But when it pleased God. . . — Galatians 1:15
As workers for God we have to learn to make room for God – to give God "elbow room." We calculate and estimate, and say that this and that will happen, and we forget to make room for God to come in as He chooses. Would we be surprised if God came into our meeting or into our preaching in a way we had never looked for Him to come? Do not look for God to come in any particular way, but look for Him. That is the way to make room for Him. Expect Him to come, but do not expect Him only in a certain way. However much we may know God, the great lesson to learn is that at any minute He may break in. We are apt to over look this element of surprise, yet God never works in any other way. All of a sudden God meets the life – "When it was the good pleasure of God. . ."
Keep your life so constant in its contact with God that His surprising power may break out on the right hand and on the left. Always be in a state of expectancy, and see that you leave room for God to come in as He likes.
留位置給神
神既然樂意。 。 。 。 。 。 （加一15-16）
作為神的工人，我們必須學習給神留下應有的地位，就是給他有自由活動的空間。我們會計算量度，說這個那個會這樣那樣，卻忘記騰出空間，給神自由進出的餘地。神若突然闖入我們的聚會中，或我們講道時他來了，我們會詫異嗎？不要指望神照你指定的方式來到，只要注目在他身上，這才是給他空間。要指望他來，但不要限制他只能用某種方式來。不論我們認識神有多少，最重要的是要知道：神任何一分鐘都可以裂天而降。我們很容易忽視這個突如其來的可能性，其實神做工一向就是如此。神往往出其不意地臨到人當中——[神樂意。 。 。 。 。 。 ]。
經常與神保持貼近，以致神奇異的大能隨時地從他右手或左手發出。要常在期待當中，給神空間隨他的意思降臨。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，求你以愛慕的枷鎖將我與你結連；在你差派我時，以你的眷佑環繞我；加添我的能力，以致我愈來愈能夠被你使用。
January 25, 2013
January 24, 2013
God’s Overpowering Purpose
I have appeared to you for this purpose . . .—Acts 26:16
The vision Paul had on the road to Damascus was not a passing emotional experience, but a vision that had very clear and emphatic directions for him. And Paul stated, “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision” (Acts 26:19). Our Lord said to Paul, in effect, “Your whole life is to be overpowered or subdued by Me; you are to have no end, no aim, and no purpose but Mine.” And the Lord also says to us, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go . . .” (John 15:16).
When we are born again, if we are spiritual at all, we have visions of what Jesus wants us to be. It is important that I learn not to be “disobedient to the heavenly vision”—not to doubt that it can be attained. It is not enough to give mental assent to the fact that God has redeemed the world, nor even to know that the Holy Spirit can make all that Jesus did a reality in my life. I must have the foundation of a personal relationship with Him. Paul was not given a message or a doctrine to proclaim. He was brought into a vivid, personal, overpowering relationship with Jesus Christ. Acts 26:16 is tremendously compelling “. . . to make you a minister and a witness . . . .” There would be nothing there without a personal relationship. Paul was devoted to a Person, not to a cause. He was absolutely Jesus Christ’s. He saw nothing else and he lived for nothing else. “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).
