大能，祂会随着时间渐渐地改变我们，然而我却忘了这一点。圣灵也提醒了我，保罗如何劝勉提摩太持守信心，接受他的在职训练，并且善用上帝给他的恩赐（提摩太后书1章6节）。提摩太得着激励，因为上帝就是他力量的来源，必帮助他在爱和自律中日渐成长，并且服事众人（7节）。

Christ saves and empowers us to honor Him with our lives, not because we have special qualifications but because we’re each valuable members of His family (v. 9).

耶稣基督拯救我们，使我们有能力以生命来尊荣祂，并不是因为我们拥有任何优越的条件，乃是因祂将我们视为祂家中宝贵的一分子（9节）。

We can persevere with confidence when we know our role is to simply love God and others. Christ’s role is to save us and give us a purpose that extends beyond our small vision of the world. As we follow Jesus daily, He transforms us while using us to encourage others as we share His love and truth wherever He sends us.

当我们知道自己当做的就是爱上帝和爱人，我们就能凭信心坚持不懈。耶稣基督拯救我们，赋予我们生命的新意义，也开扩了我们狭隘的世界观。当我们天天跟随耶稣，祂会改变我们，并在我们顺服祂的差遣去分享祂的爱与真理时，使用我们让人得激励。

主啊，谢谢祢让我们确信可以全然倚靠祢，以喜乐的心、信心和勇气与人分享祢。

2 Timothy 1:6-14  NIV

1 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. 9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11 And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day. 13 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

提摩太后书 1:6-14 

1 为此我提醒你，使你将神借我按手所给你的恩赐再如火挑旺起来。 7 因为神赐给我们不是胆怯的心，乃是刚强、仁爱、谨守的心。8 你不要以给我们的主作见证为耻，也不要以我这为主被囚的为耻，总要按神的能力与我为福音同受苦难。 9 神救了我们，以圣召召我们，不是按我们的行为，乃是按他的旨意和恩典。这恩典是万古之先，在基督耶稣里赐给我们的， 10 但如今借着我们救主基督耶稣的显现才表明出来了。他已经把死废去，借着福音，将不能坏的生命彰显出来。11 我为这福音奉派做传道的，做使徒，做师傅。 12 为这缘故，我也受这些苦难，然而我不以为耻，因为知道我所信的是谁，也深信他能保全我所交付他的，直到那日。13 你从我听的那纯正话语的规模，要用在基督耶稣里的信心和爱心常常守着。 14 从前所交托你的善道，你要靠着那住在我们里面的圣灵牢牢地守着。

INSIGHT

灵粮透视

In today’s reading Paul notes how God has “called us to a holy life” (2 Timothy 1:9)—a life set apart for Him. Such a life involves God’s calling and our obedience. So Paul urged Timothy to “fan into flame” his spiritual gift (v.6).

在今天阅读的经文中，保罗讲到上帝如何“呼召我们过圣洁的生活”（提摩太后书1章9节，当代译本修订版），就是为祂过一个分别为圣的生活。这样的生活关乎上帝的呼召和我们的顺服。所以，保罗敦促提摩太，要将他所得着的属灵恩赐“如火挑旺起来”（6节）。

What does it mean to “fan into flame” our gift? One key is to acknowledge God in everything. Perhaps we need to trust Him in a big trial. We may need to acknowledge Him in “trivial” matters. As we give Him our huge challenges and the aggravating details, He completes His work in us. He loves us enough to work on us for a lifetime.

把我们的恩赐“如火挑旺起来”是什么意思呢？其中一个关键，就是凡事都要认定上帝。在极大的试炼中，我们要相信祂；在“微不足道”的小事上，我们也需要认定祂。只要我们把艰巨的挑战及繁琐的细节都全然交托给祂，祂就会在我们里面做成祂的工。上帝是那么爱我们，祂会在你我的一生中不断地动工。

整理：于姊妹