If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death —1 John 5:16
If we are not heedful and pay no attention to the way the Spirit of God works in us, we will become spiritual hypocrites. We see where other people are failing, and then we take our discernment and turn it into comments of ridicule and criticism, instead of turning it into intercession on their behalf. God reveals this truth about others to us not through the sharpness of our minds but through the direct penetration of His Spirit. If we are not attentive, we will be completely unaware of the source of the discernment God has given us, becoming critical of others and forgetting that God says, “. . . he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death.” Be careful that you don’t become a hypocrite by spending all your time trying to get others right with God before you worship Him yourself.
One of the most subtle and illusive burdens God ever places on us as saints is this burden of discernment concerning others. He gives us discernment so that we may accept the responsibility for those souls before Him and form the mind of Christ about them (see Philippians 2:5). We should intercede in accordance with what God says He will give us, namely, “life for those who commit sin not leading to death.” It is not that we are able to bring God into contact with our minds, but that we awaken ourselves to the point where God is able to convey His mind to us regarding the people for whom we intercede.
Can Jesus Christ see the agony of His soul in us? He can’t unless we are so closely identified with Him that we have His view concerning the people for whom we pray. May we learn to intercede so wholeheartedly that Jesus Christ will be completely and overwhelmingly satisfied with us as intercessors.
你是專一還是假冒？
人若看見弟兄犯了不至於死的罪，就當為他祈求，神必將生命賜給他。 （約壹五16）
我們若不留意神的靈如何在我們裡面工作，就會變成屬靈的偽君子。我們看見別人的失敗，就把它當作笑柄，肆意批評，並不為他們代求。我們所看見的，原不是出於自己機敏的腦筋，乃是神的靈直接啟示我們。因此，我們若不留意那啟示的來源，就會變成評論專家，忘記了神所說的－－[不至於死的罪，就當為他祈求，神必將生命賜給他]。當心不要扮演偽君子；自己未敬拜神，就花盡時間去糾正別人。
神將一個最奇妙的擔子放在聖徒身上，就是為他人守望。神向我們啟示一些事情，為叫我們把這些人的擔子帶到他面前。然後，我們有了基督憐憫的心腸，就為他們代求。我們若這樣行，神說會[將生命賜給他]。我們並不是叫神遷就我們，按自己的心意去事奉，乃是激勵自己，直至神把他對我們所代求的人的心意傳遞給我們。
主耶穌在我們身上能否看見他勞苦的功效，就在乎我們是否與他合一，使自己有神的看法，以同樣的眼光看代求的人。這樣，主才能心滿意足。願我們學習全心全意的代求，以致主對我們這些代求者，能心滿意足。
祈禱◆噢，主神啊，我開始模糊地識別到你對我的意義－－超過清晨的亮光、超過喜樂和健康、超過你一切的福氣。求你今天早上重新蒞臨到我身上，並且透過你的光，使我整天都散發光輝。
March 31, 2013
March 30, 2013
Holiness or Hardness Toward God?
He . . . wondered that there was no intercessor . . . —Isaiah 59:16
The reason many of us stop praying and become hard toward God is that we only have an emotional interest in prayer. It sounds good to say that we pray, and we read books on prayer which tell us that prayer is beneficial— that our minds are quieted and our souls are uplifted when we pray. But Isaiah implied in this verse that God is amazed at such thoughts about prayer.
Worship and intercession must go together; one is impossible without the other. Intercession means raising ourselves up to the point of getting the mind of Christ regarding the person for whom we are praying (see Philippians 2:5). Instead of worshiping God, we recite speeches to God about how prayer is supposed to work. Are we worshiping God or disputing Him when we say, “But God, I just don’t see how you are going to do this”? This is a sure sign that we are not worshiping. When we lose sight of God, we become hard and dogmatic. We throw our petitions at His throne and dictate to Him what we want Him to do. We don’t worship God, nor do we seek to conform our minds to the mind of Christ. And if we are hard toward God, we will become hard toward other people.
Are we worshiping God in a way that will raise us up to where we can take hold of Him, having such intimate contact with Him that we know His mind about the ones for whom we pray? Are we living in a holy relationship with God, or have we become hard and dogmatic?
Do you find yourself thinking that there is no one interceding properly? Then be that person yourself. Be a person who worships God and lives in a holy relationship with Him. Get involved in the real work of intercession, remembering that it truly is work-work that demands all your energy, but work which has no hidden pitfalls. Preaching the gospel has its share of pitfalls, but intercessory prayer has none whatsoever.
對神柔順還是剛硬？
他見無人拯救、無人代求，甚為詫異。 （賽五十九16）
不少人禱告半途而廢，對神硬心，是由於對禱告只有一種情感上的興趣。 [我們有禱告呀！ ]聽起來很不錯。讀點關於禱告的書，執拗禱告很有益，使思想安靜、靈性高升。可是，以賽亞卻暗示說，神對這種禱告的觀念大感驚奇。
敬拜與代求必須同時進行，兩者是缺一不可的。代求是我們催逼自己去體會主耶穌對所代求的人迫切的心情。但多少時候，我們不是敬拜神，而是在堆砌禱詞。我們到底在敬拜，還是與神爭論？ －－[我看不出你（神）有什麼辦法。 ]這明明就不是敬拜。一旦看不見神，我們就變得硬心主觀。我們把所求的事，仍在神寶座之前，並指明要他怎樣做。我們不是在敬拜，也沒有尋求主基督的心意。向神硬心，對人也必然沒有憐憫。
我們向神敬拜，是否提升到有主的心，使我們能為別人代求？我們是否與神活在聖潔的關係上？還是剛硬武斷？ [無人真正好好地代求。 ]那末，你就做那代求的人吧！敬拜神，活在聖潔的關係裡；投入真正的代求工作裡。要記住：代求是一種工作，是需要一切能力的工作。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我的靈魂將安息在你這位世界的創造者，以及那位在我裡面創造生命的主耶穌基督裡。噢，求你賜下聖靈的能力，讓我更完全地敬拜你。
The reason many of us stop praying and become hard toward God is that we only have an emotional interest in prayer. It sounds good to say that we pray, and we read books on prayer which tell us that prayer is beneficial— that our minds are quieted and our souls are uplifted when we pray. But Isaiah implied in this verse that God is amazed at such thoughts about prayer.
Worship and intercession must go together; one is impossible without the other. Intercession means raising ourselves up to the point of getting the mind of Christ regarding the person for whom we are praying (see Philippians 2:5). Instead of worshiping God, we recite speeches to God about how prayer is supposed to work. Are we worshiping God or disputing Him when we say, “But God, I just don’t see how you are going to do this”? This is a sure sign that we are not worshiping. When we lose sight of God, we become hard and dogmatic. We throw our petitions at His throne and dictate to Him what we want Him to do. We don’t worship God, nor do we seek to conform our minds to the mind of Christ. And if we are hard toward God, we will become hard toward other people.
Are we worshiping God in a way that will raise us up to where we can take hold of Him, having such intimate contact with Him that we know His mind about the ones for whom we pray? Are we living in a holy relationship with God, or have we become hard and dogmatic?
Do you find yourself thinking that there is no one interceding properly? Then be that person yourself. Be a person who worships God and lives in a holy relationship with Him. Get involved in the real work of intercession, remembering that it truly is work-work that demands all your energy, but work which has no hidden pitfalls. Preaching the gospel has its share of pitfalls, but intercessory prayer has none whatsoever.
對神柔順還是剛硬？
他見無人拯救、無人代求，甚為詫異。 （賽五十九16）
不少人禱告半途而廢，對神硬心，是由於對禱告只有一種情感上的興趣。 [我們有禱告呀！ ]聽起來很不錯。讀點關於禱告的書，執拗禱告很有益，使思想安靜、靈性高升。可是，以賽亞卻暗示說，神對這種禱告的觀念大感驚奇。
敬拜與代求必須同時進行，兩者是缺一不可的。代求是我們催逼自己去體會主耶穌對所代求的人迫切的心情。但多少時候，我們不是敬拜神，而是在堆砌禱詞。我們到底在敬拜，還是與神爭論？ －－[我看不出你（神）有什麼辦法。 ]這明明就不是敬拜。一旦看不見神，我們就變得硬心主觀。我們把所求的事，仍在神寶座之前，並指明要他怎樣做。我們不是在敬拜，也沒有尋求主基督的心意。向神硬心，對人也必然沒有憐憫。
我們向神敬拜，是否提升到有主的心，使我們能為別人代求？我們是否與神活在聖潔的關係上？還是剛硬武斷？ [無人真正好好地代求。 ]那末，你就做那代求的人吧！敬拜神，活在聖潔的關係裡；投入真正的代求工作裡。要記住：代求是一種工作，是需要一切能力的工作。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我的靈魂將安息在你這位世界的創造者，以及那位在我裡面創造生命的主耶穌基督裡。噢，求你賜下聖靈的能力，讓我更完全地敬拜你。
March 29, 2013
Our Lord’s Surprise Visits
You also be ready . . . —Luke 12:40
A Christian worker’s greatest need is a readiness to face Jesus Christ at any and every turn. This is not easy, no matter what our experience has been. This battle is not against sin, difficulties, or circumstances, but against being so absorbed in our service to Jesus Christ that we are not ready to face Jesus Himself at every turn. The greatest need is not facing our beliefs or doctrines, or even facing the question of whether or not we are of any use to Him, but the need is to face Him.
Jesus rarely comes where we expect Him; He appears where we least expect Him, and always in the most illogical situations. The only way a servant can remain true to God is to be ready for the Lord’s surprise visits. This readiness will not be brought about by service, but through intense spiritual reality, expecting Jesus Christ at every turn. This sense of expectation will give our life the attitude of childlike wonder He wants it to have. If we are going to be ready for Jesus Christ, we have to stop being religious. In other words, we must stop using religion as if it were some kind of a lofty lifestyle-we must be spiritually real.
If you are avoiding the call of the religious thinking of today’s world, and instead are “looking unto Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2), setting your heart on what He wants, and thinking His thoughts, you will be considered impractical and a daydreamer. But when He suddenly appears in the work of the heat of the day, you will be the only one who is ready. You should trust no one, and even ignore the finest saint on earth if he blocks your sight of Jesus Christ.
主突然到訪
你們也要預備。 （路十二40）
主的工人最需要做的，是隨時隨地預備面對主，這個並不容易，不管我們的經歷怎樣。這爭戰不是對付罪惡、環境，或是艱難，而是對付自己。我們要避免過分專心工作，以致未能隨時預備見主。這個逼切的需要不是怎樣面對信仰、教義，或個人的價值，乃是怎樣面對主。
耶穌很少在我們期望他的時候來到，相反地，他會在我們最意想不到的時候，就出現了，而且往往是在最不合理的情況下哩！主的工人唯一保持忠於神的方法，就是對主的突訪隨時作準備。
事奉工作不是頂重要的，最重要的是有好的靈性，時刻準備耶穌基督來到。會令我們的人生，有孩子般驚喜的樣式，這也正是他所要求於我們的。我們若要準備好見耶穌基督，就不要披上宗教的外衣（把宗教當作一種高等的文化），而要有屬靈的實際。
你若單仰望耶穌，不理會現世宗教的呼喊，只把心思專注在他的事上，與他有共同的思想，人家會說你不切實際，只會夢想。但當主在繁重喧囂的生活中出現，唯獨你準備好見他。不要倚仗別人，也不要倚仗世上最優秀的聖徒；要是他阻攔你，使你看不見耶穌基督，就別管他好了。
祈禱◆[自己好像僕人等候主人……]－－願我就像這些僕人充滿期待、熱切、責任心、儆醒和能力。
A Christian worker’s greatest need is a readiness to face Jesus Christ at any and every turn. This is not easy, no matter what our experience has been. This battle is not against sin, difficulties, or circumstances, but against being so absorbed in our service to Jesus Christ that we are not ready to face Jesus Himself at every turn. The greatest need is not facing our beliefs or doctrines, or even facing the question of whether or not we are of any use to Him, but the need is to face Him.
Jesus rarely comes where we expect Him; He appears where we least expect Him, and always in the most illogical situations. The only way a servant can remain true to God is to be ready for the Lord’s surprise visits. This readiness will not be brought about by service, but through intense spiritual reality, expecting Jesus Christ at every turn. This sense of expectation will give our life the attitude of childlike wonder He wants it to have. If we are going to be ready for Jesus Christ, we have to stop being religious. In other words, we must stop using religion as if it were some kind of a lofty lifestyle-we must be spiritually real.
If you are avoiding the call of the religious thinking of today’s world, and instead are “looking unto Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2), setting your heart on what He wants, and thinking His thoughts, you will be considered impractical and a daydreamer. But when He suddenly appears in the work of the heat of the day, you will be the only one who is ready. You should trust no one, and even ignore the finest saint on earth if he blocks your sight of Jesus Christ.
主突然到訪
你們也要預備。 （路十二40）
主的工人最需要做的，是隨時隨地預備面對主，這個並不容易，不管我們的經歷怎樣。這爭戰不是對付罪惡、環境，或是艱難，而是對付自己。我們要避免過分專心工作，以致未能隨時預備見主。這個逼切的需要不是怎樣面對信仰、教義，或個人的價值，乃是怎樣面對主。
耶穌很少在我們期望他的時候來到，相反地，他會在我們最意想不到的時候，就出現了，而且往往是在最不合理的情況下哩！主的工人唯一保持忠於神的方法，就是對主的突訪隨時作準備。
事奉工作不是頂重要的，最重要的是有好的靈性，時刻準備耶穌基督來到。會令我們的人生，有孩子般驚喜的樣式，這也正是他所要求於我們的。我們若要準備好見耶穌基督，就不要披上宗教的外衣（把宗教當作一種高等的文化），而要有屬靈的實際。
你若單仰望耶穌，不理會現世宗教的呼喊，只把心思專注在他的事上，與他有共同的思想，人家會說你不切實際，只會夢想。但當主在繁重喧囂的生活中出現，唯獨你準備好見他。不要倚仗別人，也不要倚仗世上最優秀的聖徒；要是他阻攔你，使你看不見耶穌基督，就別管他好了。
祈禱◆[自己好像僕人等候主人……]－－願我就像這些僕人充滿期待、熱切、責任心、儆醒和能力。
March 28, 2013
Isn’t There Some Misunderstanding?
'Let us go to Judea again.' The disciples said to Him, '. . . are You going there again?' —John 11:7-8
Just because I don’t understand what Jesus Christ says, I have no right to determine that He must be mistaken in what He says. That is a dangerous view, and it is never right to think that my obedience to God’s directive will bring dishonor to Jesus. The only thing that will bring dishonor is not obeying Him. To put my view of His honor ahead of what He is plainly guiding me to do is never right, even though it may come from a real desire to prevent Him from being put to an open shame. I know when the instructions have come from God because of their quiet persistence. But when I begin to weigh the pros and cons, and doubt and debate enter into my mind, I am bringing in an element that is not of God. This will only result in my concluding that His instructions to me were not right. Many of us are faithful to our ideas about Jesus Christ, but how many of us are faithful to Jesus Himself? Faithfulness to Jesus means that I must step out even when and where I can’t see anything (see Matthew 14:29). But faithfulness to my own ideas means that I first clear the way mentally. Faith, however, is not intellectual understanding; faith is a deliberate commitment to the Person of Jesus Christ, even when I can’t see the way ahead.
Are you debating whether you should take a step of faith in Jesus, or whether you should wait until you can clearly see how to do what He has asked? Simply obey Him with unrestrained joy. When He tells you something and you begin to debate, it is because you have a misunderstanding of what honors Him and what doesn’t. Are you faithful to Jesus, or faithful to your ideas about Him? Are you faithful to what He says, or are you trying to compromise His words with thoughts that never came from Him? “Whatever He says to you, do it ” (John 2:5).
豈無誤解？
我們再往猶太去吧。門徒說……你還往那裡去麼？ （約十一7-8）
我可能不明白主耶穌的話，但若如此說他的話有錯，就很危險了。若以為順服神的一句話，會羞辱耶穌，這是絕對錯誤的想法，唯一羞辱主的是不順服他。我用自己的觀點來維護他的榮耀，代替了聽從他明確的命令，必然是錯的；即使動機的確是想避免叫主受辱。從神來的意思，可從那安靜而持續的感動認出來。但當我要反复思考，權衡得失時，隨之而來時疑慮爭辯，我就是把不屬於神的東西帶了進來。於是便知道，這意思是不對的。我們多半忠於自己對耶穌的概念，甚少忠於他自己。 （試問我們中間有多少人是忠於他的？）忠於耶穌就是聽命開步，不憑眼見（太十四29），忠於我自己對耶穌的概念，就是在理智上鋪了路。信心不是理智的了悟，信心是在未見之先，立志委身於他。
你是否反復自辯，要靠耶穌走信心之路呢？還是你自己應付？用歡喜快樂的心，無所顧忌地順服他吧。當他這樣對你說，而你卻心裡反复思量，這是因為你對他的榮譽有所顧慮，而其實你所認為的榮譽，並非主的榮譽。你到底是忠於耶穌？還是忠於你對神的概念？你是忠於他所說的話？還是拿那不出於他的觀點來折衷妥協？ [他告訴你們什麼，你們就作什麼。 ]
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我何等需要靠近你。當你進入我的生命，我何需顫抖？
Just because I don’t understand what Jesus Christ says, I have no right to determine that He must be mistaken in what He says. That is a dangerous view, and it is never right to think that my obedience to God’s directive will bring dishonor to Jesus. The only thing that will bring dishonor is not obeying Him. To put my view of His honor ahead of what He is plainly guiding me to do is never right, even though it may come from a real desire to prevent Him from being put to an open shame. I know when the instructions have come from God because of their quiet persistence. But when I begin to weigh the pros and cons, and doubt and debate enter into my mind, I am bringing in an element that is not of God. This will only result in my concluding that His instructions to me were not right. Many of us are faithful to our ideas about Jesus Christ, but how many of us are faithful to Jesus Himself? Faithfulness to Jesus means that I must step out even when and where I can’t see anything (see Matthew 14:29). But faithfulness to my own ideas means that I first clear the way mentally. Faith, however, is not intellectual understanding; faith is a deliberate commitment to the Person of Jesus Christ, even when I can’t see the way ahead.
Are you debating whether you should take a step of faith in Jesus, or whether you should wait until you can clearly see how to do what He has asked? Simply obey Him with unrestrained joy. When He tells you something and you begin to debate, it is because you have a misunderstanding of what honors Him and what doesn’t. Are you faithful to Jesus, or faithful to your ideas about Him? Are you faithful to what He says, or are you trying to compromise His words with thoughts that never came from Him? “Whatever He says to you, do it ” (John 2:5).
豈無誤解？
我們再往猶太去吧。門徒說……你還往那裡去麼？ （約十一7-8）
我可能不明白主耶穌的話，但若如此說他的話有錯，就很危險了。若以為順服神的一句話，會羞辱耶穌，這是絕對錯誤的想法，唯一羞辱主的是不順服他。我用自己的觀點來維護他的榮耀，代替了聽從他明確的命令，必然是錯的；即使動機的確是想避免叫主受辱。從神來的意思，可從那安靜而持續的感動認出來。但當我要反复思考，權衡得失時，隨之而來時疑慮爭辯，我就是把不屬於神的東西帶了進來。於是便知道，這意思是不對的。我們多半忠於自己對耶穌的概念，甚少忠於他自己。 （試問我們中間有多少人是忠於他的？）忠於耶穌就是聽命開步，不憑眼見（太十四29），忠於我自己對耶穌的概念，就是在理智上鋪了路。信心不是理智的了悟，信心是在未見之先，立志委身於他。
你是否反復自辯，要靠耶穌走信心之路呢？還是你自己應付？用歡喜快樂的心，無所顧忌地順服他吧。當他這樣對你說，而你卻心裡反复思量，這是因為你對他的榮譽有所顧慮，而其實你所認為的榮譽，並非主的榮譽。你到底是忠於耶穌？還是忠於你對神的概念？你是忠於他所說的話？還是拿那不出於他的觀點來折衷妥協？ [他告訴你們什麼，你們就作什麼。 ]
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我何等需要靠近你。當你進入我的生命，我何需顫抖？
March 27, 2013
Spiritual Vision Through Personal Purity (2)
Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place . . . —Revelation 4:1
A higher state of mind and spiritual vision can only be achieved through the higher practice of personal character. If you live up to the highest and best that you know in the outer level of your life, God will continually say to you, “Friend, come up even higher.” There is also a continuing rule in temptation which calls you to go higher; but when you do, you only encounter other temptations and character traits. Both God and Satan use the strategy of elevation, but Satan uses it in temptation, and the effect is quite different. When the devil elevates you to a certain place, he causes you to fasten your idea of what holiness is far beyond what flesh and blood could ever bear or achieve. Your life becomes a spiritual acrobatic performance high atop a steeple. You cling to it, trying to maintain your balance and daring not to move. But when God elevates you by His grace into heavenly places, you find a vast plateau where you can move about with ease.
