. . . the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me —Galatians 2:20
We should battle through our moods, feelings, and emotions into absolute devotion to the Lord Jesus. We must break out of our own little world of experience into abandoned devotion to Him. Think who the New Testament says Jesus Christ is, and then think of the despicable meagerness of the miserable faith we exhibit by saying, “I haven’t had this experience or that experience”! Think what faith in Jesus Christ claims and provides— He can present us faultless before the throne of God, inexpressibly pure, absolutely righteous, and profoundly justified. Stand in absolute adoring faith “in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God— and righteousness and sanctification and redemption . . .” (1 Corinthians 1:30). How dare we talk of making a sacrifice for the Son of God! We are saved from hell and total destruction, and then we talk about making sacrifices!
We must continually focus and firmly place our faith in Jesus Christ— not a “prayer meeting” Jesus Christ, or a “book” Jesus Christ, but the New Testament Jesus Christ, who is God Incarnate, and who ought to strike us dead at His feet. Our faith must be in the One from whom our salvation springs. Jesus Christ wants our absolute, unrestrained devotion to Himself. We can never experience Jesus Christ, or selfishly bind Him in the confines of our own hearts. Our faith must be built on strong determined confidence in Him.
It is because of our trusting in experience that we see the steadfast impatience of the Holy Spirit against unbelief. All of our fears are sinful, and we create our own fears by refusing to nourish ourselves in our faith. How can anyone who is identified with Jesus Christ suffer from doubt or fear! Our lives should be an absolute hymn of praise resulting from perfect, irrepressible, triumphant belief.
信心與經歷
……神的兒子……他是愛我，為我捨己。 （加二20）
我們要與自己的情緒搏鬥，完全歸向主耶穌；從自我的小圈子中出來，完全降服於他。試想想新約中的耶穌基督是誰，然後想想我們可憐的信心多麽渺小- [我沒有這種經歷，又沒有那種經歷！ ]試想想對主耶穌的資訊該存的指望- 他能把我們無可指摘地帶到神的寶座前，完全無瑕疵，完全改變稱義。我們要心存何等崇敬的信心。他成為我哦們的智慧、我們的義、我們的成聖與救贖。我們憑什麽說為神的兒子有所犧牲！從地獄和沈淪蒙救贖的人，竟膽敢說犧牲！
我們要經常保持對耶穌基督的信心；不是一個祈禱會裡的耶穌；不是一本書中的耶穌，乃是新約中的耶穌，是神成了肉身，把我們治死在他腳前的那一位。信心必須是對准給我們經歷的那一位。主耶穌要求我們毫無保留地歸他。我們實在無法經歷到主耶穌，也無法把他拘禁在我們心裡，可是信心卻對他有堅強不移的靠賴。在這一點上，我們看見聖靈對不信是多麽不耐煩。一切的恐懼都是可惡的，因為恐懼是源於我們不肯培育信心。人若與主合一，怎可能再落在恐懼疑惑裡？應該充滿無法抑制、得勝的信心凱歌。
祈禱◆主啊，願今天在我們眼前，展現你在我們當中那使人振奮和更新的臨在，為此我們只有欣喜，因為我們對永恆如何具體介入時間之中，有了新的盼望。
Showing posts with label Leading. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Leading. Show all posts
November 13, 2014
November 05, 2014
Partakers of His Suffering
. . . but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings . . . —1 Peter 4:13
If you are going to be used by God, He will take you through a number of experiences that are not meant for you personally at all. They are designed to make you useful in His hands, and to enable you to understand what takes place in the lives of others. Because of this process, you will never be surprised by what comes your way. You say, “Oh, I can’t deal with that person.” Why can’t you? God gave you sufficient opportunities to learn from Him about that problem; but you turned away, not heeding the lesson, because it seemed foolish to spend your time that way.
The sufferings of Christ were not those of ordinary people. He suffered “according to the will of God” (1 Peter 4:19), having a different point of view of suffering from ours. It is only through our relationship with Jesus Christ that we can understand what God is after in His dealings with us. When it comes to suffering, it is part of our Christian culture to want to know God’s purpose beforehand. In the history of the Christian church, the tendency has been to avoid being identified with the sufferings of Jesus Christ. People have sought to carry out God’s orders through a shortcut of their own. God’s way is always the way of suffering— the way of the “long road home.”
Are we partakers of Christ’s sufferings? Are we prepared for God to stamp out our personal ambitions? Are we prepared for God to destroy our individual decisions by supernaturally transforming them? It will mean not knowing why God is taking us that way, because knowing would make us spiritually proud. We never realize at the time what God is putting us through— we go through it more or less without understanding. Then suddenly we come to a place of enlightenment, and realize— “God has strengthened me and I didn’t even know it!”
與基督一同受苦
倒要歡喜，因為你們是與基督一同受苦。 （彼前四13）
如果你要蒙神使用，你便要經歷許多事；不是為你本身而遭遇，乃是要把你造成神手中合用的器皿，使你明白別人心裡的景況，以致不會因所遇見的感到詫異。 [唉，我不能應付那個人。 ]為什麽不能？神讓你有足夠的機會在他面前學習這功課，只是你故意避開，認為這樣花時間太愚蠢了。
基督受的苦不是普通人的苦，他乃是按神的旨意受苦，不是照人的看法受苦。只有當我們與基督連合，才會明白神的用意。基督教化的一部分，就是要明白神的目的。在教會歷史中，可以見到人逃避與主一同受苦的傾向；人總是想用自己的捷徑，以求完成神的使命。可是，神的道路卻必定是那漫長受苦的路。
我們有分於基督的受苦麽？我們肯不肯讓神把個人的野心除掉？肯不肯藉生命的改變，把個人的志向毀掉？這不是說可以完全明白為何神領我們這樣走：這樣會叫我們成為屬靈的自大者。當時我們無法知道神的心意，我們會或多或少有點誤解；過後，卻全恍然大悟，說：[看，神把我裝備了，我竟然不察覺！ ]
祈禱◆主啊，願那些在肉身上擔負重壓的人，能藉著你的支持來繼續承擔。願你使他們能避免敵人的嚴苛對待，願主的喜樂能奇妙地成為他們的力量。
If you are going to be used by God, He will take you through a number of experiences that are not meant for you personally at all. They are designed to make you useful in His hands, and to enable you to understand what takes place in the lives of others. Because of this process, you will never be surprised by what comes your way. You say, “Oh, I can’t deal with that person.” Why can’t you? God gave you sufficient opportunities to learn from Him about that problem; but you turned away, not heeding the lesson, because it seemed foolish to spend your time that way.
The sufferings of Christ were not those of ordinary people. He suffered “according to the will of God” (1 Peter 4:19), having a different point of view of suffering from ours. It is only through our relationship with Jesus Christ that we can understand what God is after in His dealings with us. When it comes to suffering, it is part of our Christian culture to want to know God’s purpose beforehand. In the history of the Christian church, the tendency has been to avoid being identified with the sufferings of Jesus Christ. People have sought to carry out God’s orders through a shortcut of their own. God’s way is always the way of suffering— the way of the “long road home.”
Are we partakers of Christ’s sufferings? Are we prepared for God to stamp out our personal ambitions? Are we prepared for God to destroy our individual decisions by supernaturally transforming them? It will mean not knowing why God is taking us that way, because knowing would make us spiritually proud. We never realize at the time what God is putting us through— we go through it more or less without understanding. Then suddenly we come to a place of enlightenment, and realize— “God has strengthened me and I didn’t even know it!”
與基督一同受苦
倒要歡喜，因為你們是與基督一同受苦。 （彼前四13）
如果你要蒙神使用，你便要經歷許多事；不是為你本身而遭遇，乃是要把你造成神手中合用的器皿，使你明白別人心裡的景況，以致不會因所遇見的感到詫異。 [唉，我不能應付那個人。 ]為什麽不能？神讓你有足夠的機會在他面前學習這功課，只是你故意避開，認為這樣花時間太愚蠢了。
基督受的苦不是普通人的苦，他乃是按神的旨意受苦，不是照人的看法受苦。只有當我們與基督連合，才會明白神的用意。基督教化的一部分，就是要明白神的目的。在教會歷史中，可以見到人逃避與主一同受苦的傾向；人總是想用自己的捷徑，以求完成神的使命。可是，神的道路卻必定是那漫長受苦的路。
我們有分於基督的受苦麽？我們肯不肯讓神把個人的野心除掉？肯不肯藉生命的改變，把個人的志向毀掉？這不是說可以完全明白為何神領我們這樣走：這樣會叫我們成為屬靈的自大者。當時我們無法知道神的心意，我們會或多或少有點誤解；過後，卻全恍然大悟，說：[看，神把我裝備了，我竟然不察覺！ ]
祈禱◆主啊，願那些在肉身上擔負重壓的人，能藉著你的支持來繼續承擔。願你使他們能避免敵人的嚴苛對待，願主的喜樂能奇妙地成為他們的力量。
October 21, 2014
Impulsiveness or Discipleship?
But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith . . . —Jude 20
There was nothing of the nature of impulsive or thoughtless action about our Lord, but only a calm strength that never got into a panic. Most of us develop our Christianity along the lines of our own nature, not along the lines of God’s nature. Impulsiveness is a trait of the natural life, and our Lord always ignores it, because it hinders the development of the life of a disciple. Watch how the Spirit of God gives a sense of restraint to impulsiveness, suddenly bringing us a feeling of self-conscious foolishness, which makes us instantly want to vindicate ourselves. Impulsiveness is all right in a child, but is disastrous in a man or woman—an impulsive adult is always a spoiled person. Impulsiveness needs to be trained into intuition through discipline.
Discipleship is built entirely on the supernatural grace of God. Walking on water is easy to someone with impulsive boldness, but walking on dry land as a disciple of Jesus Christ is something altogether different. Peter walked on the water to go to Jesus, but he “followed Him at a distance” on dry land (Mark 14:54). We do not need the grace of God to withstand crises—human nature and pride are sufficient for us to face the stress and strain magnificently. But it does require the supernatural grace of God to live twenty-four hours of every day as a saint, going through drudgery, and living an ordinary, unnoticed, and ignored existence as a disciple of Jesus. It is ingrained in us that we have to do exceptional things for God—but we do not. We have to be exceptional in the ordinary things of life, and holy on the ordinary streets, among ordinary people—and this is not learned in five minutes.
被沖動引導
"你們卻要在至聖的真道上造就自己" 猶20
我們的主既沒有衝動的本性，也不是冷血無情，他有一種鎮定的力量永遠不會陷入恐慌。我們大多數人是按著自己性情的方式來過基督徒的生活，而不是按著神的方式。衝動是天然生命的特性，但我們的主卻總是不顧它，因為衝動會阻礙門徒生命的成長。留意神的靈如何阻止我們的衝動，他的阻止帶來一種自覺愚蠢倉促，使我們立刻想要為自己辯護。對於一個孩子，衝動還可以接受，但對於一個大人，衝動就是災難性的了。一個衝動的人常是一個耍小孩子脾氣的人。衝動必須要藉著管教訓練成為直覺。
作門徒完全建造在神超自然的恩典上。行走在水面對於憑著一股衝動的勇氣是容易的，但行走在乾地上作耶穌基督的門徒卻是一件不同的事情。彼得在水面上向耶穌走去，但在地上卻遠遠地跟著他。我們不需要神的恩典去面對危機，人的本性和驕傲已經足夠了。我們可以高貴地面對壓力，但每天二十四小時活出聖徒的生活，像一個門徒一樣經受勞苦，過一個平凡、沒人留意、被人忽視的生活，就一定需要神超自然的恩典。我們的天性想要為神做一件特別的事，但不需要這樣。我們應當在平凡事上成為不平凡，在簡陋的街道中,在卑劣的人群中成為聖潔，這不是五分鐘學得會的功課。
There was nothing of the nature of impulsive or thoughtless action about our Lord, but only a calm strength that never got into a panic. Most of us develop our Christianity along the lines of our own nature, not along the lines of God’s nature. Impulsiveness is a trait of the natural life, and our Lord always ignores it, because it hinders the development of the life of a disciple. Watch how the Spirit of God gives a sense of restraint to impulsiveness, suddenly bringing us a feeling of self-conscious foolishness, which makes us instantly want to vindicate ourselves. Impulsiveness is all right in a child, but is disastrous in a man or woman—an impulsive adult is always a spoiled person. Impulsiveness needs to be trained into intuition through discipline.
Discipleship is built entirely on the supernatural grace of God. Walking on water is easy to someone with impulsive boldness, but walking on dry land as a disciple of Jesus Christ is something altogether different. Peter walked on the water to go to Jesus, but he “followed Him at a distance” on dry land (Mark 14:54). We do not need the grace of God to withstand crises—human nature and pride are sufficient for us to face the stress and strain magnificently. But it does require the supernatural grace of God to live twenty-four hours of every day as a saint, going through drudgery, and living an ordinary, unnoticed, and ignored existence as a disciple of Jesus. It is ingrained in us that we have to do exceptional things for God—but we do not. We have to be exceptional in the ordinary things of life, and holy on the ordinary streets, among ordinary people—and this is not learned in five minutes.
