It's tough not to be influenced by what our neighbors think. It's hard to stand up to criticism delivered by people who are respected by others. The apostle Paul understood that pressure.

The church at Corinth was splintered, with strong voices judging Paul's teaching about Jesus in critical ways. But Paul understood that his genuine joy was found in service to the Lord Jesus. Paul writes, "You ought to regard us ... as servants of Christ." These verses describe Paul's surrender to God's affirmation of his life and ministry. What matters is not what others think, but what God thinks.

It is no different for us. You may be struggling in the midst of broken relationships, grieving a death, watching your children drift from God or face some disaster. Life may look bleak. Your faithfulness may be tried by people who offer easier and simpler solutions than faithful obedience. But wait: "Wait till the Lord comes." Jesus' opinion on your discipleship is the only one that ultimately matters.

Be joyful. Be faithful. Serve others and so serve Jesus.

God will judge in his own time and way. At that time we will receive "praise from God" for what we have confessed and done for him. That is our joy as we worship him today.

　　不受邻舍的想法影响, 很难; 勇于面对有地位的人的论断, 也很难。使徒保罗明白这种压力。

　　哥林多教会是一间分裂的教会, 当时有强大的声音, 猛烈抨击保罗所传讲关于耶稣的道理, 但保罗明白他真正的喜乐是来自服侍主耶稣, 保罗说∶「人应当以我们为基督的……管家。」这些经文描述保罗接受神对他的生活和事奉的肯定。别人的想法并不重要, 重要的是神的想法。

　　我们也如此, 你可能在破裂的关系中争扎, 为亲友离世而哀伤, 眼巴巴看着儿女远离神, 或大祸临头, 人生一片愁云惨雾。这时, 有人为你提供较简单快捷的解决方法, 动摇了你对主的忠心与顺服。请慢下来, 「只等主来。」因为耶稣看你是个怎样的门徒, 才是最重要的。

　　要喜乐, 要忠心, 要服侍人, 藉此服侍耶稣。

　　神会按祂的时间和方法来施行审判, 到那时候, 我们会因我们的信心, 以及我们为祂所作的工, 在「神那里得著称赞。」这就是我们今天敬拜祂的喜乐。

Dear God, thank you for seeing me not as others see me, but through the lens of your grace and forgiveness in Jesus. I want to live for you. Amen.

　　亲爱的神, 感谢祢不以别人的眼光来看我, 而是透过祢的恩典和耶稣的宽恕来看我, 我要为祢而活, 阿们。

(听歌默想: 日日夜夜 (讚美之泉) 土豆  YouTube )