Compare this week in your spiritual life with the same week last year to see how God has called you to a higher level. We have all been brought to see from a higher viewpoint. Never allow God to show you a truth which you do not instantly begin to live up to, applying it to your life. Always work through it, staying in its light.
Your growth in grace is not measured by the fact that you haven’t turned back, but that you have an insight and understanding into where you are spiritually. Have you heard God say, “Come up higher,” not audibly on the outer level, but to the innermost part of your character?
“Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing . . . ?” (Genesis 18:17). God has to hide from us what He does, until, due to the growth of our personal character, we get to the level where He is then able to reveal it.
藉著個人品格而得的異象
你上到這裡來，我要……指示你。 （啟四1）
一個人的品格要習於居高，不趨於卑下，才會產生崇高的情操。要是你外在的生活，真與你最崇高的標準相稱，神就會對你說：[朋友，再高攀一點吧。 ]試探的金律是：[攀高一點。 ]當你升高了，就會碰見其他的試探，這在性質上與從前的不同。撒旦懂得用向上走的策略來試探人，神也是如此，不過效果卻有不同。當魔鬼把你放在高位，是教你對聖潔觀念的標準，固定在人血肉之軀無法忍受的地位上。這就變成屬靈的雜技表演，你只得立穩，卻不敢移動。但當神用恩典把你提升到屬天的境地，他不是找一個頂峰給你攀住，而是讓你有更廣闊的高原，可以任意驅馳。
試以這個禮拜的靈程與去年同一個禮拜作個比較，看看神怎樣領你往高處行。我們都站過高處瞭望，但千萬別讓神給你一種你不能立即活出來的真理。得了真理，總要努力去實現，而且保持在神的光中。在恩典中的長進，不是拿你有沒有後退來衡量，而是對自己現今的屬靈光景有一認知－－即站在哪裡。你聽見神對你說：[上來吧，登高一點！ ]這不是對你個人說，叫你得到更高的位置，乃是對你的品德說的，叫你在悟性上大大有長進。
[我要做的事豈可瞞著亞伯拉罕麼？ ]神往往要把他所做的向我們隱瞞，直到我們在性情品德上達到一個地步，然後他才向我們顯明。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，賜我在你裡面滿有喜樂。求你為我清楚所有的困惑、迷亂和煩擾，讓我在今天以清楚的目光看見你的道路。
A higher state of mind and spiritual vision can only be achieved through the higher practice of personal character. If you live up to the highest and best that you know in the outer level of your life, God will continually say to you, “Friend, come up even higher.” There is also a continuing rule in temptation which calls you to go higher; but when you do, you only encounter other temptations and character traits. Both God and Satan use the strategy of elevation, but Satan uses it in temptation, and the effect is quite different. When the devil elevates you to a certain place, he causes you to fasten your idea of what holiness is far beyond what flesh and blood could ever bear or achieve. Your life becomes a spiritual acrobatic performance high atop a steeple. You cling to it, trying to maintain your balance and daring not to move. But when God elevates you by His grace into heavenly places, you find a vast plateau where you can move about with ease.
Compare this week in your spiritual life with the same week last year to see how God has called you to a higher level. We have all been brought to see from a higher viewpoint. Never allow God to show you a truth which you do not instantly begin to live up to, applying it to your life. Always work through it, staying in its light.
Your growth in grace is not measured by the fact that you haven’t turned back, but that you have an insight and understanding into where you are spiritually. Have you heard God say, “Come up higher,” not audibly on the outer level, but to the innermost part of your character?
“Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing . . . ?” (Genesis 18:17). God has to hide from us what He does, until, due to the growth of our personal character, we get to the level where He is then able to reveal it.
藉著個人品格而得的異象
你上到這裡來，我要……指示你。 （啟四1）
一個人的品格要習於居高，不趨於卑下，才會產生崇高的情操。要是你外在的生活，真與你最崇高的標準相稱，神就會對你說：[朋友，再高攀一點吧。 ]試探的金律是：[攀高一點。 ]當你升高了，就會碰見其他的試探，這在性質上與從前的不同。撒旦懂得用向上走的策略來試探人，神也是如此，不過效果卻有不同。當魔鬼把你放在高位，是教你對聖潔觀念的標準，固定在人血肉之軀無法忍受的地位上。這就變成屬靈的雜技表演，你只得立穩，卻不敢移動。但當神用恩典把你提升到屬天的境地，他不是找一個頂峰給你攀住，而是讓你有更廣闊的高原，可以任意驅馳。
試以這個禮拜的靈程與去年同一個禮拜作個比較，看看神怎樣領你往高處行。我們都站過高處瞭望，但千萬別讓神給你一種你不能立即活出來的真理。得了真理，總要努力去實現，而且保持在神的光中。在恩典中的長進，不是拿你有沒有後退來衡量，而是對自己現今的屬靈光景有一認知－－即站在哪裡。你聽見神對你說：[上來吧，登高一點！ ]這不是對你個人說，叫你得到更高的位置，乃是對你的品德說的，叫你在悟性上大大有長進。
[我要做的事豈可瞞著亞伯拉罕麼？ ]神往往要把他所做的向我們隱瞞，直到我們在性情品德上達到一個地步，然後他才向我們顯明。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，賜我在你裡面滿有喜樂。求你為我清楚所有的困惑、迷亂和煩擾，讓我在今天以清楚的目光看見你的道路。
March 26, 2013
Spiritual Vision Through Personal Purity (1)
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God —Matthew 5:8
Purity is not innocence— it is much more than that. Purity is the result of continued spiritual harmony with God. We have to grow in purity. Our life with God may be right and our inner purity unblemished, yet occasionally our outer life may become spotted and stained. God intentionally does not protect us from this possibility, because this is the way we recognize the necessity of maintaining our spiritual vision through personal purity. If the outer level of our spiritual life with God is impaired to the slightest degree, we must put everything else aside until we make it right. Remember that spiritual vision depends on our character— it is “the pure in heart ” who “see God.”
God makes us pure by an act of His sovereign grace, but we still have something that we must carefully watch. It is through our bodily life coming in contact with other people and other points of view that we tend to become tarnished. Not only must our “inner sanctuary” be kept right with God, but also the “outer courts” must be brought into perfect harmony with the purity God gives us through His grace. Our spiritual vision and understanding is immediately blurred when our “outer court” is stained. If we want to maintain personal intimacy with the Lord Jesus Christ, it will mean refusing to do or even think certain things. And some things that are acceptable for others will become unacceptable for us.
A practical help in keeping your personal purity unblemished in your relations with other people is to begin to see them as God does. Say to yourself, “That man or that woman is perfect in Christ Jesus! That friend or that relative is perfect in Christ Jesus!”
藉著個人清潔而得之異象
清心的人有福了，因為他們必得見神。 （太五8）
清心不單是無暇無庛，它的含意比這個更廣。清心是與神在靈裡持久同心所產生得結果，所以我們需要在清心上不斷得長進。我們與神的關係可能正確，裡面的親信也沒有玷污；但是外面生命的花朵，卻可能收到玷污。神並沒有排除這樣的可能性，為要叫我們知道要保持異象，就必須持守個人的清潔。我們在神面前生命的花朵，若有絲毫的玷污損傷，就必須放下一切，把它弄好。要記住異像是依傍著品格的－－清心的人必得見神。
神用至高無上的恩典叫我們聖潔，但我們也要謹慎持守。我們這個身體會接觸別人或其他思想，故很容易沾染污穢。不但裡面的聖所要與神有正常的關係，就是外院，也必須與神賜給我們的聖潔，完全一致。外院一玷污，屬靈的悟性就隨即模糊了。要與主耶穌保持交通，就是說有一些事物不要去做，不要去想，更有些合法的事不要去摸。與人的關係上要不損個人的聖潔，有一個可行的方法，就是對自己說：那男人、那女人，在耶穌基督裡是完全的！那個朋友，那個親戚，在耶穌基督裡是安全的。
祈禱◆為著我快要陷入平庸的生活中，我是何等的沮喪和驚駭！主啊，幫助我過著純潔、有力和只愛慕著你的生活。
Purity is not innocence— it is much more than that. Purity is the result of continued spiritual harmony with God. We have to grow in purity. Our life with God may be right and our inner purity unblemished, yet occasionally our outer life may become spotted and stained. God intentionally does not protect us from this possibility, because this is the way we recognize the necessity of maintaining our spiritual vision through personal purity. If the outer level of our spiritual life with God is impaired to the slightest degree, we must put everything else aside until we make it right. Remember that spiritual vision depends on our character— it is “the pure in heart ” who “see God.”
God makes us pure by an act of His sovereign grace, but we still have something that we must carefully watch. It is through our bodily life coming in contact with other people and other points of view that we tend to become tarnished. Not only must our “inner sanctuary” be kept right with God, but also the “outer courts” must be brought into perfect harmony with the purity God gives us through His grace. Our spiritual vision and understanding is immediately blurred when our “outer court” is stained. If we want to maintain personal intimacy with the Lord Jesus Christ, it will mean refusing to do or even think certain things. And some things that are acceptable for others will become unacceptable for us.
A practical help in keeping your personal purity unblemished in your relations with other people is to begin to see them as God does. Say to yourself, “That man or that woman is perfect in Christ Jesus! That friend or that relative is perfect in Christ Jesus!”
藉著個人清潔而得之異象
清心的人有福了，因為他們必得見神。 （太五8）
清心不單是無暇無庛，它的含意比這個更廣。清心是與神在靈裡持久同心所產生得結果，所以我們需要在清心上不斷得長進。我們與神的關係可能正確，裡面的親信也沒有玷污；但是外面生命的花朵，卻可能收到玷污。神並沒有排除這樣的可能性，為要叫我們知道要保持異象，就必須持守個人的清潔。我們在神面前生命的花朵，若有絲毫的玷污損傷，就必須放下一切，把它弄好。要記住異像是依傍著品格的－－清心的人必得見神。
神用至高無上的恩典叫我們聖潔，但我們也要謹慎持守。我們這個身體會接觸別人或其他思想，故很容易沾染污穢。不但裡面的聖所要與神有正常的關係，就是外院，也必須與神賜給我們的聖潔，完全一致。外院一玷污，屬靈的悟性就隨即模糊了。要與主耶穌保持交通，就是說有一些事物不要去做，不要去想，更有些合法的事不要去摸。與人的關係上要不損個人的聖潔，有一個可行的方法，就是對自己說：那男人、那女人，在耶穌基督裡是完全的！那個朋友，那個親戚，在耶穌基督裡是安全的。
祈禱◆為著我快要陷入平庸的生活中，我是何等的沮喪和驚駭！主啊，幫助我過著純潔、有力和只愛慕著你的生活。
March 25, 2013
Maintaining the Proper Relationship
. . . the friend of the bridegroom . . . —John 3:29
Goodness and purity should never be traits that draw attention to themselves, but should simply be magnets that draw people to Jesus Christ. If my holiness is not drawing others to Him, it is not the right kind of holiness; it is only an influence which awakens undue emotions and evil desires in people and diverts them from heading in the right direction. A person who is a beautiful saint can be a hindrance in leading people to the Lord by presenting only what Christ has done for him, instead of presenting Jesus Christ Himself. Others will be left with this thought— “What a fine person that man is!” That is not being a true “friend of the bridegroom”— I am increasing all the time; He is not.
To maintain this friendship and faithfulness to the Bridegroom, we have to be more careful to have the moral and vital relationship to Him above everything else, including obedience. Sometimes there is nothing to obey and our only task is to maintain a vital connection with Jesus Christ, seeing that nothing interferes with it. Only occasionally is it a matter of obedience. At those times when a crisis arises, we have to find out what God’s will is. Yet most of our life is not spent in trying to be consciously obedient, but in maintaining this relationship— being the “friend of the bridegroom.” Christian work can actually be a means of diverting a person’s focus away from Jesus Christ. Instead of being friends “of the bridegroom,” we may become amateur providences of God to someone else, working against Him while we use His weapons.
世上最微妙的使命
新郎的朋友。 （約三29）
人的良善與純潔，不該拿來吸引人歸向自己，只該用作引人歸主的磁石。若我聖潔的目的不是歸向神，就不是真正的聖潔；這只會掀起越軌的熱情，使人偏離正路。一個卓越的聖徒，若不表彰耶穌基督，只誇耀基督為他所做的事，他就會成為別人的絆腳石。他給人的印像是－－[那人品德多麼好！ ]這不是新郎的真朋友；因[我]不斷的在興旺，而他卻不然。
為要保持對新郎的友誼和忠誠，就要留心我們和他在道德上、生命上的關係。這些比一切都重要，甚至是順服。有時沒有什麼要順服的，只要保持與耶穌基督在生命上的關係，不讓任何事物從中破壞。當然亦有需要順服的事；如有危機來到，我們便要知道神的旨意如何。可是我們大部分的生活，並非有意識的順服，而是保持與神的關係－－作新郎的朋友。基督徒所做的工作，可能會轉移別人專一向主的心，使之外鶩！我們非但不是新郎的朋友，反而往往代天行道，用神的武器，作違背他的工作。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我知道自己近來很少將生命深處對耶穌的信心實踐出來，潛藏的動機似乎經常蠢蠢欲動。求你將基督裡面的單純引進我的生命中，使我只留心要獲得你的認可。
Goodness and purity should never be traits that draw attention to themselves, but should simply be magnets that draw people to Jesus Christ. If my holiness is not drawing others to Him, it is not the right kind of holiness; it is only an influence which awakens undue emotions and evil desires in people and diverts them from heading in the right direction. A person who is a beautiful saint can be a hindrance in leading people to the Lord by presenting only what Christ has done for him, instead of presenting Jesus Christ Himself. Others will be left with this thought— “What a fine person that man is!” That is not being a true “friend of the bridegroom”— I am increasing all the time; He is not.
To maintain this friendship and faithfulness to the Bridegroom, we have to be more careful to have the moral and vital relationship to Him above everything else, including obedience. Sometimes there is nothing to obey and our only task is to maintain a vital connection with Jesus Christ, seeing that nothing interferes with it. Only occasionally is it a matter of obedience. At those times when a crisis arises, we have to find out what God’s will is. Yet most of our life is not spent in trying to be consciously obedient, but in maintaining this relationship— being the “friend of the bridegroom.” Christian work can actually be a means of diverting a person’s focus away from Jesus Christ. Instead of being friends “of the bridegroom,” we may become amateur providences of God to someone else, working against Him while we use His weapons.
世上最微妙的使命
新郎的朋友。 （約三29）
人的良善與純潔，不該拿來吸引人歸向自己，只該用作引人歸主的磁石。若我聖潔的目的不是歸向神，就不是真正的聖潔；這只會掀起越軌的熱情，使人偏離正路。一個卓越的聖徒，若不表彰耶穌基督，只誇耀基督為他所做的事，他就會成為別人的絆腳石。他給人的印像是－－[那人品德多麼好！ ]這不是新郎的真朋友；因[我]不斷的在興旺，而他卻不然。
為要保持對新郎的友誼和忠誠，就要留心我們和他在道德上、生命上的關係。這些比一切都重要，甚至是順服。有時沒有什麼要順服的，只要保持與耶穌基督在生命上的關係，不讓任何事物從中破壞。當然亦有需要順服的事；如有危機來到，我們便要知道神的旨意如何。可是我們大部分的生活，並非有意識的順服，而是保持與神的關係－－作新郎的朋友。基督徒所做的工作，可能會轉移別人專一向主的心，使之外鶩！我們非但不是新郎的朋友，反而往往代天行道，用神的武器，作違背他的工作。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我知道自己近來很少將生命深處對耶穌的信心實踐出來，潛藏的動機似乎經常蠢蠢欲動。求你將基督裡面的單純引進我的生命中，使我只留心要獲得你的認可。
March 24, 2013
Decreasing for His Purpose
He must increase, but I must decrease —John 3:30
If you become a necessity to someone else’s life, you are out of God’s will. As a servant, your primary responsibility is to be a “friend of the bridegroom” (John 3:29). When you see a person who is close to grasping the claims of Jesus Christ, you know that your influence has been used in the right direction. And when you begin to see that person in the middle of a difficult and painful struggle, don’t try to prevent it, but pray that his difficulty will grow even ten times stronger, until no power on earth or in hell could hold him away from Jesus Christ. Over and over again, we try to be amateur providences in someone’s life. We are indeed amateurs, coming in and actually preventing God’s will and saying, “This person should not have to experience this difficulty.” Instead of being friends of the Bridegroom, our sympathy gets in the way. One day that person will say to us, “You are a thief; you stole my desire to follow Jesus, and because of you I lost sight of Him.”
Beware of rejoicing with someone over the wrong thing, but always look to rejoice over the right thing. “. . . the friend of the bridegroom . . . rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:29-30). This was spoken with joy, not with sadness-at last they were to see the Bridegroom! And John said this was his joy. It represents a stepping aside, an absolute removal of the servant, never to be thought of again.
Listen intently with your entire being until you hear the Bridegroom’s voice in the life of another person. And never give any thought to what devastation, difficulties, or sickness it will bring. Just rejoice with godly excitement that His voice has been heard. You may often have to watch Jesus Christ wreck a life before He saves it (see Matthew 10:34).
為道日損，合乎主旨
他必興旺，我必衰微。 （約三30）
你若成為別人心中重要的人，你就偏離了神。作為主的工人，最大的職分是做新郎的朋友。當你發現有人靠近主耶穌，被主得著，就知道你在他身上所產生的影響是對的。你不必伸手去阻止他的痛苦，反而要求神使那痛苦加增十倍，以致世界或地球的任何勢力，都不足以叫他與耶穌基督分離。我們若一而再、再而三的濫竽充數，以神明自居，打岔神說：[這個那個不該發生。 ]我們不但不是新郎忠實的朋友，反而把個人的同情心拿出來。結果，有一天那人會說：[他是個賊，偷去我對耶穌的愛情，如今我連他的形像也看不見了。 ]
當心，不要錯用你與人同樂的心，要在正當的事上與他同樂。 [新郎的朋友站著聽見新郎的聲音就甚喜樂……他必興旺，我必衰微。 ]這話是歡喜快樂地說的，不是愁苦地說的，因別人終於看見新郎了！約翰說這就是他的喜樂。主的工人功成身退，不再被人思念。
你要為人盡所有的去警醒守望，知道你在那人身上聽見新郎的聲音。不管生活如何顛沛困苦，健康如何破敗損傷，只要聽見他的聲音，就當喜從天降，滿懷高興。你可以經常看見耶穌基督先拆毀一個人，然後再建立（太十34）
祈禱◆噢，我的神，願我在你的火焰中焚燒和煉淨－－今天我的渣滓似乎太多；太少流露你那甜蜜而親切的恩典。主啊，赦免我。
If you become a necessity to someone else’s life, you are out of God’s will. As a servant, your primary responsibility is to be a “friend of the bridegroom” (John 3:29). When you see a person who is close to grasping the claims of Jesus Christ, you know that your influence has been used in the right direction. And when you begin to see that person in the middle of a difficult and painful struggle, don’t try to prevent it, but pray that his difficulty will grow even ten times stronger, until no power on earth or in hell could hold him away from Jesus Christ. Over and over again, we try to be amateur providences in someone’s life. We are indeed amateurs, coming in and actually preventing God’s will and saying, “This person should not have to experience this difficulty.” Instead of being friends of the Bridegroom, our sympathy gets in the way. One day that person will say to us, “You are a thief; you stole my desire to follow Jesus, and because of you I lost sight of Him.”
Beware of rejoicing with someone over the wrong thing, but always look to rejoice over the right thing. “. . . the friend of the bridegroom . . . rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:29-30). This was spoken with joy, not with sadness-at last they were to see the Bridegroom! And John said this was his joy. It represents a stepping aside, an absolute removal of the servant, never to be thought of again.
Listen intently with your entire being until you hear the Bridegroom’s voice in the life of another person. And never give any thought to what devastation, difficulties, or sickness it will bring. Just rejoice with godly excitement that His voice has been heard. You may often have to watch Jesus Christ wreck a life before He saves it (see Matthew 10:34).
為道日損，合乎主旨
他必興旺，我必衰微。 （約三30）
你若成為別人心中重要的人，你就偏離了神。作為主的工人，最大的職分是做新郎的朋友。當你發現有人靠近主耶穌，被主得著，就知道你在他身上所產生的影響是對的。你不必伸手去阻止他的痛苦，反而要求神使那痛苦加增十倍，以致世界或地球的任何勢力，都不足以叫他與耶穌基督分離。我們若一而再、再而三的濫竽充數，以神明自居，打岔神說：[這個那個不該發生。 ]我們不但不是新郎忠實的朋友，反而把個人的同情心拿出來。結果，有一天那人會說：[他是個賊，偷去我對耶穌的愛情，如今我連他的形像也看不見了。 ]
當心，不要錯用你與人同樂的心，要在正當的事上與他同樂。 [新郎的朋友站著聽見新郎的聲音就甚喜樂……他必興旺，我必衰微。 ]這話是歡喜快樂地說的，不是愁苦地說的，因別人終於看見新郎了！約翰說這就是他的喜樂。主的工人功成身退，不再被人思念。
你要為人盡所有的去警醒守望，知道你在那人身上聽見新郎的聲音。不管生活如何顛沛困苦，健康如何破敗損傷，只要聽見他的聲音，就當喜從天降，滿懷高興。你可以經常看見耶穌基督先拆毀一個人，然後再建立（太十34）
祈禱◆噢，我的神，願我在你的火焰中焚燒和煉淨－－今天我的渣滓似乎太多；太少流露你那甜蜜而親切的恩典。主啊，赦免我。
March 23, 2013
Am I Carnally Minded?
