Now the Lord says, who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant . . . —Isaiah 49:5
The first thing that happens after we recognize our election by God in Christ Jesus is the destruction of our preconceived ideas, our narrow-minded thinking, and all of our other allegiances— we are turned solely into servants of God’s own purpose. The entire human race was created to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. Sin has diverted the human race onto another course, but it has not altered God’s purpose to the slightest degree. And when we are born again we are brought into the realization of God’s great purpose for the human race, namely, that He created us for Himself. This realization of our election by God is the most joyful on earth, and we must learn to rely on this tremendous creative purpose of God. The first thing God will do is force the interests of the whole world through the channel of our hearts. The love of God, and even His very nature, is introduced into us. And we see the nature of Almighty God purely focused in
John 3:16
— “For God so loved the world. . . ”
We must continually keep our soul open to the fact of God’s creative purpose, and never confuse or cloud it with our own intentions. If we do, God will have to force our intentions aside no matter how much it may hurt. A missionary is created for the purpose of being God’s servant, one in whom God is glorified. Once we realize that it is through the salvation of Jesus Christ that we are made perfectly fit for the purpose of God, we will understand why Jesus Christ is so strict and relentless in His demands. He demands absolute righteousness from His servants, because He has put into them the very nature of God.
Beware lest you forget God’s purpose for your life
傳道者的預選
耶和華從我出胎造就我作他的僕人。 （賽四十九5）
我們一清楚在耶穌基督裡被神選召，第一件發生的事就是偏見、狹隘的思想、愛國主義的破滅，變成神的僕人，為完成他的計劃。整個人類原是為榮耀神，永遠享受神而被造的。罪惡把人類帶入歧途，但卻不能改變神原意的一絲一毫。我們重生得救時，就立時進入神對人類偉大的用心裡去；我是為神而被造的，神創造了我。明白神的選召，是世上最快樂不過的體會，我們必須信賴神偉大的創造計劃。神要作在我們身上的第一件事，就是要把對世界的關注，灌注到一顆心的通道裡去。他把愛，就是自己的本性，引進我們裡面，而全能神的本性，就集中在約翰福音三章16節：[神愛世人……].
我們要保持心靈向神創造的本意敞開，不要把自己的意念攙雜在裡面。若非如此，不管我們多痛苦，神也要把我們的意圖壓碎。傳道者的任務，就是作神的僕人，讓神得著榮耀。若我們明白在主的救恩里，成為完全適合神用的人，就明白主耶穌的要求何以這樣決絕。他要求他的僕人絕對的正直，因為他已把自己的本性放在他們裡面。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，為著我所負責的這些人，我懇求你帶領我與你的計劃活潑相連。為著今天所擁有的一切機會，求你重新膏立我。讓我看見你救恩的作為。
September 21, 2014
September 20, 2014
The Divine Commandment of Life
. . . be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect —Matthew 5:48
Our Lord’s exhortation to us in Matthew 5:38-48 is to be generous in our behavior toward everyone. Beware of living according to your natural affections in your spiritual life. Everyone has natural affections— some people we like and others we don’t like. Yet we must never let those likes and dislikes rule our Christian life. “If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another” (1 John 1:7), even those toward whom we have no affection.
The example our Lord gave us here is not that of a good person, or even of a good Christian, but of God Himself. “. . . be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” In other words, simply show to the other person what God has shown to you. And God will give you plenty of real life opportunities to prove whether or not you are “perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Being a disciple means deliberately identifying yourself with God’s interests in other people. Jesus says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35).
The true expression of Christian character is not in good-doing, but in God-likeness. If the Spirit of God has transformed you within, you will exhibit divine characteristics in your life, not just good human characteristics. God’s life in us expresses itself as God’s life, not as human life trying to be godly. The secret of a Christian’s life is that the supernatural becomes natural in him as a result of the grace of God, and the experience of this becomes evident in the practical, everyday details of life, not in times of intimate fellowship with God. And when we come in contact with things that create confusion and a flurry of activity, we find to our own amazement that we have the power to stay wonderfully poised even in the center of it all.
