Whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all —James 2:10
The moral law does not consider our weaknesses as human beings; in fact, it does not take into account our heredity or infirmities. It simply demands that we be absolutely moral. The moral law never changes, either for the highest of society or for the weakest in the world. It is enduring and eternally the same. The moral law, ordained by God, does not make itself weak to the weak by excusing our shortcomings. It remains absolute for all time and eternity. If we are not aware of this, it is because we are less than alive. Once we do realize it, our life immediately becomes a fatal tragedy. “I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died” (Romans 7:9). The moment we realize this, the Spirit of God convicts us of sin. Until a person gets there and sees that there is no hope, the Cross of Christ remains absurd to him. Conviction of sin always brings a fearful, confining sense of the law. It makes a person hopeless— “. . . sold under sin” (Romans 7:14). I, a guilty sinner, can never work to get right with God— it is impossible. There is only one way by which I can get right with God, and that is through the death of Jesus Christ. I must get rid of the underlying idea that I can ever be right with God because of my obedience. Who of us could ever obey God to absolute perfection!
We only begin to realize the power of the moral law once we see that it comes with a condition and a promise. But God never coerces us. Sometimes we wish He would make us be obedient, and at other times we wish He would leave us alone. Whenever God’s will is in complete control, He removes all pressure. And when we deliberately choose to obey Him, He will reach to the remotest star and to the ends of the earth to assist us with all of His almighty power.
律法與福音
因為凡遵守金法律的，只在一條上跌倒，他就是犯了眾條。 （雅二10)
律法並不因我們是軟弱的人而稍徇情面，它不理會我們有什麼遺傳因素和缺陷，只要求我們絕對道德。律法從不更改，不管你是最高尚還是最軟弱的，它永遠都不改變。神所定的律法，並不遷就人的軟弱，也不因人的缺點而修改，它是永遠絕對的。我們若不領會這一點，是因為我們並未真正活著；一旦活著，生命就成了一個悲劇。 [我以前沒有律法是活著的，但是誡命來到，罪又活了，我就死了。 ]若明白這點，神的靈就叫我們自知有罪。除非人到了自知絕望的地步，否則耶穌基督的十字架不過是一場鬧劇。自覺有罪，叫人對捆綁人的律法產生恐懼，又叫人絕望，因為[被賣給罪]。我，一個污穢的罪人，永無法與神和好，是絕無可能的。只有一個方法可以與神和好，就是藉耶穌基督的死。我必須除掉那潛伏的思想，以為可以因順服得與神和好－－有誰能絕對完全順服神哩！
當律法帶著[假若]而來，我們才體會它勢力之大。神從不勉強我們。我們有時想神逼我們去做，但心情變了時，又想神不要管我們。當神的旨意得勢，就不會有被逼的感覺了。我們若是定志順服他，他就會以無窮的大能，召喚最遠的星，乃最後的一粒沙來幫助我們。
祈禱◆主啊，我完全投向你。願這樣的氣氛充滿我們環繞我們，好叫我們成為湧流活水江河的人。
Showing posts with label Bible Study. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bible Study. Show all posts
December 01, 2014
December 01, 2013
The Law and the Gospel
Whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all —James 2:10
The moral law does not consider our weaknesses as human beings; in fact, it does not take into account our heredity or infirmities. It simply demands that we be absolutely moral. The moral law never changes, either for the highest of society or for the weakest in the world. It is enduring and eternally the same. The moral law, ordained by God, does not make itself weak to the weak by excusing our shortcomings. It remains absolute for all time and eternity. If we are not aware of this, it is because we are less than alive. Once we do realize it, our life immediately becomes a fatal tragedy. “I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died” (Romans 7:9). The moment we realize this, the Spirit of God convicts us of sin. Until a person gets there and sees that there is no hope, the Cross of Christ remains absurd to him. Conviction of sin always brings a fearful, confining sense of the law. It makes a person hopeless— “. . . sold under sin” (Romans 7:14). I, a guilty sinner, can never work to get right with God— it is impossible. There is only one way by which I can get right with God, and that is through the death of Jesus Christ. I must get rid of the underlying idea that I can ever be right with God because of my obedience. Who of us could ever obey God to absolute perfection!
We only begin to realize the power of the moral law once we see that it comes with a condition and a promise. But God never coerces us. Sometimes we wish He would make us be obedient, and at other times we wish He would leave us alone. Whenever God’s will is in complete control, He removes all pressure. And when we deliberately choose to obey Him, He will reach to the remotest star and to the ends of the earth to assist us with all of His almighty power.