Where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal . . . ? —1 Corinthians 3:3
The natural man, or unbeliever, knows nothing about carnality. The desires of the flesh warring against the Spirit, and the Spirit warring against the flesh, which began at rebirth, are what produce carnality and the awareness of it. But Paul said, “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). In other words, carnality will disappear.
Are you quarrelsome and easily upset over small things? Do you think that no one who is a Christian is ever like that? Paul said they are, and he connected these attitudes with carnality. Is there a truth in the Bible that instantly awakens a spirit of malice or resentment in you? If so, that is proof that you are still carnal. If the process of sanctification is continuing in your life, there will be no trace of that kind of spirit remaining.
If the Spirit of God detects anything in you that is wrong, He doesn’t ask you to make it right; He only asks you to accept the light of truth, and then He will make it right. A child of the light will confess sin instantly and stand completely open before God. But a child of the darkness will say, “Oh, I can explain that.” When the light shines and the Spirit brings conviction of sin, be a child of the light. Confess your wrongdoing, and God will deal with it. If, however, you try to vindicate yourself, you prove yourself to be a child of the darkness.
What is the proof that carnality has gone? Never deceive yourself; when carnality is gone you will know it-it is the most real thing you can imagine. And God will see to it that you have a number of opportunities to prove to yourself the miracle of His grace. The proof is in a very practical test. You will find yourself saying, “If this had happened before, I would have had the spirit of resentment!” And you will never cease to be the most amazed person on earth at what God has done for you on the inside.
是體貼肉體麼？
你們中間有嫉妒分爭，這豈不是屬乎肉體？ （林前三3）
未重生的人根本不知何為肉體。人重生之後，肉體與聖靈相爭，聖靈與肉體相爭，結果就產生了[肉慾]的問題。保羅說：[在聖靈裡行事，就不放縱肉體的情慾。 ]如此，肉慾就消失了。
你是否好爭論？易被瑣事煩惱？ [不，信徒不會如此！ ]保羅卻說會。他把這些事與肉體連在一起。在聖經真理中，有那一項容易引起你的怒氣？這便證明你仍然屬肉體。若成聖的工夫作成了，這種狀態就不復存在。
聖靈若發現你裡面有任何錯處，並不叫你去糾正；乃是要你接受那光照，然後他才去糾正。光明的子女會立即認罪，赤露敞開地站在神面前。黑暗之子卻說：[噢，我可以自圓其說開脫出去的。 ]所以，一旦光照來了，就要做光明之子，真知道有錯，要向神認罪，神自會對付那罪；你若為自己辯護，就仍是黑暗之子。
怎樣證明肉慾已經消失了？不要自欺，肉慾一旦克服了，是最真實不過的事。神會讓你有無數的機會，去證實他在你身上的奇恩。實際的考驗是唯一的證據。你會說：[奇怪得很，若在從前，這件事必叫我懷恨在心！ ]神在你裡面所作的改變，會令你畢生驚訝，沒齒難忘。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，你的道路何等奇妙！當我回顧你帶領我走過的道路，和你的耐心寬待，我便在驚嘆、愛意和讚美中渾然忘我。
The natural man, or unbeliever, knows nothing about carnality. The desires of the flesh warring against the Spirit, and the Spirit warring against the flesh, which began at rebirth, are what produce carnality and the awareness of it. But Paul said, “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). In other words, carnality will disappear.
Are you quarrelsome and easily upset over small things? Do you think that no one who is a Christian is ever like that? Paul said they are, and he connected these attitudes with carnality. Is there a truth in the Bible that instantly awakens a spirit of malice or resentment in you? If so, that is proof that you are still carnal. If the process of sanctification is continuing in your life, there will be no trace of that kind of spirit remaining.
If the Spirit of God detects anything in you that is wrong, He doesn’t ask you to make it right; He only asks you to accept the light of truth, and then He will make it right. A child of the light will confess sin instantly and stand completely open before God. But a child of the darkness will say, “Oh, I can explain that.” When the light shines and the Spirit brings conviction of sin, be a child of the light. Confess your wrongdoing, and God will deal with it. If, however, you try to vindicate yourself, you prove yourself to be a child of the darkness.
What is the proof that carnality has gone? Never deceive yourself; when carnality is gone you will know it-it is the most real thing you can imagine. And God will see to it that you have a number of opportunities to prove to yourself the miracle of His grace. The proof is in a very practical test. You will find yourself saying, “If this had happened before, I would have had the spirit of resentment!” And you will never cease to be the most amazed person on earth at what God has done for you on the inside.
是體貼肉體麼？
你們中間有嫉妒分爭，這豈不是屬乎肉體？ （林前三3）
未重生的人根本不知何為肉體。人重生之後，肉體與聖靈相爭，聖靈與肉體相爭，結果就產生了[肉慾]的問題。保羅說：[在聖靈裡行事，就不放縱肉體的情慾。 ]如此，肉慾就消失了。
你是否好爭論？易被瑣事煩惱？ [不，信徒不會如此！ ]保羅卻說會。他把這些事與肉體連在一起。在聖經真理中，有那一項容易引起你的怒氣？這便證明你仍然屬肉體。若成聖的工夫作成了，這種狀態就不復存在。
聖靈若發現你裡面有任何錯處，並不叫你去糾正；乃是要你接受那光照，然後他才去糾正。光明的子女會立即認罪，赤露敞開地站在神面前。黑暗之子卻說：[噢，我可以自圓其說開脫出去的。 ]所以，一旦光照來了，就要做光明之子，真知道有錯，要向神認罪，神自會對付那罪；你若為自己辯護，就仍是黑暗之子。
怎樣證明肉慾已經消失了？不要自欺，肉慾一旦克服了，是最真實不過的事。神會讓你有無數的機會，去證實他在你身上的奇恩。實際的考驗是唯一的證據。你會說：[奇怪得很，若在從前，這件事必叫我懷恨在心！ ]神在你裡面所作的改變，會令你畢生驚訝，沒齒難忘。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，你的道路何等奇妙！當我回顧你帶領我走過的道路，和你的耐心寬待，我便在驚嘆、愛意和讚美中渾然忘我。
March 22, 2013
The Burning Heart
Did not our heart burn within us . . . ? —Luke 24:32
We need to learn this secret of the burning heart. Suddenly Jesus appears to us, fires are set ablaze, and we are given wonderful visions; but then we must learn to maintain the secret of the burning heart— a heart that can go through anything. It is the simple, dreary day, with its commonplace duties and people, that smothers the burning heart— unless we have learned the secret of abiding in Jesus.
Much of the distress we experience as Christians comes not as the result of sin, but because we are ignorant of the laws of our own nature. For instance, the only test we should use to determine whether or not to allow a particular emotion to run its course in our lives is to examine what the final outcome of that emotion will be. Think it through to its logical conclusion, and if the outcome is something that God would condemn, put a stop to it immediately. But if it is an emotion that has been kindled by the Spirit of God and you don’t allow it to have its way in your life, it will cause a reaction on a lower level than God intended. That is the way unrealistic and overly emotional people are made. And the higher the emotion, the deeper the level of corruption, if it is not exercised on its intended level. If the Spirit of God has stirred you, make as many of your decisions as possible irrevocable, and let the consequences be what they will. We cannot stay forever on the “mount of transfiguration,” basking in the light of our mountaintop experience (see Mark 9:1-9). But we must obey the light we received there; we must put it into action. When God gives us a vision, we must transact business with Him at that point, no matter what the cost.
We cannot kindle when we will The fire which in the heart resides, The spirit bloweth and is still, In mystery our soul abides; But tasks in hours of insight willed Can be through hours of gloom fulfilled.
焚燒的心
我們的心豈不是火熱的麼？
我們要學習這火熱的心的秘訣。耶穌忽然向我們顯現，熱火就焚燒起來，我們得了奇妙的異象；然後就要學習怎樣持守這火熱的心，以致能經歷各樣的際遇。平淡無奇、日復一日的生活、加上日常的工作與來往的人事，會叫心中的火熄滅－－除非我們學會常住在主耶穌裡面。
我們作基督徒的痛苦，多半不是因罪而來，乃是因我們不認識自己本性的律，例如，要認驗某一種感情是否應該發展，唯一的方法就是看看那感情的後果如何。把它退到邏輯上的結論去，若後果是神會定罪的，就不要讓它繼續下去；但若那感情是神的靈燃點的，而你卻不容它在你生命中佔該有的位置，它就會在低一層的水平上發揮作用。情感主義者就是這樣造成的。我們若不讓感情有正確的宣洩，那麼情緒愈高，那墮落的光景就愈深了。神的靈若激動你，就要盡量付諸實行，不要管後果怎樣。我們不能長留在變象的山頂，而必須順服在山上所接受的亮光，神賜你異象；就要照著異象所指示的，切實去做，不管代價有多大。
心靈所存的火，不是人意可燃點，靈在吹動又靜止，人心活在隱秘裡。但密室啟示的順服，卻藉暗地的勞苦完成大工。
祈禱◆這個日子，噢，主啊，是你的日子；求你使它像寶石一般，永遠在我們的生命中發光。
We need to learn this secret of the burning heart. Suddenly Jesus appears to us, fires are set ablaze, and we are given wonderful visions; but then we must learn to maintain the secret of the burning heart— a heart that can go through anything. It is the simple, dreary day, with its commonplace duties and people, that smothers the burning heart— unless we have learned the secret of abiding in Jesus.
Much of the distress we experience as Christians comes not as the result of sin, but because we are ignorant of the laws of our own nature. For instance, the only test we should use to determine whether or not to allow a particular emotion to run its course in our lives is to examine what the final outcome of that emotion will be. Think it through to its logical conclusion, and if the outcome is something that God would condemn, put a stop to it immediately. But if it is an emotion that has been kindled by the Spirit of God and you don’t allow it to have its way in your life, it will cause a reaction on a lower level than God intended. That is the way unrealistic and overly emotional people are made. And the higher the emotion, the deeper the level of corruption, if it is not exercised on its intended level. If the Spirit of God has stirred you, make as many of your decisions as possible irrevocable, and let the consequences be what they will. We cannot stay forever on the “mount of transfiguration,” basking in the light of our mountaintop experience (see Mark 9:1-9). But we must obey the light we received there; we must put it into action. When God gives us a vision, we must transact business with Him at that point, no matter what the cost.
We cannot kindle when we will The fire which in the heart resides, The spirit bloweth and is still, In mystery our soul abides; But tasks in hours of insight willed Can be through hours of gloom fulfilled.
焚燒的心
我們的心豈不是火熱的麼？
我們要學習這火熱的心的秘訣。耶穌忽然向我們顯現，熱火就焚燒起來，我們得了奇妙的異象；然後就要學習怎樣持守這火熱的心，以致能經歷各樣的際遇。平淡無奇、日復一日的生活、加上日常的工作與來往的人事，會叫心中的火熄滅－－除非我們學會常住在主耶穌裡面。
我們作基督徒的痛苦，多半不是因罪而來，乃是因我們不認識自己本性的律，例如，要認驗某一種感情是否應該發展，唯一的方法就是看看那感情的後果如何。把它退到邏輯上的結論去，若後果是神會定罪的，就不要讓它繼續下去；但若那感情是神的靈燃點的，而你卻不容它在你生命中佔該有的位置，它就會在低一層的水平上發揮作用。情感主義者就是這樣造成的。我們若不讓感情有正確的宣洩，那麼情緒愈高，那墮落的光景就愈深了。神的靈若激動你，就要盡量付諸實行，不要管後果怎樣。我們不能長留在變象的山頂，而必須順服在山上所接受的亮光，神賜你異象；就要照著異象所指示的，切實去做，不管代價有多大。
心靈所存的火，不是人意可燃點，靈在吹動又靜止，人心活在隱秘裡。但密室啟示的順服，卻藉暗地的勞苦完成大工。
祈禱◆這個日子，噢，主啊，是你的日子；求你使它像寶石一般，永遠在我們的生命中發光。
March 21, 2013
Identified or Simply Interested?
I have been crucified with Christ . . . —Galatians 2:20
The inescapable spiritual need each of us has is the need to sign the death certificate of our sin nature. I must take my emotional opinions and intellectual beliefs and be willing to turn them into a moral verdict against the nature of sin; that is, against any claim I have to my right to myself. Paul said, “I have been crucified with Christ . . . .” He did not say, “I have made a determination to imitate Jesus Christ,” or, “I will really make an effort to follow Him”-but-”I have been identified with Him in His death.” Once I reach this moral decision and act on it, all that Christ accomplished for me on the Cross is accomplished in me. My unrestrained commitment of myself to God gives the Holy Spirit the opportunity to grant to me the holiness of Jesus Christ.
“. . . it is no longer I who live . . . .” My individuality remains, but my primary motivation for living and the nature that rules me are radically changed. I have the same human body, but the old satanic right to myself has been destroyed.
“. . . and the life which I now live in the flesh,” not the life which I long to live or even pray that I live, but the life I now live in my mortal flesh-the life which others can see, “I live by faith in the Son of God . . . .” This faith was not Paul’s own faith in Jesus Christ, but the faith the Son God had given to him (see Ephesians 2:8). It is no longer a faith in faith, but a faith that transcends all imaginable limits-a faith that comes only from the Son of God.
一己的權益還是與主同死？
我已經與基督同釘十字架。 （加二20）
屬靈上的一個迫切需要，就是向罪宣判死亡。就是在一切感情上、理智上，有一個新的信念，遂向罪下判決。這罪就是為自己的權益所持的主權。保羅說：[我已經與基督同釘十字架。 ]他不是說：[我決定效法基督。 ]或[我努力跟隨基督。 ]而是[我已經自視與他同死了。 ]每逢我作這屬靈的抉擇，並付諸實行；那末基督在十架上為我成就的，便在我裡面成全了。我自願的順服神，讓聖靈把耶穌基督的聖潔，加在我身上。
[但我如今活著……]我依然存在，但生命的主流－－那支配我性情的，卻急劇地改變了。人的肉身依然，可是昔日撒旦的主權已毀掉了。 [我如今在肉身活著……]這不是我想望中的生命，或祈求要得的生命，而是現金活著的，這個別人可見的生命，[是因信神的兒子而活]。這信心不是保羅對耶穌基督的信心，而是神兒子所分與他的信心。
[信神的兒子（或作神兒子的信）。 ]不再是相信信心，乃是超越一切觀感的規限，如同神兒子的信心。
◆噢，主啊，我讚美你，透過基督耶穌我們的主，我們所走的路都滿有憐憫、恩慈、恩典和奇蹟；但願我對你和你的作為更加敏銳，我那感恩的心也更像基督。
The inescapable spiritual need each of us has is the need to sign the death certificate of our sin nature. I must take my emotional opinions and intellectual beliefs and be willing to turn them into a moral verdict against the nature of sin; that is, against any claim I have to my right to myself. Paul said, “I have been crucified with Christ . . . .” He did not say, “I have made a determination to imitate Jesus Christ,” or, “I will really make an effort to follow Him”-but-”I have been identified with Him in His death.” Once I reach this moral decision and act on it, all that Christ accomplished for me on the Cross is accomplished in me. My unrestrained commitment of myself to God gives the Holy Spirit the opportunity to grant to me the holiness of Jesus Christ.
“. . . it is no longer I who live . . . .” My individuality remains, but my primary motivation for living and the nature that rules me are radically changed. I have the same human body, but the old satanic right to myself has been destroyed.
“. . . and the life which I now live in the flesh,” not the life which I long to live or even pray that I live, but the life I now live in my mortal flesh-the life which others can see, “I live by faith in the Son of God . . . .” This faith was not Paul’s own faith in Jesus Christ, but the faith the Son God had given to him (see Ephesians 2:8). It is no longer a faith in faith, but a faith that transcends all imaginable limits-a faith that comes only from the Son of God.
一己的權益還是與主同死？
我已經與基督同釘十字架。 （加二20）
屬靈上的一個迫切需要，就是向罪宣判死亡。就是在一切感情上、理智上，有一個新的信念，遂向罪下判決。這罪就是為自己的權益所持的主權。保羅說：[我已經與基督同釘十字架。 ]他不是說：[我決定效法基督。 ]或[我努力跟隨基督。 ]而是[我已經自視與他同死了。 ]每逢我作這屬靈的抉擇，並付諸實行；那末基督在十架上為我成就的，便在我裡面成全了。我自願的順服神，讓聖靈把耶穌基督的聖潔，加在我身上。
[但我如今活著……]我依然存在，但生命的主流－－那支配我性情的，卻急劇地改變了。人的肉身依然，可是昔日撒旦的主權已毀掉了。 [我如今在肉身活著……]這不是我想望中的生命，或祈求要得的生命，而是現金活著的，這個別人可見的生命，[是因信神的兒子而活]。這信心不是保羅對耶穌基督的信心，而是神兒子所分與他的信心。
[信神的兒子（或作神兒子的信）。 ]不再是相信信心，乃是超越一切觀感的規限，如同神兒子的信心。
◆噢，主啊，我讚美你，透過基督耶穌我們的主，我們所走的路都滿有憐憫、恩慈、恩典和奇蹟；但願我對你和你的作為更加敏銳，我那感恩的心也更像基督。
March 20, 2013
Friendship with God
Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing . . . ? —Genesis 18:17
The Delights of His Friendship. Genesis 18 brings out the delight of true friendship with God, as compared with simply feeling His presence occasionally in prayer. This friendship means being so intimately in touch with God that you never even need to ask Him to show you His will. It is evidence of a level of intimacy which confirms that you are nearing the final stage of your discipline in the life of faith. When you have a right-standing relationship with God, you have a life of freedom, liberty, and delight; you are God’s will. And all of your commonsense decisions are actually His will for you, unless you sense a feeling of restraint brought on by a check in your spirit. You are free to make decisions in the light of a perfect and delightful friendship with God, knowing that if your decisions are wrong He will lovingly produce that sense of restraint. Once he does, you must stop immediately.
The Difficulties of His Friendship. Why did Abraham stop praying when he did? He stopped because he still was lacking the level of intimacy in his relationship with God, which would enable him boldly to continue on with the Lord in prayer until his desire was granted. Whenever we stop short of our true desire in prayer and say, “Well, I don’t know, maybe this is not God’s will,” then we still have another level to go. It shows that we are not as intimately acquainted with God as Jesus was, and as Jesus would have us to be— “. . . that they may be one just as We are one . . .” (John 17:22). Think of the last thing you prayed about-were you devoted to your desire or to God? Was your determination to get some gift of the Spirit for yourself or to get to God? “For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him” (Matthew 6:8). The reason for asking is so you may get to know God better. “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). We should keep praying to get a perfect understanding of God Himself.
與神為友
我所要作的事，豈可瞞著亞伯拉罕呢？ （創十八17）
與神為友的快樂。這一章說出與神真正為友的快樂，較之祈禱時偶爾感到他同在是大有不同。若與神親密到一個地步，不需要求他向你指示他的心意。這樣，你的信心生活就進入成長的階段了。與神的關係正常，生命就自由快樂；你就是神的旨意，你一切憑理智所作出的決定，就是他在你身上的旨意，除非他有特別的攔阻。你與神有美好愉快的友誼，便可以決定一切事情，因為就是決定錯了，他總會阻止；他一阻止，就該立刻停止。
與神為友的困難。亞伯拉罕為什麼停止了禱告？他與神的關係還未夠親密，所以在神未答應他的要求之前，便不敢前進。這時他與神的關係，仍有待改進。我們禱告時，若突然中止，說：[唔，我不敢肯定，這也許不是神的旨意。 ]這樣，你還有另一些階段要經歷。我們認識神還未及耶穌的深切，也未達到他要我們應有的認識－－[使他們合而為一，像我們合而為一。 ]試想想你最後禱告的事是什麼？是專注於自己的需求呢？還是神自己？是堅持要得一些聖靈的恩賜？還是要見神的面？ [你們沒有祈求以先，你們所需用的，你們的父早已知道了。 ]所以，祈求的目的是使你更認識神。 [要以耶和華為樂，他就將你心裡所求的賜給你。 ]不住的禱告，使對神有更完全的認識。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，[願祢晝夜看顧這殿。 ]願祢保守和護衛它，遠離所有與祢心意相違的東西，並且使我們每一個都成為祢內心深處所切望的人。
The Delights of His Friendship. Genesis 18 brings out the delight of true friendship with God, as compared with simply feeling His presence occasionally in prayer. This friendship means being so intimately in touch with God that you never even need to ask Him to show you His will. It is evidence of a level of intimacy which confirms that you are nearing the final stage of your discipline in the life of faith. When you have a right-standing relationship with God, you have a life of freedom, liberty, and delight; you are God’s will. And all of your commonsense decisions are actually His will for you, unless you sense a feeling of restraint brought on by a check in your spirit. You are free to make decisions in the light of a perfect and delightful friendship with God, knowing that if your decisions are wrong He will lovingly produce that sense of restraint. Once he does, you must stop immediately.
