By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain . . . —1 Corinthians 15:10
The way we continually talk about our own inabilities is an insult to our Creator. To complain over our incompetence is to accuse God falsely of having overlooked us. Get into the habit of examining from God’s perspective those things that sound so humble to men. You will be amazed at how unbelievably inappropriate and disrespectful they are to Him. We say things such as, “Oh, I shouldn’t claim to be sanctified; I’m not a saint.” But to say that before God means, “No, Lord, it is impossible for You to save and sanctify me; there are opportunities I have not had and so many imperfections in my brain and body; no, Lord, it isn’t possible.” That may sound wonderfully humble to others, but before God it is an attitude of defiance.
Conversely, the things that sound humble before God may sound exactly the opposite to people. To say, “Thank God, I know I am saved and sanctified,” is in God’s eyes the purest expression of humility. It means you have so completely surrendered yourself to God that you know He is true. Never worry about whether what you say sounds humble before others or not. But always be humble before God, and allow Him to be your all in all.
There is only one relationship that really matters, and that is your personal relationship to your personal Redeemer and Lord. If you maintain that at all costs, letting everything else go, God will fulfill His purpose through your life. One individual life may be of priceless value to God’s purposes, and yours may be that life.
靠神恩典我成了何等樣人
他所賜我的恩，不是徒然的。 （林前十五10）
我們不斷的訴說自己無能，實在是對創造主的侮辱。一味怨嘆自己不成事，等於毀謗神疏於照顧。若你經常用神的眼光察看那些在人聽來是謙卑的話，便會驚訝那話是多麽不合情理。 [啊，我不敢說自己已經成聖，我不是個聖徒。 ]向神說這話，就等於說：[主啊，你無法救我，叫我成聖哼，我沒有好的機緣，我身體、心靈太多缺陷，主啊，沒可能。 ]在人面前聽來，可能謙卑非常，但在神面前，卻是輕慢。
反之，在神面前聽來謙卑的，在人聽來可能變得驕傲。你說：[關你些神，我知道我得救了，成聖了。 ]在神面前，是謙卑的頂峰，表示你已完全把自己歸服神，你深知他是真實的。別理會人家聽來是否謙卑，只要常常在神面前謙卑，讓他成為你的一切。
只有一個關係是絕頂重要的，就是你與救主個人的關係。其他一切只管失去，卻要不惜任何代價持守與主的關係，神就會透過你的生命成就他的計畫。在神的計畫中，一個人的生命可以有無比的價值，你的生命也可能如此。
祈禱◆無所不能的主神啊，你在耶穌基督裡彰顯了自己，如今我來到你的面前，毫不掩飾自己絕對需要你，並且在自己的貧乏中歡喜快樂。
Showing posts with label Humility. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Humility. Show all posts
November 30, 2014
November 22, 2014
Shallow and Profound
Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God —1 Corinthians 10:31
Beware of allowing yourself to think that the shallow aspects of life are not ordained by God; they are ordained by Him equally as much as the profound. We sometimes refuse to be shallow, not out of our deep devotion to God but because we wish to impress other people with the fact that we are not shallow. This is a sure sign of spiritual pride. We must be careful, for this is how contempt for others is produced in our lives. And it causes us to be a walking rebuke to other people because they are more shallow than we are. Beware of posing as a profound person— God became a baby.
To be shallow is not a sign of being sinful, nor is shallowness an indication that there is no depth to your life at all— the ocean has a shore. Even the shallow things of life, such as eating and drinking, walking and talking, are ordained by God. These are all things our Lord did. He did them as the Son of God, and He said, “A disciple is not above his teacher . . .” (Matthew 10:24).
We are safeguarded by the shallow things of life. We have to live the surface, commonsense life in a commonsense way. Then when God gives us the deeper things, they are obviously separated from the shallow concerns. Never show the depth of your life to anyone but God. We are so nauseatingly serious, so desperately interested in our own character and reputation, we refuse to behave like Christians in the shallow concerns of life.
Make a determination to take no one seriously except God. You may find that the first person you must be the most critical with, as being the greatest fraud you have ever known, is yourself.
淺與深
所以你們或吃或喝，無論作什麽，都要為榮耀神而行。 （林前十31）
別以為生活上淺顯的事，不是出於神；這些事與深奧的事一樣，同是出於神。你不肯表現膚淺，不是由於你對神的忠誠虔敬，而是你想叫人覺得你並不膚淺；這樣，正好表現了你屬靈的驕傲。若是如此，你就得當心：不要讓鄙視在你心裡成形，使你隨時指控人，因為覺得人人都比你膚淺。當心別以高深莫測自居；神也是成了嬰孩而來的。
膚淺並不是奸惡的表現，也並不表示沒有深度，海洋也有邊岸。生活中表面化的常事，如飲食、行走、談話，都是神所定的。這也是主的生活。作為神的兒子，他也這樣生活，他說：[學生不能高過先生。 ]
我們的保障是在於淺顯的事。我們必須以平常之道過日常平凡的生活。深奧的事，是神在淺近的事以外賜給我們。除了向神，我們不必向任何人顯露深度。我們往往太過專注於自己的品性，以致不肯在日常平凡生活中，活得像基督徒。要下決心除了神，不把任何人放在心內；這樣你會發現第一個要摒棄不管的，就是最會假冒的傢伙 - 你自己。
祈禱◆主啊，願你今天將聖靈的直覺力和你所有的靈感賜給我，以致我可以在一切事情上辨別你。願你恩慈的同在和平安充滿這一整天。
Beware of allowing yourself to think that the shallow aspects of life are not ordained by God; they are ordained by Him equally as much as the profound. We sometimes refuse to be shallow, not out of our deep devotion to God but because we wish to impress other people with the fact that we are not shallow. This is a sure sign of spiritual pride. We must be careful, for this is how contempt for others is produced in our lives. And it causes us to be a walking rebuke to other people because they are more shallow than we are. Beware of posing as a profound person— God became a baby.
To be shallow is not a sign of being sinful, nor is shallowness an indication that there is no depth to your life at all— the ocean has a shore. Even the shallow things of life, such as eating and drinking, walking and talking, are ordained by God. These are all things our Lord did. He did them as the Son of God, and He said, “A disciple is not above his teacher . . .” (Matthew 10:24).
We are safeguarded by the shallow things of life. We have to live the surface, commonsense life in a commonsense way. Then when God gives us the deeper things, they are obviously separated from the shallow concerns. Never show the depth of your life to anyone but God. We are so nauseatingly serious, so desperately interested in our own character and reputation, we refuse to behave like Christians in the shallow concerns of life.
Make a determination to take no one seriously except God. You may find that the first person you must be the most critical with, as being the greatest fraud you have ever known, is yourself.
淺與深
所以你們或吃或喝，無論作什麽，都要為榮耀神而行。 （林前十31）
別以為生活上淺顯的事，不是出於神；這些事與深奧的事一樣，同是出於神。你不肯表現膚淺，不是由於你對神的忠誠虔敬，而是你想叫人覺得你並不膚淺；這樣，正好表現了你屬靈的驕傲。若是如此，你就得當心：不要讓鄙視在你心裡成形，使你隨時指控人，因為覺得人人都比你膚淺。當心別以高深莫測自居；神也是成了嬰孩而來的。
膚淺並不是奸惡的表現，也並不表示沒有深度，海洋也有邊岸。生活中表面化的常事，如飲食、行走、談話，都是神所定的。這也是主的生活。作為神的兒子，他也這樣生活，他說：[學生不能高過先生。 ]
我們的保障是在於淺顯的事。我們必須以平常之道過日常平凡的生活。深奧的事，是神在淺近的事以外賜給我們。除了向神，我們不必向任何人顯露深度。我們往往太過專注於自己的品性，以致不肯在日常平凡生活中，活得像基督徒。要下決心除了神，不把任何人放在心內；這樣你會發現第一個要摒棄不管的，就是最會假冒的傢伙 - 你自己。
祈禱◆主啊，願你今天將聖靈的直覺力和你所有的靈感賜給我，以致我可以在一切事情上辨別你。願你恩慈的同在和平安充滿這一整天。
November 16, 2014
Still Human!
. . . whatever you do, do all to the glory of God —1 Corinthians 10:31
In the Scriptures, the great miracle of the incarnation slips into the ordinary life of a child; the great miracle of the transfiguration fades into the demon-possessed valley below; the glory of the resurrection descends into a breakfast on the seashore. This is not an anticlimax, but a great revelation of God.
We have a tendency to look for wonder in our experience, and we mistake heroic actions for real heroes. It’s one thing to go through a crisis grandly, yet quite another to go through every day glorifying God when there is no witness, no limelight, and no one paying even the remotest attention to us. If we are not looking for halos, we at least want something that will make people say, “What a wonderful man of prayer he is!” or, “What a great woman of devotion she is!” If you are properly devoted to the Lord Jesus, you have reached the lofty height where no one would ever notice you personally. All that is noticed is the power of God coming through you all the time.
We want to be able to say, “Oh, I have had a wonderful call from God!” But to do even the most humbling tasks to the glory of God takes the Almighty God Incarnate working in us. To be utterly unnoticeable requires God’s Spirit in us making us absolutely humanly His. The true test of a saint’s life is not successfulness but faithfulness on the human level of life. We tend to set up success in Christian work as our purpose, but our purpose should be to display the glory of God in human life, to live a life “hidden with Christ in God” in our everyday human conditions (Colossians 3:3). Our human relationships are the very conditions in which the ideal life of God should be exhibited.
仍然是人
無論作什麼，都要為榮耀神而行。 （林前十31）
道成肉身的超其，湮沒在平凡的童年生活；登山變象的輝煌光彩，消失在鬼附的山谷間；復活的榮耀，降卑成為海旁早餐。這不是反高潮，而是神極大的啟示。我們總有一種傾向，就是想去追求超奇的經歷；錯把英雄感當作英雄。在重大關頭昂然度過是一回事，在每天生活中榮耀神，沒有人作證，沒有光彩，絲毫沒有被注意，又是另一回事。我們 有時雖然不求中世紀那種聖人的光環，也想做些事令人家說：[看他是個多麼會祈禱的人！ ]或[她多虔誠，多熱心！ ]可是，若你對主耶穌有正確的獻上，人所注意的是神透過你流露出來的大能。
[噢，我從神得到一個奇妙的呼召！ ]其實要在最卑微的生活上榮耀神，正需要那全能的神在我們裡面，才可以做得到。惟有聖靈在我們裡面，才能使我們完全地屬於他，以致全不為人所注意。聖徒生命的考驗不在於成功，而是對實際生活的忠心。我們會以在基督教事工上的成功作目標，可是正確的目標，乃是在生活上彰顯神的榮耀，在屬世的環境下，活出與基督一同藏在神裡面的生命。屬神的理想生命，是在人與人之間的實際關係上表現出來。
祈禱◆主啊，在今天的讀經中，一下這句話使我的心靈震盪－－[摩西這樣行，耶和華怎樣吩咐他，他就照樣行了。 ]
In the Scriptures, the great miracle of the incarnation slips into the ordinary life of a child; the great miracle of the transfiguration fades into the demon-possessed valley below; the glory of the resurrection descends into a breakfast on the seashore. This is not an anticlimax, but a great revelation of God.
We have a tendency to look for wonder in our experience, and we mistake heroic actions for real heroes. It’s one thing to go through a crisis grandly, yet quite another to go through every day glorifying God when there is no witness, no limelight, and no one paying even the remotest attention to us. If we are not looking for halos, we at least want something that will make people say, “What a wonderful man of prayer he is!” or, “What a great woman of devotion she is!” If you are properly devoted to the Lord Jesus, you have reached the lofty height where no one would ever notice you personally. All that is noticed is the power of God coming through you all the time.
We want to be able to say, “Oh, I have had a wonderful call from God!” But to do even the most humbling tasks to the glory of God takes the Almighty God Incarnate working in us. To be utterly unnoticeable requires God’s Spirit in us making us absolutely humanly His. The true test of a saint’s life is not successfulness but faithfulness on the human level of life. We tend to set up success in Christian work as our purpose, but our purpose should be to display the glory of God in human life, to live a life “hidden with Christ in God” in our everyday human conditions (Colossians 3:3). Our human relationships are the very conditions in which the ideal life of God should be exhibited.
仍然是人
無論作什麼，都要為榮耀神而行。 （林前十31）
道成肉身的超其，湮沒在平凡的童年生活；登山變象的輝煌光彩，消失在鬼附的山谷間；復活的榮耀，降卑成為海旁早餐。這不是反高潮，而是神極大的啟示。我們總有一種傾向，就是想去追求超奇的經歷；錯把英雄感當作英雄。在重大關頭昂然度過是一回事，在每天生活中榮耀神，沒有人作證，沒有光彩，絲毫沒有被注意，又是另一回事。我們 有時雖然不求中世紀那種聖人的光環，也想做些事令人家說：[看他是個多麼會祈禱的人！ ]或[她多虔誠，多熱心！ ]可是，若你對主耶穌有正確的獻上，人所注意的是神透過你流露出來的大能。
[噢，我從神得到一個奇妙的呼召！ ]其實要在最卑微的生活上榮耀神，正需要那全能的神在我們裡面，才可以做得到。惟有聖靈在我們裡面，才能使我們完全地屬於他，以致全不為人所注意。聖徒生命的考驗不在於成功，而是對實際生活的忠心。我們會以在基督教事工上的成功作目標，可是正確的目標，乃是在生活上彰顯神的榮耀，在屬世的環境下，活出與基督一同藏在神裡面的生命。屬神的理想生命，是在人與人之間的實際關係上表現出來。
祈禱◆主啊，在今天的讀經中，一下這句話使我的心靈震盪－－[摩西這樣行，耶和華怎樣吩咐他，他就照樣行了。 ]
November 15, 2014
“What Is That to You?”
