Godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation . . . —2 Corinthians 7:10
Conviction of sin is best described in the words:
My sins, my sins, my Savior,
How sad on Thee they fall.
Conviction of sin is one of the most uncommon things that ever happens to a person. It is the beginning of an understanding of God. Jesus Christ said that when the Holy Spirit came He would convict people of sin (see John 16:8). And when the Holy Spirit stirs a person’s conscience and brings him into the presence of God, it is not that person’s relationship with others that bothers him but his relationship with God— “Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in your sight . . .” (Psalm 51:4). The wonders of conviction of sin, forgiveness, and holiness are so interwoven that it is only the forgiven person who is truly holy. He proves he is forgiven by being the opposite of what he was previously, by the grace of God. Repentance always brings a person to the point of saying, “I have sinned.” The surest sign that God is at work in his life is when he says that and means it. Anything less is simply sorrow for having made foolish mistakes— a reflex action caused by self-disgust.
The entrance into the kingdom of God is through the sharp, sudden pains of repentance colliding with man’s respectable “goodness.” Then the Holy Spirit, who produces these struggles, begins the formation of the Son of God in the person’s life (see Galatians 4:19). This new life will reveal itself in conscious repentance followed by unconscious holiness, never the other way around. The foundation of Christianity is repentance. Strictly speaking, a person cannot repent when he chooses— repentance is a gift of God. The old Puritans used to pray for “the gift of tears.” If you ever cease to understand the value of repentance, you allow yourself to remain in sin. Examine yourself to see if you have forgotten how to be truly repentant.
悔改
依著神的意思憂愁，就生出沒有後悔的懊悔來，以致得救。 （林後七10）
對罪的自責，哲學話說的最貼切：[我的罪，我的罪啊，落在你身上，我的救主，多悲痛！ ]認罪是一個人最罕有的打擊，那是認識神的門檻。耶穌基督說聖靈來，是叫人為罪自責；當聖靈喚醒人的良心，叫他面對神的時候，使他不安的，不是與人的關係，而是與神的關係－－[我向你犯罪，惟獨得罪了你，在你眼前行了這惡。 ]認罪、赦免和聖潔三者奇妙的交織著，只有蒙赦罪的人，才成為聖潔。他蒙赦免的證據，是因著神的恩典，以致前後判若兩人。悔改總叫人承認：[我犯了罪。 ]一個人肯這樣忠心表示，就是神作工的最大明證。若非這樣，那就只不過是因犯錯事而勝的懊悔，是鄙屑自己的一種反射作用罷了。
進入神的過度，是藉著悔改的苦痛，刺透人自以為是的高貴良善；然後聖靈來了，在人裡面開始創造神兒子的生命。新生命的表彰，是明明的悔改，與不知不覺的成聖，絕不會有相反表現的。基督信仰的基石是悔改。嚴格來說，人無法自己悔改，悔改是神的禮物。古代清教徒就常求[眼淚的恩賜]。所以什麼時候你不再覺得悔改的好處，就是在黑暗裡了。試省察自己，是否已忘記了怎樣知錯。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，藉著你的聖靈和恩典，我的內心產生和孕育了極大的渴望－－願我能適當地讚美你。
December 07, 2013
December 06, 2013
“My Rainbow in the Cloud”
I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth —Genesis 9:13
It is the will of God that human beings should get into a right-standing relationship with Him, and His covenants are designed for this purpose. Why doesn’t God save me? He has accomplished and provided for my salvation, but I have not yet entered into a relationship with Him. Why doesn’t God do everything we ask? He has done it. The point is— will I step into that covenant relationship? All the great blessings of God are finished and complete, but they are not mine until I enter into a relationship with Him on the basis of His covenant.
Waiting for God to act is fleshly unbelief. It means that I have no faith in Him. I wait for Him to do something in me so I may trust in that. But God won’t do it, because that is not the basis of the God-and-man relationship. Man must go beyond the physical body and feelings in his covenant with God, just as God goes beyond Himself in reaching out with His covenant to man. It is a question of faith in God–a very rare thing. We only have faith in our feelings. I don’t believe God until He puts something tangible in my hand, so that I know I have it. Then I say, “Now I believe.” There is no faith exhibited in that. God says, “Look to Me, and be saved . . .” (Isaiah 45:22).
When I have really transacted business with God on the basis of His covenant, letting everything else go, there is no sense of personal achievement— no human ingredient in it at all. Instead, there is a complete overwhelming sense of being brought into union with God, and my life is transformed and radiates peace and joy.