律法與福音
因為凡遵守金法律的，只在一條上跌倒，他就是犯了眾條。 （雅二10)
律法並不因我們是軟弱的人而稍徇情面，它不理會我們有什麼遺傳因素和缺陷，只要求我們絕對道德。律法從不更改，不管你是最高尚還是最軟弱的，它永遠都不改變。神所定的律法，並不遷就人的軟弱，也不因人的缺點而修改，它是永遠絕對的。我們若不領會這一點，是因為我們並未真正活著；一旦活著，生命就成了一個悲劇。 [我以前沒有律法是活著的，但是誡命來到，罪又活了，我就死了。 ]若明白這點，神的靈就叫我們自知有罪。除非人到了自知絕望的地步，否則耶穌基督的十字架不過是一場鬧劇。自覺有罪，叫人對捆綁人的律法產生恐懼，又叫人絕望，因為[被賣給罪]。我，一個污穢的罪人，永無法與神和好，是絕無可能的。只有一個方法可以與神和好，就是藉耶穌基督的死。我必須除掉那潛伏的思想，以為可以因順服得與神和好－－有誰能絕對完全順服神哩！
當律法帶著[假若]而來，我們才體會它勢力之大。神從不勉強我們。我們有時想神逼我們去做，但心情變了時，又想神不要管我們。當神的旨意得勢，就不會有被逼的感覺了。我們若是定志順服他，他就會以無窮的大能，召喚最遠的星，乃最後的一粒沙來幫助我們。
祈禱◆主啊，我完全投向你。願這樣的氣氛充滿我們環繞我們，好叫我們成為湧流活水江河的人。
The moral law does not consider our weaknesses as human beings; in fact, it does not take into account our heredity or infirmities. It simply demands that we be absolutely moral. The moral law never changes, either for the highest of society or for the weakest in the world. It is enduring and eternally the same. The moral law, ordained by God, does not make itself weak to the weak by excusing our shortcomings. It remains absolute for all time and eternity. If we are not aware of this, it is because we are less than alive. Once we do realize it, our life immediately becomes a fatal tragedy. “I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died” (Romans 7:9). The moment we realize this, the Spirit of God convicts us of sin. Until a person gets there and sees that there is no hope, the Cross of Christ remains absurd to him. Conviction of sin always brings a fearful, confining sense of the law. It makes a person hopeless— “. . . sold under sin” (Romans 7:14). I, a guilty sinner, can never work to get right with God— it is impossible. There is only one way by which I can get right with God, and that is through the death of Jesus Christ. I must get rid of the underlying idea that I can ever be right with God because of my obedience. Who of us could ever obey God to absolute perfection!
We only begin to realize the power of the moral law once we see that it comes with a condition and a promise. But God never coerces us. Sometimes we wish He would make us be obedient, and at other times we wish He would leave us alone. Whenever God’s will is in complete control, He removes all pressure. And when we deliberately choose to obey Him, He will reach to the remotest star and to the ends of the earth to assist us with all of His almighty power.
律法與福音
因為凡遵守金法律的，只在一條上跌倒，他就是犯了眾條。 （雅二10)
律法並不因我們是軟弱的人而稍徇情面，它不理會我們有什麼遺傳因素和缺陷，只要求我們絕對道德。律法從不更改，不管你是最高尚還是最軟弱的，它永遠都不改變。神所定的律法，並不遷就人的軟弱，也不因人的缺點而修改，它是永遠絕對的。我們若不領會這一點，是因為我們並未真正活著；一旦活著，生命就成了一個悲劇。 [我以前沒有律法是活著的，但是誡命來到，罪又活了，我就死了。 ]若明白這點，神的靈就叫我們自知有罪。除非人到了自知絕望的地步，否則耶穌基督的十字架不過是一場鬧劇。自覺有罪，叫人對捆綁人的律法產生恐懼，又叫人絕望，因為[被賣給罪]。我，一個污穢的罪人，永無法與神和好，是絕無可能的。只有一個方法可以與神和好，就是藉耶穌基督的死。我必須除掉那潛伏的思想，以為可以因順服得與神和好－－有誰能絕對完全順服神哩！
當律法帶著[假若]而來，我們才體會它勢力之大。神從不勉強我們。我們有時想神逼我們去做，但心情變了時，又想神不要管我們。當神的旨意得勢，就不會有被逼的感覺了。我們若是定志順服他，他就會以無窮的大能，召喚最遠的星，乃最後的一粒沙來幫助我們。
祈禱◆主啊，我完全投向你。願這樣的氣氛充滿我們環繞我們，好叫我們成為湧流活水江河的人。
December 15, 2012
“Approved to God”
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth —2 Timothy 2:15
If you cannot express yourself well on each of your beliefs, work and study until you can. If you don’t, other people may miss out on the blessings that come from knowing the truth. Strive to re-express a truth of God to yourself clearly and understandably, and God will use that same explanation when you share it with someone else. But you must be willing to go through God’s winepress where the grapes are crushed. You must struggle, experiment, and rehearse your words to express God’s truth clearly. Then the time will come when that very expression will become God’s wine of strength to someone else. But if you are not diligent and say, “I’m not going to study and struggle to express this truth in my own words; I’ll just borrow my words from someone else,” then the words will be of no value to you or to others. Try to state to yourself what you believe to be the absolute truth of God, and you will be allowing God the opportunity to pass it on through you to someone else.
Always make it a practice to stir your own mind thoroughly to think through what you have easily believed. Your position is not really yours until you make it yours through suffering and study. The author or speaker from whom you learn the most is not the one who teaches you something you didn’t know before, but the one who helps you take a truth with which you have quietly struggled, give it expression, and speak it clearly and boldly.
