If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death —1 John 5:16
If we are not heedful and pay no attention to the way the Spirit of God works in us, we will become spiritual hypocrites. We see where other people are failing, and then we take our discernment and turn it into comments of ridicule and criticism, instead of turning it into intercession on their behalf. God reveals this truth about others to us not through the sharpness of our minds but through the direct penetration of His Spirit. If we are not attentive, we will be completely unaware of the source of the discernment God has given us, becoming critical of others and forgetting that God says, “. . . he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death.” Be careful that you don’t become a hypocrite by spending all your time trying to get others right with God before you worship Him yourself.
One of the most subtle and illusive burdens God ever places on us as saints is this burden of discernment concerning others. He gives us discernment so that we may accept the responsibility for those souls before Him and form the mind of Christ about them (see Philippians 2:5). We should intercede in accordance with what God says He will give us, namely, “life for those who commit sin not leading to death.” It is not that we are able to bring God into contact with our minds, but that we awaken ourselves to the point where God is able to convey His mind to us regarding the people for whom we intercede.
Can Jesus Christ see the agony of His soul in us? He can’t unless we are so closely identified with Him that we have His view concerning the people for whom we pray. May we learn to intercede so wholeheartedly that Jesus Christ will be completely and overwhelmingly satisfied with us as intercessors.
你是專一還是假冒？
人若看見弟兄犯了不至於死的罪，就當為他祈求，神必將生命賜給他。 （約壹五16）
我們若不留意神的靈如何在我們裡面工作，就會變成屬靈的偽君子。我們看見別人的失敗，就把它當作笑柄，肆意批評，並不為他們代求。我們所看見的，原不是出於自己機敏的腦筋，乃是神的靈直接啟示我們。因此，我們若不留意那啟示的來源，就會變成評論專家，忘記了神所說的－－[不至於死的罪，就當為他祈求，神必將生命賜給他]。當心不要扮演偽君子；自己未敬拜神，就花盡時間去糾正別人。
神將一個最奇妙的擔子放在聖徒身上，就是為他人守望。神向我們啟示一些事情，為叫我們把這些人的擔子帶到他面前。然後，我們有了基督憐憫的心腸，就為他們代求。我們若這樣行，神說會[將生命賜給他]。我們並不是叫神遷就我們，按自己的心意去事奉，乃是激勵自己，直至神把他對我們所代求的人的心意傳遞給我們。
主耶穌在我們身上能否看見他勞苦的功效，就在乎我們是否與他合一，使自己有神的看法，以同樣的眼光看代求的人。這樣，主才能心滿意足。願我們學習全心全意的代求，以致主對我們這些代求者，能心滿意足。
祈禱◆噢，主神啊，我開始模糊地識別到你對我的意義－－超過清晨的亮光、超過喜樂和健康、超過你一切的福氣。求你今天早上重新蒞臨到我身上，並且透過你的光，使我整天都散發光輝。
March 31, 2014
March 30, 2014
Holiness or Hardness Toward God?
He . . . wondered that there was no intercessor . . . —Isaiah 59:16
The reason many of us stop praying and become hard toward God is that we only have an emotional interest in prayer. It sounds good to say that we pray, and we read books on prayer which tell us that prayer is beneficial— that our minds are quieted and our souls are uplifted when we pray. But Isaiah implied in this verse that God is amazed at such thoughts about prayer.
Worship and intercession must go together; one is impossible without the other. Intercession means raising ourselves up to the point of getting the mind of Christ regarding the person for whom we are praying (see Philippians 2:5). Instead of worshiping God, we recite speeches to God about how prayer is supposed to work. Are we worshiping God or disputing Him when we say, “But God, I just don’t see how you are going to do this”? This is a sure sign that we are not worshiping. When we lose sight of God, we become hard and dogmatic. We throw our petitions at His throne and dictate to Him what we want Him to do. We don’t worship God, nor do we seek to conform our minds to the mind of Christ. And if we are hard toward God, we will become hard toward other people.
Are we worshiping God in a way that will raise us up to where we can take hold of Him, having such intimate contact with Him that we know His mind about the ones for whom we pray? Are we living in a holy relationship with God, or have we become hard and dogmatic?
Do you find yourself thinking that there is no one interceding properly? Then be that person yourself. Be a person who worships God and lives in a holy relationship with Him. Get involved in the real work of intercession, remembering that it truly is work-work that demands all your energy, but work which has no hidden pitfalls. Preaching the gospel has its share of pitfalls, but intercessory prayer has none whatsoever.