雲中彩虹
我把虹放在雲彩中，這就可作我與地立約的記號了。 （創九13）
神的旨意是要人類與他有道德上的關係，而他的約就是為此。 [為什麼神不救我？ ]他已經救了我，只是我還沒有與他建立關係。 [為什麼神不作這個？又不作那個？ ]他已經做了，問題是我是否肯踏進這個約的關係裡？神一切大恩已經作成，不過我要先因他的約，與他建立關係，這一切才成為我的。
等待神是不信的化身，表示我對他不信任；我等待神在我裡面作事，好叫我可以信得過他。神不會這樣做，因為這不是神與人關係的基礎。在人與神的約中，人要離開自己，正如神在他與人的約中付出自己一樣。問題是在於我們對神的信心－－一樣非常難得的東西。我們往往只信自己的感覺；要神把東西放進我們手裡，知道實在有了，否則就不肯信。得著了，就說[如今我信了。 ]這並不是信。 [仰望我的，必然得救。 ]
我若當真與神立約，完全交託，不再自覺有功，不再有人的成分在內，只意識到完全與神合一，那時一切都會變得平安喜樂。
祈禱◆主啊，願你今天以充沛的能力，與及甜蜜的恩慈和美善，來感動我們每個人的生命；讓它有機會彰顯你的面容和能力。
It is the will of God that human beings should get into a right-standing relationship with Him, and His covenants are designed for this purpose. Why doesn’t God save me? He has accomplished and provided for my salvation, but I have not yet entered into a relationship with Him. Why doesn’t God do everything we ask? He has done it. The point is— will I step into that covenant relationship? All the great blessings of God are finished and complete, but they are not mine until I enter into a relationship with Him on the basis of His covenant.
Waiting for God to act is fleshly unbelief. It means that I have no faith in Him. I wait for Him to do something in me so I may trust in that. But God won’t do it, because that is not the basis of the God-and-man relationship. Man must go beyond the physical body and feelings in his covenant with God, just as God goes beyond Himself in reaching out with His covenant to man. It is a question of faith in God–a very rare thing. We only have faith in our feelings. I don’t believe God until He puts something tangible in my hand, so that I know I have it. Then I say, “Now I believe.” There is no faith exhibited in that. God says, “Look to Me, and be saved . . .” (Isaiah 45:22).
When I have really transacted business with God on the basis of His covenant, letting everything else go, there is no sense of personal achievement— no human ingredient in it at all. Instead, there is a complete overwhelming sense of being brought into union with God, and my life is transformed and radiates peace and joy.
雲中彩虹
我把虹放在雲彩中，這就可作我與地立約的記號了。 （創九13）
神的旨意是要人類與他有道德上的關係，而他的約就是為此。 [為什麼神不救我？ ]他已經救了我，只是我還沒有與他建立關係。 [為什麼神不作這個？又不作那個？ ]他已經做了，問題是我是否肯踏進這個約的關係裡？神一切大恩已經作成，不過我要先因他的約，與他建立關係，這一切才成為我的。
等待神是不信的化身，表示我對他不信任；我等待神在我裡面作事，好叫我可以信得過他。神不會這樣做，因為這不是神與人關係的基礎。在人與神的約中，人要離開自己，正如神在他與人的約中付出自己一樣。問題是在於我們對神的信心－－一樣非常難得的東西。我們往往只信自己的感覺；要神把東西放進我們手裡，知道實在有了，否則就不肯信。得著了，就說[如今我信了。 ]這並不是信。 [仰望我的，必然得救。 ]
我若當真與神立約，完全交託，不再自覺有功，不再有人的成分在內，只意識到完全與神合一，那時一切都會變得平安喜樂。
祈禱◆主啊，願你今天以充沛的能力，與及甜蜜的恩慈和美善，來感動我們每個人的生命；讓它有機會彰顯你的面容和能力。
December 05, 2013
“The Temple of the Holy Spirit”
. . . only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you —Genesis 41:40
I am accountable to God for the way I control my body under His authority. Paul said he did not “set aside the grace of God”— make it ineffective (Galatians 2:21). The grace of God is absolute and limitless, and the work of salvation through Jesus is complete and finished forever. I am not being saved— I am saved. Salvation is as eternal as God’s throne, but I must put to work or use what God has placed within me. To “work out [my] own salvation” (Philippians 2:12) means that I am responsible for using what He has given me. It also means that I must exhibit in my own body the life of the Lord Jesus, not mysteriously or secretly, but openly and boldly. “I discipline my body and bring it into subjection . . .” (1 Corinthians 9:27). Every Christian can have his body under absolute control for God. God has given us the responsibility to rule over all “the temple of the Holy Spirit,” including our thoughts and desires (1 Corinthians 6:19). We are responsible for these, and we must never give way to improper ones. But most of us are much more severe in our judgment of others than we are in judging ourselves. We make excuses for things in ourselves, while we condemn things in the lives of others simply because we are not naturally inclined to do them.
