Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you . . . —John 12:35
Beware of not acting upon what you see in your moments on the mountaintop with God. If you do not obey the light, it will turn into darkness. “If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matthew 6:23). The moment you forsake the matter of sanctification or neglect anything else on which God has given you His light, your spiritual life begins to disintegrate within you. Continually bring the truth out into your real life, working it out into every area, or else even the light that you possess will itself prove to be a curse.
The most difficult person to deal with is the one who has the prideful self-satisfaction of a past experience, but is not working that experience out in his everyday life. If you say you are sanctified, show it. The experience must be so genuine that it shows in your life. Beware of any belief that makes you self-indulgent or self-gratifying; that belief came from the pit of hell itself, regardless of how beautiful it may sound.
Your theology must work itself out, exhibiting itself in your most common everyday relationships. Our Lord said, “. . . unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20). In other words, you must be more moral than the most moral person you know. You may know all about the doctrine of sanctification, but are you working it out in the everyday issues of your life? Every detail of your life, whether physical, moral, or spiritual, is to be judged and measured by the standard of the atonement by the Cross of Christ.
活的神學
應當趁著有光行走，免得黑暗臨到你們。 （約十二35）
應當把你在山上與神同在時所見的活出來。你若不順從光，光就會變成黑暗。 [你裡頭的光若黑暗了，那黑暗是何等大哩！ ]每當你放開成聖的問題，或任何事上神給你的亮光，你屬靈生命就開始陷入枯乾腐爛之中。要不斷把真理活出來，在每一個範疇內都要實行，否則你所得的光，反成了咒詛。
最難對付的人，就是因過去的經歷自滿自足，卻又沒有把經歷付諸實行的人。你若說成聖了，就要表現出來。經歷若是真的，就必然在生活中流露。當心那些叫你自我放縱的信念，不論它們有多動聽，都是從暗坑中出來的。
神學必須在最實際的關係中表現出來。主說：[你們的義若不勝於文士和法利賽人的義……]那就是說，你必須比最具德行的人更有道德。你可以懂得一切成聖的教義，但到底有沒有在生活上行出來？你生命的每一部分：身體、道德、靈性，都要憑救贖的標準去審定。
祈禱◆主啊，願我[像一顆樹栽在溪水旁，按時候結果子]。求你顯明這句話的真實。
Showing posts with label Life Stories. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Life Stories. Show all posts
August 27, 2014
April 09, 2014
Have You Seen Jesus?
After that, He appeared in another form to two of them . . . —Mark 16:12
Being saved and seeing Jesus are not the same thing. Many people who have never seen Jesus have received and share in God’s grace. But once you have seen Him, you can never be the same. Other things will not have the appeal they did before.
You should always recognize the difference between what you see Jesus to be and what He has done for you. If you see only what He has done for you, your God is not big enough. But if you have had a vision, seeing Jesus as He really is, experiences can come and go, yet you will endure “as seeing Him who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:27). The man who was blind from birth did not know who Jesus was until Christ appeared and revealed Himself to him (see John 9). Jesus appears to those for whom He has done something, but we cannot order or predict when He will come. He may appear suddenly, at any turn. Then you can exclaim, “Now I see Him!” (see John 9:25).
Jesus must appear to you and to your friend individually; no one can see Jesus with your eyes. And division takes place when one has seen Him and the other has not. You cannot bring your friend to the point of seeing; God must do it. Have you seen Jesus? If so, you will want others to see Him too. “And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either” (Mark 16:13). When you see Him, you must tell, even if they don’t believe.
O could I tell, you surely would believe it!
O could I only say what I have seen!
How should I tell or how can you receive it,
How, till He bringeth you where I have been?
我見過他麼？
這事以後，門徒中間有兩個人……耶穌變了形像向他們顯現。 （可十六12）
得救與看見耶穌，是兩回事。許多人在神的恩上有分，卻從未見過耶穌。但若見了耶穌，你就完全改觀了，其他事物再不像往日那樣吸引你。要時常分辨清楚，你看見的是耶穌本身，還是他為你成就的事。如果你只知道他為你做的事，那麼你的神還未夠偉大；要是你真看見耶穌本身，那麼，縱使經歷千變萬化，你仍能堅定不移，[如同看見那不能看見的主]。
那生來瞎眼的人，並不認識耶穌是誰，直等到主出現，又向他顯示，他才恍然大悟。耶穌為誰行事，就為誰顯現；只是我們不能規定他什麼時候顯現。他任何時刻都可能驀然出現；[如今我看見他！]
耶穌不但向你顯現，也向你的朋友顯現：別人不能藉著你的眼睛看見耶穌。一個人看見主，另一個沒看見，隔膜就從此形成，除非神領你的朋友到他面前來。你見過耶穌麼？要是見過，你一定盼望別人也看見他。 [他們就去告訴其餘的門徒，其餘的門徒也是不信。]即使他們不信，你仍要去傳。
[啊，但願我能告訴你，你一定會相信的！
啊，但願我能說出我所見的！
我怎樣說才好？你怎樣才接納？
怎麼樣？除非他帶你去嘗受我所經歷的。]
祈禱◆噢，主啊，讓我今天聽見你榮耀的聲音。噢，對我說話，以你振興的大能，在我的心靈、思想和言語中，創造屬你的安寧。
Being saved and seeing Jesus are not the same thing. Many people who have never seen Jesus have received and share in God’s grace. But once you have seen Him, you can never be the same. Other things will not have the appeal they did before.
You should always recognize the difference between what you see Jesus to be and what He has done for you. If you see only what He has done for you, your God is not big enough. But if you have had a vision, seeing Jesus as He really is, experiences can come and go, yet you will endure “as seeing Him who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:27). The man who was blind from birth did not know who Jesus was until Christ appeared and revealed Himself to him (see John 9). Jesus appears to those for whom He has done something, but we cannot order or predict when He will come. He may appear suddenly, at any turn. Then you can exclaim, “Now I see Him!” (see John 9:25).
Jesus must appear to you and to your friend individually; no one can see Jesus with your eyes. And division takes place when one has seen Him and the other has not. You cannot bring your friend to the point of seeing; God must do it. Have you seen Jesus? If so, you will want others to see Him too. “And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either” (Mark 16:13). When you see Him, you must tell, even if they don’t believe.
O could I tell, you surely would believe it!
O could I only say what I have seen!
How should I tell or how can you receive it,
How, till He bringeth you where I have been?
我見過他麼？
這事以後，門徒中間有兩個人……耶穌變了形像向他們顯現。 （可十六12）
得救與看見耶穌，是兩回事。許多人在神的恩上有分，卻從未見過耶穌。但若見了耶穌，你就完全改觀了，其他事物再不像往日那樣吸引你。要時常分辨清楚，你看見的是耶穌本身，還是他為你成就的事。如果你只知道他為你做的事，那麼你的神還未夠偉大；要是你真看見耶穌本身，那麼，縱使經歷千變萬化，你仍能堅定不移，[如同看見那不能看見的主]。
那生來瞎眼的人，並不認識耶穌是誰，直等到主出現，又向他顯示，他才恍然大悟。耶穌為誰行事，就為誰顯現；只是我們不能規定他什麼時候顯現。他任何時刻都可能驀然出現；[如今我看見他！]
耶穌不但向你顯現，也向你的朋友顯現：別人不能藉著你的眼睛看見耶穌。一個人看見主，另一個沒看見，隔膜就從此形成，除非神領你的朋友到他面前來。你見過耶穌麼？要是見過，你一定盼望別人也看見他。 [他們就去告訴其餘的門徒，其餘的門徒也是不信。]即使他們不信，你仍要去傳。
[啊，但願我能告訴你，你一定會相信的！
啊，但願我能說出我所見的！
我怎樣說才好？你怎樣才接納？
怎麼樣？除非他帶你去嘗受我所經歷的。]
祈禱◆噢，主啊，讓我今天聽見你榮耀的聲音。噢，對我說話，以你振興的大能，在我的心靈、思想和言語中，創造屬你的安寧。
April 07, 2014
Why We Lack Understanding
He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead —Mark 9:9
As the disciples were commanded, you should also say nothing until the Son of Man has risen in you— until the life of the risen Christ so dominates you that you truly understand what He taught while here on earth. When you grow and develop the right condition inwardly, the words Jesus spoke become so clear that you are amazed you did not grasp them before. In fact, you were not able to understand them before because you had not yet developed the proper spiritual condition to deal with them.
Our Lord doesn’t hide these things from us, but we are not prepared to receive them until we are in the right condition in our spiritual life. Jesus said, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now” (John 16:12). We must have a oneness with His risen life before we are prepared to bear any particular truth from Him. Do we really know anything about the indwelling of the risen life of Jesus? The evidence that we do is that His Word is becoming understandable to us. God cannot reveal anything to us if we don’t have His Spirit. And our own unyielding and headstrong opinions will effectively prevent God from revealing anything to us. But our insensible thinking will end immediately once His resurrection life has its way with us.
“. . . tell no one . . .” But so many people do tell what they saw on the Mount of Transfiguration— their mountaintop experience. They have seen a vision and they testify to it, but there is no connection between what they say and how they live. Their lives don’t add up because the Son of Man has not yet risen in them. How long will it be before His resurrection life is formed and evident in you and in me?
為什麼不明明告訴我們？
耶穌囑咐他們說，人子還沒有從死裡復活，你們不要將所看見的告訴人。 （可九9）
人子還未在你面前復活，什麼都不要說－－直到基督復活的生命完全掌管你，使你真正明白基督的教訓。當你裡面有真正的改變，耶穌所說的話就很清楚明白，以致你稀奇何以從前看不出來。你從前不明白，因為你的性情沒有地方容納他的話語。
主並沒有隱藏這些事，只是我們屬靈的生命未到一個合適的地步，所以承擔不起這些事。 [我還有好些事要告訴你們，但你們現在擔當不了。 ]我們必須與主復活的生命有了連接，才能接受他的話。耶穌復活的生命如何流注，我們有所知聞嗎？證明我們知道的證據就是：我們能夠明白他的話。我們若沒有神的靈，神是無法向我們顯明真理最大的障礙。我們若對某一項教義堅持己見，神的亮光就不再照明，我們便無法得見。可是一旦他復活的生命支配我們，這愚頑不靈的光景，就會立即終止！
[不要告訴人……]但許多人都把山上變像的事實告訴人，他們見了異象，就大作見證；可是，靈命卻未成熟，因人子還未在他們心裡復活。他什麼時候才成形在你我身上呢？
祈禱◆噢，主啊，願你使我們變得柔和與溫順，被你所激勵和振奮，求你提升我們進入與你榮耀相交得境地，以致我們可以捕捉你的形像。
As the disciples were commanded, you should also say nothing until the Son of Man has risen in you— until the life of the risen Christ so dominates you that you truly understand what He taught while here on earth. When you grow and develop the right condition inwardly, the words Jesus spoke become so clear that you are amazed you did not grasp them before. In fact, you were not able to understand them before because you had not yet developed the proper spiritual condition to deal with them.
Our Lord doesn’t hide these things from us, but we are not prepared to receive them until we are in the right condition in our spiritual life. Jesus said, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now” (John 16:12). We must have a oneness with His risen life before we are prepared to bear any particular truth from Him. Do we really know anything about the indwelling of the risen life of Jesus? The evidence that we do is that His Word is becoming understandable to us. God cannot reveal anything to us if we don’t have His Spirit. And our own unyielding and headstrong opinions will effectively prevent God from revealing anything to us. But our insensible thinking will end immediately once His resurrection life has its way with us.
“. . . tell no one . . .” But so many people do tell what they saw on the Mount of Transfiguration— their mountaintop experience. They have seen a vision and they testify to it, but there is no connection between what they say and how they live. Their lives don’t add up because the Son of Man has not yet risen in them. How long will it be before His resurrection life is formed and evident in you and in me?
為什麼不明明告訴我們？
耶穌囑咐他們說，人子還沒有從死裡復活，你們不要將所看見的告訴人。 （可九9）
人子還未在你面前復活，什麼都不要說－－直到基督復活的生命完全掌管你，使你真正明白基督的教訓。當你裡面有真正的改變，耶穌所說的話就很清楚明白，以致你稀奇何以從前看不出來。你從前不明白，因為你的性情沒有地方容納他的話語。
主並沒有隱藏這些事，只是我們屬靈的生命未到一個合適的地步，所以承擔不起這些事。 [我還有好些事要告訴你們，但你們現在擔當不了。 ]我們必須與主復活的生命有了連接，才能接受他的話。耶穌復活的生命如何流注，我們有所知聞嗎？證明我們知道的證據就是：我們能夠明白他的話。我們若沒有神的靈，神是無法向我們顯明真理最大的障礙。我們若對某一項教義堅持己見，神的亮光就不再照明，我們便無法得見。可是一旦他復活的生命支配我們，這愚頑不靈的光景，就會立即終止！
[不要告訴人……]但許多人都把山上變像的事實告訴人，他們見了異象，就大作見證；可是，靈命卻未成熟，因人子還未在他們心裡復活。他什麼時候才成形在你我身上呢？
祈禱◆噢，主啊，願你使我們變得柔和與溫順，被你所激勵和振奮，求你提升我們進入與你榮耀相交得境地，以致我們可以捕捉你的形像。
March 25, 2014
Maintaining the Proper Relationship
. . . the friend of the bridegroom . . . —John 3:29
Goodness and purity should never be traits that draw attention to themselves, but should simply be magnets that draw people to Jesus Christ. If my holiness is not drawing others to Him, it is not the right kind of holiness; it is only an influence which awakens undue emotions and evil desires in people and diverts them from heading in the right direction. A person who is a beautiful saint can be a hindrance in leading people to the Lord by presenting only what Christ has done for him, instead of presenting Jesus Christ Himself. Others will be left with this thought— “What a fine person that man is!” That is not being a true “friend of the bridegroom”— I am increasing all the time; He is not.
