. . . by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world —Galatians 6:14
If I dwell on the Cross of Christ, I do not simply become inwardly devout and solely interested in my own holiness— I become strongly focused on Jesus Christ’s interests. Our Lord was not a recluse nor a fanatical holy man practicing self-denial. He did not physically cut Himself off from society, but He was inwardly disconnected all the time. He was not aloof, but He lived in another world. In fact, He was so much in the common everyday world that the religious people of His day accused Him of being a glutton and a drunkard. Yet our Lord never allowed anything to interfere with His consecration of spiritual power.
It is not genuine consecration to think that we can refuse to be used of God now in order to store up our spiritual power for later use. That is a hopeless mistake. The Spirit of God has set a great many people free from their sin, yet they are experiencing no fullness in their lives— no true sense of freedom. The kind of religious life we see around the world today is entirely different from the vigorous holiness of the life of Jesus Christ. “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one” (John 17:15). We are to be in the world but not of it— to be separated internally, not externally (see John 17:16).
We must never allow anything to interfere with the consecration of our spiritual power. Consecration (being dedicated to God’s service) is our part; sanctification (being set apart from sin and being made holy) is God’s part. We must make a deliberate determination to be interested only in what God is interested. The way to make that determination, when faced with a perplexing problem, is to ask yourself, “Is this the kind of thing in which Jesus Christ is interested, or is it something in which the spirit that is diametrically opposed to Jesus is interested?”
屬靈能力的分別為聖
因這十字架，就我而論，世界已經釘在十字架上。就世界而論，我已經釘在十字架上。 （加六14）
我若著眼於基督的十字架，就不會成為一個主觀的敬虔者，只注意自己的潔白；而會一心一意關注主耶穌所關注的事。我們的主不是隱逸者，也不是遁世苦行者，他沒有把自己與社會割絕，可是在他裡面，卻是一直與這世界分開。他並不是高高在上，活在另一個世界裡。他十分入世，甚至當時一些宗教人士形容他為貪食好酒，但主從不讓任何事物阻礙他分別為聖。
假冒的分別為聖，就是故意放棄一些東西，以為這樣可以儲藏屬靈的能力，留日後之用，但那是絕對錯誤的。神的靈曾粉碎許多人的罪，可是人仍未得釋放。今日所見得宗教生活，與主耶穌一生活著聖潔生活，是截然不同。 [我不求你叫他們離開世界，只求你保守他們脫離那惡者。 ]我們活在世上，卻不屬這世界；我們得分割是在根基上，不是在外表。
我們絕不可讓任何事物干擾屬靈能力的分別為聖。分別出來是我們的本份，成聖則是神的工作；我們必須堅心決意只關注神所關注的事。對於困擾的問題，就問一問---[這是主耶穌所關注的嗎？還是與主為敵的靈所關注的事？ ]
祈禱◆噢，主啊，願你膏立這個地方來讚美你；願你膏立我們這裡的每一個人來讚美你。願你在這一刻，將聖靈那愉快的微風吹拂我們。
Showing posts with label Devotions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Devotions. Show all posts
November 27, 2014
October 19, 2014
The Unheeded Secret
Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world —John 18:36
The great enemy of the Lord Jesus Christ today is the idea of practical work that has no basis in the New Testament but comes from the systems of the world. This work insists upon endless energy and activities, but no private life with God. The emphasis is put on the wrong thing. Jesus said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation . . . . For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21). It is a hidden, obscure thing. An active Christian worker too often lives to be seen by others, while it is the innermost, personal area that reveals the power of a person’s life.
We must get rid of the plague of the spirit of this religious age in which we live. In our Lord’s life there was none of the pressure and the rushing of tremendous activity that we regard so highly today, and a disciple is to be like His Master. The central point of the kingdom of Jesus Christ is a personal relationship with Him, not public usefulness to others.
It is not the practical activities that are the strength of this Bible Training College— its entire strength lies in the fact that here you are immersed in the truths of God to soak in them before Him. You have no idea of where or how God is going to engineer your future circumstances, and no knowledge of what stress and strain is going to be placed on you either at home or abroad. And if you waste your time in overactivity, instead of being immersed in the great fundamental truths of God’s redemption, then you will snap when the stress and strain do come. But if this time of soaking before God is being spent in getting rooted and grounded in Him, which may appear to be impractical, then you will remain true to Him whatever happens.
被忽視的秘密
"我的國不屬這世界。"約18:36
如今主耶穌基督最大的敵人，是我們對實際事工的觀念，它不從新約聖經而來，而是從這世界的系統而來，在支持各種活動上付出了無窮的精力，幾乎沒有了與神同在的個人關係，把重點放在了錯誤的事情上。耶穌說：" 神的國來到不是眼所能見的。因為神的國就在你們心裡，"（路17:20-21）它是一個隱藏的，不明顯的事物。一個活躍的基督徒工人經常活在商店的櫥窗裡。其實，只有內心的最深處才展現出生命的力量。
我們必須除去現在所處的宗教時代的精神災禍，在主的生命裡，並沒有那種我們熱崇的事工活動所出現的擁擠和匆促，作主門徒的要像他的主一樣。耶穌基督的國度裡最中心的事，是與他的個人關係，而不是對人的外在貢獻。這所聖經訓練學院的力量，不在於實際的活動。它全部的力量在於這個事實??你是否完全浸透在神的里面。你根本不知道神要如何安排你的環境，也不知道你要在國內或者國外遭遇怎樣的壓力，如果你浪費你的時間、精力在過於活躍的活動上，而不是沉浸在關於神的救贖的偉大基要真理上，當壓力來時你就會被折斷。但是,如果花時間沉浸在神的里面，實質地在神裡面紮根， 那麼無論發生什麼，你都將保持對他的忠誠。
The great enemy of the Lord Jesus Christ today is the idea of practical work that has no basis in the New Testament but comes from the systems of the world. This work insists upon endless energy and activities, but no private life with God. The emphasis is put on the wrong thing. Jesus said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation . . . . For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21). It is a hidden, obscure thing. An active Christian worker too often lives to be seen by others, while it is the innermost, personal area that reveals the power of a person’s life.
We must get rid of the plague of the spirit of this religious age in which we live. In our Lord’s life there was none of the pressure and the rushing of tremendous activity that we regard so highly today, and a disciple is to be like His Master. The central point of the kingdom of Jesus Christ is a personal relationship with Him, not public usefulness to others.
It is not the practical activities that are the strength of this Bible Training College— its entire strength lies in the fact that here you are immersed in the truths of God to soak in them before Him. You have no idea of where or how God is going to engineer your future circumstances, and no knowledge of what stress and strain is going to be placed on you either at home or abroad. And if you waste your time in overactivity, instead of being immersed in the great fundamental truths of God’s redemption, then you will snap when the stress and strain do come. But if this time of soaking before God is being spent in getting rooted and grounded in Him, which may appear to be impractical, then you will remain true to Him whatever happens.
被忽視的秘密
"我的國不屬這世界。"約18:36
如今主耶穌基督最大的敵人，是我們對實際事工的觀念，它不從新約聖經而來，而是從這世界的系統而來，在支持各種活動上付出了無窮的精力，幾乎沒有了與神同在的個人關係，把重點放在了錯誤的事情上。耶穌說：" 神的國來到不是眼所能見的。因為神的國就在你們心裡，"（路17:20-21）它是一個隱藏的，不明顯的事物。一個活躍的基督徒工人經常活在商店的櫥窗裡。其實，只有內心的最深處才展現出生命的力量。
我們必須除去現在所處的宗教時代的精神災禍，在主的生命裡，並沒有那種我們熱崇的事工活動所出現的擁擠和匆促，作主門徒的要像他的主一樣。耶穌基督的國度裡最中心的事，是與他的個人關係，而不是對人的外在貢獻。這所聖經訓練學院的力量，不在於實際的活動。它全部的力量在於這個事實??你是否完全浸透在神的里面。你根本不知道神要如何安排你的環境，也不知道你要在國內或者國外遭遇怎樣的壓力，如果你浪費你的時間、精力在過於活躍的活動上，而不是沉浸在關於神的救贖的偉大基要真理上，當壓力來時你就會被折斷。但是,如果花時間沉浸在神的里面，實質地在神裡面紮根， 那麼無論發生什麼，你都將保持對他的忠誠。
September 10, 2014
Missionary Weapons (1)
When you were under the fig tree, I saw you —John 1:48
Worshiping in Everyday Occasions. We presume that we would be ready for battle if confronted with a great crisis, but it is not the crisis that builds something within us— it simply reveals what we are made of already. Do you find yourself saying, “If God calls me to battle, of course I will rise to the occasion”? Yet you won’t rise to the occasion unless you have done so on God’s training ground. If you are not doing the task that is closest to you now, which God has engineered into your life, when the crisis comes, instead of being fit for battle, you will be revealed as being unfit. Crises always reveal a person’s true character.
A private relationship of worshiping God is the greatest essential element of spiritual fitness. The time will come, as Nathanael experienced in this passage, that a private “fig-tree” life will no longer be possible. Everything will be out in the open, and you will find yourself to be of no value there if you have not been worshiping in everyday occasions in your own home. If your worship is right in your private relationship with God, then when He sets you free, you will be ready. It is in the unseen life, which only God saw, that you have become perfectly fit. And when the strain of the crisis comes, you can be relied upon by God.
Are you saying, “But I can’t be expected to live a sanctified life in my present circumstances; I have no time for prayer or Bible study right now; besides, my opportunity for battle hasn’t come yet, but when it does, of course I will be ready”? No, you will not. If you have not been worshiping in everyday occasions, when you get involved in God’s work, you will not only be useless yourself but also a hindrance to those around you.
God’s training ground, where the missionary weapons are found, is the hidden, personal, worshiping life of the saint.
傳道者的彈藥
你在無花果樹底下，我就看見你了。 （約一48）
我們一位面臨重大關頭的時候，不然應付得來；可是，重大關頭只會揭露我們的本相，不會給我們加增什麼。 [要是神呼召我，我自會應付得來。 ]除非你能善處工廠的工作，在神面前有真材實料，否則，在重大關頭時，你必不能應付。倘若現在你連神在你身旁安排的事也不作，當重大關頭來到，你不但擔當不起，反而顯得不合用。重要關頭往往能把人的品性顯露出來。
在隱秘處敬拜神，是人合用與否的先決條件。時候到了，不會再有[無花果樹下]的生活，你要出到外頭，在日光之下工作。那時你會發現，除非在家中你一向敬拜神，否則就一無可取。所以要有正確的敬拜，這樣，當神釋放你，你才准備妥當；因為在除了神就沒有人看得見的生命裡，你已完全茁壯合用。考驗來到，神才可以倚重你。
[現今的環境不容我過成聖的生活，我現在沒有時間讀經祈禱，我的機會還未來到，若時機一到，我自然可以應付。 ]錯了。你若一向沒有經常趁機會敬拜，一旦進入工廠，你不但無用，更會成為同工極大的障礙。聖徒私下隱藏的敬拜生活，乃是傳道工廠的彈藥。
祈禱◆噢，主，我的神，幫助我敬拜你。為著你的恆久不變，我讚美你。感動我，噢，主啊，藉著你的能力更新我的靈，使它對你和你的真理更加渴慕與感激。
Worshiping in Everyday Occasions. We presume that we would be ready for battle if confronted with a great crisis, but it is not the crisis that builds something within us— it simply reveals what we are made of already. Do you find yourself saying, “If God calls me to battle, of course I will rise to the occasion”? Yet you won’t rise to the occasion unless you have done so on God’s training ground. If you are not doing the task that is closest to you now, which God has engineered into your life, when the crisis comes, instead of being fit for battle, you will be revealed as being unfit. Crises always reveal a person’s true character.