Paul said, “I beseech you . . . that you present your bodies a living sacrifice . . .” (Romans 12:1). What I must decide is whether or not I will agree with my Lord and Master that my body will indeed be His temple. Once I agree, all the rules, regulations, and requirements of the law concerning the body are summed up for me in this revealed truth-my body is “the temple of the Holy Spirit.”
聖靈的殿
惟獨在寶座上，我比你大。 （創四十一40）
在神的主權下，我必須向神交代怎樣管理自己的身體。保羅說他不能徒受神的恩典，就是把神的恩典當作無用的。神的恩典是絕對的，耶穌的救恩是完全的，是永遠有功效的。我不是在蒙拯救中，乃是已經得救。救恩正如神的寶座一樣永恆不改；我要作的，是把神放進我裡面的活出來。 [作成你們得救的功夫]是我的責任，意思是我要明明的，著力的，而不是隱秘的，以我的身子活出主耶穌的生命。 [我是攻克己身，叫身服我。 ]每一聖徒都當把身體服在神絕對的管治下。神要我們管理整個聖靈的殿，管理自己的幻想和情感。為此我們要負責任，絕不可放任感情。我們往往嚴於責人，寬於恕己；為自己製造許多藉口，卻定別人的罪，因為那些事是我們自己天性不喜好的。
保羅說：[我以神的慈悲勸你們，將身體獻上，當作活祭。 ]決定的因素在於：[我同意以我的身體作神的殿麼？ ]若然，那我整個身體的律就總括在這個啟示裡；我的身體是聖靈的殿。
祈禱◆主啊，我肉身的生命若沒有了你，是何等暗晦，冷漠和憂鬱；求你以你神性的生命，來充滿我。
I am accountable to God for the way I control my body under His authority. Paul said he did not “set aside the grace of God”— make it ineffective (Galatians 2:21). The grace of God is absolute and limitless, and the work of salvation through Jesus is complete and finished forever. I am not being saved— I am saved. Salvation is as eternal as God’s throne, but I must put to work or use what God has placed within me. To “work out [my] own salvation” (Philippians 2:12) means that I am responsible for using what He has given me. It also means that I must exhibit in my own body the life of the Lord Jesus, not mysteriously or secretly, but openly and boldly. “I discipline my body and bring it into subjection . . .” (1 Corinthians 9:27). Every Christian can have his body under absolute control for God. God has given us the responsibility to rule over all “the temple of the Holy Spirit,” including our thoughts and desires (1 Corinthians 6:19). We are responsible for these, and we must never give way to improper ones. But most of us are much more severe in our judgment of others than we are in judging ourselves. We make excuses for things in ourselves, while we condemn things in the lives of others simply because we are not naturally inclined to do them.
Paul said, “I beseech you . . . that you present your bodies a living sacrifice . . .” (Romans 12:1). What I must decide is whether or not I will agree with my Lord and Master that my body will indeed be His temple. Once I agree, all the rules, regulations, and requirements of the law concerning the body are summed up for me in this revealed truth-my body is “the temple of the Holy Spirit.”
聖靈的殿
惟獨在寶座上，我比你大。 （創四十一40）
在神的主權下，我必須向神交代怎樣管理自己的身體。保羅說他不能徒受神的恩典，就是把神的恩典當作無用的。神的恩典是絕對的，耶穌的救恩是完全的，是永遠有功效的。我不是在蒙拯救中，乃是已經得救。救恩正如神的寶座一樣永恆不改；我要作的，是把神放進我裡面的活出來。 [作成你們得救的功夫]是我的責任，意思是我要明明的，著力的，而不是隱秘的，以我的身子活出主耶穌的生命。 [我是攻克己身，叫身服我。 ]每一聖徒都當把身體服在神絕對的管治下。神要我們管理整個聖靈的殿，管理自己的幻想和情感。為此我們要負責任，絕不可放任感情。我們往往嚴於責人，寬於恕己；為自己製造許多藉口，卻定別人的罪，因為那些事是我們自己天性不喜好的。
保羅說：[我以神的慈悲勸你們，將身體獻上，當作活祭。 ]決定的因素在於：[我同意以我的身體作神的殿麼？ ]若然，那我整個身體的律就總括在這個啟示裡；我的身體是聖靈的殿。
祈禱◆主啊，我肉身的生命若沒有了你，是何等暗晦，冷漠和憂鬱；求你以你神性的生命，來充滿我。
December 04, 2013
The Law of Opposition
To him who overcomes . . . —Revelation 2:7
Life without war is impossible in the natural or the supernatural realm. It is a fact that there is a continuing struggle in the physical, mental, moral, and spiritual areas of life.
