Individuality

Jesus said to His disciples, ’If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself . . .’ —Matthew 16:24

Individuality is the hard outer layer surrounding the inner spiritual life. Individuality shoves others aside, separating and isolating people. We see it as the primary characteristic of a child, and rightly so. When we confuse individuality with the spiritual life, we remain isolated. This shell of individuality is God’s created natural covering designed to protect the spiritual life. But our individuality must be yielded to God so that our spiritual life may be brought forth into fellowship with Him. Individuality counterfeits spirituality, just as lust counterfeits love. God designed human nature for Himself, but individuality corrupts that human nature for its own purposes.

The characteristics of individuality are independence and self-will. We hinder our spiritual growth more than any other way by continually asserting our individuality. If you say, “I can’t believe,” it is because your individuality is blocking the way; individuality can never believe. But our spirit cannot help believing. Watch yourself closely when the Spirit of God is at work in you. He pushes you to the limits of your individuality where a choice must be made. The choice is either to say, “I will not surrender,” or to surrender, breaking the hard shell of individuality, which allows the spiritual life to emerge. The Holy Spirit narrows it down every time to one thing (see Matthew 5:23-24). It is your individuality that refuses to “be reconciled to your brother” (Matthew 5:24). God wants to bring you into union with Himself, but unless you are willing to give up your right to yourself, He cannot. “. . . let him deny himself . . .”— deny his independent right to himself. Then the real life-the spiritual life-is allowed the opportunity to grow.

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個性

若有人要跟從我，就當捨己。 （太十六24）

個性是個人生命的外殼，會拒人千里之外，又會把人隔離。不錯，個性是每個人的特質，但若錯把個性當作個人生命的話，我們只會一​​直與人隔絕。個性是神創造的天然保障，為覆庇生命的外衣。但是若要生命與神相交，則必須放下我們的個性。個性會冒充性格，正如情慾冒充愛情。神造人的天性，是為他自己；而個性卻把人的天性低貶成只為自己。

個性的特徵，就是獨立自主，自我表現。最攔阻屬靈生命的，是個性不斷湧流。你若說[我不相信]，是因為個性的攔阻。個性永不會相信。反之，性格卻不能不信。聖靈在你身上作工時，會把你推到個性的盡頭處，這時你只能說[我不願]；或降服神，打破個性的外殼，讓個人生命流出來。聖靈每次往往集中在一件事上（參太五23-24）。叫你不肯與弟兄和好的，就是你的個性。神要你與他聯合，可是你若不肯放下自己的主權，就無法實現。 [就當捨己]－－捨棄自己獨立的主權，這樣，真正的生命才有生長的機會。

祈禱◆噢，主啊，我的主人，願我今天自覺地屬於你，以致我與你在一起。因著你擁有了我而充滿了童真的喜悅。