To maintain this friendship and faithfulness to the Bridegroom, we have to be more careful to have the moral and vital relationship to Him above everything else, including obedience. Sometimes there is nothing to obey and our only task is to maintain a vital connection with Jesus Christ, seeing that nothing interferes with it. Only occasionally is it a matter of obedience. At those times when a crisis arises, we have to find out what God’s will is. Yet most of our life is not spent in trying to be consciously obedient, but in maintaining this relationship— being the “friend of the bridegroom.” Christian work can actually be a means of diverting a person’s focus away from Jesus Christ. Instead of being friends “of the bridegroom,” we may become amateur providences of God to someone else, working against Him while we use His weapons.
世上最微妙的使命
新郎的朋友。 （約三29）
人的良善與純潔，不該拿來吸引人歸向自己，只該用作引人歸主的磁石。若我聖潔的目的不是歸向神，就不是真正的聖潔；這只會掀起越軌的熱情，使人偏離正路。一個卓越的聖徒，若不表彰耶穌基督，只誇耀基督為他所做的事，他就會成為別人的絆腳石。他給人的印像是－－[那人品德多麼好！ ]這不是新郎的真朋友；因[我]不斷的在興旺，而他卻不然。
為要保持對新郎的友誼和忠誠，就要留心我們和他在道德上、生命上的關係。這些比一切都重要，甚至是順服。有時沒有什麼要順服的，只要保持與耶穌基督在生命上的關係，不讓任何事物從中破壞。當然亦有需要順服的事；如有危機來到，我們便要知道神的旨意如何。可是我們大部分的生活，並非有意識的順服，而是保持與神的關係－－作新郎的朋友。基督徒所做的工作，可能會轉移別人專一向主的心，使之外鶩！我們非但不是新郎的朋友，反而往往代天行道，用神的武器，作違背他的工作。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我知道自己近來很少將生命深處對耶穌的信心實踐出來，潛藏的動機似乎經常蠢蠢欲動。求你將基督裡面的單純引進我的生命中，使我只留心要獲得你的認可。
Goodness and purity should never be traits that draw attention to themselves, but should simply be magnets that draw people to Jesus Christ. If my holiness is not drawing others to Him, it is not the right kind of holiness; it is only an influence which awakens undue emotions and evil desires in people and diverts them from heading in the right direction. A person who is a beautiful saint can be a hindrance in leading people to the Lord by presenting only what Christ has done for him, instead of presenting Jesus Christ Himself. Others will be left with this thought— “What a fine person that man is!” That is not being a true “friend of the bridegroom”— I am increasing all the time; He is not.
To maintain this friendship and faithfulness to the Bridegroom, we have to be more careful to have the moral and vital relationship to Him above everything else, including obedience. Sometimes there is nothing to obey and our only task is to maintain a vital connection with Jesus Christ, seeing that nothing interferes with it. Only occasionally is it a matter of obedience. At those times when a crisis arises, we have to find out what God’s will is. Yet most of our life is not spent in trying to be consciously obedient, but in maintaining this relationship— being the “friend of the bridegroom.” Christian work can actually be a means of diverting a person’s focus away from Jesus Christ. Instead of being friends “of the bridegroom,” we may become amateur providences of God to someone else, working against Him while we use His weapons.
世上最微妙的使命
新郎的朋友。 （約三29）
人的良善與純潔，不該拿來吸引人歸向自己，只該用作引人歸主的磁石。若我聖潔的目的不是歸向神，就不是真正的聖潔；這只會掀起越軌的熱情，使人偏離正路。一個卓越的聖徒，若不表彰耶穌基督，只誇耀基督為他所做的事，他就會成為別人的絆腳石。他給人的印像是－－[那人品德多麼好！ ]這不是新郎的真朋友；因[我]不斷的在興旺，而他卻不然。
為要保持對新郎的友誼和忠誠，就要留心我們和他在道德上、生命上的關係。這些比一切都重要，甚至是順服。有時沒有什麼要順服的，只要保持與耶穌基督在生命上的關係，不讓任何事物從中破壞。當然亦有需要順服的事；如有危機來到，我們便要知道神的旨意如何。可是我們大部分的生活，並非有意識的順服，而是保持與神的關係－－作新郎的朋友。基督徒所做的工作，可能會轉移別人專一向主的心，使之外鶩！我們非但不是新郎的朋友，反而往往代天行道，用神的武器，作違背他的工作。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我知道自己近來很少將生命深處對耶穌的信心實踐出來，潛藏的動機似乎經常蠢蠢欲動。求你將基督裡面的單純引進我的生命中，使我只留心要獲得你的認可。
March 17, 2014
The Servant’s Primary Goal
We make it our aim . . . to be well pleasing to Him —2 Corinthians 5:9
We make it our aim. . . .” It requires a conscious decision and effort to keep our primary goal constantly in front of us. It means holding ourselves to the highest priority year in and year out; not making our first priority to win souls, or to establish churches, or to have revivals, but seeking only “to be well pleasing to Him.” It is not a lack of spiritual experience that leads to failure, but a lack of working to keep our eyes focused and on the right goal. At least once a week examine yourself before God to see if your life is measuring up to the standard He has for you. Paul was like a musician who gives no thought to audience approval, if he can only catch a look of approval from his Conductor.
Any goal we have that diverts us even to the slightest degree from the central goal of being “approved to God” (2 Timothy 2:15) may result in our rejection from further service for Him. When you discern where the goal leads, you will understand why it is so necessary to keep “looking unto Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2). Paul spoke of the importance of controlling his own body so that it would not take him in the wrong direction. He said, “I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest . . . I myself should become disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27).
I must learn to relate everything to the primary goal, maintaining it without interruption. My worth to God publicly is measured by what I really am in my private life. Is my primary goal in life to please Him and to be acceptable to Him, or is it something less, no matter how lofty it may sound?
工人專一的情志
我們立了志向，要得主的喜悅。 （林後五9）
[立了志向（英文有勞苦作工的意思）……]乃是盡心竭力，把最大的願望擺在首位。意即由年首至歲終，持守著最高的理想。這種理想，並不是熱心去得人靈魂，或者建立教會、舉辦奮興會，而是熱衷於[得主的喜悅]。我們的失敗，並非由於缺乏屬靈的經歷，而是沒有竭力持定那理想的標竿。每一個禮拜，至少要在神面前結算一次，看看你的生命是否夠得上他所要求得水平。
保羅好像一個音樂家，他不管聽眾讚賞不讚賞，只要獲得主人得青睞，就已心滿意足了。任何野心只要稍微偏差，不指向[得主喜悅]的目標，就會叫我們成為被棄絕的人。要學習分辨心志的方向，你就會明白為什麼要向著主耶穌而活。保羅說：[我怕我的身體會領我走入歧途，因此我不斷地提高警覺，攻克己身，叫身服我。 ]（林前九27）
我必須學習把一切所做的連接在這首要的心誌上，同時保守它不間斷。在公眾面前我在身心裡有多少價值，是視乎我私下里的為人。我最高的心志是要討神喜悅，還是為了次一等看來很高貴的目標？
祈禱◆噢，主啊，為著今早的經文，我感謝你－－[所以你當歸向你的神，謹守仁愛、公平，常常等候你的神。 ]願你榮耀的同在充滿這廣大的營地；阻止罪惡，激發敬虔。
We make it our aim. . . .” It requires a conscious decision and effort to keep our primary goal constantly in front of us. It means holding ourselves to the highest priority year in and year out; not making our first priority to win souls, or to establish churches, or to have revivals, but seeking only “to be well pleasing to Him.” It is not a lack of spiritual experience that leads to failure, but a lack of working to keep our eyes focused and on the right goal. At least once a week examine yourself before God to see if your life is measuring up to the standard He has for you. Paul was like a musician who gives no thought to audience approval, if he can only catch a look of approval from his Conductor.
Any goal we have that diverts us even to the slightest degree from the central goal of being “approved to God” (2 Timothy 2:15) may result in our rejection from further service for Him. When you discern where the goal leads, you will understand why it is so necessary to keep “looking unto Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2). Paul spoke of the importance of controlling his own body so that it would not take him in the wrong direction. He said, “I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest . . . I myself should become disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27).
I must learn to relate everything to the primary goal, maintaining it without interruption. My worth to God publicly is measured by what I really am in my private life. Is my primary goal in life to please Him and to be acceptable to Him, or is it something less, no matter how lofty it may sound?
工人專一的情志
我們立了志向，要得主的喜悅。 （林後五9）
[立了志向（英文有勞苦作工的意思）……]乃是盡心竭力，把最大的願望擺在首位。意即由年首至歲終，持守著最高的理想。這種理想，並不是熱心去得人靈魂，或者建立教會、舉辦奮興會，而是熱衷於[得主的喜悅]。我們的失敗，並非由於缺乏屬靈的經歷，而是沒有竭力持定那理想的標竿。每一個禮拜，至少要在神面前結算一次，看看你的生命是否夠得上他所要求得水平。
保羅好像一個音樂家，他不管聽眾讚賞不讚賞，只要獲得主人得青睞，就已心滿意足了。任何野心只要稍微偏差，不指向[得主喜悅]的目標，就會叫我們成為被棄絕的人。要學習分辨心志的方向，你就會明白為什麼要向著主耶穌而活。保羅說：[我怕我的身體會領我走入歧途，因此我不斷地提高警覺，攻克己身，叫身服我。 ]（林前九27）
我必須學習把一切所做的連接在這首要的心誌上，同時保守它不間斷。在公眾面前我在身心裡有多少價值，是視乎我私下里的為人。我最高的心志是要討神喜悅，還是為了次一等看來很高貴的目標？
祈禱◆噢，主啊，為著今早的經文，我感謝你－－[所以你當歸向你的神，謹守仁愛、公平，常常等候你的神。 ]願你榮耀的同在充滿這廣大的營地；阻止罪惡，激發敬虔。
March 10, 2014
Being an Example of His Message
Preach the word! —2 Timothy 4:2
We are not saved only to be instruments for God, but to be His sons and daughters. He does not turn us into spiritual agents but into spiritual messengers, and the message must be a part of us. The Son of God was His own message— “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). As His disciples, our lives must be a holy example of the reality of our message. Even the natural heart of the unsaved will serve if called upon to do so, but it takes a heart broken by conviction of sin, baptized by the Holy Spirit, and crushed into submission to God’s purpose to make a person’s life a holy example of God’s message.
There is a difference between giving a testimony and preaching. A preacher is someone who has received the call of God and is determined to use all his energy to proclaim God’s truth. God takes us beyond our own aspirations and ideas for our lives, and molds and shapes us for His purpose, just as He worked in the disciples’ lives after Pentecost. The purpose of Pentecost was not to teach the disciples something, but to make them the incarnation of what they preached so that they would literally become God’s message in the flesh. “. . . you shall be witnesses to Me . . .” (Acts 1:8).
Allow God to have complete liberty in your life when you speak. Before God’s message can liberate other people, His liberation must first be real in you. Gather your material carefully, and then allow God to “set your words on fire” for His glory.
要有言教，更要有身教
務要傳道。 （提後四2）
我們得救，並不單是做[導管]，乃是做神的兒女。我們不是變成屬靈的媒介，乃是屬靈的使者；所傳的資訊必須是我們本身一部分。神的兒子本身就是神的資訊，他的話就是靈和生命。我們作他門徒的，生命必須成為資訊的印證。人天然的心喜歡做許多的事奉，但是要心靈真正在罪的自責中破碎，被聖靈澆灌，被搓揉進神的旨 意裡去，這時生命才成為資訊的印證。
作見證與講道原有分別。傳道人是有神的呼召，決志竭盡一切傳神的真理。神把我們從自己的觀念裡領出來，把我們陶冶塑造，加以使用，正如五旬節後的門徒一般。五旬節並沒有教導門徒什麼，神只是把門徒變成為他們所傳的資訊——[你們要作 我的見證]。你說話的時候，要讓神有絕對的自由。神的話釋放別人靈魂之先，必須先釋放你。然後將你所經歷的說出來，為主發光。
祈禱◆無所不知的主神，求你在今天將智慧賜給我，讓我的敬拜、正確的行為都討你的喜悅。主啊，求你在你的完全和美善中，不斷向我述說你自己的奇妙！
We are not saved only to be instruments for God, but to be His sons and daughters. He does not turn us into spiritual agents but into spiritual messengers, and the message must be a part of us. The Son of God was His own message— “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). As His disciples, our lives must be a holy example of the reality of our message. Even the natural heart of the unsaved will serve if called upon to do so, but it takes a heart broken by conviction of sin, baptized by the Holy Spirit, and crushed into submission to God’s purpose to make a person’s life a holy example of God’s message.