蒙神悅納
你當努力，在神面前得蒙喜悅，作無愧的工人，接著正意分解真理的道。 （提後二15）
要是你不能在任何題目上表達自己，就當好好努力，直至你能表達出來，否則，有些人會因此一生貧瘠。試把神某些真理對自己再三說出來，力求改進，神會藉你的話叫別人得益。要進入神的壓酒池，竭力用各種方式把道理表達，時候到了，那些話就成為別人得力的美酒。若你懶洋洋地說：[我自己不必努力去表達，我可以藉用別人的話。 ]這樣，不但自己無用，對別人也無益。試把神的真理說出來，這樣你就給神機會，把資訊帶給人。
經常保持反謅的習慣，刺激腦袋再三思想那些理所當然的東西。經過苦練，崗位才真正成為我們的。一個作者叫你收益最大，不是因他把你從不知曉的東西告訴你，而是他把你不能表達的東西表達出來。
祈禱◆主啊，我願稱頌和讚美你，然而，當我身體軟弱，我感到讚美你是何其困難，但為何必然是這樣呢？這意味著惟有當我感到愉快，我才讚美你。但願我的心能持續不斷地讚美你！
If you cannot express yourself well on each of your beliefs, work and study until you can. If you don’t, other people may miss out on the blessings that come from knowing the truth. Strive to re-express a truth of God to yourself clearly and understandably, and God will use that same explanation when you share it with someone else. But you must be willing to go through God’s winepress where the grapes are crushed. You must struggle, experiment, and rehearse your words to express God’s truth clearly. Then the time will come when that very expression will become God’s wine of strength to someone else. But if you are not diligent and say, “I’m not going to study and struggle to express this truth in my own words; I’ll just borrow my words from someone else,” then the words will be of no value to you or to others. Try to state to yourself what you believe to be the absolute truth of God, and you will be allowing God the opportunity to pass it on through you to someone else.
Always make it a practice to stir your own mind thoroughly to think through what you have easily believed. Your position is not really yours until you make it yours through suffering and study. The author or speaker from whom you learn the most is not the one who teaches you something you didn’t know before, but the one who helps you take a truth with which you have quietly struggled, give it expression, and speak it clearly and boldly.
蒙神悅納
你當努力，在神面前得蒙喜悅，作無愧的工人，接著正意分解真理的道。 （提後二15）
要是你不能在任何題目上表達自己，就當好好努力，直至你能表達出來，否則，有些人會因此一生貧瘠。試把神某些真理對自己再三說出來，力求改進，神會藉你的話叫別人得益。要進入神的壓酒池，竭力用各種方式把道理表達，時候到了，那些話就成為別人得力的美酒。若你懶洋洋地說：[我自己不必努力去表達，我可以藉用別人的話。 ]這樣，不但自己無用，對別人也無益。試把神的真理說出來，這樣你就給神機會，把資訊帶給人。
經常保持反謅的習慣，刺激腦袋再三思想那些理所當然的東西。經過苦練，崗位才真正成為我們的。一個作者叫你收益最大，不是因他把你從不知曉的東西告訴你，而是他把你不能表達的東西表達出來。
祈禱◆主啊，我願稱頌和讚美你，然而，當我身體軟弱，我感到讚美你是何其困難，但為何必然是這樣呢？這意味著惟有當我感到愉快，我才讚美你。但願我的心能持續不斷地讚美你！
December 01, 2012
The Law and the Gospel
Whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all —James 2:10
The moral law does not consider our weaknesses as human beings; in fact, it does not take into account our heredity or infirmities. It simply demands that we be absolutely moral. The moral law never changes, either for the highest of society or for the weakest in the world. It is enduring and eternally the same. The moral law, ordained by God, does not make itself weak to the weak by excusing our shortcomings. It remains absolute for all time and eternity. If we are not aware of this, it is because we are less than alive. Once we do realize it, our life immediately becomes a fatal tragedy. “I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died” (Romans 7:9). The moment we realize this, the Spirit of God convicts us of sin. Until a person gets there and sees that there is no hope, the Cross of Christ remains absurd to him. Conviction of sin always brings a fearful, confining sense of the law. It makes a person hopeless— “. . . sold under sin” (Romans 7:14). I, a guilty sinner, can never work to get right with God— it is impossible. There is only one way by which I can get right with God, and that is through the death of Jesus Christ. I must get rid of the underlying idea that I can ever be right with God because of my obedience. Who of us could ever obey God to absolute perfection!
We only begin to realize the power of the moral law once we see that it comes with a condition and a promise. But God never coerces us. Sometimes we wish He would make us be obedient, and at other times we wish He would leave us alone. Whenever God’s will is in complete control, He removes all pressure. And when we deliberately choose to obey Him, He will reach to the remotest star and to the ends of the earth to assist us with all of His almighty power.