Peter . . . said to Jesus, ’But Lord, what about this man?’ Jesus said to him, ’. . . what is that to you? You follow Me’ —John 21:21-22
One of the hardest lessons to learn comes from our stubborn refusal to refrain from interfering in other people’s lives. It takes a long time to realize the danger of being an amateur providence, that is, interfering with God’s plan for others. You see someone suffering and say, “He will not suffer, and I will make sure that he doesn’t.” You put your hand right in front of God’s permissive will to stop it, and then God says, “What is that to you?” Is there stagnation in your spiritual life? Don’t allow it to continue, but get into God’s presence and find out the reason for it. You will possibly find it is because you have been interfering in the life of another— proposing things you had no right to propose, or advising when you had no right to advise. When you do have to give advice to another person, God will advise through you with the direct understanding of His Spirit. Your part is to maintain the right relationship with God so that His discernment can come through you continually for the purpose of blessing someone else.
Most of us live only within the level of consciousness— consciously serving and consciously devoted to God. This shows immaturity and the fact that we’re not yet living the real Christian life. Maturity is produced in the life of a child of God on the unconscious level, until we become so totally surrendered to God that we are not even aware of being used by Him. When we are consciously aware of being used as broken bread and poured-out wine, we have yet another level to reach— a level where all awareness of ourselves and of what God is doing through us is completely eliminated. A saint is never consciously a saint— a saint is consciously dependent on God.
與你何干？
主啊，這人將來如何？ ……與你何干？你跟從我罷。 （約二十一21-22）
我們最難學的功課之一，就是放棄對別人生命的干涉。我們要經很長的時間才明白，干涉神在別人生命中的吩咐，是很危險的。你看見人家受苦，你就說：[他不該受苦，我要設法使他不受苦。 ]那你便是阻撓神容許的旨意。神說：[與你何干？ ]若你的靈性停滯不前，不可聽其自然，必須到神面前尋出根源。很可能是因為你在干擾別人的生命；或提供你無權提供的；或指點你無權指點的。要是神真要你勸勉別人，他必定叫你的勸勉，直接有聖靈感動。你的責任是保持與神有正確良好的關係，以致他的智慧，能隨時隨地透過你叫他人得福。
我們多半活在意識的邊境上－－自覺是在事奉神，自覺愛神。這都是不成熟的，並不屬於那真正的生命。成熟的表現是不再憑觀感知覺；我們對神完全的歸服，以致不再意識到自己被神使用。我們若仍意識到被神用作劈開的餅何澆奠的酒，那麼，就得追求另一個境界，就是把自覺的意識，以及神透過我們工作的意識，都同時消除。聖徒是從不自覺是聖徒，他們只知依靠神。
祈禱◆噢，願我藉著你內住的聖靈，將我與敬拜、美善和聖潔連合起來。主啊，感動我的身體和心靈，直至它們能為著你而融合為一。
One of the hardest lessons to learn comes from our stubborn refusal to refrain from interfering in other people’s lives. It takes a long time to realize the danger of being an amateur providence, that is, interfering with God’s plan for others. You see someone suffering and say, “He will not suffer, and I will make sure that he doesn’t.” You put your hand right in front of God’s permissive will to stop it, and then God says, “What is that to you?” Is there stagnation in your spiritual life? Don’t allow it to continue, but get into God’s presence and find out the reason for it. You will possibly find it is because you have been interfering in the life of another— proposing things you had no right to propose, or advising when you had no right to advise. When you do have to give advice to another person, God will advise through you with the direct understanding of His Spirit. Your part is to maintain the right relationship with God so that His discernment can come through you continually for the purpose of blessing someone else.
Most of us live only within the level of consciousness— consciously serving and consciously devoted to God. This shows immaturity and the fact that we’re not yet living the real Christian life. Maturity is produced in the life of a child of God on the unconscious level, until we become so totally surrendered to God that we are not even aware of being used by Him. When we are consciously aware of being used as broken bread and poured-out wine, we have yet another level to reach— a level where all awareness of ourselves and of what God is doing through us is completely eliminated. A saint is never consciously a saint— a saint is consciously dependent on God.
與你何干？
主啊，這人將來如何？ ……與你何干？你跟從我罷。 （約二十一21-22）
我們最難學的功課之一，就是放棄對別人生命的干涉。我們要經很長的時間才明白，干涉神在別人生命中的吩咐，是很危險的。你看見人家受苦，你就說：[他不該受苦，我要設法使他不受苦。 ]那你便是阻撓神容許的旨意。神說：[與你何干？ ]若你的靈性停滯不前，不可聽其自然，必須到神面前尋出根源。很可能是因為你在干擾別人的生命；或提供你無權提供的；或指點你無權指點的。要是神真要你勸勉別人，他必定叫你的勸勉，直接有聖靈感動。你的責任是保持與神有正確良好的關係，以致他的智慧，能隨時隨地透過你叫他人得福。
我們多半活在意識的邊境上－－自覺是在事奉神，自覺愛神。這都是不成熟的，並不屬於那真正的生命。成熟的表現是不再憑觀感知覺；我們對神完全的歸服，以致不再意識到自己被神使用。我們若仍意識到被神用作劈開的餅何澆奠的酒，那麼，就得追求另一個境界，就是把自覺的意識，以及神透過我們工作的意識，都同時消除。聖徒是從不自覺是聖徒，他們只知依靠神。
祈禱◆噢，願我藉著你內住的聖靈，將我與敬拜、美善和聖潔連合起來。主啊，感動我的身體和心靈，直至它們能為著你而融合為一。
November 03, 2014
A Bondservant of Jesus
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me . . . —Galatians 2:20
These words mean the breaking and collapse of my independence brought about by my own hands, and the surrendering of my life to the supremacy of the Lord Jesus. No one can do this for me, I must do it myself. God may bring me up to this point three hundred and sixty-five times a year, but He cannot push me through it. It means breaking the hard outer layer of my individual independence from God, and the liberating of myself and my nature into oneness with Him; not following my own ideas, but choosing absolute loyalty to Jesus. Once I am at that point, there is no possibility of misunderstanding. Very few of us know anything about loyalty to Christ or understand what He meant when He said, “. . . for My sake” (Matthew 5:11). That is what makes a strong saint.
Has that breaking of my independence come? All the rest is religious fraud. The one point to decide is— will I give up? Will I surrender to Jesus Christ, placing no conditions whatsoever as to how the brokenness will come? I must be broken from my own understanding of myself. When I reach that point, immediately the reality of the supernatural identification with Jesus Christ takes place. And the witness of the Spirit of God is unmistakable— “I have been crucified with Christ . . .”
The passion of Christianity comes from deliberately signing away my own rights and becoming a bondservant of Jesus Christ. Until I do that, I will not begin to be a saint.
One student a year who hears God’s call would be sufficient for God to have called the Bible Training College into existence. This college has no value as an organization, not even academically. Its sole value for existence is for God to help Himself to lives. Will we allow Him to help Himself to us, or are we more concerned with our own ideas of what we are going to be?
耶穌的奴隸
我已經與基督同釘十字架，現在活著的，不再是我，乃是基督在我裡面活著。 （加二20）
這句話的意思是我親手折斷自己的主權，完全降服於主耶穌至高的權威。沒有人可以替我做，我必須自己去行。神可以在一年有三百六十五次叫我們面臨作決定的時刻，可是他不能推我過去。我必須打破脫離神而獨立的外殼，釋放整個人格，與他合一；不再跟從自己的主意，完全效忠主耶穌。一旦，如此，就無可爭辯了。很少人真正知道甚麽叫效忠基督- 就是[為我（主）的緣故。 ]有這個才有精忠的聖徒。
這破碎的關鍵到了沒有？其他的事都不過是敬虔的偽殼。決定性的一點是- 我肯不肯無條件投降，順服基督？我必須打破實現自我的企圖，這樣，與主認同的超然事實就隨即出現，聖靈的見證就明明可見- [我已經與基督同釘十字架。 ]
我對基督教的熱誠，就是特意把自己的主權捨棄，作耶穌基督的奴僕。若非如此，我尚未踏上成聖之路。
只要每年有一個學生被神呼召，就是以肯定這間神學院的存在價值。若只作為一間機構，這學院沒有什麽價值。它不是為學術研究，其最大的用意是讓神可以隨意得著人的生命。他可以隨意使用我們麽？還是我們仍然讓自我實現的念頭佔據？
祈禱◆主啊，因著我肉體的軟弱，我與你的相交也顯得枯燥乏味，然而我的心卻是欣喜的，我的肉體亦將在盼望中安息。
These words mean the breaking and collapse of my independence brought about by my own hands, and the surrendering of my life to the supremacy of the Lord Jesus. No one can do this for me, I must do it myself. God may bring me up to this point three hundred and sixty-five times a year, but He cannot push me through it. It means breaking the hard outer layer of my individual independence from God, and the liberating of myself and my nature into oneness with Him; not following my own ideas, but choosing absolute loyalty to Jesus. Once I am at that point, there is no possibility of misunderstanding. Very few of us know anything about loyalty to Christ or understand what He meant when He said, “. . . for My sake” (Matthew 5:11). That is what makes a strong saint.
Has that breaking of my independence come? All the rest is religious fraud. The one point to decide is— will I give up? Will I surrender to Jesus Christ, placing no conditions whatsoever as to how the brokenness will come? I must be broken from my own understanding of myself. When I reach that point, immediately the reality of the supernatural identification with Jesus Christ takes place. And the witness of the Spirit of God is unmistakable— “I have been crucified with Christ . . .”
The passion of Christianity comes from deliberately signing away my own rights and becoming a bondservant of Jesus Christ. Until I do that, I will not begin to be a saint.
One student a year who hears God’s call would be sufficient for God to have called the Bible Training College into existence. This college has no value as an organization, not even academically. Its sole value for existence is for God to help Himself to lives. Will we allow Him to help Himself to us, or are we more concerned with our own ideas of what we are going to be?
耶穌的奴隸
我已經與基督同釘十字架，現在活著的，不再是我，乃是基督在我裡面活著。 （加二20）
這句話的意思是我親手折斷自己的主權，完全降服於主耶穌至高的權威。沒有人可以替我做，我必須自己去行。神可以在一年有三百六十五次叫我們面臨作決定的時刻，可是他不能推我過去。我必須打破脫離神而獨立的外殼，釋放整個人格，與他合一；不再跟從自己的主意，完全效忠主耶穌。一旦，如此，就無可爭辯了。很少人真正知道甚麽叫效忠基督- 就是[為我（主）的緣故。 ]有這個才有精忠的聖徒。
這破碎的關鍵到了沒有？其他的事都不過是敬虔的偽殼。決定性的一點是- 我肯不肯無條件投降，順服基督？我必須打破實現自我的企圖，這樣，與主認同的超然事實就隨即出現，聖靈的見證就明明可見- [我已經與基督同釘十字架。 ]
我對基督教的熱誠，就是特意把自己的主權捨棄，作耶穌基督的奴僕。若非如此，我尚未踏上成聖之路。
只要每年有一個學生被神呼召，就是以肯定這間神學院的存在價值。若只作為一間機構，這學院沒有什麽價值。它不是為學術研究，其最大的用意是讓神可以隨意得著人的生命。他可以隨意使用我們麽？還是我們仍然讓自我實現的念頭佔據？
祈禱◆主啊，因著我肉體的軟弱，我與你的相交也顯得枯燥乏味，然而我的心卻是欣喜的，我的肉體亦將在盼望中安息。
October 02, 2014
The Place of Humiliation
If You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us —Mark 9:22
After every time of exaltation, we are brought down with a sudden rush into things as they really are, where it is neither beautiful, poetic, nor thrilling. The height of the mountaintop is measured by the dismal drudgery of the valley, but it is in the valley that we have to live for the glory of God. We see His glory on the mountain, but we never live for His glory there. It is in the place of humiliation that we find our true worth to God— that is where our faithfulness is revealed. Most of us can do things if we are always at some heroic level of intensity, simply because of the natural selfishness of our own hearts. But God wants us to be at the drab everyday level, where we live in the valley according to our personal relationship with Him. Peter thought it would be a wonderful thing for them to remain on the mountain, but Jesus Christ took the disciples down from the mountain and into the valley, where the true meaning of the vision was explained (see Mark 9:5-6 , Mark 14-23).
“If you can do anything . . . .” It takes the valley of humiliation to remove the skepticism from us. Look back at your own experience and you will find that until you learned who Jesus really was, you were a skillful skeptic about His power. When you were on the mountaintop you could believe anything, but what about when you were faced with the facts of the valley? You may be able to give a testimony regarding your sanctification, but what about the thing that is a humiliation to you right now? The last time you were on the mountain with God, you saw that all the power in heaven and on earth belonged to Jesus— will you be skeptical now, simply because you are in the valley of humiliation?