全權在握的指揮
我特意向你顯現。 （徒二十六16）
保羅在大馬色路上所見的異象，絕非霎時的衝動，而是十分清楚肯定是從神而來的指示，因此他說：[故此我沒有違背那從天上來的異象。 ]主其實是對保羅說：[你的一生完全由我作主；除了我，你不能再有任何目標與計畫。 ]我揀選了他。我們重生了，必然都有異象。要是我們要靈命長進，便要行主要我們行的；而最要緊的就是學習不違背異象，不要說那是無法達致的（或作高不可及的）。
單單知道神救贖了世人，又知道聖靈叫耶穌所成就的一切，並實現在我身上，這還是不夠的；我必須與他有個人的關係，作為根基。保羅所得的不是一篇道理，一套教義，叫他去傳揚；他乃是與耶穌基督有一個親身的經歷，讓主完全佔有了他。第16節最令人觸目——[派你作執事作見證]。保羅是效忠於主，而不是一個使命。他是完完全全屬於耶穌基督的；此外，便別無所見，也不再為別的事物而活。 [我在你們中間不知道別的，只知道耶穌基督，並他釘十字架。 ]
祈禱◆噢，主啊，求你以愛慕的枷鎖將我與你結連；在你差派我時，以你的眷佑環繞我；加添我的能力，以致我愈來愈能夠被你使用。
The vision Paul had on the road to Damascus was not a passing emotional experience, but a vision that had very clear and emphatic directions for him. And Paul stated, “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision” (Acts 26:19). Our Lord said to Paul, in effect, “Your whole life is to be overpowered or subdued by Me; you are to have no end, no aim, and no purpose but Mine.” And the Lord also says to us, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go . . .” (John 15:16).
When we are born again, if we are spiritual at all, we have visions of what Jesus wants us to be. It is important that I learn not to be “disobedient to the heavenly vision”—not to doubt that it can be attained. It is not enough to give mental assent to the fact that God has redeemed the world, nor even to know that the Holy Spirit can make all that Jesus did a reality in my life. I must have the foundation of a personal relationship with Him. Paul was not given a message or a doctrine to proclaim. He was brought into a vivid, personal, overpowering relationship with Jesus Christ. Acts 26:16 is tremendously compelling “. . . to make you a minister and a witness . . . .” There would be nothing there without a personal relationship. Paul was devoted to a Person, not to a cause. He was absolutely Jesus Christ’s. He saw nothing else and he lived for nothing else. “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).
全權在握的指揮
我特意向你顯現。 （徒二十六16）
保羅在大馬色路上所見的異象，絕非霎時的衝動，而是十分清楚肯定是從神而來的指示，因此他說：[故此我沒有違背那從天上來的異象。 ]主其實是對保羅說：[你的一生完全由我作主；除了我，你不能再有任何目標與計畫。 ]我揀選了他。我們重生了，必然都有異象。要是我們要靈命長進，便要行主要我們行的；而最要緊的就是學習不違背異象，不要說那是無法達致的（或作高不可及的）。
單單知道神救贖了世人，又知道聖靈叫耶穌所成就的一切，並實現在我身上，這還是不夠的；我必須與他有個人的關係，作為根基。保羅所得的不是一篇道理，一套教義，叫他去傳揚；他乃是與耶穌基督有一個親身的經歷，讓主完全佔有了他。第16節最令人觸目——[派你作執事作見證]。保羅是效忠於主，而不是一個使命。他是完完全全屬於耶穌基督的；此外，便別無所見，也不再為別的事物而活。 [我在你們中間不知道別的，只知道耶穌基督，並他釘十字架。 ]
祈禱◆噢，主啊，求你以愛慕的枷鎖將我與你結連；在你差派我時，以你的眷佑環繞我；加添我的能力，以致我愈來愈能夠被你使用。
January 23, 2013
Transformed by Beholding
We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image . . . —2 Corinthians 3:18
The greatest characteristic a Christian can exhibit is this completely unveiled openness before God, which allows that person’s life to become a mirror for others. When the Spirit fills us, we are transformed, and by beholding God we become mirrors. You can always tell when someone has been beholding the glory of the Lord, because your inner spirit senses that he mirrors the Lord’s own character. Beware of anything that would spot or tarnish that mirror in you. It is almost always something good that will stain it— something good, but not what is best.
The most important rule for us is to concentrate on keeping our lives open to God. Let everything else including work, clothes, and food be set aside. The busyness of things obscures our concentration on God. We must maintain a position of beholding Him, keeping our lives completely spiritual through and through. Let other things come and go as they will; let other people criticize us as they will; but never allow anything to obscure the life that “is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). Never let a hurried lifestyle disturb the relationship of abiding in Him. This is an easy thing to allow, but we must guard against it. The most difficult lesson of the Christian life is learning how to continue “beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord . . . .”
