Jesus said to him, ’Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip?’ —John 14:9
These words were not spoken as a rebuke, nor even with surprise; Jesus was encouraging Philip to draw closer. Yet the last person we get intimate with is Jesus. Before Pentecost the disciples knew Jesus as the One who gave them power to conquer demons and to bring about a revival (see Luke 10:18-20). It was a wonderful intimacy, but there was a much closer intimacy to come: “. . . I have called you friends . . .” (John 15:15). True friendship is rare on earth. It means identifying with someone in thought, heart, and spirit. The whole experience of life is designed to enable us to enter into this closest relationship with Jesus Christ. We receive His blessings and know His Word, but do we really know Him?
Jesus said, “It is to your advantage that I go away . . .” (John 16:7). He left that relationship to lead them even closer. It is a joy to Jesus when a disciple takes time to walk more intimately with Him. The bearing of fruit is always shown in Scripture to be the visible result of an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ (see John 15:1-4).
Once we get intimate with Jesus we are never lonely and we never lack for understanding or compassion. We can continually pour out our hearts to Him without being perceived as overly emotional or pitiful. The Christian who is truly intimate with Jesus will never draw attention to himself but will only show the evidence of a life where Jesus is completely in control. This is the outcome of allowing Jesus to satisfy every area of life to its depth. The picture resulting from such a life is that of the strong, calm balance that our Lord gives to those who are intimate with Him.
與耶穌親密
我與你們同在這樣長久，你還不認識我麼？ （約十四9）
這些並不是責備的話，也不是詫異之言，耶穌是領導腓力向前。在我們的密友之中，最末一個是耶穌。五旬節之前，門徒所認識的耶穌，是給他們權柄勝過鬼魔，而且帶來復興的那一位（路十18-20）。這固然是一種密切的關係，但更密切的關係還在未來——[我稱你們為朋友]。友誼是珍貴的，它是人思想與心靈的契合。其實我們整個人生的操練，就是要與耶穌基督進入一個最親密的關係裡去。我們得過他的祝福，明瞭他的話，可是，我們認識他嗎？
耶穌說：[我去是與你們有意的。 ]這是為了增進那關係，引導門徒向前。當一個門徒肯下功夫追求主更親密，他的心就喜樂了。聖經裡說的結果子，總是指由於與耶穌基督合一的必然表現（約十五1-4）。
我們一旦與耶穌建立深交，就永不再孤單，也永不再要人同情。我們可以不住的向主傾訴，而不至於自憐自怨。與耶穌親密的聖徒，從不給人留下他自己的形象。他只將主耶穌的形象毫無阻隔地彰顯出來，因為他天性裡所有的罅隙，已被主填滿了。這種生命給人唯一的印象，就是主賜給與他親密的人那種強烈的平靜與穩妥。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，將你自己那親切。和善的形象賜給我，讓我今天可以討你的喜悅，使我的生命變得完美，成為周圍的人真正的祝福。
January 07, 2014
January 06, 2014
Worship
He moved from there to the mountain east of Bethel, and he pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; there he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord —Genesis 12:8
Worship is giving God the best that He has given you. Be careful what you do with the best you have. Whenever you get a blessing from God, give it back to Him as a love-gift. Take time to meditate before God and offer the blessing back to Him in a deliberate act of worship. If you hoard it for yourself, it will turn into spiritual dry rot, as the manna did when it was hoarded (see Exodus 16:20). God will never allow you to keep a spiritual blessing completely for yourself. It must be given back to Him so that He can make it a blessing to others.
Bethel is the symbol of fellowship with God; Ai is the symbol of the world. Abram “pitched his tent” between the two. The lasting value of our public service for God is measured by the depth of the intimacy of our private times of fellowship and oneness with Him. Rushing in and out of worship is wrong every time— there is always plenty of time to worship God. Days set apart for quiet can be a trap, detracting from the need to have daily quiet time with God. That is why we must “pitch our tents” where we will always have quiet times with Him, however noisy our times with the world may be. There are not three levels of spiritual life— worship, waiting, and work. Yet some of us seem to jump like spiritual frogs from worship to waiting, and from waiting to work. God’s idea is that the three should go together as one. They were always together in the life of our Lord and in perfect harmony. It is a discipline that must be developed; it will not happen overnight.