There is a difference between giving a testimony and preaching. A preacher is someone who has received the call of God and is determined to use all his energy to proclaim God’s truth. God takes us beyond our own aspirations and ideas for our lives, and molds and shapes us for His purpose, just as He worked in the disciples’ lives after Pentecost. The purpose of Pentecost was not to teach the disciples something, but to make them the incarnation of what they preached so that they would literally become God’s message in the flesh. “. . . you shall be witnesses to Me . . .” (Acts 1:8).
Allow God to have complete liberty in your life when you speak. Before God’s message can liberate other people, His liberation must first be real in you. Gather your material carefully, and then allow God to “set your words on fire” for His glory.
要有言教，更要有身教
務要傳道。 （提後四2）
我們得救，並不單是做[導管]，乃是做神的兒女。我們不是變成屬靈的媒介，乃是屬靈的使者；所傳的資訊必須是我們本身一部分。神的兒子本身就是神的資訊，他的話就是靈和生命。我們作他門徒的，生命必須成為資訊的印證。人天然的心喜歡做許多的事奉，但是要心靈真正在罪的自責中破碎，被聖靈澆灌，被搓揉進神的旨 意裡去，這時生命才成為資訊的印證。
作見證與講道原有分別。傳道人是有神的呼召，決志竭盡一切傳神的真理。神把我們從自己的觀念裡領出來，把我們陶冶塑造，加以使用，正如五旬節後的門徒一般。五旬節並沒有教導門徒什麼，神只是把門徒變成為他們所傳的資訊——[你們要作 我的見證]。你說話的時候，要讓神有絕對的自由。神的話釋放別人靈魂之先，必須先釋放你。然後將你所經歷的說出來，為主發光。
祈禱◆無所不知的主神，求你在今天將智慧賜給我，讓我的敬拜、正確的行為都討你的喜悅。主啊，求你在你的完全和美善中，不斷向我述說你自己的奇妙！
February 25, 2014
The Destitution Of Service
. . . though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved —2 Corinthians 12:15
Natural human love expects something in return. But Paul is saying, “It doesn’t really matter to me whether you love me or not. I am willing to be completely destitute anyway; willing to be poverty-stricken, not just for your sakes, but also that I may be able to get you to God.” “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor . . .” (2 Corinthians 8:9). And Paul’s idea of service was the same as our Lord’s. He did not care how high the cost was to himself— he would gladly pay it. It was a joyful thing to Paul.
The institutional church’s idea of a servant of God is not at all like Jesus Christ’s idea. His idea is that we serve Him by being the servants of others. Jesus Christ actually “out-socialized” the socialists. He said that in His kingdom the greatest one would be the servant of all (see Matthew 23:11). The real test of a saint is not one’s willingness to preach the gospel, but one’s willingness to do something like washing the disciples’ feet— that is, being willing to do those things that seem unimportant in human estimation but count as everything to God. It was Paul’s delight to spend his life for God’s interests in other people, and he did not care what it cost. But before we will serve, we stop to ponder our personal and financial concerns— “What if God wants me to go over there? And what about my salary? What is the climate like there? Who will take care of me? A person must consider all these things.” All that is an indication that we have reservations about serving God. But the apostle Paul had no conditions or reservations. Paul focused his life on Jesus Christ’s idea of a New Testament saint; that is, not one who merely proclaims the gospel, but one who becomes broken bread and poured-out wine in the hands of Jesus Christ for the sake of others.
傾盡的事奉
難道我越發愛你們，就越發少得你們愛麼？ （林後十二15）
天然的愛是期望回報的，但保羅卻說：[我不管你愛不愛我，我甘願竭盡一切犧牲自己，不單是為你的緣故，更是要把你帶到神那裡。 ][你們知道主耶穌基督的恩典，他本來富足，卻為你們成了貧窮。 ]保羅事奉的觀念正是：[不管我怎樣竭盡心力，也是甘心情願的。 ]對保羅來說，這是一件樂事。
神的工人要傳道這觀念，並不是耶穌基督的觀念。他的觀念是要我們藉著服役人而事奉他。 耶穌基督的思想比社會主義者更富於社會主義的色彩。他說在他的國里，最大的要作眾人的僕人。作聖徒真正的考驗不在傳講福音，乃在洗門徒的腳，就是做那些在人眼光中無足輕重的事，在神看來卻是非常重要。保羅樂意為神的緣故，不計算代價地耗盡一切為人。但我們會把經濟問題帶過來——[假如神要我到那裡，薪金怎 樣？氣候怎樣？福利怎樣？ ]人總要考慮這些的。這一切表示我們事奉神仍有保留：而使徒保羅卻毫無保留。主耶穌對新約聖徒的觀念，保羅都集中在自己的生活中；他不但傳播福音，更為別人成為擘開的餅、倒出來的酒。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，求你今天使那導致我們在你的事奉中軟弱無力的自我意識，永遠消失，這樣，我們所知道的，便只有耶穌。
Natural human love expects something in return. But Paul is saying, “It doesn’t really matter to me whether you love me or not. I am willing to be completely destitute anyway; willing to be poverty-stricken, not just for your sakes, but also that I may be able to get you to God.” “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor . . .” (2 Corinthians 8:9). And Paul’s idea of service was the same as our Lord’s. He did not care how high the cost was to himself— he would gladly pay it. It was a joyful thing to Paul.
The institutional church’s idea of a servant of God is not at all like Jesus Christ’s idea. His idea is that we serve Him by being the servants of others. Jesus Christ actually “out-socialized” the socialists. He said that in His kingdom the greatest one would be the servant of all (see Matthew 23:11). The real test of a saint is not one’s willingness to preach the gospel, but one’s willingness to do something like washing the disciples’ feet— that is, being willing to do those things that seem unimportant in human estimation but count as everything to God. It was Paul’s delight to spend his life for God’s interests in other people, and he did not care what it cost. But before we will serve, we stop to ponder our personal and financial concerns— “What if God wants me to go over there? And what about my salary? What is the climate like there? Who will take care of me? A person must consider all these things.” All that is an indication that we have reservations about serving God. But the apostle Paul had no conditions or reservations. Paul focused his life on Jesus Christ’s idea of a New Testament saint; that is, not one who merely proclaims the gospel, but one who becomes broken bread and poured-out wine in the hands of Jesus Christ for the sake of others.
傾盡的事奉
難道我越發愛你們，就越發少得你們愛麼？ （林後十二15）
天然的愛是期望回報的，但保羅卻說：[我不管你愛不愛我，我甘願竭盡一切犧牲自己，不單是為你的緣故，更是要把你帶到神那裡。 ][你們知道主耶穌基督的恩典，他本來富足，卻為你們成了貧窮。 ]保羅事奉的觀念正是：[不管我怎樣竭盡心力，也是甘心情願的。 ]對保羅來說，這是一件樂事。
神的工人要傳道這觀念，並不是耶穌基督的觀念。他的觀念是要我們藉著服役人而事奉他。 耶穌基督的思想比社會主義者更富於社會主義的色彩。他說在他的國里，最大的要作眾人的僕人。作聖徒真正的考驗不在傳講福音，乃在洗門徒的腳，就是做那些在人眼光中無足輕重的事，在神看來卻是非常重要。保羅樂意為神的緣故，不計算代價地耗盡一切為人。但我們會把經濟問題帶過來——[假如神要我到那裡，薪金怎 樣？氣候怎樣？福利怎樣？ ]人總要考慮這些的。這一切表示我們事奉神仍有保留：而使徒保羅卻毫無保留。主耶穌對新約聖徒的觀念，保羅都集中在自己的生活中；他不但傳播福音，更為別人成為擘開的餅、倒出來的酒。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，求你今天使那導致我們在你的事奉中軟弱無力的自我意識，永遠消失，這樣，我們所知道的，便只有耶穌。
February 15, 2014
"Am I My Brother’s Keeper?"
None of us lives to himself . . . —Romans 14:7
Has it ever dawned on you that you are responsible spiritually to God for other people? For instance, if I allow any turning away from God in my private life, everyone around me suffers. We “sit together in the heavenly places . . .” (Ephesians 2:6). “If one member suffers, all the members suffer with it . . .” (1 Corinthians 12:26). If you allow physical selfishness, mental carelessness, moral insensitivity, or spiritual weakness, everyone in contact with you will suffer. But you ask, “Who is sufficient to be able to live up to such a lofty standard?” “Our sufficiency is from God . . .” and God alone (2 Corinthians 3:5).
“You shall be witnesses to Me . . .” (Acts 1:8). How many of us are willing to spend every bit of our nervous, mental, moral, and spiritual energy for Jesus Christ? That is what God means when He uses the word witness. But it takes time, so be patient with yourself. Why has God left us on the earth? Is it simply to be saved and sanctified? No, it is to be at work in service to Him. Am I willing to be broken bread and poured-out wine for Him? Am I willing to be of no value to this age or this life except for one purpose and one alone— to be used to disciple men and women to the Lord Jesus Christ. My life of service to God is the way I say “thank you” to Him for His inexpressibly wonderful salvation. Remember, it is quite possible for God to set any of us aside if we refuse to be of service to Him— “. . . lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27).
我豈是看守我弟兄的嗎？
我們沒有一個人為自己活。 （羅十四7）
你有沒有想過，別人靈性的光景，在神面前我們是有責任要承擔？例如我暗地裡偏離神，四周的人都必受累。我們是[一同坐在天上]、[一個肢體受苦，所有的肢體就一同受苦]。你一旦容讓肉體的私慾、思想的怠惰，德行的放鬆、屬靈的遲鈍，你的同伴就要受損。你會說：[立這樣的標準，誰能當得起呢？ ]惟有神自己，我們所能承擔得是出於神。
[你們要作我的見證]。有多少人肯把精力、智力、德性、靈性的每一分為耶穌基督擺上呢？見證這個字在神的心目中，正是這個意思。是要用時間，要耐心。神留我們在地上是為了什麼？得拯救？得成聖？絕不，乃是為他。我願否為他成為劈開得餅，倒出得酒？我甘願被剝奪一切，完全捨棄觀點立場，只為主使萬人作門徒？我以生命作主工人，是對神說不盡得救恩和致謝。記住，每個人都有可能成為被廢棄的銀子——[……恐怕我傳福音給別人，自己反被棄絕了。 ]
祈禱◆為著你的話說——[父親怎樣憐恤他得兒女，耶和華也怎樣憐恤敬畏他的人]——我讚美你。我何其認清我所領受到的，絕不是你的嚴苛，卻全然是你的慈愛。噢，願你向我所施的慈愛、溫柔與忍耐，能夠透過我向其他人表達。
Has it ever dawned on you that you are responsible spiritually to God for other people? For instance, if I allow any turning away from God in my private life, everyone around me suffers. We “sit together in the heavenly places . . .” (Ephesians 2:6). “If one member suffers, all the members suffer with it . . .” (1 Corinthians 12:26). If you allow physical selfishness, mental carelessness, moral insensitivity, or spiritual weakness, everyone in contact with you will suffer. But you ask, “Who is sufficient to be able to live up to such a lofty standard?” “Our sufficiency is from God . . .” and God alone (2 Corinthians 3:5).
“You shall be witnesses to Me . . .” (Acts 1:8). How many of us are willing to spend every bit of our nervous, mental, moral, and spiritual energy for Jesus Christ? That is what God means when He uses the word witness. But it takes time, so be patient with yourself. Why has God left us on the earth? Is it simply to be saved and sanctified? No, it is to be at work in service to Him. Am I willing to be broken bread and poured-out wine for Him? Am I willing to be of no value to this age or this life except for one purpose and one alone— to be used to disciple men and women to the Lord Jesus Christ. My life of service to God is the way I say “thank you” to Him for His inexpressibly wonderful salvation. Remember, it is quite possible for God to set any of us aside if we refuse to be of service to Him— “. . . lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27).
我豈是看守我弟兄的嗎？
我們沒有一個人為自己活。 （羅十四7）
你有沒有想過，別人靈性的光景，在神面前我們是有責任要承擔？例如我暗地裡偏離神，四周的人都必受累。我們是[一同坐在天上]、[一個肢體受苦，所有的肢體就一同受苦]。你一旦容讓肉體的私慾、思想的怠惰，德行的放鬆、屬靈的遲鈍，你的同伴就要受損。你會說：[立這樣的標準，誰能當得起呢？ ]惟有神自己，我們所能承擔得是出於神。
[你們要作我的見證]。有多少人肯把精力、智力、德性、靈性的每一分為耶穌基督擺上呢？見證這個字在神的心目中，正是這個意思。是要用時間，要耐心。神留我們在地上是為了什麼？得拯救？得成聖？絕不，乃是為他。我願否為他成為劈開得餅，倒出得酒？我甘願被剝奪一切，完全捨棄觀點立場，只為主使萬人作門徒？我以生命作主工人，是對神說不盡得救恩和致謝。記住，每個人都有可能成為被廢棄的銀子——[……恐怕我傳福音給別人，自己反被棄絕了。 ]
祈禱◆為著你的話說——[父親怎樣憐恤他得兒女，耶和華也怎樣憐恤敬畏他的人]——我讚美你。我何其認清我所領受到的，絕不是你的嚴苛，卻全然是你的慈愛。噢，願你向我所施的慈愛、溫柔與忍耐，能夠透過我向其他人表達。
August 27, 2013
Living Your Theology
Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you . . . —John 12:35
Beware of not acting upon what you see in your moments on the mountaintop with God. If you do not obey the light, it will turn into darkness. “If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matthew 6:23). The moment you forsake the matter of sanctification or neglect anything else on which God has given you His light, your spiritual life begins to disintegrate within you. Continually bring the truth out into your real life, working it out into every area, or else even the light that you possess will itself prove to be a curse.