被沖動引導
"你們卻要在至聖的真道上造就自己" 猶20
我們的主既沒有衝動的本性，也不是冷血無情，他有一種鎮定的力量永遠不會陷入恐慌。我們大多數人是按著自己性情的方式來過基督徒的生活，而不是按著神的方式。衝動是天然生命的特性，但我們的主卻總是不顧它，因為衝動會阻礙門徒生命的成長。留意神的靈如何阻止我們的衝動，他的阻止帶來一種自覺愚蠢倉促，使我們立刻想要為自己辯護。對於一個孩子，衝動還可以接受，但對於一個大人，衝動就是災難性的了。一個衝動的人常是一個耍小孩子脾氣的人。衝動必須要藉著管教訓練成為直覺。
作門徒完全建造在神超自然的恩典上。行走在水面對於憑著一股衝動的勇氣是容易的，但行走在乾地上作耶穌基督的門徒卻是一件不同的事情。彼得在水面上向耶穌走去，但在地上卻遠遠地跟著他。我們不需要神的恩典去面對危機，人的本性和驕傲已經足夠了。我們可以高貴地面對壓力，但每天二十四小時活出聖徒的生活，像一個門徒一樣經受勞苦，過一個平凡、沒人留意、被人忽視的生活，就一定需要神超自然的恩典。我們的天性想要為神做一件特別的事，但不需要這樣。我們應當在平凡事上成為不平凡，在簡陋的街道中,在卑劣的人群中成為聖潔，這不是五分鐘學得會的功課。
September 22, 2014
The Missionary’s Master and Teacher
You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am . . . . I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master . . .—John 13:13, 16
To have a master and teacher is not the same thing as being mastered and taught. Having a master and teacher means that there is someone who knows me better than I know myself, who is closer than a friend, and who understands the remotest depths of my heart and is able to satisfy them fully. It means having someone who has made me secure in the knowledge that he has met and solved all the doubts, uncertainties, and problems in my mind. To have a master and teacher is this and nothing less— “. . . for One is your Teacher, the Christ . . .” (Matthew 23:8).
Our Lord never takes measures to make me do what He wants. Sometimes I wish God would master and control me to make me do what He wants, but He will not. And at other times I wish He would leave me alone, and He does not.
“You call Me Teacher and Lord . . .”— but is He? Teacher, Master, and Lord have little place in our vocabulary. We prefer the words Savior, Sanctifier, and Healer. The only word that truly describes the experience of being mastered is love, and we know little about love as God reveals it in His Word. The way we use the word obey is proof of this. In the Bible, obedience is based on a relationship between equals; for example, that of a son with his father. Our Lord was not simply God’s servant— He was His Son. “. . . though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience. . .” (Hebrews 5:8). If we are consciously aware that we are being mastered, that idea itself is proof that we have no master. If that is our attitude toward Jesus, we are far away from having the relationship He wants with us. He wants us in a relationship where He is so easily our Master and Teacher that we have no conscious awareness of it—a relationship where all we know is that we are His to obey.
傳道者的主人
你們稱呼我夫子，稱呼我主，你們說的不錯，我本來是。 （約十三13）
有一位主人與被人驅使，是兩回事。有一位主人，就是有一位元比我更認識我的人；他比朋友更親密；他深入我內心的深處，叫我滿足；他解決我心思裡一切的困惑與疑難，叫我安穩。這就是主人的意思，不折不扣－－只有一位是我們的主人，就是基督。
主從不勉強人順服，也不會設計使我們做他要我做的。有時我寧願神管制我，迫我做某些事，可是他不會這樣；有時我又希望他不要管我，但他也不會這樣。 [你們稱呼我夫子，稱呼我主]－－他果真是麼？夫子和主，在我們的字彙中很少出現；我們喜歡用救主、使人成聖者、醫治者等字眼。唯一可以描寫有一位主人這經歷的字眼，就是愛，而我們對神所啟示的愛，認識又那麼少。這在我們對[順服]一詞的運用上，就可以看出來。在聖經中，順服是根據平等關係而言，就是兒子與父親的關係。我們的主並不是神的僕人，他是神的兒子。 [他雖然為兒子，還是……學了順服。 ]若我們以為是被轄管，這就是我們並未有主人的明證；這種對耶穌的態度，與他所想望的關係相距實在太遠。他要我們與他的關係，應該是自然地以他為主人，只知道我們屬他，聽他的話。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我懷著靈性上極之枯乾和貧乏的感覺，來到你面前；噢，主啊，為著你的名，求你激發我。我不會在你面前悲嘆，卻會被你的靈所充滿。
To have a master and teacher is not the same thing as being mastered and taught. Having a master and teacher means that there is someone who knows me better than I know myself, who is closer than a friend, and who understands the remotest depths of my heart and is able to satisfy them fully. It means having someone who has made me secure in the knowledge that he has met and solved all the doubts, uncertainties, and problems in my mind. To have a master and teacher is this and nothing less— “. . . for One is your Teacher, the Christ . . .” (Matthew 23:8).
Our Lord never takes measures to make me do what He wants. Sometimes I wish God would master and control me to make me do what He wants, but He will not. And at other times I wish He would leave me alone, and He does not.
“You call Me Teacher and Lord . . .”— but is He? Teacher, Master, and Lord have little place in our vocabulary. We prefer the words Savior, Sanctifier, and Healer. The only word that truly describes the experience of being mastered is love, and we know little about love as God reveals it in His Word. The way we use the word obey is proof of this. In the Bible, obedience is based on a relationship between equals; for example, that of a son with his father. Our Lord was not simply God’s servant— He was His Son. “. . . though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience. . .” (Hebrews 5:8). If we are consciously aware that we are being mastered, that idea itself is proof that we have no master. If that is our attitude toward Jesus, we are far away from having the relationship He wants with us. He wants us in a relationship where He is so easily our Master and Teacher that we have no conscious awareness of it—a relationship where all we know is that we are His to obey.
傳道者的主人
你們稱呼我夫子，稱呼我主，你們說的不錯，我本來是。 （約十三13）
有一位主人與被人驅使，是兩回事。有一位主人，就是有一位元比我更認識我的人；他比朋友更親密；他深入我內心的深處，叫我滿足；他解決我心思裡一切的困惑與疑難，叫我安穩。這就是主人的意思，不折不扣－－只有一位是我們的主人，就是基督。
主從不勉強人順服，也不會設計使我們做他要我做的。有時我寧願神管制我，迫我做某些事，可是他不會這樣；有時我又希望他不要管我，但他也不會這樣。 [你們稱呼我夫子，稱呼我主]－－他果真是麼？夫子和主，在我們的字彙中很少出現；我們喜歡用救主、使人成聖者、醫治者等字眼。唯一可以描寫有一位主人這經歷的字眼，就是愛，而我們對神所啟示的愛，認識又那麼少。這在我們對[順服]一詞的運用上，就可以看出來。在聖經中，順服是根據平等關係而言，就是兒子與父親的關係。我們的主並不是神的僕人，他是神的兒子。 [他雖然為兒子，還是……學了順服。 ]若我們以為是被轄管，這就是我們並未有主人的明證；這種對耶穌的態度，與他所想望的關係相距實在太遠。他要我們與他的關係，應該是自然地以他為主人，只知道我們屬他，聽他的話。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我懷著靈性上極之枯乾和貧乏的感覺，來到你面前；噢，主啊，為著你的名，求你激發我。我不會在你面前悲嘆，卻會被你的靈所充滿。
September 06, 2014
The Far-Reaching Rivers of Life
He who believes in Me . . . out of his heart will flow rivers of living water —John 7:38
A river reaches places which its source never knows. And Jesus said that, if we have received His fullness, “rivers of living water” will flow out of us, reaching in blessing even “to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8) regardless of how small the visible effects of our lives may appear to be. We have nothing to do with the outflow— “This is the work of God, that you believe. . .” (John 6:29). God rarely allows a person to see how great a blessing he is to others.
A river is victoriously persistent, overcoming all barriers. For a while it goes steadily on its course, but then comes to an obstacle. And for a while it is blocked, yet it soon makes a pathway around the obstacle. Or a river will drop out of sight for miles, only later to emerge again even broader and greater than ever. Do you see God using the lives of others, but an obstacle has come into your life and you do not seem to be of any use to God? Then keep paying attention to the Source, and God will either take you around the obstacle or remove it. The river of the Spirit of God overcomes all obstacles. Never focus your eyes on the obstacle or the difficulty. The obstacle will be a matter of total indifference to the river that will flow steadily through you if you will simply remember to stay focused on the Source. Never allow anything to come between you and Jesus Christ— not emotion nor experience— nothing must keep you from the one great sovereign Source.
Think of the healing and far-reaching rivers developing and nourishing themselves in our souls! God has been opening up wonderful truths to our minds, and every point He has opened up is another indication of the wider power of the river that He will flow through us. If you believe in Jesus, you will find that God has developed and nourished in you mighty, rushing rivers of blessing for others.
生命的擴散力
活水……江河。 （約七38）
河流所到之處，是源頭無法可知的。耶穌說我們若領受了他的豐盛，不管我們的生命多微小，也能像活水江河，造福地極。這湧流不是我們的功勞－－[信……這就是神的工作……]。神很少讓一個人知道自己給別人帶來多大的祝福。河流是百折不撓的，能克服一切障礙。它順流而下，遇到障礙物，停滯一下，不一會又會繞過它繼續湧流。有時河流好像突然消失好幾里，但一下子又再复現，變得又大又寬闊。你看見神在使用很多人的生命，但你的生命卻出現了障礙物，你覺得自己毫無用處。這時要注目源頭，神會帶你繞道而行，或是把障礙挪開。不要注目在難處上，只要對準源頭，難處對於從你裡面流出的江河，是毫無辦法的。不要讓任何事物，包括感情與經歷，介入你與主耶穌之間；不要讓任何事物，使你與那最高的總源頭隔開。
想想你裡頭孕育著何等光遠而又具醫治力的河流！神向我們敞開他奇妙的真理，每一個敞開處，都表示他要把江河更大的能力透過我們湧流，你若相信主耶穌，就必發現神正在你裡面培育強而有力的水流，要成為別人的祝福。
祈禱◆[你不要怕他們，因那為你爭戰的是耶和華－－你的神。 ]主啊，今早當我讀經，這句話一直浮現在我腦海中。我何等完全地仰賴你！
A river reaches places which its source never knows. And Jesus said that, if we have received His fullness, “rivers of living water” will flow out of us, reaching in blessing even “to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8) regardless of how small the visible effects of our lives may appear to be. We have nothing to do with the outflow— “This is the work of God, that you believe. . .” (John 6:29). God rarely allows a person to see how great a blessing he is to others.
A river is victoriously persistent, overcoming all barriers. For a while it goes steadily on its course, but then comes to an obstacle. And for a while it is blocked, yet it soon makes a pathway around the obstacle. Or a river will drop out of sight for miles, only later to emerge again even broader and greater than ever. Do you see God using the lives of others, but an obstacle has come into your life and you do not seem to be of any use to God? Then keep paying attention to the Source, and God will either take you around the obstacle or remove it. The river of the Spirit of God overcomes all obstacles. Never focus your eyes on the obstacle or the difficulty. The obstacle will be a matter of total indifference to the river that will flow steadily through you if you will simply remember to stay focused on the Source. Never allow anything to come between you and Jesus Christ— not emotion nor experience— nothing must keep you from the one great sovereign Source.
Think of the healing and far-reaching rivers developing and nourishing themselves in our souls! God has been opening up wonderful truths to our minds, and every point He has opened up is another indication of the wider power of the river that He will flow through us. If you believe in Jesus, you will find that God has developed and nourished in you mighty, rushing rivers of blessing for others.
生命的擴散力
活水……江河。 （約七38）
河流所到之處，是源頭無法可知的。耶穌說我們若領受了他的豐盛，不管我們的生命多微小，也能像活水江河，造福地極。這湧流不是我們的功勞－－[信……這就是神的工作……]。神很少讓一個人知道自己給別人帶來多大的祝福。河流是百折不撓的，能克服一切障礙。它順流而下，遇到障礙物，停滯一下，不一會又會繞過它繼續湧流。有時河流好像突然消失好幾里，但一下子又再复現，變得又大又寬闊。你看見神在使用很多人的生命，但你的生命卻出現了障礙物，你覺得自己毫無用處。這時要注目源頭，神會帶你繞道而行，或是把障礙挪開。不要注目在難處上，只要對準源頭，難處對於從你裡面流出的江河，是毫無辦法的。不要讓任何事物，包括感情與經歷，介入你與主耶穌之間；不要讓任何事物，使你與那最高的總源頭隔開。
想想你裡頭孕育著何等光遠而又具醫治力的河流！神向我們敞開他奇妙的真理，每一個敞開處，都表示他要把江河更大的能力透過我們湧流，你若相信主耶穌，就必發現神正在你裡面培育強而有力的水流，要成為別人的祝福。
祈禱◆[你不要怕他們，因那為你爭戰的是耶和華－－你的神。 ]主啊，今早當我讀經，這句話一直浮現在我腦海中。我何等完全地仰賴你！
August 14, 2014
The Discipline of the Lord
My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him —Hebrews 12:5
It is very easy to grieve the Spirit of God; we do it by despising the discipline of the Lord, or by becoming discouraged when He rebukes us. If our experience of being set apart from sin and being made holy through the process of sanctification is still very shallow, we tend to mistake the reality of God for something else. And when the Spirit of God gives us a sense of warning or restraint, we are apt to say mistakenly, “Oh, that must be from the devil.”
“Do not quench the Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:19), and do not despise Him when He says to you, in effect, “Don’t be blind on this point anymore— you are not as far along spiritually as you thought you were. Until now I have not been able to reveal this to you, but I’m revealing it to you right now.” When the Lord disciplines you like that, let Him have His way with you. Allow Him to put you into a right-standing relationship before God.
“. . . nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him.” We begin to pout, become irritated with God, and then say, “Oh well, I can’t help it. I prayed and things didn’t turn out right anyway. So I’m simply going to give up on everything.” Just think what would happen if we acted like this in any other area of our lives!
