. . . separated to the gospel of God. . . —Romans 1:1
Our calling is not primarily to be holy men and women, but to be proclaimers of the gospel of God. The one all-important thing is that the gospel of God should be recognized as the abiding reality. Reality is not human goodness, or holiness, or heaven, or hell— it is redemption. The need to perceive this is the most vital need of the Christian worker today. As workers, we have to get used to the revelation that redemption is the only reality. Personal holiness is an effect of redemption, not the cause of it. If we place our faith in human goodness we will go under when testing comes.
Paul did not say that he separated himself, but “when it pleased God, who separated me . . .” (Galatians 1:15). Paul was not overly interested in his own character. And as long as our eyes are focused on our own personal holiness, we will never even get close to the full reality of redemption. Christian workers fail because they place their desire for their own holiness above their desire to know God. “Don’t ask me to be confronted with the strong reality of redemption on behalf of the filth of human life surrounding me today; what I want is anything God can do for me to make me more desirable in my own eyes.” To talk that way is a sign that the reality of the gospel of God has not begun to touch me. There is no reckless abandon to God in that. God cannot deliver me while my interest is merely in my own character. Paul was not conscious of himself. He was recklessly abandoned, totally surrendered, and separated by God for one purpose— to proclaim the gospel of God (see Romans 9:3).
你看清你的呼召沒有？
特派傳神的福音（特派有分別出來之意）。 （羅一1）
基本上來說，神呼召我們並不是叫我們做聖潔的人，乃是要我們宣揚他的福音。因為其中最要緊的，就是神的福音有永存的價值。聖潔，固然不是永存的，只有救贖才是永恆。今日基督的工人最要瞭解的，就是這個。作為工人，我們必須熟悉這個啟示，就是救贖是唯一的永存價值。個人的聖潔只是果，不是因。如果我們把信心寄託於人的良善上，以救恩為果，試煉一來，我們就站立不住了。
保羅並沒有說他分別自己，他乃說:[神既喜悅將我分別出來……。 ]保羅對自己的性情，並沒有過分的注意。我們的眼睛一天放在自己的成聖上，一天就不能進入救贖的實際裡去。許多工人一敗塗地，就是因為他們的願望只為自己的聖潔，而不是為神。 [由於人性是墮落於污穢的，請不要叫我們對救贖崎嶇的現實吧！我要的，是神為我做點什麼，叫我更欣賞自己。 ]說這樣的話，表明神福音的實際尚未摸著我，我還未完全獻身，向神降服。保羅能夠忘我，毫無顧慮敵撇棄一切，被神分別出來，為的只是一個目標——傳揚神的福音（參羅九3）
祈禱◆噢，主啊，對於你的救贖和全備的救恩，我的欣賞是何其吝嗇。主啊，驅使我產生更豐富的感恩；讓我永遠深愛主耶穌基督。
January 31, 2013
January 30, 2013
The Dilemma of Obedience
Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the vision —1 Samuel 3:15
God never speaks to us in dramatic ways, but in ways that are easy to misunderstand. Then we say, “I wonder if that is God’s voice?” Isaiah said that the Lord spoke to him “with a strong hand,” that is, by the pressure of his circumstances (Isaiah 8:11). Without the sovereign hand of God Himself, nothing touches our lives. Do we discern His hand at work, or do we see things as mere occurrences?
Get into the habit of saying, “Speak, Lord,” and life will become a romance (1 Samuel 3:9). Every time circumstances press in on you, say, “Speak, Lord,” and make time to listen. Chastening is more than a means of discipline— it is meant to bring me to the point of saying, “Speak, Lord.” Think back to a time when God spoke to you. Do you remember what He said? Was it Luke 11:13 , or was it 1 Thessalonians 5:23? As we listen, our ears become more sensitive, and like Jesus, we will hear God all the time.
Should I tell my “Eli” what God has shown to me? This is where the dilemma of obedience hits us. We disobey God by becoming amateur providences and thinking, “I must shield ’Eli,’ ” who represents the best people we know. God did not tell Samuel to tell Eli— he had to decide that for himself. God’s message to you may hurt your “Eli,” buttrying to prevent suffering in another’s life will prove to be an obstruction between your soul and God. It is at your own risk that you prevent someone’s right hand being cut off or right eye being plucked out (see Matthew 5:29-30). Never ask another person’s advice about anything God makes you decide before Him. If you ask advice, you will almost always side with Satan. “. . . I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood . . .” (Galatians 1:16).
順服的難關
撒母耳……不敢將默示告訴以利。 （撒上三15）
神從來不用驚天動地的方式對我們說話，他說話的方式，往往容易被我們誤解。我們會說：[不知這到底是不是神的聲音？ ]以賽亞說神的手在他身上沉重（對他說話），也就是說，神用環境的壓力。任何發生在我們身上的事，都是神在說話。我們有沒有辨認出他的手，還是只當作偶發的事件？
能養成[主啊，請說]的習慣，這樣生命就變得多姿多彩。每一次說：[主啊，請說。 ]要撥出時間來靜聽！管教不單只為了操練，也是為了要把我帶到一個地步，使我能說：[主啊，請說。 ]請你追憶一下神對你說過的話，你還記得他說過什麼嗎？是路加福音十一章13節，還是帖撒羅尼迦前書五章23節？我們多聽，耳朵就開通，像耶穌隨時都聽見神的聲音。
我應該把神給我的指示，告訴我的[以利]嗎？這樣就來到順服的難關了。我們若以神明自居，說我必須保護[以利]，因他是我熟悉的人中最善良的。這樣，我就是違背神了。神沒有叫撒母耳去告訴以利，他要自作決定。神對你的呼召可能傷害你的[以利]；但是你若設法護衛另一個人，使其不受傷害，這樣你心靈與神之間便有了阻隔。你不肯砍下右手，剜出眼睛，只會自取其咎，招來毀滅。
神要你在他面前決定的事，不要諮詢別人的意見。你聽取人的意見，就不期然的袒護撒旦了。 [我沒有與屬血氣的人商量。 ]這是保羅的態度。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，願你成為懷中搖籤的定奪者，以致我們為著你所成就的事充滿歡笑。
God never speaks to us in dramatic ways, but in ways that are easy to misunderstand. Then we say, “I wonder if that is God’s voice?” Isaiah said that the Lord spoke to him “with a strong hand,” that is, by the pressure of his circumstances (Isaiah 8:11). Without the sovereign hand of God Himself, nothing touches our lives. Do we discern His hand at work, or do we see things as mere occurrences?
Get into the habit of saying, “Speak, Lord,” and life will become a romance (1 Samuel 3:9). Every time circumstances press in on you, say, “Speak, Lord,” and make time to listen. Chastening is more than a means of discipline— it is meant to bring me to the point of saying, “Speak, Lord.” Think back to a time when God spoke to you. Do you remember what He said? Was it Luke 11:13 , or was it 1 Thessalonians 5:23? As we listen, our ears become more sensitive, and like Jesus, we will hear God all the time.
Should I tell my “Eli” what God has shown to me? This is where the dilemma of obedience hits us. We disobey God by becoming amateur providences and thinking, “I must shield ’Eli,’ ” who represents the best people we know. God did not tell Samuel to tell Eli— he had to decide that for himself. God’s message to you may hurt your “Eli,” buttrying to prevent suffering in another’s life will prove to be an obstruction between your soul and God. It is at your own risk that you prevent someone’s right hand being cut off or right eye being plucked out (see Matthew 5:29-30). Never ask another person’s advice about anything God makes you decide before Him. If you ask advice, you will almost always side with Satan. “. . . I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood . . .” (Galatians 1:16).
順服的難關
撒母耳……不敢將默示告訴以利。 （撒上三15）
神從來不用驚天動地的方式對我們說話，他說話的方式，往往容易被我們誤解。我們會說：[不知這到底是不是神的聲音？ ]以賽亞說神的手在他身上沉重（對他說話），也就是說，神用環境的壓力。任何發生在我們身上的事，都是神在說話。我們有沒有辨認出他的手，還是只當作偶發的事件？
能養成[主啊，請說]的習慣，這樣生命就變得多姿多彩。每一次說：[主啊，請說。 ]要撥出時間來靜聽！管教不單只為了操練，也是為了要把我帶到一個地步，使我能說：[主啊，請說。 ]請你追憶一下神對你說過的話，你還記得他說過什麼嗎？是路加福音十一章13節，還是帖撒羅尼迦前書五章23節？我們多聽，耳朵就開通，像耶穌隨時都聽見神的聲音。
我應該把神給我的指示，告訴我的[以利]嗎？這樣就來到順服的難關了。我們若以神明自居，說我必須保護[以利]，因他是我熟悉的人中最善良的。這樣，我就是違背神了。神沒有叫撒母耳去告訴以利，他要自作決定。神對你的呼召可能傷害你的[以利]；但是你若設法護衛另一個人，使其不受傷害，這樣你心靈與神之間便有了阻隔。你不肯砍下右手，剜出眼睛，只會自取其咎，招來毀滅。
神要你在他面前決定的事，不要諮詢別人的意見。你聽取人的意見，就不期然的袒護撒旦了。 [我沒有與屬血氣的人商量。 ]這是保羅的態度。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，願你成為懷中搖籤的定奪者，以致我們為著你所成就的事充滿歡笑。
January 29, 2013
How Could Someone Be So Ignorant!
Who are You, Lord? —Acts 26:15
“The Lord spoke thus to me with a strong hand . . .” (Isaiah 8:11). There is no escape when our Lord speaks. He always comes using His authority and taking hold of our understanding. Has the voice of God come to you directly? If it has, you cannot mistake the intimate insistence with which it has spoken to you. God speaks in the language you know best— not through your ears, but through your circumstances.
God has to destroy our determined confidence in our own convictions. We say, “I know that this is what I should do”-and suddenly the voice of God speaks in a way that overwhelms us by revealing the depths of our ignorance. We show our ignorance of Him in the very way we decide to serve Him. We serve Jesus in a spirit that is not His, and hurt Him by our defense of Him. We push His claims in the spirit of the devil; our words sound all right, but the spirit is that of an enemy. “He . . . rebuked them, and said, ’You do not know what manner of spirit you are of’ ” (Luke 9:55). The spirit of our Lord in His followers is described in 1 Corinthians 13.
Have I been persecuting Jesus by an eager determination to serve Him in my own way? If I feel I have done my duty, yet have hurt Him in the process, I can be sure that this was not my duty. My way will not be to foster a meek and quiet spirit, only the spirit of self-satisfaction. We presume that whatever is unpleasant is our duty! Is that anything like the spirit of our Lord— “I delight to do Your will, O my God . . .” (Psalm 40:8).
人這樣無知實在難以置信！
主啊，你是誰？ （徒二十六15—）
[主如此強有力地對我說話。 ]我們的主一開口，我們再我可躲藏。他來的時候，總要抓住你。神的聲音沒有直接臨到你？若有，你對他的話裡的親切肯定，對他用你所熟悉的語句，必不至於認不出來。你不是用耳朵聽，乃是透過環境際遇去認出來。
神必須先破壞我們執著自信的主見。 [我曉得我該做什麼。 ]突然，神的聲音震撼我們，顯出我們是何等的無知。我們如何用己的方法來事奉主，正表現出自己的無知。我們事奉耶穌的心，與聖靈並不合一，因為沒有屬基督的靈。我們為他辯護，卻傷害了他；我們推尊他的主權，卻附從了魔鬼的邪靈。我們說的話沒有什麼不對，只是我們是敵耶穌的。 [他責備她們說，你們的心如何，你們並不知道。 ]哥林多前書十三章所說的，才是真正為主發言，因為是出自他的靈。
我有沒有以自己的方法，抱著滿腔熱誠，立志事奉主，然而卻逼迫了他？我若自以為盡了一己的任務，卻因此傷了主的心，那麼，那決不是我應該做的，因為這工作沒有使溫柔謙卑的靈，得以長進，反而帶來自滿自足。我們總以為凡是不討好的工作，就是自己的任務！這像不像我們主的表現？ [我的神啊，我樂意照你的旨意行。 ]
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我要稱頌你聲音的語調和能力，你的語調帶著溫柔和滿有恩典的愛，也帶有如自然界強風的能力。主啊，讓人在這地方聽聞你榮耀的聲音，亦讓我的靈得以聽見.
“The Lord spoke thus to me with a strong hand . . .” (Isaiah 8:11). There is no escape when our Lord speaks. He always comes using His authority and taking hold of our understanding. Has the voice of God come to you directly? If it has, you cannot mistake the intimate insistence with which it has spoken to you. God speaks in the language you know best— not through your ears, but through your circumstances.
God has to destroy our determined confidence in our own convictions. We say, “I know that this is what I should do”-and suddenly the voice of God speaks in a way that overwhelms us by revealing the depths of our ignorance. We show our ignorance of Him in the very way we decide to serve Him. We serve Jesus in a spirit that is not His, and hurt Him by our defense of Him. We push His claims in the spirit of the devil; our words sound all right, but the spirit is that of an enemy. “He . . . rebuked them, and said, ’You do not know what manner of spirit you are of’ ” (Luke 9:55). The spirit of our Lord in His followers is described in 1 Corinthians 13.
Have I been persecuting Jesus by an eager determination to serve Him in my own way? If I feel I have done my duty, yet have hurt Him in the process, I can be sure that this was not my duty. My way will not be to foster a meek and quiet spirit, only the spirit of self-satisfaction. We presume that whatever is unpleasant is our duty! Is that anything like the spirit of our Lord— “I delight to do Your will, O my God . . .” (Psalm 40:8).
人這樣無知實在難以置信！
主啊，你是誰？ （徒二十六15—）
[主如此強有力地對我說話。 ]我們的主一開口，我們再我可躲藏。他來的時候，總要抓住你。神的聲音沒有直接臨到你？若有，你對他的話裡的親切肯定，對他用你所熟悉的語句，必不至於認不出來。你不是用耳朵聽，乃是透過環境際遇去認出來。
神必須先破壞我們執著自信的主見。 [我曉得我該做什麼。 ]突然，神的聲音震撼我們，顯出我們是何等的無知。我們如何用己的方法來事奉主，正表現出自己的無知。我們事奉耶穌的心，與聖靈並不合一，因為沒有屬基督的靈。我們為他辯護，卻傷害了他；我們推尊他的主權，卻附從了魔鬼的邪靈。我們說的話沒有什麼不對，只是我們是敵耶穌的。 [他責備她們說，你們的心如何，你們並不知道。 ]哥林多前書十三章所說的，才是真正為主發言，因為是出自他的靈。
我有沒有以自己的方法，抱著滿腔熱誠，立志事奉主，然而卻逼迫了他？我若自以為盡了一己的任務，卻因此傷了主的心，那麼，那決不是我應該做的，因為這工作沒有使溫柔謙卑的靈，得以長進，反而帶來自滿自足。我們總以為凡是不討好的工作，就是自己的任務！這像不像我們主的表現？ [我的神啊，我樂意照你的旨意行。 ]
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我要稱頌你聲音的語調和能力，你的語調帶著溫柔和滿有恩典的愛，也帶有如自然界強風的能力。主啊，讓人在這地方聽聞你榮耀的聲音，亦讓我的靈得以聽見.
January 28, 2013
How Could Someone So Persecute Jesus!
Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? —Acts 26:14
Are you determined to have your own way in living for God? We will never be free from this trap until we are brought into the experience of the baptism of “the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matthew 3:11). Stubbornness and self-will will always stab Jesus Christ. It may hurt no one else, but it wounds His Spirit. Whenever we are obstinate and self-willed and set on our own ambitions, we are hurting Jesus. Every time we stand on our own rights and insist that this is what we intend to do, we are persecuting Him. Whenever we rely on self-respect, we systematically disturb and grieve His Spirit. And when we finally understand that it is Jesus we have been persecuting all this time, it is the most crushing revelation ever.
Is the Word of God tremendously penetrating and sharp in me as I hand it on to you, or does my life betray the things I profess to teach? I may teach sanctification and yet exhibit the spirit of Satan, the very spirit that persecutes Jesus Christ. The Spirit of Jesus is conscious of only one thing— a perfect oneness with the Father. And He tells us, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29). All I do should be based on a perfect oneness with Him, not on a self-willed determination to be godly. This will mean that others may use me, go around me, or completely ignore me, but if I will submit to it for His sake, I will prevent Jesus Christ from being persecuted.
人這樣逼迫耶穌實在不可思意！
掃羅，掃羅，為什麼逼迫我？
對神我是否自作主張？除非我們先經歷了聖靈與火的洗，否則永遠也不能脫離這個網羅。剛愎自用是會刺傷耶穌基督的，也許別人不會受損害，但主卻受了傷。每當我們頑梗。自專、野心勃勃的去行事，我們就傷了耶穌的心。每當我們堅持自己的主張，堅持自己的意向，我們就是逼迫耶穌了。每當我們維護自己的尊嚴，就勢必叫他的靈痛苦擔憂。當我們恍悟自己一直再逼迫耶穌，這是在是最沉痛的光照。
我把神的話傳給你的時候，這些話對我是否真的如此敏銳？還是我的生活與口所教導的兩相違背？我可能教導人成聖，而同時卻表現出撒旦的靈，就是逼迫耶穌基督。耶穌的靈只知道一件事，就是與父全然合一。他說：[我心裡柔和謙卑，你們要學我的樣式。 ]我所做的一切，應以與他完全合一為根基，而不是憑自己的意志去過敬虔生活。這樣我可能被人欺壓，被人排擠，被人忽視；但我若肯順服，主就不用受逼迫了。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，正如你與父合而為一，我也盼望與你合而為一！為著你的榮耀，求你賜給我們這種合一，願你的臉光照我們，賜給我們平安。
Are you determined to have your own way in living for God? We will never be free from this trap until we are brought into the experience of the baptism of “the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matthew 3:11). Stubbornness and self-will will always stab Jesus Christ. It may hurt no one else, but it wounds His Spirit. Whenever we are obstinate and self-willed and set on our own ambitions, we are hurting Jesus. Every time we stand on our own rights and insist that this is what we intend to do, we are persecuting Him. Whenever we rely on self-respect, we systematically disturb and grieve His Spirit. And when we finally understand that it is Jesus we have been persecuting all this time, it is the most crushing revelation ever.
Is the Word of God tremendously penetrating and sharp in me as I hand it on to you, or does my life betray the things I profess to teach? I may teach sanctification and yet exhibit the spirit of Satan, the very spirit that persecutes Jesus Christ. The Spirit of Jesus is conscious of only one thing— a perfect oneness with the Father. And He tells us, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29). All I do should be based on a perfect oneness with Him, not on a self-willed determination to be godly. This will mean that others may use me, go around me, or completely ignore me, but if I will submit to it for His sake, I will prevent Jesus Christ from being persecuted.
人這樣逼迫耶穌實在不可思意！
掃羅，掃羅，為什麼逼迫我？
對神我是否自作主張？除非我們先經歷了聖靈與火的洗，否則永遠也不能脫離這個網羅。剛愎自用是會刺傷耶穌基督的，也許別人不會受損害，但主卻受了傷。每當我們頑梗。自專、野心勃勃的去行事，我們就傷了耶穌的心。每當我們堅持自己的主張，堅持自己的意向，我們就是逼迫耶穌了。每當我們維護自己的尊嚴，就勢必叫他的靈痛苦擔憂。當我們恍悟自己一直再逼迫耶穌，這是在是最沉痛的光照。
我把神的話傳給你的時候，這些話對我是否真的如此敏銳？還是我的生活與口所教導的兩相違背？我可能教導人成聖，而同時卻表現出撒旦的靈，就是逼迫耶穌基督。耶穌的靈只知道一件事，就是與父全然合一。他說：[我心裡柔和謙卑，你們要學我的樣式。 ]我所做的一切，應以與他完全合一為根基，而不是憑自己的意志去過敬虔生活。這樣我可能被人欺壓，被人排擠，被人忽視；但我若肯順服，主就不用受逼迫了。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，正如你與父合而為一，我也盼望與你合而為一！為著你的榮耀，求你賜給我們這種合一，願你的臉光照我們，賜給我們平安。
January 27, 2013
Look Again and Think
Do not worry about your life... — Matthew 6:25
A warning which needs to be repeated is that “the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches,” and the lust for other things, will choke out the life of God in us (Matthew 13:22). We are never free from the recurring waves of this invasion. If the frontline of attack is not about clothes and food, it may be about money or the lack of money; or friends or lack of friends; or the line may be drawn over difficult circumstances. It is one steady invasion, and these things will come in like a flood, unless we allow the Spirit of God to raise up the banner against it.