A private relationship of worshiping God is the greatest essential element of spiritual fitness. The time will come, as Nathanael experienced in this passage, that a private “fig-tree” life will no longer be possible. Everything will be out in the open, and you will find yourself to be of no value there if you have not been worshiping in everyday occasions in your own home. If your worship is right in your private relationship with God, then when He sets you free, you will be ready. It is in the unseen life, which only God saw, that you have become perfectly fit. And when the strain of the crisis comes, you can be relied upon by God.
Are you saying, “But I can’t be expected to live a sanctified life in my present circumstances; I have no time for prayer or Bible study right now; besides, my opportunity for battle hasn’t come yet, but when it does, of course I will be ready”? No, you will not. If you have not been worshiping in everyday occasions, when you get involved in God’s work, you will not only be useless yourself but also a hindrance to those around you.
God’s training ground, where the missionary weapons are found, is the hidden, personal, worshiping life of the saint.
傳道者的彈藥
你在無花果樹底下，我就看見你了。 （約一48）
我們一位面臨重大關頭的時候，不然應付得來；可是，重大關頭只會揭露我們的本相，不會給我們加增什麼。 [要是神呼召我，我自會應付得來。 ]除非你能善處工廠的工作，在神面前有真材實料，否則，在重大關頭時，你必不能應付。倘若現在你連神在你身旁安排的事也不作，當重大關頭來到，你不但擔當不起，反而顯得不合用。重要關頭往往能把人的品性顯露出來。
在隱秘處敬拜神，是人合用與否的先決條件。時候到了，不會再有[無花果樹下]的生活，你要出到外頭，在日光之下工作。那時你會發現，除非在家中你一向敬拜神，否則就一無可取。所以要有正確的敬拜，這樣，當神釋放你，你才准備妥當；因為在除了神就沒有人看得見的生命裡，你已完全茁壯合用。考驗來到，神才可以倚重你。
[現今的環境不容我過成聖的生活，我現在沒有時間讀經祈禱，我的機會還未來到，若時機一到，我自然可以應付。 ]錯了。你若一向沒有經常趁機會敬拜，一旦進入工廠，你不但無用，更會成為同工極大的障礙。聖徒私下隱藏的敬拜生活，乃是傳道工廠的彈藥。
祈禱◆噢，主，我的神，幫助我敬拜你。為著你的恆久不變，我讚美你。感動我，噢，主啊，藉著你的能力更新我的靈，使它對你和你的真理更加渴慕與感激。
January 30, 2014
The Dilemma of Obedience
Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the vision —1 Samuel 3:15
God never speaks to us in dramatic ways, but in ways that are easy to misunderstand. Then we say, “I wonder if that is God’s voice?” Isaiah said that the Lord spoke to him “with a strong hand,” that is, by the pressure of his circumstances (Isaiah 8:11). Without the sovereign hand of God Himself, nothing touches our lives. Do we discern His hand at work, or do we see things as mere occurrences?
Get into the habit of saying, “Speak, Lord,” and life will become a romance (1 Samuel 3:9). Every time circumstances press in on you, say, “Speak, Lord,” and make time to listen. Chastening is more than a means of discipline— it is meant to bring me to the point of saying, “Speak, Lord.” Think back to a time when God spoke to you. Do you remember what He said? Was it Luke 11:13 , or was it 1 Thessalonians 5:23? As we listen, our ears become more sensitive, and like Jesus, we will hear God all the time.
Should I tell my “Eli” what God has shown to me? This is where the dilemma of obedience hits us. We disobey God by becoming amateur providences and thinking, “I must shield ’Eli,’ ” who represents the best people we know. God did not tell Samuel to tell Eli— he had to decide that for himself. God’s message to you may hurt your “Eli,” buttrying to prevent suffering in another’s life will prove to be an obstruction between your soul and God. It is at your own risk that you prevent someone’s right hand being cut off or right eye being plucked out (see Matthew 5:29-30).
Never ask another person’s advice about anything God makes you decide before Him. If you ask advice, you will almost always side with Satan. “. . . I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood . . .” (Galatians 1:16).
順服的難關
撒母耳……不敢將默示告訴以利。 （撒上三15）
神從來不用驚天動地的方式對我們說話，他說話的方式，往往容易被我們誤解。我們會說：[不知這到底是不是神的聲音？ ]以賽亞說神的手在他身上沉重（對他說話），也就是說，神用環境的壓力。任何發生在我們身上的事，都是神在說話。我們有沒有辨認出他的手，還是只當作偶發的事件？
能養成[主啊，請說]的習慣，這樣生命就變得多姿多彩。每一次說：[主啊，請說。 ]要撥出時間來靜聽！管教不單只為了操練，也是為了要把我帶到一個地步，使我能說：[主啊，請說。 ]請你追憶一下神對你說過的話，你還記得他說過什麼嗎？是路加福音十一章13節，還是帖撒羅尼迦前書五章23節？我們多聽，耳朵就開通，像耶穌隨時都聽見神的聲音。
我應該把神給我的指示，告訴我的[以利]嗎？這樣就來到順服的難關了。我們若以神明自居， 說我必須保護[以利]，因他是我熟悉的人中最善良的。這樣，我就是違背神了。神沒有叫撒母耳去告訴以利，他要自作決定。神對你的呼召可能傷害你的[以 利]；但是你若設法護衛另一個人，使其不受傷害，這樣你心靈與神之間便有了阻隔。你不肯砍下右手，剜出眼睛，只會自取其咎，招來毀滅。
神要你在他面前決定的事，不要諮詢別人的意見。你聽取人的意見，就不期然的袒護撒旦了。 [我沒有與屬血氣的人商量。 ]這是保羅的態度。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，願你成為懷中搖籤的定奪者，以致我們為著你所成就的事充滿歡笑。
God never speaks to us in dramatic ways, but in ways that are easy to misunderstand. Then we say, “I wonder if that is God’s voice?” Isaiah said that the Lord spoke to him “with a strong hand,” that is, by the pressure of his circumstances (Isaiah 8:11). Without the sovereign hand of God Himself, nothing touches our lives. Do we discern His hand at work, or do we see things as mere occurrences?
Get into the habit of saying, “Speak, Lord,” and life will become a romance (1 Samuel 3:9). Every time circumstances press in on you, say, “Speak, Lord,” and make time to listen. Chastening is more than a means of discipline— it is meant to bring me to the point of saying, “Speak, Lord.” Think back to a time when God spoke to you. Do you remember what He said? Was it Luke 11:13 , or was it 1 Thessalonians 5:23? As we listen, our ears become more sensitive, and like Jesus, we will hear God all the time.
Should I tell my “Eli” what God has shown to me? This is where the dilemma of obedience hits us. We disobey God by becoming amateur providences and thinking, “I must shield ’Eli,’ ” who represents the best people we know. God did not tell Samuel to tell Eli— he had to decide that for himself. God’s message to you may hurt your “Eli,” buttrying to prevent suffering in another’s life will prove to be an obstruction between your soul and God. It is at your own risk that you prevent someone’s right hand being cut off or right eye being plucked out (see Matthew 5:29-30).
Never ask another person’s advice about anything God makes you decide before Him. If you ask advice, you will almost always side with Satan. “. . . I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood . . .” (Galatians 1:16).
順服的難關
撒母耳……不敢將默示告訴以利。 （撒上三15）
神從來不用驚天動地的方式對我們說話，他說話的方式，往往容易被我們誤解。我們會說：[不知這到底是不是神的聲音？ ]以賽亞說神的手在他身上沉重（對他說話），也就是說，神用環境的壓力。任何發生在我們身上的事，都是神在說話。我們有沒有辨認出他的手，還是只當作偶發的事件？
能養成[主啊，請說]的習慣，這樣生命就變得多姿多彩。每一次說：[主啊，請說。 ]要撥出時間來靜聽！管教不單只為了操練，也是為了要把我帶到一個地步，使我能說：[主啊，請說。 ]請你追憶一下神對你說過的話，你還記得他說過什麼嗎？是路加福音十一章13節，還是帖撒羅尼迦前書五章23節？我們多聽，耳朵就開通，像耶穌隨時都聽見神的聲音。
我應該把神給我的指示，告訴我的[以利]嗎？這樣就來到順服的難關了。我們若以神明自居， 說我必須保護[以利]，因他是我熟悉的人中最善良的。這樣，我就是違背神了。神沒有叫撒母耳去告訴以利，他要自作決定。神對你的呼召可能傷害你的[以 利]；但是你若設法護衛另一個人，使其不受傷害，這樣你心靈與神之間便有了阻隔。你不肯砍下右手，剜出眼睛，只會自取其咎，招來毀滅。
神要你在他面前決定的事，不要諮詢別人的意見。你聽取人的意見，就不期然的袒護撒旦了。 [我沒有與屬血氣的人商量。 ]這是保羅的態度。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，願你成為懷中搖籤的定奪者，以致我們為著你所成就的事充滿歡笑。
January 22, 2014
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 13, 2014
Have You Ever Been Alone with God? (2)
When He was alone . . . the twelve asked Him about the parable —Mark 4:10
His Solitude with Us. When God gets us alone through suffering, heartbreak, temptation, disappointment, sickness, or by thwarted desires, a broken friendship, or a new friendship— when He gets us absolutely alone, and we are totally speechless, unable to ask even one question, then He begins to teach us. Notice Jesus Christ’s training of the Twelve. It was the disciples, not the crowd outside, who were confused. His disciples constantly asked Him questions, and He constantly explained things to them, but they didn’t understand until after they received the Holy Spirit (see John 14:26).
As you journey with God, the only thing He intends to be clear is the way He deals with your soul. The sorrows and difficulties in the lives of others will be absolutely confusing to you. We think we understand another person’s struggle until God reveals the same shortcomings in our lives. There are vast areas of stubbornness and ignorance the Holy Spirit has to reveal in each of us, but it can only be done when Jesus gets us alone. Are we alone with Him now? Or are we more concerned with our own ideas, friendships, and cares for our bodies? Jesus cannot teach us anything until we quiet all our intellectual questions and get alone with Him.