The most difficult person to deal with is the one who has the prideful self-satisfaction of a past experience, but is not working that experience out in his everyday life. If you say you are sanctified, show it. The experience must be so genuine that it shows in your life. Beware of any belief that makes you self-indulgent or self-gratifying; that belief came from the pit of hell itself, regardless of how beautiful it may sound.
Your theology must work itself out, exhibiting itself in your most common everyday relationships. Our Lord said, “. . . unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20). In other words, you must be more moral than the most moral person you know. You may know all about the doctrine of sanctification, but are you working it out in the everyday issues of your life? Every detail of your life, whether physical, moral, or spiritual, is to be judged and measured by the standard of the atonement by the Cross of Christ.
活的神學
應當趁著有光行走，免得黑暗臨到你們。 （約十二35）
應當把你在山上與神同在時所見的活出來。你若不順從光，光就會變成黑暗。 [你裡頭的光若黑暗了，那黑暗是何等大哩！ ]每當你放開成聖的問題，或任何事上神給你的亮光，你屬靈生命就開始陷入枯乾腐爛之中。要不斷把真理活出來，在每一個範疇內都要實行，否則你所得的光，反成了咒詛。
最難對付的人，就是因過去的經歷自滿自足，卻又沒有把經歷付諸實行的人。你若說成聖了，就要表現出來。經歷若是真的，就必然在生活中流露。當心那些叫你自我放縱的信念，不論它們有多動聽，都是從暗坑中出來的。
神學必須在最實際的關係中表現出來。主說：[你們的義若不勝於文士和法利賽人的義……]那就是說，你必須比最具德行的人更有道德。你可以懂得一切成聖的教義，但到底有沒有在生活上行出來？你生命的每一部分：身體、道德、靈性，都要憑救贖的標準去審定。
祈禱◆主啊，願我[像一顆樹栽在溪水旁，按時候結果子]。求你顯明這句話的真實。
Beware of not acting upon what you see in your moments on the mountaintop with God. If you do not obey the light, it will turn into darkness. “If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matthew 6:23). The moment you forsake the matter of sanctification or neglect anything else on which God has given you His light, your spiritual life begins to disintegrate within you. Continually bring the truth out into your real life, working it out into every area, or else even the light that you possess will itself prove to be a curse.
The most difficult person to deal with is the one who has the prideful self-satisfaction of a past experience, but is not working that experience out in his everyday life. If you say you are sanctified, show it. The experience must be so genuine that it shows in your life. Beware of any belief that makes you self-indulgent or self-gratifying; that belief came from the pit of hell itself, regardless of how beautiful it may sound.
Your theology must work itself out, exhibiting itself in your most common everyday relationships. Our Lord said, “. . . unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20). In other words, you must be more moral than the most moral person you know. You may know all about the doctrine of sanctification, but are you working it out in the everyday issues of your life? Every detail of your life, whether physical, moral, or spiritual, is to be judged and measured by the standard of the atonement by the Cross of Christ.
活的神學
應當趁著有光行走，免得黑暗臨到你們。 （約十二35）
應當把你在山上與神同在時所見的活出來。你若不順從光，光就會變成黑暗。 [你裡頭的光若黑暗了，那黑暗是何等大哩！ ]每當你放開成聖的問題，或任何事上神給你的亮光，你屬靈生命就開始陷入枯乾腐爛之中。要不斷把真理活出來，在每一個範疇內都要實行，否則你所得的光，反成了咒詛。
最難對付的人，就是因過去的經歷自滿自足，卻又沒有把經歷付諸實行的人。你若說成聖了，就要表現出來。經歷若是真的，就必然在生活中流露。當心那些叫你自我放縱的信念，不論它們有多動聽，都是從暗坑中出來的。
神學必須在最實際的關係中表現出來。主說：[你們的義若不勝於文士和法利賽人的義……]那就是說，你必須比最具德行的人更有道德。你可以懂得一切成聖的教義，但到底有沒有在生活上行出來？你生命的每一部分：身體、道德、靈性，都要憑救贖的標準去審定。
祈禱◆主啊，願我[像一顆樹栽在溪水旁，按時候結果子]。求你顯明這句話的真實。
April 09, 2013
Have You Seen Jesus?
After that, He appeared in another form to two of them . . . —Mark 16:12
Being saved and seeing Jesus are not the same thing. Many people who have never seen Jesus have received and share in God’s grace. But once you have seen Him, you can never be the same. Other things will not have the appeal they did before.
You should always recognize the difference between what you see Jesus to be and what He has done for you. If you see only what He has done for you, your God is not big enough. But if you have had a vision, seeing Jesus as He really is, experiences can come and go, yet you will endure “as seeing Him who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:27). The man who was blind from birth did not know who Jesus was until Christ appeared and revealed Himself to him (see John 9). Jesus appears to those for whom He has done something, but we cannot order or predict when He will come. He may appear suddenly, at any turn. Then you can exclaim, “Now I see Him!” (see John 9:25).
Jesus must appear to you and to your friend individually; no one can see Jesus with your eyes. And division takes place when one has seen Him and the other has not. You cannot bring your friend to the point of seeing; God must do it. Have you seen Jesus? If so, you will want others to see Him too. “And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either” (Mark 16:13). When you see Him, you must tell, even if they don’t believe.
O could I tell, you surely would believe it!
O could I only say what I have seen!
How should I tell or how can you receive it,
How, till He bringeth you where I have been?
我見過他麼？
這事以後，門徒中間有兩個人……耶穌變了形像向他們顯現。 （可十六12）
得救與看見耶穌，是兩回事。許多人在神的恩上有分，卻從未見過耶穌。但若見了耶穌，你就完全改觀了，其他事物再不像往日那樣吸引你。要時常分辨清楚，你看見的是耶穌本身，還是他為你成就的事。如果你只知道他為你做的事，那麼你的神還未夠偉大；要是你真看見耶穌本身，那麼，縱使經歷千變萬化，你仍能堅定不移，[如同看見那不能看見的主]。
那生來瞎眼的人，並不認識耶穌是誰，直等到主出現，又向他顯示，他才恍然大悟。耶穌為誰行事，就為誰顯現；只是我們不能規定他什麼時候顯現。他任何時刻都可能驀然出現；[如今我看見他！ ]
耶穌不但向你顯現，也向你的朋友顯現：別人不能藉著你的眼睛看見耶穌。一個人看見主，另一個沒看見，隔膜就從此形成，除非神領你的朋友到他面前來。你見過耶穌麼？要是見過，你一定盼望別人也看見他。 [他們就去告訴其餘的門徒，其餘的門徒也是不信。 ]即使他們不信，你仍要去傳。
[啊，但願我能告訴你，你一定會相信的！
啊，但願我能說出我所見的！
我怎樣說才好？你怎樣才接納？
怎麼樣？除非他帶你去嘗受我所經歷的。 ]
祈禱◆噢，主啊，讓我今天聽見你榮耀的聲音。噢，對我說話，以你振興的大能，在我的心靈、思想和言語中，創造屬你的安寧。
Being saved and seeing Jesus are not the same thing. Many people who have never seen Jesus have received and share in God’s grace. But once you have seen Him, you can never be the same. Other things will not have the appeal they did before.
You should always recognize the difference between what you see Jesus to be and what He has done for you. If you see only what He has done for you, your God is not big enough. But if you have had a vision, seeing Jesus as He really is, experiences can come and go, yet you will endure “as seeing Him who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:27). The man who was blind from birth did not know who Jesus was until Christ appeared and revealed Himself to him (see John 9). Jesus appears to those for whom He has done something, but we cannot order or predict when He will come. He may appear suddenly, at any turn. Then you can exclaim, “Now I see Him!” (see John 9:25).
Jesus must appear to you and to your friend individually; no one can see Jesus with your eyes. And division takes place when one has seen Him and the other has not. You cannot bring your friend to the point of seeing; God must do it. Have you seen Jesus? If so, you will want others to see Him too. “And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either” (Mark 16:13). When you see Him, you must tell, even if they don’t believe.
O could I tell, you surely would believe it!
O could I only say what I have seen!
How should I tell or how can you receive it,
How, till He bringeth you where I have been?
我見過他麼？
這事以後，門徒中間有兩個人……耶穌變了形像向他們顯現。 （可十六12）
得救與看見耶穌，是兩回事。許多人在神的恩上有分，卻從未見過耶穌。但若見了耶穌，你就完全改觀了，其他事物再不像往日那樣吸引你。要時常分辨清楚，你看見的是耶穌本身，還是他為你成就的事。如果你只知道他為你做的事，那麼你的神還未夠偉大；要是你真看見耶穌本身，那麼，縱使經歷千變萬化，你仍能堅定不移，[如同看見那不能看見的主]。
那生來瞎眼的人，並不認識耶穌是誰，直等到主出現，又向他顯示，他才恍然大悟。耶穌為誰行事，就為誰顯現；只是我們不能規定他什麼時候顯現。他任何時刻都可能驀然出現；[如今我看見他！ ]
耶穌不但向你顯現，也向你的朋友顯現：別人不能藉著你的眼睛看見耶穌。一個人看見主，另一個沒看見，隔膜就從此形成，除非神領你的朋友到他面前來。你見過耶穌麼？要是見過，你一定盼望別人也看見他。 [他們就去告訴其餘的門徒，其餘的門徒也是不信。 ]即使他們不信，你仍要去傳。
[啊，但願我能告訴你，你一定會相信的！
啊，但願我能說出我所見的！
我怎樣說才好？你怎樣才接納？
怎麼樣？除非他帶你去嘗受我所經歷的。 ]
祈禱◆噢，主啊，讓我今天聽見你榮耀的聲音。噢，對我說話，以你振興的大能，在我的心靈、思想和言語中，創造屬你的安寧。
April 07, 2013
Why We Lack Understanding
He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead —Mark 9:9
As the disciples were commanded, you should also say nothing until the Son of Man has risen in you— until the life of the risen Christ so dominates you that you truly understand what He taught while here on earth. When you grow and develop the right condition inwardly, the words Jesus spoke become so clear that you are amazed you did not grasp them before. In fact, you were not able to understand them before because you had not yet developed the proper spiritual condition to deal with them.
Our Lord doesn’t hide these things from us, but we are not prepared to receive them until we are in the right condition in our spiritual life. Jesus said, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now” (John 16:12). We must have a oneness with His risen life before we are prepared to bear any particular truth from Him. Do we really know anything about the indwelling of the risen life of Jesus? The evidence that we do is that His Word is becoming understandable to us. God cannot reveal anything to us if we don’t have His Spirit. And our own unyielding and headstrong opinions will effectively prevent God from revealing anything to us. But our insensible thinking will end immediately once His resurrection life has its way with us.
“. . . tell no one . . . .” But so many people do tell what they saw on the Mount of Transfiguration— their mountaintop experience. They have seen a vision and they testify to it, but there is no connection between what they say and how they live. Their lives don’t add up because the Son of Man has not yet risen in them. How long will it be before His resurrection life is formed and evident in you and in me?
為什麼不明明告訴我們？
耶穌囑咐他們說，人子還沒有從死裡復活，你們不要將所看見的告訴人。 （可九9）
人子還未在你面前復活，什麼都不要說－－直到基督復活的生命完全掌管你，使你真正明白基督的教訓。當你裡面有真正的改變，耶穌所說的話就很清楚明白，以致你稀奇何以從前看不出來。你從前不明白，因為你的性情沒有地方容納他的話語。
主並沒有隱藏這些事，只是我們屬靈的生命未到一個合適的地步，所以承擔不起這些事。 [我還有好些事要告訴你們，但你們現在擔當不了。 ]我們必須與主復活的生命有了連接，才能接受他的話。耶穌復活的生命如何流注，我們有所知聞嗎？證明我們知道的證據就是：我們能夠明白他的話。我們若沒有神的靈，神是無法向我們顯明真理最大的障礙。我們若對某一項教義堅持己見，神的亮光就不再照明，我們便無法得見。可是一旦他復活的生命支配我們，這愚頑不靈的光景，就會立即終止！
[不要告訴人……]但許多人都把山上變像的事實告訴人，他們見了異象，就大作見證；可是，靈命卻未成熟，因人子還未在他們心裡復活。他什麼時候才成形在你我身上呢？
祈禱◆噢，主啊，願你使我們變得柔和與溫順，被你所激勵和振奮，求你提升我們進入與你榮耀相交得境地，以致我們可以捕捉你的形像。
As the disciples were commanded, you should also say nothing until the Son of Man has risen in you— until the life of the risen Christ so dominates you that you truly understand what He taught while here on earth. When you grow and develop the right condition inwardly, the words Jesus spoke become so clear that you are amazed you did not grasp them before. In fact, you were not able to understand them before because you had not yet developed the proper spiritual condition to deal with them.