“I say to you, do not worry about your life . . . .” Our Lord says to be careful only about one thing-our relationship to Him. But our common sense shouts loudly and says, “That is absurd, I must consider how I am going to live, and I must consider what I am going to eat and drink.” Jesus says you must not. Beware of allowing yourself to think that He says this while not understanding your circumstances. Jesus Christ knows our circumstances better than we do, and He says we must not think about these things to the point where they become the primary concern of our life. Whenever there are competing concerns in your life, be sure you always put your relationship to God first.
“Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:34). How much trouble has begun to threaten you today? What kind of mean little demons have been looking into your life and saying, “What are your plans for next month— or next summer?” Jesus tells us not to worry about any of these things. Look again and think. Keep your mind on the “much more” of your heavenly Father (Matthew 6:30).
再三思量
不要為生命憂慮。
今世的憂慮、錢財的迷惑，及其他的私慾一點進入我們心中，就會把神所賜予的生命窒息，這是必須再三告誡的。屬世的東西勢如潮湧，連連進擊，使我們無法擺脫。若不從衣食而來，就會從金錢或貧乏而來；不從朋友而來，就從孤獨無友而來；甚至又會從困境而來。這些東西不住地、逐步地蠶食我們屬靈的生命，除非我們讓聖靈來抵抗，否則這些東西將如洪水氾濫，淹沒我們。
[不要為生命憂慮。 ]主說：[只要關心一件事便夠了，那就是你與我的關係。 ]我們會理性地大聲疾呼，說：[真是無稽，我不能不為生計打算，打算吃什麼喝什麼阿!]耶穌卻說不可。不要以為說這話的主，根本不明白我們的境況。其實耶穌基督知道得比我們更清楚。他說，我們不應該把這些事當作生活中唯一需要關注的事。什麼時候屬世的事務與主相爭，就要把你和神的關係擺在前頭。
[一天的難處一天當就夠了。 ]今日有多少難處在向你威嚇？有什麼頑童小鬼在窺探說：[看你下個月怎辦？暑假又如何？ ]耶穌說：[應當一無掛慮。 ]請你再三思想，慎加明辨！把你的心思放在天父的[何況你們]這一句話上吧。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，使我離開那些關乎感官和時間的事情，引導我進入與大君王同在之境地。保守我的心思意念全屬於你。
A warning which needs to be repeated is that “the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches,” and the lust for other things, will choke out the life of God in us (Matthew 13:22). We are never free from the recurring waves of this invasion. If the frontline of attack is not about clothes and food, it may be about money or the lack of money; or friends or lack of friends; or the line may be drawn over difficult circumstances. It is one steady invasion, and these things will come in like a flood, unless we allow the Spirit of God to raise up the banner against it.
“I say to you, do not worry about your life . . . .” Our Lord says to be careful only about one thing-our relationship to Him. But our common sense shouts loudly and says, “That is absurd, I must consider how I am going to live, and I must consider what I am going to eat and drink.” Jesus says you must not. Beware of allowing yourself to think that He says this while not understanding your circumstances. Jesus Christ knows our circumstances better than we do, and He says we must not think about these things to the point where they become the primary concern of our life. Whenever there are competing concerns in your life, be sure you always put your relationship to God first.
“Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:34). How much trouble has begun to threaten you today? What kind of mean little demons have been looking into your life and saying, “What are your plans for next month— or next summer?” Jesus tells us not to worry about any of these things. Look again and think. Keep your mind on the “much more” of your heavenly Father (Matthew 6:30).
再三思量
不要為生命憂慮。
今世的憂慮、錢財的迷惑，及其他的私慾一點進入我們心中，就會把神所賜予的生命窒息，這是必須再三告誡的。屬世的東西勢如潮湧，連連進擊，使我們無法擺脫。若不從衣食而來，就會從金錢或貧乏而來；不從朋友而來，就從孤獨無友而來；甚至又會從困境而來。這些東西不住地、逐步地蠶食我們屬靈的生命，除非我們讓聖靈來抵抗，否則這些東西將如洪水氾濫，淹沒我們。
[不要為生命憂慮。 ]主說：[只要關心一件事便夠了，那就是你與我的關係。 ]我們會理性地大聲疾呼，說：[真是無稽，我不能不為生計打算，打算吃什麼喝什麼阿!]耶穌卻說不可。不要以為說這話的主，根本不明白我們的境況。其實耶穌基督知道得比我們更清楚。他說，我們不應該把這些事當作生活中唯一需要關注的事。什麼時候屬世的事務與主相爭，就要把你和神的關係擺在前頭。
[一天的難處一天當就夠了。 ]今日有多少難處在向你威嚇？有什麼頑童小鬼在窺探說：[看你下個月怎辦？暑假又如何？ ]耶穌說：[應當一無掛慮。 ]請你再三思想，慎加明辨！把你的心思放在天父的[何況你們]這一句話上吧。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，使我離開那些關乎感官和時間的事情，引導我進入與大君王同在之境地。保守我的心思意念全屬於你。
January 26, 2013
Look Again and Consecrate
If God so clothe the grass of the field . . . shall He not much more clothe you? — Matthew 6:30
A simple statement of Jesus is always a puzzle to us because we will not be simple. How can we maintain the simplicity of Jesus so that we may understand Him? By receiving His Spirit, recognizing and relying on Him, and obeying Him as He brings us the truth of His Word, life will become amazingly simple. Jesus asks us to consider that “if God so clothes the grass of the field . . .” how “much more” will He clothe you, if you keep your relationship right with Him? Every time we lose ground in our fellowship with God, it is because we have disrespectfully thought that we knew better than Jesus Christ. We have allowed “the cares of this world” to enter in (Matthew 13:22), while forgetting the “much more” of our heavenly Father.
“Look at the birds of the air . . .” (Matthew 6:26). Their function is to obey the instincts God placed within them, and God watches over them. Jesus said that if you have the right relationship with Him and will obey His Spirit within you, then God will care for your “feathers” too.
“Consider the lilies of the field . . .” (Matthew 6:28). They grow where they are planted. Many of us refuse to grow where God plants us. Therefore, we don’t take root anywhere. Jesus said if we would obey the life of God within us, He would look after all other things. Did Jesus Christ lie to us? Are we experiencing the “much more” He promised? If we are not, it is because we are not obeying the life God has given us and have cluttered our minds with confusing thoughts and worries. How much time have we wasted asking God senseless questions while we should be absolutely free to concentrate on our service to Him? Consecration is the act of continually separating myself from everything except that which God has appointed me to do. It is not a one-time experience but an ongoing process. Am I continually separating myself and looking to God every day of my life?
專心審查，重新奉獻
野地裡的草……神還給它這樣的妝飾，何況你們呢？ （太六30） 這是耶穌一句很簡單的說話，若果我們不單純，就會大惑不解。我們怎樣才能像耶穌那樣單純呢？接受他的靈，承認他，依靠他，順服他所傳遞神的話語，這樣，生命就會變得單純了。耶穌說：[試想，天父怎樣妝飾野地裡的草，你若與他親近，他豈不更加照樣妝飾你？ ]每次我們靈性上後退，都是因為妄自尊大，以為自己比主耶穌懂得更多。我們讓世界的憂慮進來，忘記了天父的[何況……]
[你們看那天上的飛鳥]——它們主要的任務就是服從那生命的律，神便看顧它們了。耶穌說如果你與他有好的關係，同時又順服聖靈，神自然照顧你。 [你想野地裡的百合花]——它們被放置在那裡，就生長在那裡。我們不少人不肯在所處的地方生長，因此無法紮根。耶穌說，如果我們順服神，他便會料理其他的一切。耶穌基督撒了謊嗎？我們若未經驗到那[何況]，是因為我們尚未順服神，自討煩惱，落在諸般憂慮裡。我們花多少時間向神發問，叫他擔憂，而其實我們該毫無束縛地獻身在他的工作上？獻身就是為某特定的目標，不斷地把自己投上。獻身不是一次便解決的事。我是否每天不斷地把自己分別出來，以神為念？
祈禱◆噢，主啊，為著你透過主耶穌的恩典，將你至高無上的父性向我顯明，我讚美你。噢，我可以成為天父的孩子了！
A simple statement of Jesus is always a puzzle to us because we will not be simple. How can we maintain the simplicity of Jesus so that we may understand Him? By receiving His Spirit, recognizing and relying on Him, and obeying Him as He brings us the truth of His Word, life will become amazingly simple. Jesus asks us to consider that “if God so clothes the grass of the field . . .” how “much more” will He clothe you, if you keep your relationship right with Him? Every time we lose ground in our fellowship with God, it is because we have disrespectfully thought that we knew better than Jesus Christ. We have allowed “the cares of this world” to enter in (Matthew 13:22), while forgetting the “much more” of our heavenly Father.
“Look at the birds of the air . . .” (Matthew 6:26). Their function is to obey the instincts God placed within them, and God watches over them. Jesus said that if you have the right relationship with Him and will obey His Spirit within you, then God will care for your “feathers” too.
“Consider the lilies of the field . . .” (Matthew 6:28). They grow where they are planted. Many of us refuse to grow where God plants us. Therefore, we don’t take root anywhere. Jesus said if we would obey the life of God within us, He would look after all other things. Did Jesus Christ lie to us? Are we experiencing the “much more” He promised? If we are not, it is because we are not obeying the life God has given us and have cluttered our minds with confusing thoughts and worries. How much time have we wasted asking God senseless questions while we should be absolutely free to concentrate on our service to Him? Consecration is the act of continually separating myself from everything except that which God has appointed me to do. It is not a one-time experience but an ongoing process. Am I continually separating myself and looking to God every day of my life?
專心審查，重新奉獻
野地裡的草……神還給它這樣的妝飾，何況你們呢？ （太六30） 這是耶穌一句很簡單的說話，若果我們不單純，就會大惑不解。我們怎樣才能像耶穌那樣單純呢？接受他的靈，承認他，依靠他，順服他所傳遞神的話語，這樣，生命就會變得單純了。耶穌說：[試想，天父怎樣妝飾野地裡的草，你若與他親近，他豈不更加照樣妝飾你？ ]每次我們靈性上後退，都是因為妄自尊大，以為自己比主耶穌懂得更多。我們讓世界的憂慮進來，忘記了天父的[何況……]
[你們看那天上的飛鳥]——它們主要的任務就是服從那生命的律，神便看顧它們了。耶穌說如果你與他有好的關係，同時又順服聖靈，神自然照顧你。 [你想野地裡的百合花]——它們被放置在那裡，就生長在那裡。我們不少人不肯在所處的地方生長，因此無法紮根。耶穌說，如果我們順服神，他便會料理其他的一切。耶穌基督撒了謊嗎？我們若未經驗到那[何況]，是因為我們尚未順服神，自討煩惱，落在諸般憂慮裡。我們花多少時間向神發問，叫他擔憂，而其實我們該毫無束縛地獻身在他的工作上？獻身就是為某特定的目標，不斷地把自己投上。獻身不是一次便解決的事。我是否每天不斷地把自己分別出來，以神為念？
祈禱◆噢，主啊，為著你透過主耶穌的恩典，將你至高無上的父性向我顯明，我讚美你。噢，我可以成為天父的孩子了！
January 25, 2013
Leave Room for God
But when it pleased God. . . — Galatians 1:15
As workers for God we have to learn to make room for God – to give God "elbow room." We calculate and estimate, and say that this and that will happen, and we forget to make room for God to come in as He chooses. Would we be surprised if God came into our meeting or into our preaching in a way we had never looked for Him to come? Do not look for God to come in any particular way, but look for Him. That is the way to make room for Him. Expect Him to come, but do not expect Him only in a certain way. However much we may know God, the great lesson to learn is that at any minute He may break in. We are apt to over look this element of surprise, yet God never works in any other way. All of a sudden God meets the life – "When it was the good pleasure of God. . ."
Keep your life so constant in its contact with God that His surprising power may break out on the right hand and on the left. Always be in a state of expectancy, and see that you leave room for God to come in as He likes.
留位置給神
神既然樂意。 。 。 。 。 。 （加一15-16）
作為神的工人，我們必須學習給神留下應有的地位，就是給他有自由活動的空間。我們會計算量度，說這個那個會這樣那樣，卻忘記騰出空間，給神自由進出的餘地。神若突然闖入我們的聚會中，或我們講道時他來了，我們會詫異嗎？不要指望神照你指定的方式來到，只要注目在他身上，這才是給他空間。要指望他來，但不要限制他只能用某種方式來。不論我們認識神有多少，最重要的是要知道：神任何一分鐘都可以裂天而降。我們很容易忽視這個突如其來的可能性，其實神做工一向就是如此。神往往出其不意地臨到人當中——[神樂意。 。 。 。 。 。 ]。
經常與神保持貼近，以致神奇異的大能隨時地從他右手或左手發出。要常在期待當中，給神空間隨他的意思降臨。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，求你以愛慕的枷鎖將我與你結連；在你差派我時，以你的眷佑環繞我；加添我的能力，以致我愈來愈能夠被你使用。
As workers for God we have to learn to make room for God – to give God "elbow room." We calculate and estimate, and say that this and that will happen, and we forget to make room for God to come in as He chooses. Would we be surprised if God came into our meeting or into our preaching in a way we had never looked for Him to come? Do not look for God to come in any particular way, but look for Him. That is the way to make room for Him. Expect Him to come, but do not expect Him only in a certain way. However much we may know God, the great lesson to learn is that at any minute He may break in. We are apt to over look this element of surprise, yet God never works in any other way. All of a sudden God meets the life – "When it was the good pleasure of God. . ."
Keep your life so constant in its contact with God that His surprising power may break out on the right hand and on the left. Always be in a state of expectancy, and see that you leave room for God to come in as He likes.
留位置給神
神既然樂意。 。 。 。 。 。 （加一15-16）
作為神的工人，我們必須學習給神留下應有的地位，就是給他有自由活動的空間。我們會計算量度，說這個那個會這樣那樣，卻忘記騰出空間，給神自由進出的餘地。神若突然闖入我們的聚會中，或我們講道時他來了，我們會詫異嗎？不要指望神照你指定的方式來到，只要注目在他身上，這才是給他空間。要指望他來，但不要限制他只能用某種方式來。不論我們認識神有多少，最重要的是要知道：神任何一分鐘都可以裂天而降。我們很容易忽視這個突如其來的可能性，其實神做工一向就是如此。神往往出其不意地臨到人當中——[神樂意。 。 。 。 。 。 ]。
經常與神保持貼近，以致神奇異的大能隨時地從他右手或左手發出。要常在期待當中，給神空間隨他的意思降臨。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，求你以愛慕的枷鎖將我與你結連；在你差派我時，以你的眷佑環繞我；加添我的能力，以致我愈來愈能夠被你使用。
January 24, 2013
God’s Overpowering Purpose
I have appeared to you for this purpose . . .—Acts 26:16
The vision Paul had on the road to Damascus was not a passing emotional experience, but a vision that had very clear and emphatic directions for him. And Paul stated, “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision” (Acts 26:19). Our Lord said to Paul, in effect, “Your whole life is to be overpowered or subdued by Me; you are to have no end, no aim, and no purpose but Mine.” And the Lord also says to us, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go . . .” (John 15:16).
When we are born again, if we are spiritual at all, we have visions of what Jesus wants us to be. It is important that I learn not to be “disobedient to the heavenly vision”—not to doubt that it can be attained. It is not enough to give mental assent to the fact that God has redeemed the world, nor even to know that the Holy Spirit can make all that Jesus did a reality in my life. I must have the foundation of a personal relationship with Him. Paul was not given a message or a doctrine to proclaim. He was brought into a vivid, personal, overpowering relationship with Jesus Christ. Acts 26:16 is tremendously compelling “. . . to make you a minister and a witness . . . .” There would be nothing there without a personal relationship. Paul was devoted to a Person, not to a cause. He was absolutely Jesus Christ’s. He saw nothing else and he lived for nothing else. “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).
全權在握的指揮
我特意向你顯現。 （徒二十六16）
保羅在大馬色路上所見的異象，絕非霎時的衝動，而是十分清楚肯定是從神而來的指示，因此他說：[故此我沒有違背那從天上來的異象。 ]主其實是對保羅說：[你的一生完全由我作主；除了我，你不能再有任何目標與計畫。 ]我揀選了他。我們重生了，必然都有異象。要是我們要靈命長進，便要行主要我們行的；而最要緊的就是學習不違背異象，不要說那是無法達致的（或作高不可及的）。
單單知道神救贖了世人，又知道聖靈叫耶穌所成就的一切，並實現在我身上，這還是不夠的；我必須與他有個人的關係，作為根基。保羅所得的不是一篇道理，一套教義，叫他去傳揚；他乃是與耶穌基督有一個親身的經歷，讓主完全佔有了他。第16節最令人觸目——[派你作執事作見證]。保羅是效忠於主，而不是一個使命。他是完完全全屬於耶穌基督的；此外，便別無所見，也不再為別的事物而活。 [我在你們中間不知道別的，只知道耶穌基督，並他釘十字架。 ]
祈禱◆噢，主啊，求你以愛慕的枷鎖將我與你結連；在你差派我時，以你的眷佑環繞我；加添我的能力，以致我愈來愈能夠被你使用。
The vision Paul had on the road to Damascus was not a passing emotional experience, but a vision that had very clear and emphatic directions for him. And Paul stated, “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision” (Acts 26:19). Our Lord said to Paul, in effect, “Your whole life is to be overpowered or subdued by Me; you are to have no end, no aim, and no purpose but Mine.” And the Lord also says to us, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go . . .” (John 15:16).
When we are born again, if we are spiritual at all, we have visions of what Jesus wants us to be. It is important that I learn not to be “disobedient to the heavenly vision”—not to doubt that it can be attained. It is not enough to give mental assent to the fact that God has redeemed the world, nor even to know that the Holy Spirit can make all that Jesus did a reality in my life. I must have the foundation of a personal relationship with Him. Paul was not given a message or a doctrine to proclaim. He was brought into a vivid, personal, overpowering relationship with Jesus Christ. Acts 26:16 is tremendously compelling “. . . to make you a minister and a witness . . . .” There would be nothing there without a personal relationship. Paul was devoted to a Person, not to a cause. He was absolutely Jesus Christ’s. He saw nothing else and he lived for nothing else. “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).
全權在握的指揮
我特意向你顯現。 （徒二十六16）
保羅在大馬色路上所見的異象，絕非霎時的衝動，而是十分清楚肯定是從神而來的指示，因此他說：[故此我沒有違背那從天上來的異象。 ]主其實是對保羅說：[你的一生完全由我作主；除了我，你不能再有任何目標與計畫。 ]我揀選了他。我們重生了，必然都有異象。要是我們要靈命長進，便要行主要我們行的；而最要緊的就是學習不違背異象，不要說那是無法達致的（或作高不可及的）。
單單知道神救贖了世人，又知道聖靈叫耶穌所成就的一切，並實現在我身上，這還是不夠的；我必須與他有個人的關係，作為根基。保羅所得的不是一篇道理，一套教義，叫他去傳揚；他乃是與耶穌基督有一個親身的經歷，讓主完全佔有了他。第16節最令人觸目——[派你作執事作見證]。保羅是效忠於主，而不是一個使命。他是完完全全屬於耶穌基督的；此外，便別無所見，也不再為別的事物而活。 [我在你們中間不知道別的，只知道耶穌基督，並他釘十字架。 ]
祈禱◆噢，主啊，求你以愛慕的枷鎖將我與你結連；在你差派我時，以你的眷佑環繞我；加添我的能力，以致我愈來愈能夠被你使用。
January 23, 2013
Transformed by Beholding
We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image . . . —2 Corinthians 3:18
The greatest characteristic a Christian can exhibit is this completely unveiled openness before God, which allows that person’s life to become a mirror for others. When the Spirit fills us, we are transformed, and by beholding God we become mirrors. You can always tell when someone has been beholding the glory of the Lord, because your inner spirit senses that he mirrors the Lord’s own character. Beware of anything that would spot or tarnish that mirror in you. It is almost always something good that will stain it— something good, but not what is best.