因瞻仰而改變
我們眾人既然敞著臉，得以看見主的榮光，好像從鏡子裡反照，就變成主的形狀。 （林後三18）
信徒最卓越的品德與特徵，就是在神面前毫無掩飾，以致她的生命成為別人的一面鏡子。我們被聖靈充滿而改變，又因[定睛仰望]而成為鏡子。一個人若有主的榮光，你必然回覺察出來，也會感到他正是主性情的反照。要提防那些叫這鏡子模糊的東西；這些東西多半是好的，卻不是最好的。
你我生活的準則，就是要專注地保持向神開放。其他一切如工作、服飾、食物，地上的東西就任它去吧。次要的東西不斷湧來，很容易阻礙對神的專一。所以我們要常常瞻仰主的榮光，同時要保持生命完全屬靈。旁的事隨它去吧，旁的人任他批評吧，卻絕不可讓任何事務迷糊了與基督一同藏在神裡面的生命。不要讓忙亂破壞了你與他同住的關係，雖然這是很容易被搖動的。信徒生活上最嚴格的操練，就是學習不斷[看見主的榮光，好像從鏡子反照。 ]
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我完全仰賴你。離了你，我就毫無價值。求你今天將智慧、明辨和敏悟的心賜給我。
The greatest characteristic a Christian can exhibit is this completely unveiled openness before God, which allows that person’s life to become a mirror for others. When the Spirit fills us, we are transformed, and by beholding God we become mirrors. You can always tell when someone has been beholding the glory of the Lord, because your inner spirit senses that he mirrors the Lord’s own character. Beware of anything that would spot or tarnish that mirror in you. It is almost always something good that will stain it— something good, but not what is best.
The most important rule for us is to concentrate on keeping our lives open to God. Let everything else including work, clothes, and food be set aside. The busyness of things obscures our concentration on God. We must maintain a position of beholding Him, keeping our lives completely spiritual through and through. Let other things come and go as they will; let other people criticize us as they will; but never allow anything to obscure the life that “is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). Never let a hurried lifestyle disturb the relationship of abiding in Him. This is an easy thing to allow, but we must guard against it. The most difficult lesson of the Christian life is learning how to continue “beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord . . . .”
因瞻仰而改變
我們眾人既然敞著臉，得以看見主的榮光，好像從鏡子裡反照，就變成主的形狀。 （林後三18）
信徒最卓越的品德與特徵，就是在神面前毫無掩飾，以致她的生命成為別人的一面鏡子。我們被聖靈充滿而改變，又因[定睛仰望]而成為鏡子。一個人若有主的榮光，你必然回覺察出來，也會感到他正是主性情的反照。要提防那些叫這鏡子模糊的東西；這些東西多半是好的，卻不是最好的。
你我生活的準則，就是要專注地保持向神開放。其他一切如工作、服飾、食物，地上的東西就任它去吧。次要的東西不斷湧來，很容易阻礙對神的專一。所以我們要常常瞻仰主的榮光，同時要保持生命完全屬靈。旁的事隨它去吧，旁的人任他批評吧，卻絕不可讓任何事務迷糊了與基督一同藏在神裡面的生命。不要讓忙亂破壞了你與他同住的關係，雖然這是很容易被搖動的。信徒生活上最嚴格的操練，就是學習不斷[看見主的榮光，好像從鏡子反照。 ]
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我完全仰賴你。離了你，我就毫無價值。求你今天將智慧、明辨和敏悟的心賜給我。
January 22, 2013
Am I Looking To God?
Look to Me, and be saved . . . —Isaiah 45:22
Do we expect God to come to us with His blessings and save us? He says, “Look to Me, and be saved . . . .” The greatest difficulty spiritually is to concentrate on God, and His blessings are what make it so difficult. Troubles almost always make us look to God, but His blessings tend to divert our attention elsewhere. The basic lesson of the Sermon on the Mount is to narrow all your interests until your mind, heart, and body are focused on Jesus Christ. “Look to Me . . . .”
