You shall not go out with haste, . . . for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard —Isaiah 52:12
Security from Yesterday. “. . . God requires an account of what is past” (Ecclesiastes 3:15). At the end of the year we turn with eagerness to all that God has for the future, and yet anxiety is apt to arise when we remember our yesterdays. Our present enjoyment of God’s grace tends to be lessened by the memory of yesterday’s sins and blunders. But God is the God of our yesterdays, and He allows the memory of them to turn the past into a ministry of spiritual growth for our future. God reminds us of the past to protect us from a very shallow security in the present.
Security for Tomorrow. “. . . the Lord will go before you . . . .” This is a gracious revelation— that God will send His forces out where we have failed to do so. He will keep watch so that we will not be tripped up again by the same failures, as would undoubtedly happen if He were not our “rear guard.” And God’s hand reaches back to the past, settling all the claims against our conscience.
Security for Today. “You shall not go out with haste . . . .” As we go forth into the coming year, let it not be in the haste of impetuous, forgetful delight, nor with the quickness of impulsive thoughtlessness. But let us go out with the patient power of knowing that the God of Israel will go before us. Our yesterdays hold broken and irreversible things for us. It is true that we have lost opportunities that will never return, but God can transform this destructive anxiety into a constructive thoughtfulness for the future. Let the past rest, but let it rest in the sweet embrace of Christ.
Leave the broken, irreversible past in His hands, and step out into the invincible future with Him.
昨日
以色列的神必作你們的後裔。 （賽五十二12）
脫離昨天的保證。 [神需要用過去的事。 ]
年終的時候，我們會期待地指望神帶領將來，但回想過去，也會帶來焦慮。今天對神恩典的享受，很容易受過去的罪與錯失影響。可是神是管理昨天的神，他容許過去的回憶存留，為的是將來的屬靈培育。神有時用過去提醒我們，免得我們停在現今膚淺的滿足裡。
明天的保證。 [因為耶和華必在你們前頭行。 ]
這是滿有恩典的啟示，神在我們失敗的地方守衛，留意不讓我們重蹈覆轍。若他不作後盾，我們勢必再犯。神的手伸到昨天去，為我們的良心清除存貨。
今天的保證。 [你們出來必不至急忙。 ]
在進入新一年之際，讓我們不要急躁鹵莽、興奮忘舊，也不要輕率衝動，只要從忍耐中得力，知道以色列的神必在前頭行。昨天無可挽回，錯過的機會永難再得，但神可以把這摧毀性得焦慮，變成建設性得心思，作將來之用。讓過去睡吧，但要睡在主耶穌的懷裡。
把一去不復返的過去放在他手中，然後與他一同踏進必要來到的將來。
祈禱◆主耶穌啊，[父一切的豐盛，都在你裡面居住]；[萬物都交在你的手裡]；[天上地下所有的權柄都賜給你了]－－噢，我天上的父神，願你按照你在基督耶穌榮耀裡的豐盛，滿足我一切的需要。
Showing posts with label Assurance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Assurance. Show all posts
December 31, 2014
November 24, 2014
Direction of Focus
Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters . . . , so our eyes look to the Lord our God . . . —Psalm 123:2
This verse is a description of total reliance on God. Just as the eyes of a servant are riveted on his master, our eyes should be directed to and focused on God. This is how knowledge of His countenance is gained and how God reveals Himself to us (see Isaiah 53:1). Our spiritual strength begins to be drained when we stop lifting our eyes to Him. Our stamina is sapped, not so much through external troubles surrounding us but through problems in our thinking. We wrongfully think, “I suppose I’ve been stretching myself a little too much, standing too tall and trying to look like God instead of being an ordinary humble person.” We have to realize that no effort can be too high.
For example, you came to a crisis in your life, took a stand for God, and even had the witness of the Spirit as a confirmation that what you did was right. But now, maybe weeks or years have gone by, and you are slowly coming to the conclusion— “Well, maybe what I did showed too much pride or was superficial. Was I taking a stand a bit too high for me?” Your “rational” friends come and say, “Don’t be silly. We knew when you first talked about this spiritual awakening that it was a passing impulse, that you couldn’t hold up under the strain. And anyway, God doesn’t expect you to endure.” You respond by saying, “Well, I suppose I was expecting too much.” That sounds humble to say, but it means that your reliance on God is gone, and you are now relying on worldly opinion. The danger comes when, no longer relying on God, you neglect to focus your eyes on Him. Only when God brings you to a sudden stop will you realize that you have been the loser. Whenever there is a spiritual drain in your life, correct it immediately. Realize that something has been coming between you and God, and change or remove it at once.