謙卑的領域
你若能作什麼，求你憐憫我們，幫助我們。 （可九22）
每次高峰經歷之後，神會突然把我們帶下山去，面對既不美麗，也不詩意，更無興奮可言的現實。山峰的高度是以山谷中單調的生活來量度的，但正是這山谷的生活，才是榮耀神的生活。我們在山頂上看見神的榮耀，但卻永不會在那里為榮耀他而活。在謙卑低微的境地中，才真正顯露我們對神的價值，顯出我們的忠貞。在英雄的高台上，多半人都可以大顯身手，因為我們心中有自私的天性；但神卻要我們處身在枯燥平凡的境地，要我們在山谷中，單憑與他的關係而活。彼得以為留在山上最好不過，可是主耶穌卻把門徒從山上帶下山谷，在那裡，山上的異象才得以啟露。
[你若能作什麼……]在山谷的卑微中，才能把我們多疑的根拔掉。試回想你的經歷，在你認識主耶穌是誰以前，你是一個奸狡的不信者。在山上的時候，你什麼都相信，可是在山谷中面對現實時又如何呢？你大可以作見證，說成聖之道，可是對那如今令你屈辱的事，你如何處理？上一次你與神在山上，看見天上地下權柄都在耶穌手中；如今在卑下的山谷中，你有沒有疑惑？
祈禱◆主啊，昔日我在你面前的生活，彷如四處漂流、黯淡無光，直至你在我裡面出現。因著我相信你大能的救贖，我稱頌你，可是，噢，能察覺你的感動竟然會帶來如此的分別！
After every time of exaltation, we are brought down with a sudden rush into things as they really are, where it is neither beautiful, poetic, nor thrilling. The height of the mountaintop is measured by the dismal drudgery of the valley, but it is in the valley that we have to live for the glory of God. We see His glory on the mountain, but we never live for His glory there. It is in the place of humiliation that we find our true worth to God— that is where our faithfulness is revealed. Most of us can do things if we are always at some heroic level of intensity, simply because of the natural selfishness of our own hearts. But God wants us to be at the drab everyday level, where we live in the valley according to our personal relationship with Him. Peter thought it would be a wonderful thing for them to remain on the mountain, but Jesus Christ took the disciples down from the mountain and into the valley, where the true meaning of the vision was explained (see Mark 9:5-6 , Mark 14-23).
“If you can do anything . . . .” It takes the valley of humiliation to remove the skepticism from us. Look back at your own experience and you will find that until you learned who Jesus really was, you were a skillful skeptic about His power. When you were on the mountaintop you could believe anything, but what about when you were faced with the facts of the valley? You may be able to give a testimony regarding your sanctification, but what about the thing that is a humiliation to you right now? The last time you were on the mountain with God, you saw that all the power in heaven and on earth belonged to Jesus— will you be skeptical now, simply because you are in the valley of humiliation?
謙卑的領域
你若能作什麼，求你憐憫我們，幫助我們。 （可九22）
每次高峰經歷之後，神會突然把我們帶下山去，面對既不美麗，也不詩意，更無興奮可言的現實。山峰的高度是以山谷中單調的生活來量度的，但正是這山谷的生活，才是榮耀神的生活。我們在山頂上看見神的榮耀，但卻永不會在那里為榮耀他而活。在謙卑低微的境地中，才真正顯露我們對神的價值，顯出我們的忠貞。在英雄的高台上，多半人都可以大顯身手，因為我們心中有自私的天性；但神卻要我們處身在枯燥平凡的境地，要我們在山谷中，單憑與他的關係而活。彼得以為留在山上最好不過，可是主耶穌卻把門徒從山上帶下山谷，在那裡，山上的異象才得以啟露。
[你若能作什麼……]在山谷的卑微中，才能把我們多疑的根拔掉。試回想你的經歷，在你認識主耶穌是誰以前，你是一個奸狡的不信者。在山上的時候，你什麼都相信，可是在山谷中面對現實時又如何呢？你大可以作見證，說成聖之道，可是對那如今令你屈辱的事，你如何處理？上一次你與神在山上，看見天上地下權柄都在耶穌手中；如今在卑下的山谷中，你有沒有疑惑？
祈禱◆主啊，昔日我在你面前的生活，彷如四處漂流、黯淡無光，直至你在我裡面出現。因著我相信你大能的救贖，我稱頌你，可是，噢，能察覺你的感動竟然會帶來如此的分別！
August 30, 2014
Usefulness or Relationship?
Do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven —Luke 10:20
Jesus Christ is saying here, “Don’t rejoice in your successful service for Me, but rejoice because of your right relationship with Me.” The trap you may fall into in Christian work is to rejoice in successful service— rejoicing in the fact that God has used you. Yet you will never be able to measure fully what God will do through you if you have a right-standing relationship with Jesus Christ. If you keep your relationship right with Him, then regardless of your circumstances or whoever you encounter each day, He will continue to pour “rivers of living water” through you (John 7:38). And it is actually by His mercy that He does not let you know it. Once you have the right relationship with God through salvation and sanctification, remember that whatever your circumstances may be, you have been placed in them by God. And God uses the reaction of your life to your circumstances to fulfill His purpose, as long as you continue to “walk in the light as He is in the light” (1 John 1:7).
Our tendency today is to put the emphasis on service. Beware of the people who make their request for help on the basis of someone’s usefulness. If you make usefulness the test, then Jesus Christ was the greatest failure who ever lived. For the saint, direction and guidance come from God Himself, not some measure of that saint’s usefulness. It is the work that God does through us that counts, not what we do for Him. All that our Lord gives His attention to in a person’s life is that person’s relationship with God— something of great value to His Father. Jesus is “bringing many sons to glory . . .” (Hebrews 2:10).
我信服基督麼？
然而不要因鬼服了你們就歡喜，要因你們的名記錄在天上歡喜。 （路十20）
耶穌在這裡其實是說：不要因工作成功而歡喜，要因與我親密的關係而歡喜。信徒事奉的網羅，往往是因成功而歡喜，因得神使用而歡喜。其實你若與他有正確的關係，他要藉你成就的，實難以估量。所以，要保持與他緊密的相連，那末不論環境如何，不管你每天碰見什麼人，他都會透過你傾倒活水，而因著他的憐憫不讓你察覺。藉救贖及成聖你與神連合了，那麼不論你在那裡，都是出於神。若你保守自己在光明中，正如神在光明中一樣，他就會藉著你在環境中的反應，成就他的計劃。
今日的趨勢是把重點放在事奉上。當心有些人把自己的用處，作為身分的根據。若拿用處作考驗的根據，耶穌基督就是地上最大的失敗。聖徒的指標該是神自己，不是用處有多少。算得上有價值的是神透過我們所作的工，而不是我們自己為神作的工。我們的主所關注的，是一個人與父的關係有多深。耶穌正率領許多兒子進到榮耀裡去。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我因你的說話－－[好像人得了許多擄物]－－而感到歡喜。當我今天向你祈求，願你將你的說話放在我的口中，求你成就，以致凡我口所發出的，都是你的說話。
Jesus Christ is saying here, “Don’t rejoice in your successful service for Me, but rejoice because of your right relationship with Me.” The trap you may fall into in Christian work is to rejoice in successful service— rejoicing in the fact that God has used you. Yet you will never be able to measure fully what God will do through you if you have a right-standing relationship with Jesus Christ. If you keep your relationship right with Him, then regardless of your circumstances or whoever you encounter each day, He will continue to pour “rivers of living water” through you (John 7:38). And it is actually by His mercy that He does not let you know it. Once you have the right relationship with God through salvation and sanctification, remember that whatever your circumstances may be, you have been placed in them by God. And God uses the reaction of your life to your circumstances to fulfill His purpose, as long as you continue to “walk in the light as He is in the light” (1 John 1:7).
Our tendency today is to put the emphasis on service. Beware of the people who make their request for help on the basis of someone’s usefulness. If you make usefulness the test, then Jesus Christ was the greatest failure who ever lived. For the saint, direction and guidance come from God Himself, not some measure of that saint’s usefulness. It is the work that God does through us that counts, not what we do for Him. All that our Lord gives His attention to in a person’s life is that person’s relationship with God— something of great value to His Father. Jesus is “bringing many sons to glory . . .” (Hebrews 2:10).
我信服基督麼？
然而不要因鬼服了你們就歡喜，要因你們的名記錄在天上歡喜。 （路十20）
耶穌在這裡其實是說：不要因工作成功而歡喜，要因與我親密的關係而歡喜。信徒事奉的網羅，往往是因成功而歡喜，因得神使用而歡喜。其實你若與他有正確的關係，他要藉你成就的，實難以估量。所以，要保持與他緊密的相連，那末不論環境如何，不管你每天碰見什麼人，他都會透過你傾倒活水，而因著他的憐憫不讓你察覺。藉救贖及成聖你與神連合了，那麼不論你在那裡，都是出於神。若你保守自己在光明中，正如神在光明中一樣，他就會藉著你在環境中的反應，成就他的計劃。
今日的趨勢是把重點放在事奉上。當心有些人把自己的用處，作為身分的根據。若拿用處作考驗的根據，耶穌基督就是地上最大的失敗。聖徒的指標該是神自己，不是用處有多少。算得上有價值的是神透過我們所作的工，而不是我們自己為神作的工。我們的主所關注的，是一個人與父的關係有多深。耶穌正率領許多兒子進到榮耀裡去。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我因你的說話－－[好像人得了許多擄物]－－而感到歡喜。當我今天向你祈求，願你將你的說話放在我的口中，求你成就，以致凡我口所發出的，都是你的說話。
August 21, 2014
The Ministry of the Unnoticed
Blessed are the poor in spirit . . . —Matthew 5:3
The New Testament notices things that do not seem worthy of notice by our standards. “Blessed are the poor in spirit . . . .” This literally means, “Blessed are the paupers.” Paupers are remarkably commonplace! The preaching of today tends to point out a person’s strength of will or the beauty of his character— things that are easily noticed. The statement we so often hear, “Make a decision for Jesus Christ,” places the emphasis on something our Lord never trusted. He never asks us to decide for Him, but to yield to Him— something very different. At the foundation of Jesus Christ’s kingdom is the genuine loveliness of those who are commonplace. I am truly blessed in my poverty. If I have no strength of will and a nature without worth or excellence, then Jesus says to me, “Blessed are you, because it is through your poverty that you can enter My kingdom.” I cannot enter His kingdom by virtue of my goodness— I can only enter it as an absolute pauper.
The true character of the loveliness that speaks for God is always unnoticed by the one possessing that quality. Conscious influence is prideful and unchristian. If I wonder if I am being of any use to God, I instantly lose the beauty and the freshness of the touch of the Lord. “He who believes in Me . . . out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38). And if I examine the outflow, I lose the touch of the Lord.
Who are the people who have influenced us most? Certainly not the ones who thought they did, but those who did not have even the slightest idea that they were influencing us. In the Christian life, godly influence is never conscious of itself. If we are conscious of our influence, it ceases to have the genuine loveliness which is characteristic of the touch of Jesus. We always know when Jesus is at work because He produces in the commonplace something that is inspiring.
不受注意的事奉
虛心的人有福了。 （太五3）
依我們的標準來看，新約所注意的事物，似乎都是微不足道的。 [虛心的人有福了]，按原意解釋是貧窮的人有福了。貧窮的人，何等平凡！今日的講台很容易側重意志的力量、品性的美善－－一些易於惹人注目的東西。今日常聽的口號－－為主決志，其實是強調了一件我們的主從不信任的事。他從沒有叫我們為他決志，他只要我們降服，這是截然不同的兩件事。耶穌基督國度的基礎，是在於未經修飾的平凡事物。叫我蒙福的，是我的貧窮。我若自知沒有意志力、沒有高貴的品質，耶穌就會說：[你有福了。 ]因為我是透過貧窮無有，得以進入他的國。我不能以好人的身分進入，只能以一無所有的叫化子身分進去。
一切表彰神可愛事物的真正品質，必然是不自覺的。自覺有影響力，是自負及非信徒的表現。若我說：[我懷疑自己到底是否有用。 ]立時就與主的生命失了連絡。 [信我的，要從他腹中流出活水的江河來。 ]我若檢查那流出來的水，就失去了主的能力。哪些人影響我們最深？不是那自以為影響了我們的人，而是那些完全不知道影響我們的人。在基督徒的生命中，內涵的東西總不是自治自覺的；一旦意識到，就會失掉那未經修飾的美，這正是主耶穌親手撫摸的特質。我們往往可以知道耶穌何時在作工，因為他能在平凡中製造超卓。
祈禱◆主啊，我要讚美你，你在每個人的生命中，也透過每個人的生命，來實行你完美的旨意。
The New Testament notices things that do not seem worthy of notice by our standards. “Blessed are the poor in spirit . . . .” This literally means, “Blessed are the paupers.” Paupers are remarkably commonplace! The preaching of today tends to point out a person’s strength of will or the beauty of his character— things that are easily noticed. The statement we so often hear, “Make a decision for Jesus Christ,” places the emphasis on something our Lord never trusted. He never asks us to decide for Him, but to yield to Him— something very different. At the foundation of Jesus Christ’s kingdom is the genuine loveliness of those who are commonplace. I am truly blessed in my poverty. If I have no strength of will and a nature without worth or excellence, then Jesus says to me, “Blessed are you, because it is through your poverty that you can enter My kingdom.” I cannot enter His kingdom by virtue of my goodness— I can only enter it as an absolute pauper.
The true character of the loveliness that speaks for God is always unnoticed by the one possessing that quality. Conscious influence is prideful and unchristian. If I wonder if I am being of any use to God, I instantly lose the beauty and the freshness of the touch of the Lord. “He who believes in Me . . . out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38). And if I examine the outflow, I lose the touch of the Lord.
Who are the people who have influenced us most? Certainly not the ones who thought they did, but those who did not have even the slightest idea that they were influencing us. In the Christian life, godly influence is never conscious of itself. If we are conscious of our influence, it ceases to have the genuine loveliness which is characteristic of the touch of Jesus. We always know when Jesus is at work because He produces in the commonplace something that is inspiring.