你曾獨自與神同在麼？
無人的時候,……十二格門徒問……（可四10）
他與我們獨處。神藉困苦、創傷、試誘、失望、疾病、愛情的挫折、友誼的破裂，或新友情的建立，把我們帶到一個孤單的境況；我們啞口無言，一句話也問不出來。這時，他才開始向我們解說。試看看耶穌怎樣訓練十二門徒。當時困惑不解的是門徒，不是外面的群眾。他們不住地發問，他也不住地講解：可是要等到他們接受了聖靈，才真正瞭解（約十四26）。
你若與神同行，你唯一可以明瞭的事，也是神唯一要你明瞭的事，就是他要對付你的內心。弟兄的愁苦和疑難，你是一概不明白的。我們以為很明白別人的情況，直到神向我們的毛病，給上一服藥。其實每人心中都有一大片頑梗愚昧的區域，有待聖靈向我們顯明。只有當耶穌抓住我們單獨見面，才能作成。我們現在是否與主獨處？還是浮游於無謂的思想裡？忙亂於無關重要的事奉上？或是為身體作無謂的打算？除非我們停止頭腦上雜七雜八的問題，單獨面對耶穌，否則他無法向我們講解真理。
祈禱◆主啊，今天特別是屬你的日子；讓我們唯獨紀念你。那些遍佈世界各地、能與你面對面的僕人和使女是有福的。寬恕我的遲緩，因為我需要那麼長的時間，才醒覺某些事情。
His Solitude with Us. When God gets us alone through suffering, heartbreak, temptation, disappointment, sickness, or by thwarted desires, a broken friendship, or a new friendship— when He gets us absolutely alone, and we are totally speechless, unable to ask even one question, then He begins to teach us. Notice Jesus Christ’s training of the Twelve. It was the disciples, not the crowd outside, who were confused. His disciples constantly asked Him questions, and He constantly explained things to them, but they didn’t understand until after they received the Holy Spirit (see John 14:26).
As you journey with God, the only thing He intends to be clear is the way He deals with your soul. The sorrows and difficulties in the lives of others will be absolutely confusing to you. We think we understand another person’s struggle until God reveals the same shortcomings in our lives. There are vast areas of stubbornness and ignorance the Holy Spirit has to reveal in each of us, but it can only be done when Jesus gets us alone. Are we alone with Him now? Or are we more concerned with our own ideas, friendships, and cares for our bodies? Jesus cannot teach us anything until we quiet all our intellectual questions and get alone with Him.
你曾獨自與神同在麼？
無人的時候,……十二格門徒問……（可四10）
他與我們獨處。神藉困苦、創傷、試誘、失望、疾病、愛情的挫折、友誼的破裂，或新友情的建立，把我們帶到一個孤單的境況；我們啞口無言，一句話也問不出來。這時，他才開始向我們解說。試看看耶穌怎樣訓練十二門徒。當時困惑不解的是門徒，不是外面的群眾。他們不住地發問，他也不住地講解：可是要等到他們接受了聖靈，才真正瞭解（約十四26）。
你若與神同行，你唯一可以明瞭的事，也是神唯一要你明瞭的事，就是他要對付你的內心。弟兄的愁苦和疑難，你是一概不明白的。我們以為很明白別人的情況，直到神向我們的毛病，給上一服藥。其實每人心中都有一大片頑梗愚昧的區域，有待聖靈向我們顯明。只有當耶穌抓住我們單獨見面，才能作成。我們現在是否與主獨處？還是浮游於無謂的思想裡？忙亂於無關重要的事奉上？或是為身體作無謂的打算？除非我們停止頭腦上雜七雜八的問題，單獨面對耶穌，否則他無法向我們講解真理。
祈禱◆主啊，今天特別是屬你的日子；讓我們唯獨紀念你。那些遍佈世界各地、能與你面對面的僕人和使女是有福的。寬恕我的遲緩，因為我需要那麼長的時間，才醒覺某些事情。
January 12, 2014
Have You Ever Been Alone with God? (1)
When they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples —Mark 4:34
Our Solitude with Him. Jesus doesn’t take us aside and explain things to us all the time; He explains things to us as we are able to understand them. The lives of others are examples for us, but God requires us to examine our own souls. It is slow work— so slow that it takes God all of time and eternity to make a man or woman conform to His purpose. We can only be used by God after we allow Him to show us the deep, hidden areas of our own character. It is astounding how ignorant we are about ourselves! We don’t even recognize the envy, laziness, or pride within us when we see it. But Jesus will reveal to us everything we have held within ourselves before His grace began to work. How many of us have learned to look inwardly with courage?
We have to get rid of the idea that we understand ourselves. That is always the last bit of pride to go. The only One who understands us is God. The greatest curse in our spiritual life is pride. If we have ever had a glimpse of what we are like in the sight of God, we will never say, “Oh, I’m so unworthy.” We will understand that this goes without saying. But as long as there is any doubt that we are unworthy, God will continue to close us in until He gets us alone. Whenever there is any element of pride or conceit remaining, Jesus can’t teach us anything. He will allow us to experience heartbreak or the disappointment we feel when our intellectual pride is wounded. He will reveal numerous misplaced affections or desires— things over which we never thought He would have to get us alone. Many things are shown to us, often without effect. But when God gets us alone over them, they will be clear.
你曾獨自與神同在麼？
沒有人的時候，就把一切的道講給門徒聽。 （可四34）
我們與神獨處。耶穌不會時常把我們拉在一旁，獨自把事情向我們講解；他乃按著我們所能了解的，講給我們聽。別人的生命都不過是比喻，神所要的乃是我們對自己的反省。這是一項緩慢的工作，神要用無盡的時間才把一個人塑造成合他心意的。我們若要被神使用，就要讓他帶我們認識自己的不足與醜陋。我們對自己認識之少，簡直令人驚奇。嫉妒、怠惰、驕傲，我們早已視若無睹。耶穌就是要把我們未蒙他恩典改造之前，所有蘊藏在肉體裡的東西顯明出來。有多少人肯鼓起勇氣往內裡一看？
要除掉自以為認識自己的驕傲，這是最難的。唯一明白我們的只有神。在屬靈生命中，最大的咒詛就是自負。我們若有機會瞥見自己在神的眼中本來面目，就永不會說：[啊，我是多麼不配。 ]因為我們實實在在不配，所以用不著說出來。一日我們還未完全認識自己真的不配，神就會追著我們，直至與我們碰頭。因為只要有一些自負或驕傲存在，耶穌就無法向我們解明真理。他要領我們經過理智驕傲的創痛，或心靈的沮喪；他會披露不合宜的感情——這些東西是我們從未想過神要用來對付我們的。在教室裡，我們聽了許多話，但未明白。惟有當神單獨與我們相處，我們才真正明白。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，[群眾]在今天將會來而又去。幫助我像我的主，留守在孤寂的地方祈禱。
Our Solitude with Him. Jesus doesn’t take us aside and explain things to us all the time; He explains things to us as we are able to understand them. The lives of others are examples for us, but God requires us to examine our own souls. It is slow work— so slow that it takes God all of time and eternity to make a man or woman conform to His purpose. We can only be used by God after we allow Him to show us the deep, hidden areas of our own character. It is astounding how ignorant we are about ourselves! We don’t even recognize the envy, laziness, or pride within us when we see it. But Jesus will reveal to us everything we have held within ourselves before His grace began to work. How many of us have learned to look inwardly with courage?
We have to get rid of the idea that we understand ourselves. That is always the last bit of pride to go. The only One who understands us is God. The greatest curse in our spiritual life is pride. If we have ever had a glimpse of what we are like in the sight of God, we will never say, “Oh, I’m so unworthy.” We will understand that this goes without saying. But as long as there is any doubt that we are unworthy, God will continue to close us in until He gets us alone. Whenever there is any element of pride or conceit remaining, Jesus can’t teach us anything. He will allow us to experience heartbreak or the disappointment we feel when our intellectual pride is wounded. He will reveal numerous misplaced affections or desires— things over which we never thought He would have to get us alone. Many things are shown to us, often without effect. But when God gets us alone over them, they will be clear.
你曾獨自與神同在麼？
沒有人的時候，就把一切的道講給門徒聽。 （可四34）
我們與神獨處。耶穌不會時常把我們拉在一旁，獨自把事情向我們講解；他乃按著我們所能了解的，講給我們聽。別人的生命都不過是比喻，神所要的乃是我們對自己的反省。這是一項緩慢的工作，神要用無盡的時間才把一個人塑造成合他心意的。我們若要被神使用，就要讓他帶我們認識自己的不足與醜陋。我們對自己認識之少，簡直令人驚奇。嫉妒、怠惰、驕傲，我們早已視若無睹。耶穌就是要把我們未蒙他恩典改造之前，所有蘊藏在肉體裡的東西顯明出來。有多少人肯鼓起勇氣往內裡一看？
要除掉自以為認識自己的驕傲，這是最難的。唯一明白我們的只有神。在屬靈生命中，最大的咒詛就是自負。我們若有機會瞥見自己在神的眼中本來面目，就永不會說：[啊，我是多麼不配。 ]因為我們實實在在不配，所以用不著說出來。一日我們還未完全認識自己真的不配，神就會追著我們，直至與我們碰頭。因為只要有一些自負或驕傲存在，耶穌就無法向我們解明真理。他要領我們經過理智驕傲的創痛，或心靈的沮喪；他會披露不合宜的感情——這些東西是我們從未想過神要用來對付我們的。在教室裡，我們聽了許多話，但未明白。惟有當神單獨與我們相處，我們才真正明白。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，[群眾]在今天將會來而又去。幫助我像我的主，留守在孤寂的地方祈禱。
November 27, 2013
The Consecration of Spiritual Power
. . . by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world —Galatians 6:14
If I dwell on the Cross of Christ, I do not simply become inwardly devout and solely interested in my own holiness— I become strongly focused on Jesus Christ’s interests. Our Lord was not a recluse nor a fanatical holy man practicing self-denial. He did not physically cut Himself off from society, but He was inwardly disconnected all the time. He was not aloof, but He lived in another world. In fact, He was so much in the common everyday world that the religious people of His day accused Him of being a glutton and a drunkard. Yet our Lord never allowed anything to interfere with His consecration of spiritual power.
It is not genuine consecration to think that we can refuse to be used of God now in order to store up our spiritual power for later use. That is a hopeless mistake. The Spirit of God has set a great many people free from their sin, yet they are experiencing no fullness in their lives— no true sense of freedom. The kind of religious life we see around the world today is entirely different from the vigorous holiness of the life of Jesus Christ. “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one” (John 17:15). We are to be in the world but not of it— to be separated internally, not externally (see John 17:16).
