The Way to Knowledge

If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine . . . —John 7:17

The golden rule to follow to obtain spiritual understanding is not one of intellectual pursuit, but one of obedience. If a person wants scientific knowledge, then intellectual curiosity must be his guide. But if he desires knowledge and insight into the teachings of Jesus Christ, he can only obtain it through obedience. If spiritual things seem dark and hidden to me, then I can be sure that there is a point of disobedience somewhere in my life. Intellectual darkness is the result of ignorance, but spiritual darkness is the result of something that I do not intend to obey.

No one ever receives a word from God without instantly being put to the test regarding it. We disobey and then wonder why we are not growing spiritually. Jesus said, “If you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:23-24). He is saying, in essence, “Don’t say another word to me; first be obedient by making things right.” The teachings of Jesus hit us where we live. We cannot stand as impostors before Him for even one second. He instructs us down to the very last detail. The Spirit of God uncovers our spirit of self-vindication and makes us sensitive to things that we have never even thought of before.

When Jesus drives something home to you through His Word, don’t try to evade it. If you do, you will become a religious impostor. Examine the things you tend simply to shrug your shoulders about, and where you have refused to be obedient, and you will know why you are not growing spiritually. As Jesus said, “First . . . go . . ..” Even at the risk of being thought of as fanatical, you must obey what God tells you.

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認識之道

人若立志遵著他的旨意行，就必曉得這教訓……（約七17）

屬靈悟性的金科玉律，不是智力，而是順服。人若想得著科學只是，可循智力好奇去求；但人若要洞悉主耶穌的教訓，只有靠順服。事情對我來說是隱晦難明的，可以肯定必然有什麼我是不肯去做的。智力上的暗晦從無知而來；屬靈的黑暗卻由不肯順服而來。人領受了神的話語後，總即時落在考驗之中。我們不肯順服，卻又稀奇自己何以在靈性上不見長進。耶穌說：[你在祭壇獻禮物的時候，若想起弟兄向你懷怨……先去同弟兄和好。 ]耶穌的教訓正命中我們生活的要害，在他面前我們一秒鐘也不能裝假。他的教導是徹底的。神的靈把自我維護的牆鑿開，又使我們對從未想過的事敏感起來。

主耶穌若指出什麼，不要規避。你若規避，就成了宗教騙徒。留意那些你聳肩不顧的事，就會明白為什麼靈性停滯不前。去吧，即使冒著被人稱為宗教狂熱者的危險，也必須順服神的吩咐。

祈禱◆[當他隱藏他的面，誰能看見他呢？ ]在這些等候的日子中，你與我們同在的記號是何其渺小。我不求任何外在成功的記號，只求能感應你的賜福和認可。