律法與福音
因為凡遵守金法律的，只在一條上跌倒，他就是犯了眾條。 （雅二10)
律法並不因我們是軟弱的人而稍徇情面，它不理會我們有什麼遺傳因素和缺陷，只要求我們絕對道德。律法從不更改，不管你是最高尚還是最軟弱的，它永遠都不改變。神所定的律法，並不遷就人的軟弱，也不因人的缺點而修改，它是永遠絕對的。我們若不領會這一點，是因為我們並未真正活著；一旦活著，生命就成了一個悲劇。 [我以前沒有律法是活著的，但是誡命來到，罪又活了，我就死了。 ]若明白這點，神的靈就叫我們自知有罪。除非人到了自知絕望的地步，否則耶穌基督的十字架不過是一場鬧劇。自覺有罪，叫人對捆綁人的律法產生恐懼，又叫人絕望，因為[被賣給罪]。我，一個污穢的罪人，永無法與神和好，是絕無可能的。只有一個方法可以與神和好，就是藉耶穌基督的死。我必須除掉那潛伏的思想，以為可以因順服得與神和好－－有誰能絕對完全順服神哩！
當律法帶著[假若]而來，我們才體會它勢力之大。神從不勉強我們。我們有時想神逼我們去做，但心情變了時，又想神不要管我們。當神的旨意得勢，就不會有被逼的感覺了。我們若是定志順服他，他就會以無窮的大能，召喚最遠的星，乃最後的一粒沙來幫助我們。
祈禱◆主啊，我完全投向你。願這樣的氣氛充滿我們環繞我們，好叫我們成為湧流活水江河的人。
The moral law does not consider our weaknesses as human beings; in fact, it does not take into account our heredity or infirmities. It simply demands that we be absolutely moral. The moral law never changes, either for the highest of society or for the weakest in the world. It is enduring and eternally the same. The moral law, ordained by God, does not make itself weak to the weak by excusing our shortcomings. It remains absolute for all time and eternity. If we are not aware of this, it is because we are less than alive. Once we do realize it, our life immediately becomes a fatal tragedy. “I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died” (Romans 7:9). The moment we realize this, the Spirit of God convicts us of sin. Until a person gets there and sees that there is no hope, the Cross of Christ remains absurd to him. Conviction of sin always brings a fearful, confining sense of the law. It makes a person hopeless— “. . . sold under sin” (Romans 7:14). I, a guilty sinner, can never work to get right with God— it is impossible. There is only one way by which I can get right with God, and that is through the death of Jesus Christ. I must get rid of the underlying idea that I can ever be right with God because of my obedience. Who of us could ever obey God to absolute perfection!
We only begin to realize the power of the moral law once we see that it comes with a condition and a promise. But God never coerces us. Sometimes we wish He would make us be obedient, and at other times we wish He would leave us alone. Whenever God’s will is in complete control, He removes all pressure. And when we deliberately choose to obey Him, He will reach to the remotest star and to the ends of the earth to assist us with all of His almighty power.
律法與福音
因為凡遵守金法律的，只在一條上跌倒，他就是犯了眾條。 （雅二10)
律法並不因我們是軟弱的人而稍徇情面，它不理會我們有什麼遺傳因素和缺陷，只要求我們絕對道德。律法從不更改，不管你是最高尚還是最軟弱的，它永遠都不改變。神所定的律法，並不遷就人的軟弱，也不因人的缺點而修改，它是永遠絕對的。我們若不領會這一點，是因為我們並未真正活著；一旦活著，生命就成了一個悲劇。 [我以前沒有律法是活著的，但是誡命來到，罪又活了，我就死了。 ]若明白這點，神的靈就叫我們自知有罪。除非人到了自知絕望的地步，否則耶穌基督的十字架不過是一場鬧劇。自覺有罪，叫人對捆綁人的律法產生恐懼，又叫人絕望，因為[被賣給罪]。我，一個污穢的罪人，永無法與神和好，是絕無可能的。只有一個方法可以與神和好，就是藉耶穌基督的死。我必須除掉那潛伏的思想，以為可以因順服得與神和好－－有誰能絕對完全順服神哩！
當律法帶著[假若]而來，我們才體會它勢力之大。神從不勉強我們。我們有時想神逼我們去做，但心情變了時，又想神不要管我們。當神的旨意得勢，就不會有被逼的感覺了。我們若是定志順服他，他就會以無窮的大能，召喚最遠的星，乃最後的一粒沙來幫助我們。
祈禱◆主啊，我完全投向你。願這樣的氣氛充滿我們環繞我們，好叫我們成為湧流活水江河的人。
April 20, 2012
Can a Saint Falsely Accuse God?
All the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen . . . —2 Corinthians 1:20
Jesus’ parable of the talents recorded in Matthew 25:14-30 was a warning that it is possible for us to misjudge our capacities. This parable has nothing to do with natural gifts and abilities, but relates to the gift of the Holy Spirit as He was first given at Pentecost. We must never measure our spiritual capacity on the basis of our education or our intellect; our capacity in spiritual things is measured on the basis of the promises of God. If we get less than God wants us to have, we will falsely accuse Him as the servant falsely accused his master when he said, “You expect more of me than you gave me the power to do. You demand too much of me, and I cannot stand true to you here where you have placed me.” When it is a question of God’s Almighty Spirit, never say, “I can’t.” Never allow the limitation of your own natural ability to enter into the matter. If we have received the Holy Spirit, God expects the work of the Holy Spirit to be exhibited in us.
The servant justified himself, while condemning his lord on every point, as if to say, “Your demand on me is way out of proportion to what you gave to me.” Have we been falsely accusing God by daring to worry after He has said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you”? (Matthew 6:33). Worrying means exactly what this servant implied— “I know your intent is to leave me unprotected and vulnerable.” A person who is lazy in the natural realm is always critical, saying, “I haven’t had a decent chance,” and someone who is lazy in the spiritual realm is critical of God. Lazy people always strike out at others in an independent way.