We must never allow anything to interfere with the consecration of our spiritual power. Consecration (being dedicated to God’s service) is our part; sanctification (being set apart from sin and being made holy) is God’s part. We must make a deliberate determination to be interested only in what God is interested. The way to make that determination, when faced with a perplexing problem, is to ask yourself, “Is this the kind of thing in which Jesus Christ is interested, or is it something in which the spirit that is diametrically opposed to Jesus is interested?”
屬靈能力的分別為聖
因這十字架，就我而論，世界已經釘在十字架上。就世界而論，我已經釘在十字架上。 （加六14）
我若著眼於基督的十字架，就不會成為一個主觀的敬虔者，只注意自己的潔白；而會一心一意關注主耶穌所關注的事。我們的主不是隱逸者，也不是遁世苦行者，他沒有把自己與社會割絕，可是在他裡面，卻是一直與這世界分開。他並不是高高在上，活在另一個世界裡。他十分入世，甚至當時一些宗教人士形容他為貪食好酒，但主從不讓任何事物阻礙他分別為聖。
假冒的分別為聖，就是故意放棄一些東西，以為這樣可以儲藏屬靈的能力，留日後之用，但那是絕對錯誤的。神的靈曾粉碎許多人的罪，可是人仍未得釋放。今日所見得宗教生活，與主耶穌一生活著聖潔生活，是截然不同。 [我不求你叫他們離開世界，只求你保守他們脫離那惡者。 ]我們活在世上，卻不屬這世界；我們得分割是在根基上，不是在外表。
我們絕不可讓任何事物干擾屬靈能力的分別為聖。分別出來是我們的本份，成聖則是神的工作；我們必須堅心決意只關注神所關注的事。對於困擾的問題，就問一問---[這是主耶穌所關注的嗎？還是與主為敵的靈所關注的事？ ]
祈禱◆噢，主啊，願你膏立這個地方來讚美你；願你膏立我們這裡的每一個人來讚美你。願你在這一刻，將聖靈那愉快的微風吹拂我們。
If I dwell on the Cross of Christ, I do not simply become inwardly devout and solely interested in my own holiness— I become strongly focused on Jesus Christ’s interests. Our Lord was not a recluse nor a fanatical holy man practicing self-denial. He did not physically cut Himself off from society, but He was inwardly disconnected all the time. He was not aloof, but He lived in another world. In fact, He was so much in the common everyday world that the religious people of His day accused Him of being a glutton and a drunkard. Yet our Lord never allowed anything to interfere with His consecration of spiritual power.
It is not genuine consecration to think that we can refuse to be used of God now in order to store up our spiritual power for later use. That is a hopeless mistake. The Spirit of God has set a great many people free from their sin, yet they are experiencing no fullness in their lives— no true sense of freedom. The kind of religious life we see around the world today is entirely different from the vigorous holiness of the life of Jesus Christ. “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one” (John 17:15). We are to be in the world but not of it— to be separated internally, not externally (see John 17:16).
We must never allow anything to interfere with the consecration of our spiritual power. Consecration (being dedicated to God’s service) is our part; sanctification (being set apart from sin and being made holy) is God’s part. We must make a deliberate determination to be interested only in what God is interested. The way to make that determination, when faced with a perplexing problem, is to ask yourself, “Is this the kind of thing in which Jesus Christ is interested, or is it something in which the spirit that is diametrically opposed to Jesus is interested?”
屬靈能力的分別為聖
因這十字架，就我而論，世界已經釘在十字架上。就世界而論，我已經釘在十字架上。 （加六14）
我若著眼於基督的十字架，就不會成為一個主觀的敬虔者，只注意自己的潔白；而會一心一意關注主耶穌所關注的事。我們的主不是隱逸者，也不是遁世苦行者，他沒有把自己與社會割絕，可是在他裡面，卻是一直與這世界分開。他並不是高高在上，活在另一個世界裡。他十分入世，甚至當時一些宗教人士形容他為貪食好酒，但主從不讓任何事物阻礙他分別為聖。
假冒的分別為聖，就是故意放棄一些東西，以為這樣可以儲藏屬靈的能力，留日後之用，但那是絕對錯誤的。神的靈曾粉碎許多人的罪，可是人仍未得釋放。今日所見得宗教生活，與主耶穌一生活著聖潔生活，是截然不同。 [我不求你叫他們離開世界，只求你保守他們脫離那惡者。 ]我們活在世上，卻不屬這世界；我們得分割是在根基上，不是在外表。
我們絕不可讓任何事物干擾屬靈能力的分別為聖。分別出來是我們的本份，成聖則是神的工作；我們必須堅心決意只關注神所關注的事。對於困擾的問題，就問一問---[這是主耶穌所關注的嗎？還是與主為敵的靈所關注的事？ ]
祈禱◆噢，主啊，願你膏立這個地方來讚美你；願你膏立我們這裡的每一個人來讚美你。願你在這一刻，將聖靈那愉快的微風吹拂我們。
October 19, 2013
The Unheeded Secret
Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world —John 18:36
The great enemy of the Lord Jesus Christ today is the idea of practical work that has no basis in the New Testament but comes from the systems of the world. This work insists upon endless energy and activities, but no private life with God. The emphasis is put on the wrong thing. Jesus said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation . . . . For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21). It is a hidden, obscure thing. An active Christian worker too often lives to be seen by others, while it is the innermost, personal area that reveals the power of a person’s life.
We must get rid of the plague of the spirit of this religious age in which we live. In our Lord’s life there was none of the pressure and the rushing of tremendous activity that we regard so highly today, and a disciple is to be like His Master. The central point of the kingdom of Jesus Christ is a personal relationship with Him, not public usefulness to others.
It is not the practical activities that are the strength of this Bible Training College— its entire strength lies in the fact that here you are immersed in the truths of God to soak in them before Him. You have no idea of where or how God is going to engineer your future circumstances, and no knowledge of what stress and strain is going to be placed on you either at home or abroad. And if you waste your time in overactivity, instead of being immersed in the great fundamental truths of God’s redemption, then you will snap when the stress and strain do come. But if this time of soaking before God is being spent in getting rooted and grounded in Him, which may appear to be impractical, then you will remain true to Him whatever happens.
被忽視的秘密
"我的國不屬這世界。"約18:36
如今主耶穌基督最大的敵人，是我們對實際事工的觀念，它不從新約聖經而來，而是從這世界的系統而來，在支持各種活動上付出了無窮的精力，幾乎沒有了與神同在的個人關係，把重點放在了錯誤的事情上。耶穌說：" 神的國來到不是眼所能見的。因為神的國就在你們心裡，"（路17:20-21）它是一個隱藏的，不明顯的事物。一個活躍的基督徒工人經常活在商店的櫥窗裡。其實，只有內心的最深處才展現出生命的力量。
我們必須除去現在所處的宗教時代的精神災禍，在主的生命裡，並沒有那種我們熱崇的事工活動所出現的擁擠和匆促，作主門徒的要像他的主一樣。耶穌基督的國度裡最中心的事，是與他的個人關係，而不是對人的外在貢獻。這所聖經訓練學院的力量，不在於實際的活動。它全部的力量在於這個事實??你是否完全浸透在神的里面。你根本不知道神要如何安排你的環境，也不知道你要在國內或者國外遭遇怎樣的壓力，如果你浪費你的時間、精力在過於活躍的活動上，而不是沉浸在關於神的救贖的偉大基要真理上，當壓力來時你就會被折斷。但是,如果花時間沉浸在神的里面，實質地在神裡面紮根， 那麼無論發生什麼，你都將保持對他的忠誠。
The great enemy of the Lord Jesus Christ today is the idea of practical work that has no basis in the New Testament but comes from the systems of the world. This work insists upon endless energy and activities, but no private life with God. The emphasis is put on the wrong thing. Jesus said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation . . . . For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21). It is a hidden, obscure thing. An active Christian worker too often lives to be seen by others, while it is the innermost, personal area that reveals the power of a person’s life.
We must get rid of the plague of the spirit of this religious age in which we live. In our Lord’s life there was none of the pressure and the rushing of tremendous activity that we regard so highly today, and a disciple is to be like His Master. The central point of the kingdom of Jesus Christ is a personal relationship with Him, not public usefulness to others.
It is not the practical activities that are the strength of this Bible Training College— its entire strength lies in the fact that here you are immersed in the truths of God to soak in them before Him. You have no idea of where or how God is going to engineer your future circumstances, and no knowledge of what stress and strain is going to be placed on you either at home or abroad. And if you waste your time in overactivity, instead of being immersed in the great fundamental truths of God’s redemption, then you will snap when the stress and strain do come. But if this time of soaking before God is being spent in getting rooted and grounded in Him, which may appear to be impractical, then you will remain true to Him whatever happens.
被忽視的秘密
"我的國不屬這世界。"約18:36
如今主耶穌基督最大的敵人，是我們對實際事工的觀念，它不從新約聖經而來，而是從這世界的系統而來，在支持各種活動上付出了無窮的精力，幾乎沒有了與神同在的個人關係，把重點放在了錯誤的事情上。耶穌說：" 神的國來到不是眼所能見的。因為神的國就在你們心裡，"（路17:20-21）它是一個隱藏的，不明顯的事物。一個活躍的基督徒工人經常活在商店的櫥窗裡。其實，只有內心的最深處才展現出生命的力量。
我們必須除去現在所處的宗教時代的精神災禍，在主的生命裡，並沒有那種我們熱崇的事工活動所出現的擁擠和匆促，作主門徒的要像他的主一樣。耶穌基督的國度裡最中心的事，是與他的個人關係，而不是對人的外在貢獻。這所聖經訓練學院的力量，不在於實際的活動。它全部的力量在於這個事實??你是否完全浸透在神的里面。你根本不知道神要如何安排你的環境，也不知道你要在國內或者國外遭遇怎樣的壓力，如果你浪費你的時間、精力在過於活躍的活動上，而不是沉浸在關於神的救贖的偉大基要真理上，當壓力來時你就會被折斷。但是,如果花時間沉浸在神的里面，實質地在神裡面紮根， 那麼無論發生什麼，你都將保持對他的忠誠。
September 10, 2013
Missionary Weapons (1)
When you were under the fig tree, I saw you —John 1:48
Worshiping in Everyday Occasions. We presume that we would be ready for battle if confronted with a great crisis, but it is not the crisis that builds something within us— it simply reveals what we are made of already. Do you find yourself saying, “If God calls me to battle, of course I will rise to the occasion”? Yet you won’t rise to the occasion unless you have done so on God’s training ground. If you are not doing the task that is closest to you now, which God has engineered into your life, when the crisis comes, instead of being fit for battle, you will be revealed as being unfit. Crises always reveal a person’s true character.