對神柔順還是剛硬？
他見無人拯救、無人代求，甚為詫異。 （賽五十九16）
不少人禱告半途而廢，對神硬心，是由於對禱告只有一種情感上的興趣。 [我們有禱告呀！ ]聽起來很不錯。讀點關於禱告的書，執拗禱告很有益，使思想安靜、靈性高升。可是，以賽亞卻暗示說，神對這種禱告的觀念大感驚奇。
敬拜與代求必須同時進行，兩者是缺一不可的。代求是我們催逼自己去體會主耶穌對所代求的人迫切的心情。但多少時候，我們不是敬拜神，而是在堆砌禱詞。我們到底在敬拜，還是與神爭論？ －－[我看不出你（神）有什麼辦法。 ]這明明就不是敬拜。一旦看不見神，我們就變得硬心主觀。我們把所求的事，仍在神寶座之前，並指明要他怎樣做。我們不是在敬拜，也沒有尋求主基督的心意。向神硬心，對人也必然沒有憐憫。
我們向神敬拜，是否提升到有主的心，使我們能為別人代求？我們是否與神活在聖潔的關係上？還是剛硬武斷？ [無人真正好好地代求。 ]那末，你就做那代求的人吧！敬拜神，活在聖潔的關係裡；投入真正的代求工作裡。要記住：代求是一種工作，是需要一切能力的工作。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我的靈魂將安息在你這位世界的創造者，以及那位在我裡面創造生命的主耶穌基督裡。噢，求你賜下聖靈的能力，讓我更完全地敬拜你。
The reason many of us stop praying and become hard toward God is that we only have an emotional interest in prayer. It sounds good to say that we pray, and we read books on prayer which tell us that prayer is beneficial— that our minds are quieted and our souls are uplifted when we pray. But Isaiah implied in this verse that God is amazed at such thoughts about prayer.
Worship and intercession must go together; one is impossible without the other. Intercession means raising ourselves up to the point of getting the mind of Christ regarding the person for whom we are praying (see Philippians 2:5). Instead of worshiping God, we recite speeches to God about how prayer is supposed to work. Are we worshiping God or disputing Him when we say, “But God, I just don’t see how you are going to do this”? This is a sure sign that we are not worshiping. When we lose sight of God, we become hard and dogmatic. We throw our petitions at His throne and dictate to Him what we want Him to do. We don’t worship God, nor do we seek to conform our minds to the mind of Christ. And if we are hard toward God, we will become hard toward other people.
Are we worshiping God in a way that will raise us up to where we can take hold of Him, having such intimate contact with Him that we know His mind about the ones for whom we pray? Are we living in a holy relationship with God, or have we become hard and dogmatic?
Do you find yourself thinking that there is no one interceding properly? Then be that person yourself. Be a person who worships God and lives in a holy relationship with Him. Get involved in the real work of intercession, remembering that it truly is work-work that demands all your energy, but work which has no hidden pitfalls. Preaching the gospel has its share of pitfalls, but intercessory prayer has none whatsoever.
對神柔順還是剛硬？
他見無人拯救、無人代求，甚為詫異。 （賽五十九16）
不少人禱告半途而廢，對神硬心，是由於對禱告只有一種情感上的興趣。 [我們有禱告呀！ ]聽起來很不錯。讀點關於禱告的書，執拗禱告很有益，使思想安靜、靈性高升。可是，以賽亞卻暗示說，神對這種禱告的觀念大感驚奇。
敬拜與代求必須同時進行，兩者是缺一不可的。代求是我們催逼自己去體會主耶穌對所代求的人迫切的心情。但多少時候，我們不是敬拜神，而是在堆砌禱詞。我們到底在敬拜，還是與神爭論？ －－[我看不出你（神）有什麼辦法。 ]這明明就不是敬拜。一旦看不見神，我們就變得硬心主觀。我們把所求的事，仍在神寶座之前，並指明要他怎樣做。我們不是在敬拜，也沒有尋求主基督的心意。向神硬心，對人也必然沒有憐憫。
我們向神敬拜，是否提升到有主的心，使我們能為別人代求？我們是否與神活在聖潔的關係上？還是剛硬武斷？ [無人真正好好地代求。 ]那末，你就做那代求的人吧！敬拜神，活在聖潔的關係裡；投入真正的代求工作裡。要記住：代求是一種工作，是需要一切能力的工作。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我的靈魂將安息在你這位世界的創造者，以及那位在我裡面創造生命的主耶穌基督裡。噢，求你賜下聖靈的能力，讓我更完全地敬拜你。
March 29, 2014
Our Lord’s Surprise Visits
You also be ready . . . —Luke 12:40
A Christian worker’s greatest need is a readiness to face Jesus Christ at any and every turn. This is not easy, no matter what our experience has been. This battle is not against sin, difficulties, or circumstances, but against being so absorbed in our service to Jesus Christ that we are not ready to face Jesus Himself at every turn. The greatest need is not facing our beliefs or doctrines, or even facing the question of whether or not we are of any use to Him, but the need is to face Him.