Never forget that our capacity and capability in spiritual matters is measured by, and based on, the promises of God. Is God able to fulfill His promises? Our answer depends on whether or not we have received the Holy Spirit.
聖徒也讒謗神？
神的應許，不論有多少，在基督裡都是是的，所以藉著他也都是實在的。 （林後一20）
耶穌在馬太福音二十五章所說的比喻，是一個警告，指出我們對自己的能力也會判斷錯誤。這比喻所論到的與天然的禀賦毫不相涉，乃是指聖靈所賜給人的恩賜所言。屬靈的才幹決不是以學識或才智去衡量，而是以神的應許去衡量。我們所得的若少於神所要我們得的，過不多時，我們就會埋怨神，好像那僕人埋怨主人一樣：[你對我要求這麼高，卻沒有給我足夠的能力，你太苛求了；你放我在這崗位上，我根本無法向你效忠。 ]這涉及神的全能的問題，切勿說[我不能]。千萬別讓天然的才幹限制了你。我們若接受了聖靈，神就希望聖靈的工作在我們身上彰顯出來。
但僕人事事自以為是，反倒處處怪責主人：[你的要求，與你所賦予我的才幹，根本不成比例。 ]神說：[先求我的國和我的義，這些東西都要加給你們了。 ]你竟憂愁掛慮，對神大肆謗瀆？憂慮意味著這僕人在想：[我知道你會在我遇危難時，丟下我不顧。 ]一個天生怠惰的人，總是吹毛求疵說：[我根本沒有機會。 ]一個在屬靈上怠惰的人，同樣向神吹毛求疵。懶惰的人總愛我行我素，有他獨創的主意。
不要忘記，在屬靈上的才幹，是以神的應許來量度的。神能成就他的應許麼？答案就視乎我們有沒有接受聖靈。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，願你今天與我們真實地同在－－願聖靈同在的極大喜樂瀰漫四周。
Jesus’ parable of the talents recorded in Matthew 25:14-30 was a warning that it is possible for us to misjudge our capacities. This parable has nothing to do with natural gifts and abilities, but relates to the gift of the Holy Spirit as He was first given at Pentecost. We must never measure our spiritual capacity on the basis of our education or our intellect; our capacity in spiritual things is measured on the basis of the promises of God. If we get less than God wants us to have, we will falsely accuse Him as the servant falsely accused his master when he said, “You expect more of me than you gave me the power to do. You demand too much of me, and I cannot stand true to you here where you have placed me.” When it is a question of God’s Almighty Spirit, never say, “I can’t.” Never allow the limitation of your own natural ability to enter into the matter. If we have received the Holy Spirit, God expects the work of the Holy Spirit to be exhibited in us.
The servant justified himself, while condemning his lord on every point, as if to say, “Your demand on me is way out of proportion to what you gave to me.” Have we been falsely accusing God by daring to worry after He has said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you”? (Matthew 6:33). Worrying means exactly what this servant implied— “I know your intent is to leave me unprotected and vulnerable.” A person who is lazy in the natural realm is always critical, saying, “I haven’t had a decent chance,” and someone who is lazy in the spiritual realm is critical of God. Lazy people always strike out at others in an independent way.
Never forget that our capacity and capability in spiritual matters is measured by, and based on, the promises of God. Is God able to fulfill His promises? Our answer depends on whether or not we have received the Holy Spirit.
聖徒也讒謗神？
神的應許，不論有多少，在基督裡都是是的，所以藉著他也都是實在的。 （林後一20）
耶穌在馬太福音二十五章所說的比喻，是一個警告，指出我們對自己的能力也會判斷錯誤。這比喻所論到的與天然的禀賦毫不相涉，乃是指聖靈所賜給人的恩賜所言。屬靈的才幹決不是以學識或才智去衡量，而是以神的應許去衡量。我們所得的若少於神所要我們得的，過不多時，我們就會埋怨神，好像那僕人埋怨主人一樣：[你對我要求這麼高，卻沒有給我足夠的能力，你太苛求了；你放我在這崗位上，我根本無法向你效忠。 ]這涉及神的全能的問題，切勿說[我不能]。千萬別讓天然的才幹限制了你。我們若接受了聖靈，神就希望聖靈的工作在我們身上彰顯出來。
但僕人事事自以為是，反倒處處怪責主人：[你的要求，與你所賦予我的才幹，根本不成比例。 ]神說：[先求我的國和我的義，這些東西都要加給你們了。 ]你竟憂愁掛慮，對神大肆謗瀆？憂慮意味著這僕人在想：[我知道你會在我遇危難時，丟下我不顧。 ]一個天生怠惰的人，總是吹毛求疵說：[我根本沒有機會。 ]一個在屬靈上怠惰的人，同樣向神吹毛求疵。懶惰的人總愛我行我素，有他獨創的主意。
不要忘記，在屬靈上的才幹，是以神的應許來量度的。神能成就他的應許麼？答案就視乎我們有沒有接受聖靈。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，願你今天與我們真實地同在－－願聖靈同在的極大喜樂瀰漫四周。
April 07, 2012
Why We Lack Understanding
He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead —Mark 9:9
As the disciples were commanded, you should also say nothing until the Son of Man has risen in you— until the life of the risen Christ so dominates you that you truly understand what He taught while here on earth. When you grow and develop the right condition inwardly, the words Jesus spoke become so clear that you are amazed you did not grasp them before. In fact, you were not able to understand them before because you had not yet developed the proper spiritual condition to deal with them.