仰望的方向
看哪，僕人的眼睛怎樣望主人的手……我們的眼睛也照樣望耶和華我們的神……（詩一二三2）
這節經文是對神完全信賴的描寫。僕人的眼如何注視主人，我們的眼也同樣仰望神，以致對他的容貌認識日增（賽五十三1）。我們一不仰望神，就產生屬靈的漏症。這漏症不是由於外在的煩惱，而是在於我們有這樣的幻想：[我想自己伸展得太用力了，用腳尖站立，努力像神，而不作一個謙卑平凡人。 ]要知道並沒有太過竭力這一回事。
例如：你因為神而面臨危機，但你有聖靈得印證，知道怎樣去作才對。可是隨著年日過去，你卻逐漸有這樣得結論 - [看來，我不是過分自負嗎？我所作得不是太【過火】麽？ ]你那些講理智的朋友說：[別傻啦，你當時說起那個屬靈醒覺，我們就看出是一時的衝動，你受不起那種壓力的，神也不期望你這樣做。 ]你就會說：[這個，我想自己的期望也太過了。 ]聽來多謙卑，可是對神的信賴已盡失，開始信賴世界的見解。你不再仰賴神，不再抬頭注視他，這就是危機。惟有等到神突然把你停住，你才曉得自己是在倒退。所以，一發現有漏症，就該立即補救。要承認在你與神之間有了阻隔，並且要立刻去對付。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我在舉止和行為上何等緩慢地表現神仁慈的恩典！你的美譽何時才為著你的榮耀臨到我身上？
This verse is a description of total reliance on God. Just as the eyes of a servant are riveted on his master, our eyes should be directed to and focused on God. This is how knowledge of His countenance is gained and how God reveals Himself to us (see Isaiah 53:1). Our spiritual strength begins to be drained when we stop lifting our eyes to Him. Our stamina is sapped, not so much through external troubles surrounding us but through problems in our thinking. We wrongfully think, “I suppose I’ve been stretching myself a little too much, standing too tall and trying to look like God instead of being an ordinary humble person.” We have to realize that no effort can be too high.
For example, you came to a crisis in your life, took a stand for God, and even had the witness of the Spirit as a confirmation that what you did was right. But now, maybe weeks or years have gone by, and you are slowly coming to the conclusion— “Well, maybe what I did showed too much pride or was superficial. Was I taking a stand a bit too high for me?” Your “rational” friends come and say, “Don’t be silly. We knew when you first talked about this spiritual awakening that it was a passing impulse, that you couldn’t hold up under the strain. And anyway, God doesn’t expect you to endure.” You respond by saying, “Well, I suppose I was expecting too much.” That sounds humble to say, but it means that your reliance on God is gone, and you are now relying on worldly opinion. The danger comes when, no longer relying on God, you neglect to focus your eyes on Him. Only when God brings you to a sudden stop will you realize that you have been the loser. Whenever there is a spiritual drain in your life, correct it immediately. Realize that something has been coming between you and God, and change or remove it at once.
仰望的方向
看哪，僕人的眼睛怎樣望主人的手……我們的眼睛也照樣望耶和華我們的神……（詩一二三2）
這節經文是對神完全信賴的描寫。僕人的眼如何注視主人，我們的眼也同樣仰望神，以致對他的容貌認識日增（賽五十三1）。我們一不仰望神，就產生屬靈的漏症。這漏症不是由於外在的煩惱，而是在於我們有這樣的幻想：[我想自己伸展得太用力了，用腳尖站立，努力像神，而不作一個謙卑平凡人。 ]要知道並沒有太過竭力這一回事。
例如：你因為神而面臨危機，但你有聖靈得印證，知道怎樣去作才對。可是隨著年日過去，你卻逐漸有這樣得結論 - [看來，我不是過分自負嗎？我所作得不是太【過火】麽？ ]你那些講理智的朋友說：[別傻啦，你當時說起那個屬靈醒覺，我們就看出是一時的衝動，你受不起那種壓力的，神也不期望你這樣做。 ]你就會說：[這個，我想自己的期望也太過了。 ]聽來多謙卑，可是對神的信賴已盡失，開始信賴世界的見解。你不再仰賴神，不再抬頭注視他，這就是危機。惟有等到神突然把你停住，你才曉得自己是在倒退。所以，一發現有漏症，就該立即補救。要承認在你與神之間有了阻隔，並且要立刻去對付。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我在舉止和行為上何等緩慢地表現神仁慈的恩典！你的美譽何時才為著你的榮耀臨到我身上？
October 23, 2014
Nothing of the Old Life!
If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new —2 Corinthians 5:17
Our Lord never tolerates our prejudices— He is directly opposed to them and puts them to death. We tend to think that God has some special interest in our particular prejudices, and are very sure that He will never deal with us as He has to deal with others. We even say to ourselves, “God has to deal with other people in a very strict way, but of course He knows that my prejudices are all right.” But we must learn that God accepts nothing of the old life! Instead of being on the side of our prejudices, He is deliberately removing them from us. It is part of our moral education to see our prejudices put to death by His providence, and to watch how He does it. God pays no respect to anything we bring to Him. There is only one thing God wants of us, and that is our unconditional surrender.
When we are born again, the Holy Spirit begins to work His new creation in us, and there will come a time when there is nothing remaining of the old life. Our old gloomy outlook disappears, as does our old attitude toward things, and “all things are of God” (2 Corinthians 5:18). How are we going to get a life that has no lust, no self-interest, and is not sensitive to the ridicule of others? How will we have the type of love that “is kind . . . is not provoked, [and] thinks no evil”? (1 Corinthians 13:4-5). The only way is by allowing nothing of the old life to remain, and by having only simple, perfect trust in God— such a trust that we no longer want God’s blessings, but only want God Himself. Have we come to the point where God can withdraw His blessings from us without our trust in Him being affected? Once we truly see God at work, we will never be concerned again about the things that happen, because we are actually trusting in our Father in heaven, whom the world cannot see.
