The Compelling Force of the Call

Woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! —1 Corinthians 9:16

Beware of refusing to hear the call of God. Everyone who is saved is called to testify to the fact of his salvation. That, however, is not the same as the call to preach, but is merely an illustration which can be used in preaching. In this verse, Paul was referring to the stinging pains produced in him by the compelling force of the call to preach the gospel. Never try to apply what Paul said regarding the call to preach to those souls who are being called to God for salvation. There is nothing easier than getting saved, because it is solely God’s sovereign work— “Look to Me, and be saved . . .” (Isaiah 45:22). Our Lord never requires the same conditions for discipleship that he requires for salvation. We are condemned to salvation through the Cross of Christ. But discipleship has an option with it-”If anyone . . .” (Luke 14:26).

Paul’s words have to do with our being made servants of Jesus Christ, and our permission is never asked as to what we will do or where we will go. God makes us as broken bread and poured-out wine to please Himself. To be “separated to the gospel” means being able to hear the call of God (Romans 1:1). Once someone begins to hear that call, a suffering worthy of the name of Christ is produced. Suddenly, every ambition, every desire of life, and every outlook is completely blotted out and extinguished. Only one thing remains— “. . . separated to the gospel. . . .” Woe be to the soul who tries to head in any other direction once that call has come to him. The Bible Training College exists so that each of you may know whether or not God has a man or woman here who truly cares about proclaiming His gospel and to see if God grips you for this purpose. Beware of competing calls once the call of God grips you.

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呼召的催逼

若不傳福音，我就有禍了。 （林前九16）

當心對神的呼召充耳不聞。每一個得救的人，神都呼召他作見證；可是那並不是傳道的呼召，那隻是傳道中的例證。保羅所指的是神催逼他傳福音所帶來的壓力。千萬不要把保羅在此所說的，於人來到神面前求拯救一事相提並論。得救是最容易不過的事，因為這是神完成的工作－－[你來就我，我必定拯救。 ]主並沒有把作門徒的條件，作為得救的條件。我們藉耶穌基督的十字架，由定罪而獲得拯救。但作門徒卻有取捨的餘地－－[若有人……]。

保羅實說我們既成為耶穌基督的僕人，無論他要我們做什麼或往那裡去，都不必徵得我們的同意。我們成為擘開的餅，倒出來的酒，為要叫神喜悅。 [為福音分別出來]，就是聽見神的呼召。當人聽見這個呼召，痛苦隨即便來，因為要為這名受苦。所有的生活慾望停止了，所有的期望理想也消失淨盡，雄心大志也像花草在萌芽時摘下，如今只剩下一件事－－為福音分別出來。一旦呼召臨到，卻偏行己路、自作抉擇，那人便有禍了。

要你們看看神在這裡是否尋得一個弟兄或一個姊妹，看擺上地傳福音；也要看看神有沒有抓住你。神若真的抓住你，就當留心那些與神為敵的事物。

祈禱◆噢，主啊，吸引我進入與你不可缺少得靈交裡。陽光給自然界帶來的差別是何等顯著：你臨到我們時，所帶來的差別也是何等的炯异！求你不住的催促，直至我們因你的同在而振奮。