God provides the strength we need to persevere and grow.

上帝赐下力量，让我们能坚忍成长。

I press on toward the goal to win the prize. Philippians 3:14

向着标竿直跑，要得……奖赏。-腓立比书3章14节

As I walked past an outside wall of the office building where I work, I was amazed to see a beautiful flower growing up through a crack between concrete slabs covering the ground. Despite its deprived circumstance, the plant had found a foothold, rooted itself in the dry crevice, and was flourishing. Later, I noticed that an air-conditioning unit located directly above the plant dropped water on it throughout the day. While its surroundings were hostile, the plant received the help it needed from the water above.

我行经办公大楼的外墙，看见在水泥地的裂缝中竟然长出了美丽的花朵，让我不禁感到惊叹。这棵植物在如此艰难的环境仍能找到生存的空间，在干裂处扎根而且还蓬勃生长。随后，我发现这棵植物的正上方，刚好有台冷气机整天都在滴水。虽然周围的环境如此恶劣，但从上面滴下来的水，让这棵植物获得所需要的帮助。

Growing in the Christian life can sometimes be difficult, but when we persevere with Christ, barriers are surmountable. Our circumstances may be unfavorable and discouragement may seem like an obstacle. Yet if we press on in our relationship with the Lord, we can flourish like that lone plant. This was the experience of the apostle Paul. Despite the severe hardships and challenges he faced (2 Corinthians 11:23–27), he wouldn’t give up. “I . . . take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me,” he wrote. “I press on toward the goal to win the prize” (Philippians 3:12, 14).

有时候，基督徒的灵命成长也可能很艰难，然而当我们倚靠基督坚持下去时，就能克服重重难关。或许，我们的环境不尽人意，灰心失望也犹如重重的障碍。但只要我们竭力与主保持亲密关系，努力向前直跑时，我们就能像那棵小小的植物一样蓬勃生长。这也正是使徒保罗的亲身经历，他虽然面对严苛的环境和挑战（哥林多后书11章23-27节） ，但仍然不放弃。保罗写道：“我可以得着基督耶稣要我得着的。……向着目标竭力追求，为要得着……奖赏。”（腓立比书3章12、14节，新译本）

Paul realized he could do all things through the Lord who strengthened him (4:13), and so can we as we press on with the help of One who gives us strength.

保罗深知，靠着那加给他力量的主，他凡事都能做（4章13节）。同样地，靠着那位赐我们力量的主，你我也能向前直跑。

This is a day that You have made, Father. Thank You that You’ll be near me in whatever I face today.

天父，这是祢所定的日子。我感谢祢，
因为我今日无论面对任何事，祢必与我同在。

Philippians 3:7-14New International Version (NIV)

7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in[a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

腓立比书 3:7-14Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Simplified) (CUVMPS)

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。

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。

INSIGHT

Today’s reading contains the most personal statement Paul makes in his letters. In the preceding verses (vv. 4–6), he unpacks his Jewish heritage, religious training, and great zeal for Judaism. The startling candor comes in verse 8 when, reflecting on what had defined his life prior to encountering Christ on the Damascus Road, he writes, “I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.” Garbage—that’s strong! All the things that had driven him to persecute and kill were now counted worthless compared to the value of Christ. This speaks to the extraordinary value of relationship and rescue over religion and ritual. And that relationship with God through Christ is the strength that fuels our hearts in all the seasons of life—whether good or bad.

灵粮透视

今天阅读的经文，包含了保罗书信中最直接描述他个人的一段话。在前面的经文中（4-6节），保罗陈述了他自己的犹太血统、宗教方面的训练，以及他对犹太教的热忱。令人吃惊的是保罗在第8节的坦率宣告，谈到自己在大马士革的路上遇到基督之前所追求的人生，他如此写道：“我为祂已经丢弃万事，看作粪土，为要得着基督。”“粪土”是多么强烈的字眼啊！从前驱使他去迫害和杀戮基督徒的一切，如今与宝贵的基督相比，尽都一文不值。这有力地说明，与上帝的关系和得蒙拯救是何等宝贵，宗教和仪式根本不能与之相提并论。藉着基督与上帝所建立的关系乃是力量之源，能激励我们的心灵，去应对人生各种或好或坏的景况。

整理：于姊妹