敬拜
從那裡他又遷到伯特利東邊的山，支搭帳棚，西邊事伯特利，東邊事艾。他在那裡又為耶和華築了一座壇。 （創十二8）
敬拜就是把神給你最好的獻給他。凡是你最好的東西，當小心處理。你從神得了祝福，就要把它獻回給神，作為愛的禮物。在神面前花時間好好地默想，以敬拜的虔誠行動，把那祝福獻上給神，假若你把那東西留歸自己，它必會變成數領枯朽之物，正如儲藏起來的嗎哪一樣。神絕不會容許你把屬靈的事物留歸己用，它必須歸還給神，讓神將之化為別人的祝福。
伯特利是與神相交的象徵，而艾是世界的意思，亞伯拉罕卻搭營在兩者之間。我們在外面為神作工有多少價值，是以我們私下與神相交程度的深淺來衡量的。匆忙倉卒當然是不對的，因為敬拜神的時間多的是；但平靜無事的日子，也許會成為陷阱。我們支搭帳棚的所在，應該隨時可與神有安靜的相交，姑勿論我們與時間的接觸有多頻繁。屬靈的生活中這三者總是一致的，他在忙碌中並不一定分為三個階段——敬拜、等候、作工。有些人像屬靈青蛙一般，跳躍而行，從敬拜跳到等候，又從等候跳到工作。神的心意是要三者同時並進。在主的生活中並不急躁。這是一種操練，我們不能一蹴而就。
祈禱◆主啊，我何其清楚工作和活動所引發的危險，是與安靜和退隱危險等同，而祢是我唯一安穩的避難所。讓我的一切都全然被祢佔據。
Worship is giving God the best that He has given you. Be careful what you do with the best you have. Whenever you get a blessing from God, give it back to Him as a love-gift. Take time to meditate before God and offer the blessing back to Him in a deliberate act of worship. If you hoard it for yourself, it will turn into spiritual dry rot, as the manna did when it was hoarded (see Exodus 16:20). God will never allow you to keep a spiritual blessing completely for yourself. It must be given back to Him so that He can make it a blessing to others.
Bethel is the symbol of fellowship with God; Ai is the symbol of the world. Abram “pitched his tent” between the two. The lasting value of our public service for God is measured by the depth of the intimacy of our private times of fellowship and oneness with Him. Rushing in and out of worship is wrong every time— there is always plenty of time to worship God. Days set apart for quiet can be a trap, detracting from the need to have daily quiet time with God. That is why we must “pitch our tents” where we will always have quiet times with Him, however noisy our times with the world may be. There are not three levels of spiritual life— worship, waiting, and work. Yet some of us seem to jump like spiritual frogs from worship to waiting, and from waiting to work. God’s idea is that the three should go together as one. They were always together in the life of our Lord and in perfect harmony. It is a discipline that must be developed; it will not happen overnight.
敬拜
從那裡他又遷到伯特利東邊的山，支搭帳棚，西邊事伯特利，東邊事艾。他在那裡又為耶和華築了一座壇。 （創十二8）
敬拜就是把神給你最好的獻給他。凡是你最好的東西，當小心處理。你從神得了祝福，就要把它獻回給神，作為愛的禮物。在神面前花時間好好地默想，以敬拜的虔誠行動，把那祝福獻上給神，假若你把那東西留歸自己，它必會變成數領枯朽之物，正如儲藏起來的嗎哪一樣。神絕不會容許你把屬靈的事物留歸己用，它必須歸還給神，讓神將之化為別人的祝福。
伯特利是與神相交的象徵，而艾是世界的意思，亞伯拉罕卻搭營在兩者之間。我們在外面為神作工有多少價值，是以我們私下與神相交程度的深淺來衡量的。匆忙倉卒當然是不對的，因為敬拜神的時間多的是；但平靜無事的日子，也許會成為陷阱。我們支搭帳棚的所在，應該隨時可與神有安靜的相交，姑勿論我們與時間的接觸有多頻繁。屬靈的生活中這三者總是一致的，他在忙碌中並不一定分為三個階段——敬拜、等候、作工。有些人像屬靈青蛙一般，跳躍而行，從敬拜跳到等候，又從等候跳到工作。神的心意是要三者同時並進。在主的生活中並不急躁。這是一種操練，我們不能一蹴而就。
祈禱◆主啊，我何其清楚工作和活動所引發的危險，是與安靜和退隱危險等同，而祢是我唯一安穩的避難所。讓我的一切都全然被祢佔據。
January 05, 2014
The Life of Power to Follow
Jesus answered him, ’Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward’ —John 13:36
“And when He had spoken this, He said to him, ’Follow Me’ ” (John 21:19). Three years earlier Jesus had said, “Follow Me” (Matthew 4:19), and Peter followed with no hesitation. The irresistible attraction of Jesus was upon him and he did not need the Holy Spirit to help him do it. Later he came to the place where he denied Jesus, and his heart broke. Then he received the Holy Spirit and Jesus said again, “Follow Me” (John 21:19). Now no one is in front of Peter except the Lord Jesus Christ. The first “Follow Me” was nothing mysterious; it was an external following. Jesus is now asking for an internal sacrifice and yielding (see John 21:18).