一點也不
"若有人在基督裡，他就是新造的人，舊事已過，都變成新的了。"林後5:17
我們的主從不看護我們的成見，他只克服它們，清理它們。我們想像神對我們的特別成見有著特別的興趣；我們很肯定神不會像對付其他人那樣對付我們。 "神一定會非常嚴厲的對付其他人，他當然知道我的成見是對的。可是我們必須認識到神不但不站在我們的成見這邊，反而有意地要將它們清掃出去。我們所受的道德教育的一部分是，讓神的旨意除去我們的成見，並看看他怎麼做。神毫不在意我們帶給他什麼。神只想要我們做一件事，就是無條件的降服。
當我們重生的時候，聖靈開始將他的新創造做在我們裡面，必有一天舊秩序所遺留的會蕩然無存，離開舊的儀式，離開舊的態度，"所有的都是屬神的。 "我們如何得到那沒有情慾，沒有自我利益，對別人的刺痛不敏感，有不輕易發怒的愛，不思想罪惡，常待人有恩慈的生命呢？唯一的辦法是不讓一點點舊生命留下來，而只單單完全的信靠神，以致我們不再想要神的祝福，只想要他自己。我們是否到達一個地步，神可以撤回他的祝福而不會影響我們對他的信靠？當一旦我們看到神在做工，我們就不會為所發生的事煩擾，因為我們正實際的信靠我們在天上的父，他是這世界無法看到的。
Our Lord never tolerates our prejudices— He is directly opposed to them and puts them to death. We tend to think that God has some special interest in our particular prejudices, and are very sure that He will never deal with us as He has to deal with others. We even say to ourselves, “God has to deal with other people in a very strict way, but of course He knows that my prejudices are all right.” But we must learn that God accepts nothing of the old life! Instead of being on the side of our prejudices, He is deliberately removing them from us. It is part of our moral education to see our prejudices put to death by His providence, and to watch how He does it. God pays no respect to anything we bring to Him. There is only one thing God wants of us, and that is our unconditional surrender.
When we are born again, the Holy Spirit begins to work His new creation in us, and there will come a time when there is nothing remaining of the old life. Our old gloomy outlook disappears, as does our old attitude toward things, and “all things are of God” (2 Corinthians 5:18). How are we going to get a life that has no lust, no self-interest, and is not sensitive to the ridicule of others? How will we have the type of love that “is kind . . . is not provoked, [and] thinks no evil”? (1 Corinthians 13:4-5). The only way is by allowing nothing of the old life to remain, and by having only simple, perfect trust in God— such a trust that we no longer want God’s blessings, but only want God Himself. Have we come to the point where God can withdraw His blessings from us without our trust in Him being affected? Once we truly see God at work, we will never be concerned again about the things that happen, because we are actually trusting in our Father in heaven, whom the world cannot see.
一點也不
"若有人在基督裡，他就是新造的人，舊事已過，都變成新的了。"林後5:17
我們的主從不看護我們的成見，他只克服它們，清理它們。我們想像神對我們的特別成見有著特別的興趣；我們很肯定神不會像對付其他人那樣對付我們。 "神一定會非常嚴厲的對付其他人，他當然知道我的成見是對的。可是我們必須認識到神不但不站在我們的成見這邊，反而有意地要將它們清掃出去。我們所受的道德教育的一部分是，讓神的旨意除去我們的成見，並看看他怎麼做。神毫不在意我們帶給他什麼。神只想要我們做一件事，就是無條件的降服。
當我們重生的時候，聖靈開始將他的新創造做在我們裡面，必有一天舊秩序所遺留的會蕩然無存，離開舊的儀式，離開舊的態度，"所有的都是屬神的。 "我們如何得到那沒有情慾，沒有自我利益，對別人的刺痛不敏感，有不輕易發怒的愛，不思想罪惡，常待人有恩慈的生命呢？唯一的辦法是不讓一點點舊生命留下來，而只單單完全的信靠神，以致我們不再想要神的祝福，只想要他自己。我們是否到達一個地步，神可以撤回他的祝福而不會影響我們對他的信靠？當一旦我們看到神在做工，我們就不會為所發生的事煩擾，因為我們正實際的信靠我們在天上的父，他是這世界無法看到的。
April 13, 2014
What To Do When Your Burden Is Overwhelming
Cast your burden on the Lord . . . —Psalm 55:22
We must recognize the difference between burdens that are right for us to bear and burdens that are wrong. We should never bear the burdens of sin or doubt, but there are some burdens placed on us by God which He does not intend to lift off. God wants us to roll them back on Him— to literally “cast your burden,” which He has given you, “on the Lord . . . .” If we set out to serve God and do His work but get out of touch with Him, the sense of responsibility we feel will be overwhelming and defeating. But if we will only roll back on God the burdens He has placed on us, He will take away that immense feeling of responsibility, replacing it with an awareness and understanding of Himself and His presence.
Many servants set out to serve God with great courage and with the right motives. But with no intimate fellowship with Jesus Christ, they are soon defeated. They do not know what to do with their burden, and it produces weariness in their lives. Others will see this and say, “What a sad end to something that had such a great beginning!”
“Cast your burden on the Lord . . . .” You have been bearing it all, but you need to deliberately place one end on God’s shoulder. “. . . the government will be upon His shoulder” (Isaiah 9:6). Commit to God whatever burden He has placed on you. Don’t just cast it aside, but put it over onto Him and place yourself there with it. You will see that your burden is then lightened by the sense of companionship. But you should never try to separate yourself from your burden.