Jesus rarely comes where we expect Him; He appears where we least expect Him, and always in the most illogical situations. The only way a servant can remain true to God is to be ready for the Lord’s surprise visits. This readiness will not be brought about by service, but through intense spiritual reality, expecting Jesus Christ at every turn. This sense of expectation will give our life the attitude of childlike wonder He wants it to have. If we are going to be ready for Jesus Christ, we have to stop being religious. In other words, we must stop using religion as if it were some kind of a lofty lifestyle-we must be spiritually real.
If you are avoiding the call of the religious thinking of today’s world, and instead are “looking unto Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2), setting your heart on what He wants, and thinking His thoughts, you will be considered impractical and a daydreamer. But when He suddenly appears in the work of the heat of the day, you will be the only one who is ready. You should trust no one, and even ignore the finest saint on earth if he blocks your sight of Jesus Christ.
主突然到訪
你們也要預備。 （路十二40）
主的工人最需要做的，是隨時隨地預備面對主，這個並不容易，不管我們的經歷怎樣。這爭戰不是對付罪惡、環境，或是艱難，而是對付自己。我們要避免過分專心工作，以致未能隨時預備見主。這個逼切的需要不是怎樣面對信仰、教義，或個人的價值，乃是怎樣面對主。
耶穌很少在我們期望他的時候來到，相反地，他會在我們最意想不到的時候，就出現了，而且往往是在最不合理的情況下哩！主的工人唯一保持忠於神的方法，就是對主的突訪隨時作準備。
事奉工作不是頂重要的，最重要的是有好的靈性，時刻準備耶穌基督來到。會令我們的人生，有孩子般驚喜的樣式，這也正是他所要求於我們的。我們若要準備好見耶穌基督，就不要披上宗教的外衣（把宗教當作一種高等的文化），而要有屬靈的實際。
你若單仰望耶穌，不理會現世宗教的呼喊，只把心思專注在他的事上，與他有共同的思想，人家會說你不切實際，只會夢想。但當主在繁重喧囂的生活中出現，唯獨你準備好見他。不要倚仗別人，也不要倚仗世上最優秀的聖徒；要是他阻攔你，使你看不見耶穌基督，就別管他好了。
祈禱◆[自己好像僕人等候主人……]－－願我就像這些僕人充滿期待、熱切、責任心、儆醒和能力。
A Christian worker’s greatest need is a readiness to face Jesus Christ at any and every turn. This is not easy, no matter what our experience has been. This battle is not against sin, difficulties, or circumstances, but against being so absorbed in our service to Jesus Christ that we are not ready to face Jesus Himself at every turn. The greatest need is not facing our beliefs or doctrines, or even facing the question of whether or not we are of any use to Him, but the need is to face Him.
Jesus rarely comes where we expect Him; He appears where we least expect Him, and always in the most illogical situations. The only way a servant can remain true to God is to be ready for the Lord’s surprise visits. This readiness will not be brought about by service, but through intense spiritual reality, expecting Jesus Christ at every turn. This sense of expectation will give our life the attitude of childlike wonder He wants it to have. If we are going to be ready for Jesus Christ, we have to stop being religious. In other words, we must stop using religion as if it were some kind of a lofty lifestyle-we must be spiritually real.
If you are avoiding the call of the religious thinking of today’s world, and instead are “looking unto Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2), setting your heart on what He wants, and thinking His thoughts, you will be considered impractical and a daydreamer. But when He suddenly appears in the work of the heat of the day, you will be the only one who is ready. You should trust no one, and even ignore the finest saint on earth if he blocks your sight of Jesus Christ.
主突然到訪
你們也要預備。 （路十二40）
主的工人最需要做的，是隨時隨地預備面對主，這個並不容易，不管我們的經歷怎樣。這爭戰不是對付罪惡、環境，或是艱難，而是對付自己。我們要避免過分專心工作，以致未能隨時預備見主。這個逼切的需要不是怎樣面對信仰、教義，或個人的價值，乃是怎樣面對主。
耶穌很少在我們期望他的時候來到，相反地，他會在我們最意想不到的時候，就出現了，而且往往是在最不合理的情況下哩！主的工人唯一保持忠於神的方法，就是對主的突訪隨時作準備。
事奉工作不是頂重要的，最重要的是有好的靈性，時刻準備耶穌基督來到。會令我們的人生，有孩子般驚喜的樣式，這也正是他所要求於我們的。我們若要準備好見耶穌基督，就不要披上宗教的外衣（把宗教當作一種高等的文化），而要有屬靈的實際。
你若單仰望耶穌，不理會現世宗教的呼喊，只把心思專注在他的事上，與他有共同的思想，人家會說你不切實際，只會夢想。但當主在繁重喧囂的生活中出現，唯獨你準備好見他。不要倚仗別人，也不要倚仗世上最優秀的聖徒；要是他阻攔你，使你看不見耶穌基督，就別管他好了。
祈禱◆[自己好像僕人等候主人……]－－願我就像這些僕人充滿期待、熱切、責任心、儆醒和能力。
March 28, 2014
Isn’t There Some Misunderstanding?