Am I fully prepared to allow God to grip me by His power and do a work in me that is truly worthy of Himself? Sanctification is not my idea of what I want God to do for me— sanctification is God’s idea of what He wants to do for me. But He has to get me into the state of mind and spirit where I will allow Him to sanctify me completely, whatever the cost (see 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).
管教
你不可輕看主的管教，北他責備的時候，也不可灰心。 （來十二5）
消滅聖靈的感動是很容易的，只要我們輕看主的管教，在他責備的時候灰心，那便成了。我們對聖靈的認識若是膚淺，就會把影子當作實體，聖靈一攔阻，我們就會說：[嗯，那一定是魔鬼。 ]
聖靈說：[不要再在這事上盲目了；你不知道自己所處的光景。我一直未能向你顯示，但現在我要向你啟示。 ]這時候，你不可消滅聖靈的感動，也不可輕看他。當主這樣管教你，就讓他去做吧，讓他恢復你與神的正常關係。 [被他責備的時候，也不可灰心。 ]我們往往生神的氣說：[唉，我也沒有辦法；我曾禱告，但事情並不如理想，我要全部放棄了。 ]試想若在生活其他事情上也這樣說，會帶來怎樣的後果！
我是否願意讓神用大能抓緊我，以致他在我身上作他的工作？成聖不是要神為我作什麼，乃是神要在我身上作什麼。他必要使我心誌上有正確的態度，以致不惜任何代價，我也願意全然成聖。
祈禱◆願你使我對你的感覺、辨認和專注更加敏銳，以致我最關注的，是與你的關係。
It is very easy to grieve the Spirit of God; we do it by despising the discipline of the Lord, or by becoming discouraged when He rebukes us. If our experience of being set apart from sin and being made holy through the process of sanctification is still very shallow, we tend to mistake the reality of God for something else. And when the Spirit of God gives us a sense of warning or restraint, we are apt to say mistakenly, “Oh, that must be from the devil.”
“Do not quench the Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:19), and do not despise Him when He says to you, in effect, “Don’t be blind on this point anymore— you are not as far along spiritually as you thought you were. Until now I have not been able to reveal this to you, but I’m revealing it to you right now.” When the Lord disciplines you like that, let Him have His way with you. Allow Him to put you into a right-standing relationship before God.
“. . . nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him.” We begin to pout, become irritated with God, and then say, “Oh well, I can’t help it. I prayed and things didn’t turn out right anyway. So I’m simply going to give up on everything.” Just think what would happen if we acted like this in any other area of our lives!
Am I fully prepared to allow God to grip me by His power and do a work in me that is truly worthy of Himself? Sanctification is not my idea of what I want God to do for me— sanctification is God’s idea of what He wants to do for me. But He has to get me into the state of mind and spirit where I will allow Him to sanctify me completely, whatever the cost (see 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).
管教
你不可輕看主的管教，北他責備的時候，也不可灰心。 （來十二5）
消滅聖靈的感動是很容易的，只要我們輕看主的管教，在他責備的時候灰心，那便成了。我們對聖靈的認識若是膚淺，就會把影子當作實體，聖靈一攔阻，我們就會說：[嗯，那一定是魔鬼。 ]
聖靈說：[不要再在這事上盲目了；你不知道自己所處的光景。我一直未能向你顯示，但現在我要向你啟示。 ]這時候，你不可消滅聖靈的感動，也不可輕看他。當主這樣管教你，就讓他去做吧，讓他恢復你與神的正常關係。 [被他責備的時候，也不可灰心。 ]我們往往生神的氣說：[唉，我也沒有辦法；我曾禱告，但事情並不如理想，我要全部放棄了。 ]試想若在生活其他事情上也這樣說，會帶來怎樣的後果！
我是否願意讓神用大能抓緊我，以致他在我身上作他的工作？成聖不是要神為我作什麼，乃是神要在我身上作什麼。他必要使我心誌上有正確的態度，以致不惜任何代價，我也願意全然成聖。
祈禱◆願你使我對你的感覺、辨認和專注更加敏銳，以致我最關注的，是與你的關係。
August 01, 2014
Learning About His Ways
When Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples . . . He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities —Matthew 11:1
He comes where He commands us to leave. If you stayed home when God told you to go because you were so concerned about your own people there, then you actually robbed them of the teaching of Jesus Christ Himself. When you obeyed and left all the consequences to God, the Lord went into your city to teach, but as long as you were disobedient, you blocked His way. Watch where you begin to debate with Him and put what you call your duty into competition with His commands. If you say, “I know that He told me to go, but my duty is here,” it simply means that you do not believe that Jesus means what He says.
He teaches where He instructs us not to teach. “Master . . . let us make three tabernacles . . .” (Luke 9:33).
Are we playing the part of an amateur providence, trying to play God’s role in the lives of others? Are we so noisy in our instruction of other people that God cannot get near them? We must learn to keep our mouths shut and our spirits alert. God wants to instruct us regarding His Son, and He wants to turn our times of prayer into mounts of transfiguration. When we become certain that God is going to work in a particular way, He will never work in that way again.
He works where He sends us to wait. “. . . tarry . . . until . . .” (Luke 24:49). “Wait on the Lord” and He will work (Psalm 37:34). But don’t wait sulking spiritually and feeling sorry for yourself, just because you can’t see one inch in front of you! Are we detached enough from our own spiritual fits of emotion to “wait patiently for Him”? (Psalm 37:7). Waiting is not sitting with folded hands doing nothing, but it is learning to do what we are told.
These are some of the facets of His ways that we rarely recognize.
更認識他的作為
耶穌吩咐完了十二個門徒，就離開那裡，往各城去傳道教訓人。 （太十一1）
若神叫你[去]，你卻因為過於牽掛本地的人而留下來；那末，你反剝奪了他們領受主耶穌教訓的機會。你若順服，把一切後果交給神，他就到你的城裡去教訓人。你一天不順服，就成了阻礙。當心辯論一開始，你所謂的責任，就與主的命令相抗衡。 [我知道神叫我去，但他們——我的責任卻在此。 ]這樣說，就表示你不把主的話當真。他吩咐我們不要去教導的地方，他自己會去。
[夫子……我們搭三座棚。 ]我們是否在別人身上，充當了業餘的神明？我們教導別人的聲音，是否使神根本無法就近他人？要閉嘴，保持心靈的敏銳。神要把他兒子的事教訓我們，要把我們禱告的時間變成登山變像的經歷。可是，我們卻不讓他這樣做。我們自以為知道神一定用某種方法行事時，他就不再用那種方法。他吩咐我們在那裡等候，他就在那裡作工。
[等候，直到……]等候神，他就必作工。可是等候的時候，不要因為看不到出路而鬱鬱不樂。我們能否離開自己那份屬靈的激情去等候神？等候不是抱著手呆著，乃是學習按神的吩咐而行。神在這幾方面的作為，我們甚少人認識。
祈禱◆主啊，在這個早上，我的處境對我的意識構成極大的壓力。讓我的思想、情感，我的整個本性，去思想你為我所命定的是甚麼；由此，我便可以知道我所做的並沒有錯。
He comes where He commands us to leave. If you stayed home when God told you to go because you were so concerned about your own people there, then you actually robbed them of the teaching of Jesus Christ Himself. When you obeyed and left all the consequences to God, the Lord went into your city to teach, but as long as you were disobedient, you blocked His way. Watch where you begin to debate with Him and put what you call your duty into competition with His commands. If you say, “I know that He told me to go, but my duty is here,” it simply means that you do not believe that Jesus means what He says.
He teaches where He instructs us not to teach. “Master . . . let us make three tabernacles . . .” (Luke 9:33).
Are we playing the part of an amateur providence, trying to play God’s role in the lives of others? Are we so noisy in our instruction of other people that God cannot get near them? We must learn to keep our mouths shut and our spirits alert. God wants to instruct us regarding His Son, and He wants to turn our times of prayer into mounts of transfiguration. When we become certain that God is going to work in a particular way, He will never work in that way again.
He works where He sends us to wait. “. . . tarry . . . until . . .” (Luke 24:49). “Wait on the Lord” and He will work (Psalm 37:34). But don’t wait sulking spiritually and feeling sorry for yourself, just because you can’t see one inch in front of you! Are we detached enough from our own spiritual fits of emotion to “wait patiently for Him”? (Psalm 37:7). Waiting is not sitting with folded hands doing nothing, but it is learning to do what we are told.
These are some of the facets of His ways that we rarely recognize.
更認識他的作為
耶穌吩咐完了十二個門徒，就離開那裡，往各城去傳道教訓人。 （太十一1）
若神叫你[去]，你卻因為過於牽掛本地的人而留下來；那末，你反剝奪了他們領受主耶穌教訓的機會。你若順服，把一切後果交給神，他就到你的城裡去教訓人。你一天不順服，就成了阻礙。當心辯論一開始，你所謂的責任，就與主的命令相抗衡。 [我知道神叫我去，但他們——我的責任卻在此。 ]這樣說，就表示你不把主的話當真。他吩咐我們不要去教導的地方，他自己會去。
[夫子……我們搭三座棚。 ]我們是否在別人身上，充當了業餘的神明？我們教導別人的聲音，是否使神根本無法就近他人？要閉嘴，保持心靈的敏銳。神要把他兒子的事教訓我們，要把我們禱告的時間變成登山變像的經歷。可是，我們卻不讓他這樣做。我們自以為知道神一定用某種方法行事時，他就不再用那種方法。他吩咐我們在那裡等候，他就在那裡作工。
[等候，直到……]等候神，他就必作工。可是等候的時候，不要因為看不到出路而鬱鬱不樂。我們能否離開自己那份屬靈的激情去等候神？等候不是抱著手呆著，乃是學習按神的吩咐而行。神在這幾方面的作為，我們甚少人認識。
祈禱◆主啊，在這個早上，我的處境對我的意識構成極大的壓力。讓我的思想、情感，我的整個本性，去思想你為我所命定的是甚麼；由此，我便可以知道我所做的並沒有錯。
March 19, 2014
Abraham’s Life of Faith
He went out, not knowing where he was going —Hebrews 11:8
In the Old Testament, a person’s relationship with God was seen by the degree of separation in that person’s life. This separation is exhibited in the life of Abraham by his separation from his country and his family. When we think of separation today, we do not mean to be literally separated from those family members who do not have a personal relationship with God, but to be separated mentally and morally from their viewpoints. This is what Jesus Christ was referring to in Luke 14:26.
Living a life of faith means never knowing where you are being led. But it does mean loving and knowing the One who is leading. It is literally a life of faith, not of understanding and reason—a life of knowing Him who calls us to go. Faith is rooted in the knowledge of a Person, and one of the biggest traps we fall into is the belief that if we have faith, God will surely lead us to success in the world.
The final stage in the life of faith is the attainment of character, and we encounter many changes in the process. We feel the presence of God around us when we pray, yet we are only momentarily changed. We tend to keep going back to our everyday ways and the glory vanishes. A life of faith is not a life of one glorious mountaintop experience after another, like soaring on eagles’ wings, but is a life of day—in and day—out consistency; a life of walking without fainting (see Isaiah 40:31). It is not even a question of the holiness of sanctification, but of something which comes much farther down the road. It is a faith that has been tried and proved and has withstood the test. Abraham is not a type or an example of the holiness of sanctification, but a type of the life of faith—a faith, tested and true, built on the true God. “Abraham believed God. . .” (Romans 4:3).
亞伯拉罕信心之道
出去的時候，還不知往那裡去。 （來十一8）
在舊約時代，個人與神的關係，是在[分離]上顯出來。這可從亞伯拉罕離開本地本族本家的生平中看出來。在今日，這[分離]卻側重在心思道德方面的意義。我們所親愛的人若與神沒有個人關係，我們對事物的看法就與他們不同了。耶穌基督也強調這一點（路十四26）。
信心是從來不知道要往哪裡去，卻知道且深愛領路的那一位。我們的生活是信心的生活，不是理智理性的生活，因為知道誰叫我們[去]。信心的根源是出於對神的認識。但有一個最大的陷阱，是我們以為神一定領我們成功順利。
信心生活的最終階段，是性格的完成。人個性的改變，有不少是短暫的。我們禱告時，感到神的祝福包圍著我們，那時確有了改變。過後回到日常生活中，又依然故我，而那榮光也就消失了。信心的生活不是展翅上騰的生活，乃是腳踏實地的行走而不頹廢。這不是成聖的問題；是比成聖更進一步，是經過考驗而證實及格的。亞伯拉罕不是成聖的模式，乃是信心生活的模範。他的信心是經過誓言，是建立在真神上。 [亞伯拉罕信神]
祈禱◆噢，主啊，願今天因著你的同在和祝福，而充滿榮耀。願我們看見你使你所站的地方成為榮耀之處。
In the Old Testament, a person’s relationship with God was seen by the degree of separation in that person’s life. This separation is exhibited in the life of Abraham by his separation from his country and his family. When we think of separation today, we do not mean to be literally separated from those family members who do not have a personal relationship with God, but to be separated mentally and morally from their viewpoints. This is what Jesus Christ was referring to in Luke 14:26.
Living a life of faith means never knowing where you are being led. But it does mean loving and knowing the One who is leading. It is literally a life of faith, not of understanding and reason—a life of knowing Him who calls us to go. Faith is rooted in the knowledge of a Person, and one of the biggest traps we fall into is the belief that if we have faith, God will surely lead us to success in the world.