擔子沉重，如何是好？
你要把你的重擔卸給耶和華。 （詩五十五22）
我們必須分辨什麼是我們所當負的擔子，又什麼是我們不當背負的。我們千萬不要背負罪與疑惑的擔子，但有些擔子卻是神放在我們身上的。神之所以不把擔子挪開，是要我們這些擔子卸給他。 [把他放在你身上的卸給他。 ]如果我們為神承擔一份工作，卻與他失去聯絡，那責任感會壓得你透不過氣來；但我們若懂得把神放在我們身上的，轉回給他，有他的同在，那責任感的擔子就得以卸下。
不少工人憑著一腔熱血，鼓起勇氣出去，卻與耶穌基督沒有親密的相交，所以不消多久，就受壓難當。他們不知如何應付重擔，結果便產生了厭倦。人們會說：[好一個開頭，落得如何淒涼的收場！]
[把重擔卸給神]－－你一向自負重擔，現在要把擔子的一端放在神的肩頭上。 [政權必擔在他肩頭上。 ]把神給你的委付與神；不是把它丟掉，而是把它連自己一起交給他，與神同工，擔子便變得輕省了。切勿讓自己與擔子分開。
祈禱◆主啊，求你呼喚我的名字，讓我因那奇妙的呼喚而振奮！你一次的呼喚、一次的接觸，將會帶來何等大的改變，我們都會在狂喜之中！噢，為何你不是經常這樣做呢？
We must recognize the difference between burdens that are right for us to bear and burdens that are wrong. We should never bear the burdens of sin or doubt, but there are some burdens placed on us by God which He does not intend to lift off. God wants us to roll them back on Him— to literally “cast your burden,” which He has given you, “on the Lord . . . .” If we set out to serve God and do His work but get out of touch with Him, the sense of responsibility we feel will be overwhelming and defeating. But if we will only roll back on God the burdens He has placed on us, He will take away that immense feeling of responsibility, replacing it with an awareness and understanding of Himself and His presence.
Many servants set out to serve God with great courage and with the right motives. But with no intimate fellowship with Jesus Christ, they are soon defeated. They do not know what to do with their burden, and it produces weariness in their lives. Others will see this and say, “What a sad end to something that had such a great beginning!”
“Cast your burden on the Lord . . . .” You have been bearing it all, but you need to deliberately place one end on God’s shoulder. “. . . the government will be upon His shoulder” (Isaiah 9:6). Commit to God whatever burden He has placed on you. Don’t just cast it aside, but put it over onto Him and place yourself there with it. You will see that your burden is then lightened by the sense of companionship. But you should never try to separate yourself from your burden.
擔子沉重，如何是好？
你要把你的重擔卸給耶和華。 （詩五十五22）
我們必須分辨什麼是我們所當負的擔子，又什麼是我們不當背負的。我們千萬不要背負罪與疑惑的擔子，但有些擔子卻是神放在我們身上的。神之所以不把擔子挪開，是要我們這些擔子卸給他。 [把他放在你身上的卸給他。 ]如果我們為神承擔一份工作，卻與他失去聯絡，那責任感會壓得你透不過氣來；但我們若懂得把神放在我們身上的，轉回給他，有他的同在，那責任感的擔子就得以卸下。
不少工人憑著一腔熱血，鼓起勇氣出去，卻與耶穌基督沒有親密的相交，所以不消多久，就受壓難當。他們不知如何應付重擔，結果便產生了厭倦。人們會說：[好一個開頭，落得如何淒涼的收場！]
[把重擔卸給神]－－你一向自負重擔，現在要把擔子的一端放在神的肩頭上。 [政權必擔在他肩頭上。 ]把神給你的委付與神；不是把它丟掉，而是把它連自己一起交給他，與神同工，擔子便變得輕省了。切勿讓自己與擔子分開。
祈禱◆主啊，求你呼喚我的名字，讓我因那奇妙的呼喚而振奮！你一次的呼喚、一次的接觸，將會帶來何等大的改變，我們都會在狂喜之中！噢，為何你不是經常這樣做呢？
December 31, 2013
Yesterday
You shall not go out with haste, . . . for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard —Isaiah 52:12
Security from Yesterday. “. . . God requires an account of what is past” (Ecclesiastes 3:15). At the end of the year we turn with eagerness to all that God has for the future, and yet anxiety is apt to arise when we remember our yesterdays. Our present enjoyment of God’s grace tends to be lessened by the memory of yesterday’s sins and blunders. But God is the God of our yesterdays, and He allows the memory of them to turn the past into a ministry of spiritual growth for our future. God reminds us of the past to protect us from a very shallow security in the present.
Security for Tomorrow. “. . . the Lord will go before you . . . .” This is a gracious revelation— that God will send His forces out where we have failed to do so. He will keep watch so that we will not be tripped up again by the same failures, as would undoubtedly happen if He were not our “rear guard.” And God’s hand reaches back to the past, settling all the claims against our conscience.
Security for Today. “You shall not go out with haste . . . .” As we go forth into the coming year, let it not be in the haste of impetuous, forgetful delight, nor with the quickness of impulsive thoughtlessness. But let us go out with the patient power of knowing that the God of Israel will go before us. Our yesterdays hold broken and irreversible things for us. It is true that we have lost opportunities that will never return, but God can transform this destructive anxiety into a constructive thoughtfulness for the future. Let the past rest, but let it rest in the sweet embrace of Christ.
Leave the broken, irreversible past in His hands, and step out into the invincible future with Him.