'Let us go to Judea again.' The disciples said to Him, '. . . are You going there again?' —John 11:7-8
Just because I don’t understand what Jesus Christ says, I have no right to determine that He must be mistaken in what He says. That is a dangerous view, and it is never right to think that my obedience to God’s directive will bring dishonor to Jesus. The only thing that will bring dishonor is not obeying Him. To put my view of His honor ahead of what He is plainly guiding me to do is never right, even though it may come from a real desire to prevent Him from being put to an open shame. I know when the instructions have come from God because of their quiet persistence. But when I begin to weigh the pros and cons, and doubt and debate enter into my mind, I am bringing in an element that is not of God. This will only result in my concluding that His instructions to me were not right. Many of us are faithful to our ideas about Jesus Christ, but how many of us are faithful to Jesus Himself? Faithfulness to Jesus means that I must step out even when and where I can’t see anything (see Matthew 14:29). But faithfulness to my own ideas means that I first clear the way mentally. Faith, however, is not intellectual understanding; faith is a deliberate commitment to the Person of Jesus Christ, even when I can’t see the way ahead.
Are you debating whether you should take a step of faith in Jesus, or whether you should wait until you can clearly see how to do what He has asked? Simply obey Him with unrestrained joy. When He tells you something and you begin to debate, it is because you have a misunderstanding of what honors Him and what doesn’t. Are you faithful to Jesus, or faithful to your ideas about Him? Are you faithful to what He says, or are you trying to compromise His words with thoughts that never came from Him? “Whatever He says to you, do it ” (John 2:5).
豈無誤解？
我們再往猶太去吧。門徒說……你還往那裡去麼？ （約十一7-8）
我可能不明白主耶穌的話，但若如此說他的話有錯，就很危險了。若以為順服神的一句話，會羞辱耶穌，這是絕對錯誤的想法，唯一羞辱主的是不順服他。我用自己的觀點來維護他的榮耀，代替了聽從他明確的命令，必然是錯的；即使動機的確是想避免叫主受辱。從神來的意思，可從那安靜而持續的感動認出來。但當我要反复思考，權衡得失時，隨之而來時疑慮爭辯，我就是把不屬於神的東西帶了進來。於是便知道，這意思是不對的。我們多半忠於自己對耶穌的概念，甚少忠於他自己。（試問我們中間有多少人是忠於他的？）忠於耶穌就是聽命開步，不憑眼見（太十四29），忠於我自己對耶穌的概念，就是在理智上鋪了路。信心不是理智的了悟，信心是在未見之先，立志委身於他。
你是否反復自辯，要靠耶穌走信心之路呢？還是你自己應付？用歡喜快樂的心，無所顧忌地順服他吧。當他這樣對你說，而你卻心裡反复思量，這是因為你對他的榮譽有所顧慮，而其實你所認為的榮譽，並非主的榮譽。你到底是忠於耶穌？還是忠於你對神的概念？你是忠於他所說的話？還是拿那不出於他的觀點來折衷妥協？ [他告訴你們什麼，你們就作什麼。]
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我何等需要靠近你。當你進入我的生命，我何需顫抖？
Just because I don’t understand what Jesus Christ says, I have no right to determine that He must be mistaken in what He says. That is a dangerous view, and it is never right to think that my obedience to God’s directive will bring dishonor to Jesus. The only thing that will bring dishonor is not obeying Him. To put my view of His honor ahead of what He is plainly guiding me to do is never right, even though it may come from a real desire to prevent Him from being put to an open shame. I know when the instructions have come from God because of their quiet persistence. But when I begin to weigh the pros and cons, and doubt and debate enter into my mind, I am bringing in an element that is not of God. This will only result in my concluding that His instructions to me were not right. Many of us are faithful to our ideas about Jesus Christ, but how many of us are faithful to Jesus Himself? Faithfulness to Jesus means that I must step out even when and where I can’t see anything (see Matthew 14:29). But faithfulness to my own ideas means that I first clear the way mentally. Faith, however, is not intellectual understanding; faith is a deliberate commitment to the Person of Jesus Christ, even when I can’t see the way ahead.
