Personality

. . . that they may be one just as We are one . . . —John 17:22

Personality is the unique, limitless part of our life that makes us distinct from everyone else. It is too vast for us even to comprehend. An island in the sea may be just the top of a large mountain, and our personality is like that island. We don’t know the great depths of our being, therefore we cannot measure ourselves. We start out thinking we can, but soon realize that there is really only one Being who fully understands us, and that is our Creator.

Personality is the characteristic mark of the inner, spiritual man, just as individuality is the characteristic of the outer, natural man. Our Lord can never be described in terms of individuality and independence, but only in terms of His total Person— “I and My Father are one” (John 10:30). Personality merges, and you only reach your true identity once you are merged with another person. When love or the Spirit of God come upon a person, he is transformed. He will then no longer insist on maintaining his individuality. Our Lord never referred to a person’s individuality or his isolated position, but spoke in terms of the total person— “. . . that they may be one just as We are one . . . .” Once your rights to yourself are surrendered to God, your true personal nature begins responding to God immediately. Jesus Christ brings freedom to your total person, and even your individuality is transformed. The transformation is brought about by love— personal devotion to Jesus. Love is the overflowing result of one person in true fellowship with another.

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性格

使他們合而為一，像我們合而為一。 （約十七22）

性格就是指我們與別人不同的特質，是獨特的，難以估量的，就連我們自己也往往不盡了解。海上的小島，往往是大山頂尖。性格就如小島，至於底下的奧秘，我們一無所知，因此便無法衡量自己。我們自以為自知，但最終才知道只有一位明白我們，就是造我們的神。性格是屬靈生命的特質，正如個性是天然生命的特質。我們只能以性格，而斷不能以個別性和獨立性來說明主的身份。 [我與父原為一。 ]性格是可以融合的，只有當你與別人融合，才顯出你真正身份。當愛或是神的靈激動一個人，他就會改變，不再堅持自己分隔的個別性。主從不按個性，也就是人與人隔離的身份說話，他只提到性格－－[使他們合而為一，像我們合而為一]。你若把自己的主權放棄給神，你性格的真本質就立刻像神呼應。耶穌基督把人的性格釋放了，而人的個性也隨之改變。改變的元素是愛，就是個人對主耶穌的忠誠。愛是人格的傾出，與另一個人格相通契合。

祈禱◆噢，主啊，這是你的日子，我祈求你以你那極大的恩福施恩給我。能夠靠近你是何等的奇妙！