让人探询我们生命有盼望的缘由吧！

In your hearts revere Christ as Lord. 1 Peter 3:15

心里尊主基督为圣。-彼得前书3章15节

While staying at a hotel in Austin, Texas, I noticed a card lying on the desk in my room. It said:

我在德州奥斯汀市的一家饭店住宿时，注意到房间的桌子上有一张卡片。上面写着：

Welcome

Our prayer is that your stay here will be restful

and that your travels will be fruitful.

May the Lord bless you and keep you, and make

His face shine upon you.

欢迎光临！

愿上帝让你能在这里好好休息，

在旅途中有丰富的收获。

愿上帝赐福保护你，愿祂的脸光照你！

This card from the company that manages the hotel made me want to know more, so I accessed their website and read about their culture, strength, and values. In a winsome way, they seek to pursue excellence and live out their faith in the workplace.

这张卡片是来自管理这间饭店的公司，这让我想要更进一步地认识他们。所以我浏览了他们的网站，了解他们公司的文化、优点和价值观。他们用一种引人入胜的方式，在职场上追求卓越，并活出他们的信仰。

Their philosophy reminded me of Peter’s words to the followers of Jesus scattered throughout Asia Minor. He encouraged them to demonstrate their faith in Christ in the society where they lived. Even as they faced threats and persecution, Peter told them not to be afraid, “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15).

他们的理念使我想到，彼得对分散在小亚细亚各地的信徒所说的话。他鼓励他们在所处的社会中，活出基督的信仰。即便他们遭遇威胁迫害，彼得仍劝勉他们不要害怕，“只要心里尊主基督为圣。有人问你们心中盼望的缘由，就要常作准备，以温柔、敬畏的心回答各人”（彼得前书3章15节）。

A friend of mine calls this “living a lifestyle that demands an explanation.” No matter where we live or work, may we in God’s strength live out our faith today—always ready to reply gently and respectfully to everyone who asks the reason for our hope.

我的一位朋友将这种生活称为“吸引别人探询的生活方式”。无论我们在哪里生活或工作，愿我们能以上帝所赐的力量活出信仰。若有人想知道我们的盼望从何而来，我们也能随时准备好以温柔、敬畏的心作出回应。

亲爱的天父，愿我们通过爱其他人来尊荣祢，当他们询问我们盼望的缘由时，愿我们以温柔、敬畏的心回应他们。

1 Peter 3:8-16   NIV

3 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For,“Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. 11 They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” 13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

彼得前书 3:8-16 

3 总而言之，你们都要同心，彼此体恤，相爱如弟兄，存慈怜谦卑的心。 9 不以恶报恶、以辱骂还辱骂，倒要祝福，因你们是为此蒙召，好叫你们承受福气。 10 因为经上说：“人若爱生命，愿享美福，须要禁止舌头不出恶言，嘴唇不说诡诈的话； 11 也要离恶行善，寻求和睦，一心追赶。12 因为主的眼看顾义人，主的耳听他们的祈祷；唯有行恶的人，主向他们变脸。” 13 你们若是热心行善，有谁害你们呢？ 14 你们就是为义受苦，也是有福的。不要怕人的威吓，也不要惊慌， 15 只要心里尊主基督为圣。有人问你们心中盼望的缘由，就要常做准备，以温柔、敬畏的心回答各人， 16 存着无亏的良心，叫你们在何事上被毁谤，就在何事上可以叫那诬赖你们在基督里有好品行的人自觉羞愧。

INSIGHT

灵粮透视

When we think of Peter, we often think of young Peter—his rash denials of Christ (John 18:17, 25, 27), his jumping out of the boat to walk on the water to Jesus (Matthew 14:22–31), or his cutting off a servant’s ear in the garden of Gethsemane (John 18:10). Yet aged Peter—mature Peter—is a much different man who wrote letters to encourage believers in Jesus. The man who called down a curse on himself as he denied Christ (Matthew 26:73–75) now writes that believers should be prepared to give an answer for their hope—something he was once unwilling to do. Such is the difference the Spirit makes in our lives.

当我们想到彼得时，经常会想到年轻时候的彼得，想到他急躁地否认基督（约翰福音18章17、25、27节）；跳下船在水面上走向耶稣（马太福音14章22-31节）；在客西马尼园削掉一个仆人的耳朵（约翰福音18章10节）。然而，年老时的彼得灵命已经成熟，与过去迥然不同，是一个能写信鼓励众信徒的人。那个曾在否认基督过后咒诅自己的人（马太福音26章73-75节），现在却鼓励信徒应该常做准备，好解释他们盼望的缘由，那是他自己曾经不愿意做的事。这就是圣灵可以在我们生命中做出的改变。

How has the Spirit been transforming you and helping you to live out your faith?

圣灵如何改变你，帮助你活出信仰呢？

整理：于姊妹