不受注意的事奉
虛心的人有福了。 （太五3）
依我們的標準來看，新約所注意的事物，似乎都是微不足道的。 [虛心的人有福了]，按原意解釋是貧窮的人有福了。貧窮的人，何等平凡！今日的講台很容易側重意志的力量、品性的美善－－一些易於惹人注目的東西。今日常聽的口號－－為主決志，其實是強調了一件我們的主從不信任的事。他從沒有叫我們為他決志，他只要我們降服，這是截然不同的兩件事。耶穌基督國度的基礎，是在於未經修飾的平凡事物。叫我蒙福的，是我的貧窮。我若自知沒有意志力、沒有高貴的品質，耶穌就會說：[你有福了。 ]因為我是透過貧窮無有，得以進入他的國。我不能以好人的身分進入，只能以一無所有的叫化子身分進去。
一切表彰神可愛事物的真正品質，必然是不自覺的。自覺有影響力，是自負及非信徒的表現。若我說：[我懷疑自己到底是否有用。 ]立時就與主的生命失了連絡。 [信我的，要從他腹中流出活水的江河來。 ]我若檢查那流出來的水，就失去了主的能力。哪些人影響我們最深？不是那自以為影響了我們的人，而是那些完全不知道影響我們的人。在基督徒的生命中，內涵的東西總不是自治自覺的；一旦意識到，就會失掉那未經修飾的美，這正是主耶穌親手撫摸的特質。我們往往可以知道耶穌何時在作工，因為他能在平凡中製造超卓。
祈禱◆主啊，我要讚美你，你在每個人的生命中，也透過每個人的生命，來實行你完美的旨意。
July 21, 2014
The Doorway to the Kingdom
Blessed are the poor in spirit . . . —Matthew 5:3
Beware of thinking of our Lord as only a teacher. If Jesus Christ is only a teacher, then all He can do is frustrate me by setting a standard before me I cannot attain. What is the point of presenting me with such a lofty ideal if I cannot possibly come close to reaching it? I would be happier if I never knew it. What good is there in telling me to be what I can never be— to be “pure in heart” (Matthew 5:8), to do more than my duty, or to be completely devoted to God? I must know Jesus Christ as my Savior before His teaching has any meaning for me other than that of a lofty ideal which only leads to despair. But when I am born again by the Spirit of God, I know that Jesus Christ did not come only to teach— He came to make me what He teaches I should be. The redemption means that Jesus Christ can place within anyone the same nature that ruled His own life, and all the standards God gives us are based on that nature.
The teaching of the Sermon on the Mount produces a sense of despair in the natural man— exactly what Jesus means for it to do. As long as we have some self-righteous idea that we can carry out our Lord’s teaching, God will allow us to continue until we expose our own ignorance by stumbling over some obstacle in our way. Only then are we willing to come to Him as paupers and receive from Him. “Blessed are the poor in spirit . . . .” This is the first principle in the kingdom of God. The underlying foundation of Jesus Christ’s kingdom is poverty, not possessions; not making decisions for Jesus, but having such a sense of absolute futility that we finally admit, “Lord, I cannot even begin to do it.” Then Jesus says, “Blessed are you . . .” (Matthew 5:11). This is the doorway to the kingdom, and yet it takes us so long to believe that we are actually poor! The knowledge of our own poverty is what brings us to the proper place where Jesus Christ accomplishes His work.
進天國的門
虛心的人有福了。 （太五3）
當心不要把主教師的身分放在第一位。耶穌基督若光是一位教師，他所作的無非是設立了一些我無法達到的標準來戲弄我。若根本是無法達到的理想，介紹給我有何用？我不知道反更妙。要我清心，要我連非分內的事也作，要我完全歸向神，可是我卻無力達到，告訴我這些有何益處？若要基督的教訓對我真有意義，而不是引志絕望的空理想，我就必須以耶穌基督為救主。我在神的靈裡重生活，就曉得耶穌基督來不是單為教導；他更要使我成為他所教導的。救恩是主耶穌把他的性情，放進任何人裡面。而神一切的標準，都是根據主耶穌的性情而定。
對一個未有新生命的人，登山寶訓只會帶來絕望，這正是主耶穌的用意。因為我們若仍然自以為義，自高自傲，以為自己可以實踐主的教訓，神就會任由我們，讓難處揭露我們的無知，叫我們像叫化子一般來親就他，接受他的施予。 [心靈貧乏的人有福了。 ]這是天國的第一原則。主耶穌國度的基石是貧窮，不是產業；不是決志接受耶穌基督，而是完全無能為力的：[我不知從何著手。 ]那時耶穌說：[你有福了。 ]這就是門，我們往往要走好運的路，才相信自己真的貧窮！若知道自己貧窮，就是已經來到作工的道德前線。
Beware of thinking of our Lord as only a teacher. If Jesus Christ is only a teacher, then all He can do is frustrate me by setting a standard before me I cannot attain. What is the point of presenting me with such a lofty ideal if I cannot possibly come close to reaching it? I would be happier if I never knew it. What good is there in telling me to be what I can never be— to be “pure in heart” (Matthew 5:8), to do more than my duty, or to be completely devoted to God? I must know Jesus Christ as my Savior before His teaching has any meaning for me other than that of a lofty ideal which only leads to despair. But when I am born again by the Spirit of God, I know that Jesus Christ did not come only to teach— He came to make me what He teaches I should be. The redemption means that Jesus Christ can place within anyone the same nature that ruled His own life, and all the standards God gives us are based on that nature.
The teaching of the Sermon on the Mount produces a sense of despair in the natural man— exactly what Jesus means for it to do. As long as we have some self-righteous idea that we can carry out our Lord’s teaching, God will allow us to continue until we expose our own ignorance by stumbling over some obstacle in our way. Only then are we willing to come to Him as paupers and receive from Him. “Blessed are the poor in spirit . . . .” This is the first principle in the kingdom of God. The underlying foundation of Jesus Christ’s kingdom is poverty, not possessions; not making decisions for Jesus, but having such a sense of absolute futility that we finally admit, “Lord, I cannot even begin to do it.” Then Jesus says, “Blessed are you . . .” (Matthew 5:11). This is the doorway to the kingdom, and yet it takes us so long to believe that we are actually poor! The knowledge of our own poverty is what brings us to the proper place where Jesus Christ accomplishes His work.
進天國的門
虛心的人有福了。 （太五3）
當心不要把主教師的身分放在第一位。耶穌基督若光是一位教師，他所作的無非是設立了一些我無法達到的標準來戲弄我。若根本是無法達到的理想，介紹給我有何用？我不知道反更妙。要我清心，要我連非分內的事也作，要我完全歸向神，可是我卻無力達到，告訴我這些有何益處？若要基督的教訓對我真有意義，而不是引志絕望的空理想，我就必須以耶穌基督為救主。我在神的靈裡重生活，就曉得耶穌基督來不是單為教導；他更要使我成為他所教導的。救恩是主耶穌把他的性情，放進任何人裡面。而神一切的標準，都是根據主耶穌的性情而定。
對一個未有新生命的人，登山寶訓只會帶來絕望，這正是主耶穌的用意。因為我們若仍然自以為義，自高自傲，以為自己可以實踐主的教訓，神就會任由我們，讓難處揭露我們的無知，叫我們像叫化子一般來親就他，接受他的施予。 [心靈貧乏的人有福了。 ]這是天國的第一原則。主耶穌國度的基石是貧窮，不是產業；不是決志接受耶穌基督，而是完全無能為力的：[我不知從何著手。 ]那時耶穌說：[你有福了。 ]這就是門，我們往往要走好運的路，才相信自己真的貧窮！若知道自己貧窮，就是已經來到作工的道德前線。
July 15, 2014
My Life’s Spiritual Honor and Duty
I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians . . . —Romans 1:14
Paul was overwhelmed with the sense of his indebtedness to Jesus Christ, and he spent his life to express it. The greatest inspiration in Paul’s life was his view of Jesus Christ as his spiritual creditor. Do I feel that same sense of indebtedness to Christ regarding every unsaved soul? As a saint, my life’s spiritual honor and duty is to fulfill my debt to Christ in relation to these lost souls. Every tiny bit of my life that has value I owe to the redemption of Jesus Christ. Am I doing anything to enable Him to bring His redemption into evident reality in the lives of others? I will only be able to do this as the Spirit of God works into me this sense of indebtedness.
I am not a superior person among other people— I am a bondservant of the Lord Jesus. Paul said, “. . . you are not your own . . . you were bought at a price . . .” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Paul sold himself to Jesus Christ and he said, in effect, “I am a debtor to everyone on the face of the earth because of the gospel of Jesus; I am free only that I may be an absolute bondservant of His.” That is the characteristic of a Christian’s life once this level of spiritual honor and duty becomes real. Quit praying about yourself and spend your life for the sake of others as the bondservant of Jesus. That is the true meaning of being broken bread and poured-out wine in real life.
屬靈尊榮
無論是希利尼人，化外人……我都欠他們的債。 （羅一14）
保羅深覺自己欠了耶穌基督的債，他被這個感覺完全淹沒，以致要把自己耗盡來償還。保羅的生命給每一個尚未蒙拯救的人，有沒有一種欠了基督的感覺？作為一個聖徒，我生命的屬靈尊榮在於償還我欠基督的債。我生命中每一點一滴有價值之處，全因主耶穌的救贖大工；我有沒有作任何事，使他的大工在別人身上得以實際彰顯？只有當聖靈在我裡面，使我有這欠債的感覺時，我才能作這工。我在人類中並非超凡的人，乃是主耶穌的奴僕。 [你們不是自己的人。 ]保羅把自己賣了給耶穌基督。他說：[我因著耶穌的福音，欠了全世界人的債；我唯一的自由，就是做一個十足的奴僕。 ]人一旦體驗了這份屬靈的尊榮，生命就有這個特質。不要再為自己祈禱，而要作耶穌基督的奴僕，為別人把自己燃燒。作劈開的餅、倒出來的酒，實際上就是這個意思。
祈禱◆主啊，願你再次感動我的靈、魂、體。倘若我的飲食，妨礙了你在我裡面的工作，或阻礙了你透過我所行的事，請向我顯示，並保守我屬於你，以致無論我或吃或喝，或做任何的事情，都可以榮耀你。
Paul was overwhelmed with the sense of his indebtedness to Jesus Christ, and he spent his life to express it. The greatest inspiration in Paul’s life was his view of Jesus Christ as his spiritual creditor. Do I feel that same sense of indebtedness to Christ regarding every unsaved soul? As a saint, my life’s spiritual honor and duty is to fulfill my debt to Christ in relation to these lost souls. Every tiny bit of my life that has value I owe to the redemption of Jesus Christ. Am I doing anything to enable Him to bring His redemption into evident reality in the lives of others? I will only be able to do this as the Spirit of God works into me this sense of indebtedness.
I am not a superior person among other people— I am a bondservant of the Lord Jesus. Paul said, “. . . you are not your own . . . you were bought at a price . . .” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Paul sold himself to Jesus Christ and he said, in effect, “I am a debtor to everyone on the face of the earth because of the gospel of Jesus; I am free only that I may be an absolute bondservant of His.” That is the characteristic of a Christian’s life once this level of spiritual honor and duty becomes real. Quit praying about yourself and spend your life for the sake of others as the bondservant of Jesus. That is the true meaning of being broken bread and poured-out wine in real life.
屬靈尊榮
無論是希利尼人，化外人……我都欠他們的債。 （羅一14）
保羅深覺自己欠了耶穌基督的債，他被這個感覺完全淹沒，以致要把自己耗盡來償還。保羅的生命給每一個尚未蒙拯救的人，有沒有一種欠了基督的感覺？作為一個聖徒，我生命的屬靈尊榮在於償還我欠基督的債。我生命中每一點一滴有價值之處，全因主耶穌的救贖大工；我有沒有作任何事，使他的大工在別人身上得以實際彰顯？只有當聖靈在我裡面，使我有這欠債的感覺時，我才能作這工。我在人類中並非超凡的人，乃是主耶穌的奴僕。 [你們不是自己的人。 ]保羅把自己賣了給耶穌基督。他說：[我因著耶穌的福音，欠了全世界人的債；我唯一的自由，就是做一個十足的奴僕。 ]人一旦體驗了這份屬靈的尊榮，生命就有這個特質。不要再為自己祈禱，而要作耶穌基督的奴僕，為別人把自己燃燒。作劈開的餅、倒出來的酒，實際上就是這個意思。
祈禱◆主啊，願你再次感動我的靈、魂、體。倘若我的飲食，妨礙了你在我裡面的工作，或阻礙了你透過我所行的事，請向我顯示，並保守我屬於你，以致無論我或吃或喝，或做任何的事情，都可以榮耀你。
July 14, 2014
Suffering Afflictions and Going the Second Mile
I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also —Matthew 5:39
This verse reveals the humiliation of being a Christian. In the natural realm, if a person does not hit back, it is because he is a coward. But in the spiritual realm, it is the very evidence of the Son of God in him if he does not hit back. When you are insulted, you must not only not resent it, but you must make it an opportunity to exhibit the Son of God in your life. And you cannot imitate the nature of Jesus— it is either in you or it is not. A personal insult becomes an opportunity for a saint to reveal the incredible sweetness of the Lord Jesus.
The teaching of the Sermon on the Mount is not, “Do your duty,” but is, in effect, “Do what is not your duty.” It is not your duty to go the second mile, or to turn the other cheek, but Jesus said that if we are His disciples, we will always do these things. We will not say, “Oh well, I just can’t do any more, and I’ve been so misrepresented and misunderstood.” Every time I insist on having my own rights, I hurt the Son of God, while in fact I can prevent Jesus from being hurt if I will take the blow myself. That is the real meaning of filling “up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ . . .” (Colossians 1:24). A disciple realizes that it is his Lord’s honor that is at stake in his life, not his own honor.
Never look for righteousness in the other person, but never cease to be righteous yourself. We are always looking for justice, yet the essence of the teaching of the Sermon on the Mount is— Never look for justice, but never cease to give it.