Health is the balance between the physical parts of my body and all the things and forces surrounding me. To maintain good health I must have sufficient internal strength to fight off the things that are external. Everything outside my physical life is designed to cause my death. The very elements that sustain me while I am alive work to decay and disintegrate my body once it is dead. If I have enough inner strength to fight, I help to produce the balance needed for health. The same is true of the mental life. If I want to maintain a strong and active mental life, I have to fight. This struggle produces the mental balance called thought.
Morally it is the same. Anything that does not strengthen me morally is the enemy of virtue within me. Whether I overcome, thereby producing virtue, depends on the level of moral excellence in my life. But we must fight to be moral. Morality does not happen by accident; moral virtue is acquired.
And spiritually it is also the same. Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation . . .” (John 16:33). This means that anything which is not spiritual leads to my downfall. Jesus went on to say, “. . . but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” I must learn to fight against and overcome the things that come against me, and in that way produce the balance of holiness. Then it becomes a delight to meet opposition.
Holiness is the balance between my nature and the law of God as expressed in Jesus Christ.
敵對的律
得勝的……（啟二7）
不管天然生命或是在恩典中的生命，都不可能沒有爭戰。物質、精神、道德、與及屬靈生命的基礎，在於敵對。這是生命中顯而易見的事實。健康就是物質生命與外在自然界之間的平衡。人必須內在有足夠的活力，對抗外界的東西，才能維持健康。外在的東西，可以危害肉體的生命，置我於死地。在我生時養活我的東西，在我死後把我分化。我若有足夠的戰鬥力，就有健康的平衡。精神生活也是如此，若要保持強健的智力，必須鬥爭，然後心智的平衡－－思想－－才能產生。
在道德方面，都是我裡面德行的敵人。我能否得勝，生髮善行，就視乎我道德的力量如何了。只要我一爭戰，在那一事上，我就有了道德。沒有人的德行是自然而然的；德行是要經後天的奮鬥而取得的。
靈性方面，亦是如此。耶穌說：[在世上你們有苦難。 ]任何不屬靈的東西，都是於我有害。但[你們可以放心，我已經勝了世界。 ]我要學習勝過那些敵對我的，這樣就可以產生聖潔的平衡；而面對敵擋，也成了興奮的事。聖潔就是我的性情與神藉耶穌基督所表現的律，二者之間的平衡。
祈禱◆主耶穌啊，你在兩千年前曾[道成肉身]，來到這世上。願你今天再次臨到這裡，藉著我的肉身彰顯你自己－－[基督在你裡面，成為榮耀的盼望]。
Life without war is impossible in the natural or the supernatural realm. It is a fact that there is a continuing struggle in the physical, mental, moral, and spiritual areas of life.
Health is the balance between the physical parts of my body and all the things and forces surrounding me. To maintain good health I must have sufficient internal strength to fight off the things that are external. Everything outside my physical life is designed to cause my death. The very elements that sustain me while I am alive work to decay and disintegrate my body once it is dead. If I have enough inner strength to fight, I help to produce the balance needed for health. The same is true of the mental life. If I want to maintain a strong and active mental life, I have to fight. This struggle produces the mental balance called thought.
Morally it is the same. Anything that does not strengthen me morally is the enemy of virtue within me. Whether I overcome, thereby producing virtue, depends on the level of moral excellence in my life. But we must fight to be moral. Morality does not happen by accident; moral virtue is acquired.
And spiritually it is also the same. Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation . . .” (John 16:33). This means that anything which is not spiritual leads to my downfall. Jesus went on to say, “. . . but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” I must learn to fight against and overcome the things that come against me, and in that way produce the balance of holiness. Then it becomes a delight to meet opposition.
Holiness is the balance between my nature and the law of God as expressed in Jesus Christ.
