竭力做主工，直到回天家。

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21

因我活着就是基督，我死了就有益处。-腓立比书1章21节

When I met Ada, she had outlived her entire group of friends and family and was living in a nursing home. “It’s the hardest part of getting old,” she told me, “watching everyone else move on and leave you behind.” One day I asked Ada what kept her interest and how she spent her time. She answered me with a Scripture passage from the apostle Paul (Philippians 1:21): “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Then she said, “While I’m still around, I have work to do. On my good days, I get to talk to the people here about Jesus; on the hard days, I can still pray.”

当我遇到艾达时，她独自住在安养院里，她的家人和所认识的朋友们都已相继离世。她告诉我说：“年老最难以承受的就是看着每一个人离开，而只有你留下来。”有一天，我问起她的兴趣，以及平时如何安排时间。她用使徒保罗所写的一节经文回答我：“因我活着就是基督，我死了就有益处”（腓立比书1章21节）。她接着说：“只要还活在世上，我就有任务要完成。若我的精神状况还不错，我会与人分享耶稣的福音；若是身体不舒服，我依然可以祷告。”

Significantly, Paul wrote Philippians while in prison. And he acknowledged a reality many Christians understand as they face their mortality: Even though heaven seems so inviting, the time we have left on Earth matters to God.

值得注意的是，腓立比书是保罗在狱中所写的书信。他在信中提到，许多基督徒在面对生命终了时，都应明白一个事实：虽然天国令人期待，我们留在世上的时间，在上帝眼里也很重要。

Like Paul, Ada recognized that every breath she took was an opportunity to serve and glorify God. So Ada spent her days loving others and introducing them to her Savior. 

艾达和保罗一样，深刻体会到只要还活在这世上，就应把握机会服事并荣耀上帝。因此，艾达经常花时间关心身旁的人，引领他们认识她的救主。

Even in our darkest moments, Christians can hold on to the promise of permanent joy in the company of God. And while we live, we can enjoy relationship with Him. He fills all our moments with significance.

即使在最阴暗的时刻，基督徒仍有盼望，因上帝应许我们将永远与祂同在，得着永恒的喜乐。我们活着的时候，能享受与上帝之间亲密的关系，祂让我们生命中的每一刻都充满意义。

主啊，求祢赐给我们力量，让我们在活着的每时每刻都能服侍祢，好使我们在人生剩下的日子里的每个时刻，都能扩展祢的国度。

Philippians 1:12-24  NIV

1 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. 15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.

腓立比书 1:12-24 

1 弟兄们，我愿意你们知道，我所遭遇的事更是叫福音兴旺， 13 以致我受的捆锁在御营全军和其余的人中，已经显明是为基督的缘故； 14 并且那在主里的弟兄，多半因我受的捆锁就笃信不疑，越发放胆传神的道，无所惧怕。 15 有的传基督是出于嫉妒纷争，也有的是出于好意。 16 这一等是出于爱心，知道我是为辩明福音设立的； 17 那一等传基督是出于结党，并不诚实，意思要加增我捆锁的苦楚。 18 这有何妨呢？或是假意，或是真心，无论怎样，基督究竟被传开了。为此我就欢喜，并且还要欢喜。 19 因为我知道，这事借着你们的祈祷和耶稣基督之灵的帮助，终必叫我得救。 20 照着我所切慕、所盼望的，没有一事叫我羞愧，只要凡事放胆，无论是生是死，总叫基督在我身上照常显大。 21 因我活着就是基督，我死了就有益处。 22 但我在肉身活着，若成就我工夫的果子，我就不知道该挑选什么。 23 我正在两难之间，情愿离世与基督同在，因为这是好得无比的； 24 然而我在肉身活着，为你们更是要紧的。

INSIGHT

灵粮透视

How can you use the days God has given you to love and serve others?

你如何运用上帝赐给你的时间去爱人、服侍人？

整理：于姊妹