God’s training is designed to grow us in faith.

上帝的锻炼要让我们信心成长。

It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace. Hebrews 13:9

因为人心靠恩得坚固才是好的。-希伯来书13章9节

The neighborhood fitness center where I have worked out for years closed down last month, and I had to join a new gym. The former place was a warm, friendly facility, patronized by those who liked to socialize while they worked out. We hardly ever broke a sweat. The new gym is a hard-core facility filled with serious men and women, earnestly invested in building better bodies. I watch these people strain and toil. Their bodies look strong, but I wonder if their hearts are being strengthened with grace.

我家附近有一间社区健身中心，这几年来，我常去那里健身。但前一阵子这间健身房停止营业，我只好去另外一间健身房。先前那间健身房的气氛相当温馨友善，大家都喜欢边健身边聊天，几乎没有人会挥汗如雨。但现在这间健身房，不只具备专业的器材，更有许多男男女女认真地锻炼，致力追求美好的体态。我看着这些人勤奋健身，他们的外表看来也颇为健壮。但我真心希望，他们的内心也能靠着恩典得坚固。

The heart is a muscle—the muscle that keeps the other muscles going. It’s good to build and tone our other muscles, but the essential thing is doing whatever keeps the heart strong.

心脏主要是由心肌构成，这块肌肉能让身体其他部位的肌肉继续维持运作。锻炼身体各部分的肌肉让身体健壮，固然不错。但更重要的是，我们要让心脏保持强健。

So it is with our spiritual heart. We strengthen and tone the heart through the Word of truth by receiving its message of God’s goodness and grace. Keeping our spiritual heart strong and fit must be our first priority, the one thing we do above all others.

我们属灵的心也是如此。我们藉着圣经的真理，领受上帝美善恩慈的信息，使我们的心灵刚强坚固。保持心灵健康强壮，是我们的首要任务，比任何事更为优先。

Paul would agree: "Train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come" (1 Tim. 4:7–8 esv).

保罗也曾提到：“在敬虔上操练自己。操练身体，益处还少；惟独敬虔，凡事都有益处，因有今生和来生的应许。” (提摩太前书4章7-8节)

May I feed on Your goodness every day, Lord, 

so my heart will grow stronger through the Spirit.

主，愿我每日都因祢的美善得着饱足，
好让我的心可以藉着圣灵更加茁壮成长。

Read：1 Timothy 4:6-11New International Version (NIV)

6 If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters,[a] you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faithand of the good teaching that you have followed. 7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 9 This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance.10 That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.

11 Command and teach these things.

提摩太前书 4:6-11

劝提摩太做信徒的榜样

6 你若将这些事提醒弟兄们，便是基督耶稣的好执事，在真道的话语和你向来所服从的善道上得了教育。 7 只是要弃绝那世俗的言语和老妇荒渺的话，在敬虔上操练自己。 8 操练身体益处还少，唯独敬虔，凡事都有益处，因有今生和来生的应许。9 这话是可信的，是十分可佩服的。 10 我们劳苦努力，正是为此，因我们的指望在乎永生的神——他是万人的救主，更是信徒的救主。 11 这些事你要吩咐人，也要教导人。

整理：于姊妹