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!
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