Between these two times Peter denied Jesus with oaths and curses (see Matthew 26:69-75). But then he came completely to the end of himself and all of his self-sufficiency. There was no part of himself he would ever rely on again. In his state of destitution, he was finally ready to receive all that the risen Lord had for him. “. . . He breathed on them, and said to them, ’Receive the Holy Spirit’ ” (John 20:22). No matter what changes God has performed in you, never rely on them. Build only on a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ, and on the Spirit He gives.
All our promises and resolutions end in denial because we have no power to accomplish them. When we come to the end of ourselves, not just mentally but completely, we are able to “receive the Holy Spirit.” “Receive the Holy Spirit”— the idea is that of invasion. There is now only One who directs the course of your life, the Lord Jesus Christ.
“And when He had spoken this, He said to him, ’Follow Me’ ” (John 21:19). Three years earlier Jesus had said, “Follow Me” (Matthew 4:19), and Peter followed with no hesitation. The irresistible attraction of Jesus was upon him and he did not need the Holy Spirit to help him do it. Later he came to the place where he denied Jesus, and his heart broke. Then he received the Holy Spirit and Jesus said again, “Follow Me” (John 21:19). Now no one is in front of Peter except the Lord Jesus Christ. The first “Follow Me” was nothing mysterious; it was an external following. Jesus is now asking for an internal sacrifice and yielding (see John 21:18).
Between these two times Peter denied Jesus with oaths and curses (see Matthew 26:69-75). But then he came completely to the end of himself and all of his self-sufficiency. There was no part of himself he would ever rely on again. In his state of destitution, he was finally ready to receive all that the risen Lord had for him. “. . . He breathed on them, and said to them, ’Receive the Holy Spirit’ ” (John 20:22). No matter what changes God has performed in you, never rely on them. Build only on a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ, and on the Spirit He gives.
All our promises and resolutions end in denial because we have no power to accomplish them. When we come to the end of ourselves, not just mentally but completely, we are able to “receive the Holy Spirit.” “Receive the Holy Spirit”— the idea is that of invasion. There is now only One who directs the course of your life, the Lord Jesus Christ.
後來的生命能力
我所去的地方，你現在不能跟我去，後來卻要跟我去。 （約十三36）
[說了這話，就對他說，你跟從我吧。 ]三年前，耶穌曾說；[來跟從我]，那時彼得很輕易就跟從了他。彼得是被耶穌所吸引而自動跟隨，並不需要聖靈來幫助。然而後來，他卻落到否認耶穌的地步，心碎欲絕。不過，他受了聖靈，耶穌又再一次對他說：[來跟從我。 ]這時除了主耶穌基督以外，再沒有別人了。第一次的[跟從]並沒有什麼可引起驚奇的，那隻是外表上的跟從；如今卻是殉道者的跟從（約二十一18）
在這期間，彼得曾發咒起誓否認耶穌。此時，他已來到自己的盡頭，所有的自滿自恃不足倚仗。就在這絕境中，他符合了接受復活主賜與的條件。 「他向他們吹一口氣說：『你們受聖靈』」因此，無論神在你身上做了什麼改變，都切勿倚仗這些改變，只要建立在主耶穌身上合他所賜的聖靈。
我們縱有誓言與決心，到頭來還是否認主，因為我們沒有能力實行出來。惟有當我們真正來到自己的盡頭，這才能領受聖靈不是幻想出來的。 [你們受聖靈]意思是受聖靈的征服。如今在你生命中只有一顆北斗星（意即引導方向者），就是主耶穌基督。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，以你偉大的能力來堅立我，印著耶穌的救贖，我相信自己又權利這樣祈求。令我的身體盡獻己力，以致你的光輝可以在我身上彰顯。
January 04, 2014
Why Can I Not Follow You Now?
Peter said to Him, ’Lord, why can I not follow You now?’ — John 13:37
There are times when you can’t understand why you cannot do what you want to do. When God brings a time of waiting, and appears to be unresponsive, don’t fill it with busyness, just wait. The time of waiting may come to teach you the meaning of sanctification— to be set apart from sin and made holy— or it may come after the process of sanctification has begun to teach you what service means. Never run before God gives you His direction. If you have the slightest doubt, then He is not guiding. Whenever there is doubt— wait.