The final stage in the life of faith is the attainment of character, and we encounter many changes in the process. We feel the presence of God around us when we pray, yet we are only momentarily changed. We tend to keep going back to our everyday ways and the glory vanishes. A life of faith is not a life of one glorious mountaintop experience after another, like soaring on eagles’ wings, but is a life of day—in and day—out consistency; a life of walking without fainting (see Isaiah 40:31). It is not even a question of the holiness of sanctification, but of something which comes much farther down the road. It is a faith that has been tried and proved and has withstood the test. Abraham is not a type or an example of the holiness of sanctification, but a type of the life of faith—a faith, tested and true, built on the true God. “Abraham believed God. . .” (Romans 4:3).
亞伯拉罕信心之道
出去的時候，還不知往那裡去。 （來十一8）
在舊約時代，個人與神的關係，是在[分離]上顯出來。這可從亞伯拉罕離開本地本族本家的生平中看出來。在今日，這[分離]卻側重在心思道德方面的意義。我們所親愛的人若與神沒有個人關係，我們對事物的看法就與他們不同了。耶穌基督也強調這一點（路十四26）。
信心是從來不知道要往哪裡去，卻知道且深愛領路的那一位。我們的生活是信心的生活，不是理智理性的生活，因為知道誰叫我們[去]。信心的根源是出於對神的認識。但有一個最大的陷阱，是我們以為神一定領我們成功順利。
信心生活的最終階段，是性格的完成。人個性的改變，有不少是短暫的。我們禱告時，感到神的祝福包圍著我們，那時確有了改變。過後回到日常生活中，又依然故我，而那榮光也就消失了。信心的生活不是展翅上騰的生活，乃是腳踏實地的行走而不頹廢。這不是成聖的問題；是比成聖更進一步，是經過考驗而證實及格的。亞伯拉罕不是成聖的模式，乃是信心生活的模範。他的信心是經過誓言，是建立在真神上。 [亞伯拉罕信神]
祈禱◆噢，主啊，願今天因著你的同在和祝福，而充滿榮耀。願我們看見你使你所站的地方成為榮耀之處。
January 14, 2014
Called By God
I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ’Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ’Here am I! Send me’ —Isaiah 6:8
God did not direct His call to Isaiah— Isaiah overheard God saying, “. . . who will go for Us?” The call of God is not just for a select few but for everyone. Whether I hear God’s call or not depends on the condition of my ears, and exactly what I hear depends upon my spiritual attitude. “Many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14). That is, few prove that they are the chosen ones. The chosen ones are those who have come into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ and have had their spiritual condition changed and their ears opened. Then they hear “the voice of the Lord” continually asking, “. . . who will go for Us?” However, God doesn’t single out someone and say, “Now, you go.” He did not force His will on Isaiah. Isaiah was in the presence of God, and he overheard the call. His response, performed in complete freedom, could only be to say, “Here am I! Send me.”
Remove the thought from your mind of expecting God to come to force you or to plead with you. When our Lord called His disciples, He did it without irresistible pressure from the outside. The quiet, yet passionate, insistence of His “Follow Me” was spoken to men whose every sense was receptive (Matthew 4:19). If we will allow the Holy Spirit to bring us face to face with God, we too will hear what Isaiah heard-”the voice of the Lord.” In perfect freedom we too will say, “Here am I! Send me.”
被神選召
我可以差遣誰呢？誰肯為我們去呢？我說，我在這裡，請差遣我。 （賽六8）
神並沒有直接呼召以賽亞，是以賽亞聽到神在說：[誰肯為我們去呢？ ]神的呼召不是單為特殊幾個人而發，而是對每一個人的。聽不聽見神的呼召，要視乎我耳朵的狀況；而到底聽見什麼，則視乎我的性情了。 [被召的人多，選上的人少。 ]意思是：很少人有被選上的條件。被選上的人，是藉著耶穌基督與神建立關係，以致性情改變了，耳朵開通了，就听見那微小的聲音不住地在問：[誰肯為我們去呢！ ？ ]神不是特別指著一個人說：[聽著，你去吧！ ]神並沒有強逼以賽亞；以賽亞只在神跟前，剛好聽見他的呼召，覺得沒有別的話可以回答，就甘心情願地說：[我在這裡，請差遣我。 ]
別以為神會催逼你，懇求你！ （把這意念出去吧。）當日主呼召門徒，也沒有從外面施予無法抗拒的壓力。他只是平靜而熱切地要求[跟從我]，是對那些理智清醒能以自主的人發出的。我們若讓聖靈帶我們與神面對面，也會聽見類似以賽亞所聽見的——神微小的聲音；也會自然而然地回答說：[我在這裡，請差遣我。 ]
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我的靈在你面前敬拜，因著你賜給我的浩大恩典，我的眼睛能夠看見、我的耳朵能故聽聞、我的心靈能故明白，在一切境況的背後，皆有你的腳踪。
God did not direct His call to Isaiah— Isaiah overheard God saying, “. . . who will go for Us?” The call of God is not just for a select few but for everyone. Whether I hear God’s call or not depends on the condition of my ears, and exactly what I hear depends upon my spiritual attitude. “Many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14). That is, few prove that they are the chosen ones. The chosen ones are those who have come into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ and have had their spiritual condition changed and their ears opened. Then they hear “the voice of the Lord” continually asking, “. . . who will go for Us?” However, God doesn’t single out someone and say, “Now, you go.” He did not force His will on Isaiah. Isaiah was in the presence of God, and he overheard the call. His response, performed in complete freedom, could only be to say, “Here am I! Send me.”
Remove the thought from your mind of expecting God to come to force you or to plead with you. When our Lord called His disciples, He did it without irresistible pressure from the outside. The quiet, yet passionate, insistence of His “Follow Me” was spoken to men whose every sense was receptive (Matthew 4:19). If we will allow the Holy Spirit to bring us face to face with God, we too will hear what Isaiah heard-”the voice of the Lord.” In perfect freedom we too will say, “Here am I! Send me.”
被神選召
我可以差遣誰呢？誰肯為我們去呢？我說，我在這裡，請差遣我。 （賽六8）
神並沒有直接呼召以賽亞，是以賽亞聽到神在說：[誰肯為我們去呢？ ]神的呼召不是單為特殊幾個人而發，而是對每一個人的。聽不聽見神的呼召，要視乎我耳朵的狀況；而到底聽見什麼，則視乎我的性情了。 [被召的人多，選上的人少。 ]意思是：很少人有被選上的條件。被選上的人，是藉著耶穌基督與神建立關係，以致性情改變了，耳朵開通了，就听見那微小的聲音不住地在問：[誰肯為我們去呢！ ？ ]神不是特別指著一個人說：[聽著，你去吧！ ]神並沒有強逼以賽亞；以賽亞只在神跟前，剛好聽見他的呼召，覺得沒有別的話可以回答，就甘心情願地說：[我在這裡，請差遣我。 ]
別以為神會催逼你，懇求你！ （把這意念出去吧。）當日主呼召門徒，也沒有從外面施予無法抗拒的壓力。他只是平靜而熱切地要求[跟從我]，是對那些理智清醒能以自主的人發出的。我們若讓聖靈帶我們與神面對面，也會聽見類似以賽亞所聽見的——神微小的聲音；也會自然而然地回答說：[我在這裡，請差遣我。 ]
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我的靈在你面前敬拜，因著你賜給我的浩大恩典，我的眼睛能夠看見、我的耳朵能故聽聞、我的心靈能故明白，在一切境況的背後，皆有你的腳踪。
January 05, 2014
The Life of Power to Follow
Jesus answered him, ’Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward’ —John 13:36
“And when He had spoken this, He said to him, ’Follow Me’ ” (John 21:19). Three years earlier Jesus had said, “Follow Me” (Matthew 4:19), and Peter followed with no hesitation. The irresistible attraction of Jesus was upon him and he did not need the Holy Spirit to help him do it. Later he came to the place where he denied Jesus, and his heart broke. Then he received the Holy Spirit and Jesus said again, “Follow Me” (John 21:19). Now no one is in front of Peter except the Lord Jesus Christ. The first “Follow Me” was nothing mysterious; it was an external following. Jesus is now asking for an internal sacrifice and yielding (see John 21:18).
Between these two times Peter denied Jesus with oaths and curses (see Matthew 26:69-75). But then he came completely to the end of himself and all of his self-sufficiency. There was no part of himself he would ever rely on again. In his state of destitution, he was finally ready to receive all that the risen Lord had for him. “. . . He breathed on them, and said to them, ’Receive the Holy Spirit’ ” (John 20:22). No matter what changes God has performed in you, never rely on them. Build only on a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ, and on the Spirit He gives.
All our promises and resolutions end in denial because we have no power to accomplish them. When we come to the end of ourselves, not just mentally but completely, we are able to “receive the Holy Spirit.” “Receive the Holy Spirit”— the idea is that of invasion. There is now only One who directs the course of your life, the Lord Jesus Christ.
“And when He had spoken this, He said to him, ’Follow Me’ ” (John 21:19). Three years earlier Jesus had said, “Follow Me” (Matthew 4:19), and Peter followed with no hesitation. The irresistible attraction of Jesus was upon him and he did not need the Holy Spirit to help him do it. Later he came to the place where he denied Jesus, and his heart broke. Then he received the Holy Spirit and Jesus said again, “Follow Me” (John 21:19). Now no one is in front of Peter except the Lord Jesus Christ. The first “Follow Me” was nothing mysterious; it was an external following. Jesus is now asking for an internal sacrifice and yielding (see John 21:18).
Between these two times Peter denied Jesus with oaths and curses (see Matthew 26:69-75). But then he came completely to the end of himself and all of his self-sufficiency. There was no part of himself he would ever rely on again. In his state of destitution, he was finally ready to receive all that the risen Lord had for him. “. . . He breathed on them, and said to them, ’Receive the Holy Spirit’ ” (John 20:22). No matter what changes God has performed in you, never rely on them. Build only on a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ, and on the Spirit He gives.
All our promises and resolutions end in denial because we have no power to accomplish them. When we come to the end of ourselves, not just mentally but completely, we are able to “receive the Holy Spirit.” “Receive the Holy Spirit”— the idea is that of invasion. There is now only One who directs the course of your life, the Lord Jesus Christ.
後來的生命能力
我所去的地方，你現在不能跟我去，後來卻要跟我去。 （約十三36）
[說了這話，就對他說，你跟從我吧。 ]三年前，耶穌曾說；[來跟從我]，那時彼得很輕易就跟從了他。彼得是被耶穌所吸引而自動跟隨，並不需要聖靈來幫助。然而後來，他卻落到否認耶穌的地步，心碎欲絕。不過，他受了聖靈，耶穌又再一次對他說：[來跟從我。 ]這時除了主耶穌基督以外，再沒有別人了。第一次的[跟從]並沒有什麼可引起驚奇的，那隻是外表上的跟從；如今卻是殉道者的跟從（約二十一18）
在這期間，彼得曾發咒起誓否認耶穌。此時，他已來到自己的盡頭，所有的自滿自恃不足倚仗。就在這絕境中，他符合了接受復活主賜與的條件。 「他向他們吹一口氣說：『你們受聖靈』」因此，無論神在你身上做了什麼改變，都切勿倚仗這些改變，只要建立在主耶穌身上合他所賜的聖靈。
我們縱有誓言與決心，到頭來還是否認主，因為我們沒有能力實行出來。惟有當我們真正來到自己的盡頭，這才能領受聖靈不是幻想出來的。 [你們受聖靈]意思是受聖靈的征服。如今在你生命中只有一顆北斗星（意即引導方向者），就是主耶穌基督。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，以你偉大的能力來堅立我，印著耶穌的救贖，我相信自己又權利這樣祈求。令我的身體盡獻己力，以致你的光輝可以在我身上彰顯。
November 13, 2013
Faith or Experience?
. . . the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me —Galatians 2:20
We should battle through our moods, feelings, and emotions into absolute devotion to the Lord Jesus. We must break out of our own little world of experience into abandoned devotion to Him. Think who the New Testament says Jesus Christ is, and then think of the despicable meagerness of the miserable faith we exhibit by saying, “I haven’t had this experience or that experience”! Think what faith in Jesus Christ claims and provides— He can present us faultless before the throne of God, inexpressibly pure, absolutely righteous, and profoundly justified. Stand in absolute adoring faith “in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God— and righteousness and sanctification and redemption . . .” (1 Corinthians 1:30). How dare we talk of making a sacrifice for the Son of God! We are saved from hell and total destruction, and then we talk about making sacrifices!
We must continually focus and firmly place our faith in Jesus Christ— not a “prayer meeting” Jesus Christ, or a “book” Jesus Christ, but the New Testament Jesus Christ, who is God Incarnate, and who ought to strike us dead at His feet. Our faith must be in the One from whom our salvation springs. Jesus Christ wants our absolute, unrestrained devotion to Himself. We can never experience Jesus Christ, or selfishly bind Him in the confines of our own hearts. Our faith must be built on strong determined confidence in Him.
It is because of our trusting in experience that we see the steadfast impatience of the Holy Spirit against unbelief. All of our fears are sinful, and we create our own fears by refusing to nourish ourselves in our faith. How can anyone who is identified with Jesus Christ suffer from doubt or fear! Our lives should be an absolute hymn of praise resulting from perfect, irrepressible, triumphant belief.