生命的神聖定律
所以你們要完全，像你們的天父完全一樣。 （太五48）
在這經文中，主勸勉我們對所有人都要寬大慷慨。在屬靈的生活中。當心依從人性的喜好行事。人人都有天然的喜好，我們喜歡某些人，不喜歡某些人。切勿讓這些喜好操縱我們基督徒的生命。 [我們若在光明中行，如同神在光中]，神可以使我們與天性不喜歡的人相交。
主給我們的榜樣不是一個好人，也不是一個好的基督徒，乃是神自己。 [所以你們要完全，像你們的天父完全一樣。 ]－－向人表彰神向你表彰的；神在實際生活上會給我們足夠的機會，去證明我們是否像他一樣完全。作門徒，就是立志要愛神所關注的人。 [叫你們彼此相愛，我怎樣愛你們，你們也要怎樣相愛。 ]
信徒品德的表現不在於善行，乃在於像神。若神的靈已改變你的內心，你生命所表現的是屬天的特性，而不是好人的特性。神的生命在我們裡面，表現的就是神的生命，不是力求敬虔的人的生命。信徒的秘訣，就是藉神的恩典，使超然的在他裡面成為自然，這種經歷並非在與神相交的時刻中表現，而是在日常生活的細節中實行。當我們碰到叫人頭昏腦脹的事，便會稀奇自己竟有能力保持平靜安穩。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，當今天這個屬你的日子正要展開，願你在一切事情上，成為我們獨特的珍寶。願你的靈充滿我們，以致我們各人都被那甜蜜、愜意的屬靈能力所改變。
Our Lord’s exhortation to us in Matthew 5:38-48 is to be generous in our behavior toward everyone. Beware of living according to your natural affections in your spiritual life. Everyone has natural affections— some people we like and others we don’t like. Yet we must never let those likes and dislikes rule our Christian life. “If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another” (1 John 1:7), even those toward whom we have no affection.
The example our Lord gave us here is not that of a good person, or even of a good Christian, but of God Himself. “. . . be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” In other words, simply show to the other person what God has shown to you. And God will give you plenty of real life opportunities to prove whether or not you are “perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Being a disciple means deliberately identifying yourself with God’s interests in other people. Jesus says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35).
The true expression of Christian character is not in good-doing, but in God-likeness. If the Spirit of God has transformed you within, you will exhibit divine characteristics in your life, not just good human characteristics. God’s life in us expresses itself as God’s life, not as human life trying to be godly. The secret of a Christian’s life is that the supernatural becomes natural in him as a result of the grace of God, and the experience of this becomes evident in the practical, everyday details of life, not in times of intimate fellowship with God. And when we come in contact with things that create confusion and a flurry of activity, we find to our own amazement that we have the power to stay wonderfully poised even in the center of it all.
生命的神聖定律
所以你們要完全，像你們的天父完全一樣。 （太五48）
在這經文中，主勸勉我們對所有人都要寬大慷慨。在屬靈的生活中。當心依從人性的喜好行事。人人都有天然的喜好，我們喜歡某些人，不喜歡某些人。切勿讓這些喜好操縱我們基督徒的生命。 [我們若在光明中行，如同神在光中]，神可以使我們與天性不喜歡的人相交。
主給我們的榜樣不是一個好人，也不是一個好的基督徒，乃是神自己。 [所以你們要完全，像你們的天父完全一樣。 ]－－向人表彰神向你表彰的；神在實際生活上會給我們足夠的機會，去證明我們是否像他一樣完全。作門徒，就是立志要愛神所關注的人。 [叫你們彼此相愛，我怎樣愛你們，你們也要怎樣相愛。 ]
信徒品德的表現不在於善行，乃在於像神。若神的靈已改變你的內心，你生命所表現的是屬天的特性，而不是好人的特性。神的生命在我們裡面，表現的就是神的生命，不是力求敬虔的人的生命。信徒的秘訣，就是藉神的恩典，使超然的在他裡面成為自然，這種經歷並非在與神相交的時刻中表現，而是在日常生活的細節中實行。當我們碰到叫人頭昏腦脹的事，便會稀奇自己竟有能力保持平靜安穩。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，當今天這個屬你的日子正要展開，願你在一切事情上，成為我們獨特的珍寶。願你的靈充滿我們，以致我們各人都被那甜蜜、愜意的屬靈能力所改變。
September 19, 2014
Are You Going on With Jesus?
You are those who have continued with Me in My trials —Luke 22:28
It is true that Jesus Christ is with us through our temptations, but are we going on with Him through His temptations? Many of us turn back from going on with Jesus from the very moment we have an experience of what He can do. Watch when God changes your circumstances to see whether you are going on with Jesus, or siding with the world, the flesh, and the devil. We wear His name, but are we going on with Him? “From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more” (John 6:66).
The temptations of Jesus continued throughout His earthly life, and they will continue throughout the life of the Son of God in us. Are we going on with Jesus in the life we are living right now?