At first you may see clearly what God’s will is— the severance of a friendship, the breaking off of a business relationship, or something else you feel is distinctly God’s will for you to do. But never act on the impulse of that feeling. If you do, you will cause difficult situations to arise which will take years to untangle. Wait for God’s timing and He will do it without any heartache or disappointment. When it is a question of the providential will of God, wait for God to move.
Peter did not wait for God. He predicted in his own mind where the test would come, and it came where he did not expect it. “I will lay down my life for Your sake.” Peter’s statement was honest but ignorant. “Jesus answered him, ’ . . . the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times’ ” (John 13:38). This was said with a deeper knowledge of Peter than Peter had of himself. He could not follow Jesus because he did not know himself or his own capabilities well enough. Natural devotion may be enough to attract us to Jesus, to make us feel His irresistible charm, but it will never make us disciples. Natural devotion will deny Jesus, always falling short of what it means to truly follow Him.
我為什麼現在不能跟你去？
彼得說：主啊，我為什麼現在不能跟你去？（約十三37）
你有時真不明白，為什麼不可以照心裡所希望的去做。當神給你一張空白的紙，不要擅自填上什麼。要等候。這白紙可能是要教你明白成聖的意義；也可能是要你體會成聖之後事奉的意義。切勿走在神的引導之前。若有絲毫的疑惑，就不是他的帶領了。什麼時候有疑惑，就不可動！
起初的時候，你會很清楚看見神的旨意－－與某某朋友絕交，與某某人斷絕商業上的關係。這些事，你在神面前覺得很清楚是祂的旨意要你這樣做；但是，千萬不要單憑那一種感覺的衝動而貿然行事。否則，所造成的許多難題，可能要費多年的時間才能夠彌補的。只要等候，神會完成他的工作，這不會使我們傷心或失望。既然是神的旨意，就等神去動工吧！
彼得併沒有等候神，他只憑己意揣測試煉會什麼時候來，誰知試煉就在他意想不到的時候臨到。 [我願意為你捨命。]彼得的宣告雖是誠實，卻是無知的。 [耶穌說…雞叫以先，你要三次不認我。]耶穌說這話，表明他認識彼得，比彼得認識自己更深。彼得沒有跟耶穌去，因為他不認識自己，也不知道自己的有限。以人本身的熱誠，固然可以引導我們就近耶穌，使我們感受他的奇妙，可是卻永不能叫我們成為門徒。人天然的熱誠總會有一日否認主，不是此時，就是那時。
祈禱◆我何等渴望被你－－熾熱、光輝和榮耀的你－－完全充滿，以致除了你那恩典的光輝外，再不能容下別的東西。
There are times when you can’t understand why you cannot do what you want to do. When God brings a time of waiting, and appears to be unresponsive, don’t fill it with busyness, just wait. The time of waiting may come to teach you the meaning of sanctification— to be set apart from sin and made holy— or it may come after the process of sanctification has begun to teach you what service means. Never run before God gives you His direction. If you have the slightest doubt, then He is not guiding. Whenever there is doubt— wait.
At first you may see clearly what God’s will is— the severance of a friendship, the breaking off of a business relationship, or something else you feel is distinctly God’s will for you to do. But never act on the impulse of that feeling. If you do, you will cause difficult situations to arise which will take years to untangle. Wait for God’s timing and He will do it without any heartache or disappointment. When it is a question of the providential will of God, wait for God to move.
Peter did not wait for God. He predicted in his own mind where the test would come, and it came where he did not expect it. “I will lay down my life for Your sake.” Peter’s statement was honest but ignorant. “Jesus answered him, ’ . . . the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times’ ” (John 13:38). This was said with a deeper knowledge of Peter than Peter had of himself. He could not follow Jesus because he did not know himself or his own capabilities well enough. Natural devotion may be enough to attract us to Jesus, to make us feel His irresistible charm, but it will never make us disciples. Natural devotion will deny Jesus, always falling short of what it means to truly follow Him.