昨日
以色列的神必作你們的後裔。 （賽五十二12）
脫離昨天的保證。 [神需要用過去的事。 ]
年終的時候，我們會期待地指望神帶領將來，但回想過去，也會帶來焦慮。今天對神恩典的享受，很容易受過去的罪與錯失影響。可是神是管理昨天的神，他容許過去的回憶存留，為的是將來的屬靈培育。神有時用過去提醒我們，免得我們停在現今膚淺的滿足裡。
明天的保證。 [因為耶和華必在你們前頭行。 ]
這是滿有恩典的啟示，神在我們失敗的地方守衛，留意不讓我們重蹈覆轍。若他不作後盾，我們勢必再犯。神的手伸到昨天去，為我們的良心清除存貨。
今天的保證。 [你們出來必不至急忙。 ]
在進入新一年之際，讓我們不要急躁鹵莽、興奮忘舊，也不要輕率衝動，只要從忍耐中得力，知道以色列的神必在前頭行。昨天無可挽回，錯過的機會永難再得，但神可以把這摧毀性得焦慮，變成建設性得心思，作將來之用。讓過去睡吧，但要睡在主耶穌的懷裡。
把一去不復返的過去放在他手中，然後與他一同踏進必要來到的將來。
祈禱◆主耶穌啊，[父一切的豐盛，都在你裡面居住]；[萬物都交在你的手裡]；[天上地下所有的權柄都賜給你了]－－噢，我天上的父神，願你按照你在基督耶穌榮耀裡的豐盛，滿足我一切的需要。
Security from Yesterday. “. . . God requires an account of what is past” (Ecclesiastes 3:15). At the end of the year we turn with eagerness to all that God has for the future, and yet anxiety is apt to arise when we remember our yesterdays. Our present enjoyment of God’s grace tends to be lessened by the memory of yesterday’s sins and blunders. But God is the God of our yesterdays, and He allows the memory of them to turn the past into a ministry of spiritual growth for our future. God reminds us of the past to protect us from a very shallow security in the present.
Security for Tomorrow. “. . . the Lord will go before you . . . .” This is a gracious revelation— that God will send His forces out where we have failed to do so. He will keep watch so that we will not be tripped up again by the same failures, as would undoubtedly happen if He were not our “rear guard.” And God’s hand reaches back to the past, settling all the claims against our conscience.
Security for Today. “You shall not go out with haste . . . .” As we go forth into the coming year, let it not be in the haste of impetuous, forgetful delight, nor with the quickness of impulsive thoughtlessness. But let us go out with the patient power of knowing that the God of Israel will go before us. Our yesterdays hold broken and irreversible things for us. It is true that we have lost opportunities that will never return, but God can transform this destructive anxiety into a constructive thoughtfulness for the future. Let the past rest, but let it rest in the sweet embrace of Christ.
Leave the broken, irreversible past in His hands, and step out into the invincible future with Him.
昨日
以色列的神必作你們的後裔。 （賽五十二12）
脫離昨天的保證。 [神需要用過去的事。 ]
年終的時候，我們會期待地指望神帶領將來，但回想過去，也會帶來焦慮。今天對神恩典的享受，很容易受過去的罪與錯失影響。可是神是管理昨天的神，他容許過去的回憶存留，為的是將來的屬靈培育。神有時用過去提醒我們，免得我們停在現今膚淺的滿足裡。
明天的保證。 [因為耶和華必在你們前頭行。 ]
這是滿有恩典的啟示，神在我們失敗的地方守衛，留意不讓我們重蹈覆轍。若他不作後盾，我們勢必再犯。神的手伸到昨天去，為我們的良心清除存貨。
今天的保證。 [你們出來必不至急忙。 ]
在進入新一年之際，讓我們不要急躁鹵莽、興奮忘舊，也不要輕率衝動，只要從忍耐中得力，知道以色列的神必在前頭行。昨天無可挽回，錯過的機會永難再得，但神可以把這摧毀性得焦慮，變成建設性得心思，作將來之用。讓過去睡吧，但要睡在主耶穌的懷裡。
把一去不復返的過去放在他手中，然後與他一同踏進必要來到的將來。
祈禱◆主耶穌啊，[父一切的豐盛，都在你裡面居住]；[萬物都交在你的手裡]；[天上地下所有的權柄都賜給你了]－－噢，我天上的父神，願你按照你在基督耶穌榮耀裡的豐盛，滿足我一切的需要。
November 24, 2013
Direction of Focus
Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters . . . , so our eyes look to the Lord our God . . . —Psalm 123:2
This verse is a description of total reliance on God. Just as the eyes of a servant are riveted on his master, our eyes should be directed to and focused on God. This is how knowledge of His countenance is gained and how God reveals Himself to us (see Isaiah 53:1). Our spiritual strength begins to be drained when we stop lifting our eyes to Him. Our stamina is sapped, not so much through external troubles surrounding us but through problems in our thinking. We wrongfully think, “I suppose I’ve been stretching myself a little too much, standing too tall and trying to look like God instead of being an ordinary humble person.” We have to realize that no effort can be too high.
For example, you came to a crisis in your life, took a stand for God, and even had the witness of the Spirit as a confirmation that what you did was right. But now, maybe weeks or years have gone by, and you are slowly coming to the conclusion— “Well, maybe what I did showed too much pride or was superficial. Was I taking a stand a bit too high for me?” Your “rational” friends come and say, “Don’t be silly. We knew when you first talked about this spiritual awakening that it was a passing impulse, that you couldn’t hold up under the strain. And anyway, God doesn’t expect you to endure.” You respond by saying, “Well, I suppose I was expecting too much.” That sounds humble to say, but it means that your reliance on God is gone, and you are now relying on worldly opinion. The danger comes when, no longer relying on God, you neglect to focus your eyes on Him. Only when God brings you to a sudden stop will you realize that you have been the loser. Whenever there is a spiritual drain in your life, correct it immediately. Realize that something has been coming between you and God, and change or remove it at once.