The Difficulties of His Friendship. Why did Abraham stop praying when he did? He stopped because he still was lacking the level of intimacy in his relationship with God, which would enable him boldly to continue on with the Lord in prayer until his desire was granted. Whenever we stop short of our true desire in prayer and say, “Well, I don’t know, maybe this is not God’s will,” then we still have another level to go. It shows that we are not as intimately acquainted with God as Jesus was, and as Jesus would have us to be— “. . . that they may be one just as We are one . . .” (John 17:22). Think of the last thing you prayed about-were you devoted to your desire or to God? Was your determination to get some gift of the Spirit for yourself or to get to God? “For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him” (Matthew 6:8). The reason for asking is so you may get to know God better. “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). We should keep praying to get a perfect understanding of God Himself.
與神為友
我所要作的事，豈可瞞著亞伯拉罕呢？ （創十八17）
與神為友的快樂。這一章說出與神真正為友的快樂，較之祈禱時偶爾感到他同在是大有不同。若與神親密到一個地步，不需要求他向你指示他的心意。這樣，你的信心生活就進入成長的階段了。與神的關係正常，生命就自由快樂；你就是神的旨意，你一切憑理智所作出的決定，就是他在你身上的旨意，除非他有特別的攔阻。你與神有美好愉快的友誼，便可以決定一切事情，因為就是決定錯了，他總會阻止；他一阻止，就該立刻停止。
與神為友的困難。亞伯拉罕為什麼停止了禱告？他與神的關係還未夠親密，所以在神未答應他的要求之前，便不敢前進。這時他與神的關係，仍有待改進。我們禱告時，若突然中止，說：[唔，我不敢肯定，這也許不是神的旨意。 ]這樣，你還有另一些階段要經歷。我們認識神還未及耶穌的深切，也未達到他要我們應有的認識－－[使他們合而為一，像我們合而為一。 ]試想想你最後禱告的事是什麼？是專注於自己的需求呢？還是神自己？是堅持要得一些聖靈的恩賜？還是要見神的面？ [你們沒有祈求以先，你們所需用的，你們的父早已知道了。 ]所以，祈求的目的是使你更認識神。 [要以耶和華為樂，他就將你心裡所求的賜給你。 ]不住的禱告，使對神有更完全的認識。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，[願祢晝夜看顧這殿。 ]願祢保守和護衛它，遠離所有與祢心意相違的東西，並且使我們每一個都成為祢內心深處所切望的人。
March 19, 2013
Abraham’s Life of Faith
He went out, not knowing where he was going —Hebrews 11:8
In the Old Testament, a person’s relationship with God was seen by the degree of separation in that person’s life. This separation is exhibited in the life of Abraham by his separation from his country and his family. When we think of separation today, we do not mean to be literally separated from those family members who do not have a personal relationship with God, but to be separated mentally and morally from their viewpoints. This is what Jesus Christ was referring to in Luke 14:26.
Living a life of faith means never knowing where you are being led. But it does mean loving and knowing the One who is leading. It is literally a life of faith, not of understanding and reason—a life of knowing Him who calls us to go. Faith is rooted in the knowledge of a Person, and one of the biggest traps we fall into is the belief that if we have faith, God will surely lead us to success in the world.
The final stage in the life of faith is the attainment of character, and we encounter many changes in the process. We feel the presence of God around us when we pray, yet we are only momentarily changed. We tend to keep going back to our everyday ways and the glory vanishes. A life of faith is not a life of one glorious mountaintop experience after another, like soaring on eagles’ wings, but is a life of day—in and day—out consistency; a life of walking without fainting (see Isaiah 40:31). It is not even a question of the holiness of sanctification, but of something which comes much farther down the road. It is a faith that has been tried and proved and has withstood the test. Abraham is not a type or an example of the holiness of sanctification, but a type of the life of faith—a faith, tested and true, built on the true God. “Abraham believed God. . .” (Romans 4:3).
亞伯拉罕信心之道
出去的時候，還不知往那裡去。 （來十一8）
在舊約時代，個人與神的關係，是在[分離]上顯出來。這可從亞伯拉罕離開本地本族本家的生平中看出來。在今日，這[分離]卻側重在心思道德方面的意義。我們所親愛的人若與神沒有個人關係，我們對事物的看法就與他們不同了。耶穌基督也強調這一點（路十四26）。
信心是從來不知道要往哪裡去，卻知道且深愛領路的那一位。我們的生活是信心的生活，不是理智理性的生活，因為知道誰叫我們[去]。信心的根源是出於對神的認識。但有一個最大的陷阱，是我們以為神一定領我們成功順利。
信心生活的最終階段，是性格的完成。人個性的改變，有不少是短暫的。我們禱告時，感到神的祝福包圍著我們，那時確有了改變。過後回到日常生活中，又依然故我，而那榮光也就消失了。信心的生活不是展翅上騰的生活，乃是腳踏實地的行走而不頹廢。這不是成聖的問題；是比成聖更進一步，是經過考驗而證實及格的。亞伯拉罕不是成聖的模式，乃是信心生活的模範。他的信心是經過誓言，是建立在真神上。 [亞伯拉罕信神]
祈禱◆噢，主啊，願今天因著你的同在和祝福，而充滿榮耀。願我們看見你使你所站的地方成為榮耀之處。
In the Old Testament, a person’s relationship with God was seen by the degree of separation in that person’s life. This separation is exhibited in the life of Abraham by his separation from his country and his family. When we think of separation today, we do not mean to be literally separated from those family members who do not have a personal relationship with God, but to be separated mentally and morally from their viewpoints. This is what Jesus Christ was referring to in Luke 14:26.
Living a life of faith means never knowing where you are being led. But it does mean loving and knowing the One who is leading. It is literally a life of faith, not of understanding and reason—a life of knowing Him who calls us to go. Faith is rooted in the knowledge of a Person, and one of the biggest traps we fall into is the belief that if we have faith, God will surely lead us to success in the world.
The final stage in the life of faith is the attainment of character, and we encounter many changes in the process. We feel the presence of God around us when we pray, yet we are only momentarily changed. We tend to keep going back to our everyday ways and the glory vanishes. A life of faith is not a life of one glorious mountaintop experience after another, like soaring on eagles’ wings, but is a life of day—in and day—out consistency; a life of walking without fainting (see Isaiah 40:31). It is not even a question of the holiness of sanctification, but of something which comes much farther down the road. It is a faith that has been tried and proved and has withstood the test. Abraham is not a type or an example of the holiness of sanctification, but a type of the life of faith—a faith, tested and true, built on the true God. “Abraham believed God. . .” (Romans 4:3).
亞伯拉罕信心之道
出去的時候，還不知往那裡去。 （來十一8）
在舊約時代，個人與神的關係，是在[分離]上顯出來。這可從亞伯拉罕離開本地本族本家的生平中看出來。在今日，這[分離]卻側重在心思道德方面的意義。我們所親愛的人若與神沒有個人關係，我們對事物的看法就與他們不同了。耶穌基督也強調這一點（路十四26）。
信心是從來不知道要往哪裡去，卻知道且深愛領路的那一位。我們的生活是信心的生活，不是理智理性的生活，因為知道誰叫我們[去]。信心的根源是出於對神的認識。但有一個最大的陷阱，是我們以為神一定領我們成功順利。
信心生活的最終階段，是性格的完成。人個性的改變，有不少是短暫的。我們禱告時，感到神的祝福包圍著我們，那時確有了改變。過後回到日常生活中，又依然故我，而那榮光也就消失了。信心的生活不是展翅上騰的生活，乃是腳踏實地的行走而不頹廢。這不是成聖的問題；是比成聖更進一步，是經過考驗而證實及格的。亞伯拉罕不是成聖的模式，乃是信心生活的模範。他的信心是經過誓言，是建立在真神上。 [亞伯拉罕信神]
祈禱◆噢，主啊，願今天因著你的同在和祝福，而充滿榮耀。願我們看見你使你所站的地方成為榮耀之處。
March 18, 2013
Will I Bring Myself Up to This Level?
. . . perfecting holiness in the fear of God —2 Corinthians 7:1
Therefore, having these promises. . . .” I claim God’s promises for my life and look to their fulfillment, and rightly so, but that shows only the human perspective on them. God’s perspective is that through His promises I will come to recognize His claim of ownership on me. For example, do I realize that my “body is the temple of the Holy Spirit,” or am I condoning some habit in my body which clearly could not withstand the light of God on it? (1 Corinthians 6:19). God formed His Son in me through sanctification, setting me apart from sin and making me holy in His sight (see Galatians 4:19). But I must begin to transform my natural life into spiritual life by obedience to Him. God instructs us even in the smallest details of life. And when He brings you conviction of sin, do not “confer with flesh and blood,” but cleanse yourself from it at once (Galatians 1:16). Keep yourself cleansed in your daily walk.
I must cleanse myself from all filthiness in my flesh and my spirit until both are in harmony with the nature of God. Is the mind of my spirit in perfect agreement with the life of the Son of God in me, or am I mentally rebellious and defiant? Am I allowing the mind of Christ to be formed in me? (see Philippians 2:5). Christ never spoke of His right to Himself, but always maintained an inner vigilance to submit His spirit continually to His Father. I also have the responsibility to keep my spirit in agreement with His Spirit. And when I do, Jesus gradually lifts me up to the level where He lived-a level of perfect submission to His Father’s will— where I pay no attention to anything else. Am I perfecting this kind of holiness in the fear of God? Is God having His way with me, and are people beginning to see God in my life more and more?
Be serious in your commitment to God and gladly leave everything else alone. Literally put God first in your life.
我達到這水平麼？
敬畏神，得以成聖。 （林後七1）
[我們既有這等應許。 ]這原是對的，不過只是人的方面；在神的方面來說，透過這些應許，人要承認神的主權。比方，我把身體看為是聖靈的殿呢，還是讓劣根性存著，使不能反照神的光？藉著成聖稱義，神的兒子住在我裡面，但我必須順服他，叫天然的生命改變成為屬靈的生命。
神的教導，是一絲不苟的；他查究你的時候，不要與血肉之人商議，而要立即自潔。在每日的生活行事上，保守自己聖潔無污。
我要除掉肉體及心靈中一切的污穢，使與神的性情一致。我心裡的意念與神兒子在我裡頭的生命，是否吻合？他從不憑自己說什麼，乃時常儆醒，對父神不住的順服。我要持守與主的靈合一，耶穌就會逐漸把我抬舉，到他當日的光景裡去－－完全貼合父神的旨意，至於其他的事就一概不理。我有沒有敬畏神，追求這一種聖潔，且力臻完善？神在我身上能遂其所願麼？人家能從我身上愈來愈多看見神麼？
認認真真對神吧，其他的一切則視作等閒。要切切實實地把神放在首位。
祈禱◆[我是那樣愚頑和無知：我在你面前好像畜類。 ]噢，主啊，這句話將我在你面前的光景表達出來。當我從那純潔、神聖的神的形象，查看我們的主的要求時，我為著本身的愚頑、如畜類的思想，深感羞愧。
Therefore, having these promises. . . .” I claim God’s promises for my life and look to their fulfillment, and rightly so, but that shows only the human perspective on them. God’s perspective is that through His promises I will come to recognize His claim of ownership on me. For example, do I realize that my “body is the temple of the Holy Spirit,” or am I condoning some habit in my body which clearly could not withstand the light of God on it? (1 Corinthians 6:19). God formed His Son in me through sanctification, setting me apart from sin and making me holy in His sight (see Galatians 4:19). But I must begin to transform my natural life into spiritual life by obedience to Him. God instructs us even in the smallest details of life. And when He brings you conviction of sin, do not “confer with flesh and blood,” but cleanse yourself from it at once (Galatians 1:16). Keep yourself cleansed in your daily walk.
I must cleanse myself from all filthiness in my flesh and my spirit until both are in harmony with the nature of God. Is the mind of my spirit in perfect agreement with the life of the Son of God in me, or am I mentally rebellious and defiant? Am I allowing the mind of Christ to be formed in me? (see Philippians 2:5). Christ never spoke of His right to Himself, but always maintained an inner vigilance to submit His spirit continually to His Father. I also have the responsibility to keep my spirit in agreement with His Spirit. And when I do, Jesus gradually lifts me up to the level where He lived-a level of perfect submission to His Father’s will— where I pay no attention to anything else. Am I perfecting this kind of holiness in the fear of God? Is God having His way with me, and are people beginning to see God in my life more and more?
Be serious in your commitment to God and gladly leave everything else alone. Literally put God first in your life.
我達到這水平麼？
敬畏神，得以成聖。 （林後七1）
[我們既有這等應許。 ]這原是對的，不過只是人的方面；在神的方面來說，透過這些應許，人要承認神的主權。比方，我把身體看為是聖靈的殿呢，還是讓劣根性存著，使不能反照神的光？藉著成聖稱義，神的兒子住在我裡面，但我必須順服他，叫天然的生命改變成為屬靈的生命。
神的教導，是一絲不苟的；他查究你的時候，不要與血肉之人商議，而要立即自潔。在每日的生活行事上，保守自己聖潔無污。
我要除掉肉體及心靈中一切的污穢，使與神的性情一致。我心裡的意念與神兒子在我裡頭的生命，是否吻合？他從不憑自己說什麼，乃時常儆醒，對父神不住的順服。我要持守與主的靈合一，耶穌就會逐漸把我抬舉，到他當日的光景裡去－－完全貼合父神的旨意，至於其他的事就一概不理。我有沒有敬畏神，追求這一種聖潔，且力臻完善？神在我身上能遂其所願麼？人家能從我身上愈來愈多看見神麼？
認認真真對神吧，其他的一切則視作等閒。要切切實實地把神放在首位。
祈禱◆[我是那樣愚頑和無知：我在你面前好像畜類。 ]噢，主啊，這句話將我在你面前的光景表達出來。當我從那純潔、神聖的神的形象，查看我們的主的要求時，我為著本身的愚頑、如畜類的思想，深感羞愧。
March 17, 2013
The Servant’s Primary Goal
We make it our aim . . . to be well pleasing to Him —2 Corinthians 5:9
We make it our aim. . . .” It requires a conscious decision and effort to keep our primary goal constantly in front of us. It means holding ourselves to the highest priority year in and year out; not making our first priority to win souls, or to establish churches, or to have revivals, but seeking only “to be well pleasing to Him.” It is not a lack of spiritual experience that leads to failure, but a lack of working to keep our eyes focused and on the right goal. At least once a week examine yourself before God to see if your life is measuring up to the standard He has for you. Paul was like a musician who gives no thought to audience approval, if he can only catch a look of approval from his Conductor.
Any goal we have that diverts us even to the slightest degree from the central goal of being “approved to God” (2 Timothy 2:15) may result in our rejection from further service for Him. When you discern where the goal leads, you will understand why it is so necessary to keep “looking unto Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2). Paul spoke of the importance of controlling his own body so that it would not take him in the wrong direction. He said, “I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest . . . I myself should become disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27).
I must learn to relate everything to the primary goal, maintaining it without interruption. My worth to God publicly is measured by what I really am in my private life. Is my primary goal in life to please Him and to be acceptable to Him, or is it something less, no matter how lofty it may sound?
工人專一的情志
我們立了志向，要得主的喜悅。 （林後五9）
[立了志向（英文有勞苦作工的意思）……]乃是盡心竭力，把最大的願望擺在首位。意即由年首至歲終，持守著最高的理想。這種理想，並不是熱心去得人靈魂，或者建立教會、舉辦奮興會，而是熱衷於[得主的喜悅]。我們的失敗，並非由於缺乏屬靈的經歷，而是沒有竭力持定那理想的標竿。每一個禮拜，至少要在神面前結算一次，看看你的生命是否夠得上他所要求得水平。
保羅好像一個音樂家，他不管聽眾讚賞不讚賞，只要獲得主人得青睞，就已心滿意足了。任何野心只要稍微偏差，不指向[得主喜悅]的目標，就會叫我們成為被棄絕的人。要學習分辨心志的方向，你就會明白為什麼要向著主耶穌而活。保羅說：[我怕我的身體會領我走入歧途，因此我不斷地提高警覺，攻克己身，叫身服我。 ]（林前九27）
我必須學習把一切所做的連接在這首要的心誌上，同時保守它不間斷。在公眾面前我在身心裡有多少價值，是視乎我私下里的為人。我最高的心志是要討神喜悅，還是為了次一等看來很高貴的目標？
祈禱◆噢，主啊，為著今早的經文，我感謝你－－[所以你當歸向你的神，謹守仁愛、公平，常常等候你的神。 ]願你榮耀的同在充滿這廣大的營地；阻止罪惡，激發敬虔。
We make it our aim. . . .” It requires a conscious decision and effort to keep our primary goal constantly in front of us. It means holding ourselves to the highest priority year in and year out; not making our first priority to win souls, or to establish churches, or to have revivals, but seeking only “to be well pleasing to Him.” It is not a lack of spiritual experience that leads to failure, but a lack of working to keep our eyes focused and on the right goal. At least once a week examine yourself before God to see if your life is measuring up to the standard He has for you. Paul was like a musician who gives no thought to audience approval, if he can only catch a look of approval from his Conductor.
Any goal we have that diverts us even to the slightest degree from the central goal of being “approved to God” (2 Timothy 2:15) may result in our rejection from further service for Him. When you discern where the goal leads, you will understand why it is so necessary to keep “looking unto Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2). Paul spoke of the importance of controlling his own body so that it would not take him in the wrong direction. He said, “I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest . . . I myself should become disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27).
I must learn to relate everything to the primary goal, maintaining it without interruption. My worth to God publicly is measured by what I really am in my private life. Is my primary goal in life to please Him and to be acceptable to Him, or is it something less, no matter how lofty it may sound?
工人專一的情志
我們立了志向，要得主的喜悅。 （林後五9）
[立了志向（英文有勞苦作工的意思）……]乃是盡心竭力，把最大的願望擺在首位。意即由年首至歲終，持守著最高的理想。這種理想，並不是熱心去得人靈魂，或者建立教會、舉辦奮興會，而是熱衷於[得主的喜悅]。我們的失敗，並非由於缺乏屬靈的經歷，而是沒有竭力持定那理想的標竿。每一個禮拜，至少要在神面前結算一次，看看你的生命是否夠得上他所要求得水平。
保羅好像一個音樂家，他不管聽眾讚賞不讚賞，只要獲得主人得青睞，就已心滿意足了。任何野心只要稍微偏差，不指向[得主喜悅]的目標，就會叫我們成為被棄絕的人。要學習分辨心志的方向，你就會明白為什麼要向著主耶穌而活。保羅說：[我怕我的身體會領我走入歧途，因此我不斷地提高警覺，攻克己身，叫身服我。 ]（林前九27）
我必須學習把一切所做的連接在這首要的心誌上，同時保守它不間斷。在公眾面前我在身心裡有多少價值，是視乎我私下里的為人。我最高的心志是要討神喜悅，還是為了次一等看來很高貴的目標？
祈禱◆噢，主啊，為著今早的經文，我感謝你－－[所以你當歸向你的神，謹守仁愛、公平，常常等候你的神。 ]願你榮耀的同在充滿這廣大的營地；阻止罪惡，激發敬虔。
March 16, 2013
The Master Will Judge
We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ . . . —2 Corinthians 5:10
Paul says that we must all, preachers and other people alike, “appear before the judgment seat of Christ.” But if you will learn here and now to live under the scrutiny of Christ’s pure light, your final judgment will bring you only delight in seeing the work God has done in you. Live constantly reminding yourself of the judgment seat of Christ, and walk in the knowledge of the holiness He has given you. Tolerating a wrong attitude toward another person causes you to follow the spirit of the devil, no matter how saintly you are. One carnal judgment of another person only serves the purposes of hell in you. Bring it immediately into the light and confess, “Oh, Lord, I have been guilty there.” If you don’t, your heart will become hardened through and through. One of the penalties of sin is our acceptance of it. It is not only God who punishes for sin, but sin establishes itself in the sinner and takes its toll. No struggling or praying will enable you to stop doing certain things, and the penalty of sin is that you gradually get used to it, until you finally come to the place where you no longer even realize that it is sin. No power, except the power that comes from being filled with the Holy Spirit, can change or prevent the inherent consequences of sin.
“If we walk in the light as He is in the light. . .” (1 John 1:7). For many of us, walking in the light means walking according to the standard we have set up for another person. The deadliest attitude of the Pharisees that we exhibit today is not hypocrisy but that which comes from unconsciously living a lie.
