Strength For Today | 尊荣以前必有谦卑

Having plumbed the depths of Christ’s humiliation (Phil. 2:5-8), Paul now soars to the heights of His exaltation (vv. 9-11). Like Paul, the apostle Peter affirmed that the great theme of Old Testament prophecy was the sufferings of Christ and the glory to follow (1 Peter 1:11). Regarding Christ, the writer of Hebrews says that “for the joy set before Him [He] endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2). Christ understood His sufferings in light of His exaltation.

探究过基督谦卑的最深处（腓2：5-8），保罗现在飞升到基督升高的至高处（9-11节）。像保罗一样，使徒彼得肯定了旧约预言的伟大主题就是基督的受苦及后来的荣耀（彼前1：11）。论到基督，希伯来书的作者说“他因那摆在前面的喜乐，就轻看羞辱，忍受了十字架的苦难，便坐在神宝座的右边”（来12：2）。因着他的升高，基督明白了自己的受苦。

Paul’s purpose in Philippians 2 was not simply to detail the humiliation and exaltation of Christ but to use those truths as a practical illustration. He was calling for unity produced by humility (vv. 2-4), with Christ as the preeminent example of humility (vv. 5-11). But beyond the humiliation of Christ, Paul also affirms that He was exalted. The implication is that when we willingly humble ourselves as Christ did, God will lift us up. As James 4:10 says, “Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.”

在腓利比书2章，保罗的目的并不是仅仅详述谦卑虚己和升高，而是用这些真理作实际的例证。他是在呼吁由谦卑产生的合一（2-4节），有基督作谦卑的杰出榜样（5-11节）。然而越过基督的受辱，保罗还肯定了基督已被升高。其含义是，当我们像基督那样，愿意降卑自己，神就要高举我们。正如雅各书4：10所言：“务要在主面前自卑，主就必叫你们升高。”

It is true that the man who humbles himself is the one whom God exalts, and the man who exalts himself is the one whom God will humiliate. In the divine economy, it is by giving that one receives, by serving that one is served, by losing one’s life that one finds life, and by dying to self that one lives. These principles follow one another as surely as night follows day.

一个自我降卑的人，正是神要抬高的人，而一个自高自大的人，正是神要降卑的人，这事千真万确！在属天的经济观中，藉着给予，人方得着；藉着服侍，人被服侍；藉着失丧生命，人找到生命；藉着向己而死，人活过来。这些原则一个接一个，就象白天过后是黑夜一样确定无疑。

Like Christ, you will be exalted in Heaven one day. Meditate on that truth, and be encouraged by it as you go through your earthly trials.

像基督一样，有一天，在天国你会被升高。请用心思想这个真理，当你经历尘世试炼时，会从中得到鼓励。

Thank the Lord for the exaltation that awaits you in Heaven.

为着天国那等候着你的升高感谢神！

Read the following verses: Matthew 23:12; Luke 14:11; 18:14; 1 Peter 5:6. What principle do they all teach?

阅读下列经节：马太福音23：12；路加福音14：11；18：14；彼得前书5：6. 他们教导了什么原则？