【林后8:2】就是他们在患难中受大试炼的时候，仍有满足的快乐，在极穷之间，还格外显出他们乐捐的厚恩。【2Cor8: 2】Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.

保罗写给哥林多教会的一段劝勉中，特特赞誉马其顿的教会。保罗描述他们不仅在患难与逼迫中站立得住，更是在经济极其贫乏的处境下，仍满有喜乐与慷慨，甘心将自己所有的奉献给有需要的弟兄姊妹。In one of Paul’s words of encouragement to the church in Corinth, he singled out the Macedonian churches for praise. He told how they managed to stand firm through trials and persecution, and even in the toughest financial hardship, they still overflowed with joy and generosity, freely giving what they had to help brothers and sisters in need.他们能如此行，是因为他们以基督的心为心，肩负使命，每天为神而活，他们的信心也建立在神的应许之上，相信神必不误事。 What made this possible was their Christ-like heart, their sense of mission, their daily living for God, and their faith resting on God’s promises, knowing He never makes mistakes.

这样的信是何等的宝贵，他们把神放在第一位，只愿神的旨意成就，神的心意得满足。马其顿的信徒给我们做了榜样，他们因着神的爱与呼召，将爱神、爱人、施比受更有福、喜乐、舍己、积攒财宝在天上的属灵福分置于物质之上！That kind of faith is priceless. They put God first, wanting nothing more than His will to be done and His heart to be pleased. The Macedonian believers set an example for us. Because of God’s love and calling, they placed loving Him, loving others, finding blessing in giving rather than receiving, joy, self-denial, and storing up treasures in heaven above material wealth.这正显出他们对神的信靠。他们相信自己的一切都是神所赐，既然是神所赐，就乐意遵行神的命令，施比受更为有福，这样的信心与行为，正是讨神喜悦的生命写照。This showed their trust in God. They believed everything they had was from Him. And since it came from Him, they were glad to obey His command that giving is more blessed than receiving. Their faith and their actions together painted a picture of a life that truly pleases God.

主啊，你说万事互相效力使爱神的人得益处，每一件事的临到，都有你美好的心意，训练我们活出超越环境、凭信心而行的生命。Lord, You’ve promised that in all things You work for the good of those who love You. Every situation we face carries Your good purpose — shaping us to live beyond our circumstances and to walk by faith.当我们凭眼见行事时，信心会被现实打倒，但当我们凭信心行事，就能在缺乏中经历神的供应，在患难中活出喜乐的见证。马其顿教会的生命告诉我们，喜乐与慷慨并非来自拥有多少，而是来自对神的信心有多深。When we go by what we see, our faith can crumble under reality. But when we walk by faith, we discover Your provision in seasons of lack and learn to show joy even in hardship. The Macedonian church teaches us that joy and generosity don’t come from how much we own, but from how deeply we trust You.

正如经上所说：“义人必因信得生，” 信心能带领我们超越眼前的困境，让我们在生命中彰显神所赐的丰盛恩典。感谢主借着马其顿信徒鼓励我们，As it’s written: “The righteous will live by faith.” Faith lifts us above our struggles and allows God’s abundant grace to shine through our lives. Thank You, Lord, for the encouragement of the Macedonian believers.当我们在生活中遇到挑战、处境逼迫或资源有限时，思想马其顿信徒所行的，他们在极穷中仍有满足的快乐，在试炼中仍甘心给予。他们不凭眼见，而是凭信心，定意讨神的喜悦。愿我们也能如此行事，活出一个不受环境限制。When we run into challenges, persecution, or times of scarcity, may we remember them — how in extreme poverty they still had joyful contentment, and in trials they still gave willingly. They didn’t walk by sight, but by faith, determined to please You. May we live in the same way, with lives free from the limits of circumstance.

（郭牧师Pastor Guo）