A private relationship of worshiping God is the greatest essential element of spiritual fitness. The time will come, as Nathanael experienced in this passage, that a private “fig-tree” life will no longer be possible. Everything will be out in the open, and you will find yourself to be of no value there if you have not been worshiping in everyday occasions in your own home. If your worship is right in your private relationship with God, then when He sets you free, you will be ready. It is in the unseen life, which only God saw, that you have become perfectly fit. And when the strain of the crisis comes, you can be relied upon by God.
Are you saying, “But I can’t be expected to live a sanctified life in my present circumstances; I have no time for prayer or Bible study right now; besides, my opportunity for battle hasn’t come yet, but when it does, of course I will be ready”? No, you will not. If you have not been worshiping in everyday occasions, when you get involved in God’s work, you will not only be useless yourself but also a hindrance to those around you.
God’s training ground, where the missionary weapons are found, is the hidden, personal, worshiping life of the saint.
傳道者的彈藥
你在無花果樹底下，我就看見你了。 （約一48）
我們一位面臨重大關頭的時候，不然應付得來；可是，重大關頭只會揭露我們的本相，不會給我們加增什麼。 [要是神呼召我，我自會應付得來。 ]除非你能善處工廠的工作，在神面前有真材實料，否則，在重大關頭時，你必不能應付。倘若現在你連神在你身旁安排的事也不作，當重大關頭來到，你不但擔當不起，反而顯得不合用。重要關頭往往能把人的品性顯露出來。
在隱秘處敬拜神，是人合用與否的先決條件。時候到了，不會再有[無花果樹下]的生活，你要出到外頭，在日光之下工作。那時你會發現，除非在家中你一向敬拜神，否則就一無可取。所以要有正確的敬拜，這樣，當神釋放你，你才准備妥當；因為在除了神就沒有人看得見的生命裡，你已完全茁壯合用。考驗來到，神才可以倚重你。
[現今的環境不容我過成聖的生活，我現在沒有時間讀經祈禱，我的機會還未來到，若時機一到，我自然可以應付。 ]錯了。你若一向沒有經常趁機會敬拜，一旦進入工廠，你不但無用，更會成為同工極大的障礙。聖徒私下隱藏的敬拜生活，乃是傳道工廠的彈藥。
祈禱◆噢，主，我的神，幫助我敬拜你。為著你的恆久不變，我讚美你。感動我，噢，主啊，藉著你的能力更新我的靈，使它對你和你的真理更加渴慕與感激。
Worshiping in Everyday Occasions. We presume that we would be ready for battle if confronted with a great crisis, but it is not the crisis that builds something within us— it simply reveals what we are made of already. Do you find yourself saying, “If God calls me to battle, of course I will rise to the occasion”? Yet you won’t rise to the occasion unless you have done so on God’s training ground. If you are not doing the task that is closest to you now, which God has engineered into your life, when the crisis comes, instead of being fit for battle, you will be revealed as being unfit. Crises always reveal a person’s true character.
A private relationship of worshiping God is the greatest essential element of spiritual fitness. The time will come, as Nathanael experienced in this passage, that a private “fig-tree” life will no longer be possible. Everything will be out in the open, and you will find yourself to be of no value there if you have not been worshiping in everyday occasions in your own home. If your worship is right in your private relationship with God, then when He sets you free, you will be ready. It is in the unseen life, which only God saw, that you have become perfectly fit. And when the strain of the crisis comes, you can be relied upon by God.
Are you saying, “But I can’t be expected to live a sanctified life in my present circumstances; I have no time for prayer or Bible study right now; besides, my opportunity for battle hasn’t come yet, but when it does, of course I will be ready”? No, you will not. If you have not been worshiping in everyday occasions, when you get involved in God’s work, you will not only be useless yourself but also a hindrance to those around you.
God’s training ground, where the missionary weapons are found, is the hidden, personal, worshiping life of the saint.
傳道者的彈藥
你在無花果樹底下，我就看見你了。 （約一48）
我們一位面臨重大關頭的時候，不然應付得來；可是，重大關頭只會揭露我們的本相，不會給我們加增什麼。 [要是神呼召我，我自會應付得來。 ]除非你能善處工廠的工作，在神面前有真材實料，否則，在重大關頭時，你必不能應付。倘若現在你連神在你身旁安排的事也不作，當重大關頭來到，你不但擔當不起，反而顯得不合用。重要關頭往往能把人的品性顯露出來。
在隱秘處敬拜神，是人合用與否的先決條件。時候到了，不會再有[無花果樹下]的生活，你要出到外頭，在日光之下工作。那時你會發現，除非在家中你一向敬拜神，否則就一無可取。所以要有正確的敬拜，這樣，當神釋放你，你才准備妥當；因為在除了神就沒有人看得見的生命裡，你已完全茁壯合用。考驗來到，神才可以倚重你。
[現今的環境不容我過成聖的生活，我現在沒有時間讀經祈禱，我的機會還未來到，若時機一到，我自然可以應付。 ]錯了。你若一向沒有經常趁機會敬拜，一旦進入工廠，你不但無用，更會成為同工極大的障礙。聖徒私下隱藏的敬拜生活，乃是傳道工廠的彈藥。
祈禱◆噢，主，我的神，幫助我敬拜你。為著你的恆久不變，我讚美你。感動我，噢，主啊，藉著你的能力更新我的靈，使它對你和你的真理更加渴慕與感激。
January 30, 2013
The Dilemma of Obedience
Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the vision —1 Samuel 3:15
God never speaks to us in dramatic ways, but in ways that are easy to misunderstand. Then we say, “I wonder if that is God’s voice?” Isaiah said that the Lord spoke to him “with a strong hand,” that is, by the pressure of his circumstances (Isaiah 8:11). Without the sovereign hand of God Himself, nothing touches our lives. Do we discern His hand at work, or do we see things as mere occurrences?
Get into the habit of saying, “Speak, Lord,” and life will become a romance (1 Samuel 3:9). Every time circumstances press in on you, say, “Speak, Lord,” and make time to listen. Chastening is more than a means of discipline— it is meant to bring me to the point of saying, “Speak, Lord.” Think back to a time when God spoke to you. Do you remember what He said? Was it Luke 11:13 , or was it 1 Thessalonians 5:23? As we listen, our ears become more sensitive, and like Jesus, we will hear God all the time.
Should I tell my “Eli” what God has shown to me? This is where the dilemma of obedience hits us. We disobey God by becoming amateur providences and thinking, “I must shield ’Eli,’ ” who represents the best people we know. God did not tell Samuel to tell Eli— he had to decide that for himself. God’s message to you may hurt your “Eli,” buttrying to prevent suffering in another’s life will prove to be an obstruction between your soul and God. It is at your own risk that you prevent someone’s right hand being cut off or right eye being plucked out (see Matthew 5:29-30). Never ask another person’s advice about anything God makes you decide before Him. If you ask advice, you will almost always side with Satan. “. . . I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood . . .” (Galatians 1:16).
順服的難關
撒母耳……不敢將默示告訴以利。 （撒上三15）
神從來不用驚天動地的方式對我們說話，他說話的方式，往往容易被我們誤解。我們會說：[不知這到底是不是神的聲音？ ]以賽亞說神的手在他身上沉重（對他說話），也就是說，神用環境的壓力。任何發生在我們身上的事，都是神在說話。我們有沒有辨認出他的手，還是只當作偶發的事件？
能養成[主啊，請說]的習慣，這樣生命就變得多姿多彩。每一次說：[主啊，請說。 ]要撥出時間來靜聽！管教不單只為了操練，也是為了要把我帶到一個地步，使我能說：[主啊，請說。 ]請你追憶一下神對你說過的話，你還記得他說過什麼嗎？是路加福音十一章13節，還是帖撒羅尼迦前書五章23節？我們多聽，耳朵就開通，像耶穌隨時都聽見神的聲音。
我應該把神給我的指示，告訴我的[以利]嗎？這樣就來到順服的難關了。我們若以神明自居，說我必須保護[以利]，因他是我熟悉的人中最善良的。這樣，我就是違背神了。神沒有叫撒母耳去告訴以利，他要自作決定。神對你的呼召可能傷害你的[以利]；但是你若設法護衛另一個人，使其不受傷害，這樣你心靈與神之間便有了阻隔。你不肯砍下右手，剜出眼睛，只會自取其咎，招來毀滅。
神要你在他面前決定的事，不要諮詢別人的意見。你聽取人的意見，就不期然的袒護撒旦了。 [我沒有與屬血氣的人商量。 ]這是保羅的態度。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，願你成為懷中搖籤的定奪者，以致我們為著你所成就的事充滿歡笑。
God never speaks to us in dramatic ways, but in ways that are easy to misunderstand. Then we say, “I wonder if that is God’s voice?” Isaiah said that the Lord spoke to him “with a strong hand,” that is, by the pressure of his circumstances (Isaiah 8:11). Without the sovereign hand of God Himself, nothing touches our lives. Do we discern His hand at work, or do we see things as mere occurrences?
Get into the habit of saying, “Speak, Lord,” and life will become a romance (1 Samuel 3:9). Every time circumstances press in on you, say, “Speak, Lord,” and make time to listen. Chastening is more than a means of discipline— it is meant to bring me to the point of saying, “Speak, Lord.” Think back to a time when God spoke to you. Do you remember what He said? Was it Luke 11:13 , or was it 1 Thessalonians 5:23? As we listen, our ears become more sensitive, and like Jesus, we will hear God all the time.
Should I tell my “Eli” what God has shown to me? This is where the dilemma of obedience hits us. We disobey God by becoming amateur providences and thinking, “I must shield ’Eli,’ ” who represents the best people we know. God did not tell Samuel to tell Eli— he had to decide that for himself. God’s message to you may hurt your “Eli,” buttrying to prevent suffering in another’s life will prove to be an obstruction between your soul and God. It is at your own risk that you prevent someone’s right hand being cut off or right eye being plucked out (see Matthew 5:29-30). Never ask another person’s advice about anything God makes you decide before Him. If you ask advice, you will almost always side with Satan. “. . . I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood . . .” (Galatians 1:16).