Our Lord doesn’t hide these things from us, but we are not prepared to receive them until we are in the right condition in our spiritual life. Jesus said, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now” (John 16:12). We must have a oneness with His risen life before we are prepared to bear any particular truth from Him. Do we really know anything about the indwelling of the risen life of Jesus? The evidence that we do is that His Word is becoming understandable to us. God cannot reveal anything to us if we don’t have His Spirit. And our own unyielding and headstrong opinions will effectively prevent God from revealing anything to us. But our insensible thinking will end immediately once His resurrection life has its way with us.
“. . . tell no one . . . .” But so many people do tell what they saw on the Mount of Transfiguration— their mountaintop experience. They have seen a vision and they testify to it, but there is no connection between what they say and how they live. Their lives don’t add up because the Son of Man has not yet risen in them. How long will it be before His resurrection life is formed and evident in you and in me?
為什麼不明明告訴我們？
耶穌囑咐他們說，人子還沒有從死裡復活，你們不要將所看見的告訴人。 （可九9）
人子還未在你面前復活，什麼都不要說－－直到基督復活的生命完全掌管你，使你真正明白基督的教訓。當你裡面有真正的改變，耶穌所說的話就很清楚明白，以致你稀奇何以從前看不出來。你從前不明白，因為你的性情沒有地方容納他的話語。
主並沒有隱藏這些事，只是我們屬靈的生命未到一個合適的地步，所以承擔不起這些事。 [我還有好些事要告訴你們，但你們現在擔當不了。 ]我們必須與主復活的生命有了連接，才能接受他的話。耶穌復活的生命如何流注，我們有所知聞嗎？證明我們知道的證據就是：我們能夠明白他的話。我們若沒有神的靈，神是無法向我們顯明真理最大的障礙。我們若對某一項教義堅持己見，神的亮光就不再照明，我們便無法得見。可是一旦他復活的生命支配我們，這愚頑不靈的光景，就會立即終止！
[不要告訴人……]但許多人都把山上變像的事實告訴人，他們見了異象，就大作見證；可是，靈命卻未成熟，因人子還未在他們心裡復活。他什麼時候才成形在你我身上呢？
祈禱◆噢，主啊，願你使我們變得柔和與溫順，被你所激勵和振奮，求你提升我們進入與你榮耀相交得境地，以致我們可以捕捉你的形像。
March 25, 2013
Maintaining the Proper Relationship
. . . the friend of the bridegroom . . . —John 3:29
Goodness and purity should never be traits that draw attention to themselves, but should simply be magnets that draw people to Jesus Christ. If my holiness is not drawing others to Him, it is not the right kind of holiness; it is only an influence which awakens undue emotions and evil desires in people and diverts them from heading in the right direction. A person who is a beautiful saint can be a hindrance in leading people to the Lord by presenting only what Christ has done for him, instead of presenting Jesus Christ Himself. Others will be left with this thought— “What a fine person that man is!” That is not being a true “friend of the bridegroom”— I am increasing all the time; He is not.
To maintain this friendship and faithfulness to the Bridegroom, we have to be more careful to have the moral and vital relationship to Him above everything else, including obedience. Sometimes there is nothing to obey and our only task is to maintain a vital connection with Jesus Christ, seeing that nothing interferes with it. Only occasionally is it a matter of obedience. At those times when a crisis arises, we have to find out what God’s will is. Yet most of our life is not spent in trying to be consciously obedient, but in maintaining this relationship— being the “friend of the bridegroom.” Christian work can actually be a means of diverting a person’s focus away from Jesus Christ. Instead of being friends “of the bridegroom,” we may become amateur providences of God to someone else, working against Him while we use His weapons.
世上最微妙的使命
新郎的朋友。 （約三29）
人的良善與純潔，不該拿來吸引人歸向自己，只該用作引人歸主的磁石。若我聖潔的目的不是歸向神，就不是真正的聖潔；這只會掀起越軌的熱情，使人偏離正路。一個卓越的聖徒，若不表彰耶穌基督，只誇耀基督為他所做的事，他就會成為別人的絆腳石。他給人的印像是－－[那人品德多麼好！ ]這不是新郎的真朋友；因[我]不斷的在興旺，而他卻不然。
為要保持對新郎的友誼和忠誠，就要留心我們和他在道德上、生命上的關係。這些比一切都重要，甚至是順服。有時沒有什麼要順服的，只要保持與耶穌基督在生命上的關係，不讓任何事物從中破壞。當然亦有需要順服的事；如有危機來到，我們便要知道神的旨意如何。可是我們大部分的生活，並非有意識的順服，而是保持與神的關係－－作新郎的朋友。基督徒所做的工作，可能會轉移別人專一向主的心，使之外鶩！我們非但不是新郎的朋友，反而往往代天行道，用神的武器，作違背他的工作。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我知道自己近來很少將生命深處對耶穌的信心實踐出來，潛藏的動機似乎經常蠢蠢欲動。求你將基督裡面的單純引進我的生命中，使我只留心要獲得你的認可。
Goodness and purity should never be traits that draw attention to themselves, but should simply be magnets that draw people to Jesus Christ. If my holiness is not drawing others to Him, it is not the right kind of holiness; it is only an influence which awakens undue emotions and evil desires in people and diverts them from heading in the right direction. A person who is a beautiful saint can be a hindrance in leading people to the Lord by presenting only what Christ has done for him, instead of presenting Jesus Christ Himself. Others will be left with this thought— “What a fine person that man is!” That is not being a true “friend of the bridegroom”— I am increasing all the time; He is not.
To maintain this friendship and faithfulness to the Bridegroom, we have to be more careful to have the moral and vital relationship to Him above everything else, including obedience. Sometimes there is nothing to obey and our only task is to maintain a vital connection with Jesus Christ, seeing that nothing interferes with it. Only occasionally is it a matter of obedience. At those times when a crisis arises, we have to find out what God’s will is. Yet most of our life is not spent in trying to be consciously obedient, but in maintaining this relationship— being the “friend of the bridegroom.” Christian work can actually be a means of diverting a person’s focus away from Jesus Christ. Instead of being friends “of the bridegroom,” we may become amateur providences of God to someone else, working against Him while we use His weapons.
世上最微妙的使命
新郎的朋友。 （約三29）
人的良善與純潔，不該拿來吸引人歸向自己，只該用作引人歸主的磁石。若我聖潔的目的不是歸向神，就不是真正的聖潔；這只會掀起越軌的熱情，使人偏離正路。一個卓越的聖徒，若不表彰耶穌基督，只誇耀基督為他所做的事，他就會成為別人的絆腳石。他給人的印像是－－[那人品德多麼好！ ]這不是新郎的真朋友；因[我]不斷的在興旺，而他卻不然。
為要保持對新郎的友誼和忠誠，就要留心我們和他在道德上、生命上的關係。這些比一切都重要，甚至是順服。有時沒有什麼要順服的，只要保持與耶穌基督在生命上的關係，不讓任何事物從中破壞。當然亦有需要順服的事；如有危機來到，我們便要知道神的旨意如何。可是我們大部分的生活，並非有意識的順服，而是保持與神的關係－－作新郎的朋友。基督徒所做的工作，可能會轉移別人專一向主的心，使之外鶩！我們非但不是新郎的朋友，反而往往代天行道，用神的武器，作違背他的工作。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我知道自己近來很少將生命深處對耶穌的信心實踐出來，潛藏的動機似乎經常蠢蠢欲動。求你將基督裡面的單純引進我的生命中，使我只留心要獲得你的認可。
March 17, 2013
The Servant’s Primary Goal
We make it our aim . . . to be well pleasing to Him —2 Corinthians 5:9
We make it our aim. . . .” It requires a conscious decision and effort to keep our primary goal constantly in front of us. It means holding ourselves to the highest priority year in and year out; not making our first priority to win souls, or to establish churches, or to have revivals, but seeking only “to be well pleasing to Him.” It is not a lack of spiritual experience that leads to failure, but a lack of working to keep our eyes focused and on the right goal. At least once a week examine yourself before God to see if your life is measuring up to the standard He has for you. Paul was like a musician who gives no thought to audience approval, if he can only catch a look of approval from his Conductor.
Any goal we have that diverts us even to the slightest degree from the central goal of being “approved to God” (2 Timothy 2:15) may result in our rejection from further service for Him. When you discern where the goal leads, you will understand why it is so necessary to keep “looking unto Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2). Paul spoke of the importance of controlling his own body so that it would not take him in the wrong direction. He said, “I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest . . . I myself should become disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27).
I must learn to relate everything to the primary goal, maintaining it without interruption. My worth to God publicly is measured by what I really am in my private life. Is my primary goal in life to please Him and to be acceptable to Him, or is it something less, no matter how lofty it may sound?
工人專一的情志
我們立了志向，要得主的喜悅。 （林後五9）
[立了志向（英文有勞苦作工的意思）……]乃是盡心竭力，把最大的願望擺在首位。意即由年首至歲終，持守著最高的理想。這種理想，並不是熱心去得人靈魂，或者建立教會、舉辦奮興會，而是熱衷於[得主的喜悅]。我們的失敗，並非由於缺乏屬靈的經歷，而是沒有竭力持定那理想的標竿。每一個禮拜，至少要在神面前結算一次，看看你的生命是否夠得上他所要求得水平。
保羅好像一個音樂家，他不管聽眾讚賞不讚賞，只要獲得主人得青睞，就已心滿意足了。任何野心只要稍微偏差，不指向[得主喜悅]的目標，就會叫我們成為被棄絕的人。要學習分辨心志的方向，你就會明白為什麼要向著主耶穌而活。保羅說：[我怕我的身體會領我走入歧途，因此我不斷地提高警覺，攻克己身，叫身服我。 ]（林前九27）
我必須學習把一切所做的連接在這首要的心誌上，同時保守它不間斷。在公眾面前我在身心裡有多少價值，是視乎我私下里的為人。我最高的心志是要討神喜悅，還是為了次一等看來很高貴的目標？
祈禱◆噢，主啊，為著今早的經文，我感謝你－－[所以你當歸向你的神，謹守仁愛、公平，常常等候你的神。 ]願你榮耀的同在充滿這廣大的營地；阻止罪惡，激發敬虔。
We make it our aim. . . .” It requires a conscious decision and effort to keep our primary goal constantly in front of us. It means holding ourselves to the highest priority year in and year out; not making our first priority to win souls, or to establish churches, or to have revivals, but seeking only “to be well pleasing to Him.” It is not a lack of spiritual experience that leads to failure, but a lack of working to keep our eyes focused and on the right goal. At least once a week examine yourself before God to see if your life is measuring up to the standard He has for you. Paul was like a musician who gives no thought to audience approval, if he can only catch a look of approval from his Conductor.
Any goal we have that diverts us even to the slightest degree from the central goal of being “approved to God” (2 Timothy 2:15) may result in our rejection from further service for Him. When you discern where the goal leads, you will understand why it is so necessary to keep “looking unto Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2). Paul spoke of the importance of controlling his own body so that it would not take him in the wrong direction. He said, “I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest . . . I myself should become disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27).
I must learn to relate everything to the primary goal, maintaining it without interruption. My worth to God publicly is measured by what I really am in my private life. Is my primary goal in life to please Him and to be acceptable to Him, or is it something less, no matter how lofty it may sound?
工人專一的情志
我們立了志向，要得主的喜悅。 （林後五9）
[立了志向（英文有勞苦作工的意思）……]乃是盡心竭力，把最大的願望擺在首位。意即由年首至歲終，持守著最高的理想。這種理想，並不是熱心去得人靈魂，或者建立教會、舉辦奮興會，而是熱衷於[得主的喜悅]。我們的失敗，並非由於缺乏屬靈的經歷，而是沒有竭力持定那理想的標竿。每一個禮拜，至少要在神面前結算一次，看看你的生命是否夠得上他所要求得水平。
保羅好像一個音樂家，他不管聽眾讚賞不讚賞，只要獲得主人得青睞，就已心滿意足了。任何野心只要稍微偏差，不指向[得主喜悅]的目標，就會叫我們成為被棄絕的人。要學習分辨心志的方向，你就會明白為什麼要向著主耶穌而活。保羅說：[我怕我的身體會領我走入歧途，因此我不斷地提高警覺，攻克己身，叫身服我。 ]（林前九27）
我必須學習把一切所做的連接在這首要的心誌上，同時保守它不間斷。在公眾面前我在身心裡有多少價值，是視乎我私下里的為人。我最高的心志是要討神喜悅，還是為了次一等看來很高貴的目標？
祈禱◆噢，主啊，為著今早的經文，我感謝你－－[所以你當歸向你的神，謹守仁愛、公平，常常等候你的神。 ]願你榮耀的同在充滿這廣大的營地；阻止罪惡，激發敬虔。
March 10, 2013
Being an Example of His Message
Preach the word! —2 Timothy 4:2
We are not saved only to be instruments for God, but to be His sons and daughters. He does not turn us into spiritual agents but into spiritual messengers, and the message must be a part of us. The Son of God was His own message— “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). As His disciples, our lives must be a holy example of the reality of our message. Even the natural heart of the unsaved will serve if called upon to do so, but it takes a heart broken by conviction of sin, baptized by the Holy Spirit, and crushed into submission to God’s purpose to make a person’s life a holy example of God’s message.
