哥林多後書 4:13-17
13但我們既有信心，正如經上記著說：“我因信，所以如此說話。”我們也信，所以也說話。14自己知道那叫主耶穌復活的，也必叫我們與耶穌一同復活，並且叫我們與你們一同站在他面前。15凡事都是為你們，好叫恩惠因人多越發加增，感謝格外顯多，以致榮耀歸與 神。16所以，我們不喪膽。外體雖然毀壞，內心卻一天新似一天。17我們這至暫至輕的苦楚，要為我們成就極重無比、永遠的榮耀。
我們大多數人都不指望別人來感激我們，或者說，我們不願意承認我們指望別人感激我們。但是，誠實地說， 當我們給別人做好事或者在人面前表現得和藹可親的時候，至少在潛意識裡我們是期待得到別人的誇獎的，諸如“幹得好”，或者“太感謝你了”之類。你想要證實這一點嗎？那你想想當別人沒有向你表達你認為自己應該受到的感謝時你是多麼地不安和失望就行了。
使徒保羅在這裡見證說自己並不是在尋找別人對他所付出努力的感謝，相反的，他自己在四面受敵、心裡作難、遭逼迫、或被打倒了的時候卻能常常感謝 神。難道保羅是個超人聖徒嗎？當我們的生活是一團遭時、當我們的心被傷害時我們該怎樣來感謝 神？保羅是無異於你我的常人，他不過是專注在兩件事情上：
以感謝為事工：保羅是為著得著感謝而努力做工的，但他卻不是為了使自己得著感謝。就像我們所傳講的福音，當我們因 神的恩典得蒙救贖的時候，神的最終目標就實現了，這個目標就是得救的受造之物因 神的榮耀而溢出的感恩。祂了救我們，將我們帶到一個和祂對的關係裡面，使我們以感謝為祭來敬拜祂。保羅很感恩自己能被澆奠從而使 神因祂的榮耀受到眾人的感謝。
以感恩為視角：保羅是用一個永恆的、天國的眼光看待 神今日所做的事的。他沒有喪失信心是因為他看到老我的天然屬性已經過去，同時，被 神更新的新我正在一天天成長，因此，他知道神是作工的神，神的福音也是有功效的。當保羅用一個永恆的眼光來看他所處的環境時，他就意識到自己今天所有的痛苦和缺乏和以後要在耶穌基督裡得到的榮耀比起來是何等的蒼白。
當你禱告的時候，你應當追求被神改變：神啊，我活著到底是為了讓人感謝我呢還是為了讓人感謝祢？神啊，讓我不要定睛在自己的缺乏上，幫助我欣賞在耶穌基督裡的永恆的榮耀，並且使我心存感恩！
2 Corinthians 4:13-17
And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak, knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
Paul here though testifies that he isn’t looking for a pat on the back or thank-yous for his effort. Instead even though he has been pressed on every side, perplexed, persecuted, struck down he actually is able to thank God. Is Paul just a super-saint? How can we actually thank the Lord when our life is unraveling and our hearts are attacked? Paul is no different than you or me. He simply focuses on two things:
A Mission of Thanks: Paul is working hard for thanks, just not for himself. As the gospel spreads, lives are redeemed in grace and God’s ultimate goal is realized - saved creation overflows in thanksgiving to the glory of God! Yes, God is looking for thanks - he has saved us to bring us in right relationship with him which is thankful worship. Paul is thankful to be poured out so that God may receive thanks to His glory.
A Thankful Perspective: Paul has an eternal, heavenly view as he focuses on what God is doing today. He doesn’t lose heart but gives thanks because he can see that the old fallen nature is passing away while the renewed humanity is increasing daily - the gospel is working and God is truly moving! Seen in the perspective of eternity, what he lacks and suffers today pales in comparison to the eternal glory he has in Jesus.
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