【双语灵修】星星和视野 Stars And Sight
“因我活着就是基督 …。” - 腓 1:21
晚上丈夫和我喜欢坐在屋外，观看星星和寻找星座。月光明亮时，他便拿出他的望远镜；望远镜让我们看到一个拥有较多细节的不同寻常的月亮，它更激发我们对创造主再次发出赞叹。
保罗在狱中写信给腓立比人时，他知道他不能改变自己的境况，然而最重要的是他如何看待自己的处境。保罗透过耶稣给他的滤镜或视角来看他自己的一生。
保罗向自己提出挑战，要去思想他怎样才能最有效地被神使用。他有机会和禁卒交谈、与他们分享耶稣的好消息，他知道他所活出的信心生活更能影响他们。
当然，有时他也会渴望离世、在天上与主同在，然而他下了决心，要过能使别人因他受益的生活。藉着他写的书信和他对待周围人的态度，保罗希望能尊崇基督。保罗视他自己的生命为双赢的生命。若继续留在世上，他便能建立更多教会、鼓励更多门徒、并让更多人认识耶稣，然而离世则表示他能在天上与主一起过丰盛和安息的生活。“无论是生是死，”保罗总希望能够荣耀神。
祷告
主啊，求你帮助我们看到我们该怎样做，才能最有效地帮助别人认识你。求你鼓励我们，在日常生活中与人分享你的故事。我们事奉你时，惟愿我们为你的缘故也看我们自己的生命为双赢的生命。阿们。
腓立比书 1:12-26
12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，这事藉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。
25我既然这样深信，就知道仍要住在世间，且与你们众人同住，使你们在所信的道上又长进又喜乐，
26叫你们在基督耶稣里的欢乐因我再到你们那里去，就越发加增。
Stars And Sight
"For to me, to live is Christ. . . ." - Philippians 1:21
My husband and I often sit outside at night, looking at the stars and picking out constellations. When the moon is bright, he brings out his telescope, which gives us a different, more detailed look at the moon. It also gives us a renewed appreciation for our Creator.
While Paul sat in prison writing to the Philippians, he knew he couldn't change his circumstances, but what really mattered was the way he looked at his situation. Paul looked at his life through the lens, the perspective, that Jesus had given him.
Paul challenged himself to consider how he could best be used. He could speak to the guards of the prison, sharing the good news of Jesus, and he knew that the way he lived out his faith would affect them.
Sometimes, of course, he longed to go and be with the Lord in heaven, but he was determined to live his life to better the lives of others. Both through his writing and his attitude to the people around him, Paul wanted to honor Christ. Paul saw his life as a win-win. To stay here on earth meant more churches planted, more Christians encouraged, and more people finding Jesus. And to die would mean full life and peace with the Lord in heaven. Paul wanted to glorify God, "whether by life or by death."
Prayer
Lord, help us to see how we might best help others come to know you. Give us courage in the midst of our days to share your story. As we serve you, may we see our lives as a win-win, for your sake. Amen.