None of us lives to himself . . . —Romans 14:7
Has it ever dawned on you that you are responsible spiritually to God for other people? For instance, if I allow any turning away from God in my private life, everyone around me suffers. We “sit together in the heavenly places . . .” (Ephesians 2:6). “If one member suffers, all the members suffer with it . . .” (1 Corinthians 12:26). If you allow physical selfishness, mental carelessness, moral insensitivity, or spiritual weakness, everyone in contact with you will suffer. But you ask, “Who is sufficient to be able to live up to such a lofty standard?” “Our sufficiency is from God . . .” and God alone (2 Corinthians 3:5).
“You shall be witnesses to Me . . .” (Acts 1:8). How many of us are willing to spend every bit of our nervous, mental, moral, and spiritual energy for Jesus Christ? That is what God means when He uses the word witness. But it takes time, so be patient with yourself. Why has God left us on the earth? Is it simply to be saved and sanctified? No, it is to be at work in service to Him. Am I willing to be broken bread and poured-out wine for Him? Am I willing to be of no value to this age or this life except for one purpose and one alone— to be used to disciple men and women to the Lord Jesus Christ. My life of service to God is the way I say “thank you” to Him for His inexpressibly wonderful salvation. Remember, it is quite possible for God to set any of us aside if we refuse to be of service to Him— “. . . lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27).
我豈是看守我弟兄的嗎？
我們沒有一個人為自己活。 （羅十四7）
你有沒有想過別人靈性的光景，在神面前我們是有責任要承擔？例如我暗地裡偏離神，四周的人都必受累。我們是[一同坐在天上]、[一個肢體受苦，所有的肢體就一同受苦]。你一旦容讓肉體的私慾、思想的怠惰，德行的放鬆、屬靈的遲鈍，你的同伴就要受損。你會說：[立這樣的標準，誰能當得起呢？ ]惟有神自己，我們所能承擔得是出於神。
[你們要作我的見證]。有多少人肯把精力、智力、德性、靈性德每一分為耶穌基督擺上呢？見證這個字在神的心目中，正是這個意思。是要用時間，要耐心。神留我們在地上是為了什麼？得拯救？得成聖？絕不，乃是為他。我願否為他成為劈開得餅，倒出得酒？我甘願被剝奪一切，完全捨棄觀點立場，只為主使萬人作門徒？我以生命作主工人，是對神說不盡得救恩和致謝。記住，每個人都有可能成為被廢棄的銀子——[……恐怕我傳福音給別人，自己反被棄絕了。 ]
祈禱◆為著你的話說——[父親怎樣憐恤他得兒女，耶和華也怎樣憐恤敬畏他的人]——我讚美你。我何其認清我所領受到的，絕不是你的嚴苛，卻全然是你的慈愛。噢，願你向我所施的慈愛、溫柔與忍耐，能夠透過我向其他人表達。
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