信心與經歷
……神的兒子……他是愛我，為我捨己。 （加二20）
我們要與自己的情緒搏鬥，完全歸向主耶穌；從自我的小圈子中出來，完全降服於他。試想想新約中的耶穌基督是誰，然後想想我們可憐的信心多麽渺小- [我沒有這種經歷，又沒有那種經歷！ ]試想想對主耶穌的資訊該存的指望- 他能把我們無可指摘地帶到神的寶座前，完全無瑕疵，完全改變稱義。我們要心存何等崇敬的信心。他成為我哦們的智慧、我們的義、我們的成聖與救贖。我們憑什麽說為神的兒子有所犧牲！從地獄和沈淪蒙救贖的人，竟膽敢說犧牲！
我們要經常保持對耶穌基督的信心；不是一個祈禱會裡的耶穌；不是一本書中的耶穌，乃是新約中的耶穌，是神成了肉身，把我們治死在他腳前的那一位。信心必須是對准給我們經歷的那一位。主耶穌要求我們毫無保留地歸他。我們實在無法經歷到主耶穌，也無法把他拘禁在我們心裡，可是信心卻對他有堅強不移的靠賴。在這一點上，我們看見聖靈對不信是多麽不耐煩。一切的恐懼都是可惡的，因為恐懼是源於我們不肯培育信心。人若與主合一，怎可能再落在恐懼疑惑裡？應該充滿無法抑制、得勝的信心凱歌。
祈禱◆主啊，願今天在我們眼前，展現你在我們當中那使人振奮和更新的臨在，為此我們只有欣喜，因為我們對永恆如何具體介入時間之中，有了新的盼望。
We should battle through our moods, feelings, and emotions into absolute devotion to the Lord Jesus. We must break out of our own little world of experience into abandoned devotion to Him. Think who the New Testament says Jesus Christ is, and then think of the despicable meagerness of the miserable faith we exhibit by saying, “I haven’t had this experience or that experience”! Think what faith in Jesus Christ claims and provides— He can present us faultless before the throne of God, inexpressibly pure, absolutely righteous, and profoundly justified. Stand in absolute adoring faith “in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God— and righteousness and sanctification and redemption . . .” (1 Corinthians 1:30). How dare we talk of making a sacrifice for the Son of God! We are saved from hell and total destruction, and then we talk about making sacrifices!
We must continually focus and firmly place our faith in Jesus Christ— not a “prayer meeting” Jesus Christ, or a “book” Jesus Christ, but the New Testament Jesus Christ, who is God Incarnate, and who ought to strike us dead at His feet. Our faith must be in the One from whom our salvation springs. Jesus Christ wants our absolute, unrestrained devotion to Himself. We can never experience Jesus Christ, or selfishly bind Him in the confines of our own hearts. Our faith must be built on strong determined confidence in Him.
It is because of our trusting in experience that we see the steadfast impatience of the Holy Spirit against unbelief. All of our fears are sinful, and we create our own fears by refusing to nourish ourselves in our faith. How can anyone who is identified with Jesus Christ suffer from doubt or fear! Our lives should be an absolute hymn of praise resulting from perfect, irrepressible, triumphant belief.
信心與經歷
……神的兒子……他是愛我，為我捨己。 （加二20）
我們要與自己的情緒搏鬥，完全歸向主耶穌；從自我的小圈子中出來，完全降服於他。試想想新約中的耶穌基督是誰，然後想想我們可憐的信心多麽渺小- [我沒有這種經歷，又沒有那種經歷！ ]試想想對主耶穌的資訊該存的指望- 他能把我們無可指摘地帶到神的寶座前，完全無瑕疵，完全改變稱義。我們要心存何等崇敬的信心。他成為我哦們的智慧、我們的義、我們的成聖與救贖。我們憑什麽說為神的兒子有所犧牲！從地獄和沈淪蒙救贖的人，竟膽敢說犧牲！
我們要經常保持對耶穌基督的信心；不是一個祈禱會裡的耶穌；不是一本書中的耶穌，乃是新約中的耶穌，是神成了肉身，把我們治死在他腳前的那一位。信心必須是對准給我們經歷的那一位。主耶穌要求我們毫無保留地歸他。我們實在無法經歷到主耶穌，也無法把他拘禁在我們心裡，可是信心卻對他有堅強不移的靠賴。在這一點上，我們看見聖靈對不信是多麽不耐煩。一切的恐懼都是可惡的，因為恐懼是源於我們不肯培育信心。人若與主合一，怎可能再落在恐懼疑惑裡？應該充滿無法抑制、得勝的信心凱歌。
祈禱◆主啊，願今天在我們眼前，展現你在我們當中那使人振奮和更新的臨在，為此我們只有欣喜，因為我們對永恆如何具體介入時間之中，有了新的盼望。
November 05, 2013
Partakers of His Suffering
. . . but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings . . . —1 Peter 4:13
If you are going to be used by God, He will take you through a number of experiences that are not meant for you personally at all. They are designed to make you useful in His hands, and to enable you to understand what takes place in the lives of others. Because of this process, you will never be surprised by what comes your way. You say, “Oh, I can’t deal with that person.” Why can’t you? God gave you sufficient opportunities to learn from Him about that problem; but you turned away, not heeding the lesson, because it seemed foolish to spend your time that way.
The sufferings of Christ were not those of ordinary people. He suffered “according to the will of God” (1 Peter 4:19), having a different point of view of suffering from ours. It is only through our relationship with Jesus Christ that we can understand what God is after in His dealings with us. When it comes to suffering, it is part of our Christian culture to want to know God’s purpose beforehand. In the history of the Christian church, the tendency has been to avoid being identified with the sufferings of Jesus Christ. People have sought to carry out God’s orders through a shortcut of their own. God’s way is always the way of suffering— the way of the “long road home.”
Are we partakers of Christ’s sufferings? Are we prepared for God to stamp out our personal ambitions? Are we prepared for God to destroy our individual decisions by supernaturally transforming them? It will mean not knowing why God is taking us that way, because knowing would make us spiritually proud. We never realize at the time what God is putting us through— we go through it more or less without understanding. Then suddenly we come to a place of enlightenment, and realize— “God has strengthened me and I didn’t even know it!”
與基督一同受苦
倒要歡喜，因為你們是與基督一同受苦。 （彼前四13）
如果你要蒙神使用，你便要經歷許多事；不是為你本身而遭遇，乃是要把你造成神手中合用的器皿，使你明白別人心裡的景況，以致不會因所遇見的感到詫異。 [唉，我不能應付那個人。 ]為什麽不能？神讓你有足夠的機會在他面前學習這功課，只是你故意避開，認為這樣花時間太愚蠢了。
基督受的苦不是普通人的苦，他乃是按神的旨意受苦，不是照人的看法受苦。只有當我們與基督連合，才會明白神的用意。基督教化的一部分，就是要明白神的目的。在教會歷史中，可以見到人逃避與主一同受苦的傾向；人總是想用自己的捷徑，以求完成神的使命。可是，神的道路卻必定是那漫長受苦的路。
我們有分於基督的受苦麽？我們肯不肯讓神把個人的野心除掉？肯不肯藉生命的改變，把個人的志向毀掉？這不是說可以完全明白為何神領我們這樣走：這樣會叫我們成為屬靈的自大者。當時我們無法知道神的心意，我們會或多或少有點誤解；過後，卻全恍然大悟，說：[看，神把我裝備了，我竟然不察覺！ ]
祈禱◆主啊，願那些在肉身上擔負重壓的人，能藉著你的支持來繼續承擔。願你使他們能避免敵人的嚴苛對待，願主的喜樂能奇妙地成為他們的力量。
If you are going to be used by God, He will take you through a number of experiences that are not meant for you personally at all. They are designed to make you useful in His hands, and to enable you to understand what takes place in the lives of others. Because of this process, you will never be surprised by what comes your way. You say, “Oh, I can’t deal with that person.” Why can’t you? God gave you sufficient opportunities to learn from Him about that problem; but you turned away, not heeding the lesson, because it seemed foolish to spend your time that way.
The sufferings of Christ were not those of ordinary people. He suffered “according to the will of God” (1 Peter 4:19), having a different point of view of suffering from ours. It is only through our relationship with Jesus Christ that we can understand what God is after in His dealings with us. When it comes to suffering, it is part of our Christian culture to want to know God’s purpose beforehand. In the history of the Christian church, the tendency has been to avoid being identified with the sufferings of Jesus Christ. People have sought to carry out God’s orders through a shortcut of their own. God’s way is always the way of suffering— the way of the “long road home.”
Are we partakers of Christ’s sufferings? Are we prepared for God to stamp out our personal ambitions? Are we prepared for God to destroy our individual decisions by supernaturally transforming them? It will mean not knowing why God is taking us that way, because knowing would make us spiritually proud. We never realize at the time what God is putting us through— we go through it more or less without understanding. Then suddenly we come to a place of enlightenment, and realize— “God has strengthened me and I didn’t even know it!”
與基督一同受苦
倒要歡喜，因為你們是與基督一同受苦。 （彼前四13）
如果你要蒙神使用，你便要經歷許多事；不是為你本身而遭遇，乃是要把你造成神手中合用的器皿，使你明白別人心裡的景況，以致不會因所遇見的感到詫異。 [唉，我不能應付那個人。 ]為什麽不能？神讓你有足夠的機會在他面前學習這功課，只是你故意避開，認為這樣花時間太愚蠢了。
基督受的苦不是普通人的苦，他乃是按神的旨意受苦，不是照人的看法受苦。只有當我們與基督連合，才會明白神的用意。基督教化的一部分，就是要明白神的目的。在教會歷史中，可以見到人逃避與主一同受苦的傾向；人總是想用自己的捷徑，以求完成神的使命。可是，神的道路卻必定是那漫長受苦的路。
我們有分於基督的受苦麽？我們肯不肯讓神把個人的野心除掉？肯不肯藉生命的改變，把個人的志向毀掉？這不是說可以完全明白為何神領我們這樣走：這樣會叫我們成為屬靈的自大者。當時我們無法知道神的心意，我們會或多或少有點誤解；過後，卻全恍然大悟，說：[看，神把我裝備了，我竟然不察覺！ ]
祈禱◆主啊，願那些在肉身上擔負重壓的人，能藉著你的支持來繼續承擔。願你使他們能避免敵人的嚴苛對待，願主的喜樂能奇妙地成為他們的力量。
October 21, 2013
Impulsiveness or Discipleship?
But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith . . . —Jude 20
There was nothing of the nature of impulsive or thoughtless action about our Lord, but only a calm strength that never got into a panic. Most of us develop our Christianity along the lines of our own nature, not along the lines of God’s nature. Impulsiveness is a trait of the natural life, and our Lord always ignores it, because it hinders the development of the life of a disciple. Watch how the Spirit of God gives a sense of restraint to impulsiveness, suddenly bringing us a feeling of self-conscious foolishness, which makes us instantly want to vindicate ourselves. Impulsiveness is all right in a child, but is disastrous in a man or woman—an impulsive adult is always a spoiled person. Impulsiveness needs to be trained into intuition through discipline.
Discipleship is built entirely on the supernatural grace of God. Walking on water is easy to someone with impulsive boldness, but walking on dry land as a disciple of Jesus Christ is something altogether different. Peter walked on the water to go to Jesus, but he “followed Him at a distance” on dry land (Mark 14:54). We do not need the grace of God to withstand crises—human nature and pride are sufficient for us to face the stress and strain magnificently. But it does require the supernatural grace of God to live twenty-four hours of every day as a saint, going through drudgery, and living an ordinary, unnoticed, and ignored existence as a disciple of Jesus. It is ingrained in us that we have to do exceptional things for God—but we do not. We have to be exceptional in the ordinary things of life, and holy on the ordinary streets, among ordinary people—and this is not learned in five minutes.
被沖動引導
"你們卻要在至聖的真道上造就自己" 猶20
我們的主既沒有衝動的本性，也不是冷血無情，他有一種鎮定的力量永遠不會陷入恐慌。我們大多數人是按著自己性情的方式來過基督徒的生活，而不是按著神的方式。衝動是天然生命的特性，但我們的主卻總是不顧它，因為衝動會阻礙門徒生命的成長。留意神的靈如何阻止我們的衝動，他的阻止帶來一種自覺愚蠢倉促，使我們立刻想要為自己辯護。對於一個孩子，衝動還可以接受，但對於一個大人，衝動就是災難性的了。一個衝動的人常是一個耍小孩子脾氣的人。衝動必須要藉著管教訓練成為直覺。
作門徒完全建造在神超自然的恩典上。行走在水面對於憑著一股衝動的勇氣是容易的，但行走在乾地上作耶穌基督的門徒卻是一件不同的事情。彼得在水面上向耶穌走去，但在地上卻遠遠地跟著他。我們不需要神的恩典去面對危機，人的本性和驕傲已經足夠了。我們可以高貴地面對壓力，但每天二十四小時活出聖徒的生活，像一個門徒一樣經受勞苦，過一個平凡、沒人留意、被人忽視的生活，就一定需要神超自然的恩典。我們的天性想要為神做一件特別的事，但不需要這樣。我們應當在平凡事上成為不平凡，在簡陋的街道中,在卑劣的人群中成為聖潔，這不是五分鐘學得會的功課。
There was nothing of the nature of impulsive or thoughtless action about our Lord, but only a calm strength that never got into a panic. Most of us develop our Christianity along the lines of our own nature, not along the lines of God’s nature. Impulsiveness is a trait of the natural life, and our Lord always ignores it, because it hinders the development of the life of a disciple. Watch how the Spirit of God gives a sense of restraint to impulsiveness, suddenly bringing us a feeling of self-conscious foolishness, which makes us instantly want to vindicate ourselves. Impulsiveness is all right in a child, but is disastrous in a man or woman—an impulsive adult is always a spoiled person. Impulsiveness needs to be trained into intuition through discipline.