We have the idea that we ought to shield ourselves from some of the things God brings around us. May it never be! It is God who engineers our circumstances, and whatever they may be we must see that we face them while continually abiding with Him in His temptations. They are His temptations, not temptations to us, but temptations to the life of the Son of God in us. Jesus Christ’s honor is at stake in our bodily lives. Are we remaining faithful to the Son of God in everything that attacks His life in us?
Are you going on with Jesus? The way goes through Gethsemane, through the city gate, and on “outside the camp” (Hebrews 13:13). The way is lonely and goes on until there is no longer even a trace of a footprint to follow— but only the voice saying, “Follow Me” (Matthew 4:19)
你繼續與主同行麼？
我在磨煉之中，常和我同在的就是你們。 （路二十二28）
我們受試探的時候，主耶穌與我們同在，這是不錯的。可是，他受試探時我們與他同行麼？不少人一經驗到主為我們成就什麼之後，就不再與他往前行了。注意神把你的環境轉移，看你是否仍與主耶穌同行，還是與世界為友，隨從肉體與魔鬼。我們佩戴著他的徽號，可是有沒有與他同行？ [從此他門徒中多有退去的，不再和他同行。 ]耶穌在一生中不斷受到試探；那末，神兒子在我們裡面的生命，也會不斷受試探。我們現在的生活是否與耶穌同行？
我們會有保護自己的念頭，以為應該躲避一些神安排在我們周圍的東西。千萬不可！神所安排的際遇，不管是什麼，我們都必鬚麵對；同時在他的試探裡，要與他不斷同行。那些試探不是對我們而發，乃是對他，對我們裡面神的兒子而發的。耶穌基督的尊榮，係於我們這肉身上，我們是否持守對神兒子的忠貞？
你不斷與主同行麼？這條路要經過客西馬尼園、城門口，直到營外；這道路孤單寂寞，你不會再看見任何足跡，只剩下一個聲音說：[跟從我。 ]
祈禱◆主啊，為著這個清晨，我能享有與你相交這個珍貴權利，我讚美你；願你今天在我裡面動工，以致我可以[立志行事……為要成就你的美意]。
It is true that Jesus Christ is with us through our temptations, but are we going on with Him through His temptations? Many of us turn back from going on with Jesus from the very moment we have an experience of what He can do. Watch when God changes your circumstances to see whether you are going on with Jesus, or siding with the world, the flesh, and the devil. We wear His name, but are we going on with Him? “From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more” (John 6:66).
The temptations of Jesus continued throughout His earthly life, and they will continue throughout the life of the Son of God in us. Are we going on with Jesus in the life we are living right now?
We have the idea that we ought to shield ourselves from some of the things God brings around us. May it never be! It is God who engineers our circumstances, and whatever they may be we must see that we face them while continually abiding with Him in His temptations. They are His temptations, not temptations to us, but temptations to the life of the Son of God in us. Jesus Christ’s honor is at stake in our bodily lives. Are we remaining faithful to the Son of God in everything that attacks His life in us?
Are you going on with Jesus? The way goes through Gethsemane, through the city gate, and on “outside the camp” (Hebrews 13:13). The way is lonely and goes on until there is no longer even a trace of a footprint to follow— but only the voice saying, “Follow Me” (Matthew 4:19)
你繼續與主同行麼？
我在磨煉之中，常和我同在的就是你們。 （路二十二28）
我們受試探的時候，主耶穌與我們同在，這是不錯的。可是，他受試探時我們與他同行麼？不少人一經驗到主為我們成就什麼之後，就不再與他往前行了。注意神把你的環境轉移，看你是否仍與主耶穌同行，還是與世界為友，隨從肉體與魔鬼。我們佩戴著他的徽號，可是有沒有與他同行？ [從此他門徒中多有退去的，不再和他同行。 ]耶穌在一生中不斷受到試探；那末，神兒子在我們裡面的生命，也會不斷受試探。我們現在的生活是否與耶穌同行？
我們會有保護自己的念頭，以為應該躲避一些神安排在我們周圍的東西。千萬不可！神所安排的際遇，不管是什麼，我們都必鬚麵對；同時在他的試探裡，要與他不斷同行。那些試探不是對我們而發，乃是對他，對我們裡面神的兒子而發的。耶穌基督的尊榮，係於我們這肉身上，我們是否持守對神兒子的忠貞？
你不斷與主同行麼？這條路要經過客西馬尼園、城門口，直到營外；這道路孤單寂寞，你不會再看見任何足跡，只剩下一個聲音說：[跟從我。 ]
祈禱◆主啊，為著這個清晨，我能享有與你相交這個珍貴權利，我讚美你；願你今天在我裡面動工，以致我可以[立志行事……為要成就你的美意]。
September 18, 2014
His Temptation and Ours
We do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin —Hebrews 4:15
Until we are born again, the only kind of temptation we understand is the kind mentioned in James 1:14, “Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.” But through regeneration we are lifted into another realm where there are other temptations to face, namely, the kind of temptations our Lord faced. The temptations of Jesus had no appeal to us as unbelievers because they were not at home in our human nature. Our Lord’s temptations and ours are in different realms until we are born again and become His brothers. The temptations of Jesus are not those of a mere man, but the temptations of God as Man. Through regeneration, the Son of God is formed in us (see Galatians 4:19), and in our physical life He has the same setting that He had on earth. Satan does not tempt us just to make us do wrong things— he tempts us to make us lose what God has put into us through regeneration, namely, the possibility of being of value to God. He does not come to us on the premise of tempting us to sin, but on the premise of shifting our point of view, and only the Spirit of God can detect this as a temptation of the devil.