我為什麼現在不能跟你去？
彼得說：主啊，我為什麼現在不能跟你去？（約十三37）
你有時真不明白，為什麼不可以照心裡所希望的去做。當神給你一張空白的紙，不要擅自填上什麼。要等候。這白紙可能是要教你明白成聖的意義；也可能是要你體會成聖之後事奉的意義。切勿走在神的引導之前。若有絲毫的疑惑，就不是他的帶領了。什麼時候有疑惑，就不可動！
起初的時候，你會很清楚看見神的旨意－－與某某朋友絕交，與某某人斷絕商業上的關係。這些事，你在神面前覺得很清楚是祂的旨意要你這樣做；但是，千萬不要單憑那一種感覺的衝動而貿然行事。否則，所造成的許多難題，可能要費多年的時間才能夠彌補的。只要等候，神會完成他的工作，這不會使我們傷心或失望。既然是神的旨意，就等神去動工吧！
彼得併沒有等候神，他只憑己意揣測試煉會什麼時候來，誰知試煉就在他意想不到的時候臨到。 [我願意為你捨命。]彼得的宣告雖是誠實，卻是無知的。 [耶穌說…雞叫以先，你要三次不認我。]耶穌說這話，表明他認識彼得，比彼得認識自己更深。彼得沒有跟耶穌去，因為他不認識自己，也不知道自己的有限。以人本身的熱誠，固然可以引導我們就近耶穌，使我們感受他的奇妙，可是卻永不能叫我們成為門徒。人天然的熱誠總會有一日否認主，不是此時，就是那時。
祈禱◆我何等渴望被你－－熾熱、光輝和榮耀的你－－完全充滿，以致除了你那恩典的光輝外，再不能容下別的東西。
January 03, 2014
Clouds and Darkness
Clouds and darkness surround Him . . . —Psalm 97:2
A person who has not been born again by the Spirit of God will tell you that the teachings of Jesus are simple. But when he is baptized by the Holy Spirit, he finds that “clouds and darkness surround Him . . . .” When we come into close contact with the teachings of Jesus Christ we have our first realization of this. The only possible way to have full understanding of the teachings of Jesus is through the light of the Spirit of God shining inside us. If we have never had the experience of taking our casual, religious shoes off our casual, religious feet— getting rid of all the excessive informality with which we approach God— it is questionable whether we have ever stood in His presence. The people who are flippant and disrespectful in their approach to God are those who have never been introduced to Jesus Christ. Only after the amazing delight and liberty of realizing what Jesus Christ does, comes the impenetrable “darkness” of realizing who He is.
Jesus said, “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). Once, the Bible was just so many words to us — “clouds and darkness”— then, suddenly, the words become spirit and life because Jesus re-speaks them to us when our circumstances make the words new. That is the way God speaks to us; not by visions and dreams, but by words. When a man gets to God, it is by the most simple way— words.
密雲和幽暗
密雲和幽暗，在他的四圍。 （詩九十七2）
一個未從神的靈而生的人會對你說，耶穌的教訓簡單得很。可是你一旦受了聖靈的洗，就會發現[密雲和幽暗，在他的四圍]。當我們認識耶穌基督的教訓，就必恍然大悟。領悟耶穌教訓的唯一途徑，是神的靈在裡面光照。若果我們從未把習以為常的宗教鞋，從我們習以為常的宗教腳上脫下；也從未把我們親近神那種魯莽隨便的態度，一概革除，那麼，我們到底曾否真正站在神的面前，那也是疑問。那些輕率、浮躁的人，根本從未認識耶穌基督。因為在我們明白了耶穌基督所作所行，滿懷稀奇興奮。自由釋放之後，就會經歷到一種因認識他是誰而無法看透的幽暗。
耶穌說：[我對你們說的話就是靈，就是生命。 ]一向以來，聖經對我們不過是一大堆的話語－－密雲和幽暗為何忽然之間變成了靈和生命？因為耶穌在某種特殊情況下，向我們再說了一遍。神就是這樣對我們說話，不是藉著異夢，乃是通過話語。人來到神面前，就是憑著最簡單的方法－－他的話語。
祈禱◆[密雲和幽暗在祂的四圍；公義和公平是祂寶座的根基。 ]與我親近，噢，主啊，讓我可以知道我在你裡面是光明的。
A person who has not been born again by the Spirit of God will tell you that the teachings of Jesus are simple. But when he is baptized by the Holy Spirit, he finds that “clouds and darkness surround Him . . . .” When we come into close contact with the teachings of Jesus Christ we have our first realization of this. The only possible way to have full understanding of the teachings of Jesus is through the light of the Spirit of God shining inside us. If we have never had the experience of taking our casual, religious shoes off our casual, religious feet— getting rid of all the excessive informality with which we approach God— it is questionable whether we have ever stood in His presence. The people who are flippant and disrespectful in their approach to God are those who have never been introduced to Jesus Christ. Only after the amazing delight and liberty of realizing what Jesus Christ does, comes the impenetrable “darkness” of realizing who He is.
Jesus said, “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). Once, the Bible was just so many words to us — “clouds and darkness”— then, suddenly, the words become spirit and life because Jesus re-speaks them to us when our circumstances make the words new. That is the way God speaks to us; not by visions and dreams, but by words. When a man gets to God, it is by the most simple way— words.