敵對的律
得勝的……（啟二7）
不管天然生命或是在恩典中的生命，都不可能沒有爭戰。物質、精神、道德、與及屬靈生命的基礎，在於敵對。這是生命中顯而易見的事實。健康就是物質生命與外在自然界之間的平衡。人必須內在有足夠的活力，對抗外界的東西，才能維持健康。外在的東西，可以危害肉體的生命，置我於死地。在我生時養活我的東西，在我死後把我分化。我若有足夠的戰鬥力，就有健康的平衡。精神生活也是如此，若要保持強健的智力，必須鬥爭，然後心智的平衡－－思想－－才能產生。
在道德方面，都是我裡面德行的敵人。我能否得勝，生髮善行，就視乎我道德的力量如何了。只要我一爭戰，在那一事上，我就有了道德。沒有人的德行是自然而然的；德行是要經後天的奮鬥而取得的。
靈性方面，亦是如此。耶穌說：[在世上你們有苦難。 ]任何不屬靈的東西，都是於我有害。但[你們可以放心，我已經勝了世界。 ]我要學習勝過那些敵對我的，這樣就可以產生聖潔的平衡；而面對敵擋，也成了興奮的事。聖潔就是我的性情與神藉耶穌基督所表現的律，二者之間的平衡。
祈禱◆主耶穌啊，你在兩千年前曾[道成肉身]，來到這世上。願你今天再次臨到這裡，藉著我的肉身彰顯你自己－－[基督在你裡面，成為榮耀的盼望]。
December 03, 2013
“Not by Might nor by Power”
My speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power . . . —1 Corinthians 2:4
If in preaching the gospel you substitute your knowledge of the way of salvation for confidence in the power of the gospel, you hinder people from getting to reality. Take care to see while you proclaim your knowledge of the way of salvation, that you yourself are rooted and grounded by faith in God. Never rely on the clearness of your presentation, but as you give your explanation make sure that you are relying on the Holy Spirit. Rely on the certainty of God’s redemptive power, and He will create His own life in people.
Once you are rooted in reality, nothing can shake you. If your faith is in experiences, anything that happens is likely to upset that faith. But nothing can ever change God or the reality of redemption. Base your faith on that, and you are as eternally secure as God Himself. Once you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, you will never be moved again. That is the meaning of sanctification. God disapproves of our human efforts to cling to the concept that sanctification is merely an experience, while forgetting that even our sanctification must also be sanctified (see John 17:19). I must deliberately give my sanctified life to God for His service, so that He can use me as His hands and His feet.
非勢力非才能
我說的話講的道，不是用智慧委婉的言語，乃是用聖靈和大能的明證。 （林前二4）
傳福音的時候，會攔阻人接觸神的實體。宣揚救恩之道時，你對神的信心有根有基。千萬不可依靠自己闡釋的精確；在你闡釋的當兒，緊記依靠聖靈。要靠賴神救贖的大能，相信這能力的確實，這樣，他就要在人心中創造他自己的生命。
你一旦紮根於那真正的實體，就無可動搖。但若信心建基於經歷，那末，任何事情都可以推翻你的信心；神和他救贖大能的真實，是無法推捯的；把信心建基其上，你就像神一樣永遠堅定。你一旦與主耶穌接觸過，就永不再動搖了，這就是成聖的意思。我們若把成聖單放在經歷上，忘記了成聖本身也需要先經潔淨（約十七19），神就會對人的經歷加以否定。我要立志把成聖的生命交給神使用，這樣他能用我做他的手、他的腳。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，當我沒有用足夠的時間祈禱，感謝你給予那些無以言狀的預感和心靈之光。主啊，如今我仰望你；願你臨近，噢，恩慈的主啊，願你臨近，並且願你在今天賜給我恩典，使我在你裡面歡喜快樂。
If in preaching the gospel you substitute your knowledge of the way of salvation for confidence in the power of the gospel, you hinder people from getting to reality. Take care to see while you proclaim your knowledge of the way of salvation, that you yourself are rooted and grounded by faith in God. Never rely on the clearness of your presentation, but as you give your explanation make sure that you are relying on the Holy Spirit. Rely on the certainty of God’s redemptive power, and He will create His own life in people.
Once you are rooted in reality, nothing can shake you. If your faith is in experiences, anything that happens is likely to upset that faith. But nothing can ever change God or the reality of redemption. Base your faith on that, and you are as eternally secure as God Himself. Once you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, you will never be moved again. That is the meaning of sanctification. God disapproves of our human efforts to cling to the concept that sanctification is merely an experience, while forgetting that even our sanctification must also be sanctified (see John 17:19). I must deliberately give my sanctified life to God for His service, so that He can use me as His hands and His feet.