主的審判
因為我們眾人，必要在基督台前顯露出來。 （林後五10）
保羅說，我不論是傳道人，還是平信徒，[必要在基督台前顯露出來]。你若隨時隨地活在基督聖潔的光中，審判將使你因神在你身上的工作而歡樂。使自己可以面對基督的審判台；盡力行在最聖潔的光中。不管你如何聖潔，若對別人存有一絲惡意，至終必帶進魔鬼的靈。只要你下一個屬血氣的論斷，你就嚐到地獄的苦味。要立即去到主的光中，對主說：[我的神阿，我在這事上有罪了。 ]要不然剛硬的心，就會充滿全人。罪的刑罰，就是罪的本身。神不但要刑罰罪，罪在人身上的結果，也已證實了。無論怎樣掙扎禱告，都不能停止做那些事；那罪的刑罰就是要你漸漸習慣，不再覺得這是罪，除了聖靈的能力，沒有其他辦法改變罪所帶來的後果。
[我們若在光明中行，如同神在光明中……]我們不少人認為行在光中，就是行在我對別人要求的標準中。今日最致命的法利賽主義，不是假冒為善，乃是與現實脫節而不自覺。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，為著你的恩典，並你在我的內心和動機上所作的工，我感謝你，可是，在我現實的生活中，我能否在世人面前表達你的平安呢？
Paul says that we must all, preachers and other people alike, “appear before the judgment seat of Christ.” But if you will learn here and now to live under the scrutiny of Christ’s pure light, your final judgment will bring you only delight in seeing the work God has done in you. Live constantly reminding yourself of the judgment seat of Christ, and walk in the knowledge of the holiness He has given you. Tolerating a wrong attitude toward another person causes you to follow the spirit of the devil, no matter how saintly you are. One carnal judgment of another person only serves the purposes of hell in you. Bring it immediately into the light and confess, “Oh, Lord, I have been guilty there.” If you don’t, your heart will become hardened through and through. One of the penalties of sin is our acceptance of it. It is not only God who punishes for sin, but sin establishes itself in the sinner and takes its toll. No struggling or praying will enable you to stop doing certain things, and the penalty of sin is that you gradually get used to it, until you finally come to the place where you no longer even realize that it is sin. No power, except the power that comes from being filled with the Holy Spirit, can change or prevent the inherent consequences of sin.
“If we walk in the light as He is in the light. . .” (1 John 1:7). For many of us, walking in the light means walking according to the standard we have set up for another person. The deadliest attitude of the Pharisees that we exhibit today is not hypocrisy but that which comes from unconsciously living a lie.
主的審判
因為我們眾人，必要在基督台前顯露出來。 （林後五10）
保羅說，我不論是傳道人，還是平信徒，[必要在基督台前顯露出來]。你若隨時隨地活在基督聖潔的光中，審判將使你因神在你身上的工作而歡樂。使自己可以面對基督的審判台；盡力行在最聖潔的光中。不管你如何聖潔，若對別人存有一絲惡意，至終必帶進魔鬼的靈。只要你下一個屬血氣的論斷，你就嚐到地獄的苦味。要立即去到主的光中，對主說：[我的神阿，我在這事上有罪了。 ]要不然剛硬的心，就會充滿全人。罪的刑罰，就是罪的本身。神不但要刑罰罪，罪在人身上的結果，也已證實了。無論怎樣掙扎禱告，都不能停止做那些事；那罪的刑罰就是要你漸漸習慣，不再覺得這是罪，除了聖靈的能力，沒有其他辦法改變罪所帶來的後果。
[我們若在光明中行，如同神在光明中……]我們不少人認為行在光中，就是行在我對別人要求的標準中。今日最致命的法利賽主義，不是假冒為善，乃是與現實脫節而不自覺。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，為著你的恩典，並你在我的內心和動機上所作的工，我感謝你，可是，在我現實的生活中，我能否在世人面前表達你的平安呢？
March 15, 2013
The Discipline of Dismay
As they followed they were afraid —Mark 10:32
At the beginning of our life with Jesus Christ, we were sure we knew all there was to know about following Him. It was a delight to forsake everything else and to throw ourselves before Him in a fearless statement of love. But now we are not quite so sure. Jesus is far ahead of us and is beginning to seem different and unfamiliar— “Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed” (Mark 10:32).
There is an aspect of Jesus that chills even a disciple’s heart to its depth and makes his entire spiritual life gasp for air. This unusual Person with His face set “like a flint” (Isaiah 50:7) is walking with great determination ahead of me, and He strikes terror right through me. He no longer seems to be my Counselor and Friend and has a point of view about which I know nothing. All I can do is stand and stare at Him in amazement. At first I was confident that I understood Him, but now I am not so sure. I begin to realize that there is a distance between Jesus and me and I can no longer be intimate with Him. I have no idea where He is going, and the goal has become strangely distant.
Jesus Christ had to understand fully every sin and sorrow that human beings could experience, and that is what makes Him seem unfamiliar. When we see this aspect of Him, we realize we really don’t know Him. We don’t recognize even one characteristic of His life, and we don’t know how to begin to follow Him. He is far ahead of us, a Leader who seems totally unfamiliar, and we have no friendship with Him.
The discipline of dismay is an essential lesson which a disciple must learn. The danger is that we tend to look back on our times of obedience and on our past sacrifices to God in an effort to keep our enthusiasm for Him strong (see Isaiah 1:10-11). But when the darkness of dismay comes, endure until it is over, because out of it will come the ability to follow Jesus truly, which brings inexpressibly wonderful joy.
驚懼的訓練
跟從的人也害怕。 （可十32）
在開始時候，我們自認為清楚認識基督耶穌便歡喜地變賣所有，投身在愛的勞苦中。但如今卻不敢這樣自信了。耶穌走在前面，看來多麼陌生。 [耶穌在前頭走，門徒就稀奇。 ]
在耶穌身上有另一面叫門徒寒心，使他們整個屬靈生命似乎喘不過氣來。這超奇的一位，面如堅石，步伐穩重，令人震栗起來。他不再是策士同伴，因他心裡所想的，我一點也不知道，我只有驚愕的份兒。初時我自以為很瞭解他，可是現今卻不敢如此自信。我開始體會到：他與我之間，有了距離；我不再與他親熱了。他在我前面，卻不轉過身來。我不曉得他到哪裡去，那目的地顯得極其遙遠。
耶穌基督要發掘人一切的罪孽與憂苦，使他顯得怪異。看見他這一面時，我們就不認識他了。對於他生命特異之處，也辨認不出來，所以根本不知道從何跟隨他。他走在前頭——一位陌生的領路者——我們卻不能與他並駕齊驅。
要過門徒的生活，這種驚愕的訓練，是不可或缺的。但有一種危險，就是回到自己的火場中去，點燃著自己的熱心（賽五十10-11）。當驚愕莫名的黑暗臨到你，要忍耐直到它過去，因為從這經歷中出來後，跟隨耶穌就成為說不出來的喜樂了。
祈禱◆想到將來，我的心是何等不安；猶幸我並非老是如此，所以我讚美你。但願除你以外，我再無須抓緊任何東西！求你使我的熱忱不減退，也不鬆懈下來。
At the beginning of our life with Jesus Christ, we were sure we knew all there was to know about following Him. It was a delight to forsake everything else and to throw ourselves before Him in a fearless statement of love. But now we are not quite so sure. Jesus is far ahead of us and is beginning to seem different and unfamiliar— “Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed” (Mark 10:32).
There is an aspect of Jesus that chills even a disciple’s heart to its depth and makes his entire spiritual life gasp for air. This unusual Person with His face set “like a flint” (Isaiah 50:7) is walking with great determination ahead of me, and He strikes terror right through me. He no longer seems to be my Counselor and Friend and has a point of view about which I know nothing. All I can do is stand and stare at Him in amazement. At first I was confident that I understood Him, but now I am not so sure. I begin to realize that there is a distance between Jesus and me and I can no longer be intimate with Him. I have no idea where He is going, and the goal has become strangely distant.
Jesus Christ had to understand fully every sin and sorrow that human beings could experience, and that is what makes Him seem unfamiliar. When we see this aspect of Him, we realize we really don’t know Him. We don’t recognize even one characteristic of His life, and we don’t know how to begin to follow Him. He is far ahead of us, a Leader who seems totally unfamiliar, and we have no friendship with Him.
The discipline of dismay is an essential lesson which a disciple must learn. The danger is that we tend to look back on our times of obedience and on our past sacrifices to God in an effort to keep our enthusiasm for Him strong (see Isaiah 1:10-11). But when the darkness of dismay comes, endure until it is over, because out of it will come the ability to follow Jesus truly, which brings inexpressibly wonderful joy.
驚懼的訓練
跟從的人也害怕。 （可十32）
在開始時候，我們自認為清楚認識基督耶穌便歡喜地變賣所有，投身在愛的勞苦中。但如今卻不敢這樣自信了。耶穌走在前面，看來多麼陌生。 [耶穌在前頭走，門徒就稀奇。 ]
在耶穌身上有另一面叫門徒寒心，使他們整個屬靈生命似乎喘不過氣來。這超奇的一位，面如堅石，步伐穩重，令人震栗起來。他不再是策士同伴，因他心裡所想的，我一點也不知道，我只有驚愕的份兒。初時我自以為很瞭解他，可是現今卻不敢如此自信。我開始體會到：他與我之間，有了距離；我不再與他親熱了。他在我前面，卻不轉過身來。我不曉得他到哪裡去，那目的地顯得極其遙遠。
耶穌基督要發掘人一切的罪孽與憂苦，使他顯得怪異。看見他這一面時，我們就不認識他了。對於他生命特異之處，也辨認不出來，所以根本不知道從何跟隨他。他走在前頭——一位陌生的領路者——我們卻不能與他並駕齊驅。
要過門徒的生活，這種驚愕的訓練，是不可或缺的。但有一種危險，就是回到自己的火場中去，點燃著自己的熱心（賽五十10-11）。當驚愕莫名的黑暗臨到你，要忍耐直到它過去，因為從這經歷中出來後，跟隨耶穌就成為說不出來的喜樂了。
祈禱◆想到將來，我的心是何等不安；猶幸我並非老是如此，所以我讚美你。但願除你以外，我再無須抓緊任何東西！求你使我的熱忱不減退，也不鬆懈下來。
March 14, 2013
Yielding
. . . you are that one’s slaves whom you obey . . . —Romans 6:16
The first thing I must be willing to admit when I begin to examine what controls and dominates me is that I am the one responsible for having yielded myself to whatever it may be. If I am a slave to myself, I am to blame because somewhere in the past I yielded to myself. Likewise, if I obey God I do so because at some point in my life I yielded myself to Him.
If a child gives in to selfishness, he will find it to be the most enslaving tyranny on earth. There is no power within the human soul itself that is capable of breaking the bondage of the nature created by yielding. For example, yield for one second to anything in the nature of lust, and although you may hate yourself for having yielded, you become enslaved to that thing. (Remember what lust is— “I must have it now,” whether it is the lust of the flesh or the lust of the mind.) No release or escape from it will ever come from any human power, but only through the power of redemption. You must yield yourself in utter humiliation to the only One who can break the dominating power in your life, namely, the Lord Jesus Christ. “. . . He has anointed Me . . . to proclaim liberty to the captives . . .” (Luke 4:18 and Isaiah 61:1).
When you yield to something, you will soon realize the tremendous control it has over you. Even though you say, “Oh, I can give up that habit whenever I like,” you will know you can’t. You will find that the habit absolutely dominates you because you willingly yielded to it. It is easy to sing, “He will break every fetter,” while at the same time living a life of obvious slavery to yourself. But yielding to Jesus will break every kind of slavery in any person’s life.
順服
順從誰，就作誰的奴僕。 （羅六16）
要省察自己被什麼力量轄制，首先要承認一個難以接受的事實，就是我這樣轄制，自己要負責，因為我向此力量屈服了。我若做自己的奴僕，便要自己承擔責任，因為我向自己屈服了。同樣地，我若順服神，是因為自己向神降服。
人若自幼順從了自私自利之心，就會發現這是世上最強暴的捆鎖。這種因降服而形成的桎梏，是人本性沒有能力擺脫的。你只要對情慾稍為縱容（所謂情慾，就是人一定要立刻得著的，這包括肉體的情慾和心思上的情慾），便成為它的奴僕了。一旦降服，你儘管恨自己不該如此，也無濟於事。除非有神的救贖，靠自己絕對沒有解救的出路；所以必須完全謙卑屈服在主耶穌面前，惟有他能潰敗轄制你的權勢。 [耶和華用膏膏我……報告被擄的得釋放。 ]我們在極小的事上，便可以發現：[啊！我要放下這嗜好是隨時都做得到的。 ]是不能的。你會發覺這嗜好牢牢地轄制著你，因為你是甘願向它降服。唱[它斷開一切鎖鏈]很容易，但同時卻明明活在自我的捆鎖裡。只有降服耶穌才能解脫人生中任何的奴役。
祈禱◆主啊，我讚美你，你阻止我即時要為自己尋求各樣的東西，你使我唯獨尋求你那永久的憑證——你的感動，讓我獲得在你裡面的平安。
The first thing I must be willing to admit when I begin to examine what controls and dominates me is that I am the one responsible for having yielded myself to whatever it may be. If I am a slave to myself, I am to blame because somewhere in the past I yielded to myself. Likewise, if I obey God I do so because at some point in my life I yielded myself to Him.
If a child gives in to selfishness, he will find it to be the most enslaving tyranny on earth. There is no power within the human soul itself that is capable of breaking the bondage of the nature created by yielding. For example, yield for one second to anything in the nature of lust, and although you may hate yourself for having yielded, you become enslaved to that thing. (Remember what lust is— “I must have it now,” whether it is the lust of the flesh or the lust of the mind.) No release or escape from it will ever come from any human power, but only through the power of redemption. You must yield yourself in utter humiliation to the only One who can break the dominating power in your life, namely, the Lord Jesus Christ. “. . . He has anointed Me . . . to proclaim liberty to the captives . . .” (Luke 4:18 and Isaiah 61:1).
When you yield to something, you will soon realize the tremendous control it has over you. Even though you say, “Oh, I can give up that habit whenever I like,” you will know you can’t. You will find that the habit absolutely dominates you because you willingly yielded to it. It is easy to sing, “He will break every fetter,” while at the same time living a life of obvious slavery to yourself. But yielding to Jesus will break every kind of slavery in any person’s life.
順服
順從誰，就作誰的奴僕。 （羅六16）
要省察自己被什麼力量轄制，首先要承認一個難以接受的事實，就是我這樣轄制，自己要負責，因為我向此力量屈服了。我若做自己的奴僕，便要自己承擔責任，因為我向自己屈服了。同樣地，我若順服神，是因為自己向神降服。
人若自幼順從了自私自利之心，就會發現這是世上最強暴的捆鎖。這種因降服而形成的桎梏，是人本性沒有能力擺脫的。你只要對情慾稍為縱容（所謂情慾，就是人一定要立刻得著的，這包括肉體的情慾和心思上的情慾），便成為它的奴僕了。一旦降服，你儘管恨自己不該如此，也無濟於事。除非有神的救贖，靠自己絕對沒有解救的出路；所以必須完全謙卑屈服在主耶穌面前，惟有他能潰敗轄制你的權勢。 [耶和華用膏膏我……報告被擄的得釋放。 ]我們在極小的事上，便可以發現：[啊！我要放下這嗜好是隨時都做得到的。 ]是不能的。你會發覺這嗜好牢牢地轄制著你，因為你是甘願向它降服。唱[它斷開一切鎖鏈]很容易，但同時卻明明活在自我的捆鎖裡。只有降服耶穌才能解脫人生中任何的奴役。
祈禱◆主啊，我讚美你，你阻止我即時要為自己尋求各樣的東西，你使我唯獨尋求你那永久的憑證——你的感動，讓我獲得在你裡面的平安。
March 13, 2013
God’s Total Surrender to Us
For God so loved the world that He gave . . . —John 3:16
Salvation does not mean merely deliverance from sin or the experience of personal holiness. The salvation which comes from God means being completely delivered from myself, and being placed into perfect union with Him. When I think of my salvation experience, I think of being delivered from sin and gaining personal holiness. But salvation is so much more! It means that the Spirit of God has brought me into intimate contact with the true Person of God Himself. And as I am caught up into total surrender to God, I become thrilled with something infinitely greater than myself.
To say that we are called to preach holiness or sanctification is to miss the main point. We are called to proclaim Jesus Christ (see 1 Corinthians 2:2). The fact that He saves from sin and makes us holy is actually part of the effect of His wonderful and total surrender to us.
If we are truly surrendered, we will never be aware of our own efforts to remain surrendered. Our entire life will be consumed with the One to whom we surrender. Beware of talking about surrender if you know nothing about it. In fact, you will never know anything about it until you understand that John 3:16 means that God completely and absolutely gave Himself to us. In our surrender, we must give ourselves to God in the same way He gave Himself for us— totally, unconditionally, and without reservation. The consequences and circumstances resulting from our surrender will never even enter our mind, because our life will be totally consumed with Him.
神的捨棄
神愛世人，甚至將他的獨生子賜給他們……（約三16）
救恩並不只是從罪惡中得解救，也不只是個人成聖的經歷；救恩乃是神把人從自己解脫出來，與他合一。我對救恩的認識，是從脫離罪開始，以致個人成聖；可是救恩的真諦，是聖靈使我接觸到神自己；因這超越自我千萬倍的主宰震撼激盪，我被神的犧牲吸引住了。若有人說我們被召是要傳聖潔與成聖之道，就偏差了。我們被召是要傳耶穌基督。他救我們脫離罪，使我們成聖，這不過是神奇妙犧牲中的一部分。
真正的捨棄，是不會對本身所作的有所知覺，因為整個生命已經被那一位我們為他擺上的主所佔有了。你若不知道何為放下捨棄，就不要隨便講說。除非你明白約翰福音三章16節裡的意思：神怎樣毫無保留地將自己賜給人；否則，你永不會明白何為捨棄。我們的捨棄就是把自己完全交給神，正如神為我們捨了自己，不計算代價一樣。捨棄的後果如何，不會在我們的人生觀上顯露，因為我們的生命已經充滿了基督。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，今早讓我為過往的一切讚美你——我是那麼的任性，你卻是那麼的慈愛、長久忍耐、滿有寬恕和親切。
Salvation does not mean merely deliverance from sin or the experience of personal holiness. The salvation which comes from God means being completely delivered from myself, and being placed into perfect union with Him. When I think of my salvation experience, I think of being delivered from sin and gaining personal holiness. But salvation is so much more! It means that the Spirit of God has brought me into intimate contact with the true Person of God Himself. And as I am caught up into total surrender to God, I become thrilled with something infinitely greater than myself.
To say that we are called to preach holiness or sanctification is to miss the main point. We are called to proclaim Jesus Christ (see 1 Corinthians 2:2). The fact that He saves from sin and makes us holy is actually part of the effect of His wonderful and total surrender to us.
If we are truly surrendered, we will never be aware of our own efforts to remain surrendered. Our entire life will be consumed with the One to whom we surrender. Beware of talking about surrender if you know nothing about it. In fact, you will never know anything about it until you understand that John 3:16 means that God completely and absolutely gave Himself to us. In our surrender, we must give ourselves to God in the same way He gave Himself for us— totally, unconditionally, and without reservation. The consequences and circumstances resulting from our surrender will never even enter our mind, because our life will be totally consumed with Him.
神的捨棄
神愛世人，甚至將他的獨生子賜給他們……（約三16）
救恩並不只是從罪惡中得解救，也不只是個人成聖的經歷；救恩乃是神把人從自己解脫出來，與他合一。我對救恩的認識，是從脫離罪開始，以致個人成聖；可是救恩的真諦，是聖靈使我接觸到神自己；因這超越自我千萬倍的主宰震撼激盪，我被神的犧牲吸引住了。若有人說我們被召是要傳聖潔與成聖之道，就偏差了。我們被召是要傳耶穌基督。他救我們脫離罪，使我們成聖，這不過是神奇妙犧牲中的一部分。
真正的捨棄，是不會對本身所作的有所知覺，因為整個生命已經被那一位我們為他擺上的主所佔有了。你若不知道何為放下捨棄，就不要隨便講說。除非你明白約翰福音三章16節裡的意思：神怎樣毫無保留地將自己賜給人；否則，你永不會明白何為捨棄。我們的捨棄就是把自己完全交給神，正如神為我們捨了自己，不計算代價一樣。捨棄的後果如何，不會在我們的人生觀上顯露，因為我們的生命已經充滿了基督。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，今早讓我為過往的一切讚美你——我是那麼的任性，你卻是那麼的慈愛、長久忍耐、滿有寬恕和親切。
March 12, 2013
Total Surrender
Peter began to say to Him, ’See, we have left all and followed You’ —Mark 10:28
Our Lord replies to this statement of Peter by saying that this surrender is “for My sake and the gospel’s” (10:29). It was not for the purpose of what the disciples themselves would get out of it. Beware of surrender that is motivated by personal benefits that may result. For example, “I’m going to give myself to God because I want to be delivered from sin, because I want to be made holy.” Being delivered from sin and being made holy are the result of being right with God, but surrender resulting from this kind of thinking is certainly not the true nature of Christianity. Our motive for surrender should not be for any personal gain at all. We have become so self-centered that we go to God only for something from Him, and not for God Himself. It is like saying, “No, Lord, I don’t want you; I want myself. But I do want You to clean me and fill me with Your Holy Spirit. I want to be on display in Your showcase so I can say, ’This is what God has done for me.’ ” Gaining heaven, being delivered from sin, and being made useful to God are things that should never even be a consideration in real surrender. Genuine total surrender is a personal sovereign preference for Jesus Christ Himself.
