January 23, 2014

Transformed by Beholding

We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image . . . —2 Corinthians 3:18

The greatest characteristic a Christian can exhibit is this completely unveiled openness before God, which allows that person’s life to become a mirror for others. When the Spirit fills us, we are transformed, and by beholding God we become mirrors. You can always tell when someone has been beholding the glory of the Lord, because your inner spirit senses that he mirrors the Lord’s own character. Beware of anything that would spot or tarnish that mirror in you. It is almost always something good that will stain it— something good, but not what is best.

The most important rule for us is to concentrate on keeping our lives open to God. Let everything else including work, clothes, and food be set aside. The busyness of things obscures our concentration on God. We must maintain a position of beholding Him, keeping our lives completely spiritual through and through. Let other things come and go as they will; let other people criticize us as they will; but never allow anything to obscure the life that “is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). Never let a hurried lifestyle disturb the relationship of abiding in Him. This is an easy thing to allow, but we must guard against it. The most difficult lesson of the Christian life is learning how to continue “beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord . . . .”

因瞻仰而改變

我們眾人既然敞著臉,得以看見主的榮光,好像從鏡子裡反照,就變成主的形狀。 (林後三18) 

信徒最卓越的品德與特徵,就是在神面前毫無掩飾,以致她的生命成為別人的一面鏡子。我們被聖靈充滿而改變,又因[定睛仰望]而成為鏡子。一個人若有主的榮光,你必然回覺察出來,也會感到他正是主性情的反照。要提防那些叫這鏡子模糊的東西;這些東西多半是好的,卻不是最好的。 

你我生活的準則,就是要專注地保持向神開放。其他一切如工作、服飾、食物,地上的東西就任它去吧。次要的東西不斷湧來,很容易阻礙對神的專一。所以我們要常常瞻仰主的榮光,同時要保持生命完全屬靈。旁的事隨它去吧,旁的人任他批評吧,卻絕不可讓任何事務迷糊了與基督一 同藏在神裡面的生命。不要讓忙亂破壞了你與他同住的關係,雖然這是很容易被搖動的。信徒生活上最嚴格的操練,就是學習不斷[看見主的榮光,好像從鏡子反照。 ] 

祈禱◆噢,主啊,我完全仰賴你。離了你,我就毫無價值。求你今天將智慧、明辨和敏悟的心賜給我。

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