順服的難關
撒母耳……不敢將默示告訴以利。 （撒上三15）
神從來不用驚天動地的方式對我們說話，他說話的方式，往往容易被我們誤解。我們會說：[不知這到底是不是神的聲音？ ]以賽亞說神的手在他身上沉重（對他說話），也就是說，神用環境的壓力。任何發生在我們身上的事，都是神在說話。我們有沒有辨認出他的手，還是只當作偶發的事件？
能養成[主啊，請說]的習慣，這樣生命就變得多姿多彩。每一次說：[主啊，請說。 ]要撥出時間來靜聽！管教不單只為了操練，也是為了要把我帶到一個地步，使我能說：[主啊，請說。 ]請你追憶一下神對你說過的話，你還記得他說過什麼嗎？是路加福音十一章13節，還是帖撒羅尼迦前書五章23節？我們多聽，耳朵就開通，像耶穌隨時都聽見神的聲音。
我應該把神給我的指示，告訴我的[以利]嗎？這樣就來到順服的難關了。我們若以神明自居，說我必須保護[以利]，因他是我熟悉的人中最善良的。這樣，我就是違背神了。神沒有叫撒母耳去告訴以利，他要自作決定。神對你的呼召可能傷害你的[以利]；但是你若設法護衛另一個人，使其不受傷害，這樣你心靈與神之間便有了阻隔。你不肯砍下右手，剜出眼睛，只會自取其咎，招來毀滅。
神要你在他面前決定的事，不要諮詢別人的意見。你聽取人的意見，就不期然的袒護撒旦了。 [我沒有與屬血氣的人商量。 ]這是保羅的態度。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，願你成為懷中搖籤的定奪者，以致我們為著你所成就的事充滿歡笑。
January 22, 2013
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 13, 2013
Have You Ever Been Alone with God? (2)
When He was alone . . . the twelve asked Him about the parable —Mark 4:10
His Solitude with Us. When God gets us alone through suffering, heartbreak, temptation, disappointment, sickness, or by thwarted desires, a broken friendship, or a new friendship— when He gets us absolutely alone, and we are totally speechless, unable to ask even one question, then He begins to teach us. Notice Jesus Christ’s training of the Twelve. It was the disciples, not the crowd outside, who were confused. His disciples constantly asked Him questions, and He constantly explained things to them, but they didn’t understand until after they received the Holy Spirit (see John 14:26).
As you journey with God, the only thing He intends to be clear is the way He deals with your soul. The sorrows and difficulties in the lives of others will be absolutely confusing to you. We think we understand another person’s struggle until God reveals the same shortcomings in our lives. There are vast areas of stubbornness and ignorance the Holy Spirit has to reveal in each of us, but it can only be done when Jesus gets us alone. Are we alone with Him now? Or are we more concerned with our own ideas, friendships, and cares for our bodies? Jesus cannot teach us anything until we quiet all our intellectual questions and get alone with Him.
你曾獨自與神同在麼？
無人的時候,……十二格門徒問……（可四10）
他與我們獨處。神藉困苦、創傷、試誘、失望、疾病、愛情的挫折、友誼的破裂，或新友情的建立，把我們帶到一個孤單的境況；我們啞口無言，一句話也問不出來。這時，他才開始向我們解說。試看看耶穌怎樣訓練十二門徒。當時困惑不解的是門徒，不是外面的群眾。他們不住地發問，他也不住地講解：可是要等到他們接受了聖靈，才真正瞭解（約十四26）。
你若與神同行，你唯一可以明瞭的事，也是神唯一要你明瞭的事，就是他要對付你的內心。弟兄的愁苦和疑難，你是一概不明白的。我們以為很明白別人的情況，直到神向我們的毛病，給上一服藥。其實每人心中都有一大片頑梗愚昧的區域，有待聖靈向我們顯明。只有當耶穌抓住我們單獨見面，才能作成。我們現在是否與主獨處？還是浮游於無謂的思想裡？忙亂於無關重要的事奉上？或是為身體作無謂的打算？除非我們停止頭腦上雜七雜八的問題，單獨面對耶穌，否則他無法向我們講解真理。
祈禱◆主啊，今天特別是屬你的日子；讓我們唯獨紀念你。那些遍佈世界各地、能與你面對面的僕人和使女是有福的。寬恕我的遲緩，因為我需要那麼長的時間，才醒覺某些事情。
His Solitude with Us. When God gets us alone through suffering, heartbreak, temptation, disappointment, sickness, or by thwarted desires, a broken friendship, or a new friendship— when He gets us absolutely alone, and we are totally speechless, unable to ask even one question, then He begins to teach us. Notice Jesus Christ’s training of the Twelve. It was the disciples, not the crowd outside, who were confused. His disciples constantly asked Him questions, and He constantly explained things to them, but they didn’t understand until after they received the Holy Spirit (see John 14:26).
As you journey with God, the only thing He intends to be clear is the way He deals with your soul. The sorrows and difficulties in the lives of others will be absolutely confusing to you. We think we understand another person’s struggle until God reveals the same shortcomings in our lives. There are vast areas of stubbornness and ignorance the Holy Spirit has to reveal in each of us, but it can only be done when Jesus gets us alone. Are we alone with Him now? Or are we more concerned with our own ideas, friendships, and cares for our bodies? Jesus cannot teach us anything until we quiet all our intellectual questions and get alone with Him.
你曾獨自與神同在麼？
無人的時候,……十二格門徒問……（可四10）
他與我們獨處。神藉困苦、創傷、試誘、失望、疾病、愛情的挫折、友誼的破裂，或新友情的建立，把我們帶到一個孤單的境況；我們啞口無言，一句話也問不出來。這時，他才開始向我們解說。試看看耶穌怎樣訓練十二門徒。當時困惑不解的是門徒，不是外面的群眾。他們不住地發問，他也不住地講解：可是要等到他們接受了聖靈，才真正瞭解（約十四26）。
你若與神同行，你唯一可以明瞭的事，也是神唯一要你明瞭的事，就是他要對付你的內心。弟兄的愁苦和疑難，你是一概不明白的。我們以為很明白別人的情況，直到神向我們的毛病，給上一服藥。其實每人心中都有一大片頑梗愚昧的區域，有待聖靈向我們顯明。只有當耶穌抓住我們單獨見面，才能作成。我們現在是否與主獨處？還是浮游於無謂的思想裡？忙亂於無關重要的事奉上？或是為身體作無謂的打算？除非我們停止頭腦上雜七雜八的問題，單獨面對耶穌，否則他無法向我們講解真理。
祈禱◆主啊，今天特別是屬你的日子；讓我們唯獨紀念你。那些遍佈世界各地、能與你面對面的僕人和使女是有福的。寬恕我的遲緩，因為我需要那麼長的時間，才醒覺某些事情。
January 12, 2013
Have You Ever Been Alone with God? (1)
When they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples —Mark 4:34
Our Solitude with Him. Jesus doesn’t take us aside and explain things to us all the time; He explains things to us as we are able to understand them. The lives of others are examples for us, but God requires us to examine our own souls. It is slow work— so slow that it takes God all of time and eternity to make a man or woman conform to His purpose. We can only be used by God after we allow Him to show us the deep, hidden areas of our own character. It is astounding how ignorant we are about ourselves! We don’t even recognize the envy, laziness, or pride within us when we see it. But Jesus will reveal to us everything we have held within ourselves before His grace began to work. How many of us have learned to look inwardly with courage?
We have to get rid of the idea that we understand ourselves. That is always the last bit of pride to go. The only One who understands us is God. The greatest curse in our spiritual life is pride. If we have ever had a glimpse of what we are like in the sight of God, we will never say, “Oh, I’m so unworthy.” We will understand that this goes without saying. But as long as there is any doubt that we are unworthy, God will continue to close us in until He gets us alone. Whenever there is any element of pride or conceit remaining, Jesus can’t teach us anything. He will allow us to experience heartbreak or the disappointment we feel when our intellectual pride is wounded. He will reveal numerous misplaced affections or desires— things over which we never thought He would have to get us alone. Many things are shown to us, often without effect. But when God gets us alone over them, they will be clear.
你曾獨自與神同在麼？
沒有人的時候，就把一切的道講給門徒聽。 （可四34）
我們與神獨處。耶穌不會時常把我們拉在一旁，獨自把事情向我們講解；他乃按著我們所能了解的，講給我們聽。別人的生命都不過是比喻，神所要的乃是我們對自己的反省。這是一項緩慢的工作，神要用無盡的時間才把一個人塑造成合他心意的。我們若要被神使用，就要讓他帶我們認識自己的不足與醜陋。我們對自己認識之少，簡直令人驚奇。嫉妒、怠惰、驕傲，我們早已視若無睹。耶穌就是要把我們未蒙他恩典改造之前，所有蘊藏在肉體裡的東西顯明出來。有多少人肯鼓起勇氣往內裡一看？
要除掉自以為認識自己的驕傲，這是最難的。唯一明白我們的只有神。在屬靈生命中，最大的咒詛就是自負。我們若有機會瞥見自己在神的眼中本來面目，就永不會說：[啊，我是多麼不配。 ]因為我們實實在在不配，所以用不著說出來。一日我們還未完全認識自己真的不配，神就會追著我們，直至與我們碰頭。因為只要有一些自負或驕傲存在，耶穌就無法向我們解明真理。他要領我們經過理智驕傲的創痛，或心靈的沮喪；他會披露不合宜的感情——這些東西是我們從未想過神要用來對付我們的。在教室裡，我們聽了許多話，但未明白。惟有當神單獨與我們相處，我們才真正明白。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，[群眾]在今天將會來而又去。幫助我像我的主，留守在孤寂的地方祈禱。
Our Solitude with Him. Jesus doesn’t take us aside and explain things to us all the time; He explains things to us as we are able to understand them. The lives of others are examples for us, but God requires us to examine our own souls. It is slow work— so slow that it takes God all of time and eternity to make a man or woman conform to His purpose. We can only be used by God after we allow Him to show us the deep, hidden areas of our own character. It is astounding how ignorant we are about ourselves! We don’t even recognize the envy, laziness, or pride within us when we see it. But Jesus will reveal to us everything we have held within ourselves before His grace began to work. How many of us have learned to look inwardly with courage?
We have to get rid of the idea that we understand ourselves. That is always the last bit of pride to go. The only One who understands us is God. The greatest curse in our spiritual life is pride. If we have ever had a glimpse of what we are like in the sight of God, we will never say, “Oh, I’m so unworthy.” We will understand that this goes without saying. But as long as there is any doubt that we are unworthy, God will continue to close us in until He gets us alone. Whenever there is any element of pride or conceit remaining, Jesus can’t teach us anything. He will allow us to experience heartbreak or the disappointment we feel when our intellectual pride is wounded. He will reveal numerous misplaced affections or desires— things over which we never thought He would have to get us alone. Many things are shown to us, often without effect. But when God gets us alone over them, they will be clear.