密雲和幽暗
密雲和幽暗，在他的四圍。 （詩九十七2）
一個未從神的靈而生的人會對你說，耶穌的教訓簡單得很。可是你一旦受了聖靈的洗，就會發現[密雲和幽暗，在他的四圍]。當我們認識耶穌基督的教訓，就必恍然大悟。領悟耶穌教訓的唯一途徑，是神的靈在裡面光照。若果我們從未把習以為常的宗教鞋，從我們習以為常的宗教腳上脫下；也從未把我們親近神那種魯莽隨便的態度，一概革除，那麼，我們到底曾否真正站在神的面前，那也是疑問。那些輕率、浮躁的人，根本從未認識耶穌基督。因為在我們明白了耶穌基督所作所行，滿懷稀奇興奮。自由釋放之後，就會經歷到一種因認識他是誰而無法看透的幽暗。
耶穌說：[我對你們說的話就是靈，就是生命。 ]一向以來，聖經對我們不過是一大堆的話語－－密雲和幽暗為何忽然之間變成了靈和生命？因為耶穌在某種特殊情況下，向我們再說了一遍。神就是這樣對我們說話，不是藉著異夢，乃是通過話語。人來到神面前，就是憑著最簡單的方法－－他的話語。
祈禱◆[密雲和幽暗在祂的四圍；公義和公平是祂寶座的根基。 ]與我親近，噢，主啊，讓我可以知道我在你裡面是光明的。
January 02, 2014
Will You Go Out Without Knowing?
He went out, not knowing where he was going —Hebrews 11:8
Have you ever “gone out” in this way? If so, there is no logical answer possible when anyone asks you what you are doing. One of the most difficult questions to answer in Christian work is, “What do you expect to do?”You don’t know what you are going to do. The only thing you know is that God knows what He is doing. Continually examine your attitude toward God to see if you are willing to “go out” in every area of your life, trusting in God entirely. It is this attitude that keeps you in constant wonder, because you don’t know what God is going to do next. Each morning as you wake, there is a new opportunity to “go out,” building your confidence in God. “. . . do not worry about your life . . . nor about the body . . .” (Luke 12:22). In other words, don’t worry about the things that concerned you before you did “go out.”
Have you been asking God what He is going to do? He will never tell you. God does not tell you what He is going to do— He reveals to you who He is. Do you believe in a miracle-working God, and will you “go out” in complete surrender to Him until you are not surprised one iota by anything He does?
Believe God is always the God you know Him to be when you are nearest to Him. Then think how unnecessary and disrespectful worry is! Let the attitude of your life be a continual willingness to “go out” in dependence upon God, and your life will have a sacred and inexpressible charm about it that is very satisfying to Jesus. You must learn to “go out” through your convictions, creeds, or experiences until you come to the point in your faith where there is nothing between yourself and God.
你肯不肯[不知去向]就出去？
出去的時候，還不知往那裡去。 （來十一8）
你曾否這樣出去？若有，那麼當有人問你在幹什麼時，你簡直沒有合邏輯的話可以回答。作神的工其中一個難題就是－－[你期望做些什麼？ ]你根本不知道該做什麼，你唯一知道的，是神知道他在做什麼。要經常審查自己對神的態度，看看是否竭盡所能，完全信靠神。這種態度使你不住的稀奇，因你不知道神下一步會怎樣做。每天清晨醒來，就是新的[出去]，建立對神的靠賴。 [不要為生活謀算……也不要為身體擔憂。 ]你[出去]之前，這些東西都不要再理會了。你是否不住的在追問神，他將做些什麼，神決不會告訴你。神不會告訴你他怎樣行事，他只會向你顯明他是誰。你相信神是行神蹟的神嗎？你肯不肯順命出去，對他所作的一切，一點也不詫異？
假若神真是你親近他時所認識的神，憂慮是何等不當哩！讓我們的生命不斷地靠著神[出去]，那么生命會奇妙得難以形容，且叫耶穌心滿意足。你一定要好好學習從信念、教條、經驗中出來，直至你與神之間，已全無隔膜。
祈禱◆主啊，我對祢渴慕的心是何等熱切地加增，這種心情並非以任何狹隘得方式來表達，乃是藉著榮耀得方式表現出來－－更完全的實現祢的聖潔。
Have you ever “gone out” in this way? If so, there is no logical answer possible when anyone asks you what you are doing. One of the most difficult questions to answer in Christian work is, “What do you expect to do?”You don’t know what you are going to do. The only thing you know is that God knows what He is doing. Continually examine your attitude toward God to see if you are willing to “go out” in every area of your life, trusting in God entirely. It is this attitude that keeps you in constant wonder, because you don’t know what God is going to do next. Each morning as you wake, there is a new opportunity to “go out,” building your confidence in God. “. . . do not worry about your life . . . nor about the body . . .” (Luke 12:22). In other words, don’t worry about the things that concerned you before you did “go out.”
