. . . that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us . . . —John 17:21
If you are going through a time of isolation, seemingly all alone, read John 17 . It will explain exactly why you are where you are— because Jesus has prayed that you “may be one” with the Father as He is. Are you helping God to answer that prayer, or do you have some other goal for your life? Since you became a disciple, you cannot be as independent as you used to be.
God reveals in John 17 that His purpose is not just to answer our prayers, but that through prayer we might come to discern His mind. Yet there is one prayer which God must answer, and that is the prayer of Jesus— “. . . that they may be one just as We are one . . .” (John 17:22). Are we as close to Jesus Christ as that?
God is not concerned about our plans; He doesn’t ask, “Do you want to go through this loss of a loved one, this difficulty, or this defeat?” No, He allows these things for His own purpose. The things we are going through are either making us sweeter, better, and nobler men and women, or they are making us more critical and fault-finding, and more insistent on our own way. The things that happen either make us evil, or they make us more saintly, depending entirely on our relationship with God and its level of intimacy. If we will pray, regarding our own lives, “Your will be done” (Matthew 26:42), then we will be encouraged and comforted by John 17, knowing that our Father is working according to His own wisdom, accomplishing what is best. When we understand God’s purpose, we will not become small-minded and cynical. Jesus prayed nothing less for us than absolute oneness with Himself, just as He was one with the Father. Some of us are far from this oneness; yet God will not leave us alone until we are one with Him— because Jesus prayed, “. . . that they all may be one . . . .”
這就是答案
使他們都合而為一，正如你父在我裡面，我父在你裡面，使他們也在我們裡面。 （約十七21）
你的道路若是孤單，請讀約翰福音第十七章。你可以在這裡得到正確的解釋－－耶穌正求父叫你與父合一，如同他與父合一一樣。你是盡力使這禱告得到答允？還是你的人生另有目標？
你既成為門徒，就不能像昔日一般獨立自主了。神的目的不是要應允我們的祈求，而是藉我們的禱告，叫我們能分辨他的心意，這在約翰福音第十七章已顯示出來。有一個禱告是神必然應允的，就是主耶穌的禱告－－[叫他們合而為一，如同我們合而為一]。我們與主耶穌是這樣親密嗎？
神關注的並不是我們的計劃。他不曾說：[你願意經歷這痛苦的困擾嗎？ ]他容讓這些事發生，自有他的目的。我們所經歷的事，要不是叫我們變得更溫柔、更完美、更高貴；就會叫我們更吹毛求疵，更挑剔、更堅持己意。經歷可以叫我們成為妖魔，也可以叫我們變作聖徒，關鍵完全在乎我們與神的關係。我們若說：[願你的旨意成就。 ]就能得著約翰福音第十七章的安慰，就知道天父以智慧行萬事。當我們知道神的用心，就不會卑鄙無恥。耶穌所禱告的，是要我們完全與他合一，正如他與父合一一樣。有些人仍離得很遠，但神不會任憑我們，必使我們真正與他合一，因為耶穌已為我們禱告，盼望我們可以達到這境界。
祈禱◆對於在世上為你結果子，我是那麼無助，我是那麼胸襟狹小，多麼的不像你。求你赦免我，並且，願我因著住在耶穌裡面，可以多結果子，榮耀天父。
No comments:
Post a Comment