Many of us have a mental picture of what a Christian should be, and looking at this image in other Christians’ lives becomes a hindrance to our focusing on God. This is not salvation— it is not simple enough. He says, in effect, “Look to Me and you are saved,” not “You will be saved someday.” We will find what we are looking for if we will concentrate on Him. We get distracted from God and irritable with Him while He continues to say to us, “Look to Me, and be saved . . . .” Our difficulties, our trials, and our worries about tomorrow all vanish when we look to God.
Wake yourself up and look to God. Build your hope on Him. No matter how many things seem to be pressing in on you, be determined to push them aside and look to Him. “Look to Me . . . .” Salvation is yours the moment you look.
我觀望什麼？
地極的人都當仰望我，就必得救。 （賽四十五22）
我們是否指望神帶著許多祝福來拯救我們？他說：[仰望我，就必得救。 ]屬靈生命上最難做到的，就是專心一意仰望神，這可是出於他的祝福。因為困難使我們仰望神，祝福卻使我們望到別處去。登山寶訓的精意，其實是：把你所有的注意力收窄，直到你的心志、心靈與身體，完全集中在主耶穌身上——仰望他。
不少人對做基督徒存一固定模式，就是其他聖徒的榜樣，成了我們集中在神身上的障礙。這樣是不會得救的，那太複雜了。 [仰望我]不是[將會得救]，而是[就必得救]。我們期盼的東西，只要集中在他身上，就必得著。但我們對神往往心不在焉，或向神怨嘆憤懣，可是他卻一直在對我們說：[仰望我就得救。 ]一切困難試煉，如這個暑假我有什麼計畫，明天又該作什麼？這些縈回在腦際的問題，一經仰望神，都會得著解決了。
醒來吧，仰望神。把盼望建築在神身上，不論有多少件事情壓著你，只管放下它們，一心一意望著他。 [仰望我]，必得救，就在你望的一剎那。
祈禱◆主啊，我仰望你。我何其瞭解[在我裡面沒有良善]；然而，你的恩典是何等奇妙，我如今竟發現自己的內心，除了你的榮耀以外，再別無他求。
Do we expect God to come to us with His blessings and save us? He says, “Look to Me, and be saved . . . .” The greatest difficulty spiritually is to concentrate on God, and His blessings are what make it so difficult. Troubles almost always make us look to God, but His blessings tend to divert our attention elsewhere. The basic lesson of the Sermon on the Mount is to narrow all your interests until your mind, heart, and body are focused on Jesus Christ. “Look to Me . . . .”
Many of us have a mental picture of what a Christian should be, and looking at this image in other Christians’ lives becomes a hindrance to our focusing on God. This is not salvation— it is not simple enough. He says, in effect, “Look to Me and you are saved,” not “You will be saved someday.” We will find what we are looking for if we will concentrate on Him. We get distracted from God and irritable with Him while He continues to say to us, “Look to Me, and be saved . . . .” Our difficulties, our trials, and our worries about tomorrow all vanish when we look to God.
Wake yourself up and look to God. Build your hope on Him. No matter how many things seem to be pressing in on you, be determined to push them aside and look to Him. “Look to Me . . . .” Salvation is yours the moment you look.