非勢力非才能
我說的話講的道，不是用智慧委婉的言語，乃是用聖靈和大能的明證。 （林前二4）
傳福音的時候，會攔阻人接觸神的實體。宣揚救恩之道時，你對神的信心有根有基。千萬不可依靠自己闡釋的精確；在你闡釋的當兒，緊記依靠聖靈。要靠賴神救贖的大能，相信這能力的確實，這樣，他就要在人心中創造他自己的生命。
你一旦紮根於那真正的實體，就無可動搖。但若信心建基於經歷，那末，任何事情都可以推翻你的信心；神和他救贖大能的真實，是無法推捯的；把信心建基其上，你就像神一樣永遠堅定。你一旦與主耶穌接觸過，就永不再動搖了，這就是成聖的意思。我們若把成聖單放在經歷上，忘記了成聖本身也需要先經潔淨（約十七19），神就會對人的經歷加以否定。我要立志把成聖的生命交給神使用，這樣他能用我做他的手、他的腳。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，當我沒有用足夠的時間祈禱，感謝你給予那些無以言狀的預感和心靈之光。主啊，如今我仰望你；願你臨近，噢，恩慈的主啊，願你臨近，並且願你在今天賜給我恩典，使我在你裡面歡喜快樂。
December 02, 2013
Christian Perfection
Not that I have already attained, or am already perfect . . . —Philippians 3:12
It is a trap to presume that God wants to make us perfect specimens of what He can do— God’s purpose is to make us one with Himself. The emphasis of holiness movements tends to be that God is producing specimens of holiness to put in His museum. If you accept this concept of personal holiness, your life’s determined purpose will not be for God, but for what you call the evidence of God in your life. How can we say, “It could never be God’s will for me to be sick”? If it was God’s will to bruise His own Son (Isaiah 53:10), why shouldn’t He bruise you? What shines forth and reveals God in your life is not your relative consistency to an idea of what a saint should be, but your genuine, living relationship with Jesus Christ, and your unrestrained devotion to Him whether you are well or sick.
Christian perfection is not, and never can be, human perfection. Christian perfection is the perfection of a relationship with God that shows itself to be true even amid the seemingly unimportant aspects of human life. When you obey the call of Jesus Christ, the first thing that hits you is the pointlessness of the things you have to do. The next thought that strikes you is that other people seem to be living perfectly consistent lives. Such lives may leave you with the idea that God is unnecessary— that through your own human effort and devotion you can attain God’s standard for your life. In a fallen world this can never be done. I am called to live in such a perfect relationship with God that my life produces a yearning for God in the lives of others, not admiration for myself. Thoughts about myself hinder my usefulness to God. God’s purpose is not to perfect me to make me a trophy in His showcase; He is getting me to the place where He can use me. Let Him do what He wants.
信徒的完全
這不是說，我已經得著了，已經完全了……（腓三12）
以為神要把我們造成一個完全的樣本，好表彰他的能力，這是個陷阱。神的目的是要我們與他合一。強調聖潔的運動，很容易使我們有一種觀念，就是以為神要製造一些聖潔的樣本，放在他的博物館裡。你若一心追求這種個人聖潔的觀念，你生命的指標就不是神。而是你所稱為彰顯神的東西。你說：[神的旨意絕不會叫我生病。 ]若按神的旨意，他的兒子也要受壓傷的話，為什麼他不可以壓傷你？神旨意的彰顯，不再乎你認為聖徒應該怎樣；你與耶穌基督的關係，才是最重要的。不論健康或生病，都要一心一歸依他。
信徒的完全，絕不是人的完全。信徒的完全是與神關係的完全，在人生毫不相干的大小事上顯明出來。當你順服主耶穌的呼召，第一件叫你驚訝的事，就是你所作的都無關痛癢。另一件叫你詫異的事，是別人都似乎過著合情合理的生活。他們的生活很容易使你覺得不需要神。即使單靠人努力與熱心，也能達到神的要求。可是在失落的世界裡，這是絕不可能的。我被召，是要過一個與神有完美關係的生活，以致我的生命能引發別人對神的渴慕，而不是對我本身的欽仰。只顧自己會減低給神使用的效能。神不是要把我塑造到十全十美，好放在陳列室裡；他是要帶領我到一個她可以使用我的地方。讓神喜歡怎樣做就怎樣做。
祈禱◆主啊，今天早上，我察覺自己多麼強烈的需要你；願你照你在基督耶穌裡的豐盛，滿足我的需要，直至我完全被你的供應所改變。
It is a trap to presume that God wants to make us perfect specimens of what He can do— God’s purpose is to make us one with Himself. The emphasis of holiness movements tends to be that God is producing specimens of holiness to put in His museum. If you accept this concept of personal holiness, your life’s determined purpose will not be for God, but for what you call the evidence of God in your life. How can we say, “It could never be God’s will for me to be sick”? If it was God’s will to bruise His own Son (Isaiah 53:10), why shouldn’t He bruise you? What shines forth and reveals God in your life is not your relative consistency to an idea of what a saint should be, but your genuine, living relationship with Jesus Christ, and your unrestrained devotion to Him whether you are well or sick.
