Faith connects our weakness to God’s strength.

信靠上帝，软弱者必得着力量。

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7

那美好的仗我已经打过了；当跑的路我已经跑尽了；所信的道我已经守住了。-提摩太后书4章7节

Joop Zoetemelk is known as the Netherlands’ most successful cyclist. But that’s because he never gave up. He started and finished the Tour de France 16 times—placing second five times before winning in 1980. That’s perseverance!

约普·祖特梅尔克（Joop Zoetemelk）被称为荷兰最成功的自行车手，这是因为他那绝不放弃的精神。祖特梅尔克参加过十六次环法自行车赛，其中五次获得亚军，直到1980年才夺得冠军。如此可见，他有非凡的毅力！

Many winners have reached success by climbing a special ladder called “never give up.” However, there are also many who have lost the opportunity to achieve success because they gave up too soon. This can happen in every area of life: family, education, friends, work, service. Perseverance is a key to victory.

许多胜利者成功的秘诀，主要是因为他们那不屈不挠、绝不放弃的精神。但也有很多人失去成功的机会，只因他们太早放弃，包括：家庭、学业、友情、工作与服事。坚持是迈向胜利的一个重要关键。

The apostle Paul persevered despite persecution and affliction (2 Tim. 3:10–11). He viewed life with realism, recognizing that as followers of Christ we will suffer persecution (vv. 12–13), but he instructed Timothy to place his faith in God and the encouragement of the Scriptures (vv. 14–15). Doing so would help him face discouragement and endure with hope. At the end of his life, Paul said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (4:7).

使徒保罗尽管面对迫害与苦难，仍坚持忍耐到底 (提摩太后书3章10-11节) 。他明白在现实生活中，基督徒都会受逼迫 (12-13节) ，所以保罗教导提摩太要信靠上帝，并相信圣经中的劝勉 (14-15节) ，这可以帮助他面对挫折，并带着盼望坚忍到底。在生命即将结束时，保罗说：“那美好的仗我已经打过了；当跑的路我已经跑尽了；所信的道我已经守住了。” (4章7节)

We too can allow the Scriptures to strengthen us to press on in the race marked out for us. For our God is both a promise-making and promise-keeping God and will reward those who faithfully finish the race (v. 8).

我们也可以靠上帝的话语得着力量，奋力奔跑那摆在我们前面的路程。我们的上帝赐下应许且信守承诺，祂必赏赐那些忠心跑完天路的人 (8节) 。

Heavenly Father, give me strength of character 

and perseverance to serve you better. 

Help me not to get discouraged when things 

get tough but to rely on You to see me through.

天父，求祢让我能坚强忍耐地服事祢。
即使环境艰难，
也求祢帮助我不要气馁，
相信祢能带领我度过难关。

Read:2 Timothy 3:10-15 New International Version (NIV)

A Final Charge to Timothy

10 You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11 persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra,the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

提摩太后书 3:10-15

10 但你已经服从了我的教训、品行、志向、信心、宽容、爱心、忍耐， 11 以及我在安提阿、以哥念、路司得所遭遇的逼迫、苦难。我所忍受是何等的逼迫，但从这一切苦难中，主都把我救出来了。 12 不但如此，凡立志在基督耶稣里敬虔度日的，也都要受逼迫。 13 只是作恶的和迷惑人的必越久越恶，他欺哄人，也被人欺哄。 14 但你所学习的、所确信的，要存在心里，因为你知道是跟谁学的， 15 并且知道你是从小明白圣经，这圣经能使你因信基督耶稣有得救的智慧。

整理：于姊妹