There is a difference between giving a testimony and preaching. A preacher is someone who has received the call of God and is determined to use all his energy to proclaim God’s truth. God takes us beyond our own aspirations and ideas for our lives, and molds and shapes us for His purpose, just as He worked in the disciples’ lives after Pentecost. The purpose of Pentecost was not to teach the disciples something, but to make them the incarnation of what they preached so that they would literally become God’s message in the flesh. “. . . you shall be witnesses to Me . . .” (Acts 1:8).
Allow God to have complete liberty in your life when you speak. Before God’s message can liberate other people, His liberation must first be real in you. Gather your material carefully, and then allow God to “set your words on fire” for His glory.
要有言教，更要有身教
務要傳道。 （提後四2）
我們得救，並不單是做[導管]，乃是做神的兒女。我們不是變成屬靈的媒介，乃是屬靈的使者；所傳的資訊必須是我們本身一部分。神的兒子本身就是神的資訊，他的話就是靈和生命。我們作他門徒的，生命必須成為資訊的印證。人天然的心喜歡做許多的事奉，但是要心靈真正在罪的自責中破碎，被聖靈澆灌，被搓揉進神的旨意裡去，這時生命才成為資訊的印證。
作見證與講道原有分別。傳道人是有神的呼召，決志竭盡一切傳神的真理。神把我們從自己的觀念裡領出來，把我們陶冶塑造，加以使用，正如五旬節後的門徒一般。五旬節並沒有教導門徒什麼，神只是把門徒變成為他們所傳的資訊——[你們要作我的見證]。你說話的時候，要讓神有絕對的自由。神的話釋放別人靈魂之先，必須先釋放你。然後將你所經歷的說出來，為主發光。
祈禱◆無所不知的主神，求你在今天將智慧賜給我，讓我的敬拜、正確的行為都討你的喜悅。主啊，求你在你的完全和美善中，不斷向我述說你自己。妙！
We are not saved only to be instruments for God, but to be His sons and daughters. He does not turn us into spiritual agents but into spiritual messengers, and the message must be a part of us. The Son of God was His own message— “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). As His disciples, our lives must be a holy example of the reality of our message. Even the natural heart of the unsaved will serve if called upon to do so, but it takes a heart broken by conviction of sin, baptized by the Holy Spirit, and crushed into submission to God’s purpose to make a person’s life a holy example of God’s message.
There is a difference between giving a testimony and preaching. A preacher is someone who has received the call of God and is determined to use all his energy to proclaim God’s truth. God takes us beyond our own aspirations and ideas for our lives, and molds and shapes us for His purpose, just as He worked in the disciples’ lives after Pentecost. The purpose of Pentecost was not to teach the disciples something, but to make them the incarnation of what they preached so that they would literally become God’s message in the flesh. “. . . you shall be witnesses to Me . . .” (Acts 1:8).
Allow God to have complete liberty in your life when you speak. Before God’s message can liberate other people, His liberation must first be real in you. Gather your material carefully, and then allow God to “set your words on fire” for His glory.
要有言教，更要有身教
務要傳道。 （提後四2）
我們得救，並不單是做[導管]，乃是做神的兒女。我們不是變成屬靈的媒介，乃是屬靈的使者；所傳的資訊必須是我們本身一部分。神的兒子本身就是神的資訊，他的話就是靈和生命。我們作他門徒的，生命必須成為資訊的印證。人天然的心喜歡做許多的事奉，但是要心靈真正在罪的自責中破碎，被聖靈澆灌，被搓揉進神的旨意裡去，這時生命才成為資訊的印證。
作見證與講道原有分別。傳道人是有神的呼召，決志竭盡一切傳神的真理。神把我們從自己的觀念裡領出來，把我們陶冶塑造，加以使用，正如五旬節後的門徒一般。五旬節並沒有教導門徒什麼，神只是把門徒變成為他們所傳的資訊——[你們要作我的見證]。你說話的時候，要讓神有絕對的自由。神的話釋放別人靈魂之先，必須先釋放你。然後將你所經歷的說出來，為主發光。
祈禱◆無所不知的主神，求你在今天將智慧賜給我，讓我的敬拜、正確的行為都討你的喜悅。主啊，求你在你的完全和美善中，不斷向我述說你自己。妙！
February 25, 2013
The Destitution Of Service
. . . though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved —2 Corinthians 12:15
Natural human love expects something in return. But Paul is saying, “It doesn’t really matter to me whether you love me or not. I am willing to be completely destitute anyway; willing to be poverty-stricken, not just for your sakes, but also that I may be able to get you to God.” “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor . . .” (2 Corinthians 8:9). And Paul’s idea of service was the same as our Lord’s. He did not care how high the cost was to himself— he would gladly pay it. It was a joyful thing to Paul.
The institutional church’s idea of a servant of God is not at all like Jesus Christ’s idea. His idea is that we serve Him by being the servants of others. Jesus Christ actually “out-socialized” the socialists. He said that in His kingdom the greatest one would be the servant of all (see Matthew 23:11). The real test of a saint is not one’s willingness to preach the gospel, but one’s willingness to do something like washing the disciples’ feet— that is, being willing to do those things that seem unimportant in human estimation but count as everything to God. It was Paul’s delight to spend his life for God’s interests in other people, and he did not care what it cost. But before we will serve, we stop to ponder our personal and financial concerns— “What if God wants me to go over there? And what about my salary? What is the climate like there? Who will take care of me? A person must consider all these things.” All that is an indication that we have reservations about serving God. But the apostle Paul had no conditions or reservations. Paul focused his life on Jesus Christ’s idea of a New Testament saint; that is, not one who merely proclaims the gospel, but one who becomes broken bread and poured-out wine in the hands of Jesus Christ for the sake of others.
傾盡的事奉
難道我越發愛你們，就越發少得你們愛麼？ （林後十二15）
天然得愛是期望回報的，但保羅卻說：[我不管你愛不愛我，我甘願竭盡一切犧牲自己，不單是為你的緣故，更是要把你帶到神那裡。 ][你們知道主耶穌基督的恩典，他本來富足，卻為你們成了貧窮。 ]保羅事奉的觀念正是：[不管我怎樣竭盡心力，也是甘心情願的。 ]對保羅來說，這是一件樂事。
神的工人要傳道這觀念，並不是耶穌基督的觀念。他的觀念是要我們藉著服役人而事奉他。耶穌基督的思想比社會主義者更富於社會主義的色彩。他說在他的國里，最大的要作眾人的僕人。作聖徒真正的考驗不在傳講福音，乃在洗門徒的腳，就是做那些在人眼光中無足輕重的事，在神看來卻是非常重要。保羅樂意為神的緣故，不計算代價地耗盡一切為人。但我們會把經濟問題帶過來——[假如神要我到那裡，薪金怎樣？氣候怎樣？福利怎樣？ ]人總要考慮這些的。這一切表示我們事奉神仍有保留：而使徒保羅卻毫無保留。主耶穌對新約聖徒的觀念，保羅都集中在自己的生活中；他不但傳播福音，更為別人成為擘開的餅、倒出來的酒。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，求你今天使那導致我們在你的事奉中軟弱無力的自我意識，永遠消失，這樣，我們所知道的，便只有耶穌。
Natural human love expects something in return. But Paul is saying, “It doesn’t really matter to me whether you love me or not. I am willing to be completely destitute anyway; willing to be poverty-stricken, not just for your sakes, but also that I may be able to get you to God.” “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor . . .” (2 Corinthians 8:9). And Paul’s idea of service was the same as our Lord’s. He did not care how high the cost was to himself— he would gladly pay it. It was a joyful thing to Paul.
The institutional church’s idea of a servant of God is not at all like Jesus Christ’s idea. His idea is that we serve Him by being the servants of others. Jesus Christ actually “out-socialized” the socialists. He said that in His kingdom the greatest one would be the servant of all (see Matthew 23:11). The real test of a saint is not one’s willingness to preach the gospel, but one’s willingness to do something like washing the disciples’ feet— that is, being willing to do those things that seem unimportant in human estimation but count as everything to God. It was Paul’s delight to spend his life for God’s interests in other people, and he did not care what it cost. But before we will serve, we stop to ponder our personal and financial concerns— “What if God wants me to go over there? And what about my salary? What is the climate like there? Who will take care of me? A person must consider all these things.” All that is an indication that we have reservations about serving God. But the apostle Paul had no conditions or reservations. Paul focused his life on Jesus Christ’s idea of a New Testament saint; that is, not one who merely proclaims the gospel, but one who becomes broken bread and poured-out wine in the hands of Jesus Christ for the sake of others.
傾盡的事奉
難道我越發愛你們，就越發少得你們愛麼？ （林後十二15）
天然得愛是期望回報的，但保羅卻說：[我不管你愛不愛我，我甘願竭盡一切犧牲自己，不單是為你的緣故，更是要把你帶到神那裡。 ][你們知道主耶穌基督的恩典，他本來富足，卻為你們成了貧窮。 ]保羅事奉的觀念正是：[不管我怎樣竭盡心力，也是甘心情願的。 ]對保羅來說，這是一件樂事。
神的工人要傳道這觀念，並不是耶穌基督的觀念。他的觀念是要我們藉著服役人而事奉他。耶穌基督的思想比社會主義者更富於社會主義的色彩。他說在他的國里，最大的要作眾人的僕人。作聖徒真正的考驗不在傳講福音，乃在洗門徒的腳，就是做那些在人眼光中無足輕重的事，在神看來卻是非常重要。保羅樂意為神的緣故，不計算代價地耗盡一切為人。但我們會把經濟問題帶過來——[假如神要我到那裡，薪金怎樣？氣候怎樣？福利怎樣？ ]人總要考慮這些的。這一切表示我們事奉神仍有保留：而使徒保羅卻毫無保留。主耶穌對新約聖徒的觀念，保羅都集中在自己的生活中；他不但傳播福音，更為別人成為擘開的餅、倒出來的酒。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，求你今天使那導致我們在你的事奉中軟弱無力的自我意識，永遠消失，這樣，我們所知道的，便只有耶穌。
February 15, 2013
"Am I My Brother’s Keeper?"
None of us lives to himself . . . —Romans 14:7
Has it ever dawned on you that you are responsible spiritually to God for other people? For instance, if I allow any turning away from God in my private life, everyone around me suffers. We “sit together in the heavenly places . . .” (Ephesians 2:6). “If one member suffers, all the members suffer with it . . .” (1 Corinthians 12:26). If you allow physical selfishness, mental carelessness, moral insensitivity, or spiritual weakness, everyone in contact with you will suffer. But you ask, “Who is sufficient to be able to live up to such a lofty standard?” “Our sufficiency is from God . . .” and God alone (2 Corinthians 3:5).
“You shall be witnesses to Me . . .” (Acts 1:8). How many of us are willing to spend every bit of our nervous, mental, moral, and spiritual energy for Jesus Christ? That is what God means when He uses the word witness. But it takes time, so be patient with yourself. Why has God left us on the earth? Is it simply to be saved and sanctified? No, it is to be at work in service to Him. Am I willing to be broken bread and poured-out wine for Him? Am I willing to be of no value to this age or this life except for one purpose and one alone— to be used to disciple men and women to the Lord Jesus Christ. My life of service to God is the way I say “thank you” to Him for His inexpressibly wonderful salvation. Remember, it is quite possible for God to set any of us aside if we refuse to be of service to Him— “. . . lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27).
我豈是看守我弟兄的嗎？
我們沒有一個人為自己活。 （羅十四7）
你有沒有想過別人靈性的光景，在神面前我們是有責任要承擔？例如我暗地裡偏離神，四周的人都必受累。我們是[一同坐在天上]、[一個肢體受苦，所有的肢體就一同受苦]。你一旦容讓肉體的私慾、思想的怠惰，德行的放鬆、屬靈的遲鈍，你的同伴就要受損。你會說：[立這樣的標準，誰能當得起呢？ ]惟有神自己，我們所能承擔得是出於神。
[你們要作我的見證]。有多少人肯把精力、智力、德性、靈性德每一分為耶穌基督擺上呢？見證這個字在神的心目中，正是這個意思。是要用時間，要耐心。神留我們在地上是為了什麼？得拯救？得成聖？絕不，乃是為他。我願否為他成為劈開得餅，倒出得酒？我甘願被剝奪一切，完全捨棄觀點立場，只為主使萬人作門徒？我以生命作主工人，是對神說不盡得救恩和致謝。記住，每個人都有可能成為被廢棄的銀子——[……恐怕我傳福音給別人，自己反被棄絕了。 ]
祈禱◆為著你的話說——[父親怎樣憐恤他得兒女，耶和華也怎樣憐恤敬畏他的人]——我讚美你。我何其認清我所領受到的，絕不是你的嚴苛，卻全然是你的慈愛。噢，願你向我所施的慈愛、溫柔與忍耐，能夠透過我向其他人表達。
Has it ever dawned on you that you are responsible spiritually to God for other people? For instance, if I allow any turning away from God in my private life, everyone around me suffers. We “sit together in the heavenly places . . .” (Ephesians 2:6). “If one member suffers, all the members suffer with it . . .” (1 Corinthians 12:26). If you allow physical selfishness, mental carelessness, moral insensitivity, or spiritual weakness, everyone in contact with you will suffer. But you ask, “Who is sufficient to be able to live up to such a lofty standard?” “Our sufficiency is from God . . .” and God alone (2 Corinthians 3:5).