Our Lord doesn’t hide these things from us, but we are not prepared to receive them until we are in the right condition in our spiritual life. Jesus said, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now” (John 16:12). We must have a oneness with His risen life before we are prepared to bear any particular truth from Him. Do we really know anything about the indwelling of the risen life of Jesus? The evidence that we do is that His Word is becoming understandable to us. God cannot reveal anything to us if we don’t have His Spirit. And our own unyielding and headstrong opinions will effectively prevent God from revealing anything to us. But our insensible thinking will end immediately once His resurrection life has its way with us.
“. . . tell no one . . . .” But so many people do tell what they saw on the Mount of Transfiguration— their mountaintop experience. They have seen a vision and they testify to it, but there is no connection between what they say and how they live. Their lives don’t add up because the Son of Man has not yet risen in them. How long will it be before His resurrection life is formed and evident in you and in me?
為什麼不明明告訴我們？
耶穌囑咐他們說，人子還沒有從死裡復活，你們不要將所看見的告訴人。 （可九9）
人子還未在你面前復活，什麼都不要說－－直到基督復活的生命完全掌管你，使你真正明白基督的教訓。當你裡面有真正的改變，耶穌所說的話就很清楚明白，以致你稀奇何以從前看不出來。你從前不明白，因為你的性情沒有地方容納他的話語。
主並沒有隱藏這些事，只是我們屬靈的生命未到一個合適的地步，所以承擔不起這些事。 [我還有好些事要告訴你們，但你們現在擔當不了。 ]我們必須與主復活的生命有了連接，才能接受他的話。耶穌復活的生命如何流注，我們有所知聞嗎？證明我們知道的證據就是：我們能夠明白他的話。我們若沒有神的靈，神是無法向我們顯明真理最大的障礙。我們若對某一項教義堅持己見，神的亮光就不再照明，我們便無法得見。可是一旦他復活的生命支配我們，這愚頑不靈的光景，就會立即終止！
[不要告訴人……]但許多人都把山上變像的事實告訴人，他們見了異象，就大作見證；可是，靈命卻未成熟，因人子還未在他們心裡復活。他什麼時候才成形在你我身上呢？
祈禱◆噢，主啊，願你使我們變得柔和與溫順，被你所激勵和振奮，求你提升我們進入與你榮耀相交得境地，以致我們可以捕捉你的形像。
As the disciples were commanded, you should also say nothing until the Son of Man has risen in you— until the life of the risen Christ so dominates you that you truly understand what He taught while here on earth. When you grow and develop the right condition inwardly, the words Jesus spoke become so clear that you are amazed you did not grasp them before. In fact, you were not able to understand them before because you had not yet developed the proper spiritual condition to deal with them.
Our Lord doesn’t hide these things from us, but we are not prepared to receive them until we are in the right condition in our spiritual life. Jesus said, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now” (John 16:12). We must have a oneness with His risen life before we are prepared to bear any particular truth from Him. Do we really know anything about the indwelling of the risen life of Jesus? The evidence that we do is that His Word is becoming understandable to us. God cannot reveal anything to us if we don’t have His Spirit. And our own unyielding and headstrong opinions will effectively prevent God from revealing anything to us. But our insensible thinking will end immediately once His resurrection life has its way with us.
“. . . tell no one . . . .” But so many people do tell what they saw on the Mount of Transfiguration— their mountaintop experience. They have seen a vision and they testify to it, but there is no connection between what they say and how they live. Their lives don’t add up because the Son of Man has not yet risen in them. How long will it be before His resurrection life is formed and evident in you and in me?
為什麼不明明告訴我們？
耶穌囑咐他們說，人子還沒有從死裡復活，你們不要將所看見的告訴人。 （可九9）
人子還未在你面前復活，什麼都不要說－－直到基督復活的生命完全掌管你，使你真正明白基督的教訓。當你裡面有真正的改變，耶穌所說的話就很清楚明白，以致你稀奇何以從前看不出來。你從前不明白，因為你的性情沒有地方容納他的話語。
主並沒有隱藏這些事，只是我們屬靈的生命未到一個合適的地步，所以承擔不起這些事。 [我還有好些事要告訴你們，但你們現在擔當不了。 ]我們必須與主復活的生命有了連接，才能接受他的話。耶穌復活的生命如何流注，我們有所知聞嗎？證明我們知道的證據就是：我們能夠明白他的話。我們若沒有神的靈，神是無法向我們顯明真理最大的障礙。我們若對某一項教義堅持己見，神的亮光就不再照明，我們便無法得見。可是一旦他復活的生命支配我們，這愚頑不靈的光景，就會立即終止！
[不要告訴人……]但許多人都把山上變像的事實告訴人，他們見了異象，就大作見證；可是，靈命卻未成熟，因人子還未在他們心裡復活。他什麼時候才成形在你我身上呢？
祈禱◆噢，主啊，願你使我們變得柔和與溫順，被你所激勵和振奮，求你提升我們進入與你榮耀相交得境地，以致我們可以捕捉你的形像。
January 22, 2012
Am I Looking To God?