逼迫的賬
只是我告訴你們，不要與惡人作對。有人打你的右臉，連左臉也轉過來由他打。 （太五39）
這經文說出作基督徒的謙卑。依常情來說，不還手是懦夫；但在屬靈上，不還手錶明有神的兒子在他裡頭。你被侮辱時，不但不要動怒，更要藉這機會表彰神的兒子。你無法模仿耶穌的性情，有就有，沒有就沒有。對一個聖徒來說，個人受辱是表彰主耶穌美妙的機會，這真令人難以置信。
登山寶訓不是——做你當做的，而是——做非你分內的。你本不必走第二里路，不必轉左臉，但耶穌說若我們是他的門徒，就必須這樣行。我們不該存這樣的心：[唉，我受這樣的冤屈誤會，再也無能為力了。 ]每次我堅持自己的權益，就傷害了神的兒子；我若接受那一擊，就叫耶穌免受傷害。這正是補滿基督患難缺欠的意思。主的門徒只知道主的榮耀，而非他自己的聲譽，這是系於一生的目標。切勿從他人身上要求正義，自己也不可不去行義。我們往往尋找公義；但登山寶訓卻說不要找公義，要時常施行公義。
祈禱◆主啊，當我想起你的一切美善、奇妙和恩典，讚美和憂慮的心便在我裡面此起彼落。噢，主啊，我所祈求的是；你在我裡面最想尋見的一切，正是我必須在現實生活中實踐出來的東西。
This verse reveals the humiliation of being a Christian. In the natural realm, if a person does not hit back, it is because he is a coward. But in the spiritual realm, it is the very evidence of the Son of God in him if he does not hit back. When you are insulted, you must not only not resent it, but you must make it an opportunity to exhibit the Son of God in your life. And you cannot imitate the nature of Jesus— it is either in you or it is not. A personal insult becomes an opportunity for a saint to reveal the incredible sweetness of the Lord Jesus.
The teaching of the Sermon on the Mount is not, “Do your duty,” but is, in effect, “Do what is not your duty.” It is not your duty to go the second mile, or to turn the other cheek, but Jesus said that if we are His disciples, we will always do these things. We will not say, “Oh well, I just can’t do any more, and I’ve been so misrepresented and misunderstood.” Every time I insist on having my own rights, I hurt the Son of God, while in fact I can prevent Jesus from being hurt if I will take the blow myself. That is the real meaning of filling “up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ . . .” (Colossians 1:24). A disciple realizes that it is his Lord’s honor that is at stake in his life, not his own honor.
Never look for righteousness in the other person, but never cease to be righteous yourself. We are always looking for justice, yet the essence of the teaching of the Sermon on the Mount is— Never look for justice, but never cease to give it.
逼迫的賬
只是我告訴你們，不要與惡人作對。有人打你的右臉，連左臉也轉過來由他打。 （太五39）
這經文說出作基督徒的謙卑。依常情來說，不還手是懦夫；但在屬靈上，不還手錶明有神的兒子在他裡頭。你被侮辱時，不但不要動怒，更要藉這機會表彰神的兒子。你無法模仿耶穌的性情，有就有，沒有就沒有。對一個聖徒來說，個人受辱是表彰主耶穌美妙的機會，這真令人難以置信。
登山寶訓不是——做你當做的，而是——做非你分內的。你本不必走第二里路，不必轉左臉，但耶穌說若我們是他的門徒，就必須這樣行。我們不該存這樣的心：[唉，我受這樣的冤屈誤會，再也無能為力了。 ]每次我堅持自己的權益，就傷害了神的兒子；我若接受那一擊，就叫耶穌免受傷害。這正是補滿基督患難缺欠的意思。主的門徒只知道主的榮耀，而非他自己的聲譽，這是系於一生的目標。切勿從他人身上要求正義，自己也不可不去行義。我們往往尋找公義；但登山寶訓卻說不要找公義，要時常施行公義。
祈禱◆主啊，當我想起你的一切美善、奇妙和恩典，讚美和憂慮的心便在我裡面此起彼落。噢，主啊，我所祈求的是；你在我裡面最想尋見的一切，正是我必須在現實生活中實踐出來的東西。
July 11, 2014
The Spiritually Vigorous Saint
. . . that I may know Him . . . —Philippians 3:10
A saint is not to take the initiative toward self-realization, but toward knowing Jesus Christ. A spiritually vigorous saint never believes that his circumstances simply happen at random, nor does he ever think of his life as being divided into the secular and the sacred. He sees every situation in which he finds himself as the means of obtaining a greater knowledge of Jesus Christ, and he has an attitude of unrestrained abandon and total surrender about him. The Holy Spirit is determined that we will have the realization of Jesus Christ in every area of our lives, and He will bring us back to the same point over and over again until we do. Self-realization only leads to the glorification of good works, whereas a saint of God glorifies Jesus Christ through his good works. Whatever we may be doing— even eating, drinking, or washing disciples’ feet— we have to take the initiative of realizing and recognizing Jesus Christ in it. Every phase of our life has its counterpart in the life of Jesus. Our Lord realized His relationship to the Father even in the most menial task. “Jesus, knowing . . . that He had come from God and was going to God, . . . took a towel . . . and began to wash the disciples’ feet . . .” (John 13:3-5).
The aim of a spiritually vigorous saint is “that I may know Him . . .” Do I know Him where I am today? If not, I am failing Him. I am not here for self-realization, but to know Jesus Christ. In Christian work our initiative and motivation are too often simply the result of realizing that there is work to be done and that we must do it. Yet that is never the attitude of a spiritually vigorous saint. His aim is to achieve the realization of Jesus Christ in every set of circumstances.
屬靈的聖徒
屬靈的聖徒使人認識基督。 （腓三10）
聖徒的積極性並非朝著自我實現的方向，而是朝著認識基督進發。屬靈的信徒絕不相信際遇出於偶然，也不會認為他的人生又屬世又屬神，他會視一切環境和際遇，領他更認識基督；也會不顧一切的棄絕。聖靈定意要使我們生命的每一方面，都彰顯基督。他曾一次又一次地把我們帶到同一點，直至我們在那一點上彰顯基督。自我實現叫人高舉工作；聖徒卻在工作上高舉基督。或吃或喝或洗門徒的腳，不論是作什麼，總要積極地在其中彰顯基督。我們生命的每一階段，都可在祝耶穌的生命中找出互相對照之處。主就是在最低賤的工作上，也彰顯與父神的關係。 [耶穌知道自己是從神出來，又要歸到神那裡去，就……拿一條毛巾……洗門徒的腳。 ]
屬靈聖徒的目標是要[認識基督]。我在今天的環境中認識基督嗎？若不，就是叫他失望了。我不是要自我實現，乃是要認識基督。在屬靈的工作中，原動力往往出於看見事工的需要，於是就去做。屬靈的信徒卻永不抱這種態度，他的目標是要在一切所處的環境中活出基督。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，憑著我單純信靠那居住在我裡面，又使我與你的屬靈連結起來的聖靈，我仰望你；幫助我完全屬你。
A saint is not to take the initiative toward self-realization, but toward knowing Jesus Christ. A spiritually vigorous saint never believes that his circumstances simply happen at random, nor does he ever think of his life as being divided into the secular and the sacred. He sees every situation in which he finds himself as the means of obtaining a greater knowledge of Jesus Christ, and he has an attitude of unrestrained abandon and total surrender about him. The Holy Spirit is determined that we will have the realization of Jesus Christ in every area of our lives, and He will bring us back to the same point over and over again until we do. Self-realization only leads to the glorification of good works, whereas a saint of God glorifies Jesus Christ through his good works. Whatever we may be doing— even eating, drinking, or washing disciples’ feet— we have to take the initiative of realizing and recognizing Jesus Christ in it. Every phase of our life has its counterpart in the life of Jesus. Our Lord realized His relationship to the Father even in the most menial task. “Jesus, knowing . . . that He had come from God and was going to God, . . . took a towel . . . and began to wash the disciples’ feet . . .” (John 13:3-5).
The aim of a spiritually vigorous saint is “that I may know Him . . .” Do I know Him where I am today? If not, I am failing Him. I am not here for self-realization, but to know Jesus Christ. In Christian work our initiative and motivation are too often simply the result of realizing that there is work to be done and that we must do it. Yet that is never the attitude of a spiritually vigorous saint. His aim is to achieve the realization of Jesus Christ in every set of circumstances.
屬靈的聖徒
屬靈的聖徒使人認識基督。 （腓三10）
聖徒的積極性並非朝著自我實現的方向，而是朝著認識基督進發。屬靈的信徒絕不相信際遇出於偶然，也不會認為他的人生又屬世又屬神，他會視一切環境和際遇，領他更認識基督；也會不顧一切的棄絕。聖靈定意要使我們生命的每一方面，都彰顯基督。他曾一次又一次地把我們帶到同一點，直至我們在那一點上彰顯基督。自我實現叫人高舉工作；聖徒卻在工作上高舉基督。或吃或喝或洗門徒的腳，不論是作什麼，總要積極地在其中彰顯基督。我們生命的每一階段，都可在祝耶穌的生命中找出互相對照之處。主就是在最低賤的工作上，也彰顯與父神的關係。 [耶穌知道自己是從神出來，又要歸到神那裡去，就……拿一條毛巾……洗門徒的腳。 ]
屬靈聖徒的目標是要[認識基督]。我在今天的環境中認識基督嗎？若不，就是叫他失望了。我不是要自我實現，乃是要認識基督。在屬靈的工作中，原動力往往出於看見事工的需要，於是就去做。屬靈的信徒卻永不抱這種態度，他的目標是要在一切所處的環境中活出基督。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，憑著我單純信靠那居住在我裡面，又使我與你的屬靈連結起來的聖靈，我仰望你；幫助我完全屬你。
June 28, 2014
Held by the Grip of God
I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me —Philippians 3:12
Never choose to be a worker for God, but once God has placed His call on you, woe be to you if you “turn aside to the right hand or to the left” (Deuteronomy 5:32). We are not here to work for God because we have chosen to do so, but because God has “laid hold of” us. And once He has done so, we never have this thought, “Well, I’m really not suited for this.” What you are to preach is also determined by God, not by your own natural leanings or desires. Keep your soul steadfastly related to God, and remember that you are called not simply to convey your testimony but also to preach the gospel. Every Christian must testify to the truth of God, but when it comes to the call to preach, there must be the agonizing grip of God’s hand on you— your life is in the grip of God for that very purpose. How many of us are held like that?
Never water down the Word of God, but preach it in its undiluted sternness. There must be unflinching faithfulness to the Word of God, but when you come to personal dealings with others, remember who you are— you are not some special being created in heaven, but a sinner saved by grace.
“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do. . . I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).
被神得著
或者可以得著基督耶穌所以得著我的。 （腓三12）
切勿自告奮勇作主的工人；可是一旦被神呼召，你若偏左又偏右，就有禍了。我們原不是選擇為神工作，所以去作工，乃是因為神得著了我們。絕不該這樣想：[噢，我不適合做這個。 ]你所要傳的道，是由神決定的，不是憑你個人天然的喜好決定。你的心靈要緊緊貼近神，要記住你蒙召不單是作見證，更要傳福音。每個信徒都要作見證，但傳道的呼召，則必須有神的手狠狠地抓住。你的生命是單為這一件事被神抓住嗎？我們有多少人是這樣？
千萬不可把神的話打折扣，要按照他最嚴肅的真理去傳。對神的話要忠心；但對人的關係上，則記住你是誰－－不是天上製造的特種人，而只是一個蒙恩的罪人。 [我不是以為自己已經得著了。我只有一件事……]
祈禱◆主啊，求你按照你容許的方式和程度，讓我能看見你、感受你、相信你和完全認識你。除你以外，我還等候誰呢？
Never choose to be a worker for God, but once God has placed His call on you, woe be to you if you “turn aside to the right hand or to the left” (Deuteronomy 5:32). We are not here to work for God because we have chosen to do so, but because God has “laid hold of” us. And once He has done so, we never have this thought, “Well, I’m really not suited for this.” What you are to preach is also determined by God, not by your own natural leanings or desires. Keep your soul steadfastly related to God, and remember that you are called not simply to convey your testimony but also to preach the gospel. Every Christian must testify to the truth of God, but when it comes to the call to preach, there must be the agonizing grip of God’s hand on you— your life is in the grip of God for that very purpose. How many of us are held like that?
Never water down the Word of God, but preach it in its undiluted sternness. There must be unflinching faithfulness to the Word of God, but when you come to personal dealings with others, remember who you are— you are not some special being created in heaven, but a sinner saved by grace.
“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do. . . I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).
被神得著
或者可以得著基督耶穌所以得著我的。 （腓三12）
切勿自告奮勇作主的工人；可是一旦被神呼召，你若偏左又偏右，就有禍了。我們原不是選擇為神工作，所以去作工，乃是因為神得著了我們。絕不該這樣想：[噢，我不適合做這個。 ]你所要傳的道，是由神決定的，不是憑你個人天然的喜好決定。你的心靈要緊緊貼近神，要記住你蒙召不單是作見證，更要傳福音。每個信徒都要作見證，但傳道的呼召，則必須有神的手狠狠地抓住。你的生命是單為這一件事被神抓住嗎？我們有多少人是這樣？
千萬不可把神的話打折扣，要按照他最嚴肅的真理去傳。對神的話要忠心；但對人的關係上，則記住你是誰－－不是天上製造的特種人，而只是一個蒙恩的罪人。 [我不是以為自己已經得著了。我只有一件事……]
祈禱◆主啊，求你按照你容許的方式和程度，讓我能看見你、感受你、相信你和完全認識你。除你以外，我還等候誰呢？
June 12, 2014
Getting There (2)
They said to Him, ’Rabbi . . . where are You staying?’ He said to them, ’Come and see’ —John 1:38-39
Where our self-interest sleeps and the real interest is awakened. “They . . . remained with Him that day . . . .” That is about all some of us ever do. We stay with Him a short time, only to wake up to our own realities of life. Our self-interest rises up and our abiding with Him is past. Yet there is no circumstance of life in which we cannot abide in Jesus.