“You shall be witnesses to Me . . .” (Acts 1:8). How many of us are willing to spend every bit of our nervous, mental, moral, and spiritual energy for Jesus Christ? That is what God means when He uses the word witness. But it takes time, so be patient with yourself. Why has God left us on the earth? Is it simply to be saved and sanctified? No, it is to be at work in service to Him. Am I willing to be broken bread and poured-out wine for Him? Am I willing to be of no value to this age or this life except for one purpose and one alone— to be used to disciple men and women to the Lord Jesus Christ. My life of service to God is the way I say “thank you” to Him for His inexpressibly wonderful salvation. Remember, it is quite possible for God to set any of us aside if we refuse to be of service to Him— “. . . lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27).
我豈是看守我弟兄的嗎？
我們沒有一個人為自己活。 （羅十四7）
你有沒有想過別人靈性的光景，在神面前我們是有責任要承擔？例如我暗地裡偏離神，四周的人都必受累。我們是[一同坐在天上]、[一個肢體受苦，所有的肢體就一同受苦]。你一旦容讓肉體的私慾、思想的怠惰，德行的放鬆、屬靈的遲鈍，你的同伴就要受損。你會說：[立這樣的標準，誰能當得起呢？ ]惟有神自己，我們所能承擔得是出於神。
[你們要作我的見證]。有多少人肯把精力、智力、德性、靈性德每一分為耶穌基督擺上呢？見證這個字在神的心目中，正是這個意思。是要用時間，要耐心。神留我們在地上是為了什麼？得拯救？得成聖？絕不，乃是為他。我願否為他成為劈開得餅，倒出得酒？我甘願被剝奪一切，完全捨棄觀點立場，只為主使萬人作門徒？我以生命作主工人，是對神說不盡得救恩和致謝。記住，每個人都有可能成為被廢棄的銀子——[……恐怕我傳福音給別人，自己反被棄絕了。 ]
祈禱◆為著你的話說——[父親怎樣憐恤他得兒女，耶和華也怎樣憐恤敬畏他的人]——我讚美你。我何其認清我所領受到的，絕不是你的嚴苛，卻全然是你的慈愛。噢，願你向我所施的慈愛、溫柔與忍耐，能夠透過我向其他人表達。
October 26, 2012
What is a Missionary?
Jesus said to them again, ’. . . As the Father has sent Me, I also send you’ —John 20:21
A missionary is someone sent by Jesus Christ just as He was sent by God. The great controlling factor is not the needs of people, but the command of Jesus. The source of our inspiration in our service for God is behind us, not ahead of us. The tendency today is to put the inspiration out in front— to sweep everything together in front of us and make it conform to our definition of success. But in the New Testament the inspiration is put behind us, and is the Lord Jesus Himself. The goal is to be true to Him— to carry out His plans.
Personal attachment to the Lord Jesus and to His perspective is the one thing that must not be overlooked. In missionary work the great danger is that God’s call will be replaced by the needs of the people, to the point that human sympathy for those needs will absolutely overwhelm the meaning of being sent by Jesus. The needs are so enormous, and the conditions so difficult, that every power of the mind falters and fails. We tend to forget that the one great reason underneath all missionary work is not primarily the elevation of the people, their education, nor their needs, but is first and foremost the command of Jesus Christ— “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations . . .” (Matthew 28:19).
When looking back on the lives of men and women of God, the tendency is to say, “What wonderfully keen and intelligent wisdom they had, and how perfectly they understood all that God wanted!” But the keen and intelligent mind behind them was the mind of God, not human wisdom at all. We give credit to human wisdom when we should give credit to the divine guidance of God being exhibited through childlike people who were “foolish” enough to trust God’s wisdom and His supernatural equipment.
宣教士是什麼？
"父怎樣差遣了我，我也照樣差遣你們。"約20：21
宣教士是被耶穌所差遣的人，正如耶穌被神差遣一樣。最重要的不是人的需要，而是耶穌的命令。激勵我們為神工作的根源是在後面，而不是在前面。今日的趨勢是將激勵放在前面，把每一件事帶到我們面前，使其達到我們對勝利的看法。在新約裡面，激勵是放在我們後頭，就是主耶穌。目標是向他真誠，實現他的事業。
一定不可以忽視個人對主耶穌和他的觀點的忠誠。在宣教事業中，最大的危險是神的呼召被人的需要逐漸削弱，以致人的同情心絕對的壓倒了被耶穌差遣的意義。需要是如此巨大，環境是如此令人困惑，以致我們心思裡的所有力量都動搖和失敗。我們忘記了在所有宣教事業背後最大的原因首先不是人的高尚，不是人的教育，也不是滿足他們的需要；居首位的和最重要的是耶穌基督的命令－－"所以，你們要去，使萬民作我的門徒。"（太28： 19）
當回過頭來看屬神的男女的生平，趨向說－－"他們有何等奇妙機敏的智慧！他們如此完全的明白神的旨意！"其實這機敏的心思乃是神的心思，根本不是人的智慧。我們本當信任神的屬天指引的時候，我們卻信任人的智慧；神藉著小孩子一樣的人來引導我們，他們是"愚拙"而完全信靠神的智慧和他超自然才能的人。
祈禱◆主啊，求你今天在我的禱告、敬拜和工作中，以你的靈重新膏抹我，以致在一切事情上，你都可以得居優越的位置。
A missionary is someone sent by Jesus Christ just as He was sent by God. The great controlling factor is not the needs of people, but the command of Jesus. The source of our inspiration in our service for God is behind us, not ahead of us. The tendency today is to put the inspiration out in front— to sweep everything together in front of us and make it conform to our definition of success. But in the New Testament the inspiration is put behind us, and is the Lord Jesus Himself. The goal is to be true to Him— to carry out His plans.
Personal attachment to the Lord Jesus and to His perspective is the one thing that must not be overlooked. In missionary work the great danger is that God’s call will be replaced by the needs of the people, to the point that human sympathy for those needs will absolutely overwhelm the meaning of being sent by Jesus. The needs are so enormous, and the conditions so difficult, that every power of the mind falters and fails. We tend to forget that the one great reason underneath all missionary work is not primarily the elevation of the people, their education, nor their needs, but is first and foremost the command of Jesus Christ— “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations . . .” (Matthew 28:19).
When looking back on the lives of men and women of God, the tendency is to say, “What wonderfully keen and intelligent wisdom they had, and how perfectly they understood all that God wanted!” But the keen and intelligent mind behind them was the mind of God, not human wisdom at all. We give credit to human wisdom when we should give credit to the divine guidance of God being exhibited through childlike people who were “foolish” enough to trust God’s wisdom and His supernatural equipment.
宣教士是什麼？
"父怎樣差遣了我，我也照樣差遣你們。"約20：21
宣教士是被耶穌所差遣的人，正如耶穌被神差遣一樣。最重要的不是人的需要，而是耶穌的命令。激勵我們為神工作的根源是在後面，而不是在前面。今日的趨勢是將激勵放在前面，把每一件事帶到我們面前，使其達到我們對勝利的看法。在新約裡面，激勵是放在我們後頭，就是主耶穌。目標是向他真誠，實現他的事業。
一定不可以忽視個人對主耶穌和他的觀點的忠誠。在宣教事業中，最大的危險是神的呼召被人的需要逐漸削弱，以致人的同情心絕對的壓倒了被耶穌差遣的意義。需要是如此巨大，環境是如此令人困惑，以致我們心思裡的所有力量都動搖和失敗。我們忘記了在所有宣教事業背後最大的原因首先不是人的高尚，不是人的教育，也不是滿足他們的需要；居首位的和最重要的是耶穌基督的命令－－"所以，你們要去，使萬民作我的門徒。"（太28： 19）
當回過頭來看屬神的男女的生平，趨向說－－"他們有何等奇妙機敏的智慧！他們如此完全的明白神的旨意！"其實這機敏的心思乃是神的心思，根本不是人的智慧。我們本當信任神的屬天指引的時候，我們卻信任人的智慧；神藉著小孩子一樣的人來引導我們，他們是"愚拙"而完全信靠神的智慧和他超自然才能的人。
祈禱◆主啊，求你今天在我的禱告、敬拜和工作中，以你的靈重新膏抹我，以致在一切事情上，你都可以得居優越的位置。
October 25, 2012
Submitting to God’s Purpose
I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some —1 Corinthians 9:22
A Christian worker has to learn how to be God’s man or woman of great worth and excellence in the midst of a multitude of meager and worthless things. Never protest by saying, “If only I were somewhere else!” All of God’s people are ordinary people who have been made extraordinary by the purpose He has given them. Unless we have the right purpose intellectually in our minds and lovingly in our hearts, we will very quickly be diverted from being useful to God. We are not workers for God by choice. Many people deliberately choose to be workers, but they have no purpose of God’s almighty grace or His mighty Word in them. Paul’s whole heart, mind, and soul were consumed with the great purpose of what Jesus Christ came to do, and he never lost sight of that one thing. We must continually confront ourselves with one central fact— “. . . Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).
“I chose you . . .” (John 15:16). Keep these words as a wonderful reminder in your theology. It is not that you have gotten God, but that He has gotten you. God is at work bending, breaking, molding, and doing exactly as He chooses. And why is He doing it? He is doing it for only one purpose— that He may be able to say, “This is My man, and this is My woman.” We have to be in God’s hand so that He can place others on the Rock, Jesus Christ, just as He has placed us.
Never choose to be a worker, but once God has placed His call upon you, woe be to you if you “turn aside . . . to the right or the left . . .” (Deuteronomy 28:14). He will do with you what He never did before His call came to you, and He will do with you what He is not doing with other people. Let Him have His way.
永遠的破碎
"向什麼樣的人，我就作什麼樣的人。無論如何總要救些人。"林前9：22
一個基督徒工人要學會如何在卑賤的事中成為屬神的高尚之人。千萬不要用這個藉口－－如果我在其他地方就好了！所有屬神的人都是平凡人，只是因神所給予他們的內容而成為特別。除非我們在心智和情感上都有了正確的內容，否則我們會對神毫無用處。我們不是選擇作神的工人。許多人刻意地選擇作神的工人，但在他們裡面沒有神全能的恩典，也沒有他大能的話語。保羅的整個心、思想和靈魂都被耶穌基督降世的偉大使命所吸引，他從沒有忘記這件事。我們也要面對自己在這個中心的事實－－耶穌基督並他釘十字架。
"我已經揀選了你。"要在你的信條裡牢記這偉大的話語。不是你得到了神，而是他得到了你。在這所學校裡，神在做工，他改變人，他打碎人，他模造人，按照他所揀選的去做。我們不知道他為什麼做這個，他只是為了一個唯一的目的－－就是他可以說，這是屬於我的男人，這是屬於我的女人。我們要在神的手裡，好讓他把人栽種在磐石上，就像栽種我們一樣。
不要自己選擇去做一個工人，但是當神呼召你時，如果你左推右搪，就有禍了。他會在你身上做些事情，是呼召你以前所未做過的；他會對付你，不像對其他人那樣。讓他按他的方式做吧。
A Christian worker has to learn how to be God’s man or woman of great worth and excellence in the midst of a multitude of meager and worthless things. Never protest by saying, “If only I were somewhere else!” All of God’s people are ordinary people who have been made extraordinary by the purpose He has given them. Unless we have the right purpose intellectually in our minds and lovingly in our hearts, we will very quickly be diverted from being useful to God. We are not workers for God by choice. Many people deliberately choose to be workers, but they have no purpose of God’s almighty grace or His mighty Word in them. Paul’s whole heart, mind, and soul were consumed with the great purpose of what Jesus Christ came to do, and he never lost sight of that one thing. We must continually confront ourselves with one central fact— “. . . Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).
“I chose you . . .” (John 15:16). Keep these words as a wonderful reminder in your theology. It is not that you have gotten God, but that He has gotten you. God is at work bending, breaking, molding, and doing exactly as He chooses. And why is He doing it? He is doing it for only one purpose— that He may be able to say, “This is My man, and this is My woman.” We have to be in God’s hand so that He can place others on the Rock, Jesus Christ, just as He has placed us.
Never choose to be a worker, but once God has placed His call upon you, woe be to you if you “turn aside . . . to the right or the left . . .” (Deuteronomy 28:14). He will do with you what He never did before His call came to you, and He will do with you what He is not doing with other people. Let Him have His way.