Temptation means a test of the possessions held within the inner, spiritual part of our being by a power outside us and foreign to us. This makes the temptation of our Lord explainable. After Jesus’ baptism, having accepted His mission of being the One “who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29) He “was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness” (Matthew 4:1) and into the testing devices of the devil. Yet He did not become weary or exhausted. He went through the temptation “without sin,” and He retained all the possessions of His spiritual nature completely intact.
他的試探與我們的試探
因我們的大祭司，並非不能體恤我們的軟弱，他也曾凡事受過試探，與我們一樣，只是他沒有犯罪。 （來四15）
未重生之前，我們唯一的試探是雅各所說的：[各人被試探，乃是被自己的私慾牽引誘惑的。 ]可是重生之後，便被提升到另一範圍的試探，就是面對主所受的試探。主耶穌受的試探對我們並不吸引，再人性中全無地位。主的試探與我們的試探是兩個完全不同的領域，直等到我們重生了，成為他的弟兄。主耶穌的試探不是人的試探，乃是神成為人的試探。我們重生之後，神的兒子在我們裡面成形，他在我們的肉身生命中，面對他昔日在地上所面對的。撒旦並不引誘我們去做壞事，乃是要我們失去神藉重生放進我們裡面的生命，就是在神手中成為貴重合用的潛能。它並不是要引誘人犯罪，乃是要改變人的觀點。惟有聖靈才可以偵察出這是魔鬼的試探。
試探是外在勢力對人的考驗，要攻擊人性中所擁有的。這就解明了主耶穌所受的試探。耶穌受洗之後，接受了除去世人罪孽的責任，神的靈就立即把他放在魔鬼的考驗場裡。不過他沒有被打倒，他經過試探，卻沒有犯罪，仍然保持他人格的完整。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，對於與你一同守望、與你一同經歷試探的意義，我所了解的是何等膚淺。願你在今天早上吸引我靠近你，以你的大能使我專注於你，直至我的生活言談只為了你。
Until we are born again, the only kind of temptation we understand is the kind mentioned in James 1:14, “Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.” But through regeneration we are lifted into another realm where there are other temptations to face, namely, the kind of temptations our Lord faced. The temptations of Jesus had no appeal to us as unbelievers because they were not at home in our human nature. Our Lord’s temptations and ours are in different realms until we are born again and become His brothers. The temptations of Jesus are not those of a mere man, but the temptations of God as Man. Through regeneration, the Son of God is formed in us (see Galatians 4:19), and in our physical life He has the same setting that He had on earth. Satan does not tempt us just to make us do wrong things— he tempts us to make us lose what God has put into us through regeneration, namely, the possibility of being of value to God. He does not come to us on the premise of tempting us to sin, but on the premise of shifting our point of view, and only the Spirit of God can detect this as a temptation of the devil.
Temptation means a test of the possessions held within the inner, spiritual part of our being by a power outside us and foreign to us. This makes the temptation of our Lord explainable. After Jesus’ baptism, having accepted His mission of being the One “who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29) He “was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness” (Matthew 4:1) and into the testing devices of the devil. Yet He did not become weary or exhausted. He went through the temptation “without sin,” and He retained all the possessions of His spiritual nature completely intact.