Have you been asking God what He is going to do? He will never tell you. God does not tell you what He is going to do— He reveals to you who He is. Do you believe in a miracle-working God, and will you “go out” in complete surrender to Him until you are not surprised one iota by anything He does?
Believe God is always the God you know Him to be when you are nearest to Him. Then think how unnecessary and disrespectful worry is! Let the attitude of your life be a continual willingness to “go out” in dependence upon God, and your life will have a sacred and inexpressible charm about it that is very satisfying to Jesus. You must learn to “go out” through your convictions, creeds, or experiences until you come to the point in your faith where there is nothing between yourself and God.
你肯不肯[不知去向]就出去？
出去的時候，還不知往那裡去。 （來十一8）
你曾否這樣出去？若有，那麼當有人問你在幹什麼時，你簡直沒有合邏輯的話可以回答。作神的工其中一個難題就是－－[你期望做些什麼？ ]你根本不知道該做什麼，你唯一知道的，是神知道他在做什麼。要經常審查自己對神的態度，看看是否竭盡所能，完全信靠神。這種態度使你不住的稀奇，因你不知道神下一步會怎樣做。每天清晨醒來，就是新的[出去]，建立對神的靠賴。 [不要為生活謀算……也不要為身體擔憂。 ]你[出去]之前，這些東西都不要再理會了。你是否不住的在追問神，他將做些什麼，神決不會告訴你。神不會告訴你他怎樣行事，他只會向你顯明他是誰。你相信神是行神蹟的神嗎？你肯不肯順命出去，對他所作的一切，一點也不詫異？
假若神真是你親近他時所認識的神，憂慮是何等不當哩！讓我們的生命不斷地靠著神[出去]，那么生命會奇妙得難以形容，且叫耶穌心滿意足。你一定要好好學習從信念、教條、經驗中出來，直至你與神之間，已全無隔膜。
祈禱◆主啊，我對祢渴慕的心是何等熱切地加增，這種心情並非以任何狹隘得方式來表達，乃是藉著榮耀得方式表現出來－－更完全的實現祢的聖潔。
January 01, 2014
Let Us Keep to the Point
". . . my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death" —Philippians 1:2
My Utmost for His Highest. “. . . my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed . . . .” We will all feel very much ashamed if we do not yield to Jesus the areas of our lives He has asked us to yield to Him. It’s as if Paul were saying, “My determined purpose is to be my utmost for His highest— my best for His glory.” To reach that level of determination is a matter of the will, not of debate or of reasoning. It is absolute and irrevocable surrender of the will at that point. An undue amount of thought and consideration for ourselves is what keeps us from making that decision, although we cover it up with the pretense that it is others we are considering. When we think seriously about what it will cost others if we obey the call of Jesus, we tell God He doesn’t know what our obedience will mean. Keep to the point— He does know. Shut out every other thought and keep yourself before God in this one thing only— my utmost for His highest. I am determined to be absolutely and entirely for Him and Him alone.
My Unstoppable Determination for His Holiness. “Whether it means life or death-it makes no difference!” (see Philippians 1:21). Paul was determined that nothing would stop him from doing exactly what God wanted. But before we choose to follow God’s will, a crisis must develop in our lives. This happens because we tend to be unresponsive to God’s gentler nudges. He brings us to the place where He asks us to be our utmost for Him and we begin to debate. He then providentially produces a crisis where we have to decide— for or against. That moment becomes a great crossroads in our lives. If a crisis has come to you on any front, surrender your will to Jesus absolutely and irrevocably.
