The Habit of Recognizing God’s Provision

. . . you may be partakers of the divine nature . . . —2 Peter 1:4

We are made “partakers of the divine nature,” receiving and sharing God’s own nature through His promises. Then we have to work that divine nature into our human nature by developing godly habits. The first habit to develop is the habit of recognizing God’s provision for us. We say, however, “Oh, I can’t afford it.” One of the worst lies is wrapped up in that statement. We talk as if our heavenly Father has cut us off without a penny! We think it is a sign of true humility to say at the end of the day, “Well, I just barely got by today, but it was a severe struggle.” And yet all of Almighty God is ours in the Lord Jesus! And He will reach to the last grain of sand and the remotest star to bless us if we will only obey Him. Does it really matter that our circumstances are difficult? Why shouldn’t they be! If we give way to self-pity and indulge in the luxury of misery, we remove God’s riches from our lives and hinder others from entering into His provision. No sin is worse than the sin of self-pity, because it removes God from the throne of our lives, replacing Him with our own self-interests. It causes us to open our mouths only to complain, and we simply become spiritual sponges— always absorbing, never giving, and never being satisfied. And there is nothing lovely or generous about our lives.

Before God becomes satisfied with us, He will take everything of our so-called wealth, until we learn that He is our Source; as the psalmist said, “All my springs are in You” (Psalm 87:7). If the majesty, grace, and power of God are not being exhibited in us, God holds us responsible. “God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you . . . may have an abundance . . .” (2 Corinthians 9:8)— then learn to lavish the grace of God on others, generously giving of yourself. Be marked and identified with God’s nature, and His blessing will flow through you all the time.

---

常覺富足的習慣

與神的性情有分。 （彼後一4）

我們既是憑應許與神的性情有分，就必須習慣地把神的性情[運用]在我們的人性裡。這樣，首先要養成的習慣，就是明白神的供給。我們說：[呀！我沒有這能力，買不起哩！ ]這句話藏著最大的謊話。在大自然裡談金錢，頗令人覺得不是味道；在屬靈上也是如此。在我們說話裡，似乎說神對我們非常的吝嗇！我們以為在一天結束時說[好了，這天剛好夠用，總算掙扎過去]，這樣才是真的謙遜，其實在主耶穌裡，全能的神的一切都是我們的。我們若順服神，他可以吩咐最後一粒沙，最遠的一顆星來祝福我們。環境困苦又有何妨？難道環境不可以困難麼？我們若縱容自己自憐自憫，享受自怨自艾的淒涼，就是棄絕神給我們的豐盛，也攔阻別人得著他得供應。沒有罪比自憐的罪更大，因為它遮掩了神，把自我放在寶座上。它叫我們口吐怨言，使我們的生命成為不知足的屬靈海綿，一點也不美，也不大方。

當神開始對我們滿意，他就會把一切虛浮的財富挪開，直至我們認識一切泉源都在他裡面。神的恩惠、權能，若不能在我們身上彰顯（我們不自覺的），神就要追究我們。 [神能將各樣的恩惠，多多的加給你們。 ]所以要學習把神的恩惠施予別人。身上常帶著神的印記，這樣，神的祝福必常藉你流露。

祈禱◆主啊，讓你能力的甜美和完全，在今天臨到我。讓我得著偉大、豐富、充滿恩慈和喜樂的屬神生命。