他的試探與我們的試探
因我們的大祭司，並非不能體恤我們的軟弱，他也曾凡事受過試探，與我們一樣，只是他沒有犯罪。 （來四15）
未重生之前，我們唯一的試探是雅各所說的：[各人被試探，乃是被自己的私慾牽引誘惑的。 ]可是重生之後，便被提升到另一範圍的試探，就是面對主所受的試探。主耶穌受的試探對我們並不吸引，再人性中全無地位。主的試探與我們的試探是兩個完全不同的領域，直等到我們重生了，成為他的弟兄。主耶穌的試探不是人的試探，乃是神成為人的試探。我們重生之後，神的兒子在我們裡面成形，他在我們的肉身生命中，面對他昔日在地上所面對的。撒旦並不引誘我們去做壞事，乃是要我們失去神藉重生放進我們裡面的生命，就是在神手中成為貴重合用的潛能。它並不是要引誘人犯罪，乃是要改變人的觀點。惟有聖靈才可以偵察出這是魔鬼的試探。
試探是外在勢力對人的考驗，要攻擊人性中所擁有的。這就解明了主耶穌所受的試探。耶穌受洗之後，接受了除去世人罪孽的責任，神的靈就立即把他放在魔鬼的考驗場裡。不過他沒有被打倒，他經過試探，卻沒有犯罪，仍然保持他人格的完整。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，對於與你一同守望、與你一同經歷試探的意義，我所了解的是何等膚淺。願你在今天早上吸引我靠近你，以你的大能使我專注於你，直至我的生活言談只為了你。
September 17, 2014
Is There Good in Temptation?
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man . . . —1 Corinthians 10:13
The word temptation has come to mean something bad to us today, but we tend to use the word in the wrong way. Temptation itself is not sin; it is something we are bound to face simply by virtue of being human. Not to be tempted would mean that we were already so shameful that we would be beneath contempt. Yet many of us suffer from temptations we should never have to suffer, simply because we have refused to allow God to lift us to a higher level where we would face temptations of another kind.
A person’s inner nature, what he possesses in the inner, spiritual part of his being, determines what he is tempted by on the outside. The temptation fits the true nature of the person being tempted and reveals the possibilities of his nature. Every person actually determines or sets the level of his own temptation, because temptation will come to him in accordance with the level of his controlling, inner nature.
Temptation comes to me, suggesting a possible shortcut to the realization of my highest goal— it does not direct me toward what I understand to be evil, but toward what I understand to be good. Temptation is something that confuses me for a while, and I don’t know whether something is right or wrong. When I yield to it, I have made lust a god, and the temptation itself becomes the proof that it was only my own fear that prevented me from falling into the sin earlier.
Temptation is not something we can escape; in fact, it is essential to the well-rounded life of a person. Beware of thinking that you are tempted as no one else–what you go through is the common inheritance of the human race, not something that no one has ever before endured. God does not save us from temptations–He sustains us in the midst of them (see Hebrews 2:18 and Hebrews 4:15-16).
試探何益？
你們所遇見的試探，無非是人所能受的。 （林前十13）
[試探]一詞地位日益低落，我們很容易把這詞錯用。試探並非等於罪。凡是人，都會遇到試探。若說不會受試探，實在是自貶身價。不過，許多人所受的試探，本是不該受的。這完全是由於我們不肯讓神領我們到一個更高的境地，去面對另一種試探的緣故。
人內在的性向，就是他人的性格，決定他外在所受的試探。所受的試探是配合受試探者的本質，同時也顯出他的潛能。每一個人都有他獨特受試探的背景，試探也會沿著他主要的性向而來。
試探為人所要實現的最高目標，提供了一條捷徑－－並不是我走向邪惡，乃是朝著我認為善的方向走。試探是一些令我一時感到困惑的東西，因我不知它到底是對還是錯。向試探低頭，就是奉情慾為神；也證明過去不是沒有犯這罪，只是不敢做出來。
試探是無可避免的，對一個人的完整生命是不可或缺的。別以為從沒有人像你一樣，受到這樣的試探；你所經歷的，其實是整個人類共有的經歷，並非前所未有。神不會救我們離開試探，他乃是在試探當中救拔我們（來二18）。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我們對你的認知，被即時的現況所堵塞，產生了窒息的感覺；求你拯救和悅納我們。
The word temptation has come to mean something bad to us today, but we tend to use the word in the wrong way. Temptation itself is not sin; it is something we are bound to face simply by virtue of being human. Not to be tempted would mean that we were already so shameful that we would be beneath contempt. Yet many of us suffer from temptations we should never have to suffer, simply because we have refused to allow God to lift us to a higher level where we would face temptations of another kind.
A person’s inner nature, what he possesses in the inner, spiritual part of his being, determines what he is tempted by on the outside. The temptation fits the true nature of the person being tempted and reveals the possibilities of his nature. Every person actually determines or sets the level of his own temptation, because temptation will come to him in accordance with the level of his controlling, inner nature.