仰望的方向
看哪，僕人的眼睛怎樣望主人的手……我們的眼睛也照樣望耶和華我們的神……（詩一二三2）
這節經文是對神完全信賴的描寫。僕人的眼如何注視主人，我們的眼也同樣仰望神，以致對他的容貌認識日增（賽五十三1）。我們一不仰望神，就產生屬靈的漏症。這漏症不是由於外在的煩惱，而是在於我們有這樣的幻想：[我想自己伸展得太用力了，用腳尖站立，努力像神，而不作一個謙卑平凡人。 ]要知道並沒有太過竭力這一回事。
例如：你因為神而面臨危機，但你有聖靈得印證，知道怎樣去作才對。可是隨著年日過去，你卻逐漸有這樣得結論 - [看來，我不是過分自負嗎？我所作得不是太【過火】麽？ ]你那些講理智的朋友說：[別傻啦，你當時說起那個屬靈醒覺，我們就看出是一時的衝動，你受不起那種壓力的，神也不期望你這樣做。 ]你就會說：[這個，我想自己的期望也太過了。 ]聽來多謙卑，可是對神的信賴已盡失，開始信賴世界的見解。你不再仰賴神，不再抬頭注視他，這就是危機。惟有等到神突然把你停住，你才曉得自己是在倒退。所以，一發現有漏症，就該立即補救。要承認在你與神之間有了阻隔，並且要立刻去對付。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我在舉止和行為上何等緩慢地表現神仁慈的恩典！你的美譽何時才為著你的榮耀臨到我身上？
This verse is a description of total reliance on God. Just as the eyes of a servant are riveted on his master, our eyes should be directed to and focused on God. This is how knowledge of His countenance is gained and how God reveals Himself to us (see Isaiah 53:1). Our spiritual strength begins to be drained when we stop lifting our eyes to Him. Our stamina is sapped, not so much through external troubles surrounding us but through problems in our thinking. We wrongfully think, “I suppose I’ve been stretching myself a little too much, standing too tall and trying to look like God instead of being an ordinary humble person.” We have to realize that no effort can be too high.
For example, you came to a crisis in your life, took a stand for God, and even had the witness of the Spirit as a confirmation that what you did was right. But now, maybe weeks or years have gone by, and you are slowly coming to the conclusion— “Well, maybe what I did showed too much pride or was superficial. Was I taking a stand a bit too high for me?” Your “rational” friends come and say, “Don’t be silly. We knew when you first talked about this spiritual awakening that it was a passing impulse, that you couldn’t hold up under the strain. And anyway, God doesn’t expect you to endure.” You respond by saying, “Well, I suppose I was expecting too much.” That sounds humble to say, but it means that your reliance on God is gone, and you are now relying on worldly opinion. The danger comes when, no longer relying on God, you neglect to focus your eyes on Him. Only when God brings you to a sudden stop will you realize that you have been the loser. Whenever there is a spiritual drain in your life, correct it immediately. Realize that something has been coming between you and God, and change or remove it at once.
仰望的方向
看哪，僕人的眼睛怎樣望主人的手……我們的眼睛也照樣望耶和華我們的神……（詩一二三2）
這節經文是對神完全信賴的描寫。僕人的眼如何注視主人，我們的眼也同樣仰望神，以致對他的容貌認識日增（賽五十三1）。我們一不仰望神，就產生屬靈的漏症。這漏症不是由於外在的煩惱，而是在於我們有這樣的幻想：[我想自己伸展得太用力了，用腳尖站立，努力像神，而不作一個謙卑平凡人。 ]要知道並沒有太過竭力這一回事。
例如：你因為神而面臨危機，但你有聖靈得印證，知道怎樣去作才對。可是隨著年日過去，你卻逐漸有這樣得結論 - [看來，我不是過分自負嗎？我所作得不是太【過火】麽？ ]你那些講理智的朋友說：[別傻啦，你當時說起那個屬靈醒覺，我們就看出是一時的衝動，你受不起那種壓力的，神也不期望你這樣做。 ]你就會說：[這個，我想自己的期望也太過了。 ]聽來多謙卑，可是對神的信賴已盡失，開始信賴世界的見解。你不再仰賴神，不再抬頭注視他，這就是危機。惟有等到神突然把你停住，你才曉得自己是在倒退。所以，一發現有漏症，就該立即補救。要承認在你與神之間有了阻隔，並且要立刻去對付。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我在舉止和行為上何等緩慢地表現神仁慈的恩典！你的美譽何時才為著你的榮耀臨到我身上？
October 23, 2013
Nothing of the Old Life!
If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new —2 Corinthians 5:17
Our Lord never tolerates our prejudices— He is directly opposed to them and puts them to death. We tend to think that God has some special interest in our particular prejudices, and are very sure that He will never deal with us as He has to deal with others. We even say to ourselves, “God has to deal with other people in a very strict way, but of course He knows that my prejudices are all right.” But we must learn that God accepts nothing of the old life! Instead of being on the side of our prejudices, He is deliberately removing them from us. It is part of our moral education to see our prejudices put to death by His providence, and to watch how He does it. God pays no respect to anything we bring to Him. There is only one thing God wants of us, and that is our unconditional surrender.
When we are born again, the Holy Spirit begins to work His new creation in us, and there will come a time when there is nothing remaining of the old life. Our old gloomy outlook disappears, as does our old attitude toward things, and “all things are of God” (2 Corinthians 5:18). How are we going to get a life that has no lust, no self-interest, and is not sensitive to the ridicule of others? How will we have the type of love that “is kind . . . is not provoked, [and] thinks no evil”? (1 Corinthians 13:4-5). The only way is by allowing nothing of the old life to remain, and by having only simple, perfect trust in God— such a trust that we no longer want God’s blessings, but only want God Himself. Have we come to the point where God can withdraw His blessings from us without our trust in Him being affected? Once we truly see God at work, we will never be concerned again about the things that happen, because we are actually trusting in our Father in heaven, whom the world cannot see.