你曾獨自與神同在麼？
沒有人的時候，就把一切的道講給門徒聽。 （可四34）
我們與神獨處。耶穌不會時常把我們拉在一旁，獨自把事情向我們講解；他乃按著我們所能了解的，講給我們聽。別人的生命都不過是比喻，神所要的乃是我們對自己的反省。這是一項緩慢的工作，神要用無盡的時間才把一個人塑造成合他心意的。我們若要被神使用，就要讓他帶我們認識自己的不足與醜陋。我們對自己認識之少，簡直令人驚奇。嫉妒、怠惰、驕傲，我們早已視若無睹。耶穌就是要把我們未蒙他恩典改造之前，所有蘊藏在肉體裡的東西顯明出來。有多少人肯鼓起勇氣往內裡一看？
要除掉自以為認識自己的驕傲，這是最難的。唯一明白我們的只有神。在屬靈生命中，最大的咒詛就是自負。我們若有機會瞥見自己在神的眼中本來面目，就永不會說：[啊，我是多麼不配。 ]因為我們實實在在不配，所以用不著說出來。一日我們還未完全認識自己真的不配，神就會追著我們，直至與我們碰頭。因為只要有一些自負或驕傲存在，耶穌就無法向我們解明真理。他要領我們經過理智驕傲的創痛，或心靈的沮喪；他會披露不合宜的感情——這些東西是我們從未想過神要用來對付我們的。在教室裡，我們聽了許多話，但未明白。惟有當神單獨與我們相處，我們才真正明白。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，[群眾]在今天將會來而又去。幫助我像我的主，留守在孤寂的地方祈禱。
November 27, 2012
The Consecration of Spiritual Power
. . . by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world —Galatians 6:14
If I dwell on the Cross of Christ, I do not simply become inwardly devout and solely interested in my own holiness— I become strongly focused on Jesus Christ’s interests. Our Lord was not a recluse nor a fanatical holy man practicing self-denial. He did not physically cut Himself off from society, but He was inwardly disconnected all the time. He was not aloof, but He lived in another world. In fact, He was so much in the common everyday world that the religious people of His day accused Him of being a glutton and a drunkard. Yet our Lord never allowed anything to interfere with His consecration of spiritual power.
It is not genuine consecration to think that we can refuse to be used of God now in order to store up our spiritual power for later use. That is a hopeless mistake. The Spirit of God has set a great many people free from their sin, yet they are experiencing no fullness in their lives— no true sense of freedom. The kind of religious life we see around the world today is entirely different from the vigorous holiness of the life of Jesus Christ. “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one” (John 17:15). We are to be in the world but not of it— to be separated internally, not externally (see John 17:16).
We must never allow anything to interfere with the consecration of our spiritual power. Consecration (being dedicated to God’s service) is our part; sanctification (being set apart from sin and being made holy) is God’s part. We must make a deliberate determination to be interested only in what God is interested. The way to make that determination, when faced with a perplexing problem, is to ask yourself, “Is this the kind of thing in which Jesus Christ is interested, or is it something in which the spirit that is diametrically opposed to Jesus is interested?”
If I dwell on the Cross of Christ, I do not simply become inwardly devout and solely interested in my own holiness— I become strongly focused on Jesus Christ’s interests. Our Lord was not a recluse nor a fanatical holy man practicing self-denial. He did not physically cut Himself off from society, but He was inwardly disconnected all the time. He was not aloof, but He lived in another world. In fact, He was so much in the common everyday world that the religious people of His day accused Him of being a glutton and a drunkard. Yet our Lord never allowed anything to interfere with His consecration of spiritual power.
It is not genuine consecration to think that we can refuse to be used of God now in order to store up our spiritual power for later use. That is a hopeless mistake. The Spirit of God has set a great many people free from their sin, yet they are experiencing no fullness in their lives— no true sense of freedom. The kind of religious life we see around the world today is entirely different from the vigorous holiness of the life of Jesus Christ. “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one” (John 17:15). We are to be in the world but not of it— to be separated internally, not externally (see John 17:16).
We must never allow anything to interfere with the consecration of our spiritual power. Consecration (being dedicated to God’s service) is our part; sanctification (being set apart from sin and being made holy) is God’s part. We must make a deliberate determination to be interested only in what God is interested. The way to make that determination, when faced with a perplexing problem, is to ask yourself, “Is this the kind of thing in which Jesus Christ is interested, or is it something in which the spirit that is diametrically opposed to Jesus is interested?”
October 19, 2012
The Unheeded Secret
Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world —John 18:36
The great enemy of the Lord Jesus Christ today is the idea of practical work that has no basis in the New Testament but comes from the systems of the world. This work insists upon endless energy and activities, but no private life with God. The emphasis is put on the wrong thing. Jesus said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation . . . . For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21). It is a hidden, obscure thing. An active Christian worker too often lives to be seen by others, while it is the innermost, personal area that reveals the power of a person’s life.
We must get rid of the plague of the spirit of this religious age in which we live. In our Lord’s life there was none of the pressure and the rushing of tremendous activity that we regard so highly today, and a disciple is to be like His Master. The central point of the kingdom of Jesus Christ is a personal relationship with Him, not public usefulness to others.
It is not the practical activities that are the strength of this Bible Training College— its entire strength lies in the fact that here you are immersed in the truths of God to soak in them before Him. You have no idea of where or how God is going to engineer your future circumstances, and no knowledge of what stress and strain is going to be placed on you either at home or abroad. And if you waste your time in overactivity, instead of being immersed in the great fundamental truths of God’s redemption, then you will snap when the stress and strain do come. But if this time of soaking before God is being spent in getting rooted and grounded in Him, which may appear to be impractical, then you will remain true to Him whatever happens.
被忽視的秘密
"我的國不屬這世界。"約18:36
如今主耶穌基督最大的敵人，是我們對實際事工的觀念，它不從新約聖經而來，而是從這世界的系統而來，在支持各種活動上付出了無窮的精力，幾乎沒有了與神同在的個人關係，把重點放在了錯誤的事情上。耶穌說：" 神的國來到不是眼所能見的。因為神的國就在你們心裡，"（路17:20-21）它是一個隱藏的，不明顯的事物。一個活躍的基督徒工人經常活在商店的櫥窗裡。其實，只有內心的最深處才展現出生命的力量。
我們必須除去現在所處的宗教時代的精神災禍，在主的生命裡，並沒有那種我們熱崇的事工活動所出現的擁擠和匆促，作主門徒的要像他的主一樣。耶穌基督的國度裡最中心的事，是與他的個人關係，而不是對人的外在貢獻。這所聖經訓練學院的力量，不在於實際的活動。它全部的力量在於這個事實??你是否完全浸透在神的里面。你根本不知道神要如何安排你的環境，也不知道你要在國內或者國外遭遇怎樣的壓力，如果你浪費你的時間、精力在過於活躍的活動上，而不是沉浸在關於神的救贖的偉大基要真理上，當壓力來時你就會被折斷。但是,如果花時間沉浸在神的里面，實質地在神裡面紮根， 那麼無論發生什麼，你都將保持對他的忠誠。
The great enemy of the Lord Jesus Christ today is the idea of practical work that has no basis in the New Testament but comes from the systems of the world. This work insists upon endless energy and activities, but no private life with God. The emphasis is put on the wrong thing. Jesus said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation . . . . For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21). It is a hidden, obscure thing. An active Christian worker too often lives to be seen by others, while it is the innermost, personal area that reveals the power of a person’s life.
We must get rid of the plague of the spirit of this religious age in which we live. In our Lord’s life there was none of the pressure and the rushing of tremendous activity that we regard so highly today, and a disciple is to be like His Master. The central point of the kingdom of Jesus Christ is a personal relationship with Him, not public usefulness to others.
It is not the practical activities that are the strength of this Bible Training College— its entire strength lies in the fact that here you are immersed in the truths of God to soak in them before Him. You have no idea of where or how God is going to engineer your future circumstances, and no knowledge of what stress and strain is going to be placed on you either at home or abroad. And if you waste your time in overactivity, instead of being immersed in the great fundamental truths of God’s redemption, then you will snap when the stress and strain do come. But if this time of soaking before God is being spent in getting rooted and grounded in Him, which may appear to be impractical, then you will remain true to Him whatever happens.
被忽視的秘密
"我的國不屬這世界。"約18:36
如今主耶穌基督最大的敵人，是我們對實際事工的觀念，它不從新約聖經而來，而是從這世界的系統而來，在支持各種活動上付出了無窮的精力，幾乎沒有了與神同在的個人關係，把重點放在了錯誤的事情上。耶穌說：" 神的國來到不是眼所能見的。因為神的國就在你們心裡，"（路17:20-21）它是一個隱藏的，不明顯的事物。一個活躍的基督徒工人經常活在商店的櫥窗裡。其實，只有內心的最深處才展現出生命的力量。
我們必須除去現在所處的宗教時代的精神災禍，在主的生命裡，並沒有那種我們熱崇的事工活動所出現的擁擠和匆促，作主門徒的要像他的主一樣。耶穌基督的國度裡最中心的事，是與他的個人關係，而不是對人的外在貢獻。這所聖經訓練學院的力量，不在於實際的活動。它全部的力量在於這個事實??你是否完全浸透在神的里面。你根本不知道神要如何安排你的環境，也不知道你要在國內或者國外遭遇怎樣的壓力，如果你浪費你的時間、精力在過於活躍的活動上，而不是沉浸在關於神的救贖的偉大基要真理上，當壓力來時你就會被折斷。但是,如果花時間沉浸在神的里面，實質地在神裡面紮根， 那麼無論發生什麼，你都將保持對他的忠誠。
September 10, 2012
Missionary Weapons (1)
When you were under the fig tree, I saw you —John 1:48
Worshiping in Everyday Occasions. We presume that we would be ready for battle if confronted with a great crisis, but it is not the crisis that builds something within us— it simply reveals what we are made of already. Do you find yourself saying, “If God calls me to battle, of course I will rise to the occasion”? Yet you won’t rise to the occasion unless you have done so on God’s training ground. If you are not doing the task that is closest to you now, which God has engineered into your life, when the crisis comes, instead of being fit for battle, you will be revealed as being unfit. Crises always reveal a person’s true character.
A private relationship of worshiping God is the greatest essential element of spiritual fitness. The time will come, as Nathanael experienced in this passage, that a private “fig-tree” life will no longer be possible. Everything will be out in the open, and you will find yourself to be of no value there if you have not been worshiping in everyday occasions in your own home. If your worship is right in your private relationship with God, then when He sets you free, you will be ready. It is in the unseen life, which only God saw, that you have become perfectly fit. And when the strain of the crisis comes, you can be relied upon by God.
Are you saying, “But I can’t be expected to live a sanctified life in my present circumstances; I have no time for prayer or Bible study right now; besides, my opportunity for battle hasn’t come yet, but when it does, of course I will be ready”? No, you will not. If you have not been worshiping in everyday occasions, when you get involved in God’s work, you will not only be useless yourself but also a hindrance to those around you.
God’s training ground, where the missionary weapons are found, is the hidden, personal, worshiping life of the saint.