Are you debating whether you should take a step of faith in Jesus, or whether you should wait until you can clearly see how to do what He has asked? Simply obey Him with unrestrained joy. When He tells you something and you begin to debate, it is because you have a misunderstanding of what honors Him and what doesn’t. Are you faithful to Jesus, or faithful to your ideas about Him? Are you faithful to what He says, or are you trying to compromise His words with thoughts that never came from Him? “Whatever He says to you, do it ” (John 2:5).
豈無誤解？
我們再往猶太去吧。門徒說……你還往那裡去麼？ （約十一7-8）
我可能不明白主耶穌的話，但若如此說他的話有錯，就很危險了。若以為順服神的一句話，會羞辱耶穌，這是絕對錯誤的想法，唯一羞辱主的是不順服他。我用自己的觀點來維護他的榮耀，代替了聽從他明確的命令，必然是錯的；即使動機的確是想避免叫主受辱。從神來的意思，可從那安靜而持續的感動認出來。但當我要反复思考，權衡得失時，隨之而來時疑慮爭辯，我就是把不屬於神的東西帶了進來。於是便知道，這意思是不對的。我們多半忠於自己對耶穌的概念，甚少忠於他自己。（試問我們中間有多少人是忠於他的？）忠於耶穌就是聽命開步，不憑眼見（太十四29），忠於我自己對耶穌的概念，就是在理智上鋪了路。信心不是理智的了悟，信心是在未見之先，立志委身於他。
你是否反復自辯，要靠耶穌走信心之路呢？還是你自己應付？用歡喜快樂的心，無所顧忌地順服他吧。當他這樣對你說，而你卻心裡反复思量，這是因為你對他的榮譽有所顧慮，而其實你所認為的榮譽，並非主的榮譽。你到底是忠於耶穌？還是忠於你對神的概念？你是忠於他所說的話？還是拿那不出於他的觀點來折衷妥協？ [他告訴你們什麼，你們就作什麼。]
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我何等需要靠近你。當你進入我的生命，我何需顫抖？
March 27, 2014
Spiritual Vision Through Personal Purity (2)
Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place . . . —Revelation 4:1
A higher state of mind and spiritual vision can only be achieved through the higher practice of personal character. If you live up to the highest and best that you know in the outer level of your life, God will continually say to you, “Friend, come up even higher.” There is also a continuing rule in temptation which calls you to go higher; but when you do, you only encounter other temptations and character traits. Both God and Satan use the strategy of elevation, but Satan uses it in temptation, and the effect is quite different. When the devil elevates you to a certain place, he causes you to fasten your idea of what holiness is far beyond what flesh and blood could ever bear or achieve. Your life becomes a spiritual acrobatic performance high atop a steeple. You cling to it, trying to maintain your balance and daring not to move. But when God elevates you by His grace into heavenly places, you find a vast plateau where you can move about with ease.
Compare this week in your spiritual life with the same week last year to see how God has called you to a higher level. We have all been brought to see from a higher viewpoint. Never allow God to show you a truth which you do not instantly begin to live up to, applying it to your life. Always work through it, staying in its light.
Your growth in grace is not measured by the fact that you haven’t turned back, but that you have an insight and understanding into where you are spiritually. Have you heard God say, “Come up higher,” not audibly on the outer level, but to the innermost part of your character?
“Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing . . . ?” (Genesis 18:17). God has to hide from us what He does, until, due to the growth of our personal character, we get to the level where He is then able to reveal it.
藉著個人品格而得的異象
你上到這裡來，我要……指示你。 （啟四1）
一個人的品格要習於居高，不趨於卑下，才會產生崇高的情操。要是你外在的生活，真與你最崇高的標準相稱，神就會對你說：[朋友，再高攀一點吧。]試探的金律是：[攀高一點。 ]當你升高了，就會碰見其他的試探，這在性質上與從前的不同。撒旦懂得用向上走的策略來試探人，神也是如此，不過效果卻有不同。當魔鬼把你放在高位，是教你對聖潔觀念的標準，固定在人血肉之軀無法忍受的地位上。這就變成屬靈的雜技表演，你只得立穩，卻不敢移動。但當神用恩典把你提升到屬天的境地，他不是找一個頂峰給你攀住，而是讓你有更廣闊的高原，可以任意驅馳。
試以這個禮拜的靈程與去年同一個禮拜作個比較，看看神怎樣領你往高處行。我們都站過高處瞭望，但千萬別讓神給你一種你不能立即活出來的真理。得了真理，總要努力去實現，而且保持在神的光中。在恩典中的長進，不是拿你有沒有後退來衡量，而是對自己現今的屬靈光景有一認知－－即站在哪裡。你聽見神對你說：[上來吧，登高一點！ ]這不是對你個人說，叫你得到更高的位置，乃是對你的品德說的，叫你在悟性上大大有長進。
[我要做的事豈可瞞著亞伯拉罕麼？]神往往要把他所做的向我們隱瞞，直到我們在性情品德上達到一個地步，然後他才向我們顯明。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，賜我在你裡面滿有喜樂。求你為我清楚所有的困惑、迷亂和煩擾，讓我在今天以清楚的目光看見你的道路。
A higher state of mind and spiritual vision can only be achieved through the higher practice of personal character. If you live up to the highest and best that you know in the outer level of your life, God will continually say to you, “Friend, come up even higher.” There is also a continuing rule in temptation which calls you to go higher; but when you do, you only encounter other temptations and character traits. Both God and Satan use the strategy of elevation, but Satan uses it in temptation, and the effect is quite different. When the devil elevates you to a certain place, he causes you to fasten your idea of what holiness is far beyond what flesh and blood could ever bear or achieve. Your life becomes a spiritual acrobatic performance high atop a steeple. You cling to it, trying to maintain your balance and daring not to move. But when God elevates you by His grace into heavenly places, you find a vast plateau where you can move about with ease.