認定目標
照著我所切慕所盼望的，沒有一事叫我羞愧，只要凡事放膽，無論是生，是死，總叫基督在我身上照常顯大。 （腓一20）
竭盡己心以成全主至高的旨意。 [照著我所切慕所盼望的，沒有一事叫我羞愧。 ]耶穌要求我們凡事順服，若我們不肯順服，就必然會大大羞愧。保羅說：[我決志要竭盡所能，成全神至高的旨意。 ]要達到這個目標，是意志的問題。不是討價還價，理長論短，乃是意志的降服，是絕對的，不反悔的，對正要害的降服。但我們往往思前想後，諸多疑慮，過分自作主張，無法定意順服，而且還口稱是為了顧及別人的需要。我們揣摩測度，心想若順服了耶穌的呼召，會怎樣影響那些人；於是就告訴神說：[你知道我順服之後會有怎樣的後果？ ]只要持定目標，神是知道的。把所有顧慮都放下，單單來到神面前，存一個心志－－[竭盡所能，完成神至高的旨意。 ]
為他的聖潔榮耀，不折不撓。 [無論是生，是死，我全不介懷！ ]（參21節）保羅立定心志，不讓任何事物阻攔他去成就神的旨意，是不折不扣地惟命是從。神行事的程式是我們在生命中有一個改變，因為神好好跟我們說的時候，我們多半不理睬。他於是把我們帶到一個地步，叫我們竭誠為他，那時我們就開始掙扎（原文作爭辯）；然後，他造一個非忍受可以控制的局面，叫我們必須下一個決定－－或順命或逆命。從這裡開始，決定性的分界線就產生了。假若神生命的改變臨到你，你只要絕對的，毫不反悔的順服。
祈禱◆主啊，我何等渴望藉著祢能力的驅策、祢恩典的撫摸，和祢聖靈的感動，帶領我與祢面對面。為著我的遲緩，要那麼久才對某些事情有所醒悟，我祈求祢的寬恕。
My Utmost for His Highest. “. . . my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed . . . .” We will all feel very much ashamed if we do not yield to Jesus the areas of our lives He has asked us to yield to Him. It’s as if Paul were saying, “My determined purpose is to be my utmost for His highest— my best for His glory.” To reach that level of determination is a matter of the will, not of debate or of reasoning. It is absolute and irrevocable surrender of the will at that point. An undue amount of thought and consideration for ourselves is what keeps us from making that decision, although we cover it up with the pretense that it is others we are considering. When we think seriously about what it will cost others if we obey the call of Jesus, we tell God He doesn’t know what our obedience will mean. Keep to the point— He does know. Shut out every other thought and keep yourself before God in this one thing only— my utmost for His highest. I am determined to be absolutely and entirely for Him and Him alone.
My Unstoppable Determination for His Holiness. “Whether it means life or death-it makes no difference!” (see Philippians 1:21). Paul was determined that nothing would stop him from doing exactly what God wanted. But before we choose to follow God’s will, a crisis must develop in our lives. This happens because we tend to be unresponsive to God’s gentler nudges. He brings us to the place where He asks us to be our utmost for Him and we begin to debate. He then providentially produces a crisis where we have to decide— for or against. That moment becomes a great crossroads in our lives. If a crisis has come to you on any front, surrender your will to Jesus absolutely and irrevocably.
認定目標
照著我所切慕所盼望的，沒有一事叫我羞愧，只要凡事放膽，無論是生，是死，總叫基督在我身上照常顯大。 （腓一20）
竭盡己心以成全主至高的旨意。 [照著我所切慕所盼望的，沒有一事叫我羞愧。 ]耶穌要求我們凡事順服，若我們不肯順服，就必然會大大羞愧。保羅說：[我決志要竭盡所能，成全神至高的旨意。 ]要達到這個目標，是意志的問題。不是討價還價，理長論短，乃是意志的降服，是絕對的，不反悔的，對正要害的降服。但我們往往思前想後，諸多疑慮，過分自作主張，無法定意順服，而且還口稱是為了顧及別人的需要。我們揣摩測度，心想若順服了耶穌的呼召，會怎樣影響那些人；於是就告訴神說：[你知道我順服之後會有怎樣的後果？ ]只要持定目標，神是知道的。把所有顧慮都放下，單單來到神面前，存一個心志－－[竭盡所能，完成神至高的旨意。 ]
為他的聖潔榮耀，不折不撓。 [無論是生，是死，我全不介懷！ ]（參21節）保羅立定心志，不讓任何事物阻攔他去成就神的旨意，是不折不扣地惟命是從。神行事的程式是我們在生命中有一個改變，因為神好好跟我們說的時候，我們多半不理睬。他於是把我們帶到一個地步，叫我們竭誠為他，那時我們就開始掙扎（原文作爭辯）；然後，他造一個非忍受可以控制的局面，叫我們必須下一個決定－－或順命或逆命。從這裡開始，決定性的分界線就產生了。假若神生命的改變臨到你，你只要絕對的，毫不反悔的順服。
祈禱◆主啊，我何等渴望藉著祢能力的驅策、祢恩典的撫摸，和祢聖靈的感動，帶領我與祢面對面。為著我的遲緩，要那麼久才對某些事情有所醒悟，我祈求祢的寬恕。
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