傳道者的彈藥
你在無花果樹底下，我就看見你了。 （約一48）
我們一位面臨重大關頭的時候，不然應付得來；可是，重大關頭只會揭露我們的本相，不會給我們加增什麼。 [要是神呼召我，我自會應付得來。 ]除非你能善處工廠的工作，在神面前有真材實料，否則，在重大關頭時，你必不能應付。倘若現在你連神在你身旁安排的事也不作，當重大關頭來到，你不但擔當不起，反而顯得不合用。重要關頭往往能把人的品性顯露出來。
在隱秘處敬拜神，是人合用與否的先決條件。時候到了，不會再有[無花果樹下]的生活，你要出到外頭，在日光之下工作。那時你會發現，除非在家中你一向敬拜神，否則就一無可取。所以要有正確的敬拜，這樣，當神釋放你，你才准備妥當；因為在除了神就沒有人看得見的生命裡，你已完全茁壯合用。考驗來到，神才可以倚重你。
[現今的環境不容我過成聖的生活，我現在沒有時間讀經祈禱，我的機會還未來到，若時機一到，我自然可以應付。 ]錯了。你若一向沒有經常趁機會敬拜，一旦進入工廠，你不但無用，更會成為同工極大的障礙。聖徒私下隱藏的敬拜生活，乃是傳道工廠的彈藥。
祈禱◆噢，主，我的神，幫助我敬拜你。為著你的恆久不變，我讚美你。感動我，噢，主啊，藉著你的能力更新我的靈，使它對你和你的真理更加渴慕與感激。
Worshiping in Everyday Occasions. We presume that we would be ready for battle if confronted with a great crisis, but it is not the crisis that builds something within us— it simply reveals what we are made of already. Do you find yourself saying, “If God calls me to battle, of course I will rise to the occasion”? Yet you won’t rise to the occasion unless you have done so on God’s training ground. If you are not doing the task that is closest to you now, which God has engineered into your life, when the crisis comes, instead of being fit for battle, you will be revealed as being unfit. Crises always reveal a person’s true character.
A private relationship of worshiping God is the greatest essential element of spiritual fitness. The time will come, as Nathanael experienced in this passage, that a private “fig-tree” life will no longer be possible. Everything will be out in the open, and you will find yourself to be of no value there if you have not been worshiping in everyday occasions in your own home. If your worship is right in your private relationship with God, then when He sets you free, you will be ready. It is in the unseen life, which only God saw, that you have become perfectly fit. And when the strain of the crisis comes, you can be relied upon by God.
Are you saying, “But I can’t be expected to live a sanctified life in my present circumstances; I have no time for prayer or Bible study right now; besides, my opportunity for battle hasn’t come yet, but when it does, of course I will be ready”? No, you will not. If you have not been worshiping in everyday occasions, when you get involved in God’s work, you will not only be useless yourself but also a hindrance to those around you.
God’s training ground, where the missionary weapons are found, is the hidden, personal, worshiping life of the saint.
傳道者的彈藥
你在無花果樹底下，我就看見你了。 （約一48）
我們一位面臨重大關頭的時候，不然應付得來；可是，重大關頭只會揭露我們的本相，不會給我們加增什麼。 [要是神呼召我，我自會應付得來。 ]除非你能善處工廠的工作，在神面前有真材實料，否則，在重大關頭時，你必不能應付。倘若現在你連神在你身旁安排的事也不作，當重大關頭來到，你不但擔當不起，反而顯得不合用。重要關頭往往能把人的品性顯露出來。
在隱秘處敬拜神，是人合用與否的先決條件。時候到了，不會再有[無花果樹下]的生活，你要出到外頭，在日光之下工作。那時你會發現，除非在家中你一向敬拜神，否則就一無可取。所以要有正確的敬拜，這樣，當神釋放你，你才准備妥當；因為在除了神就沒有人看得見的生命裡，你已完全茁壯合用。考驗來到，神才可以倚重你。
[現今的環境不容我過成聖的生活，我現在沒有時間讀經祈禱，我的機會還未來到，若時機一到，我自然可以應付。 ]錯了。你若一向沒有經常趁機會敬拜，一旦進入工廠，你不但無用，更會成為同工極大的障礙。聖徒私下隱藏的敬拜生活，乃是傳道工廠的彈藥。
祈禱◆噢，主，我的神，幫助我敬拜你。為著你的恆久不變，我讚美你。感動我，噢，主啊，藉著你的能力更新我的靈，使它對你和你的真理更加渴慕與感激。
April 27, 2012
January 30, 2012
The Dilemma Of Obedience
Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the vision —1 Samuel 3:15
God never speaks to us in dramatic ways, but in ways that are easy to misunderstand. Then we say, “I wonder if that is God’s voice?” Isaiah said that the Lord spoke to him “with a strong hand,” that is, by the pressure of his circumstances (Isaiah 8:11). Without the sovereign hand of God Himself, nothing touches our lives. Do we discern His hand at work, or do we see things as mere occurrences?
Get into the habit of saying, “Speak, Lord,” and life will become a romance (1 Samuel 3:9). Every time circumstances press in on you, say, “Speak, Lord,” and make time to listen. Chastening is more than a means of discipline— it is meant to bring me to the point of saying, “Speak, Lord.” Think back to a time when God spoke to you. Do you remember what He said? Was it Luke 11:13 , or was it 1 Thessalonians 5:23? As we listen, our ears become more sensitive, and like Jesus, we will hear God all the time.
Should I tell my “Eli” what God has shown to me? This is where the dilemma of obedience hits us. We disobey God by becoming amateur providences and thinking, “I must shield ’Eli,’ ” who represents the best people we know. God did not tell Samuel to tell Eli— he had to decide that for himself. God’s message to you may hurt your “Eli,” buttrying to prevent suffering in another’s life will prove to be an obstruction between your soul and God. It is at your own risk that you prevent someone’s right hand being cut off or right eye being plucked out (see Matthew 5:29-30). Never ask another person’s advice about anything God makes you decide before Him. If you ask advice, you will almost always side with Satan. “. . . I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood . . .” (Galatians 1:16).
順服的難關
撒母耳……不敢將默示告訴以利。 （撒上三15）
神從來不用驚天動地的方式對我們說話，他說話的方式，往往容易被我們誤解。我們會說：[不知這到底是不是神的聲音？ ]以賽亞說神的手在他身上沉重（對他說話），也就是說，神用環境的壓力。任何發生在我們身上的事，都是神在說話。我們有沒有辨認出他的手，還是只當作偶發的事件？
能養成[主啊，請說]的習慣，這樣生命就變得多姿多彩。每一次說：[主啊，請說。 ]要撥出時間來靜聽！管教不單只為了操練，也是為了要把我帶到一個地步，使我能說：[主啊，請說。 ]請你追憶一下神對你說過的話，你還記得他說過什麼嗎？是路加福音十一章13節，還是帖撒羅尼迦前書五章23節？我們多聽，耳朵就開通，像耶穌隨時都聽見神的聲音。
我應該把神給我的指示，告訴我的[以利]嗎？這樣就來到順服的難關了。我們若以神明自居，說我必須保護[以利]，因他是我熟悉的人中最善良的。這樣，我就是違背神了。神沒有叫撒母耳去告訴以利，他要自作決定。神對你的呼召可能傷害你的[以利]；但是你若設法護衛另一個人，使其不受傷害，這樣你心靈與神之間便有了阻隔。你不肯砍下右手，剜出眼睛，只會自取其咎，招來毀滅。
神要你在他面前決定的事，不要諮詢別人的意見。你聽取人的意見，就不期然的袒護撒旦了。 [我沒有與屬血氣的人商量。 ]這是保羅的態度。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，願你成為懷中搖籤的定奪者，以致我們為著你所成就的事充滿歡笑。
God never speaks to us in dramatic ways, but in ways that are easy to misunderstand. Then we say, “I wonder if that is God’s voice?” Isaiah said that the Lord spoke to him “with a strong hand,” that is, by the pressure of his circumstances (Isaiah 8:11). Without the sovereign hand of God Himself, nothing touches our lives. Do we discern His hand at work, or do we see things as mere occurrences?
Get into the habit of saying, “Speak, Lord,” and life will become a romance (1 Samuel 3:9). Every time circumstances press in on you, say, “Speak, Lord,” and make time to listen. Chastening is more than a means of discipline— it is meant to bring me to the point of saying, “Speak, Lord.” Think back to a time when God spoke to you. Do you remember what He said? Was it Luke 11:13 , or was it 1 Thessalonians 5:23? As we listen, our ears become more sensitive, and like Jesus, we will hear God all the time.
Should I tell my “Eli” what God has shown to me? This is where the dilemma of obedience hits us. We disobey God by becoming amateur providences and thinking, “I must shield ’Eli,’ ” who represents the best people we know. God did not tell Samuel to tell Eli— he had to decide that for himself. God’s message to you may hurt your “Eli,” buttrying to prevent suffering in another’s life will prove to be an obstruction between your soul and God. It is at your own risk that you prevent someone’s right hand being cut off or right eye being plucked out (see Matthew 5:29-30). Never ask another person’s advice about anything God makes you decide before Him. If you ask advice, you will almost always side with Satan. “. . . I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood . . .” (Galatians 1:16).
順服的難關
撒母耳……不敢將默示告訴以利。 （撒上三15）
神從來不用驚天動地的方式對我們說話，他說話的方式，往往容易被我們誤解。我們會說：[不知這到底是不是神的聲音？ ]以賽亞說神的手在他身上沉重（對他說話），也就是說，神用環境的壓力。任何發生在我們身上的事，都是神在說話。我們有沒有辨認出他的手，還是只當作偶發的事件？
能養成[主啊，請說]的習慣，這樣生命就變得多姿多彩。每一次說：[主啊，請說。 ]要撥出時間來靜聽！管教不單只為了操練，也是為了要把我帶到一個地步，使我能說：[主啊，請說。 ]請你追憶一下神對你說過的話，你還記得他說過什麼嗎？是路加福音十一章13節，還是帖撒羅尼迦前書五章23節？我們多聽，耳朵就開通，像耶穌隨時都聽見神的聲音。
我應該把神給我的指示，告訴我的[以利]嗎？這樣就來到順服的難關了。我們若以神明自居，說我必須保護[以利]，因他是我熟悉的人中最善良的。這樣，我就是違背神了。神沒有叫撒母耳去告訴以利，他要自作決定。神對你的呼召可能傷害你的[以利]；但是你若設法護衛另一個人，使其不受傷害，這樣你心靈與神之間便有了阻隔。你不肯砍下右手，剜出眼睛，只會自取其咎，招來毀滅。
神要你在他面前決定的事，不要諮詢別人的意見。你聽取人的意見，就不期然的袒護撒旦了。 [我沒有與屬血氣的人商量。 ]這是保羅的態度。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，願你成為懷中搖籤的定奪者，以致我們為著你所成就的事充滿歡笑。
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。
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