永遠的破碎
"向什麼樣的人，我就作什麼樣的人。無論如何總要救些人。"林前9：22
一個基督徒工人要學會如何在卑賤的事中成為屬神的高尚之人。千萬不要用這個藉口－－如果我在其他地方就好了！所有屬神的人都是平凡人，只是因神所給予他們的內容而成為特別。除非我們在心智和情感上都有了正確的內容，否則我們會對神毫無用處。我們不是選擇作神的工人。許多人刻意地選擇作神的工人，但在他們裡面沒有神全能的恩典，也沒有他大能的話語。保羅的整個心、思想和靈魂都被耶穌基督降世的偉大使命所吸引，他從沒有忘記這件事。我們也要面對自己在這個中心的事實－－耶穌基督並他釘十字架。
"我已經揀選了你。"要在你的信條裡牢記這偉大的話語。不是你得到了神，而是他得到了你。在這所學校裡，神在做工，他改變人，他打碎人，他模造人，按照他所揀選的去做。我們不知道他為什麼做這個，他只是為了一個唯一的目的－－就是他可以說，這是屬於我的男人，這是屬於我的女人。我們要在神的手裡，好讓他把人栽種在磐石上，就像栽種我們一樣。
不要自己選擇去做一個工人，但是當神呼召你時，如果你左推右搪，就有禍了。他會在你身上做些事情，是呼召你以前所未做過的；他會對付你，不像對其他人那樣。讓他按他的方式做吧。
October 14, 2012
The Key to the Missionary’s Work (1)
Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ’All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations . . .’ —Matthew 28:18-19
The key to the missionary’s work is the authority of Jesus Christ, not the needs of the lost. We are inclined to look on our Lord as one who assists us in our endeavors for God. Yet our Lord places Himself as the absolute sovereign and supreme Lord over His disciples. He does not say that the lost will never be saved if we don’t go— He simply says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations . . . .” He says, “Go on the basis of the revealed truth of My sovereignty, teaching and preaching out of your living experience of Me.”
“Then the eleven disciples went . . . to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them” (Matthew 28:16). If I want to know the universal sovereignty of Christ, I must know Him myself. I must take time to worship the One whose name I bear. Jesus says, “Come to Me . . .”— that is the place to meet Jesus— “all you who labor and are heavy laden . . .” (Matthew 11:28)— and how many missionaries are! We completely dismiss these wonderful words of the universal Sovereign of the world, but they are the words of Jesus to His disciples meant for here and now.
“Go therefore . . . .” To “go” simply means to live. Acts 1:8 is the description of how to go. Jesus did not say in this verse, “Go into Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria,” but, “. . . you shall be witnesses to Me in [all these places].” He takes upon Himself the work of sending us.
“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you . . .” (John 15:7)— that is the way to keep going. Where we are placed is then a matter of indifference to us, because God sovereignly engineers our goings.
“None of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus . . .” (Acts 20:24). That is how to keep going until we are gone from this life.
宣教士之鑰
耶穌進前來，對他們說：“天上地下所有的權柄都賜給我了。所以你們要去使萬民作我的門徒，……。（馬太福音28：18-19）
差傳的基礎是主耶穌的主權，而不是外邦人的需要。我們很容易視主耶穌為我們事奉神的助手，而主其實是門徒絕對、至高無上的主人。祂不是說，我們若不去，外邦人就失喪了。祂只是說：「所以你們要去，使萬民作我的門徒。 」依從我至高的權柄，去吧；因著在我裡面活生生的經歷，去教導並傳揚。
「十一個門徒往加利利去，到了耶穌約定的山上。（馬太福音28:16） 」我若要認識基督普世的主權，就必須親自認識祂，知道怎樣獨自與祂相處。我必須用時間去敬拜我所配戴的名，就是基督。 「到我這裡來。（馬太福音11：28） 」——那就是見主耶穌的地方。你勞苦擔重擔嗎？多少傳道人正是如此。主宣告祂對整個世界的主權，我們卻看為次要，但這是主對門徒親口說的話。
「所以你們要去…… 」「去」的意思是“活出來”。使徒行傳1：8「但聖靈降臨在你們身上，你們就必得著能力，並要在耶路撒冷，猶太全地，和撒瑪利亞，直到地極，作我的見證。”」是描寫怎樣去。耶穌沒有說去耶路撒冷、猶太、撒馬利亞；但祂說：「作我的見證。 」。至於「去」的地方，祂會負責安排。
「你們若常在我裡面，我的話也常在你們裡面，……（約翰福音15:7 ） 」這是保持我們個人生命活潑的途徑。神放我們在什麼地方都無關重要，因為祂自會安排。
「我卻不以性命為念，也不看為寶貴，只要行完我的路程，成就我從主耶穌所領受的職事，證明神恩惠的福音。(使徒行傳20：24) 」這就是我們工作的態度，直到死那一天。
The key to the missionary’s work is the authority of Jesus Christ, not the needs of the lost. We are inclined to look on our Lord as one who assists us in our endeavors for God. Yet our Lord places Himself as the absolute sovereign and supreme Lord over His disciples. He does not say that the lost will never be saved if we don’t go— He simply says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations . . . .” He says, “Go on the basis of the revealed truth of My sovereignty, teaching and preaching out of your living experience of Me.”
“Then the eleven disciples went . . . to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them” (Matthew 28:16). If I want to know the universal sovereignty of Christ, I must know Him myself. I must take time to worship the One whose name I bear. Jesus says, “Come to Me . . .”— that is the place to meet Jesus— “all you who labor and are heavy laden . . .” (Matthew 11:28)— and how many missionaries are! We completely dismiss these wonderful words of the universal Sovereign of the world, but they are the words of Jesus to His disciples meant for here and now.
“Go therefore . . . .” To “go” simply means to live. Acts 1:8 is the description of how to go. Jesus did not say in this verse, “Go into Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria,” but, “. . . you shall be witnesses to Me in [all these places].” He takes upon Himself the work of sending us.
“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you . . .” (John 15:7)— that is the way to keep going. Where we are placed is then a matter of indifference to us, because God sovereignly engineers our goings.
“None of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus . . .” (Acts 20:24). That is how to keep going until we are gone from this life.
宣教士之鑰
耶穌進前來，對他們說：“天上地下所有的權柄都賜給我了。所以你們要去使萬民作我的門徒，……。（馬太福音28：18-19）
差傳的基礎是主耶穌的主權，而不是外邦人的需要。我們很容易視主耶穌為我們事奉神的助手，而主其實是門徒絕對、至高無上的主人。祂不是說，我們若不去，外邦人就失喪了。祂只是說：「所以你們要去，使萬民作我的門徒。 」依從我至高的權柄，去吧；因著在我裡面活生生的經歷，去教導並傳揚。
「十一個門徒往加利利去，到了耶穌約定的山上。（馬太福音28:16） 」我若要認識基督普世的主權，就必須親自認識祂，知道怎樣獨自與祂相處。我必須用時間去敬拜我所配戴的名，就是基督。 「到我這裡來。（馬太福音11：28） 」——那就是見主耶穌的地方。你勞苦擔重擔嗎？多少傳道人正是如此。主宣告祂對整個世界的主權，我們卻看為次要，但這是主對門徒親口說的話。
「所以你們要去…… 」「去」的意思是“活出來”。使徒行傳1：8「但聖靈降臨在你們身上，你們就必得著能力，並要在耶路撒冷，猶太全地，和撒瑪利亞，直到地極，作我的見證。”」是描寫怎樣去。耶穌沒有說去耶路撒冷、猶太、撒馬利亞；但祂說：「作我的見證。 」。至於「去」的地方，祂會負責安排。
「你們若常在我裡面，我的話也常在你們裡面，……（約翰福音15:7 ） 」這是保持我們個人生命活潑的途徑。神放我們在什麼地方都無關重要，因為祂自會安排。
「我卻不以性命為念，也不看為寶貴，只要行完我的路程，成就我從主耶穌所領受的職事，證明神恩惠的福音。(使徒行傳20：24) 」這就是我們工作的態度，直到死那一天。
September 30, 2012
The Assigning of the Call
I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church . . . —Colossians 1:24
We take our own spiritual consecration and try to make it into a call of God, but when we get right with Him He brushes all this aside. Then He gives us a tremendous, riveting pain to fasten our attention on something that we never even dreamed could be His call for us. And for one radiant, flashing moment we see His purpose, and we say, “Here am I! Send me” (Isaiah 6:8).
This call has nothing to do with personal sanctification, but with being made broken bread and poured-out wine. Yet God can never make us into wine if we object to the fingers He chooses to use to crush us. We say, “If God would only use His own fingers, and make me broken bread and poured-out wine in a special way, then I wouldn’t object!” But when He uses someone we dislike, or some set of circumstances to which we said we would never submit, to crush us, then we object. Yet we must never try to choose the place of our own martyrdom. If we are ever going to be made into wine, we will have to be crushed—you cannot drink grapes. Grapes become wine only when they have been squeezed.
I wonder what finger and thumb God has been using to squeeze you? Have you been as hard as a marble and escaped? If you are not ripe yet, and if God had squeezed you anyway, the wine produced would have been remarkably bitter. To be a holy person means that the elements of our natural life experience the very presence of God as they are providentially broken in His service. We have to be placed into God and brought into agreement with Him before we can be broken bread in His hands. Stay right with God and let Him do as He likes, and you will find that He is producing the kind of bread and wine that will benefit His other children.
呼召的使命
現在我為你們受苦，倒覺快樂，並且為基督的身體，就是為教會，要在我肉身上補滿基督患難的缺欠。 （西一24）
我們在自以為是的分別為聖上，自己製造出呼召來；但當我們與神的關係和諧無間，他就把一切挪開，把我們接駁到我們從未夢想過的東西。這過程痛苦得可怖，但就在金光閃耀得一瞬，卻看出神得心意。就說：[我在這裡，請差遣我。 ]
這呼召與個人成聖無關，乃是要我們成為破碎得餅，澆奠的酒。若拒絕神的擠壓，酒永遠不會成酒。但願神用自己的指頭，用特別的方法來是我成劈開的餅澆奠的酒就好了！但他往往用我們不喜歡的人，或用我們曾說死也不依順的環境來做壓器，於是，我們就抗拒了。我們千萬不可自己挑選殉道的場景。若要成酒，就必須被壓榨；葡萄是不能喝的，必須被擠壓才能成酒。我不知道神用什麼樣的指頭來擠壓，而你就像彈子一般滾避開去。若神在你尚未成熟時壓榨你，那酒就會苦澀得可怕。分別為聖的意思，就是天然生命的每一部分，被神破碎。在事奉中，有神自己的臨在。我們若要在他手中成為劈開的餅，就要先與他配合。要與神有正確的關係，讓他可以隨意而行。這樣你會發現，他要用你做出對其他兒女有益的餅和酒來。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，願你今天是我脫離慌張忙亂讓我保持平靜和單純屬你。願你使這個地方成為神的居所，以及人靈魂進入天堂的門檻。
We take our own spiritual consecration and try to make it into a call of God, but when we get right with Him He brushes all this aside. Then He gives us a tremendous, riveting pain to fasten our attention on something that we never even dreamed could be His call for us. And for one radiant, flashing moment we see His purpose, and we say, “Here am I! Send me” (Isaiah 6:8).
This call has nothing to do with personal sanctification, but with being made broken bread and poured-out wine. Yet God can never make us into wine if we object to the fingers He chooses to use to crush us. We say, “If God would only use His own fingers, and make me broken bread and poured-out wine in a special way, then I wouldn’t object!” But when He uses someone we dislike, or some set of circumstances to which we said we would never submit, to crush us, then we object. Yet we must never try to choose the place of our own martyrdom. If we are ever going to be made into wine, we will have to be crushed—you cannot drink grapes. Grapes become wine only when they have been squeezed.
I wonder what finger and thumb God has been using to squeeze you? Have you been as hard as a marble and escaped? If you are not ripe yet, and if God had squeezed you anyway, the wine produced would have been remarkably bitter. To be a holy person means that the elements of our natural life experience the very presence of God as they are providentially broken in His service. We have to be placed into God and brought into agreement with Him before we can be broken bread in His hands. Stay right with God and let Him do as He likes, and you will find that He is producing the kind of bread and wine that will benefit His other children.
呼召的使命
現在我為你們受苦，倒覺快樂，並且為基督的身體，就是為教會，要在我肉身上補滿基督患難的缺欠。 （西一24）
我們在自以為是的分別為聖上，自己製造出呼召來；但當我們與神的關係和諧無間，他就把一切挪開，把我們接駁到我們從未夢想過的東西。這過程痛苦得可怖，但就在金光閃耀得一瞬，卻看出神得心意。就說：[我在這裡，請差遣我。 ]
這呼召與個人成聖無關，乃是要我們成為破碎得餅，澆奠的酒。若拒絕神的擠壓，酒永遠不會成酒。但願神用自己的指頭，用特別的方法來是我成劈開的餅澆奠的酒就好了！但他往往用我們不喜歡的人，或用我們曾說死也不依順的環境來做壓器，於是，我們就抗拒了。我們千萬不可自己挑選殉道的場景。若要成酒，就必須被壓榨；葡萄是不能喝的，必須被擠壓才能成酒。我不知道神用什麼樣的指頭來擠壓，而你就像彈子一般滾避開去。若神在你尚未成熟時壓榨你，那酒就會苦澀得可怕。分別為聖的意思，就是天然生命的每一部分，被神破碎。在事奉中，有神自己的臨在。我們若要在他手中成為劈開的餅，就要先與他配合。要與神有正確的關係，讓他可以隨意而行。這樣你會發現，他要用你做出對其他兒女有益的餅和酒來。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，願你今天是我脫離慌張忙亂讓我保持平靜和單純屬你。願你使這個地方成為神的居所，以及人靈魂進入天堂的門檻。
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