舍己和背十字架

Denying yourself and bearing the cross（舍己和背十字架）

"Denying yourself" and "bearing the cross" are phrases commonly used in Christian teachings to describe the principles of self-sacrifice and following Jesus Christ. They carry deep spiritual and ethical implications.

Denying yourself refers to the act of putting aside your own desires, ego, and self-centeredness in order to align your will with God's will. It involves surrendering your own agenda and submitting to God's authority and guidance. It requires humility, self-discipline, and a willingness to prioritize God's purposes above personal comfort or ambition. By denying oneself, a person acknowledges their dependence on God and seeks to live a life that reflects Christ's selfless love.

Bearing the cross is a metaphor that originates from Jesus' teachings in the New Testament. In the time of Jesus, the cross symbolized suffering, shame, and even death. Jesus said, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23, NIV). Bearing the cross involves willingly accepting and enduring hardships, trials, and persecution that may come as a result of following Jesus and living according to His teachings. It represents a willingness to sacrificially serve and love others, even in the face of adversity or opposition.

Together, denying yourself and bearing the cross emphasize the sacrificial nature of discipleship. They call believers to a life of selflessness, obedience, and dedication to God's kingdom. It means prioritizing spiritual values, embracing the cost of discipleship, and being willing to suffer for the sake of righteousness. Ultimately, it is about living a life that reflects the character of Christ and being transformed by His love and grace.

"舍己"和"背起十字架"是基督教教義中常用的詞語，用來描述自我犧牲和跟隨耶穌基督的原則。它們具有深刻的屬靈和倫理含義。

"舍己"指的是放下自己的欲望、自我和以自我為中心，以使自己的意願與上帝的意願一致。它涉及放棄個人的計劃，順服上帝的權威和引導。它需要謙卑、自律和願意將上帝的目的置於個人的舒適或抱負之上。通過自我否定，一個人承認自己對上帝的依賴，並尋求過上反映基督無私愛的生活。

"背起十字架"是一個比喻，源自新約中耶穌的教導。在耶穌時代，十字架象征著痛苦、恥辱，甚至死亡。耶穌說："若有人要跟從我，就當舍己，天天背起他的十字架來跟從我"（路加福音9:23，和合本）。背起十字架意味著自願接受和忍受因跟隨耶穌和按照他的教導生活而帶來的困難、試煉和逼迫。它代表著願意犧牲地為他人服務和愛他人，即使麵對逆境或反對。

舍己和背起十字架共同強調了門徒訓練的犧牲性質。它們呼召信徒過上無私、順服和致力於上帝的國度的生活。它意味著優先考慮屬靈價值，接受門徒的代價，並願意為了公義而忍受痛苦。最終，這是關於過上一個反映基督品格、被他的愛和恩典改變的生活。