Strength In Weakness 软弱中的力量

“ Whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. —Matthew 20:26 ”
“ 「你们中间谁愿为大，就必作你们的用人。」（马太福音20章26节） ”

No one wants to be weak, so we find ways to appear strong. Some of us use the force of our emotions to manipulate people. Others use the force of personality to control people, and some use intellect to intimidate. Although these create an illusion of strength, they are signs of weakness.
没有人想当弱者，所以我们总是尽可能显出我们是强者。有些人用情绪操纵人心；有些人透过个性上的力量控制他人；又有些人用智慧聪明威胁恫吓。虽然这的确营造出充满力量的假象，却也是人性软弱的标志。

When we are truly strong, we have the courage to admit our limitations and to acknowledge our dependence on God. As a result, true strength often looks a lot like weakness. When the apostle Paul prayed that an affliction would be taken from him, God answered, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9). Paul responded with these troubling words: “When I am weak, then I am strong” (v.10).
当我们真正刚强时，我们有勇气承认自己的极限和对上帝的依赖。因此，真实力量通常看起来像是软弱无力。当使徒保罗祷告，求上帝挪去他的苦难，上帝回答他：「我的恩典够你用的，因为我的能力是在人的软弱上显得完全」（哥林多后书12章9节）。保罗的回答让人不解：「我什么时候软弱，什么时候就刚强了！」（10节）

Toward the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry, some of His disciples were striving for positions of prominence. Jesus used their argument as an opportunity to teach them that in His kingdom things are different: greatness comes when we willingly assume positions of weakness (Matt. 20:26).
当耶稣在离世之前，他的门徒之中有些人试着争取较有声望的位置。耶稣把他们的争论当成教导的机会，耶稣告诉门徒，在?的国度里，事情完全不同：当我们愿意承担卑微的职务时，才能够为大。（马太福音20章26节）

This is a hard truth. I prefer the illusion of strength to the reality of weakness. But God wants us to realize that true strength comes when we stop trying to control people and start serving them instead. — Julie Ackerman Link
这不是一个简单的真理，我宁愿选择强壮的假象也不愿接受现实的软弱，但是上帝要我们明白，若我们不再努力控制他人，而是服事人们时，我们就拥有了真正的力量。JAL

The life that we live for God’s glory,
Let’s live it in biblical light:
God’s strength is made perfect in weakness;
He alone controls power and might. —Branon
沐浴圣经真理之光，
活出荣耀救主生命；
?化软弱成为刚强，
世间力量由?而定。Branon

God’s greatest power can be displayed in our biggest weakness.
上帝的大能，在我们的最软弱之处彰显无遗。