Discipleship is built entirely on the supernatural grace of God. Walking on water is easy to someone with impulsive boldness, but walking on dry land as a disciple of Jesus Christ is something altogether different. Peter walked on the water to go to Jesus, but he “followed Him at a distance” on dry land (Mark 14:54). We do not need the grace of God to withstand crises—human nature and pride are sufficient for us to face the stress and strain magnificently. But it does require the supernatural grace of God to live twenty-four hours of every day as a saint, going through drudgery, and living an ordinary, unnoticed, and ignored existence as a disciple of Jesus. It is ingrained in us that we have to do exceptional things for God—but we do not. We have to be exceptional in the ordinary things of life, and holy on the ordinary streets, among ordinary people—and this is not learned in five minutes.
被沖動引導
"你們卻要在至聖的真道上造就自己" 猶20
我們的主既沒有衝動的本性，也不是冷血無情，他有一種鎮定的力量永遠不會陷入恐慌。我們大多數人是按著自己性情的方式來過基督徒的生活，而不是按著神的方式。衝動是天然生命的特性，但我們的主卻總是不顧它，因為衝動會阻礙門徒生命的成長。留意神的靈如何阻止我們的衝動，他的阻止帶來一種自覺愚蠢倉促，使我們立刻想要為自己辯護。對於一個孩子，衝動還可以接受，但對於一個大人，衝動就是災難性的了。一個衝動的人常是一個耍小孩子脾氣的人。衝動必須要藉著管教訓練成為直覺。
作門徒完全建造在神超自然的恩典上。行走在水面對於憑著一股衝動的勇氣是容易的，但行走在乾地上作耶穌基督的門徒卻是一件不同的事情。彼得在水面上向耶穌走去，但在地上卻遠遠地跟著他。我們不需要神的恩典去面對危機，人的本性和驕傲已經足夠了。我們可以高貴地面對壓力，但每天二十四小時活出聖徒的生活，像一個門徒一樣經受勞苦，過一個平凡、沒人留意、被人忽視的生活，就一定需要神超自然的恩典。我們的天性想要為神做一件特別的事，但不需要這樣。我們應當在平凡事上成為不平凡，在簡陋的街道中,在卑劣的人群中成為聖潔，這不是五分鐘學得會的功課。
September 22, 2013
The Missionary’s Master and Teacher
You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am . . . . I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master . . .—John 13:13, 16
To have a master and teacher is not the same thing as being mastered and taught. Having a master and teacher means that there is someone who knows me better than I know myself, who is closer than a friend, and who understands the remotest depths of my heart and is able to satisfy them fully. It means having someone who has made me secure in the knowledge that he has met and solved all the doubts, uncertainties, and problems in my mind. To have a master and teacher is this and nothing less— “. . . for One is your Teacher, the Christ . . .” (Matthew 23:8).
Our Lord never takes measures to make me do what He wants. Sometimes I wish God would master and control me to make me do what He wants, but He will not. And at other times I wish He would leave me alone, and He does not.
“You call Me Teacher and Lord . . .”— but is He? Teacher, Master, and Lord have little place in our vocabulary. We prefer the words Savior, Sanctifier, and Healer. The only word that truly describes the experience of being mastered is love, and we know little about love as God reveals it in His Word. The way we use the word obey is proof of this. In the Bible, obedience is based on a relationship between equals; for example, that of a son with his father. Our Lord was not simply God’s servant— He was His Son. “. . . though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience. . .” (Hebrews 5:8). If we are consciously aware that we are being mastered, that idea itself is proof that we have no master. If that is our attitude toward Jesus, we are far away from having the relationship He wants with us. He wants us in a relationship where He is so easily our Master and Teacher that we have no conscious awareness of it—a relationship where all we know is that we are His to obey.
傳道者的主人
你們稱呼我夫子，稱呼我主，你們說的不錯，我本來是。 （約十三13）
有一位主人與被人驅使，是兩回事。有一位主人，就是有一位元比我更認識我的人；他比朋友更親密；他深入我內心的深處，叫我滿足；他解決我心思裡一切的困惑與疑難，叫我安穩。這就是主人的意思，不折不扣－－只有一位是我們的主人，就是基督。
主從不勉強人順服，也不會設計使我們做他要我做的。有時我寧願神管制我，迫我做某些事，可是他不會這樣；有時我又希望他不要管我，但他也不會這樣。 [你們稱呼我夫子，稱呼我主]－－他果真是麼？夫子和主，在我們的字彙中很少出現；我們喜歡用救主、使人成聖者、醫治者等字眼。唯一可以描寫有一位主人這經歷的字眼，就是愛，而我們對神所啟示的愛，認識又那麼少。這在我們對[順服]一詞的運用上，就可以看出來。在聖經中，順服是根據平等關係而言，就是兒子與父親的關係。我們的主並不是神的僕人，他是神的兒子。 [他雖然為兒子，還是……學了順服。 ]若我們以為是被轄管，這就是我們並未有主人的明證；這種對耶穌的態度，與他所想望的關係相距實在太遠。他要我們與他的關係，應該是自然地以他為主人，只知道我們屬他，聽他的話。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我懷著靈性上極之枯乾和貧乏的感覺，來到你面前；噢，主啊，為著你的名，求你激發我。我不會在你面前悲嘆，卻會被你的靈所充滿。
To have a master and teacher is not the same thing as being mastered and taught. Having a master and teacher means that there is someone who knows me better than I know myself, who is closer than a friend, and who understands the remotest depths of my heart and is able to satisfy them fully. It means having someone who has made me secure in the knowledge that he has met and solved all the doubts, uncertainties, and problems in my mind. To have a master and teacher is this and nothing less— “. . . for One is your Teacher, the Christ . . .” (Matthew 23:8).
Our Lord never takes measures to make me do what He wants. Sometimes I wish God would master and control me to make me do what He wants, but He will not. And at other times I wish He would leave me alone, and He does not.
“You call Me Teacher and Lord . . .”— but is He? Teacher, Master, and Lord have little place in our vocabulary. We prefer the words Savior, Sanctifier, and Healer. The only word that truly describes the experience of being mastered is love, and we know little about love as God reveals it in His Word. The way we use the word obey is proof of this. In the Bible, obedience is based on a relationship between equals; for example, that of a son with his father. Our Lord was not simply God’s servant— He was His Son. “. . . though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience. . .” (Hebrews 5:8). If we are consciously aware that we are being mastered, that idea itself is proof that we have no master. If that is our attitude toward Jesus, we are far away from having the relationship He wants with us. He wants us in a relationship where He is so easily our Master and Teacher that we have no conscious awareness of it—a relationship where all we know is that we are His to obey.
傳道者的主人
你們稱呼我夫子，稱呼我主，你們說的不錯，我本來是。 （約十三13）
有一位主人與被人驅使，是兩回事。有一位主人，就是有一位元比我更認識我的人；他比朋友更親密；他深入我內心的深處，叫我滿足；他解決我心思裡一切的困惑與疑難，叫我安穩。這就是主人的意思，不折不扣－－只有一位是我們的主人，就是基督。
主從不勉強人順服，也不會設計使我們做他要我做的。有時我寧願神管制我，迫我做某些事，可是他不會這樣；有時我又希望他不要管我，但他也不會這樣。 [你們稱呼我夫子，稱呼我主]－－他果真是麼？夫子和主，在我們的字彙中很少出現；我們喜歡用救主、使人成聖者、醫治者等字眼。唯一可以描寫有一位主人這經歷的字眼，就是愛，而我們對神所啟示的愛，認識又那麼少。這在我們對[順服]一詞的運用上，就可以看出來。在聖經中，順服是根據平等關係而言，就是兒子與父親的關係。我們的主並不是神的僕人，他是神的兒子。 [他雖然為兒子，還是……學了順服。 ]若我們以為是被轄管，這就是我們並未有主人的明證；這種對耶穌的態度，與他所想望的關係相距實在太遠。他要我們與他的關係，應該是自然地以他為主人，只知道我們屬他，聽他的話。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我懷著靈性上極之枯乾和貧乏的感覺，來到你面前；噢，主啊，為著你的名，求你激發我。我不會在你面前悲嘆，卻會被你的靈所充滿。
September 06, 2013
The Far-Reaching Rivers of Life
He who believes in Me . . . out of his heart will flow rivers of living water —John 7:38
A river reaches places which its source never knows. And Jesus said that, if we have received His fullness, “rivers of living water” will flow out of us, reaching in blessing even “to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8) regardless of how small the visible effects of our lives may appear to be. We have nothing to do with the outflow— “This is the work of God, that you believe. . .” (John 6:29). God rarely allows a person to see how great a blessing he is to others.
A river is victoriously persistent, overcoming all barriers. For a while it goes steadily on its course, but then comes to an obstacle. And for a while it is blocked, yet it soon makes a pathway around the obstacle. Or a river will drop out of sight for miles, only later to emerge again even broader and greater than ever. Do you see God using the lives of others, but an obstacle has come into your life and you do not seem to be of any use to God? Then keep paying attention to the Source, and God will either take you around the obstacle or remove it. The river of the Spirit of God overcomes all obstacles. Never focus your eyes on the obstacle or the difficulty. The obstacle will be a matter of total indifference to the river that will flow steadily through you if you will simply remember to stay focused on the Source. Never allow anything to come between you and Jesus Christ— not emotion nor experience— nothing must keep you from the one great sovereign Source.
Think of the healing and far-reaching rivers developing and nourishing themselves in our souls! God has been opening up wonderful truths to our minds, and every point He has opened up is another indication of the wider power of the river that He will flow through us. If you believe in Jesus, you will find that God has developed and nourished in you mighty, rushing rivers of blessing for others.
生命的擴散力
活水……江河。 （約七38）
河流所到之處，是源頭無法可知的。耶穌說我們若領受了他的豐盛，不管我們的生命多微小，也能像活水江河，造福地極。這湧流不是我們的功勞－－[信……這就是神的工作……]。神很少讓一個人知道自己給別人帶來多大的祝福。河流是百折不撓的，能克服一切障礙。它順流而下，遇到障礙物，停滯一下，不一會又會繞過它繼續湧流。有時河流好像突然消失好幾里，但一下子又再复現，變得又大又寬闊。你看見神在使用很多人的生命，但你的生命卻出現了障礙物，你覺得自己毫無用處。這時要注目源頭，神會帶你繞道而行，或是把障礙挪開。不要注目在難處上，只要對準源頭，難處對於從你裡面流出的江河，是毫無辦法的。不要讓任何事物，包括感情與經歷，介入你與主耶穌之間；不要讓任何事物，使你與那最高的總源頭隔開。
想想你裡頭孕育著何等光遠而又具醫治力的河流！神向我們敞開他奇妙的真理，每一個敞開處，都表示他要把江河更大的能力透過我們湧流，你若相信主耶穌，就必發現神正在你裡面培育強而有力的水流，要成為別人的祝福。
祈禱◆[你不要怕他們，因那為你爭戰的是耶和華－－你的神。 ]主啊，今早當我讀經，這句話一直浮現在我腦海中。我何等完全地仰賴你！
A river reaches places which its source never knows. And Jesus said that, if we have received His fullness, “rivers of living water” will flow out of us, reaching in blessing even “to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8) regardless of how small the visible effects of our lives may appear to be. We have nothing to do with the outflow— “This is the work of God, that you believe. . .” (John 6:29). God rarely allows a person to see how great a blessing he is to others.
A river is victoriously persistent, overcoming all barriers. For a while it goes steadily on its course, but then comes to an obstacle. And for a while it is blocked, yet it soon makes a pathway around the obstacle. Or a river will drop out of sight for miles, only later to emerge again even broader and greater than ever. Do you see God using the lives of others, but an obstacle has come into your life and you do not seem to be of any use to God? Then keep paying attention to the Source, and God will either take you around the obstacle or remove it. The river of the Spirit of God overcomes all obstacles. Never focus your eyes on the obstacle or the difficulty. The obstacle will be a matter of total indifference to the river that will flow steadily through you if you will simply remember to stay focused on the Source. Never allow anything to come between you and Jesus Christ— not emotion nor experience— nothing must keep you from the one great sovereign Source.
Think of the healing and far-reaching rivers developing and nourishing themselves in our souls! God has been opening up wonderful truths to our minds, and every point He has opened up is another indication of the wider power of the river that He will flow through us. If you believe in Jesus, you will find that God has developed and nourished in you mighty, rushing rivers of blessing for others.
生命的擴散力
活水……江河。 （約七38）
河流所到之處，是源頭無法可知的。耶穌說我們若領受了他的豐盛，不管我們的生命多微小，也能像活水江河，造福地極。這湧流不是我們的功勞－－[信……這就是神的工作……]。神很少讓一個人知道自己給別人帶來多大的祝福。河流是百折不撓的，能克服一切障礙。它順流而下，遇到障礙物，停滯一下，不一會又會繞過它繼續湧流。有時河流好像突然消失好幾里，但一下子又再复現，變得又大又寬闊。你看見神在使用很多人的生命，但你的生命卻出現了障礙物，你覺得自己毫無用處。這時要注目源頭，神會帶你繞道而行，或是把障礙挪開。不要注目在難處上，只要對準源頭，難處對於從你裡面流出的江河，是毫無辦法的。不要讓任何事物，包括感情與經歷，介入你與主耶穌之間；不要讓任何事物，使你與那最高的總源頭隔開。
想想你裡頭孕育著何等光遠而又具醫治力的河流！神向我們敞開他奇妙的真理，每一個敞開處，都表示他要把江河更大的能力透過我們湧流，你若相信主耶穌，就必發現神正在你裡面培育強而有力的水流，要成為別人的祝福。
祈禱◆[你不要怕他們，因那為你爭戰的是耶和華－－你的神。 ]主啊，今早當我讀經，這句話一直浮現在我腦海中。我何等完全地仰賴你！
August 01, 2013
Learning About His Ways
When Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples . . . He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities —Matthew 11:1
He comes where He commands us to leave. If you stayed home when God told you to go because you were so concerned about your own people there, then you actually robbed them of the teaching of Jesus Christ Himself. When you obeyed and left all the consequences to God, the Lord went into your city to teach, but as long as you were disobedient, you blocked His way. Watch where you begin to debate with Him and put what you call your duty into competition with His commands. If you say, “I know that He told me to go, but my duty is here,” it simply means that you do not believe that Jesus means what He says.