一點也不
"若有人在基督裡，他就是新造的人，舊事已過，都變成新的了。"林後5:17
我們的主從不看護我們的成見，他只克服它們，清理它們。我們想像神對我們的特別成見有著特別的興趣；我們很肯定神不會像對付其他人那樣對付我們。 "神一定會非常嚴厲的對付其他人，他當然知道我的成見是對的。可是我們必須認識到神不但不站在我們的成見這邊，反而有意地要將它們清掃出去。我們所受的道德教育的一部分是，讓神的旨意除去我們的成見，並看看他怎麼做。神毫不在意我們帶給他什麼。神只想要我們做一件事，就是無條件的降服。
當我們重生的時候，聖靈開始將他的新創造做在我們裡面，必有一天舊秩序所遺留的會蕩然無存，離開舊的儀式，離開舊的態度，"所有的都是屬神的。 "我們如何得到那沒有情慾，沒有自我利益，對別人的刺痛不敏感，有不輕易發怒的愛，不思想罪惡，常待人有恩慈的生命呢？唯一的辦法是不讓一點點舊生命留下來，而只單單完全的信靠神，以致我們不再想要神的祝福，只想要他自己。我們是否到達一個地步，神可以撤回他的祝福而不會影響我們對他的信靠？當一旦我們看到神在做工，我們就不會為所發生的事煩擾，因為我們正實際的信靠我們在天上的父，他是這世界無法看到的。
Our Lord never tolerates our prejudices— He is directly opposed to them and puts them to death. We tend to think that God has some special interest in our particular prejudices, and are very sure that He will never deal with us as He has to deal with others. We even say to ourselves, “God has to deal with other people in a very strict way, but of course He knows that my prejudices are all right.” But we must learn that God accepts nothing of the old life! Instead of being on the side of our prejudices, He is deliberately removing them from us. It is part of our moral education to see our prejudices put to death by His providence, and to watch how He does it. God pays no respect to anything we bring to Him. There is only one thing God wants of us, and that is our unconditional surrender.
When we are born again, the Holy Spirit begins to work His new creation in us, and there will come a time when there is nothing remaining of the old life. Our old gloomy outlook disappears, as does our old attitude toward things, and “all things are of God” (2 Corinthians 5:18). How are we going to get a life that has no lust, no self-interest, and is not sensitive to the ridicule of others? How will we have the type of love that “is kind . . . is not provoked, [and] thinks no evil”? (1 Corinthians 13:4-5). The only way is by allowing nothing of the old life to remain, and by having only simple, perfect trust in God— such a trust that we no longer want God’s blessings, but only want God Himself. Have we come to the point where God can withdraw His blessings from us without our trust in Him being affected? Once we truly see God at work, we will never be concerned again about the things that happen, because we are actually trusting in our Father in heaven, whom the world cannot see.
一點也不
"若有人在基督裡，他就是新造的人，舊事已過，都變成新的了。"林後5:17
我們的主從不看護我們的成見，他只克服它們，清理它們。我們想像神對我們的特別成見有著特別的興趣；我們很肯定神不會像對付其他人那樣對付我們。 "神一定會非常嚴厲的對付其他人，他當然知道我的成見是對的。可是我們必須認識到神不但不站在我們的成見這邊，反而有意地要將它們清掃出去。我們所受的道德教育的一部分是，讓神的旨意除去我們的成見，並看看他怎麼做。神毫不在意我們帶給他什麼。神只想要我們做一件事，就是無條件的降服。
當我們重生的時候，聖靈開始將他的新創造做在我們裡面，必有一天舊秩序所遺留的會蕩然無存，離開舊的儀式，離開舊的態度，"所有的都是屬神的。 "我們如何得到那沒有情慾，沒有自我利益，對別人的刺痛不敏感，有不輕易發怒的愛，不思想罪惡，常待人有恩慈的生命呢？唯一的辦法是不讓一點點舊生命留下來，而只單單完全的信靠神，以致我們不再想要神的祝福，只想要他自己。我們是否到達一個地步，神可以撤回他的祝福而不會影響我們對他的信靠？當一旦我們看到神在做工，我們就不會為所發生的事煩擾，因為我們正實際的信靠我們在天上的父，他是這世界無法看到的。
April 13, 2013
What To Do When Your Burden Is Overwhelming
Cast your burden on the Lord . . . —Psalm 55:22
We must recognize the difference between burdens that are right for us to bear and burdens that are wrong. We should never bear the burdens of sin or doubt, but there are some burdens placed on us by God which He does not intend to lift off. God wants us to roll them back on Him— to literally “cast your burden,” which He has given you, “on the Lord . . . .” If we set out to serve God and do His work but get out of touch with Him, the sense of responsibility we feel will be overwhelming and defeating. But if we will only roll back on God the burdens He has placed on us, He will take away that immense feeling of responsibility, replacing it with an awareness and understanding of Himself and His presence.
Many servants set out to serve God with great courage and with the right motives. But with no intimate fellowship with Jesus Christ, they are soon defeated. They do not know what to do with their burden, and it produces weariness in their lives. Others will see this and say, “What a sad end to something that had such a great beginning!”
“Cast your burden on the Lord . . . .” You have been bearing it all, but you need to deliberately place one end on God’s shoulder. “. . . the government will be upon His shoulder” (Isaiah 9:6). Commit to God whatever burden He has placed on you. Don’t just cast it aside, but put it over onto Him and place yourself there with it. You will see that your burden is then lightened by the sense of companionship. But you should never try to separate yourself from your burden.