Compare this week in your spiritual life with the same week last year to see how God has called you to a higher level. We have all been brought to see from a higher viewpoint. Never allow God to show you a truth which you do not instantly begin to live up to, applying it to your life. Always work through it, staying in its light.
Your growth in grace is not measured by the fact that you haven’t turned back, but that you have an insight and understanding into where you are spiritually. Have you heard God say, “Come up higher,” not audibly on the outer level, but to the innermost part of your character?
“Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing . . . ?” (Genesis 18:17). God has to hide from us what He does, until, due to the growth of our personal character, we get to the level where He is then able to reveal it.
藉著個人品格而得的異象
你上到這裡來，我要……指示你。 （啟四1）
一個人的品格要習於居高，不趨於卑下，才會產生崇高的情操。要是你外在的生活，真與你最崇高的標準相稱，神就會對你說：[朋友，再高攀一點吧。]試探的金律是：[攀高一點。 ]當你升高了，就會碰見其他的試探，這在性質上與從前的不同。撒旦懂得用向上走的策略來試探人，神也是如此，不過效果卻有不同。當魔鬼把你放在高位，是教你對聖潔觀念的標準，固定在人血肉之軀無法忍受的地位上。這就變成屬靈的雜技表演，你只得立穩，卻不敢移動。但當神用恩典把你提升到屬天的境地，他不是找一個頂峰給你攀住，而是讓你有更廣闊的高原，可以任意驅馳。
試以這個禮拜的靈程與去年同一個禮拜作個比較，看看神怎樣領你往高處行。我們都站過高處瞭望，但千萬別讓神給你一種你不能立即活出來的真理。得了真理，總要努力去實現，而且保持在神的光中。在恩典中的長進，不是拿你有沒有後退來衡量，而是對自己現今的屬靈光景有一認知－－即站在哪裡。你聽見神對你說：[上來吧，登高一點！ ]這不是對你個人說，叫你得到更高的位置，乃是對你的品德說的，叫你在悟性上大大有長進。
[我要做的事豈可瞞著亞伯拉罕麼？]神往往要把他所做的向我們隱瞞，直到我們在性情品德上達到一個地步，然後他才向我們顯明。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，賜我在你裡面滿有喜樂。求你為我清楚所有的困惑、迷亂和煩擾，讓我在今天以清楚的目光看見你的道路。
March 26, 2014
Spiritual Vision Through Personal Purity (1)
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God —Matthew 5:8
Purity is not innocence— it is much more than that. Purity is the result of continued spiritual harmony with God. We have to grow in purity. Our life with God may be right and our inner purity unblemished, yet occasionally our outer life may become spotted and stained. God intentionally does not protect us from this possibility, because this is the way we recognize the necessity of maintaining our spiritual vision through personal purity. If the outer level of our spiritual life with God is impaired to the slightest degree, we must put everything else aside until we make it right. Remember that spiritual vision depends on our character— it is “the pure in heart ” who “see God.”
God makes us pure by an act of His sovereign grace, but we still have something that we must carefully watch. It is through our bodily life coming in contact with other people and other points of view that we tend to become tarnished. Not only must our “inner sanctuary” be kept right with God, but also the “outer courts” must be brought into perfect harmony with the purity God gives us through His grace. Our spiritual vision and understanding is immediately blurred when our “outer court” is stained. If we want to maintain personal intimacy with the Lord Jesus Christ, it will mean refusing to do or even think certain things. And some things that are acceptable for others will become unacceptable for us.
A practical help in keeping your personal purity unblemished in your relations with other people is to begin to see them as God does. Say to yourself, “That man or that woman is perfect in Christ Jesus! That friend or that relative is perfect in Christ Jesus!”