Where does Jesus Christ figure in when we have a concern about our natural relationships? Most of us will desert Him with this excuse—”Yes, Lord, I heard you call me, but my family needs me and I have my own interests. I just can’t go any further” (see Luke 9:57-62). “Then,” Jesus says, “you ’cannot be My disciple’ ” (see Luke 14:26-33).
True surrender will always go beyond natural devotion. If we will only give up, God will surrender Himself to embrace all those around us and will meet their needs, which were created by our surrender. Beware of stopping anywhere short of total surrender to God. Most of us have only a vision of what this really means, but have never truly experienced it.
撇棄一切
彼得就對他說：看哪，我們已經撇下所有的跟從你了……（可十28）
主的回答是說為他而撇下，而不是為了門徒自己能換得什麼。當心別把商業貿易的精神參入[撇下]裡去——[我把自己給神，因為我要脫離罪，因為我要成聖。 ]這些都是與神和好的結果，卻不是基督教信仰裡的精神。 [撇下]根本不是為任何東西。我們已經變得太商業化了，到神面前只是為得那一點什麼，而不是為他本身。這好像是說：[主啊，我不要你，我要自己；我要自己潔淨，充滿聖靈；我要登上你得櫥窗說：『看神為我做的一切。 』]若我們為神撇下，為的是要得更多的，那末，我們的撇下便沒有聖靈，只是可憐的商業自利。我們得上天堂，罪得赦免，合神使用，這些在真正的[撇下]裡，絕不是原因。真正的撇下，乃是個人專誠的揀選耶穌基督自己。
當我們面對人際關係的屏障，耶穌的地位何在？我們多半遺棄他說：[不錯，主，我聽見你的呼召；但我母親阻著去路，還有我的妻子，我的喜好，我無法前行。 ]耶穌說：[這樣，你不能作我的門徒。 ]
撇下的考驗總是與親情有切膚之痛。越過它，神會盡所有去懷抱你撇下時所傷害的人。要當心撇下不可中途而廢。我們多半只在異像中認識什麼叫做撇下。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，求你使我的悟性，與你聖靈的教導一同發出光輝。
Our Lord replies to this statement of Peter by saying that this surrender is “for My sake and the gospel’s” (10:29). It was not for the purpose of what the disciples themselves would get out of it. Beware of surrender that is motivated by personal benefits that may result. For example, “I’m going to give myself to God because I want to be delivered from sin, because I want to be made holy.” Being delivered from sin and being made holy are the result of being right with God, but surrender resulting from this kind of thinking is certainly not the true nature of Christianity. Our motive for surrender should not be for any personal gain at all. We have become so self-centered that we go to God only for something from Him, and not for God Himself. It is like saying, “No, Lord, I don’t want you; I want myself. But I do want You to clean me and fill me with Your Holy Spirit. I want to be on display in Your showcase so I can say, ’This is what God has done for me.’ ” Gaining heaven, being delivered from sin, and being made useful to God are things that should never even be a consideration in real surrender. Genuine total surrender is a personal sovereign preference for Jesus Christ Himself.
Where does Jesus Christ figure in when we have a concern about our natural relationships? Most of us will desert Him with this excuse—”Yes, Lord, I heard you call me, but my family needs me and I have my own interests. I just can’t go any further” (see Luke 9:57-62). “Then,” Jesus says, “you ’cannot be My disciple’ ” (see Luke 14:26-33).
True surrender will always go beyond natural devotion. If we will only give up, God will surrender Himself to embrace all those around us and will meet their needs, which were created by our surrender. Beware of stopping anywhere short of total surrender to God. Most of us have only a vision of what this really means, but have never truly experienced it.
撇棄一切
彼得就對他說：看哪，我們已經撇下所有的跟從你了……（可十28）
主的回答是說為他而撇下，而不是為了門徒自己能換得什麼。當心別把商業貿易的精神參入[撇下]裡去——[我把自己給神，因為我要脫離罪，因為我要成聖。 ]這些都是與神和好的結果，卻不是基督教信仰裡的精神。 [撇下]根本不是為任何東西。我們已經變得太商業化了，到神面前只是為得那一點什麼，而不是為他本身。這好像是說：[主啊，我不要你，我要自己；我要自己潔淨，充滿聖靈；我要登上你得櫥窗說：『看神為我做的一切。 』]若我們為神撇下，為的是要得更多的，那末，我們的撇下便沒有聖靈，只是可憐的商業自利。我們得上天堂，罪得赦免，合神使用，這些在真正的[撇下]裡，絕不是原因。真正的撇下，乃是個人專誠的揀選耶穌基督自己。
當我們面對人際關係的屏障，耶穌的地位何在？我們多半遺棄他說：[不錯，主，我聽見你的呼召；但我母親阻著去路，還有我的妻子，我的喜好，我無法前行。 ]耶穌說：[這樣，你不能作我的門徒。 ]
撇下的考驗總是與親情有切膚之痛。越過它，神會盡所有去懷抱你撇下時所傷害的人。要當心撇下不可中途而廢。我們多半只在異像中認識什麼叫做撇下。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，求你使我的悟性，與你聖靈的教導一同發出光輝。
March 11, 2013
Obedience to the "Heavenly Vision"
I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision —Acts 26:19
If we lose “the heavenly vision” God has given us, we alone are responsible— not God. We lose the vision because of our own lack of spiritual growth. If we do not apply our beliefs about God to the issues of everyday life, the vision God has given us will never be fulfilled. The only way to be obedient to “the heavenly vision” is to give our utmost for His highest— our best for His glory. This can be accomplished only when we make a determination to continually remember God’s vision. But the acid test is obedience to the vision in the details of our everyday life— sixty seconds out of every minute, and sixty minutes out of every hour, not just during times of personal prayer or public meetings.
“Though it tarries, wait for it . . .” (Habakkuk 2:3). We cannot bring the vision to fulfillment through our own efforts, but must live under its inspiration until it fulfills itself. We try to be so practical that we forget the vision. At the very beginning we saw the vision but did not wait for it. We rushed off to do our practical work, and once the vision was fulfilled we could no longer even see it. Waiting for a vision that “tarries” is the true test of our faithfulness to God. It is at the risk of our own soul’s welfare that we get caught up in practical busy-work, only to miss the fulfillment of the vision.
Watch for the storms of God. The only way God plants His saints is through the whirlwind of His storms. Will you be proven to be an empty pod with no seed inside? That will depend on whether or not you are actually living in the light of the vision you have seen. Let God send you out through His storm, and don’t go until He does. If you select your own spot to be planted, you will prove yourself to be an unproductive, empty pod. However, if you allow God to plant you, you will “bear much fruit” (John 15:8).
It is essential that we live and “walk in the light” of God’s vision for us (1 John 1:7).
異象
我沒有違背那從天上來的異象。 （徒二十六19）
我們若失了異象，必須單獨承擔責任。失去異象的原因，就是靈性上出現問題。我們對神的信仰，若不付諸實踐的話，神賜的異象就會消失。要不違背從天上來的異象，唯一的途徑是為神傾盡所有，並且不住地、堅持地重溫那異象。考驗是每分鐘裡的六十秒，每小時裡的六十分鐘，而不單是祈禱或培靈會裡的事。
[雖然遲延，還要等候。 ]我們不可能憑自己實現異象，乃是要活在那異象的感動裡，直到實現出來。有時我們太現實化了，以致忘記了那異象。起初，我們看見異象，卻不等候，往往一沖而出去做；當異象實現，我們又看不見。異象的等候，是考驗我們對神的忠心。若只一味專注在實際的工作上，錯失了異象的實現，對靈命的造益來說，是大有損害的。
要注意神的旋風，神把聖徒散播出去，唯一的方法是用他的旋風。你最終是否是一條空的豆莢？就在乎你是否真的行在神的亮光中。讓神把你散播出去，他不行動，你不要擅自出去。你若選擇自己喜歡的地土，必長成空豆莢。若神把你散播出去，就結出果子來。
祈禱◆主啊，求你向我們的生命張口，向我們個人吹出你使生命再造並令人振奮的氣息，驅除我們的疾病。
If we lose “the heavenly vision” God has given us, we alone are responsible— not God. We lose the vision because of our own lack of spiritual growth. If we do not apply our beliefs about God to the issues of everyday life, the vision God has given us will never be fulfilled. The only way to be obedient to “the heavenly vision” is to give our utmost for His highest— our best for His glory. This can be accomplished only when we make a determination to continually remember God’s vision. But the acid test is obedience to the vision in the details of our everyday life— sixty seconds out of every minute, and sixty minutes out of every hour, not just during times of personal prayer or public meetings.
“Though it tarries, wait for it . . .” (Habakkuk 2:3). We cannot bring the vision to fulfillment through our own efforts, but must live under its inspiration until it fulfills itself. We try to be so practical that we forget the vision. At the very beginning we saw the vision but did not wait for it. We rushed off to do our practical work, and once the vision was fulfilled we could no longer even see it. Waiting for a vision that “tarries” is the true test of our faithfulness to God. It is at the risk of our own soul’s welfare that we get caught up in practical busy-work, only to miss the fulfillment of the vision.
Watch for the storms of God. The only way God plants His saints is through the whirlwind of His storms. Will you be proven to be an empty pod with no seed inside? That will depend on whether or not you are actually living in the light of the vision you have seen. Let God send you out through His storm, and don’t go until He does. If you select your own spot to be planted, you will prove yourself to be an unproductive, empty pod. However, if you allow God to plant you, you will “bear much fruit” (John 15:8).
It is essential that we live and “walk in the light” of God’s vision for us (1 John 1:7).
異象
我沒有違背那從天上來的異象。 （徒二十六19）
我們若失了異象，必須單獨承擔責任。失去異象的原因，就是靈性上出現問題。我們對神的信仰，若不付諸實踐的話，神賜的異象就會消失。要不違背從天上來的異象，唯一的途徑是為神傾盡所有，並且不住地、堅持地重溫那異象。考驗是每分鐘裡的六十秒，每小時裡的六十分鐘，而不單是祈禱或培靈會裡的事。
[雖然遲延，還要等候。 ]我們不可能憑自己實現異象，乃是要活在那異象的感動裡，直到實現出來。有時我們太現實化了，以致忘記了那異象。起初，我們看見異象，卻不等候，往往一沖而出去做；當異象實現，我們又看不見。異象的等候，是考驗我們對神的忠心。若只一味專注在實際的工作上，錯失了異象的實現，對靈命的造益來說，是大有損害的。
要注意神的旋風，神把聖徒散播出去，唯一的方法是用他的旋風。你最終是否是一條空的豆莢？就在乎你是否真的行在神的亮光中。讓神把你散播出去，他不行動，你不要擅自出去。你若選擇自己喜歡的地土，必長成空豆莢。若神把你散播出去，就結出果子來。
祈禱◆主啊，求你向我們的生命張口，向我們個人吹出你使生命再造並令人振奮的氣息，驅除我們的疾病。
March 10, 2013
Being an Example of His Message
Preach the word! —2 Timothy 4:2
We are not saved only to be instruments for God, but to be His sons and daughters. He does not turn us into spiritual agents but into spiritual messengers, and the message must be a part of us. The Son of God was His own message— “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). As His disciples, our lives must be a holy example of the reality of our message. Even the natural heart of the unsaved will serve if called upon to do so, but it takes a heart broken by conviction of sin, baptized by the Holy Spirit, and crushed into submission to God’s purpose to make a person’s life a holy example of God’s message.
There is a difference between giving a testimony and preaching. A preacher is someone who has received the call of God and is determined to use all his energy to proclaim God’s truth. God takes us beyond our own aspirations and ideas for our lives, and molds and shapes us for His purpose, just as He worked in the disciples’ lives after Pentecost. The purpose of Pentecost was not to teach the disciples something, but to make them the incarnation of what they preached so that they would literally become God’s message in the flesh. “. . . you shall be witnesses to Me . . .” (Acts 1:8).
Allow God to have complete liberty in your life when you speak. Before God’s message can liberate other people, His liberation must first be real in you. Gather your material carefully, and then allow God to “set your words on fire” for His glory.
要有言教，更要有身教
務要傳道。 （提後四2）
我們得救，並不單是做[導管]，乃是做神的兒女。我們不是變成屬靈的媒介，乃是屬靈的使者；所傳的資訊必須是我們本身一部分。神的兒子本身就是神的資訊，他的話就是靈和生命。我們作他門徒的，生命必須成為資訊的印證。人天然的心喜歡做許多的事奉，但是要心靈真正在罪的自責中破碎，被聖靈澆灌，被搓揉進神的旨意裡去，這時生命才成為資訊的印證。
作見證與講道原有分別。傳道人是有神的呼召，決志竭盡一切傳神的真理。神把我們從自己的觀念裡領出來，把我們陶冶塑造，加以使用，正如五旬節後的門徒一般。五旬節並沒有教導門徒什麼，神只是把門徒變成為他們所傳的資訊——[你們要作我的見證]。你說話的時候，要讓神有絕對的自由。神的話釋放別人靈魂之先，必須先釋放你。然後將你所經歷的說出來，為主發光。
祈禱◆無所不知的主神，求你在今天將智慧賜給我，讓我的敬拜、正確的行為都討你的喜悅。主啊，求你在你的完全和美善中，不斷向我述說你自己。妙！
We are not saved only to be instruments for God, but to be His sons and daughters. He does not turn us into spiritual agents but into spiritual messengers, and the message must be a part of us. The Son of God was His own message— “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). As His disciples, our lives must be a holy example of the reality of our message. Even the natural heart of the unsaved will serve if called upon to do so, but it takes a heart broken by conviction of sin, baptized by the Holy Spirit, and crushed into submission to God’s purpose to make a person’s life a holy example of God’s message.
There is a difference between giving a testimony and preaching. A preacher is someone who has received the call of God and is determined to use all his energy to proclaim God’s truth. God takes us beyond our own aspirations and ideas for our lives, and molds and shapes us for His purpose, just as He worked in the disciples’ lives after Pentecost. The purpose of Pentecost was not to teach the disciples something, but to make them the incarnation of what they preached so that they would literally become God’s message in the flesh. “. . . you shall be witnesses to Me . . .” (Acts 1:8).
Allow God to have complete liberty in your life when you speak. Before God’s message can liberate other people, His liberation must first be real in you. Gather your material carefully, and then allow God to “set your words on fire” for His glory.
要有言教，更要有身教
務要傳道。 （提後四2）
我們得救，並不單是做[導管]，乃是做神的兒女。我們不是變成屬靈的媒介，乃是屬靈的使者；所傳的資訊必須是我們本身一部分。神的兒子本身就是神的資訊，他的話就是靈和生命。我們作他門徒的，生命必須成為資訊的印證。人天然的心喜歡做許多的事奉，但是要心靈真正在罪的自責中破碎，被聖靈澆灌，被搓揉進神的旨意裡去，這時生命才成為資訊的印證。
作見證與講道原有分別。傳道人是有神的呼召，決志竭盡一切傳神的真理。神把我們從自己的觀念裡領出來，把我們陶冶塑造，加以使用，正如五旬節後的門徒一般。五旬節並沒有教導門徒什麼，神只是把門徒變成為他們所傳的資訊——[你們要作我的見證]。你說話的時候，要讓神有絕對的自由。神的話釋放別人靈魂之先，必須先釋放你。然後將你所經歷的說出來，為主發光。
祈禱◆無所不知的主神，求你在今天將智慧賜給我，讓我的敬拜、正確的行為都討你的喜悅。主啊，求你在你的完全和美善中，不斷向我述說你自己。妙！
March 09, 2013
Turning Back or Walking with Jesus?
Do you also want to go away? —John 6:67
What a penetrating question! Our Lord’s words often hit home for us when He speaks in the simplest way. In spite of the fact that we know who Jesus is, He asks, “Do you also want to go away?” We must continually maintain an adventurous attitude toward Him, despite any potential personal risk.
“From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more” (John 6:66). They turned back from walking with Jesus; not into sin, but away from Him. Many people today are pouring their lives out and working for Jesus Christ, but are not really walking with Him. One thing God constantly requires of us is a oneness with Jesus Christ. After being set apart through sanctification, we should discipline our lives spiritually to maintain this intimate oneness. When God gives you a clear determination of His will for you, all your striving to maintain that relationship by some particular method is completely unnecessary. All that is required is to live a natural life of absolute dependence on Jesus Christ. Never try to live your life with God in any other way than His way. And His way means absolute devotion to Him. Showing no concern for the uncertainties that lie ahead is the secret of walking with Jesus.
Peter saw in Jesus only someone who could minister salvation to him and to the world. But our Lord wants us to be fellow laborers with Him.
In John 6:70 Jesus lovingly reminded Peter that he was chosen to go with Him. And each of us must answer this question for ourselves and no one else: “Do you also want to go away?”
靈性的倒退
你們也要去麼？ （約六67）
多刺透人心的問題。主最深入人心的話，往往是最簡單的話。我們雖然知道耶穌是誰？但他仍然要問：[你們也要去麼？ ]對主我們必須時刻持著敢作敢為的態度。 [從此他門徒中多有退去的，不再和他同行。 ]他們轉身不與耶穌同行，並不回去犯罪，只是回復原形，依然故我。今日不少人為主作工竭盡心力，可是並沒有他同行。神要我們持守的，是要我們與耶穌基督合一。成聖之後，屬靈生命的操練是循這方向走。神若在你心中清楚地啟示他的心意，你不要用什麼特別的方法去保持與神的關係，只要順其自然地，完全靠賴耶穌基督而生活。與神同行的生活除了依循神的路徑之外，萬不能別開蹊徑。這條路就是要絕對忠心愛他。我真知道自己無知——這就是與主同行的秘訣了。
彼得只看見耶穌是他的救主，是世人的救主。但主卻要我們與他同負一軛。在第70節耶穌答覆了彼得的問話，填補他想法上的漏洞。我們不可以代人作答。
祈禱◆主啊，對於住在我裡面的基督，我所給予的滋養是何其短缺；噢，主啊，赦免我。求你讓我深深地感受到你的寬恕，以致我不單為著你的救恩而喜樂，更讓你的靈充滿這裡的工作。
What a penetrating question! Our Lord’s words often hit home for us when He speaks in the simplest way. In spite of the fact that we know who Jesus is, He asks, “Do you also want to go away?” We must continually maintain an adventurous attitude toward Him, despite any potential personal risk.
“From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more” (John 6:66). They turned back from walking with Jesus; not into sin, but away from Him. Many people today are pouring their lives out and working for Jesus Christ, but are not really walking with Him. One thing God constantly requires of us is a oneness with Jesus Christ. After being set apart through sanctification, we should discipline our lives spiritually to maintain this intimate oneness. When God gives you a clear determination of His will for you, all your striving to maintain that relationship by some particular method is completely unnecessary. All that is required is to live a natural life of absolute dependence on Jesus Christ. Never try to live your life with God in any other way than His way. And His way means absolute devotion to Him. Showing no concern for the uncertainties that lie ahead is the secret of walking with Jesus.
Peter saw in Jesus only someone who could minister salvation to him and to the world. But our Lord wants us to be fellow laborers with Him.
In John 6:70 Jesus lovingly reminded Peter that he was chosen to go with Him. And each of us must answer this question for ourselves and no one else: “Do you also want to go away?”
靈性的倒退
你們也要去麼？ （約六67）
多刺透人心的問題。主最深入人心的話，往往是最簡單的話。我們雖然知道耶穌是誰？但他仍然要問：[你們也要去麼？ ]對主我們必須時刻持著敢作敢為的態度。 [從此他門徒中多有退去的，不再和他同行。 ]他們轉身不與耶穌同行，並不回去犯罪，只是回復原形，依然故我。今日不少人為主作工竭盡心力，可是並沒有他同行。神要我們持守的，是要我們與耶穌基督合一。成聖之後，屬靈生命的操練是循這方向走。神若在你心中清楚地啟示他的心意，你不要用什麼特別的方法去保持與神的關係，只要順其自然地，完全靠賴耶穌基督而生活。與神同行的生活除了依循神的路徑之外，萬不能別開蹊徑。這條路就是要絕對忠心愛他。我真知道自己無知——這就是與主同行的秘訣了。
彼得只看見耶穌是他的救主，是世人的救主。但主卻要我們與他同負一軛。在第70節耶穌答覆了彼得的問話，填補他想法上的漏洞。我們不可以代人作答。
祈禱◆主啊，對於住在我裡面的基督，我所給予的滋養是何其短缺；噢，主啊，赦免我。求你讓我深深地感受到你的寬恕，以致我不單為著你的救恩而喜樂，更讓你的靈充滿這裡的工作。
March 08, 2013
The Surrendered Life
I have been crucified with Christ . . . —Galatians 2:20
To become one with Jesus Christ, a person must be willing not only to give up sin, but also to surrender his whole way of looking at things. Being born again by the Spirit of God means that we must first be willing to let go before we can grasp something else. The first thing we must surrender is all of our pretense or deceit. What our Lord wants us to present to Him is not our goodness, honesty, or our efforts to do better, but real solid sin. Actually, that is all He can take from us. And what He gives us in exchange for our sin is real solid righteousness. But we must surrender all pretense that we are anything, and give up all our claims of even being worthy of God’s consideration.