Temptation comes to me, suggesting a possible shortcut to the realization of my highest goal— it does not direct me toward what I understand to be evil, but toward what I understand to be good. Temptation is something that confuses me for a while, and I don’t know whether something is right or wrong. When I yield to it, I have made lust a god, and the temptation itself becomes the proof that it was only my own fear that prevented me from falling into the sin earlier.
Temptation is not something we can escape; in fact, it is essential to the well-rounded life of a person. Beware of thinking that you are tempted as no one else–what you go through is the common inheritance of the human race, not something that no one has ever before endured. God does not save us from temptations–He sustains us in the midst of them (see Hebrews 2:18 and Hebrews 4:15-16).
試探何益？
你們所遇見的試探，無非是人所能受的。 （林前十13）
[試探]一詞地位日益低落，我們很容易把這詞錯用。試探並非等於罪。凡是人，都會遇到試探。若說不會受試探，實在是自貶身價。不過，許多人所受的試探，本是不該受的。這完全是由於我們不肯讓神領我們到一個更高的境地，去面對另一種試探的緣故。
人內在的性向，就是他人的性格，決定他外在所受的試探。所受的試探是配合受試探者的本質，同時也顯出他的潛能。每一個人都有他獨特受試探的背景，試探也會沿著他主要的性向而來。
試探為人所要實現的最高目標，提供了一條捷徑－－並不是我走向邪惡，乃是朝著我認為善的方向走。試探是一些令我一時感到困惑的東西，因我不知它到底是對還是錯。向試探低頭，就是奉情慾為神；也證明過去不是沒有犯這罪，只是不敢做出來。
試探是無可避免的，對一個人的完整生命是不可或缺的。別以為從沒有人像你一樣，受到這樣的試探；你所經歷的，其實是整個人類共有的經歷，並非前所未有。神不會救我們離開試探，他乃是在試探當中救拔我們（來二18）。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我們對你的認知，被即時的現況所堵塞，產生了窒息的感覺；求你拯救和悅納我們。
September 16, 2014
Praying to God in Secret
When you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place . . . —Matthew 6:6
The primary thought in the area of religion is— keep your eyes on God, not on people. Your motivation should not be the desire to be known as a praying person. Find an inner room in which to pray where no one even knows you are praying, shut the door, and talk to God in secret. Have no motivation other than to know your Father in heaven. It is impossible to carry on your life as a disciple without definite times of secret prayer.
“When you pray, do not use vain repetitions . . .” (Matthew 6:7). God does not hear us because we pray earnestly— He hears us solely on the basis of redemption. God is never impressed by our earnestness. Prayer is not simply getting things from God— that is only the most elementary kind of prayer. Prayer is coming into perfect fellowship and oneness with God. If the Son of God has been formed in us through regeneration (see Galatians 4:19), then He will continue to press on beyond our common sense and will change our attitude about the things for which we pray.
“Everyone who asks receives . . .” (Matthew 7:8). We pray religious nonsense without even involving our will, and then we say that God did not answer— but in reality we have never asked for anything. Jesus said, “. . . you will ask what you desire. . .” (John 15:7). Asking means that our will must be involved. Whenever Jesus talked about prayer, He spoke with wonderful childlike simplicity. Then we respond with our critical attitude, saying, “Yes, but even Jesus said that we must ask.” But remember that we have to ask things of God that are in keeping with the God whom Jesus Christ revealed.
宗教神聖的領域
你禱告的時候，要進你的內屋，關上門，禱告你在暗中的父。 （太六6）
在宗信信仰中，最主要的觀念就是仰望神，不仰望人。切不可有這個動機：希望人家知道你時刻禱告。要進入內室，在沒有人知道你在禱告的地方，關上門，暗中與神交談。禱告唯一的動機，就是認識你在天上的父。若要過門徒的生活，就要按時在暗中禱告，此外別無他途。
[你們禱告，不可……用許多重複話。 ]（第7節）神聽我們禱告，並不是因為我們懇切；他並不受我們的迫切誠心打動，他聽我們只因他的救贖。禱告並非單單向神求東西，那隻是最原始的起點。禱告是與神完全的合一。神的兒子若藉重生成形在我們裡面，他必然會超越我們的常理觀念，改變我們對所求事物的態度。
[凡祈求的，就得著。 ]我們禱告時往往用敬虔的術語，可是我們的意志並不在裡面，然後我們又怨神不垂聽；其實我們根本就沒有求什麼。耶穌說：[你們要什麼，可以求。 ]求的意思就是我們的意志也在裡面。耶穌把小孩子的至純與禱告相提並論；但我們卻發出批判：[好是好的，可是……]。耶穌說：[求吧。 ]但得記著我們所求於神的必須與主耶穌所彰顯神的心意相符。
祈禱◆主啊，今早的[每日亮光]發出何其有力的說話：[要剛強和具有勇氣；不要恐懼，也不要喪膽；因為無論你往哪裡去，主你的神都會與你在一起。 ]阿們！哈利路亞！
The primary thought in the area of religion is— keep your eyes on God, not on people. Your motivation should not be the desire to be known as a praying person. Find an inner room in which to pray where no one even knows you are praying, shut the door, and talk to God in secret. Have no motivation other than to know your Father in heaven. It is impossible to carry on your life as a disciple without definite times of secret prayer.
