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經文：「親愛的兄弟，不要自己伸冤。」（羅12:19） 許多時候靜比動更費力，因為靜是力的最高效能。對於那些一無根據的最惡最毒的控告，基督始終「甚麼都不回答...連一句話也不說」，以致審判官甚覺希奇。對於那些無理的侮辱，不堪的虐待和嘲笑，連旁人都會激起忿怒，可是主始終鎮靜。因為祂大有能力，所以才能不動。 凡曾受過冤枉、毀謗、虐待的，都知道維持鎮靜，需要何等大的力量。 使徒保羅說：「沒有一件東西可以動搖我。」（徒22:24）他不是說：「沒有一件東西可以傷害我。」傷害是一回事，動搖是另一回事。保羅的心非常仁慈；我們未曾讀過有別的使徒曾像保羅那樣痛哭過。一位男子會痛哭，這本身就非易事。 雖然保羅的心那麼仁慈溫柔，卻沒有任何事物可以動搖他。他的眼光和我們不同：既不貪求安適，也不以性命為念。他所求的只有一件，就是對主至死忠心，只為要得主的喜悅。--濮登 Margarer Bottome 因為含冤所生的苦悶是何等的難受，但是我們能不能把它發洩出來呢？「親愛的弟兄，不要自己伸冤。」因為整個寰宇惟一的審判官是神。 人若批評或毀謗你，只要是主不採信就算不得數。人若攻擊或傷害你，只要是主不同意，就不會讓你白白受苦，也不會放過那些人的惡行。所以就算世人反對你，只要天地的主讚同你，又有何妨？親愛的弟兄，如果你信神的公義，你的苦悶就會消散，再也不用自己伸冤了。--選 新譯｜荒漠甘泉讀書會
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Scripture: "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves" (Rom. 12:19). There are seasons when to be still demands immeasurably higher strength than to act. Composure is often the highest result of power. To the vilest and most deadly charges Jesus responded with deep, unbroken silence, such as excited the wonder of the judge and the spectators. To the grossest insults, the most violent ill-treatment and mockery that might well bring indignation into the feeblest heart, He responded with voiceless complacent calmness. Those who are unjustly accused, and causelessly ill-treated know what tremendous strength is necessary to keep silence to God. St. Paul said, "None of these things move me." He did not say, none of these things hurt me. It is one thing to be hurt, and quite another to be moved. St. Paul had a very tender heart. We do not read of any apostle who cried as St. Paul did. It takes a strong man to cry. Jesus wept, and He was the manliest Man that ever lived. So it does not say, none of these things hurt me. But the apostle had determined not to move from what he believed was right. He did not count as we are apt to count; he did not care for ease; he did not care for this mortal life. He cared for only one thing, and that was to be loyal to Christ, to have His smile. To St. Paul, more than to any other man, His work was wages, His smile was Heaven. --Margaret Bottome ｜ Mrs. Charles Cowman
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