Our lives speak louder than our words. 

生命的见证胜过千言万语。

Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. 1 Peter 2:12

你们在外邦人中，应当品行端正。-彼得前书2章12节

Amy lives in a closed country where it’s forbidden to preach the gospel. She’s a trained nurse who works in a big hospital, caring for newborn babies. She’s such a committed professional that her work stands out, and many women are curious about her. They are moved to ask her questions in private. It’s then that Amy shares about her Savior openly.

艾美居住在一个封闭的国家，那里禁止基督徒公开向人传福音。艾美是受过专业训练的护理人员，在一所大医院担任照顾新生儿的工作。艾美在工作上十分敬业，表现格外出色。这让许多妇女对她感到好奇，不禁私下问她许多问题，因此让艾美有机会坦然地与人分享她的基督信仰。

Because of her good work, some co-workers were envious and accused her of stealing some medicine. Her superiors didn’t believe them, and authorities eventually found the culprit. This episode led some of her fellow nurses to ask about her faith. Her example reminds me of what Peter says: “Dear friends . . . . Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God” (1 Peter 2:11–12 nlt).

然而，艾美的良好表现却也遭来部分同事的妒忌，甚至诬告她窃取医疗用品。但艾美的上司并不相信他们的说词，还好最后医院查出谁是真正的偷窃者。艾美对整起事件的态度，也让一些同事想要了解她的信仰。艾美的榜样让我想起使徒彼得说：“亲爱的弟兄啊，……你们在外邦人中，应当品行端正，叫那些毁谤你们是作恶的，因看见你们的好行为，便在鉴察的日子归荣耀给上帝。”（彼得前书2章11-12节）

Our everyday lives at home, in our work environment, or at school make an impact on others when we let God work in us. We’re surrounded by people who are watching the way we speak and behave. Let’s depend on God and have Him rule our actions and thoughts. Then we’ll influence those who don’t believe and this may lead some of them to turn in faith to Jesus.

若我们愿意让上帝在生命中动工，那么无论是在家里、职场或学校，我们的生活态度都能发挥影响力。周遭的人随时都会看到我们的言行举止、待人处事。让我们倚靠上帝，由祂掌管我们的行为和意念，盼望我们能藉此影响那些还未认识主的人，让他们能因此转而相信耶稣。

Father, help me to live in such a way that Your name will be honored wherever I go.

天父，求祢帮助我不论身在何处，行事为人都能荣耀祢的名。

1 Peter 2:11-21    NIV

2 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. 13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority:whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. 18 Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

彼得前书 2:11-21

2 亲爱的弟兄啊，你们是客旅，是寄居的。我劝你们要禁戒肉体的私欲，这私欲是与灵魂争战的。 12 你们在外邦人中应当品行端正，叫那些毁谤你们是作恶的，因看见你们的好行为，便在鉴察[a]的日子归荣耀给神。13 你们为主的缘故，要顺服人的一切制度，或是在上的君王， 14 或是君王所派罚恶赏善的臣宰。 15 因为神的旨意原是要你们行善，可以堵住那糊涂无知人的口。 16 你们虽是自由的，却不可借着自由遮盖恶毒[b]，总要做神的仆人。 17 务要尊敬众人，亲爱教中的弟兄，敬畏神，尊敬君王。18 你们做仆人的，凡事要存敬畏的心顺服主人；不但顺服那善良温和的，就是那乖僻的也要顺服。 19 倘若人为叫良心对得住神，就忍受冤屈的苦楚，这是可喜爱的。20 你们若因犯罪受责打，能忍耐，有什么可夸的呢？但你们若因行善受苦，能忍耐，这在神看是可喜爱的。 21 你们蒙召原是为此，因基督也为你们受过苦，给你们留下榜样，叫你们跟随他的脚踪行。

INSIGHT

灵粮透视

Being misunderstood or falsely accused is inevitable in a broken world. But in those vulnerable moments, Peter argues, it’s especially crucial for believers to strive to follow Christs example of responding to suffering with love rather than lashing out (1 Peter 2:12, 21). “Submitting” to those with power (v. 13) doesn’t mean blind obedience, but rather letting go of our natural desire to control or overpower others. And as we fearlessly display Christ’s love and the ways of our Lord’s kingdom (vv. 13, 16), God may even use us to guide others to His love.

在这个堕落的世界，我们难免会被人误解或诬告。但彼得却指出，对信徒而言，在这种受伤害或被攻击的时刻，最重要的是效法基督的榜样，用爱而不是用反击来应对苦难（彼得前书2章12、21节）。“顺服”掌权的人（13节），并不意味着盲目地服从，而是要学习放下控制或压制他人的欲望。当我们放胆向人表明基督的爱和上帝国度的道路时（13、16节），上帝就可以使用我们，引导别人来认识祂。

整理：于姊妹