“When you pray, do not use vain repetitions . . .” (Matthew 6:7). God does not hear us because we pray earnestly— He hears us solely on the basis of redemption. God is never impressed by our earnestness. Prayer is not simply getting things from God— that is only the most elementary kind of prayer. Prayer is coming into perfect fellowship and oneness with God. If the Son of God has been formed in us through regeneration (see Galatians 4:19), then He will continue to press on beyond our common sense and will change our attitude about the things for which we pray.
“Everyone who asks receives . . .” (Matthew 7:8). We pray religious nonsense without even involving our will, and then we say that God did not answer— but in reality we have never asked for anything. Jesus said, “. . . you will ask what you desire. . .” (John 15:7). Asking means that our will must be involved. Whenever Jesus talked about prayer, He spoke with wonderful childlike simplicity. Then we respond with our critical attitude, saying, “Yes, but even Jesus said that we must ask.” But remember that we have to ask things of God that are in keeping with the God whom Jesus Christ revealed.
宗教神聖的領域
你禱告的時候，要進你的內屋，關上門，禱告你在暗中的父。 （太六6）
在宗信信仰中，最主要的觀念就是仰望神，不仰望人。切不可有這個動機：希望人家知道你時刻禱告。要進入內室，在沒有人知道你在禱告的地方，關上門，暗中與神交談。禱告唯一的動機，就是認識你在天上的父。若要過門徒的生活，就要按時在暗中禱告，此外別無他途。
[你們禱告，不可……用許多重複話。 ]（第7節）神聽我們禱告，並不是因為我們懇切；他並不受我們的迫切誠心打動，他聽我們只因他的救贖。禱告並非單單向神求東西，那隻是最原始的起點。禱告是與神完全的合一。神的兒子若藉重生成形在我們裡面，他必然會超越我們的常理觀念，改變我們對所求事物的態度。
[凡祈求的，就得著。 ]我們禱告時往往用敬虔的術語，可是我們的意志並不在裡面，然後我們又怨神不垂聽；其實我們根本就沒有求什麼。耶穌說：[你們要什麼，可以求。 ]求的意思就是我們的意志也在裡面。耶穌把小孩子的至純與禱告相提並論；但我們卻發出批判：[好是好的，可是……]。耶穌說：[求吧。 ]但得記著我們所求於神的必須與主耶穌所彰顯神的心意相符。
祈禱◆主啊，今早的[每日亮光]發出何其有力的說話：[要剛強和具有勇氣；不要恐懼，也不要喪膽；因為無論你往哪裡去，主你的神都會與你在一起。 ]阿們！哈利路亞！
September 15, 2014
What To Renounce
We have renounced the hidden things of shame . . . —2 Corinthians 4:2
Have you “renounced the hidden things of shame” in your life—the things that your sense of honor or pride will not allow to come into the light? You can easily hide them. Is there a thought in your heart about anyone that you would not like to be brought into the light? Then renounce it as soon as it comes to mind—renounce everything in its entirety until there is no hidden dishonesty or craftiness about you at all. Envy, jealousy, and strife don’t necessarily arise from your old nature of sin, but from the flesh which was used for these kinds of things in the past (see Romans 6:19 and 1 Peter 4:1-3). You must maintain continual watchfulness so that nothing arises in your life that would cause you shame.