The most important rule for us is to concentrate on keeping our lives open to God. Let everything else including work, clothes, and food be set aside. The busyness of things obscures our concentration on God. We must maintain a position of beholding Him, keeping our lives completely spiritual through and through. Let other things come and go as they will; let other people criticize us as they will; but never allow anything to obscure the life that “is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). Never let a hurried lifestyle disturb the relationship of abiding in Him. This is an easy thing to allow, but we must guard against it. The most difficult lesson of the Christian life is learning how to continue “beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord . . . .”
因瞻仰而改變
我們眾人既然敞著臉，得以看見主的榮光，好像從鏡子裡反照，就變成主的形狀。 （林後三18）
信徒最卓越的品德與特徵，就是在神面前毫無掩飾，以致她的生命成為別人的一面鏡子。我們被聖靈充滿而改變，又因[定睛仰望]而成為鏡子。一個人若有主的榮光，你必然回覺察出來，也會感到他正是主性情的反照。要提防那些叫這鏡子模糊的東西；這些東西多半是好的，卻不是最好的。
你我生活的準則，就是要專注地保持向神開放。其他一切如工作、服飾、食物，地上的東西就任它去吧。次要的東西不斷湧來，很容易阻礙對神的專一。所以我們要常常瞻仰主的榮光，同時要保持生命完全屬靈。旁的事隨它去吧，旁的人任他批評吧，卻絕不可讓任何事務迷糊了與基督一同藏在神裡面的生命。不要讓忙亂破壞了你與他同住的關係，雖然這是很容易被搖動的。信徒生活上最嚴格的操練，就是學習不斷[看見主的榮光，好像從鏡子反照。 ]
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我完全仰賴你。離了你，我就毫無價值。求你今天將智慧、明辨和敏悟的心賜給我。
The greatest characteristic a Christian can exhibit is this completely unveiled openness before God, which allows that person’s life to become a mirror for others. When the Spirit fills us, we are transformed, and by beholding God we become mirrors. You can always tell when someone has been beholding the glory of the Lord, because your inner spirit senses that he mirrors the Lord’s own character. Beware of anything that would spot or tarnish that mirror in you. It is almost always something good that will stain it— something good, but not what is best.
The most important rule for us is to concentrate on keeping our lives open to God. Let everything else including work, clothes, and food be set aside. The busyness of things obscures our concentration on God. We must maintain a position of beholding Him, keeping our lives completely spiritual through and through. Let other things come and go as they will; let other people criticize us as they will; but never allow anything to obscure the life that “is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). Never let a hurried lifestyle disturb the relationship of abiding in Him. This is an easy thing to allow, but we must guard against it. The most difficult lesson of the Christian life is learning how to continue “beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord . . . .”
因瞻仰而改變
我們眾人既然敞著臉，得以看見主的榮光，好像從鏡子裡反照，就變成主的形狀。 （林後三18）
信徒最卓越的品德與特徵，就是在神面前毫無掩飾，以致她的生命成為別人的一面鏡子。我們被聖靈充滿而改變，又因[定睛仰望]而成為鏡子。一個人若有主的榮光，你必然回覺察出來，也會感到他正是主性情的反照。要提防那些叫這鏡子模糊的東西；這些東西多半是好的，卻不是最好的。
你我生活的準則，就是要專注地保持向神開放。其他一切如工作、服飾、食物，地上的東西就任它去吧。次要的東西不斷湧來，很容易阻礙對神的專一。所以我們要常常瞻仰主的榮光，同時要保持生命完全屬靈。旁的事隨它去吧，旁的人任他批評吧，卻絕不可讓任何事務迷糊了與基督一同藏在神裡面的生命。不要讓忙亂破壞了你與他同住的關係，雖然這是很容易被搖動的。信徒生活上最嚴格的操練，就是學習不斷[看見主的榮光，好像從鏡子反照。 ]
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我完全仰賴你。離了你，我就毫無價值。求你今天將智慧、明辨和敏悟的心賜給我。
January 22, 2013
Am I Looking To God?
Look to Me, and be saved . . . —Isaiah 45:22
Do we expect God to come to us with His blessings and save us? He says, “Look to Me, and be saved . . . .” The greatest difficulty spiritually is to concentrate on God, and His blessings are what make it so difficult. Troubles almost always make us look to God, but His blessings tend to divert our attention elsewhere. The basic lesson of the Sermon on the Mount is to narrow all your interests until your mind, heart, and body are focused on Jesus Christ. “Look to Me . . . .”
Many of us have a mental picture of what a Christian should be, and looking at this image in other Christians’ lives becomes a hindrance to our focusing on God. This is not salvation— it is not simple enough. He says, in effect, “Look to Me and you are saved,” not “You will be saved someday.” We will find what we are looking for if we will concentrate on Him. We get distracted from God and irritable with Him while He continues to say to us, “Look to Me, and be saved . . . .” Our difficulties, our trials, and our worries about tomorrow all vanish when we look to God.
Wake yourself up and look to God. Build your hope on Him. No matter how many things seem to be pressing in on you, be determined to push them aside and look to Him. “Look to Me . . . .” Salvation is yours the moment you look.
我觀望什麼？
地極的人都當仰望我，就必得救。 （賽四十五22）
我們是否指望神帶著許多祝福來拯救我們？他說：[仰望我，就必得救。 ]屬靈生命上最難做到的，就是專心一意仰望神，這可是出於他的祝福。因為困難使我們仰望神，祝福卻使我們望到別處去。登山寶訓的精意，其實是：把你所有的注意力收窄，直到你的心志、心靈與身體，完全集中在主耶穌身上——仰望他。
不少人對做基督徒存一固定模式，就是其他聖徒的榜樣，成了我們集中在神身上的障礙。這樣是不會得救的，那太複雜了。 [仰望我]不是[將會得救]，而是[就必得救]。我們期盼的東西，只要集中在他身上，就必得著。但我們對神往往心不在焉，或向神怨嘆憤懣，可是他卻一直在對我們說：[仰望我就得救。 ]一切困難試煉，如這個暑假我有什麼計畫，明天又該作什麼？這些縈回在腦際的問題，一經仰望神，都會得著解決了。
醒來吧，仰望神。把盼望建築在神身上，不論有多少件事情壓著你，只管放下它們，一心一意望著他。 [仰望我]，必得救，就在你望的一剎那。
祈禱◆主啊，我仰望你。我何其瞭解[在我裡面沒有良善]；然而，你的恩典是何等奇妙，我如今竟發現自己的內心，除了你的榮耀以外，再別無他求。
Do we expect God to come to us with His blessings and save us? He says, “Look to Me, and be saved . . . .” The greatest difficulty spiritually is to concentrate on God, and His blessings are what make it so difficult. Troubles almost always make us look to God, but His blessings tend to divert our attention elsewhere. The basic lesson of the Sermon on the Mount is to narrow all your interests until your mind, heart, and body are focused on Jesus Christ. “Look to Me . . . .”
Many of us have a mental picture of what a Christian should be, and looking at this image in other Christians’ lives becomes a hindrance to our focusing on God. This is not salvation— it is not simple enough. He says, in effect, “Look to Me and you are saved,” not “You will be saved someday.” We will find what we are looking for if we will concentrate on Him. We get distracted from God and irritable with Him while He continues to say to us, “Look to Me, and be saved . . . .” Our difficulties, our trials, and our worries about tomorrow all vanish when we look to God.
Wake yourself up and look to God. Build your hope on Him. No matter how many things seem to be pressing in on you, be determined to push them aside and look to Him. “Look to Me . . . .” Salvation is yours the moment you look.
我觀望什麼？
地極的人都當仰望我，就必得救。 （賽四十五22）
我們是否指望神帶著許多祝福來拯救我們？他說：[仰望我，就必得救。 ]屬靈生命上最難做到的，就是專心一意仰望神，這可是出於他的祝福。因為困難使我們仰望神，祝福卻使我們望到別處去。登山寶訓的精意，其實是：把你所有的注意力收窄，直到你的心志、心靈與身體，完全集中在主耶穌身上——仰望他。
不少人對做基督徒存一固定模式，就是其他聖徒的榜樣，成了我們集中在神身上的障礙。這樣是不會得救的，那太複雜了。 [仰望我]不是[將會得救]，而是[就必得救]。我們期盼的東西，只要集中在他身上，就必得著。但我們對神往往心不在焉，或向神怨嘆憤懣，可是他卻一直在對我們說：[仰望我就得救。 ]一切困難試煉，如這個暑假我有什麼計畫，明天又該作什麼？這些縈回在腦際的問題，一經仰望神，都會得著解決了。
醒來吧，仰望神。把盼望建築在神身上，不論有多少件事情壓著你，只管放下它們，一心一意望著他。 [仰望我]，必得救，就在你望的一剎那。
祈禱◆主啊，我仰望你。我何其瞭解[在我裡面沒有良善]；然而，你的恩典是何等奇妙，我如今竟發現自己的內心，除了你的榮耀以外，再別無他求。
January 21, 2013
Recall What God Remembers
Thus says the Lord: ’I remember . . . the kindness of your youth . . .’ —Jeremiah 2:2
Am I as spontaneously kind to God as I used to be, or am I only expecting God to be kind to me? Does everything in my life fill His heart with gladness, or do I constantly complain because things don’t seem to be going my way? A person who has forgotten what God treasures will not be filled with joy. It is wonderful to remember that Jesus Christ has needs which we can meet— “Give Me a drink” (John 4:7). How much kindness have I shown Him in the past week? Has my life been a good reflection on His reputation?
God is saying to His people, “You are not in love with Me now, but I remember a time when you were.” He says, “I remember . . . the love of your betrothal . . .” (Jeremiah 2:2). Am I as filled to overflowing with love for Jesus Christ as I was in the beginning, when I went out of my way to prove my devotion to Him? Does He ever find me pondering the time when I cared only for Him? Is that where I am now, or have I chosen man’s wisdom over true love for Him? Am I so in love with Him that I take no thought for where He might lead me? Or am I watching to see how much respect I get as I measure how much service I should give Him?
As I recall what God remembers about me, I may also begin to realize that He is not what He used to be to me. When this happens, I should allow the shame and humiliation it creates in my life, because it will bring godly sorrow, and “godly sorrow produces repentance . . .” (2 Corinthians 7:10).
想想神記得什麼？
你幼年的恩愛……我都記得。 （耶二2）
我愛神是否像昔日一樣甘心自發？還是只指望以仁慈對待我？我有沒有許多微小的事可以討他歡心？還是因路不順遂而唉哼怨嘆？你心若忘記了神所看為寶貴的，就不會喜樂。試想主耶穌需要我——[請給我水喝]，這是多麼美妙的事！過去的一個禮拜裡，我怎樣表示愛他呢？在我的生活中，有沒有彰顯他的名呢？
神對他子民說：[你現在不再愛我了，但我很記得你愛我的那段日子。 ][我記得……你婚姻般的愛情。 ]當日我怎樣撇開一切，表明誠心愛他；如今，我是否仍對他有這不斷湧流的愛情？我除了他別無眷戀的日子，是否要在回憶中去追尋？我如今還在那境地，還是懂得怎樣去愛他？我是否深深地愛他而不管前途如何？還是在註視自己該得的地位，估計著該擺上多少事奉？假若我想起神紀念我的日子，卻發覺他在我心中已不復昔日重要的地位，就叫我羞愧自卑，因為羞愧會帶來憂愁，叫我悔改。
祈禱◆主啊，我何等渴望你帶領我與你面對面！我的靈渴想著你、你恩典的觸動和你聖靈的氣息。
Am I as spontaneously kind to God as I used to be, or am I only expecting God to be kind to me? Does everything in my life fill His heart with gladness, or do I constantly complain because things don’t seem to be going my way? A person who has forgotten what God treasures will not be filled with joy. It is wonderful to remember that Jesus Christ has needs which we can meet— “Give Me a drink” (John 4:7). How much kindness have I shown Him in the past week? Has my life been a good reflection on His reputation?
God is saying to His people, “You are not in love with Me now, but I remember a time when you were.” He says, “I remember . . . the love of your betrothal . . .” (Jeremiah 2:2). Am I as filled to overflowing with love for Jesus Christ as I was in the beginning, when I went out of my way to prove my devotion to Him? Does He ever find me pondering the time when I cared only for Him? Is that where I am now, or have I chosen man’s wisdom over true love for Him? Am I so in love with Him that I take no thought for where He might lead me? Or am I watching to see how much respect I get as I measure how much service I should give Him?
As I recall what God remembers about me, I may also begin to realize that He is not what He used to be to me. When this happens, I should allow the shame and humiliation it creates in my life, because it will bring godly sorrow, and “godly sorrow produces repentance . . .” (2 Corinthians 7:10).
想想神記得什麼？
你幼年的恩愛……我都記得。 （耶二2）
我愛神是否像昔日一樣甘心自發？還是只指望以仁慈對待我？我有沒有許多微小的事可以討他歡心？還是因路不順遂而唉哼怨嘆？你心若忘記了神所看為寶貴的，就不會喜樂。試想主耶穌需要我——[請給我水喝]，這是多麼美妙的事！過去的一個禮拜裡，我怎樣表示愛他呢？在我的生活中，有沒有彰顯他的名呢？
神對他子民說：[你現在不再愛我了，但我很記得你愛我的那段日子。 ][我記得……你婚姻般的愛情。 ]當日我怎樣撇開一切，表明誠心愛他；如今，我是否仍對他有這不斷湧流的愛情？我除了他別無眷戀的日子，是否要在回憶中去追尋？我如今還在那境地，還是懂得怎樣去愛他？我是否深深地愛他而不管前途如何？還是在註視自己該得的地位，估計著該擺上多少事奉？假若我想起神紀念我的日子，卻發覺他在我心中已不復昔日重要的地位，就叫我羞愧自卑，因為羞愧會帶來憂愁，叫我悔改。
祈禱◆主啊，我何等渴望你帶領我與你面對面！我的靈渴想著你、你恩典的觸動和你聖靈的氣息。
January 20, 2013
Are You Fresh for Everything?
Jesus answered and said to him, ’Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God’ —John 3:3
Sometimes we are fresh and eager to attend a prayer meeting, but do we feel that same freshness for such mundane tasks as polishing shoes?
Being born again by the Spirit is an unmistakable work of God, as mysterious as the wind, and as surprising as God Himself. We don’t know where it begins— it is hidden away in the depths of our soul. Being born again from above is an enduring, perpetual, and eternal beginning. It provides a freshness all the time in thinking, talking, and living— a continual surprise of the life of God. Staleness is an indication that something in our lives is out of step with God. We say to ourselves, “I have to do this thing or it will never get done.” That is the first sign of staleness. Do we feel fresh this very moment or are we stale, frantically searching our minds for something to do? Freshness is not the result of obedience; it comes from the Holy Spirit. Obedience keeps us “in the light as He is in the light . . .” (1 John 1:7).
Jealously guard your relationship with God. Jesus prayed “that they may be one just as We are one”-with nothing in between (John 17:22). Keep your whole life continually open to Jesus Christ. Don’t pretend to be open with Him. Are you drawing your life from any source other than God Himself? If you are depending on something else as your source of freshness and strength, you will not realize when His power is gone.
Being born of the Spirit means much more than we usually think. It gives us new vision and keeps us absolutely fresh for everything through the never-ending supply of the life of God.
你對每事物都有新鮮的感覺嗎？
人若不重生，就不能見神的國。 （約三3）
有時我們對祈禱會很感興趣，但對洗臟靴子卻一點興趣也沒有。從聖靈重生，絕無疑問是神的工作，這如風的來去無踪，像神一樣叫人驚訝莫測。我們不曉得它始於何方，卻隱藏在我們生命的深處。從神而來的重生，是連綿不絕，永不衰息的永恆開端。這生命在任何時刻都是有生氣的——在思想上、話語上、生活上，都是如此；是不住活在神測不透的奇妙中。陳舊腐朽的思想表示有些地方與神脫節了。 [我一定要這樣做，否則永遠也辦不成。 ]這是臣服的第一跡象。我們這一分鐘是否活潑重生？還是呆滯不前，絞盡腦汁地去找事情來做？活潑的生命不是從順服而來，乃是從聖靈而來的。順服不過使我們活在光中，正如神在活光中一樣。緊緊維持你與神的關係。耶穌禱告說：[使他們合一，正如我們合一一樣。 ]毫無阻隔地，讓你生命全然地向他敞開，不要對他裝模作樣。除神之外，你還能從其他源頭支取生命麼？若你不單靠他，還去靠賴別的東西，那麼他什麼時候走了，你也不覺察。從聖靈而生的意思是何等深廣，超乎我們一般所論的。它給我們新的異象，使我們對每事每物都感到新鮮有趣，這都因神源源不斷的生命力。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，吹向我，直至我的意念、心思和氣質，都能與你一致。我的依靠在乎你。我再一次透徹認知到，沒有了你，我是何其失喪！
Sometimes we are fresh and eager to attend a prayer meeting, but do we feel that same freshness for such mundane tasks as polishing shoes?
Being born again by the Spirit is an unmistakable work of God, as mysterious as the wind, and as surprising as God Himself. We don’t know where it begins— it is hidden away in the depths of our soul. Being born again from above is an enduring, perpetual, and eternal beginning. It provides a freshness all the time in thinking, talking, and living— a continual surprise of the life of God. Staleness is an indication that something in our lives is out of step with God. We say to ourselves, “I have to do this thing or it will never get done.” That is the first sign of staleness. Do we feel fresh this very moment or are we stale, frantically searching our minds for something to do? Freshness is not the result of obedience; it comes from the Holy Spirit. Obedience keeps us “in the light as He is in the light . . .” (1 John 1:7).
Jealously guard your relationship with God. Jesus prayed “that they may be one just as We are one”-with nothing in between (John 17:22). Keep your whole life continually open to Jesus Christ. Don’t pretend to be open with Him. Are you drawing your life from any source other than God Himself? If you are depending on something else as your source of freshness and strength, you will not realize when His power is gone.
Being born of the Spirit means much more than we usually think. It gives us new vision and keeps us absolutely fresh for everything through the never-ending supply of the life of God.
你對每事物都有新鮮的感覺嗎？
人若不重生，就不能見神的國。 （約三3）
有時我們對祈禱會很感興趣，但對洗臟靴子卻一點興趣也沒有。從聖靈重生，絕無疑問是神的工作，這如風的來去無踪，像神一樣叫人驚訝莫測。我們不曉得它始於何方，卻隱藏在我們生命的深處。從神而來的重生，是連綿不絕，永不衰息的永恆開端。這生命在任何時刻都是有生氣的——在思想上、話語上、生活上，都是如此；是不住活在神測不透的奇妙中。陳舊腐朽的思想表示有些地方與神脫節了。 [我一定要這樣做，否則永遠也辦不成。 ]這是臣服的第一跡象。我們這一分鐘是否活潑重生？還是呆滯不前，絞盡腦汁地去找事情來做？活潑的生命不是從順服而來，乃是從聖靈而來的。順服不過使我們活在光中，正如神在活光中一樣。緊緊維持你與神的關係。耶穌禱告說：[使他們合一，正如我們合一一樣。 ]毫無阻隔地，讓你生命全然地向他敞開，不要對他裝模作樣。除神之外，你還能從其他源頭支取生命麼？若你不單靠他，還去靠賴別的東西，那麼他什麼時候走了，你也不覺察。從聖靈而生的意思是何等深廣，超乎我們一般所論的。它給我們新的異象，使我們對每事每物都感到新鮮有趣，這都因神源源不斷的生命力。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，吹向我，直至我的意念、心思和氣質，都能與你一致。我的依靠在乎你。我再一次透徹認知到，沒有了你，我是何其失喪！
January 19, 2013
Vision and Darkness
When the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him —Genesis 15:12
Whenever God gives a vision to a Christian, it is as if He puts him in “the shadow of His hand” (Isaiah 49:2). The saint’s duty is to be still and listen. There is a “darkness” that comes from too much light-that is the time to listen. The story of Abram and Hagar in Genesis 16 is an excellent example of listening to so-called good advice during a time of darkness, rather than waiting for God to send the light. When God gives you a vision and darkness follows, wait. God will bring the vision He has given you to reality in your life if you will wait on His timing. Never try to help God fulfill His word. Abram went through thirteen years of silence, but in those years all of his self-sufficiency was destroyed. He grew past the point of relying on his own common sense. Those years of silence were a time of discipline, not a period of God’s displeasure. There is never any need to pretend that your life is filled with joy and confidence; just wait upon God and be grounded in Him (see Isaiah 50:10-11).