我觀望什麼？
地極的人都當仰望我，就必得救。 （賽四十五22）
我們是否指望神帶著許多祝福來拯救我們？他說：[仰望我，就必得救。 ]屬靈生命上最難做到的，就是專心一意仰望神，這可是出於他的祝福。因為困難使我們仰望神，祝福卻使我們望到別處去。登山寶訓的精意，其實是：把你所有的注意力收窄，直到你的心志、心靈與身體，完全集中在主耶穌身上——仰望他。
不少人對做基督徒存一固定模式，就是其他聖徒的榜樣，成了我們集中在神身上的障礙。這樣是不會得救的，那太複雜了。 [仰望我]不是[將會得救]，而是[就必得救]。我們期盼的東西，只要集中在他身上，就必得著。但我們對神往往心不在焉，或向神怨嘆憤懣，可是他卻一直在對我們說：[仰望我就得救。 ]一切困難試煉，如這個暑假我有什麼計畫，明天又該作什麼？這些縈回在腦際的問題，一經仰望神，都會得著解決了。
醒來吧，仰望神。把盼望建築在神身上，不論有多少件事情壓著你，只管放下它們，一心一意望著他。 [仰望我]，必得救，就在你望的一剎那。
祈禱◆主啊，我仰望你。我何其瞭解[在我裡面沒有良善]；然而，你的恩典是何等奇妙，我如今竟發現自己的內心，除了你的榮耀以外，再別無他求。
January 21, 2013
Recall What God Remembers
Thus says the Lord: ’I remember . . . the kindness of your youth . . .’ —Jeremiah 2:2
Am I as spontaneously kind to God as I used to be, or am I only expecting God to be kind to me? Does everything in my life fill His heart with gladness, or do I constantly complain because things don’t seem to be going my way? A person who has forgotten what God treasures will not be filled with joy. It is wonderful to remember that Jesus Christ has needs which we can meet— “Give Me a drink” (John 4:7). How much kindness have I shown Him in the past week? Has my life been a good reflection on His reputation?
God is saying to His people, “You are not in love with Me now, but I remember a time when you were.” He says, “I remember . . . the love of your betrothal . . .” (Jeremiah 2:2). Am I as filled to overflowing with love for Jesus Christ as I was in the beginning, when I went out of my way to prove my devotion to Him? Does He ever find me pondering the time when I cared only for Him? Is that where I am now, or have I chosen man’s wisdom over true love for Him? Am I so in love with Him that I take no thought for where He might lead me? Or am I watching to see how much respect I get as I measure how much service I should give Him?
As I recall what God remembers about me, I may also begin to realize that He is not what He used to be to me. When this happens, I should allow the shame and humiliation it creates in my life, because it will bring godly sorrow, and “godly sorrow produces repentance . . .” (2 Corinthians 7:10).
想想神記得什麼？
你幼年的恩愛……我都記得。 （耶二2）
我愛神是否像昔日一樣甘心自發？還是只指望以仁慈對待我？我有沒有許多微小的事可以討他歡心？還是因路不順遂而唉哼怨嘆？你心若忘記了神所看為寶貴的，就不會喜樂。試想主耶穌需要我——[請給我水喝]，這是多麼美妙的事！過去的一個禮拜裡，我怎樣表示愛他呢？在我的生活中，有沒有彰顯他的名呢？
神對他子民說：[你現在不再愛我了，但我很記得你愛我的那段日子。 ][我記得……你婚姻般的愛情。 ]當日我怎樣撇開一切，表明誠心愛他；如今，我是否仍對他有這不斷湧流的愛情？我除了他別無眷戀的日子，是否要在回憶中去追尋？我如今還在那境地，還是懂得怎樣去愛他？我是否深深地愛他而不管前途如何？還是在註視自己該得的地位，估計著該擺上多少事奉？假若我想起神紀念我的日子，卻發覺他在我心中已不復昔日重要的地位，就叫我羞愧自卑，因為羞愧會帶來憂愁，叫我悔改。
祈禱◆主啊，我何等渴望你帶領我與你面對面！我的靈渴想著你、你恩典的觸動和你聖靈的氣息。
Am I as spontaneously kind to God as I used to be, or am I only expecting God to be kind to me? Does everything in my life fill His heart with gladness, or do I constantly complain because things don’t seem to be going my way? A person who has forgotten what God treasures will not be filled with joy. It is wonderful to remember that Jesus Christ has needs which we can meet— “Give Me a drink” (John 4:7). How much kindness have I shown Him in the past week? Has my life been a good reflection on His reputation?