Christian perfection is not, and never can be, human perfection. Christian perfection is the perfection of a relationship with God that shows itself to be true even amid the seemingly unimportant aspects of human life. When you obey the call of Jesus Christ, the first thing that hits you is the pointlessness of the things you have to do. The next thought that strikes you is that other people seem to be living perfectly consistent lives. Such lives may leave you with the idea that God is unnecessary— that through your own human effort and devotion you can attain God’s standard for your life. In a fallen world this can never be done. I am called to live in such a perfect relationship with God that my life produces a yearning for God in the lives of others, not admiration for myself. Thoughts about myself hinder my usefulness to God. God’s purpose is not to perfect me to make me a trophy in His showcase; He is getting me to the place where He can use me. Let Him do what He wants.
信徒的完全
這不是說，我已經得著了，已經完全了……（腓三12）
以為神要把我們造成一個完全的樣本，好表彰他的能力，這是個陷阱。神的目的是要我們與他合一。強調聖潔的運動，很容易使我們有一種觀念，就是以為神要製造一些聖潔的樣本，放在他的博物館裡。你若一心追求這種個人聖潔的觀念，你生命的指標就不是神。而是你所稱為彰顯神的東西。你說：[神的旨意絕不會叫我生病。 ]若按神的旨意，他的兒子也要受壓傷的話，為什麼他不可以壓傷你？神旨意的彰顯，不再乎你認為聖徒應該怎樣；你與耶穌基督的關係，才是最重要的。不論健康或生病，都要一心一歸依他。
信徒的完全，絕不是人的完全。信徒的完全是與神關係的完全，在人生毫不相干的大小事上顯明出來。當你順服主耶穌的呼召，第一件叫你驚訝的事，就是你所作的都無關痛癢。另一件叫你詫異的事，是別人都似乎過著合情合理的生活。他們的生活很容易使你覺得不需要神。即使單靠人努力與熱心，也能達到神的要求。可是在失落的世界裡，這是絕不可能的。我被召，是要過一個與神有完美關係的生活，以致我的生命能引發別人對神的渴慕，而不是對我本身的欽仰。只顧自己會減低給神使用的效能。神不是要把我塑造到十全十美，好放在陳列室裡；他是要帶領我到一個她可以使用我的地方。讓神喜歡怎樣做就怎樣做。
祈禱◆主啊，今天早上，我察覺自己多麼強烈的需要你；願你照你在基督耶穌裡的豐盛，滿足我的需要，直至我完全被你的供應所改變。
December 01, 2013
The Law and the Gospel
Whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all —James 2:10
The moral law does not consider our weaknesses as human beings; in fact, it does not take into account our heredity or infirmities. It simply demands that we be absolutely moral. The moral law never changes, either for the highest of society or for the weakest in the world. It is enduring and eternally the same. The moral law, ordained by God, does not make itself weak to the weak by excusing our shortcomings. It remains absolute for all time and eternity. If we are not aware of this, it is because we are less than alive. Once we do realize it, our life immediately becomes a fatal tragedy. “I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died” (Romans 7:9). The moment we realize this, the Spirit of God convicts us of sin. Until a person gets there and sees that there is no hope, the Cross of Christ remains absurd to him. Conviction of sin always brings a fearful, confining sense of the law. It makes a person hopeless— “. . . sold under sin” (Romans 7:14). I, a guilty sinner, can never work to get right with God— it is impossible. There is only one way by which I can get right with God, and that is through the death of Jesus Christ. I must get rid of the underlying idea that I can ever be right with God because of my obedience. Who of us could ever obey God to absolute perfection!
We only begin to realize the power of the moral law once we see that it comes with a condition and a promise. But God never coerces us. Sometimes we wish He would make us be obedient, and at other times we wish He would leave us alone. Whenever God’s will is in complete control, He removes all pressure. And when we deliberately choose to obey Him, He will reach to the remotest star and to the ends of the earth to assist us with all of His almighty power.