Do I trust at all in the flesh? Or have I learned to go beyond all confidence in myself and other people of God? Do I trust in books and prayers or other joys in my life? Or have I placed my confidence in God Himself, not in His blessings? “I am Almighty God . . .”— El-Shaddai, the All-Powerful God (Genesis 17:1). The reason we are all being disciplined is that we will know God is real. As soon as God becomes real to us, people pale by comparison, becoming shadows of reality. Nothing that other saints do or say can ever upset the one who is built on God.
異象與黑暗
忽然有驚人的大黑暗落在他身上。 （創十五12） 神什麼時候把異像給信徒，就什麼時候把他放在他手的陰影底下。聖徒那時的責任，是要安靜聆聽。在極度強烈的光線下，會產生一種黑暗，那時就得洗耳恭聽。創世紀十五章就是個好例子。在黑暗中，人只會尋求人的指示，卻不等候神的光照。每逢神賜下異象，黑暗卻接踵而來的話，就要等候。只要等候神的時間，他會按照給你的異象成就。切勿自告奮勇的幫助神成就他的應許。亞伯拉罕有十三年在靜默中度過，在那些年日里，一切自己的辦法都行不通，故不能憑頭腦理智去解決問題。那段寂靜的日子是操練的日子，而不是愁苦的日子。不必故意製造喜樂和勇氣，只要心堅依靠神。 （賽五十10-11）
我對肉體還有所倚恃麼？還是我已經脫離了對自己、對神的兒女、對書本、對禱告、及興奮感覺的信賴，甚至是他的祝福，而把信心完全放在神身上，[我是全能的神]——是作為父母的神。我們受操練的目的，是要認識神是真實的。一旦看見神是真實的，其他人就成為影子了。其他信徒無論說什麼，做什麼，再也無法影響一個建造在神裡面的人。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我在重重的黑暗中靠近你，求你為我驅散黑暗，並以你的臉光照我。
Whenever God gives a vision to a Christian, it is as if He puts him in “the shadow of His hand” (Isaiah 49:2). The saint’s duty is to be still and listen. There is a “darkness” that comes from too much light-that is the time to listen. The story of Abram and Hagar in Genesis 16 is an excellent example of listening to so-called good advice during a time of darkness, rather than waiting for God to send the light. When God gives you a vision and darkness follows, wait. God will bring the vision He has given you to reality in your life if you will wait on His timing. Never try to help God fulfill His word. Abram went through thirteen years of silence, but in those years all of his self-sufficiency was destroyed. He grew past the point of relying on his own common sense. Those years of silence were a time of discipline, not a period of God’s displeasure. There is never any need to pretend that your life is filled with joy and confidence; just wait upon God and be grounded in Him (see Isaiah 50:10-11).
Do I trust at all in the flesh? Or have I learned to go beyond all confidence in myself and other people of God? Do I trust in books and prayers or other joys in my life? Or have I placed my confidence in God Himself, not in His blessings? “I am Almighty God . . .”— El-Shaddai, the All-Powerful God (Genesis 17:1). The reason we are all being disciplined is that we will know God is real. As soon as God becomes real to us, people pale by comparison, becoming shadows of reality. Nothing that other saints do or say can ever upset the one who is built on God.
異象與黑暗
忽然有驚人的大黑暗落在他身上。 （創十五12） 神什麼時候把異像給信徒，就什麼時候把他放在他手的陰影底下。聖徒那時的責任，是要安靜聆聽。在極度強烈的光線下，會產生一種黑暗，那時就得洗耳恭聽。創世紀十五章就是個好例子。在黑暗中，人只會尋求人的指示，卻不等候神的光照。每逢神賜下異象，黑暗卻接踵而來的話，就要等候。只要等候神的時間，他會按照給你的異象成就。切勿自告奮勇的幫助神成就他的應許。亞伯拉罕有十三年在靜默中度過，在那些年日里，一切自己的辦法都行不通，故不能憑頭腦理智去解決問題。那段寂靜的日子是操練的日子，而不是愁苦的日子。不必故意製造喜樂和勇氣，只要心堅依靠神。 （賽五十10-11）
我對肉體還有所倚恃麼？還是我已經脫離了對自己、對神的兒女、對書本、對禱告、及興奮感覺的信賴，甚至是他的祝福，而把信心完全放在神身上，[我是全能的神]——是作為父母的神。我們受操練的目的，是要認識神是真實的。一旦看見神是真實的，其他人就成為影子了。其他信徒無論說什麼，做什麼，再也無法影響一個建造在神裡面的人。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我在重重的黑暗中靠近你，求你為我驅散黑暗，並以你的臉光照我。
January 18, 2013
“It Is the Lord!”
Thomas answered and said to Him, 'My Lord and my God!' —John 20:28
Jesus said to her, 'Give Me a drink' " (John 4:7). How many of us are expecting Jesus Christ to quench our thirst when we should be satisfying Him! We should be pouring out our lives, investing our total beings, not drawing on Him to satisfy us. “You shall be witnesses to Me . . ." (Acts 1:8). That means lives of pure, uncompromising, and unrestrained devotion to the Lord Jesus, which will be satisfying to Him wherever He may send us.
Beware of anything that competes with your loyalty to Jesus Christ. The greatest competitor of true devotion to Jesus is the service we do for Him. It is easier to serve than to pour out our lives completely for Him. The goal of the call of God is His satisfaction, not simply that we should do something for Him. We are not sent to do battle for God, but to be used by God in His battles. Are we more devoted to service than we are to Jesus Christ Himself?
是主！
多馬說，我的主，我的神。 （約二十28）
[請你給我水喝。 ]我們許多人只期望耶穌解我們的渴，沒想到我們該叫他得著滿足！今天我們早該倒空一切，竭盡所有服侍基督，而不再是要求主來滿足我們。 [你們要作我的見證]，不玷污、不妥協、不打折扣的對主盡忠；不論主放我們在什麼崗位，都叫主心滿足。
忠於基督最大的敵人是事奉主的工作。神呼召的唯一目的是叫他心滿意足，而不呼召人去做點什麼工作。神不是差派我們去為他打仗，而是在他的戰場上被他所用。我們獻身於事奉的熱誠是否過於我們愛主的熱誠呢？
祈禱◆為著你的說話——[父親怎樣憐恤他的兒女，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出來。
Jesus said to her, 'Give Me a drink' " (John 4:7). How many of us are expecting Jesus Christ to quench our thirst when we should be satisfying Him! We should be pouring out our lives, investing our total beings, not drawing on Him to satisfy us. “You shall be witnesses to Me . . ." (Acts 1:8). That means lives of pure, uncompromising, and unrestrained devotion to the Lord Jesus, which will be satisfying to Him wherever He may send us.
Beware of anything that competes with your loyalty to Jesus Christ. The greatest competitor of true devotion to Jesus is the service we do for Him. It is easier to serve than to pour out our lives completely for Him. The goal of the call of God is His satisfaction, not simply that we should do something for Him. We are not sent to do battle for God, but to be used by God in His battles. Are we more devoted to service than we are to Jesus Christ Himself?
是主！
多馬說，我的主，我的神。 （約二十28）
[請你給我水喝。 ]我們許多人只期望耶穌解我們的渴，沒想到我們該叫他得著滿足！今天我們早該倒空一切，竭盡所有服侍基督，而不再是要求主來滿足我們。 [你們要作我的見證]，不玷污、不妥協、不打折扣的對主盡忠；不論主放我們在什麼崗位，都叫主心滿足。
忠於基督最大的敵人是事奉主的工作。神呼召的唯一目的是叫他心滿意足，而不呼召人去做點什麼工作。神不是差派我們去為他打仗，而是在他的戰場上被他所用。我們獻身於事奉的熱誠是否過於我們愛主的熱誠呢？
祈禱◆為著你的說話——[父親怎樣憐恤他的兒女，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出來。
January 17, 2013
The Call of the Natural Life
When it pleased God . . . to reveal His Son in me . . . —Galatians 1:15-16
The call of God is not a call to serve Him in any particular way. My contact with the nature of God will shape my understanding of His call and will help me realize what I truly desire to do for Him. The call of God is an expression of His nature; the service which results in my life is suited to me and is an expression of my nature. The call of the natural life was stated by the apostle Paul— “When it pleased God . . . to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him [that is, purely and solemnly express Him] among the Gentiles . . . .”
Service is the overflow which pours from a life filled with love and devotion. But strictly speaking, there is no call to that. Service is what I bring to the relationship and is the reflection of my identification with the nature of God. Service becomes a natural part of my life. God brings me into the proper relationship with Himself so that I can understand His call, and then I serve Him on my own out of a motivation of absolute love. Service to God is the deliberate love-gift of a nature that has heard the call of God. Service is an expression of my nature, and God’s call is an expression of His nature. Therefore, when I receive His nature and hear His call, His divine voice resounds throughout His nature and mine and the two become one in service. The Son of God reveals Himself in me, and out of devotion to Him service becomes my everyday way of life.
今生的事奉
神既然樂意他的兒子啟示在我心裡。 ……（加-15-16）
神的呼召並不是要我們去做某一種工作；我這樣的解釋也許是由於與神親密的相交，使我自然領會該為他做什麼。呼召是神本性的表達，而事奉則是適合我個性工作的結果。使徒保羅說：[神樂意將他兒子啟示在我心裡，叫我把他傳在外邦人中。 ]（傳就是神聖的表達）這說明了保羅在地上的職務是要傳揚神的兒子。
事奉是內裡無限熱誠的湧流；可是，深入一點說，其實是沒有事奉的呼召的；這乃是我對神的體認和回應，以微不足道的行動表現出來。事奉，是屬於我天然生命的一部分。神與我們建立關係，叫人認出他的呼聲，然後就甘心情願為愛他而有所行動。事奉神，是人聽見了神的呼召而專誠獻上愛的禮物。事奉是我的一種表達；而神的呼召是他的表達。因此，當我有了他的性情，又見他的呼召時，兩者就同時響應，互相配合。神的兒子啟示在我心裡，於是我以誠以愛在日常生活中事奉他。
祈禱◆主啊，你的說話來的那麼靜悄悄，卻是無處不在——[若有人服侍我，就當跟從我]，和[若有人服侍我，我父必尊重他]。在這種意義上，請接納我成為你的僕人。
The call of God is not a call to serve Him in any particular way. My contact with the nature of God will shape my understanding of His call and will help me realize what I truly desire to do for Him. The call of God is an expression of His nature; the service which results in my life is suited to me and is an expression of my nature. The call of the natural life was stated by the apostle Paul— “When it pleased God . . . to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him [that is, purely and solemnly express Him] among the Gentiles . . . .”
Service is the overflow which pours from a life filled with love and devotion. But strictly speaking, there is no call to that. Service is what I bring to the relationship and is the reflection of my identification with the nature of God. Service becomes a natural part of my life. God brings me into the proper relationship with Himself so that I can understand His call, and then I serve Him on my own out of a motivation of absolute love. Service to God is the deliberate love-gift of a nature that has heard the call of God. Service is an expression of my nature, and God’s call is an expression of His nature. Therefore, when I receive His nature and hear His call, His divine voice resounds throughout His nature and mine and the two become one in service. The Son of God reveals Himself in me, and out of devotion to Him service becomes my everyday way of life.
今生的事奉
神既然樂意他的兒子啟示在我心裡。 ……（加-15-16）
神的呼召並不是要我們去做某一種工作；我這樣的解釋也許是由於與神親密的相交，使我自然領會該為他做什麼。呼召是神本性的表達，而事奉則是適合我個性工作的結果。使徒保羅說：[神樂意將他兒子啟示在我心裡，叫我把他傳在外邦人中。 ]（傳就是神聖的表達）這說明了保羅在地上的職務是要傳揚神的兒子。
事奉是內裡無限熱誠的湧流；可是，深入一點說，其實是沒有事奉的呼召的；這乃是我對神的體認和回應，以微不足道的行動表現出來。事奉，是屬於我天然生命的一部分。神與我們建立關係，叫人認出他的呼聲，然後就甘心情願為愛他而有所行動。事奉神，是人聽見了神的呼召而專誠獻上愛的禮物。事奉是我的一種表達；而神的呼召是他的表達。因此，當我有了他的性情，又見他的呼召時，兩者就同時響應，互相配合。神的兒子啟示在我心裡，於是我以誠以愛在日常生活中事奉他。
祈禱◆主啊，你的說話來的那麼靜悄悄，卻是無處不在——[若有人服侍我，就當跟從我]，和[若有人服侍我，我父必尊重他]。在這種意義上，請接納我成為你的僕人。
January 16, 2013
The Voice of the Nature of God
I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ’Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?’ —Isaiah 6:8
When we talk about the call of God, we often forget the most important thing, namely, the nature of Him who calls. There are many things calling each of us today. Some of these calls will be answered, and others will not even be heard. The call is the expression of the nature of the One who calls, and we can only recognize the call if that same nature is in us.
The call of God is the expression of God’s nature, not ours. God providentially weaves the threads of His call through our lives, and only we can distinguish them. It is the threading of God’s voice directly to us over a certain concern, and it is useless to seek another person’s opinion of it. Our dealings over the call of God should be kept exclusively between ourselves and Him. The call of God is not a reflection of my nature; my personal desires and temperament are of no consideration. As long as I dwell on my own qualities and traits and think about what I am suited for, I will never hear the call of God. But when God brings me into the right relationship with Himself, I will be in the same condition Isaiah was. Isaiah was so attuned to God, because of the great crisis he had just endured, that the call of God penetrated his soul. The majority of us cannot hear anything but ourselves. And we cannot hear anything God says. But to be brought to the place where we can hear the call of God is to be profoundly changed.
神本性的呼聲
我又聽見主的聲音，說，我可以差遣誰呢？ （賽六8） 說到神的呼召，我們很容易忘記一件最重要的事：就是呼召者的本性。海有海的呼聲，山有山的呼聲，冰山有冰山的呼聲；這些呼聲只有少數人聽見。呼聲是事物本性的一種表現，必須有同樣的性情才能接收那呼聲。神的呼召是神本性的流露，而不是我們的。神的呼聲中，有好些線路是預定給我們用的，所以我們才認得那聲音。神的聲音透過那線路來呼召我們，別人是呼不出來的。在某些特別的事上，與人磋商斟酌是無濟於事，我們必須保持與神的密切關係。
神的呼召不是我們本性的反響；我的喜好傾向與個性，也渺不相涉。如果只一直注視自己的個性，想看自己到底適合做什麼，那將永遠聽不見神的呼召。但當我與神深交，就落在以賽亞的情景裡了。以賽亞的心靈因經歷了重大的事件，與神密切貼近，他驚異的心靈就錄下了神呼喚的聲音。我們多半只用耳朵聽自己，神所說的，一點也聽不進去。我們若一旦進入神呼召的音城裡，必然徹底改變。
祈禱◆[讓我聽見你的聲音]——這是我的祈禱。我極其盼望去聆聽你、去感覺你，被你的同在所震撼。
When we talk about the call of God, we often forget the most important thing, namely, the nature of Him who calls. There are many things calling each of us today. Some of these calls will be answered, and others will not even be heard. The call is the expression of the nature of the One who calls, and we can only recognize the call if that same nature is in us.
The call of God is the expression of God’s nature, not ours. God providentially weaves the threads of His call through our lives, and only we can distinguish them. It is the threading of God’s voice directly to us over a certain concern, and it is useless to seek another person’s opinion of it. Our dealings over the call of God should be kept exclusively between ourselves and Him. The call of God is not a reflection of my nature; my personal desires and temperament are of no consideration. As long as I dwell on my own qualities and traits and think about what I am suited for, I will never hear the call of God. But when God brings me into the right relationship with Himself, I will be in the same condition Isaiah was. Isaiah was so attuned to God, because of the great crisis he had just endured, that the call of God penetrated his soul. The majority of us cannot hear anything but ourselves. And we cannot hear anything God says. But to be brought to the place where we can hear the call of God is to be profoundly changed.
神本性的呼聲
我又聽見主的聲音，說，我可以差遣誰呢？ （賽六8） 說到神的呼召，我們很容易忘記一件最重要的事：就是呼召者的本性。海有海的呼聲，山有山的呼聲，冰山有冰山的呼聲；這些呼聲只有少數人聽見。呼聲是事物本性的一種表現，必須有同樣的性情才能接收那呼聲。神的呼召是神本性的流露，而不是我們的。神的呼聲中，有好些線路是預定給我們用的，所以我們才認得那聲音。神的聲音透過那線路來呼召我們，別人是呼不出來的。在某些特別的事上，與人磋商斟酌是無濟於事，我們必須保持與神的密切關係。
神的呼召不是我們本性的反響；我的喜好傾向與個性，也渺不相涉。如果只一直注視自己的個性，想看自己到底適合做什麼，那將永遠聽不見神的呼召。但當我與神深交，就落在以賽亞的情景裡了。以賽亞的心靈因經歷了重大的事件，與神密切貼近，他驚異的心靈就錄下了神呼喚的聲音。我們多半只用耳朵聽自己，神所說的，一點也聽不進去。我們若一旦進入神呼召的音城裡，必然徹底改變。
祈禱◆[讓我聽見你的聲音]——這是我的祈禱。我極其盼望去聆聽你、去感覺你，被你的同在所震撼。
January 15, 2013
Do You Walk In White?
We were buried with Him . . . that just as Christ was raised from the dead . . . even so we also should walk in newness of life —Romans 6:4
No one experiences complete sanctification without going through a “white funeral”-the burial of the old life. If there has never been this crucial moment of change through death, sanctification will never be more than an elusive dream. There must be a “white funeral,” a death with only one resurrection-a resurrection into the life of Jesus Christ. Nothing can defeat a life like this. It has oneness with God for only one purpose— to be a witness for Him. Have you really come to your last days? You have often come to them in your mind, but have you really experienced them? You cannot die or go to your funeral in a mood of excitement. Death means you stop being. You must agree with God and stop being the intensely striving kind of Christian you have been. We avoid the cemetery and continually refuse our own death. It will not happen by striving, but by yielding to death. It is dying— being “baptized into His death” (Romans 6:3).
Have you had your “white funeral,” or are you piously deceiving your own soul? Has there been a point in your life which you now mark as your last day? Is there a place in your life to which you go back in memory with humility and overwhelming gratitude, so that you can honestly proclaim, “Yes, it was then, at my ’white funeral,’ that I made an agreement with God.”
“This is the will of God, your sanctification . . .” (1 Thessalonians 4:3). Once you truly realize this is God’s will, you will enter into the process of sanctification as a natural response. Are you willing to experience that “white funeral” now? Will you agree with Him that this is your last day on earth? The moment of agreement depends on you.