Once we have done that, the Spirit of God will show us what we need to surrender next. Along each step of this process, we will have to give up our claims to our rights to ourselves. Are we willing to surrender our grasp on all that we possess, our desires, and everything else in our lives? Are we ready to be identified with the death of Jesus Christ?
We will suffer a sharp painful disillusionment before we fully surrender. When people really see themselves as the Lord sees them, it is not the terribly offensive sins of the flesh that shock them, but the awful nature of the pride of their own hearts opposing Jesus Christ. When they see themselves in the light of the Lord, the shame, horror, and desperate conviction hit home for them.
If you are faced with the question of whether or not to surrender, make a determination to go on through the crisis, surrendering all that you have and all that you are to Him. And God will then equip you to do all that He requires of you.
全捨的生命
我已經與基督同釘十字架。 （加二20）
一個真正與耶穌基督聯合的人，不但捨棄了罪，更把個人對事物的觀點也一概捨棄。從上頭、從聖靈而生的意思，就是先放下，然後才得著；而第一步要放下的就是一切虛假。主要我們帶到他面前的，不是良善、不是誠實、不是努力，而是罪；他所要接受的就是這些。那他以什麼代替我們的罪呢？真正的義。但我們先得放下一切自以為是的偽裝，一切自以為配得神恩眷的資格。
然後，聖靈會繼續顯示我們還有什麼要放下得。我必須在任何情況下，放棄自己的主權。我是否願意視自己與基督同死，放棄一切所有的？放棄感情上羈絆，放棄所有手上執著的東西。不再緊緊抓住，視為己有。
我們放下之先，總會經歷刻骨銘心的痛苦。當人真以主的眼光看自己，震驚的不是那些肉體可怕的罪，而是心中對耶穌基督那驚人的高傲本性。當他在主的光中看見自己，那羞愧、驚懼、絕望，必顯露無遺。要是你正在面臨[放下的問題]，就必須經過那抉擇的關頭。若能放下一切，神便按他的心意模造你。
祈禱◆[散佈亮光是為義人。 ]主啊，何等的豐收！你的道路是何等的奇妙。
To become one with Jesus Christ, a person must be willing not only to give up sin, but also to surrender his whole way of looking at things. Being born again by the Spirit of God means that we must first be willing to let go before we can grasp something else. The first thing we must surrender is all of our pretense or deceit. What our Lord wants us to present to Him is not our goodness, honesty, or our efforts to do better, but real solid sin. Actually, that is all He can take from us. And what He gives us in exchange for our sin is real solid righteousness. But we must surrender all pretense that we are anything, and give up all our claims of even being worthy of God’s consideration.
Once we have done that, the Spirit of God will show us what we need to surrender next. Along each step of this process, we will have to give up our claims to our rights to ourselves. Are we willing to surrender our grasp on all that we possess, our desires, and everything else in our lives? Are we ready to be identified with the death of Jesus Christ?
We will suffer a sharp painful disillusionment before we fully surrender. When people really see themselves as the Lord sees them, it is not the terribly offensive sins of the flesh that shock them, but the awful nature of the pride of their own hearts opposing Jesus Christ. When they see themselves in the light of the Lord, the shame, horror, and desperate conviction hit home for them.
If you are faced with the question of whether or not to surrender, make a determination to go on through the crisis, surrendering all that you have and all that you are to Him. And God will then equip you to do all that He requires of you.
全捨的生命
我已經與基督同釘十字架。 （加二20）
一個真正與耶穌基督聯合的人，不但捨棄了罪，更把個人對事物的觀點也一概捨棄。從上頭、從聖靈而生的意思，就是先放下，然後才得著；而第一步要放下的就是一切虛假。主要我們帶到他面前的，不是良善、不是誠實、不是努力，而是罪；他所要接受的就是這些。那他以什麼代替我們的罪呢？真正的義。但我們先得放下一切自以為是的偽裝，一切自以為配得神恩眷的資格。
然後，聖靈會繼續顯示我們還有什麼要放下得。我必須在任何情況下，放棄自己的主權。我是否願意視自己與基督同死，放棄一切所有的？放棄感情上羈絆，放棄所有手上執著的東西。不再緊緊抓住，視為己有。
我們放下之先，總會經歷刻骨銘心的痛苦。當人真以主的眼光看自己，震驚的不是那些肉體可怕的罪，而是心中對耶穌基督那驚人的高傲本性。當他在主的光中看見自己，那羞愧、驚懼、絕望，必顯露無遺。要是你正在面臨[放下的問題]，就必須經過那抉擇的關頭。若能放下一切，神便按他的心意模造你。
祈禱◆[散佈亮光是為義人。 ]主啊，何等的豐收！你的道路是何等的奇妙。
March 07, 2013
The Source of Abundant Joy
In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us —Romans 8:37
Paul was speaking here of the things that might seem likely to separate a saint from the love of God. But the remarkable thing is that nothing can come between the love of God and a saint. The things Paul mentioned in this passage can and do disrupt the close fellowship of our soul with God and separate our natural life from Him. But none of them is able to come between the love of God and the soul of a saint on the spiritual level. The underlying foundation of the Christian faith is the undeserved, limitless miracle of the love of God that was exhibited on the Cross of Calvary; a love that is not earned and can never be. Paul said this is the reason that “in all these things we are more than conquerors.” We are super-victors with a joy that comes from experiencing the very things which look as if they are going to overwhelm us.
Huge waves that would frighten an ordinary swimmer produce a tremendous thrill for the surfer who has ridden them. Let’s apply that to our own circumstances. The things we try to avoid and fight against— tribulation, suffering, and persecution— are the very things that produce abundant joy in us. “We are more than conquerors through Him” “in all these things”; not in spite of them, but in the midst of them. A saint doesn’t know the joy of the Lord in spite of tribulation, but because of it. Paul said, “I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation” (2 Corinthians 7:4).
The undiminished radiance, which is the result of abundant joy, is not built on anything passing, but on the love of God that nothing can change. And the experiences of life, whether they are everyday events or terrifying ones, are powerless to “separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39).
不朽的喜樂
然而靠著愛我們的主，在這一切的事上，已經得勝有餘了。 （羅八37）
保羅列舉許多的事情，似乎會把聖徒與神的愛隔開；但奇特的是，沒有任何事物可以將聖徒與神的愛隔絕。這些事可以而且實際的進入人的事奉操練中，隔開了神，叫個人的生命與神分開。但是，絕沒有一樣能插入神的愛與聖徒的心靈中間。我們信仰的基石，就是神在加略十架上彰顯出來那高深莫測、奇妙無比的愛，這愛是我們永遠不配得的。保羅說正因為這緣故，我們在這一切事上已經得勝有餘，成為超然的得勝者。正在那似乎要把我們制服的事上，獲得無比的喜樂。
游泳者所懼怕的波濤，對滑浪者卻是駕浪凌空的賞心樂事。應用在我們的身上，這些事——患難、困苦、逼迫——在我們裡面卻生出喜樂來；這些事不是我們爭鬥的物件、藉著他，我們在這一切困擾裡面，已經得勝有餘。不是[儘管]有這些也得勝，乃是置身其中仍然得勝。信徒從來不會因為[徒有]患難，就體會主裡的喜樂，乃是由於在患難之中而體會到的。保羅說：[我在患難中格外喜樂。 ]
不朽的喜樂，並不建築在短暫的事上，乃是在神永不改變的愛上。人生的經歷不論是可怕的或是單調的，都無法影響神的愛，這愛是在我們的主基督耶穌裡的。
祈禱◆主啊，為著如今在我生命中的喜樂——妻兒之愛、所教的學生、聖靈的恩惠——我讚美你。它們所帶來的喜樂和福氣，是何等奇妙！
Paul was speaking here of the things that might seem likely to separate a saint from the love of God. But the remarkable thing is that nothing can come between the love of God and a saint. The things Paul mentioned in this passage can and do disrupt the close fellowship of our soul with God and separate our natural life from Him. But none of them is able to come between the love of God and the soul of a saint on the spiritual level. The underlying foundation of the Christian faith is the undeserved, limitless miracle of the love of God that was exhibited on the Cross of Calvary; a love that is not earned and can never be. Paul said this is the reason that “in all these things we are more than conquerors.” We are super-victors with a joy that comes from experiencing the very things which look as if they are going to overwhelm us.
Huge waves that would frighten an ordinary swimmer produce a tremendous thrill for the surfer who has ridden them. Let’s apply that to our own circumstances. The things we try to avoid and fight against— tribulation, suffering, and persecution— are the very things that produce abundant joy in us. “We are more than conquerors through Him” “in all these things”; not in spite of them, but in the midst of them. A saint doesn’t know the joy of the Lord in spite of tribulation, but because of it. Paul said, “I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation” (2 Corinthians 7:4).
The undiminished radiance, which is the result of abundant joy, is not built on anything passing, but on the love of God that nothing can change. And the experiences of life, whether they are everyday events or terrifying ones, are powerless to “separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39).
不朽的喜樂
然而靠著愛我們的主，在這一切的事上，已經得勝有餘了。 （羅八37）
保羅列舉許多的事情，似乎會把聖徒與神的愛隔開；但奇特的是，沒有任何事物可以將聖徒與神的愛隔絕。這些事可以而且實際的進入人的事奉操練中，隔開了神，叫個人的生命與神分開。但是，絕沒有一樣能插入神的愛與聖徒的心靈中間。我們信仰的基石，就是神在加略十架上彰顯出來那高深莫測、奇妙無比的愛，這愛是我們永遠不配得的。保羅說正因為這緣故，我們在這一切事上已經得勝有餘，成為超然的得勝者。正在那似乎要把我們制服的事上，獲得無比的喜樂。
游泳者所懼怕的波濤，對滑浪者卻是駕浪凌空的賞心樂事。應用在我們的身上，這些事——患難、困苦、逼迫——在我們裡面卻生出喜樂來；這些事不是我們爭鬥的物件、藉著他，我們在這一切困擾裡面，已經得勝有餘。不是[儘管]有這些也得勝，乃是置身其中仍然得勝。信徒從來不會因為[徒有]患難，就體會主裡的喜樂，乃是由於在患難之中而體會到的。保羅說：[我在患難中格外喜樂。 ]
不朽的喜樂，並不建築在短暫的事上，乃是在神永不改變的愛上。人生的經歷不論是可怕的或是單調的，都無法影響神的愛，這愛是在我們的主基督耶穌裡的。
祈禱◆主啊，為著如今在我生命中的喜樂——妻兒之愛、所教的學生、聖靈的恩惠——我讚美你。它們所帶來的喜樂和福氣，是何等奇妙！
March 06, 2013
Taking the Next Step
. . . in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses —2 Corinthians 6:4
When you have no vision from God, no enthusiasm left in your life, and no one watching and encouraging you, it requires the grace of Almighty God to take the next step in your devotion to Him, in the reading and studying of His Word, in your family life, or in your duty to Him. It takes much more of the grace of God, and a much greater awareness of drawing upon Him, to take that next step, than it does to preach the gospel.
Every Christian must experience the essence of the incarnation by bringing the next step down into flesh-and-blood reality and by working it out with his hands. We lose interest and give up when we have no vision, no encouragement, and no improvement, but only experience our everyday life with its trivial tasks. The thing that really testifies for God and for the people of God in the long run is steady perseverance, even when the work cannot be seen by others. And the only way to live an undefeated life is to live looking to God. Ask God to keep the eyes of your spirit open to the risen Christ, and it will be impossible for drudgery to discourage you. Never allow yourself to think that some tasks are beneath your dignity or too insignificant for you to do, and remind yourself of the example of Christ in John 13:1-17.
瑣務纏身
就如在許多的忍耐、患難、窮乏、困苦。 （林後六4）
沒有異象，沒有觀眾，要踏上下一步，實在需要全能神的恩典。奉獻的下一步，求學的下一步，讀書的下一步，烹飪的下一步，工作的下一步，沒有從神來的異象，沒有熱情的洶湧，也沒有觀眾。這時比傳福音更需要神的厚恩，更需要刻意地從神支取，才能走下一步。
每一個信徒要有分於道成肉身的精義，就必須腳踏實地，付諸行動，用十個指頭去實踐。我們在沒有異象，沒有刺激，日復一日平凡無奇的生活下，容易萎靡不振。其實，至終為神與人所共認的，是那些在暗中堅忍耐勞的工作。若要生命不至於受摧壓，唯一的方法是仰望神而活。
求神使你心靈的眼睛注目於復活的主，這樣，一切的辛勞就無法擊敗你了。要從你心思中不斷的除掉繁瑣的事物，專心思想約翰福音十三章。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，懇求你繼續賜下力量和純真的喜樂。讓我的動機和心思，都能夠保持謙卑，不會自以為是優越的人。
When you have no vision from God, no enthusiasm left in your life, and no one watching and encouraging you, it requires the grace of Almighty God to take the next step in your devotion to Him, in the reading and studying of His Word, in your family life, or in your duty to Him. It takes much more of the grace of God, and a much greater awareness of drawing upon Him, to take that next step, than it does to preach the gospel.
Every Christian must experience the essence of the incarnation by bringing the next step down into flesh-and-blood reality and by working it out with his hands. We lose interest and give up when we have no vision, no encouragement, and no improvement, but only experience our everyday life with its trivial tasks. The thing that really testifies for God and for the people of God in the long run is steady perseverance, even when the work cannot be seen by others. And the only way to live an undefeated life is to live looking to God. Ask God to keep the eyes of your spirit open to the risen Christ, and it will be impossible for drudgery to discourage you. Never allow yourself to think that some tasks are beneath your dignity or too insignificant for you to do, and remind yourself of the example of Christ in John 13:1-17.
瑣務纏身
就如在許多的忍耐、患難、窮乏、困苦。 （林後六4）
沒有異象，沒有觀眾，要踏上下一步，實在需要全能神的恩典。奉獻的下一步，求學的下一步，讀書的下一步，烹飪的下一步，工作的下一步，沒有從神來的異象，沒有熱情的洶湧，也沒有觀眾。這時比傳福音更需要神的厚恩，更需要刻意地從神支取，才能走下一步。
每一個信徒要有分於道成肉身的精義，就必須腳踏實地，付諸行動，用十個指頭去實踐。我們在沒有異象，沒有刺激，日復一日平凡無奇的生活下，容易萎靡不振。其實，至終為神與人所共認的，是那些在暗中堅忍耐勞的工作。若要生命不至於受摧壓，唯一的方法是仰望神而活。
求神使你心靈的眼睛注目於復活的主，這樣，一切的辛勞就無法擊敗你了。要從你心思中不斷的除掉繁瑣的事物，專心思想約翰福音十三章。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，懇求你繼續賜下力量和純真的喜樂。讓我的動機和心思，都能夠保持謙卑，不會自以為是優越的人。
March 05, 2013
Is He Really My Lord?
. . . so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus . . . —Acts 20:24
Joy comes from seeing the complete fulfillment of the specific purpose for which I was created and born again, not from successfully doing something of my own choosing. The joy our Lord experienced came from doing what the Father sent Him to do. And He says to us, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (John 20:21). Have you received a ministry from the Lord? If so, you must be faithful to it— to consider your life valuable only for the purpose of fulfilling that ministry. Knowing that you have done what Jesus sent you to do, think how satisfying it will be to hear Him say to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21). We each have to find a niche in life, and spiritually we find it when we receive a ministry from the Lord. To do this we must have close fellowship with Jesus and must know Him as more than our personal Savior. And we must be willing to experience the full impact of Acts 9:16 — “I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
“Do you love Me?” Then, “Feed My sheep” (John 21:17). He is not offering us a choice of how we can serve Him; He is asking for absolute loyalty to His commission, a faithfulness to what we discern when we are in the closest possible fellowship with God. If you have received a ministry from the Lord Jesus, you will know that the need is not the same as the call— the need is the opportunity to exercise the call. The call is to be faithful to the ministry you received when you were in true fellowship with Him. This does not imply that there is a whole series of differing ministries marked out for you. It does mean that you must be sensitive to what God has called you to do, and this may sometimes require ignoring demands for service in other areas.
祂真是主麼？
只要（[喜樂地]），英文譯本）行完我的路程，成就我從主耶穌所領受的職事。 （徒二十24）
喜樂的意思，是我能圓滿地完成被造和重生的目的，而不是因為成功地完成一件事。我們主的喜樂，就是在於遵行父神的旨意，他說：[我父怎樣差遣了我，我也照樣差遣你們。 ]我又從主接受職事麼？若有，我必須忠於所託，將生命的價值完全放在達成那使命上面。想想當主對你說：[好，你這又良善又忠心的僕人。 ]你會何等的心滿意足，因已完成主差你去做的事。我們必須尋找人生的崗位，在屬靈上說，就是尋找主託付你的是什麼。要達成所託，就必須與主同行；要更深認識他，不單是把他作為個人的救主。 [我也要指示他，為我的名必須受許多的枯。 ][你愛我麼？ ]然後，[你餵養我的羊。 ]事奉是不容你取捨的，只有絕對效忠於主；效忠於你最貼近神時所領受的。若你從耶穌接受了一項事奉，就會知道需要並不等於呼召，需要乃是機會，呼召則是忠於你與主相交時所領受的。這並不是說，從此有無數的事奉要劃分出來給你，而是你要撇開其他方面事奉的需求。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，懇求你繼續賜下力量和純真的喜樂。讓我的動機和心思，都能夠保持謙卑，不會自以為是優越的人。
Joy comes from seeing the complete fulfillment of the specific purpose for which I was created and born again, not from successfully doing something of my own choosing. The joy our Lord experienced came from doing what the Father sent Him to do. And He says to us, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (John 20:21). Have you received a ministry from the Lord? If so, you must be faithful to it— to consider your life valuable only for the purpose of fulfilling that ministry. Knowing that you have done what Jesus sent you to do, think how satisfying it will be to hear Him say to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21). We each have to find a niche in life, and spiritually we find it when we receive a ministry from the Lord. To do this we must have close fellowship with Jesus and must know Him as more than our personal Savior. And we must be willing to experience the full impact of Acts 9:16 — “I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
“Do you love Me?” Then, “Feed My sheep” (John 21:17). He is not offering us a choice of how we can serve Him; He is asking for absolute loyalty to His commission, a faithfulness to what we discern when we are in the closest possible fellowship with God. If you have received a ministry from the Lord Jesus, you will know that the need is not the same as the call— the need is the opportunity to exercise the call. The call is to be faithful to the ministry you received when you were in true fellowship with Him. This does not imply that there is a whole series of differing ministries marked out for you. It does mean that you must be sensitive to what God has called you to do, and this may sometimes require ignoring demands for service in other areas.
祂真是主麼？
只要（[喜樂地]），英文譯本）行完我的路程，成就我從主耶穌所領受的職事。 （徒二十24）
喜樂的意思，是我能圓滿地完成被造和重生的目的，而不是因為成功地完成一件事。我們主的喜樂，就是在於遵行父神的旨意，他說：[我父怎樣差遣了我，我也照樣差遣你們。 ]我又從主接受職事麼？若有，我必須忠於所託，將生命的價值完全放在達成那使命上面。想想當主對你說：[好，你這又良善又忠心的僕人。 ]你會何等的心滿意足，因已完成主差你去做的事。我們必須尋找人生的崗位，在屬靈上說，就是尋找主託付你的是什麼。要達成所託，就必須與主同行；要更深認識他，不單是把他作為個人的救主。 [我也要指示他，為我的名必須受許多的枯。 ][你愛我麼？ ]然後，[你餵養我的羊。 ]事奉是不容你取捨的，只有絕對效忠於主；效忠於你最貼近神時所領受的。若你從耶穌接受了一項事奉，就會知道需要並不等於呼召，需要乃是機會，呼召則是忠於你與主相交時所領受的。這並不是說，從此有無數的事奉要劃分出來給你，而是你要撇開其他方面事奉的需求。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，懇求你繼續賜下力量和純真的喜樂。讓我的動機和心思，都能夠保持謙卑，不會自以為是優越的人。
March 04, 2013
Is This True of Me?
None of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself . . . —Acts 20:24
It is easier to serve or work for God without a vision and without a call, because then you are not bothered by what He requires. Common sense, covered with a layer of Christian emotion, becomes your guide. You may be more prosperous and successful from the world’s perspective, and will have more leisure time, if you never acknowledge the call of God. But once you receive a commission from Jesus Christ, the memory of what God asks of you will always be there to prod you on to do His will. You will no longer be able to work for Him on the basis of common sense.
