13为什么神这样安排我们的环境、境遇和景况,使我们经历苦难?我们不该照着我们天然的观念解释说,“全地都充满苦难,人人都经过艰难。为什么我们该例外?”这是天然的观念,我们不该接受。我们必须领悟,神的目的是要使我们成为长成的儿子,而不是小孩子。我们不该满意于一直作小孩子,享受祂的顾惜和爱。神要使我们成为长成的儿子,完全长大成为法定的后嗣,使我们在这宇宙中承受祂的一切所是,并使我们彰显祂,且在地上施行祂的管治权。既然神的心意是要将我们带进完满的儿子名分里,我们就需要长大。毫无疑问,长大来自内里的滋养,但这里面的滋养需要外面环境的配合。照着我们的感觉,外面的环境多半不令人喜乐。因此,就我们而论,外面的环境成为苦难。我不是说,外面的环境不好;它总是好的,但你也许觉得它似乎不好(罗马书生命读经,二八五至二八七页)。
13Why does God arrange our environment, surroundings, and situations in such a way that we experience suffering? We should not explain this according to our natural concept, saying, “The whole earth is filled with sufferings, and everyone undergoes hardship. Why should we be an exception?” This is a natural concept, and we should not accept it. We must realize that God’s purpose is to make us full-grown sons, not little children. We should not be content to remain children enjoying His cherishing and loving. God intends to make us full sons, completely grown up to be legal heirs that we may inherit all that He is in this universe and that we may express Him and exercise His dominion over the earth. Since God’s intention is to bring us into full sonship, we need to grow. There is no doubt that growth comes from inward nourishment, but this inward nourishment needs the coordination of the outward environment. According to our feeling, most of the outward environment is unpleasant. Thus, the outward environment becomes a suffering as far as we are concerned. I do not say that the outward environment is not good; it is always good, but it may not appear good to your feeling. (Life-study of Romans, pp. 234-235)