律法與福音
因為凡遵守金法律的，只在一條上跌倒，他就是犯了眾條。 （雅二10)
律法並不因我們是軟弱的人而稍徇情面，它不理會我們有什麼遺傳因素和缺陷，只要求我們絕對道德。律法從不更改，不管你是最高尚還是最軟弱的，它永遠都不改變。神所定的律法，並不遷就人的軟弱，也不因人的缺點而修改，它是永遠絕對的。我們若不領會這一點，是因為我們並未真正活著；一旦活著，生命就成了一個悲劇。 [我以前沒有律法是活著的，但是誡命來到，罪又活了，我就死了。 ]若明白這點，神的靈就叫我們自知有罪。除非人到了自知絕望的地步，否則耶穌基督的十字架不過是一場鬧劇。自覺有罪，叫人對捆綁人的律法產生恐懼，又叫人絕望，因為[被賣給罪]。我，一個污穢的罪人，永無法與神和好，是絕無可能的。只有一個方法可以與神和好，就是藉耶穌基督的死。我必須除掉那潛伏的思想，以為可以因順服得與神和好－－有誰能絕對完全順服神哩！
當律法帶著[假若]而來，我們才體會它勢力之大。神從不勉強我們。我們有時想神逼我們去做，但心情變了時，又想神不要管我們。當神的旨意得勢，就不會有被逼的感覺了。我們若是定志順服他，他就會以無窮的大能，召喚最遠的星，乃最後的一粒沙來幫助我們。
祈禱◆主啊，我完全投向你。願這樣的氣氛充滿我們環繞我們，好叫我們成為湧流活水江河的人。
The moral law does not consider our weaknesses as human beings; in fact, it does not take into account our heredity or infirmities. It simply demands that we be absolutely moral. The moral law never changes, either for the highest of society or for the weakest in the world. It is enduring and eternally the same. The moral law, ordained by God, does not make itself weak to the weak by excusing our shortcomings. It remains absolute for all time and eternity. If we are not aware of this, it is because we are less than alive. Once we do realize it, our life immediately becomes a fatal tragedy. “I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died” (Romans 7:9). The moment we realize this, the Spirit of God convicts us of sin. Until a person gets there and sees that there is no hope, the Cross of Christ remains absurd to him. Conviction of sin always brings a fearful, confining sense of the law. It makes a person hopeless— “. . . sold under sin” (Romans 7:14). I, a guilty sinner, can never work to get right with God— it is impossible. There is only one way by which I can get right with God, and that is through the death of Jesus Christ. I must get rid of the underlying idea that I can ever be right with God because of my obedience. Who of us could ever obey God to absolute perfection!
We only begin to realize the power of the moral law once we see that it comes with a condition and a promise. But God never coerces us. Sometimes we wish He would make us be obedient, and at other times we wish He would leave us alone. Whenever God’s will is in complete control, He removes all pressure. And when we deliberately choose to obey Him, He will reach to the remotest star and to the ends of the earth to assist us with all of His almighty power.
律法與福音
因為凡遵守金法律的，只在一條上跌倒，他就是犯了眾條。 （雅二10)
律法並不因我們是軟弱的人而稍徇情面，它不理會我們有什麼遺傳因素和缺陷，只要求我們絕對道德。律法從不更改，不管你是最高尚還是最軟弱的，它永遠都不改變。神所定的律法，並不遷就人的軟弱，也不因人的缺點而修改，它是永遠絕對的。我們若不領會這一點，是因為我們並未真正活著；一旦活著，生命就成了一個悲劇。 [我以前沒有律法是活著的，但是誡命來到，罪又活了，我就死了。 ]若明白這點，神的靈就叫我們自知有罪。除非人到了自知絕望的地步，否則耶穌基督的十字架不過是一場鬧劇。自覺有罪，叫人對捆綁人的律法產生恐懼，又叫人絕望，因為[被賣給罪]。我，一個污穢的罪人，永無法與神和好，是絕無可能的。只有一個方法可以與神和好，就是藉耶穌基督的死。我必須除掉那潛伏的思想，以為可以因順服得與神和好－－有誰能絕對完全順服神哩！
當律法帶著[假若]而來，我們才體會它勢力之大。神從不勉強我們。我們有時想神逼我們去做，但心情變了時，又想神不要管我們。當神的旨意得勢，就不會有被逼的感覺了。我們若是定志順服他，他就會以無窮的大能，召喚最遠的星，乃最後的一粒沙來幫助我們。
祈禱◆主啊，我完全投向你。願這樣的氣氛充滿我們環繞我們，好叫我們成為湧流活水江河的人。
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