Integrity Triumphs Over Adversity

正直胜过困境

Integrity shines brightest against the backdrop of adversity.

在逆境中，正直是最耀眼的。

Our passage today tells of the tragic time in Israel’s history when God chastened her severely by allowing King Nebuchadnezzar and the wicked nation of Babylon to march against her and take her captive. God never coddles His people, nor does He wink at their sin. Israel’s chastening illustrates the principle that “judgment [begins] with the household of God” (1 Peter 4:17). But as severe as His discipline can be, it is always aimed at producing greater righteousness and godly integrity in His children (Heb. 12:5-11).

今天的经文讲述了以色列历史上的悲惨时刻，那时上帝严厉地惩罚她，将她交到尼布甲尼撒王的手中，并允许邪恶的巴比伦攻击占领她。上帝从不娇惯祂的百姓，也不纵容他们的罪恶。以色列受到的惩罚说明“审判要从 神的家起首”（彼得前书4：17）。但上帝的管教越严厉，祂就越能教养出公义和属神的正直儿女（希伯来书12：5-11）。

The Babylonian captivity set the stage for a truly uncommon display of integrity from Daniel and his three Hebrew friends. In the days ahead we will examine their character in some depth. For now, however, be encouraged that adversity of any kind—even chastening for sin—is God’s way of providing the rich soil for nourishing and strengthening the spiritual fruit of integrity. Without the adversities of Babylon, Daniel’s integrity and that of his friends would not have shone as brightly as it did and would not have had the significant impact it had on King Nebuchadnezzar and his entire kingdom.

巴比伦的侵略为但以理和他三个希伯来朋友提供了展现正直的舞台。接下来的一段时间我们将更深学习他们的品格。然而，现在，要被任何的逆境所激励--即使是惩戒罪恶--因为这是上帝为培育和增强我们属灵的正直果子所预备的丰饶土壤。没有巴比伦的侵略，但以理和他朋友的正直就不能如此的闪耀，也不能对尼布甲尼撒王和他的王国产生那么大的影响。

Perhaps you are currently experiencing adversities that are especially challenging, and you may not yet understand what God is accomplishing through them. But like Daniel and his friends, you can pray for the wisdom to understand His will and the faith to trust Him through the process. And you can be assured He will never fail you.

也许你现在正处于非常有挑战性的逆境中，也许你不明白上帝要在这样的环境中如何成就。但是像但以理和他的朋友一样，你可以求神在这个过程中赐智慧来明白祂的旨意，赐信心来信任祂。你要确信神永远不会误事。