2016年1月19日
你先！You First!
读经: 腓立比書2章1-11節
Reading: Philippians 2:1-11
[耶穌]就自己卑微。-腓立比書2章8節
[Jesus] humbled himself.- Philippians 2:8
全年读经: 創世記46-48章;馬太福音13章1-30節
Bible in a Year: Genesis 46–48; Matthew 13: 1-30
在1963年5月1日，在西藏出生的雪巴那旺·格姆和美國的吉姆·惠特克同時登上世界最高峰珠穆朗瑪峰。當他們即將攻頂時，都想到了首位踏上世界頂峰的殊榮。於是，吉姆作手勢要雪巴那旺先上，但雪巴那旺微笑地拒絕說：「吉姆，你先。」最後，他們決定同時踏上峰頂。
這樣的彼此謙讓，正是保羅鼓勵腓立比信徒實踐的。他說：「各人不要單顧自己的事，也要顧別人的事」 （腓立比書2章4節） 。自私和優越感造成疏離，甚至導致分裂，唯有謙卑使我們合一，因為我們會「有一樣的心思，有一樣的意念」 （2節） 。
當口角或爭執發生時，我們若能放棄爭長論短，便可以化解紛爭。謙卑讓我們不堅持己見，表現恩慈與溫柔。「只要存心謙卑，各人看別人比自己強」 （3節） 。
學習謙卑使我們更像耶穌，祂為了我們，「就自己卑微，存心順服，以至於死」 （7-8節） 。只要我們願意犧牲自己的利益，為他人的益處而選擇退讓，那麼我們就是在效法基督的榜樣了。
主耶穌，感謝祢為我捨棄生命。
幫助我看見我每一次的犧牲，
都是在學習祢的謙卑。
幫助我禮讓別人，尊榮主名。
謙卑促進合一。
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Tibetan-born Sherpa Nawang Gombu and American Jim Whittaker reached the top of Mount Everest on May 1, 1963. As they approached the peak, each considered the honor of being the first of the two to step to the summit. Whittaker motioned for Gombu to move ahead, but Gombu declined with a smile, saying, "You first, Big Jim!" Finally, they decided to step to the summit at the same time.
Paul encouraged the Philippian believers to demonstrate this kind of humility. He said, "Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others" (Phil. 2:4 nkjv). Selfishness and superiority can divide people, but humility unites us, since it is the quality of "being one in spirit and of one mind" (v. 2).
When quarrels and disagreements occur, we can often diffuse them by giving up our right to be right. Humility calls us to show grace and gentleness when we would rather insist on our own way. "In humility value others above yourselves" (v. 3).
Practicing humility helps us to become more like Jesus who, for our sake, "humbled himself by becoming obedient to death" (vv. 7-8). Following in Jesus' footsteps means backing away from what is best for us and doing what is best for others.
Jesus, You gave up Your life for me. Help me to see each sacrifice I make as a reflection of Your humility. In putting others first, let me honor You.
Humility promotes unity.