God is saying to His people, “You are not in love with Me now, but I remember a time when you were.” He says, “I remember . . . the love of your betrothal . . .” (Jeremiah 2:2). Am I as filled to overflowing with love for Jesus Christ as I was in the beginning, when I went out of my way to prove my devotion to Him? Does He ever find me pondering the time when I cared only for Him? Is that where I am now, or have I chosen man’s wisdom over true love for Him? Am I so in love with Him that I take no thought for where He might lead me? Or am I watching to see how much respect I get as I measure how much service I should give Him?
As I recall what God remembers about me, I may also begin to realize that He is not what He used to be to me. When this happens, I should allow the shame and humiliation it creates in my life, because it will bring godly sorrow, and “godly sorrow produces repentance . . .” (2 Corinthians 7:10).
想想神記得什麼？
你幼年的恩愛……我都記得。 （耶二2）
我愛神是否像昔日一樣甘心自發？還是只指望以仁慈對待我？我有沒有許多微小的事可以討他歡心？還是因路不順遂而唉哼怨嘆？你心若忘記了神所看為寶貴的，就不會喜樂。試想主耶穌需要我——[請給我水喝]，這是多麼美妙的事！過去的一個禮拜裡，我怎樣表示愛他呢？在我的生活中，有沒有彰顯他的名呢？
神對他子民說：[你現在不再愛我了，但我很記得你愛我的那段日子。 ][我記得……你婚姻般的愛情。 ]當日我怎樣撇開一切，表明誠心愛他；如今，我是否仍對他有這不斷湧流的愛情？我除了他別無眷戀的日子，是否要在回憶中去追尋？我如今還在那境地，還是懂得怎樣去愛他？我是否深深地愛他而不管前途如何？還是在註視自己該得的地位，估計著該擺上多少事奉？假若我想起神紀念我的日子，卻發覺他在我心中已不復昔日重要的地位，就叫我羞愧自卑，因為羞愧會帶來憂愁，叫我悔改。
祈禱◆主啊，我何等渴望你帶領我與你面對面！我的靈渴想著你、你恩典的觸動和你聖靈的氣息。
January 20, 2013
Are You Fresh for Everything?
Jesus answered and said to him, ’Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God’ —John 3:3
Sometimes we are fresh and eager to attend a prayer meeting, but do we feel that same freshness for such mundane tasks as polishing shoes?
Being born again by the Spirit is an unmistakable work of God, as mysterious as the wind, and as surprising as God Himself. We don’t know where it begins— it is hidden away in the depths of our soul. Being born again from above is an enduring, perpetual, and eternal beginning. It provides a freshness all the time in thinking, talking, and living— a continual surprise of the life of God. Staleness is an indication that something in our lives is out of step with God. We say to ourselves, “I have to do this thing or it will never get done.” That is the first sign of staleness. Do we feel fresh this very moment or are we stale, frantically searching our minds for something to do? Freshness is not the result of obedience; it comes from the Holy Spirit. Obedience keeps us “in the light as He is in the light . . .” (1 John 1:7).
Jealously guard your relationship with God. Jesus prayed “that they may be one just as We are one”-with nothing in between (John 17:22). Keep your whole life continually open to Jesus Christ. Don’t pretend to be open with Him. Are you drawing your life from any source other than God Himself? If you are depending on something else as your source of freshness and strength, you will not realize when His power is gone.
Being born of the Spirit means much more than we usually think. It gives us new vision and keeps us absolutely fresh for everything through the never-ending supply of the life of God.