“You are Simon . . . . You shall be called Cephas” (John 1:42). God writes our new name only on those places in our lives where He has erased our pride, self-sufficiency, and self-interest. Some of us have our new name written only in certain spots, like spiritual measles. And in those areas of our lives we look all right. When we are in our best spiritual mood, you would think we were the highest quality saints. But don’t dare look at us when we are not in that mood. A true disciple is one who has his new name written all over him— self-interest, pride, and self-sufficiency have been completely erased.
Pride is the sin of making “self” our god. And some of us today do this, not like the Pharisee, but like the tax collector (see Luke 18:9-14). For you to say, “Oh, I’m no saint,” is acceptable by human standards of pride, but it is unconscious blasphemy against God. You defy God to make you a saint, as if to say, “I am too weak and hopeless and outside the reach of the atonement by the Cross of Christ.” Why aren’t you a saint? It is either that you do not want to be a saint, or that you do not believe that God can make you into one. You say it would be all right if God saved you and took you straight to heaven. That is exactly what He will do! And not only do we make our home with Him, but Jesus said of His Father and Himself, “. . . We will come to him and make Our home with him” (John 14:23). Put no conditions on your life— let Jesus be everything to you, and He will take you home with Him not only for a day, but for eternity.
到主那裡去
拉比，在那裡住？ ……你們來看……來跟從我。 （約一38-39）
[這一天便與他同住。 ]我們中間不少往往就是這樣，一覺之後，清醒過來，又去面對現實。一己的利益來到，就不再與主同住了。其實，任何的一種生活情況都不足以阻礙我們，使我們不與主同住（即不住在主裡）。
[你是西門，你要稱為磯法。 ]神在我們生命中，只有在驕傲、自滿、自利被抹除的地方，寫下新的名字。有些人的新名是斑點式的，像屬靈的痳疹一般。在某些地方，我們看來很不錯。當屬靈情緒高昂，我們會認為自己是高等聖徒；不過，在情緒低落的時候，請別看我們了。作門徒的，是全身都寫滿了新名；自私自利、驕傲自滿等，全都被抹掉了。
驕傲即是神化自我。對今人來說，這已不是法利賽人的模式，乃是稅吏的模式了。 [啊，我不是聖徒哩]，這個說法在人的傲氣中，是可以接受的；可是卻無形中是對神的褻瀆。其實際上的意思是說：你抗拒神，不要他使你成為聖徒。 [我太軟弱，無可救要，救恩對我也無濟於事。 ]在人面前的謙遜，可能無形中褻瀆了神。你為什麼不是聖徒？是你不要作聖徒，還是你不信神能使你成為聖徒？你說：[神若救我，把我直接帶上天堂就好了。 ]其實這正是他要做的！ [我們來就他，與他同住吧。 ]不要作繭自縛，要讓耶穌成為你的一切；這樣，他就必帶住你一同歸家，直到永永遠遠。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我的思想有多少部分，被近來環繞身邊的興趣所佔據，以致這些身旁的東西都成了中心。願你自己成為我生命中固定的中心，和環繞我身邊的一切。
Where our self-interest sleeps and the real interest is awakened. “They . . . remained with Him that day . . . .” That is about all some of us ever do. We stay with Him a short time, only to wake up to our own realities of life. Our self-interest rises up and our abiding with Him is past. Yet there is no circumstance of life in which we cannot abide in Jesus.
“You are Simon . . . . You shall be called Cephas” (John 1:42). God writes our new name only on those places in our lives where He has erased our pride, self-sufficiency, and self-interest. Some of us have our new name written only in certain spots, like spiritual measles. And in those areas of our lives we look all right. When we are in our best spiritual mood, you would think we were the highest quality saints. But don’t dare look at us when we are not in that mood. A true disciple is one who has his new name written all over him— self-interest, pride, and self-sufficiency have been completely erased.
Pride is the sin of making “self” our god. And some of us today do this, not like the Pharisee, but like the tax collector (see Luke 18:9-14). For you to say, “Oh, I’m no saint,” is acceptable by human standards of pride, but it is unconscious blasphemy against God. You defy God to make you a saint, as if to say, “I am too weak and hopeless and outside the reach of the atonement by the Cross of Christ.” Why aren’t you a saint? It is either that you do not want to be a saint, or that you do not believe that God can make you into one. You say it would be all right if God saved you and took you straight to heaven. That is exactly what He will do! And not only do we make our home with Him, but Jesus said of His Father and Himself, “. . . We will come to him and make Our home with him” (John 14:23). Put no conditions on your life— let Jesus be everything to you, and He will take you home with Him not only for a day, but for eternity.
到主那裡去
拉比，在那裡住？ ……你們來看……來跟從我。 （約一38-39）
[這一天便與他同住。 ]我們中間不少往往就是這樣，一覺之後，清醒過來，又去面對現實。一己的利益來到，就不再與主同住了。其實，任何的一種生活情況都不足以阻礙我們，使我們不與主同住（即不住在主裡）。
[你是西門，你要稱為磯法。 ]神在我們生命中，只有在驕傲、自滿、自利被抹除的地方，寫下新的名字。有些人的新名是斑點式的，像屬靈的痳疹一般。在某些地方，我們看來很不錯。當屬靈情緒高昂，我們會認為自己是高等聖徒；不過，在情緒低落的時候，請別看我們了。作門徒的，是全身都寫滿了新名；自私自利、驕傲自滿等，全都被抹掉了。
驕傲即是神化自我。對今人來說，這已不是法利賽人的模式，乃是稅吏的模式了。 [啊，我不是聖徒哩]，這個說法在人的傲氣中，是可以接受的；可是卻無形中是對神的褻瀆。其實際上的意思是說：你抗拒神，不要他使你成為聖徒。 [我太軟弱，無可救要，救恩對我也無濟於事。 ]在人面前的謙遜，可能無形中褻瀆了神。你為什麼不是聖徒？是你不要作聖徒，還是你不信神能使你成為聖徒？你說：[神若救我，把我直接帶上天堂就好了。 ]其實這正是他要做的！ [我們來就他，與他同住吧。 ]不要作繭自縛，要讓耶穌成為你的一切；這樣，他就必帶住你一同歸家，直到永永遠遠。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我的思想有多少部分，被近來環繞身邊的興趣所佔據，以致這些身旁的東西都成了中心。願你自己成為我生命中固定的中心，和環繞我身邊的一切。
June 10, 2014
And After That What’s Next To Do?
. . . seek, and you will find . . . —Luke 11:9
Seek if you have not found. “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss . . .” (James 4:3). If you ask for things from life instead of from God, “you ask amiss”; that is, you ask out of your desire for self-fulfillment. The more you fulfill yourself the less you will seek God. “. . . seek, and you will find . . . .” Get to work— narrow your focus and interests to this one thing. Have you ever sought God with your whole heart, or have you simply given Him a feeble cry after some emotionally painful experience? “. . . seek, [focus,] and you will find . . . .”
“Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters. . .” (Isaiah 55:1). Are you thirsty, or complacent and indifferent— so satisfied with your own experience that you want nothing more of God? Experience is a doorway, not a final goal. Beware of building your faith on experience, or your life will not ring true and will only sound the note of a critical spirit. Remember that you can never give another person what you have found, but you can cause him to have a desire for it.
“. . . knock, and it will be opened to you” (Luke 11:9). “Draw near to God . . .” (James 4:8). Knock— the door is closed, and your heartbeat races as you knock. “Cleanse your hands . . .” (James 4:8). Knock a bit louder— you begin to find that you are dirty. “. . . purify your hearts . . .” (James 4:8). It is becoming even more personal— you are desperate and serious now— you will do anything. “Lament . . . ” (James 4:9). Have you ever lamented, expressing your sorrow before God for the condition of your inner life? There is no thread of self-pity left, only the heart-rending difficulty and amazement which comes from seeing what kind of person you really are. “Humble yourselves . . . ” (James 4:10). It is a humbling experience to knock at God’s door— you have to knock with the crucified thief. “. . . to him who knocks it will be opened” (Luke 11:10).
第二步妙法
尋找就尋見。 （路十一9）
[你們求也得不著，因為你們妄求。 ]你求的若是今生的事物，而不是從神來的就是妄求，就是出於實現自我的慾望。你愈是實現自我，就愈不會尋求神。 [尋找就尋見。 ]去實行吧，聚精會神在尋找方面。你是全心尋求神，還是在受刺激痛楚之下，向神沒精打采地哀求？尋找，要專心，那你就尋見。
[你們一切乾渴的都當就近水來。 ]你是渴慕神，還是漠然不關心－－只滿足於自己的經歷，以致對神再無所求？經歷是個通道，不是目的。要謹慎，不要把信心建築在經歷之上，那鏗然之聲必隨即響起，加以責難，因你無法把所找到的傳給別人，你只能叫他羨慕你所得著的。
[叩門，就給你們開門。 ][要親近神。 ]叩門－－那門是關閉的，叩的時候你會心驚膽戰。 [潔淨你們的手]－－稍為用力一點叩，就會發現自己的污穢。 [潔淨你們的心]－－這一層更加深切了；這是你很真誠逼切，什麼都肯做了。 [要受苦]－－你曾否因你內在的光景，在神面前受苦？這時你已沒有絲毫自憐了，只有一種因詫異而來的心碎，因發覺原來自己的本相是這樣的。 [自卑]－－叩神的門是一件卑躬屈膝的事－－你要與那被釘十架的大盜同叩門。 [叩門的就給他開門。 ]
祈禱◆噢，主啊，但願我對你有更活潑的感應，而你的豐盛一直與我同在。
Seek if you have not found. “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss . . .” (James 4:3). If you ask for things from life instead of from God, “you ask amiss”; that is, you ask out of your desire for self-fulfillment. The more you fulfill yourself the less you will seek God. “. . . seek, and you will find . . . .” Get to work— narrow your focus and interests to this one thing. Have you ever sought God with your whole heart, or have you simply given Him a feeble cry after some emotionally painful experience? “. . . seek, [focus,] and you will find . . . .”
“Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters. . .” (Isaiah 55:1). Are you thirsty, or complacent and indifferent— so satisfied with your own experience that you want nothing more of God? Experience is a doorway, not a final goal. Beware of building your faith on experience, or your life will not ring true and will only sound the note of a critical spirit. Remember that you can never give another person what you have found, but you can cause him to have a desire for it.
“. . . knock, and it will be opened to you” (Luke 11:9). “Draw near to God . . .” (James 4:8). Knock— the door is closed, and your heartbeat races as you knock. “Cleanse your hands . . .” (James 4:8). Knock a bit louder— you begin to find that you are dirty. “. . . purify your hearts . . .” (James 4:8). It is becoming even more personal— you are desperate and serious now— you will do anything. “Lament . . . ” (James 4:9). Have you ever lamented, expressing your sorrow before God for the condition of your inner life? There is no thread of self-pity left, only the heart-rending difficulty and amazement which comes from seeing what kind of person you really are. “Humble yourselves . . . ” (James 4:10). It is a humbling experience to knock at God’s door— you have to knock with the crucified thief. “. . . to him who knocks it will be opened” (Luke 11:10).
第二步妙法
尋找就尋見。 （路十一9）
[你們求也得不著，因為你們妄求。 ]你求的若是今生的事物，而不是從神來的就是妄求，就是出於實現自我的慾望。你愈是實現自我，就愈不會尋求神。 [尋找就尋見。 ]去實行吧，聚精會神在尋找方面。你是全心尋求神，還是在受刺激痛楚之下，向神沒精打采地哀求？尋找，要專心，那你就尋見。
[你們一切乾渴的都當就近水來。 ]你是渴慕神，還是漠然不關心－－只滿足於自己的經歷，以致對神再無所求？經歷是個通道，不是目的。要謹慎，不要把信心建築在經歷之上，那鏗然之聲必隨即響起，加以責難，因你無法把所找到的傳給別人，你只能叫他羨慕你所得著的。
[叩門，就給你們開門。 ][要親近神。 ]叩門－－那門是關閉的，叩的時候你會心驚膽戰。 [潔淨你們的手]－－稍為用力一點叩，就會發現自己的污穢。 [潔淨你們的心]－－這一層更加深切了；這是你很真誠逼切，什麼都肯做了。 [要受苦]－－你曾否因你內在的光景，在神面前受苦？這時你已沒有絲毫自憐了，只有一種因詫異而來的心碎，因發覺原來自己的本相是這樣的。 [自卑]－－叩神的門是一件卑躬屈膝的事－－你要與那被釘十架的大盜同叩門。 [叩門的就給他開門。 ]
祈禱◆噢，主啊，但願我對你有更活潑的感應，而你的豐盛一直與我同在。
May 01, 2014
Faith— Not Emotion
We walk by faith, not by sight —2 Corinthians 5:7
For a while, we are fully aware of God’s concern for us. But then, when God begins to use us in His work, we begin to take on a pitiful look and talk only of our trials and difficulties. And all the while God is trying to make us do our work as hidden people who are not in the spotlight. None of us would be hidden spiritually if we could help it. Can we do our work when it seems that God has sealed up heaven? Some of us always want to be brightly illuminated saints with golden halos and with the continual glow of inspiration, and to have other saints of God dealing with us all the time. A self-assured saint is of no value to God. He is abnormal, unfit for daily life, and completely unlike God. We are here, not as immature angels, but as men and women, to do the work of this world. And we are to do it with an infinitely greater power to withstand the struggle because we have been born from above.
If we continually try to bring back those exceptional moments of inspiration, it is a sign that it is not God we want. We are becoming obsessed with the moments when God did come and speak with us, and we are insisting that He do it again. But what God wants us to do is to “walk by faith.” How many of us have set ourselves aside as if to say, “I cannot do anything else until God appears to me”? He will never do it. We will have to get up on our own, without any inspiration and without any sudden touch from God. Then comes our surprise and we find ourselves exclaiming, “Why, He was there all the time, and I never knew it!” Never live for those exceptional moments— they are surprises. God will give us His touches of inspiration only when He sees that we are not in danger of being led away by them. We must never consider our moments of inspiration as the standard way of life— our work is our standard.