藉著個人清潔而得之異象
清心的人有福了，因為他們必得見神。 （太五8）
清心不單是無暇無庛，它的含意比這個更廣。清心是與神在靈裡持久同心所產生得結果，所以我們需要在清心上不斷得長進。我們與神的關係可能正確，裡面的親信也沒有玷污；但是外面生命的花朵，卻可能收到玷污。神並沒有排除這樣的可能性，為要叫我們知道要保持異象，就必須持守個人的清潔。我們在神面前生命的花朵，若有絲毫的玷污損傷，就必須放下一切，把它弄好。要記住異像是依傍著品格的－－清心的人必得見神。
神用至高無上的恩典叫我們聖潔，但我們也要謹慎持守。我們這個身體會接觸別人或其他思想，故很容易沾染污穢。不但裡面的聖所要與神有正常的關係，就是外院，也必須與神賜給我們的聖潔，完全一致。外院一玷污，屬靈的悟性就隨即模糊了。要與主耶穌保持交通，就是說有一些事物不要去做，不要去想，更有些合法的事不要去摸。與人的關係上要不損個人的聖潔，有一個可行的方法，就是對自己說：那男人、那女人，在耶穌基督裡是完全的！那個朋友，那個親戚，在耶穌基督裡是安全的。
祈禱◆為著我快要陷入平庸的生活中，我是何等的沮喪和驚駭！主啊，幫助我過著純潔、有力和只愛慕著你的生活。
Purity is not innocence— it is much more than that. Purity is the result of continued spiritual harmony with God. We have to grow in purity. Our life with God may be right and our inner purity unblemished, yet occasionally our outer life may become spotted and stained. God intentionally does not protect us from this possibility, because this is the way we recognize the necessity of maintaining our spiritual vision through personal purity. If the outer level of our spiritual life with God is impaired to the slightest degree, we must put everything else aside until we make it right. Remember that spiritual vision depends on our character— it is “the pure in heart ” who “see God.”
God makes us pure by an act of His sovereign grace, but we still have something that we must carefully watch. It is through our bodily life coming in contact with other people and other points of view that we tend to become tarnished. Not only must our “inner sanctuary” be kept right with God, but also the “outer courts” must be brought into perfect harmony with the purity God gives us through His grace. Our spiritual vision and understanding is immediately blurred when our “outer court” is stained. If we want to maintain personal intimacy with the Lord Jesus Christ, it will mean refusing to do or even think certain things. And some things that are acceptable for others will become unacceptable for us.
A practical help in keeping your personal purity unblemished in your relations with other people is to begin to see them as God does. Say to yourself, “That man or that woman is perfect in Christ Jesus! That friend or that relative is perfect in Christ Jesus!”
藉著個人清潔而得之異象
清心的人有福了，因為他們必得見神。 （太五8）
清心不單是無暇無庛，它的含意比這個更廣。清心是與神在靈裡持久同心所產生得結果，所以我們需要在清心上不斷得長進。我們與神的關係可能正確，裡面的親信也沒有玷污；但是外面生命的花朵，卻可能收到玷污。神並沒有排除這樣的可能性，為要叫我們知道要保持異象，就必須持守個人的清潔。我們在神面前生命的花朵，若有絲毫的玷污損傷，就必須放下一切，把它弄好。要記住異像是依傍著品格的－－清心的人必得見神。
神用至高無上的恩典叫我們聖潔，但我們也要謹慎持守。我們這個身體會接觸別人或其他思想，故很容易沾染污穢。不但裡面的聖所要與神有正常的關係，就是外院，也必須與神賜給我們的聖潔，完全一致。外院一玷污，屬靈的悟性就隨即模糊了。要與主耶穌保持交通，就是說有一些事物不要去做，不要去想，更有些合法的事不要去摸。與人的關係上要不損個人的聖潔，有一個可行的方法，就是對自己說：那男人、那女人，在耶穌基督裡是完全的！那個朋友，那個親戚，在耶穌基督裡是安全的。
祈禱◆為著我快要陷入平庸的生活中，我是何等的沮喪和驚駭！主啊，幫助我過著純潔、有力和只愛慕著你的生活。
March 25, 2014
Maintaining the Proper Relationship
. . . the friend of the bridegroom . . . —John 3:29
Goodness and purity should never be traits that draw attention to themselves, but should simply be magnets that draw people to Jesus Christ. If my holiness is not drawing others to Him, it is not the right kind of holiness; it is only an influence which awakens undue emotions and evil desires in people and diverts them from heading in the right direction. A person who is a beautiful saint can be a hindrance in leading people to the Lord by presenting only what Christ has done for him, instead of presenting Jesus Christ Himself. Others will be left with this thought— “What a fine person that man is!” That is not being a true “friend of the bridegroom”— I am increasing all the time; He is not.