你穿白衣而行嗎？
和他一同埋葬……一舉一動有新生的樣式。 （羅六4） 一個人要經歷完全的成聖，不能不先經過[白色的葬禮]——舊生命的埋葬。若沒有這死的轉捩點，成聖只不過是幻影。必須有一次[白色的喪禮]，死才有復活——復活在耶穌基督的生命裡頭。什麼都不能搖動這生命，這是與神合一的生命；而我們的目的只有一個，就是為他作見證。你真的來到生命的盡頭了嗎？在情緒上你固然時常會來到，但是否真真正面對它？你不可能興興奮奮地死去。死的意思是你不復存在。你有沒有答應神，讓往日那竭力掙扎、熱情充沛的信徒經歷成為過去？我們往往巡視墳場的四周，始終不肯死去。我們並不是要竭力求死，乃是[受洗歸入他的死]。
你行過你[白色的葬禮]沒有？還是在與自己的靈魂愚弄嬉耍？你生命中有沒有一個地方標明[末日]？有沒有一個地方讓你想起當日所的管教，心中萬分感激地說：[是了，就在那時，在那『白色喪禮』中，我與神立了約]?神的旨意是叫我們成聖。當你一旦覺察到神的旨意什麼，就十分自然地進到成聖的地步。你願意現在就行那[白色喪禮]嗎？你能否像神首肯說，這一天是你在地上的最後一天？首肯的時刻是在你手上。
祈禱◆[非聖潔沒有人能見主。 ]主啊，感謝你，賜下這句話。倘若你不是聖潔的，那會是何等可怕！有些時候，我們是多麼容易墜入一個較鬆散、較卑賤的生活中了；感謝你藉著聖靈的嘆息提醒我——我何其渴望它們能帶領我與你面對面。寬恕我的遲緩，我需要那麼久，才醒悟某些事情。
No one experiences complete sanctification without going through a “white funeral”-the burial of the old life. If there has never been this crucial moment of change through death, sanctification will never be more than an elusive dream. There must be a “white funeral,” a death with only one resurrection-a resurrection into the life of Jesus Christ. Nothing can defeat a life like this. It has oneness with God for only one purpose— to be a witness for Him. Have you really come to your last days? You have often come to them in your mind, but have you really experienced them? You cannot die or go to your funeral in a mood of excitement. Death means you stop being. You must agree with God and stop being the intensely striving kind of Christian you have been. We avoid the cemetery and continually refuse our own death. It will not happen by striving, but by yielding to death. It is dying— being “baptized into His death” (Romans 6:3).
Have you had your “white funeral,” or are you piously deceiving your own soul? Has there been a point in your life which you now mark as your last day? Is there a place in your life to which you go back in memory with humility and overwhelming gratitude, so that you can honestly proclaim, “Yes, it was then, at my ’white funeral,’ that I made an agreement with God.”
“This is the will of God, your sanctification . . .” (1 Thessalonians 4:3). Once you truly realize this is God’s will, you will enter into the process of sanctification as a natural response. Are you willing to experience that “white funeral” now? Will you agree with Him that this is your last day on earth? The moment of agreement depends on you.
你穿白衣而行嗎？
和他一同埋葬……一舉一動有新生的樣式。 （羅六4） 一個人要經歷完全的成聖，不能不先經過[白色的葬禮]——舊生命的埋葬。若沒有這死的轉捩點，成聖只不過是幻影。必須有一次[白色的喪禮]，死才有復活——復活在耶穌基督的生命裡頭。什麼都不能搖動這生命，這是與神合一的生命；而我們的目的只有一個，就是為他作見證。你真的來到生命的盡頭了嗎？在情緒上你固然時常會來到，但是否真真正面對它？你不可能興興奮奮地死去。死的意思是你不復存在。你有沒有答應神，讓往日那竭力掙扎、熱情充沛的信徒經歷成為過去？我們往往巡視墳場的四周，始終不肯死去。我們並不是要竭力求死，乃是[受洗歸入他的死]。
你行過你[白色的葬禮]沒有？還是在與自己的靈魂愚弄嬉耍？你生命中有沒有一個地方標明[末日]？有沒有一個地方讓你想起當日所的管教，心中萬分感激地說：[是了，就在那時，在那『白色喪禮』中，我與神立了約]?神的旨意是叫我們成聖。當你一旦覺察到神的旨意什麼，就十分自然地進到成聖的地步。你願意現在就行那[白色喪禮]嗎？你能否像神首肯說，這一天是你在地上的最後一天？首肯的時刻是在你手上。
祈禱◆[非聖潔沒有人能見主。 ]主啊，感謝你，賜下這句話。倘若你不是聖潔的，那會是何等可怕！有些時候，我們是多麼容易墜入一個較鬆散、較卑賤的生活中了；感謝你藉著聖靈的嘆息提醒我——我何其渴望它們能帶領我與你面對面。寬恕我的遲緩，我需要那麼久，才醒悟某些事情。
January 14, 2013
Called By God
I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ’Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ’Here am I! Send me’ —Isaiah 6:8
God did not direct His call to Isaiah— Isaiah overheard God saying, “. . . who will go for Us?” The call of God is not just for a select few but for everyone. Whether I hear God’s call or not depends on the condition of my ears, and exactly what I hear depends upon my spiritual attitude. “Many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14). That is, few prove that they are the chosen ones. The chosen ones are those who have come into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ and have had their spiritual condition changed and their ears opened. Then they hear “the voice of the Lord” continually asking, “. . . who will go for Us?” However, God doesn’t single out someone and say, “Now, you go.” He did not force His will on Isaiah. Isaiah was in the presence of God, and he overheard the call. His response, performed in complete freedom, could only be to say, “Here am I! Send me.”
Remove the thought from your mind of expecting God to come to force you or to plead with you. When our Lord called His disciples, He did it without irresistible pressure from the outside. The quiet, yet passionate, insistence of His “Follow Me” was spoken to men whose every sense was receptive (Matthew 4:19). If we will allow the Holy Spirit to bring us face to face with God, we too will hear what Isaiah heard-”the voice of the Lord.” In perfect freedom we too will say, “Here am I! Send me.”
被神選召
我可以差遣誰呢？誰肯為我們去呢？我說，我在這裡，請差遣我。 （賽六8）
神並沒有直接呼召以賽亞，是以賽亞聽到神在說：[誰肯為我們去呢？ ]神的呼召不是單為特殊幾個人而發，而是對每一個人的。聽不聽見神的呼召，要視乎我耳朵的狀況；而到底聽見什麼，則視乎我的性情了。 [被召的人多，選上的人少。 ]意思是：很少人有被選上的條件。被選上的人，是藉著耶穌基督與神建立關係，以致性情改變了，耳朵開通了，就听見那微小的聲音不住地在問：[誰肯為我們去呢！ ？ ]神不是特別指著一個人說：[聽著，你去吧！ ]神並沒有強逼以賽亞；以賽亞只在神跟前，剛好聽見他的呼召，覺得沒有別的話可以回答，就甘心情願地說：[我在這裡，請差遣我。 ]
別以為神會催逼你，懇求你！ （把這意念出去吧。）當日主呼召門徒，也沒有從外面施予無法抗拒的壓力。他只是平靜而熱切地要求[跟從我]，是對那些理智清醒能以自主的人發出的。我們若讓聖靈帶我們與神面對面，也會聽見類似以賽亞所聽見的——神微小的聲音；也會自然而然地回答說：[我在這裡，請差遣我。 ]
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我的靈在你面前敬拜，因著你賜給我的浩大恩典，我的眼睛能夠看見、我的耳朵能故聽聞、我的心靈能故明白，在一切境況的背後，皆有你的腳踪。
God did not direct His call to Isaiah— Isaiah overheard God saying, “. . . who will go for Us?” The call of God is not just for a select few but for everyone. Whether I hear God’s call or not depends on the condition of my ears, and exactly what I hear depends upon my spiritual attitude. “Many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14). That is, few prove that they are the chosen ones. The chosen ones are those who have come into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ and have had their spiritual condition changed and their ears opened. Then they hear “the voice of the Lord” continually asking, “. . . who will go for Us?” However, God doesn’t single out someone and say, “Now, you go.” He did not force His will on Isaiah. Isaiah was in the presence of God, and he overheard the call. His response, performed in complete freedom, could only be to say, “Here am I! Send me.”
Remove the thought from your mind of expecting God to come to force you or to plead with you. When our Lord called His disciples, He did it without irresistible pressure from the outside. The quiet, yet passionate, insistence of His “Follow Me” was spoken to men whose every sense was receptive (Matthew 4:19). If we will allow the Holy Spirit to bring us face to face with God, we too will hear what Isaiah heard-”the voice of the Lord.” In perfect freedom we too will say, “Here am I! Send me.”
被神選召
我可以差遣誰呢？誰肯為我們去呢？我說，我在這裡，請差遣我。 （賽六8）
神並沒有直接呼召以賽亞，是以賽亞聽到神在說：[誰肯為我們去呢？ ]神的呼召不是單為特殊幾個人而發，而是對每一個人的。聽不聽見神的呼召，要視乎我耳朵的狀況；而到底聽見什麼，則視乎我的性情了。 [被召的人多，選上的人少。 ]意思是：很少人有被選上的條件。被選上的人，是藉著耶穌基督與神建立關係，以致性情改變了，耳朵開通了，就听見那微小的聲音不住地在問：[誰肯為我們去呢！ ？ ]神不是特別指著一個人說：[聽著，你去吧！ ]神並沒有強逼以賽亞；以賽亞只在神跟前，剛好聽見他的呼召，覺得沒有別的話可以回答，就甘心情願地說：[我在這裡，請差遣我。 ]
別以為神會催逼你，懇求你！ （把這意念出去吧。）當日主呼召門徒，也沒有從外面施予無法抗拒的壓力。他只是平靜而熱切地要求[跟從我]，是對那些理智清醒能以自主的人發出的。我們若讓聖靈帶我們與神面對面，也會聽見類似以賽亞所聽見的——神微小的聲音；也會自然而然地回答說：[我在這裡，請差遣我。 ]
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我的靈在你面前敬拜，因著你賜給我的浩大恩典，我的眼睛能夠看見、我的耳朵能故聽聞、我的心靈能故明白，在一切境況的背後，皆有你的腳踪。
January 13, 2013
Have You Ever Been Alone with God? (2)
When He was alone . . . the twelve asked Him about the parable —Mark 4:10
His Solitude with Us. When God gets us alone through suffering, heartbreak, temptation, disappointment, sickness, or by thwarted desires, a broken friendship, or a new friendship— when He gets us absolutely alone, and we are totally speechless, unable to ask even one question, then He begins to teach us. Notice Jesus Christ’s training of the Twelve. It was the disciples, not the crowd outside, who were confused. His disciples constantly asked Him questions, and He constantly explained things to them, but they didn’t understand until after they received the Holy Spirit (see John 14:26).
As you journey with God, the only thing He intends to be clear is the way He deals with your soul. The sorrows and difficulties in the lives of others will be absolutely confusing to you. We think we understand another person’s struggle until God reveals the same shortcomings in our lives. There are vast areas of stubbornness and ignorance the Holy Spirit has to reveal in each of us, but it can only be done when Jesus gets us alone. Are we alone with Him now? Or are we more concerned with our own ideas, friendships, and cares for our bodies? Jesus cannot teach us anything until we quiet all our intellectual questions and get alone with Him.
你曾獨自與神同在麼？
無人的時候,……十二格門徒問……（可四10）
他與我們獨處。神藉困苦、創傷、試誘、失望、疾病、愛情的挫折、友誼的破裂，或新友情的建立，把我們帶到一個孤單的境況；我們啞口無言，一句話也問不出來。這時，他才開始向我們解說。試看看耶穌怎樣訓練十二門徒。當時困惑不解的是門徒，不是外面的群眾。他們不住地發問，他也不住地講解：可是要等到他們接受了聖靈，才真正瞭解（約十四26）。
你若與神同行，你唯一可以明瞭的事，也是神唯一要你明瞭的事，就是他要對付你的內心。弟兄的愁苦和疑難，你是一概不明白的。我們以為很明白別人的情況，直到神向我們的毛病，給上一服藥。其實每人心中都有一大片頑梗愚昧的區域，有待聖靈向我們顯明。只有當耶穌抓住我們單獨見面，才能作成。我們現在是否與主獨處？還是浮游於無謂的思想裡？忙亂於無關重要的事奉上？或是為身體作無謂的打算？除非我們停止頭腦上雜七雜八的問題，單獨面對耶穌，否則他無法向我們講解真理。
祈禱◆主啊，今天特別是屬你的日子；讓我們唯獨紀念你。那些遍佈世界各地、能與你面對面的僕人和使女是有福的。寬恕我的遲緩，因為我需要那麼長的時間，才醒覺某些事情。
His Solitude with Us. When God gets us alone through suffering, heartbreak, temptation, disappointment, sickness, or by thwarted desires, a broken friendship, or a new friendship— when He gets us absolutely alone, and we are totally speechless, unable to ask even one question, then He begins to teach us. Notice Jesus Christ’s training of the Twelve. It was the disciples, not the crowd outside, who were confused. His disciples constantly asked Him questions, and He constantly explained things to them, but they didn’t understand until after they received the Holy Spirit (see John 14:26).
As you journey with God, the only thing He intends to be clear is the way He deals with your soul. The sorrows and difficulties in the lives of others will be absolutely confusing to you. We think we understand another person’s struggle until God reveals the same shortcomings in our lives. There are vast areas of stubbornness and ignorance the Holy Spirit has to reveal in each of us, but it can only be done when Jesus gets us alone. Are we alone with Him now? Or are we more concerned with our own ideas, friendships, and cares for our bodies? Jesus cannot teach us anything until we quiet all our intellectual questions and get alone with Him.
你曾獨自與神同在麼？
無人的時候,……十二格門徒問……（可四10）
他與我們獨處。神藉困苦、創傷、試誘、失望、疾病、愛情的挫折、友誼的破裂，或新友情的建立，把我們帶到一個孤單的境況；我們啞口無言，一句話也問不出來。這時，他才開始向我們解說。試看看耶穌怎樣訓練十二門徒。當時困惑不解的是門徒，不是外面的群眾。他們不住地發問，他也不住地講解：可是要等到他們接受了聖靈，才真正瞭解（約十四26）。
你若與神同行，你唯一可以明瞭的事，也是神唯一要你明瞭的事，就是他要對付你的內心。弟兄的愁苦和疑難，你是一概不明白的。我們以為很明白別人的情況，直到神向我們的毛病，給上一服藥。其實每人心中都有一大片頑梗愚昧的區域，有待聖靈向我們顯明。只有當耶穌抓住我們單獨見面，才能作成。我們現在是否與主獨處？還是浮游於無謂的思想裡？忙亂於無關重要的事奉上？或是為身體作無謂的打算？除非我們停止頭腦上雜七雜八的問題，單獨面對耶穌，否則他無法向我們講解真理。
祈禱◆主啊，今天特別是屬你的日子；讓我們唯獨紀念你。那些遍佈世界各地、能與你面對面的僕人和使女是有福的。寬恕我的遲緩，因為我需要那麼長的時間，才醒覺某些事情。
January 12, 2013
Have You Ever Been Alone with God? (1)
When they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples —Mark 4:34
Our Solitude with Him. Jesus doesn’t take us aside and explain things to us all the time; He explains things to us as we are able to understand them. The lives of others are examples for us, but God requires us to examine our own souls. It is slow work— so slow that it takes God all of time and eternity to make a man or woman conform to His purpose. We can only be used by God after we allow Him to show us the deep, hidden areas of our own character. It is astounding how ignorant we are about ourselves! We don’t even recognize the envy, laziness, or pride within us when we see it. But Jesus will reveal to us everything we have held within ourselves before His grace began to work. How many of us have learned to look inwardly with courage?
We have to get rid of the idea that we understand ourselves. That is always the last bit of pride to go. The only One who understands us is God. The greatest curse in our spiritual life is pride. If we have ever had a glimpse of what we are like in the sight of God, we will never say, “Oh, I’m so unworthy.” We will understand that this goes without saying. But as long as there is any doubt that we are unworthy, God will continue to close us in until He gets us alone. Whenever there is any element of pride or conceit remaining, Jesus can’t teach us anything. He will allow us to experience heartbreak or the disappointment we feel when our intellectual pride is wounded. He will reveal numerous misplaced affections or desires— things over which we never thought He would have to get us alone. Many things are shown to us, often without effect. But when God gets us alone over them, they will be clear.
你曾獨自與神同在麼？
沒有人的時候，就把一切的道講給門徒聽。 （可四34）
我們與神獨處。耶穌不會時常把我們拉在一旁，獨自把事情向我們講解；他乃按著我們所能了解的，講給我們聽。別人的生命都不過是比喻，神所要的乃是我們對自己的反省。這是一項緩慢的工作，神要用無盡的時間才把一個人塑造成合他心意的。我們若要被神使用，就要讓他帶我們認識自己的不足與醜陋。我們對自己認識之少，簡直令人驚奇。嫉妒、怠惰、驕傲，我們早已視若無睹。耶穌就是要把我們未蒙他恩典改造之前，所有蘊藏在肉體裡的東西顯明出來。有多少人肯鼓起勇氣往內裡一看？
要除掉自以為認識自己的驕傲，這是最難的。唯一明白我們的只有神。在屬靈生命中，最大的咒詛就是自負。我們若有機會瞥見自己在神的眼中本來面目，就永不會說：[啊，我是多麼不配。 ]因為我們實實在在不配，所以用不著說出來。一日我們還未完全認識自己真的不配，神就會追著我們，直至與我們碰頭。因為只要有一些自負或驕傲存在，耶穌就無法向我們解明真理。他要領我們經過理智驕傲的創痛，或心靈的沮喪；他會披露不合宜的感情——這些東西是我們從未想過神要用來對付我們的。在教室裡，我們聽了許多話，但未明白。惟有當神單獨與我們相處，我們才真正明白。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，[群眾]在今天將會來而又去。幫助我像我的主，留守在孤寂的地方祈禱。
Our Solitude with Him. Jesus doesn’t take us aside and explain things to us all the time; He explains things to us as we are able to understand them. The lives of others are examples for us, but God requires us to examine our own souls. It is slow work— so slow that it takes God all of time and eternity to make a man or woman conform to His purpose. We can only be used by God after we allow Him to show us the deep, hidden areas of our own character. It is astounding how ignorant we are about ourselves! We don’t even recognize the envy, laziness, or pride within us when we see it. But Jesus will reveal to us everything we have held within ourselves before His grace began to work. How many of us have learned to look inwardly with courage?
We have to get rid of the idea that we understand ourselves. That is always the last bit of pride to go. The only One who understands us is God. The greatest curse in our spiritual life is pride. If we have ever had a glimpse of what we are like in the sight of God, we will never say, “Oh, I’m so unworthy.” We will understand that this goes without saying. But as long as there is any doubt that we are unworthy, God will continue to close us in until He gets us alone. Whenever there is any element of pride or conceit remaining, Jesus can’t teach us anything. He will allow us to experience heartbreak or the disappointment we feel when our intellectual pride is wounded. He will reveal numerous misplaced affections or desires— things over which we never thought He would have to get us alone. Many things are shown to us, often without effect. But when God gets us alone over them, they will be clear.
你曾獨自與神同在麼？
沒有人的時候，就把一切的道講給門徒聽。 （可四34）
我們與神獨處。耶穌不會時常把我們拉在一旁，獨自把事情向我們講解；他乃按著我們所能了解的，講給我們聽。別人的生命都不過是比喻，神所要的乃是我們對自己的反省。這是一項緩慢的工作，神要用無盡的時間才把一個人塑造成合他心意的。我們若要被神使用，就要讓他帶我們認識自己的不足與醜陋。我們對自己認識之少，簡直令人驚奇。嫉妒、怠惰、驕傲，我們早已視若無睹。耶穌就是要把我們未蒙他恩典改造之前，所有蘊藏在肉體裡的東西顯明出來。有多少人肯鼓起勇氣往內裡一看？
要除掉自以為認識自己的驕傲，這是最難的。唯一明白我們的只有神。在屬靈生命中，最大的咒詛就是自負。我們若有機會瞥見自己在神的眼中本來面目，就永不會說：[啊，我是多麼不配。 ]因為我們實實在在不配，所以用不著說出來。一日我們還未完全認識自己真的不配，神就會追著我們，直至與我們碰頭。因為只要有一些自負或驕傲存在，耶穌就無法向我們解明真理。他要領我們經過理智驕傲的創痛，或心靈的沮喪；他會披露不合宜的感情——這些東西是我們從未想過神要用來對付我們的。在教室裡，我們聽了許多話，但未明白。惟有當神單獨與我們相處，我們才真正明白。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，[群眾]在今天將會來而又去。幫助我像我的主，留守在孤寂的地方祈禱。
January 11, 2013
What My Obedience to God Costs Other People
As they led Him away, they laid hold of a certain man, Simon . . . , and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus —Luke 23:26
If we obey God, it is going to cost other people more than it costs us, and that is where the pain begins. If we are in love with our Lord, obedience does not cost us anything— it is a delight. But to those who do not love Him, our obedience does cost a great deal. If we obey God, it will mean that other people’s plans are upset. They will ridicule us as if to say, “You call this Christianity?” We could prevent the suffering, but not if we are obedient to God. We must let the cost be paid.