What do I count in my life as “dear to myself”? If I have not been seized by Jesus Christ and have not surrendered myself to Him, I will consider the time I decide to give God and my own ideas of service as dear. I will also consider my own life as “dear to myself.” But Paul said he considered his life dear so that he might fulfill the ministry he had received, and he refused to use his energy on anything else. This verse shows an almost noble annoyance by Paul at being asked to consider himself. He was absolutely indifferent to any consideration other than that of fulfilling the ministry he had received. Our ordinary and reasonable service to God may actually compete against our total surrender to Him. Our reasonable work is based on the following argument which we say to ourselves, “Remember how useful you are here, and think how much value you would be in that particular type of work.” That attitude chooses our own judgment, instead of Jesus Christ, to be our guide as to where we should go and where we could be used the most. Never consider whether or not you are of use— but always consider that “you are not your own” (1 Corinthians 6:19). You are His.
我果真如此嗎？
我卻不以性命為念，也不看為寶貴。 （徒二十24）
沒有異象就去事奉神，是容易的；沒有蒙召就去事奉神，也是容易的；因為你根本不需理會神的要求。頭腦上的知識，加上信徒的情感就知道，你會幹得很成功。心情可優悠自得，只要你從未經歷神的呼召。可是，一旦你接受了耶穌基督的差使，神就整日驅策著你；那你再也不能根據頭腦上的知識來為他工作。
我看什麼為寶貴？我若未被主耶穌抓住，我會看事奉為寶貴，為神擺上得時間為寶貴，以我的生命為寶貴。保羅說，他看生命寶貴，只因他能完成所交託他的使命；他拒絕在任何事上花費他的精力。使徒行轉二十章24節中說保羅對別人叫他顧慮自己的安慰，幾乎又一種極端的煩惱；除了完成主所交託的使命外，他絕對不管別的。有時實際的工作，會取去人歸向神的心，因為實際的工作是根據[記住你在這裡多派用場]，[想想你在某項工作上有多難得]。這種態度沒有把主耶穌作為方向的指引，卻用自己的判斷來決定我們在那裡最有用。千萬別思量自己有沒有用，卻要緊記你不屬於自己，乃屬於主。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，靠著你的恩典，讓我張眼看見你，和你的無窮無盡；並且，在關乎你的事工上，讓我明白你的心意。
It is easier to serve or work for God without a vision and without a call, because then you are not bothered by what He requires. Common sense, covered with a layer of Christian emotion, becomes your guide. You may be more prosperous and successful from the world’s perspective, and will have more leisure time, if you never acknowledge the call of God. But once you receive a commission from Jesus Christ, the memory of what God asks of you will always be there to prod you on to do His will. You will no longer be able to work for Him on the basis of common sense.
What do I count in my life as “dear to myself”? If I have not been seized by Jesus Christ and have not surrendered myself to Him, I will consider the time I decide to give God and my own ideas of service as dear. I will also consider my own life as “dear to myself.” But Paul said he considered his life dear so that he might fulfill the ministry he had received, and he refused to use his energy on anything else. This verse shows an almost noble annoyance by Paul at being asked to consider himself. He was absolutely indifferent to any consideration other than that of fulfilling the ministry he had received. Our ordinary and reasonable service to God may actually compete against our total surrender to Him. Our reasonable work is based on the following argument which we say to ourselves, “Remember how useful you are here, and think how much value you would be in that particular type of work.” That attitude chooses our own judgment, instead of Jesus Christ, to be our guide as to where we should go and where we could be used the most. Never consider whether or not you are of use— but always consider that “you are not your own” (1 Corinthians 6:19). You are His.
我果真如此嗎？
我卻不以性命為念，也不看為寶貴。 （徒二十24）
沒有異象就去事奉神，是容易的；沒有蒙召就去事奉神，也是容易的；因為你根本不需理會神的要求。頭腦上的知識，加上信徒的情感就知道，你會幹得很成功。心情可優悠自得，只要你從未經歷神的呼召。可是，一旦你接受了耶穌基督的差使，神就整日驅策著你；那你再也不能根據頭腦上的知識來為他工作。
我看什麼為寶貴？我若未被主耶穌抓住，我會看事奉為寶貴，為神擺上得時間為寶貴，以我的生命為寶貴。保羅說，他看生命寶貴，只因他能完成所交託他的使命；他拒絕在任何事上花費他的精力。使徒行轉二十章24節中說保羅對別人叫他顧慮自己的安慰，幾乎又一種極端的煩惱；除了完成主所交託的使命外，他絕對不管別的。有時實際的工作，會取去人歸向神的心，因為實際的工作是根據[記住你在這裡多派用場]，[想想你在某項工作上有多難得]。這種態度沒有把主耶穌作為方向的指引，卻用自己的判斷來決定我們在那裡最有用。千萬別思量自己有沒有用，卻要緊記你不屬於自己，乃屬於主。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，靠著你的恩典，讓我張眼看見你，和你的無窮無盡；並且，在關乎你的事工上，讓我明白你的心意。
March 03, 2013
His Commission to Us
Feed My sheep —John 21:17
This is love in the making. The love of God is not created— it is His nature. When we receive the life of Christ through the Holy Spirit, He unites us with God so that His love is demonstrated in us. The goal of the indwelling Holy Spirit is not just to unite us with God, but to do it in such a way that we will be one with the Father in exactly the same way Jesus was. And what kind of oneness did Jesus Christ have with the Father? He had such a oneness with the Father that He was obedient when His Father sent Him down here to be poured out for us. And He says to us, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (John 20:21).
Peter now realizes that he does love Him, due to the revelation that came with the Lord’s piercing question. The Lord’s next point is— “Pour yourself out. Don’t testify about how much you love Me and don’t talk about the wonderful revelation you have had, just ’Feed My sheep.’ ” Jesus has some extraordinarily peculiar sheep: some that are unkempt and dirty, some that are awkward or pushy, and some that have gone astray! But it is impossible to exhaust God’s love, and it is impossible to exhaust my love if it flows from the Spirit of God within me. The love of God pays no attention to my prejudices caused by my natural individuality. If I love my Lord, I have no business being guided by natural emotions— I have to feed His sheep. We will not be delivered or released from His commission to us. Beware of counterfeiting the love of God by following your own natural human emotions, sympathies, or understandings. That will only serve to revile and abuse the true love of God.
放不下的使命
你餵養我的羊。 （約二十一17）
這是愛的模造。神的愛不是被造的，乃是他的本性。我們一接受了聖靈，他就使我們與神聯合，神的愛就藉我們彰顯出來。人的心靈藉著聖靈的內住與神聯合，並不就完事；我們是要與父合一，正如耶穌與父合一一樣。耶穌與父的合一是怎樣的呢？就是父差他到時間來，為我們竭盡所有。然後說：[父怎樣差遣了我，我也照樣差遣他們。 ]
彼得這時被主刺心的問話啟示，體會自己真的愛刺；接著就是將自己耗盡。主對他說：[你不必見證你怎樣愛我，也不必宣告你所得的超奇啟示，只要餵養我的羊。 ]耶穌有許多奇特古怪的羊，有骯髒的羊，有粗魯好鬥的羊，還有迷路的羊！神的愛從不會枯乾，人的愛若從同一源泉發出，也就同樣的不會枯乾。神的愛是不理會那個性中的差異。我若愛主，就不該受天然性情所左右；我必須餵養他的羊。這使命是不容間斷的。但當心不可依照人天然的同情心去假冒神的愛，否則就是褻瀆神的愛。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，但願我所有的思想、情感和說話，都蘊含著愛－－對你的完全之愛，並透過它來與人接觸。
This is love in the making. The love of God is not created— it is His nature. When we receive the life of Christ through the Holy Spirit, He unites us with God so that His love is demonstrated in us. The goal of the indwelling Holy Spirit is not just to unite us with God, but to do it in such a way that we will be one with the Father in exactly the same way Jesus was. And what kind of oneness did Jesus Christ have with the Father? He had such a oneness with the Father that He was obedient when His Father sent Him down here to be poured out for us. And He says to us, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (John 20:21).
Peter now realizes that he does love Him, due to the revelation that came with the Lord’s piercing question. The Lord’s next point is— “Pour yourself out. Don’t testify about how much you love Me and don’t talk about the wonderful revelation you have had, just ’Feed My sheep.’ ” Jesus has some extraordinarily peculiar sheep: some that are unkempt and dirty, some that are awkward or pushy, and some that have gone astray! But it is impossible to exhaust God’s love, and it is impossible to exhaust my love if it flows from the Spirit of God within me. The love of God pays no attention to my prejudices caused by my natural individuality. If I love my Lord, I have no business being guided by natural emotions— I have to feed His sheep. We will not be delivered or released from His commission to us. Beware of counterfeiting the love of God by following your own natural human emotions, sympathies, or understandings. That will only serve to revile and abuse the true love of God.
放不下的使命
你餵養我的羊。 （約二十一17）
這是愛的模造。神的愛不是被造的，乃是他的本性。我們一接受了聖靈，他就使我們與神聯合，神的愛就藉我們彰顯出來。人的心靈藉著聖靈的內住與神聯合，並不就完事；我們是要與父合一，正如耶穌與父合一一樣。耶穌與父的合一是怎樣的呢？就是父差他到時間來，為我們竭盡所有。然後說：[父怎樣差遣了我，我也照樣差遣他們。 ]
彼得這時被主刺心的問話啟示，體會自己真的愛刺；接著就是將自己耗盡。主對他說：[你不必見證你怎樣愛我，也不必宣告你所得的超奇啟示，只要餵養我的羊。 ]耶穌有許多奇特古怪的羊，有骯髒的羊，有粗魯好鬥的羊，還有迷路的羊！神的愛從不會枯乾，人的愛若從同一源泉發出，也就同樣的不會枯乾。神的愛是不理會那個性中的差異。我若愛主，就不該受天然性情所左右；我必須餵養他的羊。這使命是不容間斷的。但當心不可依照人天然的同情心去假冒神的愛，否則就是褻瀆神的愛。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，但願我所有的思想、情感和說話，都蘊含著愛－－對你的完全之愛，並透過它來與人接觸。
March 02, 2013
Have You Felt the Pain Inflicted by the Lord?
He said to him the third time, ’. . . do you love Me?’ —John 21:17
Have you ever felt the pain, inflicted by the Lord, at the very center of your being, deep down in the most sensitive area of your life? The devil never inflicts pain there, and neither can sin nor human emotions. Nothing can cut through to that part of our being but the Word of God. “Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, ’Do you love Me?’ ” Yet he was awakened to the fact that at the center of his personal life he was devoted to Jesus. And then he began to see what Jesus’ patient questioning meant. There was not the slightest bit of doubt left in Peter’s mind; he could never be deceived again. And there was no need for an impassioned response; no need for immediate action or an emotional display. It was a revelation to him to realize how much he did love the Lord, and with amazement he simply said, “Lord, You know all things . . . .” Peter began to see how very much he did love Jesus, and there was no need to say, “Look at this or that as proof of my love.” Peter was beginning to discover within himself just how much he really did love the Lord. He discovered that his eyes were so fixed on Jesus Christ that he saw no one else in heaven above or on the earth below. But he did not know it until the probing, hurting questions of the Lord were asked. The Lord’s questions always reveal the true me to myself.
Oh, the wonder of the patient directness and skill of Jesus Christ with Peter! Our Lord never asks questions until the perfect time. Rarely, but probably once in each of our lives, He will back us into a corner where He will hurt us with His piercing questions. Then we will realize that we do love Him far more deeply than our words can ever say.
你感到主的刺傷麼？
第三次對他說，約翰的兒子西門，你愛我麼？ （約二十一17）
你感到主的刺傷痛入骨髓，正中你生命是最敏感的要害麼？魔鬼從不刺入那裡，罪惡或人的感情也不刺到那裡，惟有神的話才透得過。 [彼得因為耶穌第三次對他說……就憂愁。 ]他開始覺悟在他生命的最深處，是全心愛耶穌的，也開始明白主再三問他的用意。他心裡再沒有絲毫的疑惑，也不再迷糊了。這時，已沒有衝動訴說的餘地，也不能用激昂的情緒示愛了。他醒悟自己原來有多愛主，以致他滿心讚歎他說：[主阿，你是無所不知的。 ]彼得開始發現自己多麼愛主；但他並沒有說：[請看這件那件事便可以證明。 ]他心裡發現對主的愛有多深，就是在天上地下除了主耶穌，再沒有別的了。但他一直都不知道，直到主的問話刺入剖開。主的問話總是把我自己顯露出來。
主耶穌對彼得是多麼忍耐、坦率和巧妙，他總是在合適的時刻才發問。他會把我們引到一個角落，用他毫不放鬆的問話刺透我們；雖然他並不常是這樣，也可能只此一次。不過，我們卻覺察到自己真真愛他，比任何口頭的宣稱更真。
祈禱◆[我在困苦中，你曾使我寬廣。 ]噢，這個在我心中的思想，愈來愈像一個珍貴而湧流不息的恩典泉源！
Have you ever felt the pain, inflicted by the Lord, at the very center of your being, deep down in the most sensitive area of your life? The devil never inflicts pain there, and neither can sin nor human emotions. Nothing can cut through to that part of our being but the Word of God. “Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, ’Do you love Me?’ ” Yet he was awakened to the fact that at the center of his personal life he was devoted to Jesus. And then he began to see what Jesus’ patient questioning meant. There was not the slightest bit of doubt left in Peter’s mind; he could never be deceived again. And there was no need for an impassioned response; no need for immediate action or an emotional display. It was a revelation to him to realize how much he did love the Lord, and with amazement he simply said, “Lord, You know all things . . . .” Peter began to see how very much he did love Jesus, and there was no need to say, “Look at this or that as proof of my love.” Peter was beginning to discover within himself just how much he really did love the Lord. He discovered that his eyes were so fixed on Jesus Christ that he saw no one else in heaven above or on the earth below. But he did not know it until the probing, hurting questions of the Lord were asked. The Lord’s questions always reveal the true me to myself.
Oh, the wonder of the patient directness and skill of Jesus Christ with Peter! Our Lord never asks questions until the perfect time. Rarely, but probably once in each of our lives, He will back us into a corner where He will hurt us with His piercing questions. Then we will realize that we do love Him far more deeply than our words can ever say.
你感到主的刺傷麼？
第三次對他說，約翰的兒子西門，你愛我麼？ （約二十一17）
你感到主的刺傷痛入骨髓，正中你生命是最敏感的要害麼？魔鬼從不刺入那裡，罪惡或人的感情也不刺到那裡，惟有神的話才透得過。 [彼得因為耶穌第三次對他說……就憂愁。 ]他開始覺悟在他生命的最深處，是全心愛耶穌的，也開始明白主再三問他的用意。他心裡再沒有絲毫的疑惑，也不再迷糊了。這時，已沒有衝動訴說的餘地，也不能用激昂的情緒示愛了。他醒悟自己原來有多愛主，以致他滿心讚歎他說：[主阿，你是無所不知的。 ]彼得開始發現自己多麼愛主；但他並沒有說：[請看這件那件事便可以證明。 ]他心裡發現對主的愛有多深，就是在天上地下除了主耶穌，再沒有別的了。但他一直都不知道，直到主的問話刺入剖開。主的問話總是把我自己顯露出來。
主耶穌對彼得是多麼忍耐、坦率和巧妙，他總是在合適的時刻才發問。他會把我們引到一個角落，用他毫不放鬆的問話刺透我們；雖然他並不常是這樣，也可能只此一次。不過，我們卻覺察到自己真真愛他，比任何口頭的宣稱更真。
祈禱◆[我在困苦中，你曾使我寬廣。 ]噢，這個在我心中的思想，愈來愈像一個珍貴而湧流不息的恩典泉源！
March 01, 2013
The Piercing Question
Do you love Me? —John 21:17
Peter’s response to this piercing question is considerably different from the bold defiance he exhibited only a few days before when he declared, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” (Matthew 26:35 ; also see Matthew 26:33-34). Our natural individuality, or our natural self, boldly speaks out and declares its feelings. But the true love within our inner spiritual self can be discovered only by experiencing the hurt of this question of Jesus Christ. Peter loved Jesus in the way any natural man loves a good person. Yet that is nothing but emotional love. It may reach deeply into our natural self, but it never penetrates to the spirit of a person. True love never simply declares itself. Jesus said, “Whoever confesses Me before men [that is, confesses his love by everything he does, not merely by his words], him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God” (Luke 12:8).
Unless we are experiencing the hurt of facing every deception about ourselves, we have hindered the work of the Word of God in our lives. The Word of God inflicts hurt on us more than sin ever could, because sin dulls our senses. But this question of the Lord intensifies our sensitivities to the point that this hurt produced by Jesus is the most exquisite pain conceivable. It hurts not only on the natural level, but also on the deeper spiritual level. “For the Word of God is living and powerful . . . , piercing even to the division of soul and spirit . . .”— to the point that no deception can remain (Hebrews 4:12). When the Lord asks us this question, it is impossible to think and respond properly, because when the Lord speaks directly to us, the pain is too intense. It causes such a tremendous hurt that any part of our life which may be out of line with His will can feel the pain. There is never any mistaking the pain of the Lord’s Word by His children, but the moment that pain is felt is the very moment at which God reveals His truth to us.
毫不放鬆的問話
你愛我麼？ （約二十一17）
彼得這時不再宣告什麼了（參太二十六33-35）。人天然的性情總喜歡揚聲宣告；但當耶穌基督的問話一針見血時，才顯露那人愛的品質。彼得對耶穌的愛，是人本性中愛一個好人的那種愛。那是屬於性情裡的愛，這也許會深入人的個性裡，但並不觸及人的內裡。真愛是從不宣告什麼。耶穌說：[凡在人面前認我的。 ]承認他的愛不單憑口裡所說的話，也憑所行的一切。
除非主的話刺破我們的假面具，否則神的話根本進不到我們裡面。神的話刺傷比罪的刺傷更厲害因為罪使感覺遲鈍。但主的話卻加強我們的感覺，以致他的刺傷，比任何我們所能意想到的刺傷更痛。這痛不單是一般性的，而是更深入的，對准人內心的。主的話刺透我們，將靈與魂分開，再無虛假可以存留。對主的問話，我們不能用感情來敷衍。主直接對你說話時，你不能只說好話，否則那痛就太厲害了。刺痛使任何事物都不再算一回事了。主的話在他兒女身上的刺痛，是不會有錯的；刺痛的地方，正是啟示的重要開端。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，願你在今早驅散一切雲霧，願晴朗、猛烈和滿有生氣的陽光普照大地。
Peter’s response to this piercing question is considerably different from the bold defiance he exhibited only a few days before when he declared, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” (Matthew 26:35 ; also see Matthew 26:33-34). Our natural individuality, or our natural self, boldly speaks out and declares its feelings. But the true love within our inner spiritual self can be discovered only by experiencing the hurt of this question of Jesus Christ. Peter loved Jesus in the way any natural man loves a good person. Yet that is nothing but emotional love. It may reach deeply into our natural self, but it never penetrates to the spirit of a person. True love never simply declares itself. Jesus said, “Whoever confesses Me before men [that is, confesses his love by everything he does, not merely by his words], him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God” (Luke 12:8).
Unless we are experiencing the hurt of facing every deception about ourselves, we have hindered the work of the Word of God in our lives. The Word of God inflicts hurt on us more than sin ever could, because sin dulls our senses. But this question of the Lord intensifies our sensitivities to the point that this hurt produced by Jesus is the most exquisite pain conceivable. It hurts not only on the natural level, but also on the deeper spiritual level. “For the Word of God is living and powerful . . . , piercing even to the division of soul and spirit . . .”— to the point that no deception can remain (Hebrews 4:12). When the Lord asks us this question, it is impossible to think and respond properly, because when the Lord speaks directly to us, the pain is too intense. It causes such a tremendous hurt that any part of our life which may be out of line with His will can feel the pain. There is never any mistaking the pain of the Lord’s Word by His children, but the moment that pain is felt is the very moment at which God reveals His truth to us.
毫不放鬆的問話
你愛我麼？ （約二十一17）
彼得這時不再宣告什麼了（參太二十六33-35）。人天然的性情總喜歡揚聲宣告；但當耶穌基督的問話一針見血時，才顯露那人愛的品質。彼得對耶穌的愛，是人本性中愛一個好人的那種愛。那是屬於性情裡的愛，這也許會深入人的個性裡，但並不觸及人的內裡。真愛是從不宣告什麼。耶穌說：[凡在人面前認我的。 ]承認他的愛不單憑口裡所說的話，也憑所行的一切。
除非主的話刺破我們的假面具，否則神的話根本進不到我們裡面。神的話刺傷比罪的刺傷更厲害因為罪使感覺遲鈍。但主的話卻加強我們的感覺，以致他的刺傷，比任何我們所能意想到的刺傷更痛。這痛不單是一般性的，而是更深入的，對准人內心的。主的話刺透我們，將靈與魂分開，再無虛假可以存留。對主的問話，我們不能用感情來敷衍。主直接對你說話時，你不能只說好話，否則那痛就太厲害了。刺痛使任何事物都不再算一回事了。主的話在他兒女身上的刺痛，是不會有錯的；刺痛的地方，正是啟示的重要開端。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，願你在今早驅散一切雲霧，願晴朗、猛烈和滿有生氣的陽光普照大地。
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