To maintain this friendship and faithfulness to the Bridegroom, we have to be more careful to have the moral and vital relationship to Him above everything else, including obedience. Sometimes there is nothing to obey and our only task is to maintain a vital connection with Jesus Christ, seeing that nothing interferes with it. Only occasionally is it a matter of obedience. At those times when a crisis arises, we have to find out what God’s will is. Yet most of our life is not spent in trying to be consciously obedient, but in maintaining this relationship— being the “friend of the bridegroom.” Christian work can actually be a means of diverting a person’s focus away from Jesus Christ. Instead of being friends “of the bridegroom,” we may become amateur providences of God to someone else, working against Him while we use His weapons.
世上最微妙的使命
新郎的朋友。 （約三29）
人的良善與純潔，不該拿來吸引人歸向自己，只該用作引人歸主的磁石。若我聖潔的目的不是歸向神，就不是真正的聖潔；這只會掀起越軌的熱情，使人偏離正路。一個卓越的聖徒，若不表彰耶穌基督，只誇耀基督為他所做的事，他就會成為別人的絆腳石。他給人的印像是－－[那人品德多麼好！ ]這不是新郎的真朋友；因[我]不斷的在興旺，而他卻不然。
為要保持對新郎的友誼和忠誠，就要留心我們和他在道德上、生命上的關係。這些比一切都重要，甚至是順服。有時沒有什麼要順服的，只要保持與耶穌基督在生命上的關係，不讓任何事物從中破壞。當然亦有需要順服的事；如有危機來到，我們便要知道神的旨意如何。可是我們大部分的生活，並非有意識的順服，而是保持與神的關係－－作新郎的朋友。基督徒所做的工作，可能會轉移別人專一向主的心，使之外鶩！我們非但不是新郎的朋友，反而往往代天行道，用神的武器，作違背他的工作。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我知道自己近來很少將生命深處對耶穌的信心實踐出來，潛藏的動機似乎經常蠢蠢欲動。求你將基督裡面的單純引進我的生命中，使我只留心要獲得你的認可。
Goodness and purity should never be traits that draw attention to themselves, but should simply be magnets that draw people to Jesus Christ. If my holiness is not drawing others to Him, it is not the right kind of holiness; it is only an influence which awakens undue emotions and evil desires in people and diverts them from heading in the right direction. A person who is a beautiful saint can be a hindrance in leading people to the Lord by presenting only what Christ has done for him, instead of presenting Jesus Christ Himself. Others will be left with this thought— “What a fine person that man is!” That is not being a true “friend of the bridegroom”— I am increasing all the time; He is not.
To maintain this friendship and faithfulness to the Bridegroom, we have to be more careful to have the moral and vital relationship to Him above everything else, including obedience. Sometimes there is nothing to obey and our only task is to maintain a vital connection with Jesus Christ, seeing that nothing interferes with it. Only occasionally is it a matter of obedience. At those times when a crisis arises, we have to find out what God’s will is. Yet most of our life is not spent in trying to be consciously obedient, but in maintaining this relationship— being the “friend of the bridegroom.” Christian work can actually be a means of diverting a person’s focus away from Jesus Christ. Instead of being friends “of the bridegroom,” we may become amateur providences of God to someone else, working against Him while we use His weapons.
世上最微妙的使命
新郎的朋友。 （約三29）
人的良善與純潔，不該拿來吸引人歸向自己，只該用作引人歸主的磁石。若我聖潔的目的不是歸向神，就不是真正的聖潔；這只會掀起越軌的熱情，使人偏離正路。一個卓越的聖徒，若不表彰耶穌基督，只誇耀基督為他所做的事，他就會成為別人的絆腳石。他給人的印像是－－[那人品德多麼好！ ]這不是新郎的真朋友；因[我]不斷的在興旺，而他卻不然。
為要保持對新郎的友誼和忠誠，就要留心我們和他在道德上、生命上的關係。這些比一切都重要，甚至是順服。有時沒有什麼要順服的，只要保持與耶穌基督在生命上的關係，不讓任何事物從中破壞。當然亦有需要順服的事；如有危機來到，我們便要知道神的旨意如何。可是我們大部分的生活，並非有意識的順服，而是保持與神的關係－－作新郎的朋友。基督徒所做的工作，可能會轉移別人專一向主的心，使之外鶩！我們非但不是新郎的朋友，反而往往代天行道，用神的武器，作違背他的工作。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我知道自己近來很少將生命深處對耶穌的信心實踐出來，潛藏的動機似乎經常蠢蠢欲動。求你將基督裡面的單純引進我的生命中，使我只留心要獲得你的認可。
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