When our obedience begins to cost others, our human pride entrenches itself and we say, “I will never accept anything from anyone.” But we must, or disobey God. We have no right to think that the type of relationships we have with others should be any different from those the Lord Himself had (see Luke 8:1-3).
A lack of progress in our spiritual life results when we try to bear all the costs ourselves. And actually, we cannot. Because we are so involved in the universal purposes of God, others are immediately affected by our obedience to Him. Will we remain faithful in our obedience to God and be willing to suffer the humiliation of refusing to be independent? Or will we do just the opposite and say, “I will not cause other people to suffer”? We can disobey God if we choose, and it will bring immediate relief to the situation, but it will grieve our Lord. If, however, we obey God, He will care for those who have suffered the consequences of our obedience. We must simply obey and leave all the consequences with Him.
Beware of the inclination to dictate to God what consequences you would allow as a condition of your obedience to Him.
我對神的順服將損害別人的利益
他們就抓住他（古利奈人西門），把十字架擱在他身上。
我們若順服神，別人所損失的，會比我們所損失的還多，這就是那為難的地方了。我們若愛主，順服他並覺得付上什麼代價，這原是可喜的；但那些不愛他的人，所受的損失就更大了。我們要是順服神，自然就會打岔其他人的計畫，他們就會冷嘲地說：[這就叫做基督教？ ]我們固然可以不使別人受損，但若要順服神，就萬不可如此；要付出的代價就讓它付出去吧！再次，人性的自尊就出來辯護了，我們說：[我決不從任何人接受任何東西！ ]我們不接受，就是悖逆神了。主在世上與人的關係如何，我們也得如何，我們決無權指望另謀出路（參閱路八2-3）
我們若說，要自己承擔全部責任，那麼，靈命就會沉滯停頓，趑趄不前了。我們根本不可能如此。在神整個宇宙計畫中，人就是這樣座落其中，以致我們一順服神，其他人必然受影響。我們願否順服神而放棄獨立自主，甘心走上自卑的路？還是走另一條路，說：[我絕不叫別人無辜受苦]？我們可以選擇不順服神，使形勢緩和，可是我們卻叫主憂傷。另一方面，如果我們順服神，他必會照顧那些因我們順服而被逼受苦的人。我們只要一味順服，一切後果就交給神吧。
但要當心這個意念：你順服神，卻指定神照你的意思行事。這要當心！
祈禱◆在一切事情上，噢，主啊，我都承認你。保守我們與你保持和諧，以致別人可以捕捉到屬神的喜樂和愉快。
If we obey God, it is going to cost other people more than it costs us, and that is where the pain begins. If we are in love with our Lord, obedience does not cost us anything— it is a delight. But to those who do not love Him, our obedience does cost a great deal. If we obey God, it will mean that other people’s plans are upset. They will ridicule us as if to say, “You call this Christianity?” We could prevent the suffering, but not if we are obedient to God. We must let the cost be paid.
When our obedience begins to cost others, our human pride entrenches itself and we say, “I will never accept anything from anyone.” But we must, or disobey God. We have no right to think that the type of relationships we have with others should be any different from those the Lord Himself had (see Luke 8:1-3).
A lack of progress in our spiritual life results when we try to bear all the costs ourselves. And actually, we cannot. Because we are so involved in the universal purposes of God, others are immediately affected by our obedience to Him. Will we remain faithful in our obedience to God and be willing to suffer the humiliation of refusing to be independent? Or will we do just the opposite and say, “I will not cause other people to suffer”? We can disobey God if we choose, and it will bring immediate relief to the situation, but it will grieve our Lord. If, however, we obey God, He will care for those who have suffered the consequences of our obedience. We must simply obey and leave all the consequences with Him.
Beware of the inclination to dictate to God what consequences you would allow as a condition of your obedience to Him.
我對神的順服將損害別人的利益
他們就抓住他（古利奈人西門），把十字架擱在他身上。
我們若順服神，別人所損失的，會比我們所損失的還多，這就是那為難的地方了。我們若愛主，順服他並覺得付上什麼代價，這原是可喜的；但那些不愛他的人，所受的損失就更大了。我們要是順服神，自然就會打岔其他人的計畫，他們就會冷嘲地說：[這就叫做基督教？ ]我們固然可以不使別人受損，但若要順服神，就萬不可如此；要付出的代價就讓它付出去吧！再次，人性的自尊就出來辯護了，我們說：[我決不從任何人接受任何東西！ ]我們不接受，就是悖逆神了。主在世上與人的關係如何，我們也得如何，我們決無權指望另謀出路（參閱路八2-3）
我們若說，要自己承擔全部責任，那麼，靈命就會沉滯停頓，趑趄不前了。我們根本不可能如此。在神整個宇宙計畫中，人就是這樣座落其中，以致我們一順服神，其他人必然受影響。我們願否順服神而放棄獨立自主，甘心走上自卑的路？還是走另一條路，說：[我絕不叫別人無辜受苦]？我們可以選擇不順服神，使形勢緩和，可是我們卻叫主憂傷。另一方面，如果我們順服神，他必會照顧那些因我們順服而被逼受苦的人。我們只要一味順服，一切後果就交給神吧。
但要當心這個意念：你順服神，卻指定神照你的意思行事。這要當心！
祈禱◆在一切事情上，噢，主啊，我都承認你。保守我們與你保持和諧，以致別人可以捕捉到屬神的喜樂和愉快。
January 10, 2013
The Opened Sight
I now send you, to open their eyes . . . that they may receive forgiveness of sins . . . —Acts 26:17-18
This verse is the greatest example of the true essence of the message of a disciple of Jesus Christ in all of the New Testament.
God’s first sovereign work of grace is summed up in the words, “. . . that they may receive forgiveness of sins . . . .” When a person fails in his personal Christian life, it is usually because he has never received anything. The only sign that a person is saved is that he has received something from Jesus Christ. Our job as workers for God is to open people’s eyes so that they may turn themselves from darkness to light. But that is not salvation; it is conversion-only the effort of an awakened human being. I do not think it is too broad a statement to say that the majority of so-called Christians are like this. Their eyes are open, but they have received nothing. Conversion is not regeneration. This is a neglected fact in our preaching today. When a person is born again, he knows that it is because he has received something as a gift from Almighty God and not because of his own decision. People may make vows and promises, and may be determined to follow through, but none of this is salvation. Salvation means that we are brought to the place where we are able to receive something from God on the authority of Jesus Christ, namely, forgiveness of sins.
This is followed by God’s second mighty work of grace: “. . . an inheritance among those who are sanctified . . . .” In sanctification, the one who has been born again deliberately gives up his right to himself to Jesus Christ, and identifies himself entirely with God’s ministry to others.
眼開了
要叫他們的眼睛得開……得蒙赦罪……同得基業。 （徒二十六18）
神施恩最完全的首要工作，已包括在這一句裡：[得蒙赦罪。 ]人若經歷不到信耶穌的個人體驗，幾乎都是因為他從未蒙受什麼恩典。一個人得救的唯一標誌，是他從耶穌基督那裡有所領受。作為神的工人，我們的本分就是要開人的眼睛，使他們棄暗投明。可是那並不是得著拯救，那隻是一種轉變——一個被喚醒的人的改變。我說大多數掛名信徒都屬這一類，並不算太過分。
他們眼是開了，卻沒有接受恩典。轉變並不等於重生。今日我們所傳的資訊中，就忽略了這個因素。一個人重生，是因為從全能的神那裡所領受的一份禮物，而非他自己的抉擇。人就是立上許多誓言，而且簽署許願，勇往直前，義不回顧，這一切都不代表[得救]。得拯救是我們被帶到一個地步，憑耶穌基督得特權，從神有所領受——就是[得蒙赦罪]。
接踵而來的，就是恩典的第二步工作——[和一切成聖得人同得基業]。人得了重生，便藉著成聖的功夫，甘心情願地把自己的主權交給主耶穌，並且把自己全然投在神賜福別人的心意上。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，求你賜我更親切和更美善的品性；賜給我屬靈的恩賜，和對別人全然忍耐的生命。你的美善將這一切彰顯了，噢，主啊，只要我被你充滿，我的祈求便成為真實。
This verse is the greatest example of the true essence of the message of a disciple of Jesus Christ in all of the New Testament.
God’s first sovereign work of grace is summed up in the words, “. . . that they may receive forgiveness of sins . . . .” When a person fails in his personal Christian life, it is usually because he has never received anything. The only sign that a person is saved is that he has received something from Jesus Christ. Our job as workers for God is to open people’s eyes so that they may turn themselves from darkness to light. But that is not salvation; it is conversion-only the effort of an awakened human being. I do not think it is too broad a statement to say that the majority of so-called Christians are like this. Their eyes are open, but they have received nothing. Conversion is not regeneration. This is a neglected fact in our preaching today. When a person is born again, he knows that it is because he has received something as a gift from Almighty God and not because of his own decision. People may make vows and promises, and may be determined to follow through, but none of this is salvation. Salvation means that we are brought to the place where we are able to receive something from God on the authority of Jesus Christ, namely, forgiveness of sins.
This is followed by God’s second mighty work of grace: “. . . an inheritance among those who are sanctified . . . .” In sanctification, the one who has been born again deliberately gives up his right to himself to Jesus Christ, and identifies himself entirely with God’s ministry to others.
眼開了
要叫他們的眼睛得開……得蒙赦罪……同得基業。 （徒二十六18）
神施恩最完全的首要工作，已包括在這一句裡：[得蒙赦罪。 ]人若經歷不到信耶穌的個人體驗，幾乎都是因為他從未蒙受什麼恩典。一個人得救的唯一標誌，是他從耶穌基督那裡有所領受。作為神的工人，我們的本分就是要開人的眼睛，使他們棄暗投明。可是那並不是得著拯救，那隻是一種轉變——一個被喚醒的人的改變。我說大多數掛名信徒都屬這一類，並不算太過分。
他們眼是開了，卻沒有接受恩典。轉變並不等於重生。今日我們所傳的資訊中，就忽略了這個因素。一個人重生，是因為從全能的神那裡所領受的一份禮物，而非他自己的抉擇。人就是立上許多誓言，而且簽署許願，勇往直前，義不回顧，這一切都不代表[得救]。得拯救是我們被帶到一個地步，憑耶穌基督得特權，從神有所領受——就是[得蒙赦罪]。
接踵而來的，就是恩典的第二步工作——[和一切成聖得人同得基業]。人得了重生，便藉著成聖的功夫，甘心情願地把自己的主權交給主耶穌，並且把自己全然投在神賜福別人的心意上。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，求你賜我更親切和更美善的品性；賜給我屬靈的恩賜，和對別人全然忍耐的生命。你的美善將這一切彰顯了，噢，主啊，只要我被你充滿，我的祈求便成為真實。
January 09, 2013
Prayerful Inner-Searching
May your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless . . . —1 Thessalonians 5:23
“Your whole spirit . . . .” The great, mysterious work of the Holy Spirit is in the deep recesses of our being which we cannot reach. Read Psalm 139 . The psalmist implies— “O Lord, You are the God of the early mornings, the God of the late nights, the God of the mountain peaks, and the God of the sea. But, my God, my soul has horizons further away than those of early mornings, deeper darkness than the nights of earth, higher peaks than any mountain peaks, greater depths than any sea in nature. You who are the God of all these, be my God. I cannot reach to the heights or to the depths; there are motives I cannot discover, dreams I cannot realize. My God, search me.”
Do we believe that God can fortify and protect our thought processes far beyond where we can go? “. . . the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). If this verse means cleansing only on our conscious level, may God have mercy on us. The man who has been dulled by sin will say that he is not even conscious of it. But the cleansing from sin we experience will reach to the heights and depths of our spirit if we will “walk in the light as He is in the light” (1 John 1:7). The same Spirit that fed the life of Jesus Christ will feed the life of our spirit. It is only when we are protected by God with the miraculous sacredness of the Holy Spirit that our spirit, soul, and body can be preserved in pure uprightness until the coming of Jesus-no longer condemned in God’s sight. We should more frequently allow our minds to meditate on these great, massive truths of God.
求神省察
願你們的靈，與魂，與身子，得蒙保守，在我主耶穌基督降臨的時候，完全無可指摘。 （帖前五23）
[你們的靈（整個靈）……] 聖靈最奧妙的工作是隱藏在我們裡面，這個隱密處，連我們自己也無法探究。試讀詩篇一三九篇。詩人說：你是清早的神，你是深夜的神，你是山峰的神，你是海洋的神。可是，我的神啊，我的靈魂裡有比清晨更廣遠的天際，比黑夜（世間的）更深沉的黝黑，高過任何崇山峻嶺，深過任何大海深淵；但你是這一切的神，求你做我的神。我攀不上那頭顛峰；也達不到那深淵；有許多動機，我追溯不了；有許多夢想，我無法實現。我的神啊，找我出來吧。
你信否神的保守遠非我們所能想像？ [基督耶穌的血洗淨我們一切的罪]這句話若只是感知上的經驗，願神憐憫我們。那在罪中麻木的人，他可以說並不感覺到罪。其實罪得潔淨，是靠我們裡面得靈。當我們活在光明中，如同神在光明中，那充滿耶穌基督生命的聖靈，也必把生命的靈灌注在我們裡面。
惟有當神以聖靈的大能，防衛著我們，我們的靈與魂與身子，才得蒙保守，毫無瑕疵，而且在神眼中無可指摘，直到主來。我們往往未懂得把心思放在神這些重要得真理上。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，今天親臨在我們當中，又牽引我們進入你裡面；請先由我開始。潔淨我，噢，主啊，除去我的一切瑕疵；縱使我對它們仍渾然不知，你卻早已一目了然。
“Your whole spirit . . . .” The great, mysterious work of the Holy Spirit is in the deep recesses of our being which we cannot reach. Read Psalm 139 . The psalmist implies— “O Lord, You are the God of the early mornings, the God of the late nights, the God of the mountain peaks, and the God of the sea. But, my God, my soul has horizons further away than those of early mornings, deeper darkness than the nights of earth, higher peaks than any mountain peaks, greater depths than any sea in nature. You who are the God of all these, be my God. I cannot reach to the heights or to the depths; there are motives I cannot discover, dreams I cannot realize. My God, search me.”
Do we believe that God can fortify and protect our thought processes far beyond where we can go? “. . . the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). If this verse means cleansing only on our conscious level, may God have mercy on us. The man who has been dulled by sin will say that he is not even conscious of it. But the cleansing from sin we experience will reach to the heights and depths of our spirit if we will “walk in the light as He is in the light” (1 John 1:7). The same Spirit that fed the life of Jesus Christ will feed the life of our spirit. It is only when we are protected by God with the miraculous sacredness of the Holy Spirit that our spirit, soul, and body can be preserved in pure uprightness until the coming of Jesus-no longer condemned in God’s sight. We should more frequently allow our minds to meditate on these great, massive truths of God.
求神省察
願你們的靈，與魂，與身子，得蒙保守，在我主耶穌基督降臨的時候，完全無可指摘。 （帖前五23）
[你們的靈（整個靈）……] 聖靈最奧妙的工作是隱藏在我們裡面，這個隱密處，連我們自己也無法探究。試讀詩篇一三九篇。詩人說：你是清早的神，你是深夜的神，你是山峰的神，你是海洋的神。可是，我的神啊，我的靈魂裡有比清晨更廣遠的天際，比黑夜（世間的）更深沉的黝黑，高過任何崇山峻嶺，深過任何大海深淵；但你是這一切的神，求你做我的神。我攀不上那頭顛峰；也達不到那深淵；有許多動機，我追溯不了；有許多夢想，我無法實現。我的神啊，找我出來吧。
你信否神的保守遠非我們所能想像？ [基督耶穌的血洗淨我們一切的罪]這句話若只是感知上的經驗，願神憐憫我們。那在罪中麻木的人，他可以說並不感覺到罪。其實罪得潔淨，是靠我們裡面得靈。當我們活在光明中，如同神在光明中，那充滿耶穌基督生命的聖靈，也必把生命的靈灌注在我們裡面。
惟有當神以聖靈的大能，防衛著我們，我們的靈與魂與身子，才得蒙保守，毫無瑕疵，而且在神眼中無可指摘，直到主來。我們往往未懂得把心思放在神這些重要得真理上。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，今天親臨在我們當中，又牽引我們進入你裡面；請先由我開始。潔淨我，噢，主啊，除去我的一切瑕疵；縱使我對它們仍渾然不知，你卻早已一目了然。
January 08, 2013
Is My Sacrifice Living?
Abraham built an altar . . . ; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar . . . —Genesis 22:9
This event is a picture of the mistake we make in thinking that the ultimate God wants of us is the sacrifice of death. What God wants is the sacrifice through death which enables us to do what Jesus did, that is, sacrifice our lives. Not— “Lord, I am ready to go with You . . . to death” (Luke 22:33). But— “I am willing to be identified with Your death so that I may sacrifice my life to God.”
We seem to think that God wants us to give up things! God purified Abraham from this error, and the same process is at work in our lives. God never tells us to give up things just for the sake of giving them up, but He tells us to give them up for the sake of the only thing worth having, namely, life with Himself. It is a matter of loosening the bands that hold back our lives. Those bands are loosened immediately by identification with the death of Jesus. Then we enter into a relationship with God whereby we may sacrifice our lives to Him.
It is of no value to God to give Him your life for death. He wants you to be a “living sacrifice”— to let Him have all your strengths that have been saved and sanctified through Jesus (Romans 12:1). This is what is acceptable to God.
我的祭是活的嗎？
亞伯拉罕在那裡築壇……捆綁他的兒子以撒。 （創二十二9）
這件事正反映出我們所犯的錯誤，以為神對我們最終的要求是死的祭。神所要的祭，是經過死，使我們能行像耶穌所行的：把生命獻上。不是[我願意與你同死]，而是[我願意把自己投入你的死裡，使我可以把生命獻給神]。我們似乎認為神總是要求我們丟棄萬事的！神糾正了亞伯拉罕這個錯誤。這門功課我們一生都得學習，因為死發生在我們身上。神從來沒有叫我們為犧牲而犧牲。他叫我們有所捨棄，是為了叫我們得著所得著的，就是與他共用的生命。所以，問題是要解開捆鎖生命的繩索。一旦藉著與基督同死而解開那綁繩，我們就得以與神相交，把生命獻上，作為犧牲。
你若為了要死而把生命獻給神，對神是毫無價值的。他要你做[活祭]獻上因信耶穌得救成聖而得的一切才智力量，這才是神所悅納的。
祈禱◆主啊，為著今天那蒙你接納的事奉良機，我讚美你。為著你所啟示的真理，讓我每天隨時得蒙你的吩咐，我稱頌你。
This event is a picture of the mistake we make in thinking that the ultimate God wants of us is the sacrifice of death. What God wants is the sacrifice through death which enables us to do what Jesus did, that is, sacrifice our lives. Not— “Lord, I am ready to go with You . . . to death” (Luke 22:33). But— “I am willing to be identified with Your death so that I may sacrifice my life to God.”
We seem to think that God wants us to give up things! God purified Abraham from this error, and the same process is at work in our lives. God never tells us to give up things just for the sake of giving them up, but He tells us to give them up for the sake of the only thing worth having, namely, life with Himself. It is a matter of loosening the bands that hold back our lives. Those bands are loosened immediately by identification with the death of Jesus. Then we enter into a relationship with God whereby we may sacrifice our lives to Him.
