Longsuffering with Joy 歡歡喜喜的受苦

By Christ we are empowered “unto all endurance and longsuffering with joy.” Because of this marvelous power, we can be joyful even in sufferings. By means of this power we can take with joy whatever may happen to us. We have reason to be joyful because we have the resurrected Christ as the power within us. If we are joyful during times of affliction, we shall not age so quickly. Instead, we shall look younger than our years.

我們靠著基督，得以力上加力，以致『凡事歡歡喜喜的忍耐寬容』。因著這一個奇妙的能力，即使在苦難中，我們也能歡喜。靠著這能力，我們不論遭遇甚麼，都能歡歡喜喜的接受。我們有理由歡喜，因為有復活的基督在我們裡面作大能。我們若在苦難中保持喜樂，就不會很快衰老，反而看起來會比我們的歲數還年輕。

The Apostle Paul did not pray that the Colossians would have the best husbands or wives, the best houses, and the best jobs. Furthermore, he did not pray that the Colossians would be kept from suffering. To the contrary, he prayed that they would be empowered to all endurance and longsuffering with joy; that is, he prayed that they would have the capacity to suffer long with joy. To suffer long in joy is to endure suffering in Christ. Suffering may actually help us to have an increased enjoyment of Christ. Christ is the joy, the endurance, and the longsuffering. Therefore, Paul’s prayer is altogether a prayer for the experience of Christ. 

使徒保羅並沒有禱告要歌羅西人有最好的丈夫或妻子，有最好的房子和最好的職業。不僅如此，他也沒有禱告要歌羅西人免去苦難。相反的，他禱告要他們得以力上加力，而凡事歡歡喜喜的忍耐寬容；也就是說，他禱告要他們能有度量，能長久歡歡喜喜的受苦。在喜樂中長久受苦，就是在基督裡忍受苦難。受苦可以實際的幫助我們加增對基督的享受。基督乃是喜樂、忍耐、寬容。因此，保羅的禱告完全是為了經歷基督的禱告。

Life Study of Colossians Message Three The Apostle's Prayer 
歌羅西書生命讀經 第三篇 使徒的禱告