【林后13:5】你们总要自己省察有信心没有。也要自己试验。岂不知你们若不是可弃绝的，就有耶稣基督在你们心里吗。【2Cor13: 5】Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test?

保罗为父为母的心肠很感动我的心，好牧人为羊舍命，他真切的想要把我们带回到基督的怀里。他提醒我们不要只停留在口里说自己有信心，而是要在真实的生活里省察、试验，看我们的信心在风浪中是否站立得住。Paul’s fatherly and motherly heart really moves me. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep, and Paul genuinely longed to bring us back into Christ’s arms. He reminded us not to stop at just saying we have faith, but to check and test in everyday life whether our faith stands firm in the storms. “总要省察”当我默想这四个字的时候，心里很受触动，惟有神认识我，知道我的每一个心思意念，因为我太容易自以为站立得稳。“Examine yourselves” — when I think about these four words, I’m struck in my heart. Only God truly knows me, knows every thought and intention, because I so easily assume I’m standing strong.

我曾多次经历失败，在某些罪上不断跌倒，心里充满自责与羞愧，甚至以为神已经不再理会我。但在痛苦中，想到主耶稣在十字架上为爱我所付上的代价：“因祂受的鞭伤我们得医治；因祂受的刑罚我们得平安。”I’ve failed many times, falling into the same sins again and again, weighed down with guilt and shame, even thinking God might no longer care for me. But in my pain, I remember what the Lord Jesus paid on the cross out of love for me: “By His wounds we are healed; by His punishment we have peace.”当我经历考试的时候，我向主祷告：“主啊，我不明白为什么要经历这些，但我愿意相信这是你爱的手在熬炼我。求你赐我眼光，让我以你的视角看待这件事，不只看见痛苦，而是看见你在背后所成就的益处。”When I’m in trials, I pray: “Lord, I don’t understand why I have to go through this, but I choose to believe this is Your loving hand refining me. Please give me eyes to see from Your view — not just the pain, but the good You’re bringing through it.”

在这些试炼的过程中，我渐渐学会了“在痛中去爱”。当我受伤害的时候，我试着去饶恕；当我觉得自己最不配的时候，我更加依靠基督的恩典。一次又一次的失败并没有让我彻底被弃绝，反而让我更深体会到神的恩典大过我的软弱。Through these tests I’ve slowly learned to “love in pain.” When I’m hurt, I try to forgive. When I feel most unworthy, I lean harder on Christ’s grace. Repeated failures haven’t cast me off completely, but instead have shown me that God’s grace is greater than my weakness.保罗不是叫我放弃，而是鼓励我去省察，去试验，不要惧怕自己的软弱，因为耶稣基督已经住在我里面。这样的提醒好像给了我一条出路：原来神的考试不是要弃绝我，而是要让我在信心里更深扎根。Paul didn’t tell me to give up, but urged me to examine myself, to be tested, not to fear weakness — because Jesus Christ already lives in me. This reminder feels like a way out: God’s testing isn’t to reject me, but to root me more deeply in faith.

我也被保罗的宣告深深鼓励：“没有什么能使我与神的爱隔绝。”这句话一次次扶持我。原来，试炼不能隔绝我与神的爱，失败不能隔绝，甚至死亡也不能隔绝。每一次的试验，其实都是神在让我更深经历祂的同在。I’m also lifted by Paul’s declaration: “Nothing can separate me from the love of God.” This word has held me up time after time. Trials can’t separate me from God’s love, failure can’t, not even death can. Every test is actually God letting me taste His presence more deeply. When I’m weakest, His grace is greater.当我最软弱时，祂的恩典更大；当我最无助时，祂的能力就在我身上显得完全。因信，无论发生什么，都不能叫我与神的爱隔绝。保罗所走过的道路已经证明！只要信靠住在他里面的基督，就一定能经得起任何试炼。耶稣基督也已经在我心里，这也是我在各种经历中得到的最大的确据。愿这确据激励我们在未来的百般信心试炼中，靠主得胜！When I’m helpless, His power is made perfect in me. By faith I know — whatever happens — nothing can cut me off from God’s love. Paul’s journey proves it! If I keep trusting Christ who lives in me, I’ll stand through any test. Jesus Christ already lives in my heart — and that is the strongest assurance I’ve found through everything. May this assurance spur us on, so that in all kinds of trials of faith ahead, we overcome by relying on the Lord!

（郭牧师 Pastor Guo）