It is of no value to God to give Him your life for death. He wants you to be a “living sacrifice”— to let Him have all your strengths that have been saved and sanctified through Jesus (Romans 12:1). This is what is acceptable to God.
我的祭是活的嗎？
亞伯拉罕在那裡築壇……捆綁他的兒子以撒。 （創二十二9）
這件事正反映出我們所犯的錯誤，以為神對我們最終的要求是死的祭。神所要的祭，是經過死，使我們能行像耶穌所行的：把生命獻上。不是[我願意與你同死]，而是[我願意把自己投入你的死裡，使我可以把生命獻給神]。我們似乎認為神總是要求我們丟棄萬事的！神糾正了亞伯拉罕這個錯誤。這門功課我們一生都得學習，因為死發生在我們身上。神從來沒有叫我們為犧牲而犧牲。他叫我們有所捨棄，是為了叫我們得著所得著的，就是與他共用的生命。所以，問題是要解開捆鎖生命的繩索。一旦藉著與基督同死而解開那綁繩，我們就得以與神相交，把生命獻上，作為犧牲。
你若為了要死而把生命獻給神，對神是毫無價值的。他要你做[活祭]獻上因信耶穌得救成聖而得的一切才智力量，這才是神所悅納的。
祈禱◆主啊，為著今天那蒙你接納的事奉良機，我讚美你。為著你所啟示的真理，讓我每天隨時得蒙你的吩咐，我稱頌你。
January 07, 2013
Intimate With Jesus
Jesus said to him, ’Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip?’ —John 14:9
These words were not spoken as a rebuke, nor even with surprise; Jesus was encouraging Philip to draw closer. Yet the last person we get intimate with is Jesus. Before Pentecost the disciples knew Jesus as the One who gave them power to conquer demons and to bring about a revival (see Luke 10:18-20). It was a wonderful intimacy, but there was a much closer intimacy to come: “. . . I have called you friends . . .” (John 15:15). True friendship is rare on earth. It means identifying with someone in thought, heart, and spirit. The whole experience of life is designed to enable us to enter into this closest relationship with Jesus Christ. We receive His blessings and know His Word, but do we really know Him?
Jesus said, “It is to your advantage that I go away . . .” (John 16:7). He left that relationship to lead them even closer. It is a joy to Jesus when a disciple takes time to walk more intimately with Him. The bearing of fruit is always shown in Scripture to be the visible result of an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ (see John 15:1-4).
Once we get intimate with Jesus we are never lonely and we never lack for understanding or compassion. We can continually pour out our hearts to Him without being perceived as overly emotional or pitiful. The Christian who is truly intimate with Jesus will never draw attention to himself but will only show the evidence of a life where Jesus is completely in control. This is the outcome of allowing Jesus to satisfy every area of life to its depth. The picture resulting from such a life is that of the strong, calm balance that our Lord gives to those who are intimate with Him.
與耶穌親密
我與你們同在這樣長久，你還不認識我麼？ （約十四9） 這些並不是責備的話，也不是詫異之言，耶穌是領導腓力向前。在我們的密友之中，最末一個是耶穌。五旬節之前，門徒所認識的耶穌，是給他們權柄勝過鬼魔，而且帶來復興的那一位（路十18-20）。這固然是一種密切的關係，但更密切的關係還在未來——[我稱你們為朋友]。友誼是珍貴的，它是人思想與心靈的契合。其實我們整個人生的操練，就是要與耶穌基督進入一個最親密的關係裡去。我們得過他的祝福，明瞭他的話，可是，我們認識他嗎？
耶穌說：[我去是與你們有意的。 ]這是為了增進那關係，引導門徒向前。當一個門徒肯下功夫追求主更親密，他的心就喜樂了。聖經裡說的結果子，總是指由於與耶穌基督合一的必然表現（約十五1-4）。
我們一旦與耶穌建立深交，就永不再孤單，也永不再要人同情。我們可以不住的向主傾訴，而不至於自憐自怨。與耶穌親密的聖徒，從不給人留下他自己的形象。他只將主耶穌的形象毫無阻隔地彰顯出來，因為他天性裡所有的罅隙，已被主填滿了。這種生命給人唯一的印象，就是主賜給與他親密的人那種強烈的平靜與穩妥。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，將你自己那親切。和善的形象賜給我，讓我今天可以討你的喜悅，使我的生命變得完美，成為周圍的人真正的祝福。
These words were not spoken as a rebuke, nor even with surprise; Jesus was encouraging Philip to draw closer. Yet the last person we get intimate with is Jesus. Before Pentecost the disciples knew Jesus as the One who gave them power to conquer demons and to bring about a revival (see Luke 10:18-20). It was a wonderful intimacy, but there was a much closer intimacy to come: “. . . I have called you friends . . .” (John 15:15). True friendship is rare on earth. It means identifying with someone in thought, heart, and spirit. The whole experience of life is designed to enable us to enter into this closest relationship with Jesus Christ. We receive His blessings and know His Word, but do we really know Him?
Jesus said, “It is to your advantage that I go away . . .” (John 16:7). He left that relationship to lead them even closer. It is a joy to Jesus when a disciple takes time to walk more intimately with Him. The bearing of fruit is always shown in Scripture to be the visible result of an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ (see John 15:1-4).
Once we get intimate with Jesus we are never lonely and we never lack for understanding or compassion. We can continually pour out our hearts to Him without being perceived as overly emotional or pitiful. The Christian who is truly intimate with Jesus will never draw attention to himself but will only show the evidence of a life where Jesus is completely in control. This is the outcome of allowing Jesus to satisfy every area of life to its depth. The picture resulting from such a life is that of the strong, calm balance that our Lord gives to those who are intimate with Him.
與耶穌親密
我與你們同在這樣長久，你還不認識我麼？ （約十四9） 這些並不是責備的話，也不是詫異之言，耶穌是領導腓力向前。在我們的密友之中，最末一個是耶穌。五旬節之前，門徒所認識的耶穌，是給他們權柄勝過鬼魔，而且帶來復興的那一位（路十18-20）。這固然是一種密切的關係，但更密切的關係還在未來——[我稱你們為朋友]。友誼是珍貴的，它是人思想與心靈的契合。其實我們整個人生的操練，就是要與耶穌基督進入一個最親密的關係裡去。我們得過他的祝福，明瞭他的話，可是，我們認識他嗎？
耶穌說：[我去是與你們有意的。 ]這是為了增進那關係，引導門徒向前。當一個門徒肯下功夫追求主更親密，他的心就喜樂了。聖經裡說的結果子，總是指由於與耶穌基督合一的必然表現（約十五1-4）。
我們一旦與耶穌建立深交，就永不再孤單，也永不再要人同情。我們可以不住的向主傾訴，而不至於自憐自怨。與耶穌親密的聖徒，從不給人留下他自己的形象。他只將主耶穌的形象毫無阻隔地彰顯出來，因為他天性裡所有的罅隙，已被主填滿了。這種生命給人唯一的印象，就是主賜給與他親密的人那種強烈的平靜與穩妥。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，將你自己那親切。和善的形象賜給我，讓我今天可以討你的喜悅，使我的生命變得完美，成為周圍的人真正的祝福。
January 06, 2013
Worship
He moved from there to the mountain east of Bethel, and he pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; there he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord —Genesis 12:8
Worship is giving God the best that He has given you. Be careful what you do with the best you have. Whenever you get a blessing from God, give it back to Him as a love-gift. Take time to meditate before God and offer the blessing back to Him in a deliberate act of worship. If you hoard it for yourself, it will turn into spiritual dry rot, as the manna did when it was hoarded (see Exodus 16:20). God will never allow you to keep a spiritual blessing completely for yourself. It must be given back to Him so that He can make it a blessing to others.
Bethel is the symbol of fellowship with God; Ai is the symbol of the world. Abram “pitched his tent” between the two. The lasting value of our public service for God is measured by the depth of the intimacy of our private times of fellowship and oneness with Him. Rushing in and out of worship is wrong every time— there is always plenty of time to worship God. Days set apart for quiet can be a trap, detracting from the need to have daily quiet time with God. That is why we must “pitch our tents” where we will always have quiet times with Him, however noisy our times with the world may be. There are not three levels of spiritual life— worship, waiting, and work. Yet some of us seem to jump like spiritual frogs from worship to waiting, and from waiting to work. God’s idea is that the three should go together as one. They were always together in the life of our Lord and in perfect harmony. It is a discipline that must be developed; it will not happen overnight.
敬拜
從那裡他又遷到伯特利東邊的山，支搭帳棚，西邊事伯特利，東邊事艾。他在那裡又為耶和華築了一座壇。 （創十二8）
敬拜就是把神給你最好的獻給他。凡是你最好的東西，當小心處理。你從神得了祝福，就要把它獻回給神，作為愛的禮物。在神面前花時間好好地默想，以敬拜的虔誠行動，把那祝福獻上給神，假若你把那東西留歸自己，它必會變成數領枯朽之物，正如儲藏起來的嗎哪一樣。神絕不會容許你把屬靈的事物留歸己用，它必須歸還給神，讓神將之化為別人的祝福。
伯特利是與神相交的象徵，而艾是世界的意思，亞伯拉罕卻搭營在兩者之間。我們在外面為神作工有多少價值，是以我們私下與神相交程度的深淺來衡量的。匆忙倉卒當然是不對的，因為敬拜神的時間多的是；但平靜無事的日子，也許會成為陷阱。我們支搭帳棚的所在，應該隨時可與神有安靜的相交，姑勿論我們與時間的接觸有多頻繁。屬靈的生活中這三者總是一致的，他在忙碌中並不一定分為三個階段——敬拜、等候、作工。有些人像屬靈青蛙一般，跳躍而行，從敬拜跳到等候，又從等候跳到工作。神的心意是要三者同時並進。在主的生活中並不急躁。這是一種操練，我們不能一蹴而就。
祈禱◆主啊，我何其清楚工作和活動所引發的危險，是與安靜和退隱危險等同，而祢是我唯一安穩的避難所。讓我的一切都全然被祢佔據。
Worship is giving God the best that He has given you. Be careful what you do with the best you have. Whenever you get a blessing from God, give it back to Him as a love-gift. Take time to meditate before God and offer the blessing back to Him in a deliberate act of worship. If you hoard it for yourself, it will turn into spiritual dry rot, as the manna did when it was hoarded (see Exodus 16:20). God will never allow you to keep a spiritual blessing completely for yourself. It must be given back to Him so that He can make it a blessing to others.
Bethel is the symbol of fellowship with God; Ai is the symbol of the world. Abram “pitched his tent” between the two. The lasting value of our public service for God is measured by the depth of the intimacy of our private times of fellowship and oneness with Him. Rushing in and out of worship is wrong every time— there is always plenty of time to worship God. Days set apart for quiet can be a trap, detracting from the need to have daily quiet time with God. That is why we must “pitch our tents” where we will always have quiet times with Him, however noisy our times with the world may be. There are not three levels of spiritual life— worship, waiting, and work. Yet some of us seem to jump like spiritual frogs from worship to waiting, and from waiting to work. God’s idea is that the three should go together as one. They were always together in the life of our Lord and in perfect harmony. It is a discipline that must be developed; it will not happen overnight.
敬拜
從那裡他又遷到伯特利東邊的山，支搭帳棚，西邊事伯特利，東邊事艾。他在那裡又為耶和華築了一座壇。 （創十二8）
敬拜就是把神給你最好的獻給他。凡是你最好的東西，當小心處理。你從神得了祝福，就要把它獻回給神，作為愛的禮物。在神面前花時間好好地默想，以敬拜的虔誠行動，把那祝福獻上給神，假若你把那東西留歸自己，它必會變成數領枯朽之物，正如儲藏起來的嗎哪一樣。神絕不會容許你把屬靈的事物留歸己用，它必須歸還給神，讓神將之化為別人的祝福。
伯特利是與神相交的象徵，而艾是世界的意思，亞伯拉罕卻搭營在兩者之間。我們在外面為神作工有多少價值，是以我們私下與神相交程度的深淺來衡量的。匆忙倉卒當然是不對的，因為敬拜神的時間多的是；但平靜無事的日子，也許會成為陷阱。我們支搭帳棚的所在，應該隨時可與神有安靜的相交，姑勿論我們與時間的接觸有多頻繁。屬靈的生活中這三者總是一致的，他在忙碌中並不一定分為三個階段——敬拜、等候、作工。有些人像屬靈青蛙一般，跳躍而行，從敬拜跳到等候，又從等候跳到工作。神的心意是要三者同時並進。在主的生活中並不急躁。這是一種操練，我們不能一蹴而就。
祈禱◆主啊，我何其清楚工作和活動所引發的危險，是與安靜和退隱危險等同，而祢是我唯一安穩的避難所。讓我的一切都全然被祢佔據。
January 05, 2013
The Life of Power to Follow
Jesus answered him, ’Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward’ —John 13:36
“And when He had spoken this, He said to him, ’Follow Me’ ” (John 21:19). Three years earlier Jesus had said, “Follow Me” (Matthew 4:19), and Peter followed with no hesitation. The irresistible attraction of Jesus was upon him and he did not need the Holy Spirit to help him do it. Later he came to the place where he denied Jesus, and his heart broke. Then he received the Holy Spirit and Jesus said again, “Follow Me” (John 21:19). Now no one is in front of Peter except the Lord Jesus Christ. The first “Follow Me” was nothing mysterious; it was an external following. Jesus is now asking for an internal sacrifice and yielding (see John 21:18).
Between these two times Peter denied Jesus with oaths and curses (see Matthew 26:69-75). But then he came completely to the end of himself and all of his self-sufficiency. There was no part of himself he would ever rely on again. In his state of destitution, he was finally ready to receive all that the risen Lord had for him. “. . . He breathed on them, and said to them, ’Receive the Holy Spirit’ ” (John 20:22). No matter what changes God has performed in you, never rely on them. Build only on a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ, and on the Spirit He gives.
All our promises and resolutions end in denial because we have no power to accomplish them. When we come to the end of ourselves, not just mentally but completely, we are able to “receive the Holy Spirit.” “Receive the Holy Spirit”— the idea is that of invasion. There is now only One who directs the course of your life, the Lord Jesus Christ.
“And when He had spoken this, He said to him, ’Follow Me’ ” (John 21:19). Three years earlier Jesus had said, “Follow Me” (Matthew 4:19), and Peter followed with no hesitation. The irresistible attraction of Jesus was upon him and he did not need the Holy Spirit to help him do it. Later he came to the place where he denied Jesus, and his heart broke. Then he received the Holy Spirit and Jesus said again, “Follow Me” (John 21:19). Now no one is in front of Peter except the Lord Jesus Christ. The first “Follow Me” was nothing mysterious; it was an external following. Jesus is now asking for an internal sacrifice and yielding (see John 21:18).
Between these two times Peter denied Jesus with oaths and curses (see Matthew 26:69-75). But then he came completely to the end of himself and all of his self-sufficiency. There was no part of himself he would ever rely on again. In his state of destitution, he was finally ready to receive all that the risen Lord had for him. “. . . He breathed on them, and said to them, ’Receive the Holy Spirit’ ” (John 20:22). No matter what changes God has performed in you, never rely on them. Build only on a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ, and on the Spirit He gives.
All our promises and resolutions end in denial because we have no power to accomplish them. When we come to the end of ourselves, not just mentally but completely, we are able to “receive the Holy Spirit.” “Receive the Holy Spirit”— the idea is that of invasion. There is now only One who directs the course of your life, the Lord Jesus Christ.
後來的生命能力
我所去的地方，你現在不能跟我去，後來卻要跟我去。 （約十三36）
[說了這話，就對他說，你跟從我吧。 ]三年前，耶穌曾說；[來跟從我]，那時彼得很輕易就跟從了他。彼得是被耶穌所吸引而自動跟隨，並不需要聖靈來幫助。然而後來，他卻落到否認耶穌的地步，心碎欲絕。不過，他受了聖靈，耶穌又再一次對他說：[來跟從我。 ]這時除了主耶穌基督以外，再沒有別人了。第一次的[跟從]並沒有什麼可引起驚奇的，那隻是外表上的跟從；如今卻是殉道者的跟從（約二十一18）
在這期間，彼得曾發咒起誓否認耶穌。此時，他已來到自己的盡頭，所有的自滿自恃不足倚仗。就在這絕境中，他符合了接受復活主賜與的條件。 「他向他們吹一口氣說：『你們受聖靈』」因此，無論神在你身上做了什麼改變，都切勿倚仗這些改變，只要建立在主耶穌身上合他所賜的聖靈。
我們縱有誓言與決心，到頭來還是否認主，因為我們沒有能力實行出來。惟有當我們真正來到自己的盡頭，這才能領受聖靈不是幻想出來的。 [你們受聖靈]意思是受聖靈的征服。如今在你生命中只有一顆北斗星（意即引導方向者），就是主耶穌基督。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，以你偉大的能力來堅立我，印著耶穌的救贖，我相信自己又權利這樣祈求。令我的身體盡獻己力，以致你的光輝可以在我身上彰顯。
January 04, 2013
Grace
Grace is God’s best idea. Rather than tell us to change, he creates the change! Do we clean up so God can accept us? No, he accepts us and begins cleaning us up. His dream isn’t just to get you into heaven, but to get heaven into you...
Why Can I Not Follow You Now?
Peter said to Him, ’Lord, why can I not follow You now?’ — John 13:37
There are times when you can’t understand why you cannot do what you want to do. When God brings a time of waiting, and appears to be unresponsive, don’t fill it with busyness, just wait. The time of waiting may come to teach you the meaning of sanctification— to be set apart from sin and made holy— or it may come after the process of sanctification has begun to teach you what service means. Never run before God gives you His direction. If you have the slightest doubt, then He is not guiding. Whenever there is doubt— wait.
At first you may see clearly what God’s will is— the severance of a friendship, the breaking off of a business relationship, or something else you feel is distinctly God’s will for you to do. But never act on the impulse of that feeling. If you do, you will cause difficult situations to arise which will take years to untangle. Wait for God’s timing and He will do it without any heartache or disappointment. When it is a question of the providential will of God, wait for God to move.
Peter did not wait for God. He predicted in his own mind where the test would come, and it came where he did not expect it. “I will lay down my life for Your sake.” Peter’s statement was honest but ignorant. “Jesus answered him, ’ . . . the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times’ ” (John 13:38). This was said with a deeper knowledge of Peter than Peter had of himself. He could not follow Jesus because he did not know himself or his own capabilities well enough. Natural devotion may be enough to attract us to Jesus, to make us feel His irresistible charm, but it will never make us disciples. Natural devotion will deny Jesus, always falling short of what it means to truly follow Him.
我為什麼現在不能跟你去？
彼得說：主啊，我為什麼現在不能跟你去？（約十三37）
你有時真不明白，為什麼不可以照心裡所希望的去做。當神給你一張空白的紙，不要擅自填上什麼。要等候。這白紙可能是要教你明白成聖的意義；也可能是要你體會成聖之後事奉的意義。切勿走在神的引導之前。若有絲毫的疑惑，就不是他的帶領了。什麼時候有疑惑，就不可動！
起初的時候，你會很清楚看見神的旨意－－與某某朋友絕交，與某某人斷絕商業上的關係。這些事，你在神面前覺得很清楚是祂的旨意要你這樣做；但是，千萬不要單憑那一種感覺的衝動而貿然行事。否則，所造成的許多難題，可能要費多年的時間才能夠彌補的。只要等候，神會完成他的工作，這不會使我們傷心或失望。既然是神的旨意，就等神去動工吧！
彼得併沒有等候神，他只憑己意揣測試煉會什麼時候來，誰知試煉就在他意想不到的時候臨到。 [我願意為你捨命。]彼得的宣告雖是誠實，卻是無知的。 [耶穌說…雞叫以先，你要三次不認我。]耶穌說這話，表明他認識彼得，比彼得認識自己更深。彼得沒有跟耶穌去，因為他不認識自己，也不知道自己的有限。以人本身的熱誠，固然可以引導我們就近耶穌，使我們感受他的奇妙，可是卻永不能叫我們成為門徒。人天然的熱誠總會有一日否認主，不是此時，就是那時。
祈禱◆我何等渴望被你－－熾熱、光輝和榮耀的你－－完全充滿，以致除了你那恩典的光輝外，再不能容下別的東西。
There are times when you can’t understand why you cannot do what you want to do. When God brings a time of waiting, and appears to be unresponsive, don’t fill it with busyness, just wait. The time of waiting may come to teach you the meaning of sanctification— to be set apart from sin and made holy— or it may come after the process of sanctification has begun to teach you what service means. Never run before God gives you His direction. If you have the slightest doubt, then He is not guiding. Whenever there is doubt— wait.