是真知而非感情
因我們行事為人，是憑著信心，不是憑著眼見。 （林後五7）
有些時候，我們感覺到神的關顧；之後，他就開始使用我們。不久，我們便裝出一副可憐兮兮的樣子，整天說什麼試煉困難；其實，神一直訓練我們在隱藏中儘自己的本分。屬靈方面來說，除非是不得已，沒有一個人願意隱藏自己。神若關上天門，我們能盡什麼本分？有些人整天想著頭上有發光的金圈，做榮光四射的聖徒，充滿了感動啟示，並有聖徒經常造就。徒有外表（原文作鍍金邊）的聖徒是無用的，是不正常的。他無法過平凡的生活，而且根本不像神。我們活在地上，不是做行將長成的天使。我們在世作工，是因為我們已從上面而生，有極大無比的能力，得以在磨難中站立。
要是我們想把罕有的啟示經歷重演一遍，就表示我們要的不是神。我們只是寶貴與神說話的時刻，並且堅持要他再來一次。其實神是要我們行在信心中。我們多少人曾袖手旁觀地說：[神若不向我顯現，我是無能為力的。 ]他不會顯現。這樣，就是沒有啟示，沒有神出奇不意的觸摸，我們也得著手去做。那知，[原來他一直在這裡，我竟然不知！ ]不要為那罕有的時刻而活，這只是驚喜的禮物。當神看我們沒有走歪，就會將啟示顯明出來。千萬別把啟示的一刻作為標準，我們的標準乃是儘自己的本份。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，為著你的釋放和鼓勵，我感謝你。那近乎璀璨的喜樂已湧流在我心內。願你那寧靜的平安在此刻充滿我。
For a while, we are fully aware of God’s concern for us. But then, when God begins to use us in His work, we begin to take on a pitiful look and talk only of our trials and difficulties. And all the while God is trying to make us do our work as hidden people who are not in the spotlight. None of us would be hidden spiritually if we could help it. Can we do our work when it seems that God has sealed up heaven? Some of us always want to be brightly illuminated saints with golden halos and with the continual glow of inspiration, and to have other saints of God dealing with us all the time. A self-assured saint is of no value to God. He is abnormal, unfit for daily life, and completely unlike God. We are here, not as immature angels, but as men and women, to do the work of this world. And we are to do it with an infinitely greater power to withstand the struggle because we have been born from above.
If we continually try to bring back those exceptional moments of inspiration, it is a sign that it is not God we want. We are becoming obsessed with the moments when God did come and speak with us, and we are insisting that He do it again. But what God wants us to do is to “walk by faith.” How many of us have set ourselves aside as if to say, “I cannot do anything else until God appears to me”? He will never do it. We will have to get up on our own, without any inspiration and without any sudden touch from God. Then comes our surprise and we find ourselves exclaiming, “Why, He was there all the time, and I never knew it!” Never live for those exceptional moments— they are surprises. God will give us His touches of inspiration only when He sees that we are not in danger of being led away by them. We must never consider our moments of inspiration as the standard way of life— our work is our standard.
是真知而非感情
因我們行事為人，是憑著信心，不是憑著眼見。 （林後五7）
有些時候，我們感覺到神的關顧；之後，他就開始使用我們。不久，我們便裝出一副可憐兮兮的樣子，整天說什麼試煉困難；其實，神一直訓練我們在隱藏中儘自己的本分。屬靈方面來說，除非是不得已，沒有一個人願意隱藏自己。神若關上天門，我們能盡什麼本分？有些人整天想著頭上有發光的金圈，做榮光四射的聖徒，充滿了感動啟示，並有聖徒經常造就。徒有外表（原文作鍍金邊）的聖徒是無用的，是不正常的。他無法過平凡的生活，而且根本不像神。我們活在地上，不是做行將長成的天使。我們在世作工，是因為我們已從上面而生，有極大無比的能力，得以在磨難中站立。
要是我們想把罕有的啟示經歷重演一遍，就表示我們要的不是神。我們只是寶貴與神說話的時刻，並且堅持要他再來一次。其實神是要我們行在信心中。我們多少人曾袖手旁觀地說：[神若不向我顯現，我是無能為力的。 ]他不會顯現。這樣，就是沒有啟示，沒有神出奇不意的觸摸，我們也得著手去做。那知，[原來他一直在這裡，我竟然不知！ ]不要為那罕有的時刻而活，這只是驚喜的禮物。當神看我們沒有走歪，就會將啟示顯明出來。千萬別把啟示的一刻作為標準，我們的標準乃是儘自己的本份。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，為著你的釋放和鼓勵，我感謝你。那近乎璀璨的喜樂已湧流在我心內。願你那寧靜的平安在此刻充滿我。
April 28, 2014
What You Will Get
I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go —Jeremiah 45:5
This is the firm and immovable secret of the Lord to those who trust Him— “I will give your life to you . . . .” What more does a man want than his life? It is the essential thing. “. . . your life . . . as a prize . . .” means that wherever you may go, even if it is into hell, you will come out with your life and nothing can harm it. So many of us are caught up in exhibiting things for others to see, not showing off property and possessions, but our blessings. All these things that we so proudly show have to go. But there is something greater that can never go— the life that “is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3).
Are you prepared to let God take you into total oneness with Himself, paying no more attention to what you call the great things of life? Are you prepared to surrender totally and let go? The true test of abandonment or surrender is in refusing to say, “Well, what about this?” Beware of your own ideas and speculations. The moment you allow yourself to think, “What about this?” you show that you have not surrendered and that you do not really trust God. But once you do surrender, you will no longer think about what God is going to do. Abandonment means to refuse yourself the luxury of asking any questions. If you totally abandon yourself to God, He immediately says to you, “I will give your life to you as a prize . . . .” The reason people are tired of life is that God has not given them anything— they have not been given their life “as a prize.” The way to get out of that condition is to abandon yourself to God. And once you do get to the point of total surrender to Him, you will be the most surprised and delighted person on earth. God will have you absolutely, without any limitations, and He will have given you your life. If you are not there, it is either because of disobedience in your life or your refusal to be simple enough.
你要得著什麼？
但你無論往那裡去，我必使你以自己的命為掠物。 （耶四十五5）
主對信靠他的人，有一個堅定不移的秘密，就是[我要把你的生命給你]。除了生命，人好要什麼呢？生命是最重要的。 [以自己的命為掠物]，意思是不論你到那裡去，甚至進入地獄，你仍然能夠帶著生命出來，沒有任何事物能害你的。我們多半被事物的榮美所吸引；啟示受吸引的不該是屬物質的產業，而是所蒙的祝福。一切都會過去；但有一樣比這些更榮美，且永不過去－－就是[與基督一同藏在神裡面的生命]。
你是否願意與神聯合，不再注目於你所謂的[大事]上？你願否盡棄所有，付之東流？放棄一切就是不再問：[那末，這個又怎麼辦？ ]要提防一切的假設。一旦容讓[怎麼辦]，就是意味著你仍未肯放棄一切，仍未肯完全信靠神。只要你肯放下一切，就不再擔心神會怎樣辦。你若完全撇下給神，他就立即說：[我必使你以自己的命為掠物。 ]人對生命厭倦的原因，是神沒有賞給他們什麼，他們並未得著生命的掠物。要脫離這景況，就要完全向神降服。若向神完全順服，你會成為地上最驚喜的人；神完全得著你，是把生命賜給你。但如果你尚未到達這地步，可能是你不肯順服，也可能是你不夠單純。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我的靈魂因著信靠你而發出讚美，願我的靈魂緊隨這你的撫摸和笑容，除去我任何混亂的思想或幻想，免致我在基督裡的真純遭受污染。
This is the firm and immovable secret of the Lord to those who trust Him— “I will give your life to you . . . .” What more does a man want than his life? It is the essential thing. “. . . your life . . . as a prize . . .” means that wherever you may go, even if it is into hell, you will come out with your life and nothing can harm it. So many of us are caught up in exhibiting things for others to see, not showing off property and possessions, but our blessings. All these things that we so proudly show have to go. But there is something greater that can never go— the life that “is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3).
Are you prepared to let God take you into total oneness with Himself, paying no more attention to what you call the great things of life? Are you prepared to surrender totally and let go? The true test of abandonment or surrender is in refusing to say, “Well, what about this?” Beware of your own ideas and speculations. The moment you allow yourself to think, “What about this?” you show that you have not surrendered and that you do not really trust God. But once you do surrender, you will no longer think about what God is going to do. Abandonment means to refuse yourself the luxury of asking any questions. If you totally abandon yourself to God, He immediately says to you, “I will give your life to you as a prize . . . .” The reason people are tired of life is that God has not given them anything— they have not been given their life “as a prize.” The way to get out of that condition is to abandon yourself to God. And once you do get to the point of total surrender to Him, you will be the most surprised and delighted person on earth. God will have you absolutely, without any limitations, and He will have given you your life. If you are not there, it is either because of disobedience in your life or your refusal to be simple enough.
你要得著什麼？
但你無論往那裡去，我必使你以自己的命為掠物。 （耶四十五5）
主對信靠他的人，有一個堅定不移的秘密，就是[我要把你的生命給你]。除了生命，人好要什麼呢？生命是最重要的。 [以自己的命為掠物]，意思是不論你到那裡去，甚至進入地獄，你仍然能夠帶著生命出來，沒有任何事物能害你的。我們多半被事物的榮美所吸引；啟示受吸引的不該是屬物質的產業，而是所蒙的祝福。一切都會過去；但有一樣比這些更榮美，且永不過去－－就是[與基督一同藏在神裡面的生命]。
你是否願意與神聯合，不再注目於你所謂的[大事]上？你願否盡棄所有，付之東流？放棄一切就是不再問：[那末，這個又怎麼辦？ ]要提防一切的假設。一旦容讓[怎麼辦]，就是意味著你仍未肯放棄一切，仍未肯完全信靠神。只要你肯放下一切，就不再擔心神會怎樣辦。你若完全撇下給神，他就立即說：[我必使你以自己的命為掠物。 ]人對生命厭倦的原因，是神沒有賞給他們什麼，他們並未得著生命的掠物。要脫離這景況，就要完全向神降服。若向神完全順服，你會成為地上最驚喜的人；神完全得著你，是把生命賜給你。但如果你尚未到達這地步，可能是你不肯順服，也可能是你不夠單純。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我的靈魂因著信靠你而發出讚美，願我的靈魂緊隨這你的撫摸和笑容，除去我任何混亂的思想或幻想，免致我在基督裡的真純遭受污染。
April 24, 2014
The Warning Against Desiring Spiritual Success
Do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you . . . —Luke 10:20
Worldliness is not the trap that most endangers us as Christian workers; nor is it sin. The trap we fall into is extravagantly desiring spiritual success; that is, success measured by, and patterned after, the form set by this religious age in which we now live. Never seek after anything other than the approval of God, and always be willing to go “outside the camp, bearing His reproach” (Hebrews 13:13). In Luke 10:20 , Jesus told the disciples not to rejoice in successful service, and yet this seems to be the one thing in which most of us do rejoice. We have a commercialized view— we count how many souls have been saved and sanctified, we thank God, and then we think everything is all right. Yet our work only begins where God’s grace has laid the foundation. Our work is not to save souls, but to disciple them. Salvation and sanctification are the work of God’s sovereign grace, and our work as His disciples is to disciple others’ lives until they are totally yielded to God. One life totally devoted to God is of more value to Him than one hundred lives which have been simply awakened by His Spirit. As workers for God, we must reproduce our own kind spiritually, and those lives will be God’s testimony to us as His workers. God brings us up to a standard of life through His grace, and we are responsible for reproducing that same standard in others.
Unless the worker lives a life that “is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3), he is apt to become an irritating dictator to others, instead of an active, living disciple. Many of us are dictators, dictating our desires to individuals and to groups. But Jesus never dictates to us in that way. Whenever our Lord talked about discipleship, He always prefaced His words with an “if,” never with the forceful or dogmatic statement— “You must.” Discipleship carries with it an option.
放縱的警告
然而不要因鬼服了你們就歡喜。 （路十20）
作主工人的，世俗不會成為網羅，罪惡也不會成為陷阱，可是屬靈的放縱則會。這就是說，承受現今宗教潮流的模式，只專注於屬靈的成功。除了主的讚許，千萬不要追逐別的事物。要[出到營外就了他去，忍受他所受的凌辱。 ]耶穌吩咐門徒不要為事奉的成功而歡欣，但這卻偏偏是大多數人最慶幸的。我們的眼光是很商業化的－－有多少人得救、成聖、於是就感謝神，因一切都辦妥了。神的恩已立好根基，我們乃是在這根基上作工；我們不是去拯救靈魂，乃是叫他們作門徒。救恩與成聖是神無限恩典的工作；身為他的門徒，我們的工作就是要使人作門徒，直至他們全然順服神。一個全然歸神的生命，比一百個僅僅被聖靈喚醒的人，更為神所珍貴。作為神的工人，我們必須在屬靈上繁殖同類的生命，這要成為我們作神工人的明證。
神既藉著恩典把我們帶到更高的生活水平，我們就有責任使別人也達到這種水平。除非工人過的是與基督一樣藏在神裡面的生活，他勢必成為惹人討厭的獨裁者，而不是一個在主裡作門徒的人。我們不少人是獨裁者，喜歡支配人，操縱聚會，為我獨尊。耶穌卻從來沒有這樣對我們。主每逢提到作門徒，他便一定加一個[若]字，他從來不用強制的命令說[你必須]。作門徒是有選擇的餘地的。
祈禱◆我在多方面需要你！我讚美你，因為你讓人尋見。主啊，讓我尋見你；但惟有當你親自來到，我才可以尋見你。
Worldliness is not the trap that most endangers us as Christian workers; nor is it sin. The trap we fall into is extravagantly desiring spiritual success; that is, success measured by, and patterned after, the form set by this religious age in which we now live. Never seek after anything other than the approval of God, and always be willing to go “outside the camp, bearing His reproach” (Hebrews 13:13). In Luke 10:20 , Jesus told the disciples not to rejoice in successful service, and yet this seems to be the one thing in which most of us do rejoice. We have a commercialized view— we count how many souls have been saved and sanctified, we thank God, and then we think everything is all right. Yet our work only begins where God’s grace has laid the foundation. Our work is not to save souls, but to disciple them. Salvation and sanctification are the work of God’s sovereign grace, and our work as His disciples is to disciple others’ lives until they are totally yielded to God. One life totally devoted to God is of more value to Him than one hundred lives which have been simply awakened by His Spirit. As workers for God, we must reproduce our own kind spiritually, and those lives will be God’s testimony to us as His workers. God brings us up to a standard of life through His grace, and we are responsible for reproducing that same standard in others.