Look to Me, and be saved . . . —Isaiah 45:22
Do we expect God to come to us with His blessings and save us? He says, “Look to Me, and be saved . . . .” The greatest difficulty spiritually is to concentrate on God, and His blessings are what make it so difficult. Troubles almost always make us look to God, but His blessings tend to divert our attention elsewhere. The basic lesson of the Sermon on the Mount is to narrow all your interests until your mind, heart, and body are focused on Jesus Christ. “Look to Me . . . .”
Many of us have a mental picture of what a Christian should be, and looking at this image in other Christians’ lives becomes a hindrance to our focusing on God. This is not salvation— it is not simple enough. He says, in effect, “Look to Me and you are saved,” not “You will be saved someday.” We will find what we are looking for if we will concentrate on Him. We get distracted from God and irritable with Him while He continues to say to us, “Look to Me, and be saved . . . .” Our difficulties, our trials, and our worries about tomorrow all vanish when we look to God.
Wake yourself up and look to God. Build your hope on Him. No matter how many things seem to be pressing in on you, be determined to push them aside and look to Him. “Look to Me . . . .” Salvation is yours the moment you look.
我觀望什麼？
地極的人都當仰望我，就必得救。 （賽四十五22）
我們是否指望神帶著許多祝福來拯救我們？他說：[仰望我，就必得救。 ]屬靈生命上最難做到的，就是專心一意仰望神，這可是出於他的祝福。因為困難使我們仰望神，祝福卻使我們望到別處去。登山寶訓的精意，其實是：把你所有的注意力收窄，直到你的心志、心靈與身體，完全集中在主耶穌身上——仰望他。
不少人對做基督徒存一固定模式，就是其他聖徒的榜樣，成了我們集中在神身上的障礙。這樣是不會得救的，那太複雜了。 [仰望我]不是[將會得救]，而是[就必得救]。我們期盼的東西，只要集中在他身上，就必得著。但我們對神往往心不在焉，或向神怨嘆憤懣，可是他卻一直在對我們說：[仰望我就得救。 ]一切困難試煉，如這個暑假我有什麼計畫，明天又該作什麼？這些縈回在腦際的問題，一經仰望神，都會得著解決了。
醒來吧，仰望神。把盼望建築在神身上，不論有多少件事情壓著你，只管放下它們，一心一意望著他。 [仰望我]，必得救，就在你望的一剎那。
祈禱◆主啊，我仰望你。我何其瞭解[在我裡面沒有良善]；然而，你的恩典是何等奇妙，我如今竟發現自己的內心，除了你的榮耀以外，再別無他求。
Do we expect God to come to us with His blessings and save us? He says, “Look to Me, and be saved . . . .” The greatest difficulty spiritually is to concentrate on God, and His blessings are what make it so difficult. Troubles almost always make us look to God, but His blessings tend to divert our attention elsewhere. The basic lesson of the Sermon on the Mount is to narrow all your interests until your mind, heart, and body are focused on Jesus Christ. “Look to Me . . . .”
Many of us have a mental picture of what a Christian should be, and looking at this image in other Christians’ lives becomes a hindrance to our focusing on God. This is not salvation— it is not simple enough. He says, in effect, “Look to Me and you are saved,” not “You will be saved someday.” We will find what we are looking for if we will concentrate on Him. We get distracted from God and irritable with Him while He continues to say to us, “Look to Me, and be saved . . . .” Our difficulties, our trials, and our worries about tomorrow all vanish when we look to God.
Wake yourself up and look to God. Build your hope on Him. No matter how many things seem to be pressing in on you, be determined to push them aside and look to Him. “Look to Me . . . .” Salvation is yours the moment you look.
我觀望什麼？
地極的人都當仰望我，就必得救。 （賽四十五22）
我們是否指望神帶著許多祝福來拯救我們？他說：[仰望我，就必得救。 ]屬靈生命上最難做到的，就是專心一意仰望神，這可是出於他的祝福。因為困難使我們仰望神，祝福卻使我們望到別處去。登山寶訓的精意，其實是：把你所有的注意力收窄，直到你的心志、心靈與身體，完全集中在主耶穌身上——仰望他。
不少人對做基督徒存一固定模式，就是其他聖徒的榜樣，成了我們集中在神身上的障礙。這樣是不會得救的，那太複雜了。 [仰望我]不是[將會得救]，而是[就必得救]。我們期盼的東西，只要集中在他身上，就必得著。但我們對神往往心不在焉，或向神怨嘆憤懣，可是他卻一直在對我們說：[仰望我就得救。 ]一切困難試煉，如這個暑假我有什麼計畫，明天又該作什麼？這些縈回在腦際的問題，一經仰望神，都會得著解決了。
醒來吧，仰望神。把盼望建築在神身上，不論有多少件事情壓著你，只管放下它們，一心一意望著他。 [仰望我]，必得救，就在你望的一剎那。
祈禱◆主啊，我仰望你。我何其瞭解[在我裡面沒有良善]；然而，你的恩典是何等奇妙，我如今竟發現自己的內心，除了你的榮耀以外，再別無他求。
January 03, 2012
Clouds and Darkness
Clouds and darkness surround Him . . . —Psalm 97:2
A person who has not been born again by the Spirit of God will tell you that the teachings of Jesus are simple. But when he is baptized by the Holy Spirit, he finds that “clouds and darkness surround Him . . . .” When we come into close contact with the teachings of Jesus Christ we have our first realization of this. The only possible way to have full understanding of the teachings of Jesus is through the light of the Spirit of God shining inside us. If we have never had the experience of taking our casual, religious shoes off our casual, religious feet— getting rid of all the excessive informality with which we approach God— it is questionable whether we have ever stood in His presence. The people who are flippant and disrespectful in their approach to God are those who have never been introduced to Jesus Christ. Only after the amazing delight and liberty of realizing what Jesus Christ does, comes the impenetrable “darkness” of realizing who He is.