At first you may see clearly what God’s will is— the severance of a friendship, the breaking off of a business relationship, or something else you feel is distinctly God’s will for you to do. But never act on the impulse of that feeling. If you do, you will cause difficult situations to arise which will take years to untangle. Wait for God’s timing and He will do it without any heartache or disappointment. When it is a question of the providential will of God, wait for God to move.
Peter did not wait for God. He predicted in his own mind where the test would come, and it came where he did not expect it. “I will lay down my life for Your sake.” Peter’s statement was honest but ignorant. “Jesus answered him, ’ . . . the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times’ ” (John 13:38). This was said with a deeper knowledge of Peter than Peter had of himself. He could not follow Jesus because he did not know himself or his own capabilities well enough. Natural devotion may be enough to attract us to Jesus, to make us feel His irresistible charm, but it will never make us disciples. Natural devotion will deny Jesus, always falling short of what it means to truly follow Him.
我為什麼現在不能跟你去？
彼得說：主啊，我為什麼現在不能跟你去？（約十三37）
你有時真不明白，為什麼不可以照心裡所希望的去做。當神給你一張空白的紙，不要擅自填上什麼。要等候。這白紙可能是要教你明白成聖的意義；也可能是要你體會成聖之後事奉的意義。切勿走在神的引導之前。若有絲毫的疑惑，就不是他的帶領了。什麼時候有疑惑，就不可動！
起初的時候，你會很清楚看見神的旨意－－與某某朋友絕交，與某某人斷絕商業上的關係。這些事，你在神面前覺得很清楚是祂的旨意要你這樣做；但是，千萬不要單憑那一種感覺的衝動而貿然行事。否則，所造成的許多難題，可能要費多年的時間才能夠彌補的。只要等候，神會完成他的工作，這不會使我們傷心或失望。既然是神的旨意，就等神去動工吧！
彼得併沒有等候神，他只憑己意揣測試煉會什麼時候來，誰知試煉就在他意想不到的時候臨到。 [我願意為你捨命。]彼得的宣告雖是誠實，卻是無知的。 [耶穌說…雞叫以先，你要三次不認我。]耶穌說這話，表明他認識彼得，比彼得認識自己更深。彼得沒有跟耶穌去，因為他不認識自己，也不知道自己的有限。以人本身的熱誠，固然可以引導我們就近耶穌，使我們感受他的奇妙，可是卻永不能叫我們成為門徒。人天然的熱誠總會有一日否認主，不是此時，就是那時。
祈禱◆我何等渴望被你－－熾熱、光輝和榮耀的你－－完全充滿，以致除了你那恩典的光輝外，再不能容下別的東西。
January 03, 2013
Clouds and Darkness
Clouds and darkness surround Him . . . —Psalm 97:2
A person who has not been born again by the Spirit of God will tell you that the teachings of Jesus are simple. But when he is baptized by the Holy Spirit, he finds that “clouds and darkness surround Him . . . .” When we come into close contact with the teachings of Jesus Christ we have our first realization of this. The only possible way to have full understanding of the teachings of Jesus is through the light of the Spirit of God shining inside us. If we have never had the experience of taking our casual, religious shoes off our casual, religious feet— getting rid of all the excessive informality with which we approach God— it is questionable whether we have ever stood in His presence. The people who are flippant and disrespectful in their approach to God are those who have never been introduced to Jesus Christ. Only after the amazing delight and liberty of realizing what Jesus Christ does, comes the impenetrable “darkness” of realizing who He is.
Jesus said, “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). Once, the Bible was just so many words to us — “clouds and darkness”— then, suddenly, the words become spirit and life because Jesus re-speaks them to us when our circumstances make the words new. That is the way God speaks to us; not by visions and dreams, but by words. When a man gets to God, it is by the most simple way— words.
密雲和幽暗
密雲和幽暗，在他的四圍。 （詩九十七2）
一個未從神的靈而生的人會對你說，耶穌的教訓簡單得很。可是你一旦受了聖靈的洗，就會發現[密雲和幽暗，在他的四圍]。當我們認識耶穌基督的教訓，就必恍然大悟。領悟耶穌教訓的唯一途徑，是神的靈在裡面光照。若果我們從未把習以為常的宗教鞋，從我們習以為常的宗教腳上脫下；也從未把我們親近神那種魯莽隨便的態度，一概革除，那麼，我們到底曾否真正站在神的面前，那也是疑問。那些輕率、浮躁的人，根本從未認識耶穌基督。因為在我們明白了耶穌基督所作所行，滿懷稀奇興奮。自由釋放之後，就會經歷到一種因認識他是誰而無法看透的幽暗。
耶穌說：[我對你們說的話就是靈，就是生命。 ]一向以來，聖經對我們不過是一大堆的話語－－密雲和幽暗為何忽然之間變成了靈和生命？因為耶穌在某種特殊情況下，向我們再說了一遍。神就是這樣對我們說話，不是藉著異夢，乃是通過話語。人來到神面前，就是憑著最簡單的方法－－他的話語。
祈禱◆[密雲和幽暗在祂的四圍；公義和公平是祂寶座的根基。 ]與我親近，噢，主啊，讓我可以知道我在你裡面是光明的。
A person who has not been born again by the Spirit of God will tell you that the teachings of Jesus are simple. But when he is baptized by the Holy Spirit, he finds that “clouds and darkness surround Him . . . .” When we come into close contact with the teachings of Jesus Christ we have our first realization of this. The only possible way to have full understanding of the teachings of Jesus is through the light of the Spirit of God shining inside us. If we have never had the experience of taking our casual, religious shoes off our casual, religious feet— getting rid of all the excessive informality with which we approach God— it is questionable whether we have ever stood in His presence. The people who are flippant and disrespectful in their approach to God are those who have never been introduced to Jesus Christ. Only after the amazing delight and liberty of realizing what Jesus Christ does, comes the impenetrable “darkness” of realizing who He is.
Jesus said, “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). Once, the Bible was just so many words to us — “clouds and darkness”— then, suddenly, the words become spirit and life because Jesus re-speaks them to us when our circumstances make the words new. That is the way God speaks to us; not by visions and dreams, but by words. When a man gets to God, it is by the most simple way— words.
密雲和幽暗
密雲和幽暗，在他的四圍。 （詩九十七2）
一個未從神的靈而生的人會對你說，耶穌的教訓簡單得很。可是你一旦受了聖靈的洗，就會發現[密雲和幽暗，在他的四圍]。當我們認識耶穌基督的教訓，就必恍然大悟。領悟耶穌教訓的唯一途徑，是神的靈在裡面光照。若果我們從未把習以為常的宗教鞋，從我們習以為常的宗教腳上脫下；也從未把我們親近神那種魯莽隨便的態度，一概革除，那麼，我們到底曾否真正站在神的面前，那也是疑問。那些輕率、浮躁的人，根本從未認識耶穌基督。因為在我們明白了耶穌基督所作所行，滿懷稀奇興奮。自由釋放之後，就會經歷到一種因認識他是誰而無法看透的幽暗。
耶穌說：[我對你們說的話就是靈，就是生命。 ]一向以來，聖經對我們不過是一大堆的話語－－密雲和幽暗為何忽然之間變成了靈和生命？因為耶穌在某種特殊情況下，向我們再說了一遍。神就是這樣對我們說話，不是藉著異夢，乃是通過話語。人來到神面前，就是憑著最簡單的方法－－他的話語。
祈禱◆[密雲和幽暗在祂的四圍；公義和公平是祂寶座的根基。 ]與我親近，噢，主啊，讓我可以知道我在你裡面是光明的。
January 02, 2013
Will You Go Out Without Knowing?
He went out, not knowing where he was going —Hebrews 11:8
Have you ever “gone out” in this way? If so, there is no logical answer possible when anyone asks you what you are doing. One of the most difficult questions to answer in Christian work is, “What do you expect to do?”You don’t know what you are going to do. The only thing you know is that God knows what He is doing. Continually examine your attitude toward God to see if you are willing to “go out” in every area of your life, trusting in God entirely. It is this attitude that keeps you in constant wonder, because you don’t know what God is going to do next. Each morning as you wake, there is a new opportunity to “go out,” building your confidence in God. “. . . do not worry about your life . . . nor about the body . . .” (Luke 12:22). In other words, don’t worry about the things that concerned you before you did “go out.”
Have you been asking God what He is going to do? He will never tell you. God does not tell you what He is going to do— He reveals to you who He is. Do you believe in a miracle-working God, and will you “go out” in complete surrender to Him until you are not surprised one iota by anything He does?
Believe God is always the God you know Him to be when you are nearest to Him. Then think how unnecessary and disrespectful worry is! Let the attitude of your life be a continual willingness to “go out” in dependence upon God, and your life will have a sacred and inexpressible charm about it that is very satisfying to Jesus. You must learn to “go out” through your convictions, creeds, or experiences until you come to the point in your faith where there is nothing between yourself and God.
你肯不肯[不知去向]就出去？
出去的時候，還不知往那裡去。 （來十一8）
你曾否這樣出去？若有，那麼當有人問你在幹什麼時，你簡直沒有合邏輯的話可以回答。作神的工其中一個難題就是－－[你期望做些什麼？ ]你根本不知道該做什麼，你唯一知道的，是神知道他在做什麼。要經常審查自己對神的態度，看看是否竭盡所能，完全信靠神。這種態度使你不住的稀奇，因你不知道神下一步會怎樣做。每天清晨醒來，就是新的[出去]，建立對神的靠賴。 [不要為生活謀算……也不要為身體擔憂。 ]你[出去]之前，這些東西都不要再理會了。你是否不住的在追問神，他將做些什麼，神決不會告訴你。神不會告訴你他怎樣行事，他只會向你顯明他是誰。你相信神是行神蹟的神嗎？你肯不肯順命出去，對他所作的一切，一點也不詫異？
假若神真是你親近他時所認識的神，憂慮是何等不當哩！讓我們的生命不斷地靠著神[出去]，那么生命會奇妙得難以形容，且叫耶穌心滿意足。你一定要好好學習從信念、教條、經驗中出來，直至你與神之間，已全無隔膜。
祈禱◆主啊，我對祢渴慕的心是何等熱切地加增，這種心情並非以任何狹隘得方式來表達，乃是藉著榮耀得方式表現出來－－更完全的實現祢的聖潔。
Have you ever “gone out” in this way? If so, there is no logical answer possible when anyone asks you what you are doing. One of the most difficult questions to answer in Christian work is, “What do you expect to do?”You don’t know what you are going to do. The only thing you know is that God knows what He is doing. Continually examine your attitude toward God to see if you are willing to “go out” in every area of your life, trusting in God entirely. It is this attitude that keeps you in constant wonder, because you don’t know what God is going to do next. Each morning as you wake, there is a new opportunity to “go out,” building your confidence in God. “. . . do not worry about your life . . . nor about the body . . .” (Luke 12:22). In other words, don’t worry about the things that concerned you before you did “go out.”
Have you been asking God what He is going to do? He will never tell you. God does not tell you what He is going to do— He reveals to you who He is. Do you believe in a miracle-working God, and will you “go out” in complete surrender to Him until you are not surprised one iota by anything He does?
Believe God is always the God you know Him to be when you are nearest to Him. Then think how unnecessary and disrespectful worry is! Let the attitude of your life be a continual willingness to “go out” in dependence upon God, and your life will have a sacred and inexpressible charm about it that is very satisfying to Jesus. You must learn to “go out” through your convictions, creeds, or experiences until you come to the point in your faith where there is nothing between yourself and God.
你肯不肯[不知去向]就出去？
出去的時候，還不知往那裡去。 （來十一8）
你曾否這樣出去？若有，那麼當有人問你在幹什麼時，你簡直沒有合邏輯的話可以回答。作神的工其中一個難題就是－－[你期望做些什麼？ ]你根本不知道該做什麼，你唯一知道的，是神知道他在做什麼。要經常審查自己對神的態度，看看是否竭盡所能，完全信靠神。這種態度使你不住的稀奇，因你不知道神下一步會怎樣做。每天清晨醒來，就是新的[出去]，建立對神的靠賴。 [不要為生活謀算……也不要為身體擔憂。 ]你[出去]之前，這些東西都不要再理會了。你是否不住的在追問神，他將做些什麼，神決不會告訴你。神不會告訴你他怎樣行事，他只會向你顯明他是誰。你相信神是行神蹟的神嗎？你肯不肯順命出去，對他所作的一切，一點也不詫異？
假若神真是你親近他時所認識的神，憂慮是何等不當哩！讓我們的生命不斷地靠著神[出去]，那么生命會奇妙得難以形容，且叫耶穌心滿意足。你一定要好好學習從信念、教條、經驗中出來，直至你與神之間，已全無隔膜。
祈禱◆主啊，我對祢渴慕的心是何等熱切地加增，這種心情並非以任何狹隘得方式來表達，乃是藉著榮耀得方式表現出來－－更完全的實現祢的聖潔。
January 01, 2013
Let Us Keep to the Point
". . . my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death" —Philippians 1:2
My Utmost for His Highest. “. . . my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed . . . .” We will all feel very much ashamed if we do not yield to Jesus the areas of our lives He has asked us to yield to Him. It’s as if Paul were saying, “My determined purpose is to be my utmost for His highest— my best for His glory.” To reach that level of determination is a matter of the will, not of debate or of reasoning. It is absolute and irrevocable surrender of the will at that point. An undue amount of thought and consideration for ourselves is what keeps us from making that decision, although we cover it up with the pretense that it is others we are considering. When we think seriously about what it will cost others if we obey the call of Jesus, we tell God He doesn’t know what our obedience will mean. Keep to the point— He does know. Shut out every other thought and keep yourself before God in this one thing only— my utmost for His highest. I am determined to be absolutely and entirely for Him and Him alone.
My Unstoppable Determination for His Holiness. “Whether it means life or death-it makes no difference!” (see Philippians 1:21). Paul was determined that nothing would stop him from doing exactly what God wanted. But before we choose to follow God’s will, a crisis must develop in our lives. This happens because we tend to be unresponsive to God’s gentler nudges. He brings us to the place where He asks us to be our utmost for Him and we begin to debate. He then providentially produces a crisis where we have to decide— for or against. That moment becomes a great crossroads in our lives. If a crisis has come to you on any front, surrender your will to Jesus absolutely and irrevocably.
認定目標
照著我所切慕所盼望的，沒有一事叫我羞愧，只要凡事放膽，無論是生，是死，總叫基督在我身上照常顯大。 （腓一20）
竭盡己心以成全主至高的旨意。 [照著我所切慕所盼望的，沒有一事叫我羞愧。 ]耶穌要求我們凡事順服，若我們不肯順服，就必然會大大羞愧。保羅說：[我決志要竭盡所能，成全神至高的旨意。 ]要達到這個目標，是意志的問題。不是討價還價，理長論短，乃是意志的降服，是絕對的，不反悔的，對正要害的降服。但我們往往思前想後，諸多疑慮，過分自作主張，無法定意順服，而且還口稱是為了顧及別人的需要。我們揣摩測度，心想若順服了耶穌的呼召，會怎樣影響那些人；於是就告訴神說：[你知道我順服之後會有怎樣的後果？ ]只要持定目標，神是知道的。把所有顧慮都放下，單單來到神面前，存一個心志－－[竭盡所能，完成神至高的旨意。 ]
為他的聖潔榮耀，不折不撓。 [無論是生，是死，我全不介懷！ ]（參21節）保羅立定心志，不讓任何事物阻攔他去成就神的旨意，是不折不扣地惟命是從。神行事的程式是我們在生命中有一個改變，因為神好好跟我們說的時候，我們多半不理睬。他於是把我們帶到一個地步，叫我們竭誠為他，那時我們就開始掙扎（原文作爭辯）；然後，他造一個非忍受可以控制的局面，叫我們必須下一個決定－－或順命或逆命。從這裡開始，決定性的分界線就產生了。假若神生命的改變臨到你，你只要絕對的，毫不反悔的順服。
祈禱◆主啊，我何等渴望藉著祢能力的驅策、祢恩典的撫摸，和祢聖靈的感動，帶領我與祢面對面。為著我的遲緩，要那麼久才對某些事情有所醒悟，我祈求祢的寬恕。
My Utmost for His Highest. “. . . my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed . . . .” We will all feel very much ashamed if we do not yield to Jesus the areas of our lives He has asked us to yield to Him. It’s as if Paul were saying, “My determined purpose is to be my utmost for His highest— my best for His glory.” To reach that level of determination is a matter of the will, not of debate or of reasoning. It is absolute and irrevocable surrender of the will at that point. An undue amount of thought and consideration for ourselves is what keeps us from making that decision, although we cover it up with the pretense that it is others we are considering. When we think seriously about what it will cost others if we obey the call of Jesus, we tell God He doesn’t know what our obedience will mean. Keep to the point— He does know. Shut out every other thought and keep yourself before God in this one thing only— my utmost for His highest. I am determined to be absolutely and entirely for Him and Him alone.
My Unstoppable Determination for His Holiness. “Whether it means life or death-it makes no difference!” (see Philippians 1:21). Paul was determined that nothing would stop him from doing exactly what God wanted. But before we choose to follow God’s will, a crisis must develop in our lives. This happens because we tend to be unresponsive to God’s gentler nudges. He brings us to the place where He asks us to be our utmost for Him and we begin to debate. He then providentially produces a crisis where we have to decide— for or against. That moment becomes a great crossroads in our lives. If a crisis has come to you on any front, surrender your will to Jesus absolutely and irrevocably.
認定目標
照著我所切慕所盼望的，沒有一事叫我羞愧，只要凡事放膽，無論是生，是死，總叫基督在我身上照常顯大。 （腓一20）
竭盡己心以成全主至高的旨意。 [照著我所切慕所盼望的，沒有一事叫我羞愧。 ]耶穌要求我們凡事順服，若我們不肯順服，就必然會大大羞愧。保羅說：[我決志要竭盡所能，成全神至高的旨意。 ]要達到這個目標，是意志的問題。不是討價還價，理長論短，乃是意志的降服，是絕對的，不反悔的，對正要害的降服。但我們往往思前想後，諸多疑慮，過分自作主張，無法定意順服，而且還口稱是為了顧及別人的需要。我們揣摩測度，心想若順服了耶穌的呼召，會怎樣影響那些人；於是就告訴神說：[你知道我順服之後會有怎樣的後果？ ]只要持定目標，神是知道的。把所有顧慮都放下，單單來到神面前，存一個心志－－[竭盡所能，完成神至高的旨意。 ]
為他的聖潔榮耀，不折不撓。 [無論是生，是死，我全不介懷！ ]（參21節）保羅立定心志，不讓任何事物阻攔他去成就神的旨意，是不折不扣地惟命是從。神行事的程式是我們在生命中有一個改變，因為神好好跟我們說的時候，我們多半不理睬。他於是把我們帶到一個地步，叫我們竭誠為他，那時我們就開始掙扎（原文作爭辯）；然後，他造一個非忍受可以控制的局面，叫我們必須下一個決定－－或順命或逆命。從這裡開始，決定性的分界線就產生了。假若神生命的改變臨到你，你只要絕對的，毫不反悔的順服。
祈禱◆主啊，我何等渴望藉著祢能力的驅策、祢恩典的撫摸，和祢聖靈的感動，帶領我與祢面對面。為著我的遲緩，要那麼久才對某些事情有所醒悟，我祈求祢的寬恕。
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