Unless the worker lives a life that “is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3), he is apt to become an irritating dictator to others, instead of an active, living disciple. Many of us are dictators, dictating our desires to individuals and to groups. But Jesus never dictates to us in that way. Whenever our Lord talked about discipleship, He always prefaced His words with an “if,” never with the forceful or dogmatic statement— “You must.” Discipleship carries with it an option.
放縱的警告
然而不要因鬼服了你們就歡喜。 （路十20）
作主工人的，世俗不會成為網羅，罪惡也不會成為陷阱，可是屬靈的放縱則會。這就是說，承受現今宗教潮流的模式，只專注於屬靈的成功。除了主的讚許，千萬不要追逐別的事物。要[出到營外就了他去，忍受他所受的凌辱。 ]耶穌吩咐門徒不要為事奉的成功而歡欣，但這卻偏偏是大多數人最慶幸的。我們的眼光是很商業化的－－有多少人得救、成聖、於是就感謝神，因一切都辦妥了。神的恩已立好根基，我們乃是在這根基上作工；我們不是去拯救靈魂，乃是叫他們作門徒。救恩與成聖是神無限恩典的工作；身為他的門徒，我們的工作就是要使人作門徒，直至他們全然順服神。一個全然歸神的生命，比一百個僅僅被聖靈喚醒的人，更為神所珍貴。作為神的工人，我們必須在屬靈上繁殖同類的生命，這要成為我們作神工人的明證。
神既藉著恩典把我們帶到更高的生活水平，我們就有責任使別人也達到這種水平。除非工人過的是與基督一樣藏在神裡面的生活，他勢必成為惹人討厭的獨裁者，而不是一個在主裡作門徒的人。我們不少人是獨裁者，喜歡支配人，操縱聚會，為我獨尊。耶穌卻從來沒有這樣對我們。主每逢提到作門徒，他便一定加一個[若]字，他從來不用強制的命令說[你必須]。作門徒是有選擇的餘地的。
祈禱◆我在多方面需要你！我讚美你，因為你讓人尋見。主啊，讓我尋見你；但惟有當你親自來到，我才可以尋見你。
April 19, 2014
Beware of the Least Likely Temptation
Joab had defected to Adonijah, though he had not defected to Absalom —1 Kings 2:28
Joab withstood the greatest test of his life, remaining absolutely loyal to David by not turning to follow after the fascinating and ambitious Absalom. Yet toward the end of his life he turned to follow after the weak and cowardly Adonijah. Always remain alert to the fact that where one person has turned back is exactly where anyone may be tempted to turn back (see 1 Corinthians 10:11-13). You may have just victoriously gone through a great crisis, but now be alert about the things that may appear to be the least likely to tempt you. Beware of thinking that the areas of your life where you have experienced victory in the past are now the least likely to cause you to stumble and fall.
We are apt to say, “It is not at all likely that having been through the greatest crisis of my life I would now turn back to the things of the world.” Do not try to predict where the temptation will come; it is the least likely thing that is the real danger. It is in the aftermath of a great spiritual event that the least likely things begin to have an effect. They may not be forceful and dominant, but they are there. And if you are not careful to be forewarned, they will trip you. You have remained true to God under great and intense trials— now beware of the undercurrent. Do not be abnormally examining your inner self, looking forward with dread, but stay alert; keep your memory sharp before God. Unguarded strength is actually a double weakness, because that is where the least likely temptations will be effective in sapping strength. The Bible characters stumbled over their strong points, never their weak ones.
“. . . kept by the power of God . . .”— that is the only safety. (1 Peter 1:5).
絕不可能嗎？
約押雖然沒有歸從押沙龍，卻歸從了亞多尼雅。 （王上二28）
約押在大考驗中站得住，始終對大衛絕對效忠，沒有隨從那野心勃勃、欺世惑眾的押沙龍。但到了晚年，卻跟隨了貪鄙的亞多尼雅。所以要常常提高警覺；有一個人可以這樣倒退，眾人都有這倒退的可能（林前十13）。你過了大難關嗎？現在就要在最小的事上留心。那最不為人注意的小事，要懂得留心。
我們會很隨意的說：[既然經過這樣大的考驗，就不會再回到世俗中去，留戀世事了。 ]不要自以為知道試探的來源；最不可能發生的事，往往是最致命的。在一次重大的屬靈轉變過後，那隱而不露的試探就開始出現了；這不會很昭彰明顯，卻潛藏在那裡，若不警覺，就必把你絆倒。你在烈火的考驗下曾經持守純正，向神忠貞，如今卻要當心暗潮。但不必無病呻吟，內省自疚，對前途恐懼不前，只要保持警覺，在神面前有一種清晰能力。沒有防衛看守，力量就會變弱，那暗潮便會湧入，叫防守崩陷。聖經人物很多都在優點上失敗，而不是在弱點上。
[蒙神能力保守]－－這是唯一安全之方。
祈禱◆主啊，今天我要奉你的名講道；求你使它藉著你的能力而發放。使我的靈魂確實認識你，讓我在所有深入和終極的意義上只專注於你。
Joab withstood the greatest test of his life, remaining absolutely loyal to David by not turning to follow after the fascinating and ambitious Absalom. Yet toward the end of his life he turned to follow after the weak and cowardly Adonijah. Always remain alert to the fact that where one person has turned back is exactly where anyone may be tempted to turn back (see 1 Corinthians 10:11-13). You may have just victoriously gone through a great crisis, but now be alert about the things that may appear to be the least likely to tempt you. Beware of thinking that the areas of your life where you have experienced victory in the past are now the least likely to cause you to stumble and fall.
We are apt to say, “It is not at all likely that having been through the greatest crisis of my life I would now turn back to the things of the world.” Do not try to predict where the temptation will come; it is the least likely thing that is the real danger. It is in the aftermath of a great spiritual event that the least likely things begin to have an effect. They may not be forceful and dominant, but they are there. And if you are not careful to be forewarned, they will trip you. You have remained true to God under great and intense trials— now beware of the undercurrent. Do not be abnormally examining your inner self, looking forward with dread, but stay alert; keep your memory sharp before God. Unguarded strength is actually a double weakness, because that is where the least likely temptations will be effective in sapping strength. The Bible characters stumbled over their strong points, never their weak ones.
“. . . kept by the power of God . . .”— that is the only safety. (1 Peter 1:5).
絕不可能嗎？
約押雖然沒有歸從押沙龍，卻歸從了亞多尼雅。 （王上二28）
約押在大考驗中站得住，始終對大衛絕對效忠，沒有隨從那野心勃勃、欺世惑眾的押沙龍。但到了晚年，卻跟隨了貪鄙的亞多尼雅。所以要常常提高警覺；有一個人可以這樣倒退，眾人都有這倒退的可能（林前十13）。你過了大難關嗎？現在就要在最小的事上留心。那最不為人注意的小事，要懂得留心。
我們會很隨意的說：[既然經過這樣大的考驗，就不會再回到世俗中去，留戀世事了。 ]不要自以為知道試探的來源；最不可能發生的事，往往是最致命的。在一次重大的屬靈轉變過後，那隱而不露的試探就開始出現了；這不會很昭彰明顯，卻潛藏在那裡，若不警覺，就必把你絆倒。你在烈火的考驗下曾經持守純正，向神忠貞，如今卻要當心暗潮。但不必無病呻吟，內省自疚，對前途恐懼不前，只要保持警覺，在神面前有一種清晰能力。沒有防衛看守，力量就會變弱，那暗潮便會湧入，叫防守崩陷。聖經人物很多都在優點上失敗，而不是在弱點上。
[蒙神能力保守]－－這是唯一安全之方。
祈禱◆主啊，今天我要奉你的名講道；求你使它藉著你的能力而發放。使我的靈魂確實認識你，讓我在所有深入和終極的意義上只專注於你。
March 13, 2014
God’s Total Surrender to Us
For God so loved the world that He gave . . . —John 3:16
Salvation does not mean merely deliverance from sin or the experience of personal holiness. The salvation which comes from God means being completely delivered from myself, and being placed into perfect union with Him. When I think of my salvation experience, I think of being delivered from sin and gaining personal holiness. But salvation is so much more! It means that the Spirit of God has brought me into intimate contact with the true Person of God Himself. And as I am caught up into total surrender to God, I become thrilled with something infinitely greater than myself.
To say that we are called to preach holiness or sanctification is to miss the main point. We are called to proclaim Jesus Christ (see 1 Corinthians 2:2). The fact that He saves from sin and makes us holy is actually part of the effect of His wonderful and total surrender to us.
If we are truly surrendered, we will never be aware of our own efforts to remain surrendered. Our entire life will be consumed with the One to whom we surrender. Beware of talking about surrender if you know nothing about it. In fact, you will never know anything about it until you understand that John 3:16 means that God completely and absolutely gave Himself to us. In our surrender, we must give ourselves to God in the same way He gave Himself for us— totally, unconditionally, and without reservation. The consequences and circumstances resulting from our surrender will never even enter our mind, because our life will be totally consumed with Him.
神的捨棄
神愛世人，甚至將他的獨生子賜給他們……（約三16）
救恩並不只是從罪惡中得解救，也不只是個人成聖的經歷；救恩乃是神把人從自己解脫出來，與他合一。我對救恩的認識，是從脫離罪開始，以致個人成聖；可是救恩的真諦，是聖靈使我接觸到神自己；因這超越自我千萬倍的主宰震撼激盪，我被神的犧牲吸引住了。若有人說我們被召是要傳聖潔與成聖之道，就偏差了。我們被召 是要傳耶穌基督。他救我們脫離罪，使我們成聖，這不過是神奇妙犧牲中的一部分。
真正的捨棄，是不會對本身所作的有所知覺，因為整個生命已經被那一位我們為他擺上的主所佔有了。你若不知道何為放下捨棄，就不要隨便講說。除非你明白約翰福音三章16節裡的意思：神怎樣毫無保留地將自己賜給人；否則，你永不會明白何為捨棄。我們的捨棄就是把自己完全交給神，正如神為我們捨了自己，不計算代價一樣。捨棄的後果如何，不會在我們 的人生觀上顯露，因為我們的生命已經充滿了基督。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，今早讓我為過往的一切讚美你——我是那麼的任性，你卻是那麼的慈愛、長久忍耐、滿有寬恕和親切。
Salvation does not mean merely deliverance from sin or the experience of personal holiness. The salvation which comes from God means being completely delivered from myself, and being placed into perfect union with Him. When I think of my salvation experience, I think of being delivered from sin and gaining personal holiness. But salvation is so much more! It means that the Spirit of God has brought me into intimate contact with the true Person of God Himself. And as I am caught up into total surrender to God, I become thrilled with something infinitely greater than myself.
To say that we are called to preach holiness or sanctification is to miss the main point. We are called to proclaim Jesus Christ (see 1 Corinthians 2:2). The fact that He saves from sin and makes us holy is actually part of the effect of His wonderful and total surrender to us.
If we are truly surrendered, we will never be aware of our own efforts to remain surrendered. Our entire life will be consumed with the One to whom we surrender. Beware of talking about surrender if you know nothing about it. In fact, you will never know anything about it until you understand that John 3:16 means that God completely and absolutely gave Himself to us. In our surrender, we must give ourselves to God in the same way He gave Himself for us— totally, unconditionally, and without reservation. The consequences and circumstances resulting from our surrender will never even enter our mind, because our life will be totally consumed with Him.
神的捨棄
神愛世人，甚至將他的獨生子賜給他們……（約三16）
救恩並不只是從罪惡中得解救，也不只是個人成聖的經歷；救恩乃是神把人從自己解脫出來，與他合一。我對救恩的認識，是從脫離罪開始，以致個人成聖；可是救恩的真諦，是聖靈使我接觸到神自己；因這超越自我千萬倍的主宰震撼激盪，我被神的犧牲吸引住了。若有人說我們被召是要傳聖潔與成聖之道，就偏差了。我們被召 是要傳耶穌基督。他救我們脫離罪，使我們成聖，這不過是神奇妙犧牲中的一部分。
真正的捨棄，是不會對本身所作的有所知覺，因為整個生命已經被那一位我們為他擺上的主所佔有了。你若不知道何為放下捨棄，就不要隨便講說。除非你明白約翰福音三章16節裡的意思：神怎樣毫無保留地將自己賜給人；否則，你永不會明白何為捨棄。我們的捨棄就是把自己完全交給神，正如神為我們捨了自己，不計算代價一樣。捨棄的後果如何，不會在我們 的人生觀上顯露，因為我們的生命已經充滿了基督。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，今早讓我為過往的一切讚美你——我是那麼的任性，你卻是那麼的慈愛、長久忍耐、滿有寬恕和親切。
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