We hold to the cross of Christ and are held by it.

Not that I have . . . already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  Philippians 3:12

In 1856, Charles Spurgeon, the great London preacher, founded the Pastors’ College to train men for the Christian ministry. It was renamed Spurgeon’s College in 1923. Today’s college crest shows a hand grasping a cross and the Latin words, Et Teneo, Et Teneor, which means, “I hold and am held.” In his autobiography, Spurgeon wrote, “This is our College motto. We . . . hold forth the Cross of Christ with a bold hand . . . because that Cross holds us fast by its attractive power. Our desire is that every man may both hold the Truth, and be held by it; especially the truth of Christ crucified.”

In Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he expressed this truth as the bedrock of his life. “Not that I have . . . already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me” (Phil. 3:12). As followers of Jesus, we extend the message of the cross to others as Jesus holds us fast in His grace and power. “I have been crucified with Christ; and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Gal. 2:20).

Our Lord holds us in His grip of love each day—and we hold out His message of love to others.

Lord Jesus, Your cross is the focal point of history and the turning point of our lives. Hold us tightly as we cling to Your cross and extend your love to others.

我们持守基督十架真理，也必蒙保守。

这不是说我……已经完全了，我乃是竭力追求，或者可以得着基督耶稣所以得着我的。-腓立比书3章12节

在1856年，伦敦著名牧师查尔斯·司布真创立了牧师学院（Pastors’ College），以培育神职人员。该学院在1923年更名为司布真学院（Spurgeon’s College）。今日，学院的院徽上有一只手紧握着十字架，并有一行拉丁文，其意思是“我持守也蒙保守”。

司布真在自传中写到：“这是我们学院的院训。我们……勇敢地宣扬基督的十字架……因为十字架奇妙的大能保守着我们。我们渴望每个人都持守真道，也保守自己在真道中，特别是基督为我们受难的真理。”

在保罗写给腓立比教会的书信中，他表示这真理是他生命的根基，他说：“这不是说我……已经完全了，我乃是竭力追求，或者可以得着基督耶稣所以得着我的”（腓立比书3章12节）。身为耶稣的跟随者，我们向众人传递十字架的信息，是因耶稣以祂的恩典与大能保守我们，“我已经与基督同钉十字架，现在活着的不再是我，乃是基督在我里面活着”（加拉太书2章20节） 。

我们的上帝天天以祂的爱保守着我们，让我们也将祂爱的信息传给他人。

亲爱的主耶稣，祢的十字架是历史的焦点，
是我们生命的转捩点。求祢保守我们，
叫我们持守祢十架的真理，并向世人传递祢的爱。

Philippians 3:7-12New International Version (NIV)

7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in[a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

整理：于姊妹