【帖前2:8】我们既是这样爱你们，不但愿意将神的福音给你们，连自己的性命也愿意给你们，因你们是我们所疼爱的。【1 Thessalonians2:8】so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.

保罗的爱深深的感动了我。他如属灵父亲俯身、敞怀、热切地把生命递出去。Paul’s love has deeply moved me.Like a spiritual father, he stooped low, opened his arms, and eagerly poured out his life. 他说“这样爱你们”，这爱不是字句，而是行动。他不但把神的福音给他们，连自己的性命也愿意给他们。When he said, “This is how we loved you,” his love was not merely in words, but in action.He not only shared with them the gospel of God, but was willing to give his own life as well. 福音不是一套道理，而是一条舍己的路；不是用嘴传，而是用命活出来。The gospel is not a set of ideas, but a path of self-giving; not something proclaimed only with the mouth, but lived out with one’s life.

保罗看重的不只是灵魂得救，更看重人能得丰盛生命。他知道福音若没有爱，就成了重担；真理若没有生命，就显得冰冷。What Paul treasured was not only the salvation of souls, but that people might receive the fullness of life. He knew that if the gospel is without love, it becomes a burden; and if truth is without life, it grows cold. 因此他选择与人同住、同哭、同劳苦，把最宝贵的时间、精力、身体，甚至性命一并摆上。Therefore, he chose to live among them — to weep with them and to labour alongside them —offering up his most precious time, strength, body, and even his very life. 在他眼中，这些属神的儿女是“所疼爱的”，为此他全力以赴，这正是基督之爱的回响。In his eyes, these children of God were “dearly loved,” and for their sake he gave himself without reserve. This is the echo of the love of Christ.

主耶稣说：“好牧人为羊舍命。”而保罗正是以基督的心为心。The Lord Jesus said, “The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”And Paul lived with the same mind as Christ. 当我们还软弱、失败、甚至悖逆时，基督就为我们死了；当帖撒罗尼迦的信徒尚在幼嫩、受逼迫时，保罗就决定为他们把生命摆上。While we were still weak, failing, and even rebellious, Christ died for us; and when the believers in Thessalonica were still young in faith and under persecution, Paul resolved to lay down his life for them. 这不是因人配得，而是因着主的爱。神的爱从不建立在我们的表现上，而是建立在祂的性情里。This was not because they were worthy, but because of the Lord’s love. God’s love is never built upon our performance, but upon His own character. 我们因被拒绝、受伤而只顾保全；但舍命的爱告诉我们：真正的医治，不是自保，而是丧掉老我。We, having been rejected and wounded, often seek only to protect ourselves; yet self-giving love tells us this: true healing is not found in self-preservation, but in the putting to death of the old self.

保罗和众圣徒在效法基督中得着自由，也在爱人中被更新。他们都是在附代价中遇见更大的荣耀。Paul and the saints found freedom as they followed Christ, and were renewed as they loved others. It was through the bearing of cost that they encountered a greater glory. 主啊，愿这份爱不只被我们领受，更被我们活出来。愿你把这份舍己的爱深刻在我们心中，使我们回应你的呼召，不再只问“我能保留什么”，而是问“我还能给出什么”。Lord, may this love not only be received by us, but lived out through us. Engrave this self-giving love deeply upon our hearts, that we may respond to Your call,no longer asking, “What can I keep?”but rather, “What more can I give?”一生爱你，一生跟随，一生荣耀你，也用这从你而来的爱，去爱神所爱的人。To love You all our days, to follow You all our days, to glorify You all our days —and with the love that comes from You, to love those whom You love.

（李姊妹 Sister Li)