Jesus said, “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). Once, the Bible was just so many words to us — “clouds and darkness”— then, suddenly, the words become spirit and life because Jesus re-speaks them to us when our circumstances make the words new. That is the way God speaks to us; not by visions and dreams, but by words. When a man gets to God, it is by the most simple way— words.
密雲和幽暗
密雲和幽暗，在他的四圍。 （詩九十七2）
一個未從神的靈而生的人會對你說，耶穌的教訓簡單得很。可是你一旦受了聖靈的洗，就會發現[密雲和幽暗，在他的四圍]。當我們認識耶穌基督的教訓，就必恍然大悟。領悟耶穌教訓的唯一途徑，是神的靈在裡面光照。若果我們從未把習以為常的宗教鞋，從我們習以為常的宗教腳上脫下；也從未把我們親近神那種魯莽隨便的態度，一概革除，那麼，我們到底曾否真正站在神的面前，那也是疑問。那些輕率、浮躁的人，根本從未認識耶穌基督。因為在我們明白了耶穌基督所作所行，滿懷稀奇興奮。自由釋放之後，就會經歷到一種因認識他是誰而無法看透的幽暗。
耶穌說：[我對你們說的話就是靈，就是生命。 ]一向以來，聖經對我們不過是一大堆的話語－－密雲和幽暗為何忽然之間變成了靈和生命？因為耶穌在某種特殊情況下，向我們再說了一遍。神就是這樣對我們說話，不是藉著異夢，乃是通過話語。人來到神面前，就是憑著最簡單的方法－－他的話語。
祈禱◆[密雲和幽暗在祂的四圍；公義和公平是祂寶座的根基。 ]與我親近，噢，主啊，讓我可以知道我在你裡面是光明的。
A person who has not been born again by the Spirit of God will tell you that the teachings of Jesus are simple. But when he is baptized by the Holy Spirit, he finds that “clouds and darkness surround Him . . . .” When we come into close contact with the teachings of Jesus Christ we have our first realization of this. The only possible way to have full understanding of the teachings of Jesus is through the light of the Spirit of God shining inside us. If we have never had the experience of taking our casual, religious shoes off our casual, religious feet— getting rid of all the excessive informality with which we approach God— it is questionable whether we have ever stood in His presence. The people who are flippant and disrespectful in their approach to God are those who have never been introduced to Jesus Christ. Only after the amazing delight and liberty of realizing what Jesus Christ does, comes the impenetrable “darkness” of realizing who He is.
Jesus said, “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). Once, the Bible was just so many words to us — “clouds and darkness”— then, suddenly, the words become spirit and life because Jesus re-speaks them to us when our circumstances make the words new. That is the way God speaks to us; not by visions and dreams, but by words. When a man gets to God, it is by the most simple way— words.
密雲和幽暗
密雲和幽暗，在他的四圍。 （詩九十七2）
一個未從神的靈而生的人會對你說，耶穌的教訓簡單得很。可是你一旦受了聖靈的洗，就會發現[密雲和幽暗，在他的四圍]。當我們認識耶穌基督的教訓，就必恍然大悟。領悟耶穌教訓的唯一途徑，是神的靈在裡面光照。若果我們從未把習以為常的宗教鞋，從我們習以為常的宗教腳上脫下；也從未把我們親近神那種魯莽隨便的態度，一概革除，那麼，我們到底曾否真正站在神的面前，那也是疑問。那些輕率、浮躁的人，根本從未認識耶穌基督。因為在我們明白了耶穌基督所作所行，滿懷稀奇興奮。自由釋放之後，就會經歷到一種因認識他是誰而無法看透的幽暗。
耶穌說：[我對你們說的話就是靈，就是生命。 ]一向以來，聖經對我們不過是一大堆的話語－－密雲和幽暗為何忽然之間變成了靈和生命？因為耶穌在某種特殊情況下，向我們再說了一遍。神就是這樣對我們說話，不是藉著異夢，乃是通過話語。人來到神面前，就是憑著最簡單的方法－－他的話語。
祈禱◆[密雲和幽暗在祂的四圍；公義和公平是祂寶座的根基。 ]與我親近，噢，主啊，讓我可以知道我在你裡面是光明的。
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