He teaches where He instructs us not to teach. “Master . . . let us make three tabernacles . . .” (Luke 9:33).
Are we playing the part of an amateur providence, trying to play God’s role in the lives of others? Are we so noisy in our instruction of other people that God cannot get near them? We must learn to keep our mouths shut and our spirits alert. God wants to instruct us regarding His Son, and He wants to turn our times of prayer into mounts of transfiguration. When we become certain that God is going to work in a particular way, He will never work in that way again.
He works where He sends us to wait. “. . . tarry . . . until . . .” (Luke 24:49). “Wait on the Lord” and He will work (Psalm 37:34). But don’t wait sulking spiritually and feeling sorry for yourself, just because you can’t see one inch in front of you! Are we detached enough from our own spiritual fits of emotion to “wait patiently for Him”? (Psalm 37:7). Waiting is not sitting with folded hands doing nothing, but it is learning to do what we are told.
These are some of the facets of His ways that we rarely recognize.
更認識他的作為
耶穌吩咐完了十二個門徒，就離開那裡，往各城去傳道教訓人。 （太十一1）
若神叫你[去]，你卻因為過於牽掛本地的人而留下來；那末，你反剝奪了他們領受主耶穌教訓的機會。你若順服，把一切後果交給神，他就到你的城裡去教訓人。你一天不順服，就成了阻礙。當心辯論一開始，你所謂的責任，就與主的命令相抗衡。 [我知道神叫我去，但他們——我的責任卻在此。 ]這樣說，就表示你不把主的話當真。他吩咐我們不要去教導的地方，他自己會去。
[夫子……我們搭三座棚。 ]我們是否在別人身上，充當了業餘的神明？我們教導別人的聲音，是否使神根本無法就近他人？要閉嘴，保持心靈的敏銳。神要把他兒子的事教訓我們，要把我們禱告的時間變成登山變像的經歷。可是，我們卻不讓他這樣做。我們自以為知道神一定用某種方法行事時，他就不再用那種方法。他吩咐我們在那裡等候，他就在那裡作工。
[等候，直到……]等候神，他就必作工。可是等候的時候，不要因為看不到出路而鬱鬱不樂。我們能否離開自己那份屬靈的激情去等候神？等候不是抱著手呆著，乃是學習按神的吩咐而行。神在這幾方面的作為，我們甚少人認識。
祈禱◆主啊，在這個早上，我的處境對我的意識構成極大的壓力。讓我的思想、情感，我的整個本性，去思想你為我所命定的是甚麼；由此，我便可以知道我所做的並沒有錯。
He comes where He commands us to leave. If you stayed home when God told you to go because you were so concerned about your own people there, then you actually robbed them of the teaching of Jesus Christ Himself. When you obeyed and left all the consequences to God, the Lord went into your city to teach, but as long as you were disobedient, you blocked His way. Watch where you begin to debate with Him and put what you call your duty into competition with His commands. If you say, “I know that He told me to go, but my duty is here,” it simply means that you do not believe that Jesus means what He says.
He teaches where He instructs us not to teach. “Master . . . let us make three tabernacles . . .” (Luke 9:33).
Are we playing the part of an amateur providence, trying to play God’s role in the lives of others? Are we so noisy in our instruction of other people that God cannot get near them? We must learn to keep our mouths shut and our spirits alert. God wants to instruct us regarding His Son, and He wants to turn our times of prayer into mounts of transfiguration. When we become certain that God is going to work in a particular way, He will never work in that way again.
He works where He sends us to wait. “. . . tarry . . . until . . .” (Luke 24:49). “Wait on the Lord” and He will work (Psalm 37:34). But don’t wait sulking spiritually and feeling sorry for yourself, just because you can’t see one inch in front of you! Are we detached enough from our own spiritual fits of emotion to “wait patiently for Him”? (Psalm 37:7). Waiting is not sitting with folded hands doing nothing, but it is learning to do what we are told.
These are some of the facets of His ways that we rarely recognize.
更認識他的作為
耶穌吩咐完了十二個門徒，就離開那裡，往各城去傳道教訓人。 （太十一1）
若神叫你[去]，你卻因為過於牽掛本地的人而留下來；那末，你反剝奪了他們領受主耶穌教訓的機會。你若順服，把一切後果交給神，他就到你的城裡去教訓人。你一天不順服，就成了阻礙。當心辯論一開始，你所謂的責任，就與主的命令相抗衡。 [我知道神叫我去，但他們——我的責任卻在此。 ]這樣說，就表示你不把主的話當真。他吩咐我們不要去教導的地方，他自己會去。
[夫子……我們搭三座棚。 ]我們是否在別人身上，充當了業餘的神明？我們教導別人的聲音，是否使神根本無法就近他人？要閉嘴，保持心靈的敏銳。神要把他兒子的事教訓我們，要把我們禱告的時間變成登山變像的經歷。可是，我們卻不讓他這樣做。我們自以為知道神一定用某種方法行事時，他就不再用那種方法。他吩咐我們在那裡等候，他就在那裡作工。
[等候，直到……]等候神，他就必作工。可是等候的時候，不要因為看不到出路而鬱鬱不樂。我們能否離開自己那份屬靈的激情去等候神？等候不是抱著手呆著，乃是學習按神的吩咐而行。神在這幾方面的作為，我們甚少人認識。
祈禱◆主啊，在這個早上，我的處境對我的意識構成極大的壓力。讓我的思想、情感，我的整個本性，去思想你為我所命定的是甚麼；由此，我便可以知道我所做的並沒有錯。
March 19, 2013
Abraham’s Life of Faith
He went out, not knowing where he was going —Hebrews 11:8
In the Old Testament, a person’s relationship with God was seen by the degree of separation in that person’s life. This separation is exhibited in the life of Abraham by his separation from his country and his family. When we think of separation today, we do not mean to be literally separated from those family members who do not have a personal relationship with God, but to be separated mentally and morally from their viewpoints. This is what Jesus Christ was referring to in Luke 14:26.
Living a life of faith means never knowing where you are being led. But it does mean loving and knowing the One who is leading. It is literally a life of faith, not of understanding and reason—a life of knowing Him who calls us to go. Faith is rooted in the knowledge of a Person, and one of the biggest traps we fall into is the belief that if we have faith, God will surely lead us to success in the world.
The final stage in the life of faith is the attainment of character, and we encounter many changes in the process. We feel the presence of God around us when we pray, yet we are only momentarily changed. We tend to keep going back to our everyday ways and the glory vanishes. A life of faith is not a life of one glorious mountaintop experience after another, like soaring on eagles’ wings, but is a life of day—in and day—out consistency; a life of walking without fainting (see Isaiah 40:31). It is not even a question of the holiness of sanctification, but of something which comes much farther down the road. It is a faith that has been tried and proved and has withstood the test. Abraham is not a type or an example of the holiness of sanctification, but a type of the life of faith—a faith, tested and true, built on the true God. “Abraham believed God. . .” (Romans 4:3).
亞伯拉罕信心之道
出去的時候，還不知往那裡去。 （來十一8）
在舊約時代，個人與神的關係，是在[分離]上顯出來。這可從亞伯拉罕離開本地本族本家的生平中看出來。在今日，這[分離]卻側重在心思道德方面的意義。我們所親愛的人若與神沒有個人關係，我們對事物的看法就與他們不同了。耶穌基督也強調這一點（路十四26）。
信心是從來不知道要往哪裡去，卻知道且深愛領路的那一位。我們的生活是信心的生活，不是理智理性的生活，因為知道誰叫我們[去]。信心的根源是出於對神的認識。但有一個最大的陷阱，是我們以為神一定領我們成功順利。
信心生活的最終階段，是性格的完成。人個性的改變，有不少是短暫的。我們禱告時，感到神的祝福包圍著我們，那時確有了改變。過後回到日常生活中，又依然故我，而那榮光也就消失了。信心的生活不是展翅上騰的生活，乃是腳踏實地的行走而不頹廢。這不是成聖的問題；是比成聖更進一步，是經過考驗而證實及格的。亞伯拉罕不是成聖的模式，乃是信心生活的模範。他的信心是經過誓言，是建立在真神上。 [亞伯拉罕信神]
祈禱◆噢，主啊，願今天因著你的同在和祝福，而充滿榮耀。願我們看見你使你所站的地方成為榮耀之處。
In the Old Testament, a person’s relationship with God was seen by the degree of separation in that person’s life. This separation is exhibited in the life of Abraham by his separation from his country and his family. When we think of separation today, we do not mean to be literally separated from those family members who do not have a personal relationship with God, but to be separated mentally and morally from their viewpoints. This is what Jesus Christ was referring to in Luke 14:26.
Living a life of faith means never knowing where you are being led. But it does mean loving and knowing the One who is leading. It is literally a life of faith, not of understanding and reason—a life of knowing Him who calls us to go. Faith is rooted in the knowledge of a Person, and one of the biggest traps we fall into is the belief that if we have faith, God will surely lead us to success in the world.
The final stage in the life of faith is the attainment of character, and we encounter many changes in the process. We feel the presence of God around us when we pray, yet we are only momentarily changed. We tend to keep going back to our everyday ways and the glory vanishes. A life of faith is not a life of one glorious mountaintop experience after another, like soaring on eagles’ wings, but is a life of day—in and day—out consistency; a life of walking without fainting (see Isaiah 40:31). It is not even a question of the holiness of sanctification, but of something which comes much farther down the road. It is a faith that has been tried and proved and has withstood the test. Abraham is not a type or an example of the holiness of sanctification, but a type of the life of faith—a faith, tested and true, built on the true God. “Abraham believed God. . .” (Romans 4:3).
亞伯拉罕信心之道
出去的時候，還不知往那裡去。 （來十一8）
在舊約時代，個人與神的關係，是在[分離]上顯出來。這可從亞伯拉罕離開本地本族本家的生平中看出來。在今日，這[分離]卻側重在心思道德方面的意義。我們所親愛的人若與神沒有個人關係，我們對事物的看法就與他們不同了。耶穌基督也強調這一點（路十四26）。
信心是從來不知道要往哪裡去，卻知道且深愛領路的那一位。我們的生活是信心的生活，不是理智理性的生活，因為知道誰叫我們[去]。信心的根源是出於對神的認識。但有一個最大的陷阱，是我們以為神一定領我們成功順利。
信心生活的最終階段，是性格的完成。人個性的改變，有不少是短暫的。我們禱告時，感到神的祝福包圍著我們，那時確有了改變。過後回到日常生活中，又依然故我，而那榮光也就消失了。信心的生活不是展翅上騰的生活，乃是腳踏實地的行走而不頹廢。這不是成聖的問題；是比成聖更進一步，是經過考驗而證實及格的。亞伯拉罕不是成聖的模式，乃是信心生活的模範。他的信心是經過誓言，是建立在真神上。 [亞伯拉罕信神]
祈禱◆噢，主啊，願今天因著你的同在和祝福，而充滿榮耀。願我們看見你使你所站的地方成為榮耀之處。
January 14, 2013
Called By God
I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ’Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ’Here am I! Send me’ —Isaiah 6:8
God did not direct His call to Isaiah— Isaiah overheard God saying, “. . . who will go for Us?” The call of God is not just for a select few but for everyone. Whether I hear God’s call or not depends on the condition of my ears, and exactly what I hear depends upon my spiritual attitude. “Many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14). That is, few prove that they are the chosen ones. The chosen ones are those who have come into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ and have had their spiritual condition changed and their ears opened. Then they hear “the voice of the Lord” continually asking, “. . . who will go for Us?” However, God doesn’t single out someone and say, “Now, you go.” He did not force His will on Isaiah. Isaiah was in the presence of God, and he overheard the call. His response, performed in complete freedom, could only be to say, “Here am I! Send me.”
Remove the thought from your mind of expecting God to come to force you or to plead with you. When our Lord called His disciples, He did it without irresistible pressure from the outside. The quiet, yet passionate, insistence of His “Follow Me” was spoken to men whose every sense was receptive (Matthew 4:19). If we will allow the Holy Spirit to bring us face to face with God, we too will hear what Isaiah heard-”the voice of the Lord.” In perfect freedom we too will say, “Here am I! Send me.”
被神選召
我可以差遣誰呢？誰肯為我們去呢？我說，我在這裡，請差遣我。 （賽六8）
神並沒有直接呼召以賽亞，是以賽亞聽到神在說：[誰肯為我們去呢？ ]神的呼召不是單為特殊幾個人而發，而是對每一個人的。聽不聽見神的呼召，要視乎我耳朵的狀況；而到底聽見什麼，則視乎我的性情了。 [被召的人多，選上的人少。 ]意思是：很少人有被選上的條件。被選上的人，是藉著耶穌基督與神建立關係，以致性情改變了，耳朵開通了，就听見那微小的聲音不住地在問：[誰肯為我們去呢！ ？ ]神不是特別指著一個人說：[聽著，你去吧！ ]神並沒有強逼以賽亞；以賽亞只在神跟前，剛好聽見他的呼召，覺得沒有別的話可以回答，就甘心情願地說：[我在這裡，請差遣我。 ]
別以為神會催逼你，懇求你！ （把這意念出去吧。）當日主呼召門徒，也沒有從外面施予無法抗拒的壓力。他只是平靜而熱切地要求[跟從我]，是對那些理智清醒能以自主的人發出的。我們若讓聖靈帶我們與神面對面，也會聽見類似以賽亞所聽見的——神微小的聲音；也會自然而然地回答說：[我在這裡，請差遣我。 ]
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我的靈在你面前敬拜，因著你賜給我的浩大恩典，我的眼睛能夠看見、我的耳朵能故聽聞、我的心靈能故明白，在一切境況的背後，皆有你的腳踪。
God did not direct His call to Isaiah— Isaiah overheard God saying, “. . . who will go for Us?” The call of God is not just for a select few but for everyone. Whether I hear God’s call or not depends on the condition of my ears, and exactly what I hear depends upon my spiritual attitude. “Many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14). That is, few prove that they are the chosen ones. The chosen ones are those who have come into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ and have had their spiritual condition changed and their ears opened. Then they hear “the voice of the Lord” continually asking, “. . . who will go for Us?” However, God doesn’t single out someone and say, “Now, you go.” He did not force His will on Isaiah. Isaiah was in the presence of God, and he overheard the call. His response, performed in complete freedom, could only be to say, “Here am I! Send me.”