你對每事物都有新鮮的感覺嗎？
人若不重生，就不能見神的國。 （約三3）
有時我們對祈禱會很感興趣，但對洗臟靴子卻一點興趣也沒有。從聖靈重生，絕無疑問是神的工作，這如風的來去無踪，像神一樣叫人驚訝莫測。我們不曉得它始於何方，卻隱藏在我們生命的深處。從神而來的重生，是連綿不絕，永不衰息的永恆開端。這生命在任何時刻都是有生氣的——在思想上、話語上、生活上，都是如此；是不住活在神測不透的奇妙中。陳舊腐朽的思想表示有些地方與神脫節了。 [我一定要這樣做，否則永遠也辦不成。 ]這是臣服的第一跡象。我們這一分鐘是否活潑重生？還是呆滯不前，絞盡腦汁地去找事情來做？活潑的生命不是從順服而來，乃是從聖靈而來的。順服不過使我們活在光中，正如神在活光中一樣。緊緊維持你與神的關係。耶穌禱告說：[使他們合一，正如我們合一一樣。 ]毫無阻隔地，讓你生命全然地向他敞開，不要對他裝模作樣。除神之外，你還能從其他源頭支取生命麼？若你不單靠他，還去靠賴別的東西，那麼他什麼時候走了，你也不覺察。從聖靈而生的意思是何等深廣，超乎我們一般所論的。它給我們新的異象，使我們對每事每物都感到新鮮有趣，這都因神源源不斷的生命力。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，吹向我，直至我的意念、心思和氣質，都能與你一致。我的依靠在乎你。我再一次透徹認知到，沒有了你，我是何其失喪！
Sometimes we are fresh and eager to attend a prayer meeting, but do we feel that same freshness for such mundane tasks as polishing shoes?
Being born again by the Spirit is an unmistakable work of God, as mysterious as the wind, and as surprising as God Himself. We don’t know where it begins— it is hidden away in the depths of our soul. Being born again from above is an enduring, perpetual, and eternal beginning. It provides a freshness all the time in thinking, talking, and living— a continual surprise of the life of God. Staleness is an indication that something in our lives is out of step with God. We say to ourselves, “I have to do this thing or it will never get done.” That is the first sign of staleness. Do we feel fresh this very moment or are we stale, frantically searching our minds for something to do? Freshness is not the result of obedience; it comes from the Holy Spirit. Obedience keeps us “in the light as He is in the light . . .” (1 John 1:7).
Jealously guard your relationship with God. Jesus prayed “that they may be one just as We are one”-with nothing in between (John 17:22). Keep your whole life continually open to Jesus Christ. Don’t pretend to be open with Him. Are you drawing your life from any source other than God Himself? If you are depending on something else as your source of freshness and strength, you will not realize when His power is gone.
Being born of the Spirit means much more than we usually think. It gives us new vision and keeps us absolutely fresh for everything through the never-ending supply of the life of God.
你對每事物都有新鮮的感覺嗎？
人若不重生，就不能見神的國。 （約三3）
有時我們對祈禱會很感興趣，但對洗臟靴子卻一點興趣也沒有。從聖靈重生，絕無疑問是神的工作，這如風的來去無踪，像神一樣叫人驚訝莫測。我們不曉得它始於何方，卻隱藏在我們生命的深處。從神而來的重生，是連綿不絕，永不衰息的永恆開端。這生命在任何時刻都是有生氣的——在思想上、話語上、生活上，都是如此；是不住活在神測不透的奇妙中。陳舊腐朽的思想表示有些地方與神脫節了。 [我一定要這樣做，否則永遠也辦不成。 ]這是臣服的第一跡象。我們這一分鐘是否活潑重生？還是呆滯不前，絞盡腦汁地去找事情來做？活潑的生命不是從順服而來，乃是從聖靈而來的。順服不過使我們活在光中，正如神在活光中一樣。緊緊維持你與神的關係。耶穌禱告說：[使他們合一，正如我們合一一樣。 ]毫無阻隔地，讓你生命全然地向他敞開，不要對他裝模作樣。除神之外，你還能從其他源頭支取生命麼？若你不單靠他，還去靠賴別的東西，那麼他什麼時候走了，你也不覺察。從聖靈而生的意思是何等深廣，超乎我們一般所論的。它給我們新的異象，使我們對每事每物都感到新鮮有趣，這都因神源源不斷的生命力。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，吹向我，直至我的意念、心思和氣質，都能與你一致。我的依靠在乎你。我再一次透徹認知到，沒有了你，我是何其失喪！
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