“. . . not walking in craftiness. . .” (2 Corinthians 4:2). This means not resorting to something simply to make your own point. This is a terrible trap. You know that God will allow you to work in only one way—the way of truth. Then be careful never to catch people through the other way—the way of deceit. If you act deceitfully, God’s blight and ruin will be upon you. What may be craftiness for you, may not be for others—God has called you to a higher standard. Never dull your sense of being your utmost for His highest—your best for His glory. For you, doing certain things would mean craftiness coming into your life for a purpose other than what is the highest and best, and it would dull the motivation that God has given you. Many people have turned back because they are afraid to look at things from God’s perspective. The greatest spiritual crisis comes when a person has to move a little farther on in his faith than the beliefs he has already accepted
棄絕什麼？
將那些暗昧可恥的事棄絕了。 （林後四2）
你有沒有將暗昧可恥的事棄絕？ －－那些你廉恥之心不想敞露的東西。要遮掩這些事並不難。你心中是否有一些念頭，是不想放在光中的？當這些念頭一出現，就要立刻棄絕，完全的棄絕，直至沒有絲毫可恥詭詐在你裡面隱藏。嫉忌、貪戀、爭競－－未必是出於罪根性，而是因為你在過去的日子中，肢體慣於和這種事（參羅六19，彼前四1-2）。要不住的警醒，使生命沒有絲毫可恥的東西生長。
[不行詭詐]，詭詐就是運用手段以求達到目的。這是個極大的網羅。若你知道神只容許你以某一方法行事，那麼，就不可用別的方法。不然，神的責難必然臨到。人家做的事，在你看來是行詭詐，但在他們可能並非詭詐，因為神給你另一個觀點。切勿削弱竭誠為主的敏銳性觸覺。你所作的某件事，可能叫你離開神的旨意去追求別的目標：若是這樣，詭詐就隨之而生，而你對神也變得遲鈍。許多人退後，是由於不敢從神的觀點看事物。一個人若要越過自己已接納的信念，在屬靈上就有大危機。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，求你護衛我生命的中心免受腐蝕；願你隱密地保守我，使我與你有著滿意的關係，以致我能彰顯你的榮耀。
Have you “renounced the hidden things of shame” in your life—the things that your sense of honor or pride will not allow to come into the light? You can easily hide them. Is there a thought in your heart about anyone that you would not like to be brought into the light? Then renounce it as soon as it comes to mind—renounce everything in its entirety until there is no hidden dishonesty or craftiness about you at all. Envy, jealousy, and strife don’t necessarily arise from your old nature of sin, but from the flesh which was used for these kinds of things in the past (see Romans 6:19 and 1 Peter 4:1-3). You must maintain continual watchfulness so that nothing arises in your life that would cause you shame.
“. . . not walking in craftiness. . .” (2 Corinthians 4:2). This means not resorting to something simply to make your own point. This is a terrible trap. You know that God will allow you to work in only one way—the way of truth. Then be careful never to catch people through the other way—the way of deceit. If you act deceitfully, God’s blight and ruin will be upon you. What may be craftiness for you, may not be for others—God has called you to a higher standard. Never dull your sense of being your utmost for His highest—your best for His glory. For you, doing certain things would mean craftiness coming into your life for a purpose other than what is the highest and best, and it would dull the motivation that God has given you. Many people have turned back because they are afraid to look at things from God’s perspective. The greatest spiritual crisis comes when a person has to move a little farther on in his faith than the beliefs he has already accepted
棄絕什麼？
將那些暗昧可恥的事棄絕了。 （林後四2）
你有沒有將暗昧可恥的事棄絕？ －－那些你廉恥之心不想敞露的東西。要遮掩這些事並不難。你心中是否有一些念頭，是不想放在光中的？當這些念頭一出現，就要立刻棄絕，完全的棄絕，直至沒有絲毫可恥詭詐在你裡面隱藏。嫉忌、貪戀、爭競－－未必是出於罪根性，而是因為你在過去的日子中，肢體慣於和這種事（參羅六19，彼前四1-2）。要不住的警醒，使生命沒有絲毫可恥的東西生長。
[不行詭詐]，詭詐就是運用手段以求達到目的。這是個極大的網羅。若你知道神只容許你以某一方法行事，那麼，就不可用別的方法。不然，神的責難必然臨到。人家做的事，在你看來是行詭詐，但在他們可能並非詭詐，因為神給你另一個觀點。切勿削弱竭誠為主的敏銳性觸覺。你所作的某件事，可能叫你離開神的旨意去追求別的目標：若是這樣，詭詐就隨之而生，而你對神也變得遲鈍。許多人退後，是由於不敢從神的觀點看事物。一個人若要越過自己已接納的信念，在屬靈上就有大危機。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，求你護衛我生命的中心免受腐蝕；願你隱密地保守我，使我與你有著滿意的關係，以致我能彰顯你的榮耀。
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