Remove the thought from your mind of expecting God to come to force you or to plead with you. When our Lord called His disciples, He did it without irresistible pressure from the outside. The quiet, yet passionate, insistence of His “Follow Me” was spoken to men whose every sense was receptive (Matthew 4:19). If we will allow the Holy Spirit to bring us face to face with God, we too will hear what Isaiah heard-”the voice of the Lord.” In perfect freedom we too will say, “Here am I! Send me.”
被神選召
我可以差遣誰呢？誰肯為我們去呢？我說，我在這裡，請差遣我。 （賽六8）
神並沒有直接呼召以賽亞，是以賽亞聽到神在說：[誰肯為我們去呢？ ]神的呼召不是單為特殊幾個人而發，而是對每一個人的。聽不聽見神的呼召，要視乎我耳朵的狀況；而到底聽見什麼，則視乎我的性情了。 [被召的人多，選上的人少。 ]意思是：很少人有被選上的條件。被選上的人，是藉著耶穌基督與神建立關係，以致性情改變了，耳朵開通了，就听見那微小的聲音不住地在問：[誰肯為我們去呢！ ？ ]神不是特別指著一個人說：[聽著，你去吧！ ]神並沒有強逼以賽亞；以賽亞只在神跟前，剛好聽見他的呼召，覺得沒有別的話可以回答，就甘心情願地說：[我在這裡，請差遣我。 ]
別以為神會催逼你，懇求你！ （把這意念出去吧。）當日主呼召門徒，也沒有從外面施予無法抗拒的壓力。他只是平靜而熱切地要求[跟從我]，是對那些理智清醒能以自主的人發出的。我們若讓聖靈帶我們與神面對面，也會聽見類似以賽亞所聽見的——神微小的聲音；也會自然而然地回答說：[我在這裡，請差遣我。 ]
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我的靈在你面前敬拜，因著你賜給我的浩大恩典，我的眼睛能夠看見、我的耳朵能故聽聞、我的心靈能故明白，在一切境況的背後，皆有你的腳踪。
January 05, 2013
The Life of Power to Follow
Jesus answered him, ’Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward’ —John 13:36
“And when He had spoken this, He said to him, ’Follow Me’ ” (John 21:19). Three years earlier Jesus had said, “Follow Me” (Matthew 4:19), and Peter followed with no hesitation. The irresistible attraction of Jesus was upon him and he did not need the Holy Spirit to help him do it. Later he came to the place where he denied Jesus, and his heart broke. Then he received the Holy Spirit and Jesus said again, “Follow Me” (John 21:19). Now no one is in front of Peter except the Lord Jesus Christ. The first “Follow Me” was nothing mysterious; it was an external following. Jesus is now asking for an internal sacrifice and yielding (see John 21:18).
Between these two times Peter denied Jesus with oaths and curses (see Matthew 26:69-75). But then he came completely to the end of himself and all of his self-sufficiency. There was no part of himself he would ever rely on again. In his state of destitution, he was finally ready to receive all that the risen Lord had for him. “. . . He breathed on them, and said to them, ’Receive the Holy Spirit’ ” (John 20:22). No matter what changes God has performed in you, never rely on them. Build only on a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ, and on the Spirit He gives.
All our promises and resolutions end in denial because we have no power to accomplish them. When we come to the end of ourselves, not just mentally but completely, we are able to “receive the Holy Spirit.” “Receive the Holy Spirit”— the idea is that of invasion. There is now only One who directs the course of your life, the Lord Jesus Christ.
“And when He had spoken this, He said to him, ’Follow Me’ ” (John 21:19). Three years earlier Jesus had said, “Follow Me” (Matthew 4:19), and Peter followed with no hesitation. The irresistible attraction of Jesus was upon him and he did not need the Holy Spirit to help him do it. Later he came to the place where he denied Jesus, and his heart broke. Then he received the Holy Spirit and Jesus said again, “Follow Me” (John 21:19). Now no one is in front of Peter except the Lord Jesus Christ. The first “Follow Me” was nothing mysterious; it was an external following. Jesus is now asking for an internal sacrifice and yielding (see John 21:18).
Between these two times Peter denied Jesus with oaths and curses (see Matthew 26:69-75). But then he came completely to the end of himself and all of his self-sufficiency. There was no part of himself he would ever rely on again. In his state of destitution, he was finally ready to receive all that the risen Lord had for him. “. . . He breathed on them, and said to them, ’Receive the Holy Spirit’ ” (John 20:22). No matter what changes God has performed in you, never rely on them. Build only on a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ, and on the Spirit He gives.
All our promises and resolutions end in denial because we have no power to accomplish them. When we come to the end of ourselves, not just mentally but completely, we are able to “receive the Holy Spirit.” “Receive the Holy Spirit”— the idea is that of invasion. There is now only One who directs the course of your life, the Lord Jesus Christ.
後來的生命能力
我所去的地方，你現在不能跟我去，後來卻要跟我去。 （約十三36）
[說了這話，就對他說，你跟從我吧。 ]三年前，耶穌曾說；[來跟從我]，那時彼得很輕易就跟從了他。彼得是被耶穌所吸引而自動跟隨，並不需要聖靈來幫助。然而後來，他卻落到否認耶穌的地步，心碎欲絕。不過，他受了聖靈，耶穌又再一次對他說：[來跟從我。 ]這時除了主耶穌基督以外，再沒有別人了。第一次的[跟從]並沒有什麼可引起驚奇的，那隻是外表上的跟從；如今卻是殉道者的跟從（約二十一18）
在這期間，彼得曾發咒起誓否認耶穌。此時，他已來到自己的盡頭，所有的自滿自恃不足倚仗。就在這絕境中，他符合了接受復活主賜與的條件。 「他向他們吹一口氣說：『你們受聖靈』」因此，無論神在你身上做了什麼改變，都切勿倚仗這些改變，只要建立在主耶穌身上合他所賜的聖靈。
我們縱有誓言與決心，到頭來還是否認主，因為我們沒有能力實行出來。惟有當我們真正來到自己的盡頭，這才能領受聖靈不是幻想出來的。 [你們受聖靈]意思是受聖靈的征服。如今在你生命中只有一顆北斗星（意即引導方向者），就是主耶穌基督。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，以你偉大的能力來堅立我，印著耶穌的救贖，我相信自己又權利這樣祈求。令我的身體盡獻己力，以致你的光輝可以在我身上彰顯。
November 13, 2012
Faith or Experience?
. . . the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me —Galatians 2:20
We should battle through our moods, feelings, and emotions into absolute devotion to the Lord Jesus. We must break out of our own little world of experience into abandoned devotion to Him. Think who the New Testament says Jesus Christ is, and then think of the despicable meagerness of the miserable faith we exhibit by saying, “I haven’t had this experience or that experience”! Think what faith in Jesus Christ claims and provides— He can present us faultless before the throne of God, inexpressibly pure, absolutely righteous, and profoundly justified. Stand in absolute adoring faith “in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God— and righteousness and sanctification and redemption . . .” (1 Corinthians 1:30). How dare we talk of making a sacrifice for the Son of God! We are saved from hell and total destruction, and then we talk about making sacrifices!
We must continually focus and firmly place our faith in Jesus Christ— not a “prayer meeting” Jesus Christ, or a “book” Jesus Christ, but the New Testament Jesus Christ, who is God Incarnate, and who ought to strike us dead at His feet. Our faith must be in the One from whom our salvation springs. Jesus Christ wants our absolute, unrestrained devotion to Himself. We can never experience Jesus Christ, or selfishly bind Him in the confines of our own hearts. Our faith must be built on strong determined confidence in Him.
It is because of our trusting in experience that we see the steadfast impatience of the Holy Spirit against unbelief. All of our fears are sinful, and we create our own fears by refusing to nourish ourselves in our faith. How can anyone who is identified with Jesus Christ suffer from doubt or fear! Our lives should be an absolute hymn of praise resulting from perfect, irrepressible, triumphant belief.
信心與經歷
……神的兒子……他是愛我，為我捨己。 （加二20）
我們要與自己的情緒搏鬥，完全歸向主耶穌；從自我的小圈子中出來，完全降服於他。試想想新約中的耶穌基督是誰，然後想想我們可憐的信心多麽渺小- [我沒有這種經歷，又沒有那種經歷！ ]試想想對主耶穌的資訊該存的指望- 他能把我們無可指摘地帶到神的寶座前，完全無瑕疵，完全改變稱義。我們要心存何等崇敬的信心。他成為我哦們的智慧、我們的義、我們的成聖與救贖。我們憑什麽說為神的兒子有所犧牲！從地獄和沈淪蒙救贖的人，竟膽敢說犧牲！
我們要經常保持對耶穌基督的信心；不是一個祈禱會裡的耶穌；不是一本書中的耶穌，乃是新約中的耶穌，是神成了肉身，把我們治死在他腳前的那一位。信心必須是對准給我們經歷的那一位。主耶穌要求我們毫無保留地歸他。我們實在無法經歷到主耶穌，也無法把他拘禁在我們心裡，可是信心卻對他有堅強不移的靠賴。在這一點上，我們看見聖靈對不信是多麽不耐煩。一切的恐懼都是可惡的，因為恐懼是源於我們不肯培育信心。人若與主合一，怎可能再落在恐懼疑惑裡？應該充滿無法抑制、得勝的信心凱歌。
祈禱◆主啊，願今天在我們眼前，展現你在我們當中那使人振奮和更新的臨在，為此我們只有欣喜，因為我們對永恆如何具體介入時間之中，有了新的盼望。
We should battle through our moods, feelings, and emotions into absolute devotion to the Lord Jesus. We must break out of our own little world of experience into abandoned devotion to Him. Think who the New Testament says Jesus Christ is, and then think of the despicable meagerness of the miserable faith we exhibit by saying, “I haven’t had this experience or that experience”! Think what faith in Jesus Christ claims and provides— He can present us faultless before the throne of God, inexpressibly pure, absolutely righteous, and profoundly justified. Stand in absolute adoring faith “in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God— and righteousness and sanctification and redemption . . .” (1 Corinthians 1:30). How dare we talk of making a sacrifice for the Son of God! We are saved from hell and total destruction, and then we talk about making sacrifices!
We must continually focus and firmly place our faith in Jesus Christ— not a “prayer meeting” Jesus Christ, or a “book” Jesus Christ, but the New Testament Jesus Christ, who is God Incarnate, and who ought to strike us dead at His feet. Our faith must be in the One from whom our salvation springs. Jesus Christ wants our absolute, unrestrained devotion to Himself. We can never experience Jesus Christ, or selfishly bind Him in the confines of our own hearts. Our faith must be built on strong determined confidence in Him.
It is because of our trusting in experience that we see the steadfast impatience of the Holy Spirit against unbelief. All of our fears are sinful, and we create our own fears by refusing to nourish ourselves in our faith. How can anyone who is identified with Jesus Christ suffer from doubt or fear! Our lives should be an absolute hymn of praise resulting from perfect, irrepressible, triumphant belief.
信心與經歷
……神的兒子……他是愛我，為我捨己。 （加二20）
我們要與自己的情緒搏鬥，完全歸向主耶穌；從自我的小圈子中出來，完全降服於他。試想想新約中的耶穌基督是誰，然後想想我們可憐的信心多麽渺小- [我沒有這種經歷，又沒有那種經歷！ ]試想想對主耶穌的資訊該存的指望- 他能把我們無可指摘地帶到神的寶座前，完全無瑕疵，完全改變稱義。我們要心存何等崇敬的信心。他成為我哦們的智慧、我們的義、我們的成聖與救贖。我們憑什麽說為神的兒子有所犧牲！從地獄和沈淪蒙救贖的人，竟膽敢說犧牲！
我們要經常保持對耶穌基督的信心；不是一個祈禱會裡的耶穌；不是一本書中的耶穌，乃是新約中的耶穌，是神成了肉身，把我們治死在他腳前的那一位。信心必須是對准給我們經歷的那一位。主耶穌要求我們毫無保留地歸他。我們實在無法經歷到主耶穌，也無法把他拘禁在我們心裡，可是信心卻對他有堅強不移的靠賴。在這一點上，我們看見聖靈對不信是多麽不耐煩。一切的恐懼都是可惡的，因為恐懼是源於我們不肯培育信心。人若與主合一，怎可能再落在恐懼疑惑裡？應該充滿無法抑制、得勝的信心凱歌。
祈禱◆主啊，願今天在我們眼前，展現你在我們當中那使人振奮和更新的臨在，為此我們只有欣喜，因為我們對永恆如何具體介入時間之中，有了新的盼望。
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