Daily Devotion - Apr 5 - ¥q¥?‾u‥C?eAF-×(?e) Morning by Morning

司布真每日靈修(日) Morning by Morning 四月五日 經文: 「他們就抓住他，把十字架擱在他身上，叫他背著跟隨耶穌。」（路加福音廿三：26） 我們看到這鄉下來的古利奈人西門，被抓去為耶穌背十字架，這幕景象正是世世代代教會的寫照，教會有它的十字架要背負，耶穌並沒有因為祂的受苦而免除教會或信徒該接受的熬練。我們不能逃避十架，但耶穌會賜我們能力來承擔十架。 耶穌赦免我們的罪，但沒有應許我們一路平坦順利，所以遭遇波折逆境，乃是意料中的事。但是，請記得，我們是為耶穌在背十字架，就像這位西門，是在分擔耶穌的重擔苦楚。當你因著信仰而遭逼迫，因著敬虔而被人嘲笑，記得，你是在為耶穌背十架，這樣的想法多麼美妙!而且你不是孤單的一個人走這條路，耶穌與你作伴，你踏著主的腳踪往前行。耶穌雖被沈重的十架，壓得背脊佝僂，肩部淤血，祂仍艱辛蹣跚地前行，要作群羊的榜樣。況且，我們背的是十架較輕的一端，較重的一端是由耶穌扛著。這位古利奈人，一定深覺榮幸，能為救主扛這麼一段路；同樣的，我們受的苦楚，不過是短暫的，所背的十架，不過是一時的，因為過不久，我們就要進到永恆，得著那榮耀的冠冕。 Morning, April 5 Scripture: "On him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus."(Luke 23:26) We see in Simon's carrying the cross a picture of the work of the Church throughout all generations; she is the cross-bearer after Jesus. Mark then, Christian, Jesus does not suffer so as to exclude your suffering. He bears a cross, not that you may escape it, but that you may endure it. Christ exempts you from sin, but not from sorrow. Remember that, and expect to suffer. But let us comfort ourselves with this thought, that in our case, as in Simon's, it is not our cross, but Christ's cross which we carry. When you are molested for your piety; when your religion brings the trial of cruel mockings upon you, then remember it is not your cross, it isChrist's cross; and how delightful is it to carry the cross of our Lord Jesus! You carry the cross after him. You have blessed company; your path is marked with the footprints of your Lord. The mark of his blood-red shoulder is upon that heavy burden. 'Tis his cross, and he goes before you as a shepherd goes before his sheep. Take up your cross daily, and follow him. Do not forget, also, that you bear this cross in partnership. It is the opinion of some that Simon only carried one end of the cross, and not the whole of it. That is very possible; Christ may have carried the heavier part, against the transverse beam, and Simon may have borne the lighter end. Certainly it is so with you; you do but carry the light end of the cross, Christ bore the heavier end. And remember, though Simon had to bear the cross for a very little while, it gave him lasting honour. Even so the cross we carry is only for a little while at most, and then we shall receive the crown, the glory. Surely we should love the cross, and, instead of shrinking from it, count it very dear, when it works out for us "a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." www.glorypress.com