擔子沉重，如何是好？
你要把你的重擔卸給耶和華。 （詩五十五22）
我們必須分辨什麼是我們所當負的擔子，又什麼是我們不當背負的。我們千萬不要背負罪與疑惑的擔子，但有些擔子卻是神放在我們身上的。神之所以不把擔子挪開，是要我們這些擔子卸給他。 [把他放在你身上的卸給他。 ]如果我們為神承擔一份工作，卻與他失去聯絡，那責任感會壓得你透不過氣來；但我們若懂得把神放在我們身上的，轉回給他，有他的同在，那責任感的擔子就得以卸下。
不少工人憑著一腔熱血，鼓起勇氣出去，卻與耶穌基督沒有親密的相交，所以不消多久，就受壓難當。他們不知如何應付重擔，結果便產生了厭倦。人們會說：[好一個開頭，落得如何淒涼的收場！ ]
[把重擔卸給神]－－你一向自負重擔，現在要把擔子的一端放在神的肩頭上。 [政權必擔在他肩頭上。 ]把神給你的委付與神；不是把它丟掉，而是把它連自己一起交給他，與神同工，擔子便變得輕省了。切勿讓自己與擔子分開。
祈禱◆主啊，求你呼喚我的名字，讓我因那奇妙的呼喚而振奮！你一次的呼喚、一次的接觸，將會帶來何等大的改變，我們都會在狂喜之中！噢，為何你不是經常這樣做呢？
We must recognize the difference between burdens that are right for us to bear and burdens that are wrong. We should never bear the burdens of sin or doubt, but there are some burdens placed on us by God which He does not intend to lift off. God wants us to roll them back on Him— to literally “cast your burden,” which He has given you, “on the Lord . . . .” If we set out to serve God and do His work but get out of touch with Him, the sense of responsibility we feel will be overwhelming and defeating. But if we will only roll back on God the burdens He has placed on us, He will take away that immense feeling of responsibility, replacing it with an awareness and understanding of Himself and His presence.
Many servants set out to serve God with great courage and with the right motives. But with no intimate fellowship with Jesus Christ, they are soon defeated. They do not know what to do with their burden, and it produces weariness in their lives. Others will see this and say, “What a sad end to something that had such a great beginning!”
“Cast your burden on the Lord . . . .” You have been bearing it all, but you need to deliberately place one end on God’s shoulder. “. . . the government will be upon His shoulder” (Isaiah 9:6). Commit to God whatever burden He has placed on you. Don’t just cast it aside, but put it over onto Him and place yourself there with it. You will see that your burden is then lightened by the sense of companionship. But you should never try to separate yourself from your burden.
擔子沉重，如何是好？
你要把你的重擔卸給耶和華。 （詩五十五22）
我們必須分辨什麼是我們所當負的擔子，又什麼是我們不當背負的。我們千萬不要背負罪與疑惑的擔子，但有些擔子卻是神放在我們身上的。神之所以不把擔子挪開，是要我們這些擔子卸給他。 [把他放在你身上的卸給他。 ]如果我們為神承擔一份工作，卻與他失去聯絡，那責任感會壓得你透不過氣來；但我們若懂得把神放在我們身上的，轉回給他，有他的同在，那責任感的擔子就得以卸下。
不少工人憑著一腔熱血，鼓起勇氣出去，卻與耶穌基督沒有親密的相交，所以不消多久，就受壓難當。他們不知如何應付重擔，結果便產生了厭倦。人們會說：[好一個開頭，落得如何淒涼的收場！ ]
[把重擔卸給神]－－你一向自負重擔，現在要把擔子的一端放在神的肩頭上。 [政權必擔在他肩頭上。 ]把神給你的委付與神；不是把它丟掉，而是把它連自己一起交給他，與神同工，擔子便變得輕省了。切勿讓自己與擔子分開。
祈禱◆主啊，求你呼喚我的名字，讓我因那奇妙的呼喚而振奮！你一次的呼喚、一次的接觸，將會帶來何等大的改變，我們都會在狂喜之中！噢，為何你不是經常這樣做呢？
December 31, 2012
Yesterday
You shall not go out with haste, . . . for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard —Isaiah 52:12
Security from Yesterday. “. . . God requires an account of what is past” (Ecclesiastes 3:15). At the end of the year we turn with eagerness to all that God has for the future, and yet anxiety is apt to arise when we remember our yesterdays. Our present enjoyment of God’s grace tends to be lessened by the memory of yesterday’s sins and blunders. But God is the God of our yesterdays, and He allows the memory of them to turn the past into a ministry of spiritual growth for our future. God reminds us of the past to protect us from a very shallow security in the present.
Security for Tomorrow. “. . . the Lord will go before you . . . .” This is a gracious revelation— that God will send His forces out where we have failed to do so. He will keep watch so that we will not be tripped up again by the same failures, as would undoubtedly happen if He were not our “rear guard.” And God’s hand reaches back to the past, settling all the claims against our conscience.
Security for Today. “You shall not go out with haste . . . .” As we go forth into the coming year, let it not be in the haste of impetuous, forgetful delight, nor with the quickness of impulsive thoughtlessness. But let us go out with the patient power of knowing that the God of Israel will go before us. Our yesterdays hold broken and irreversible things for us. It is true that we have lost opportunities that will never return, but God can transform this destructive anxiety into a constructive thoughtfulness for the future. Let the past rest, but let it rest in the sweet embrace of Christ.
Leave the broken, irreversible past in His hands, and step out into the invincible future with Him.
昨日
以色列的神必作你們的後裔。 （賽五十二12）
脫離昨天的保證。 [神需要用過去的事。 ]年終的時候，我們會期待地指望神帶領將來，但回想歸去，也會帶來焦慮。今天對神恩典的享受，很容易受過去的罪與錯失影響。可是神是管理昨天的神，他容許過去的回憶存留，為的是將來的屬靈培育。神有時用過去提醒我們，免得我們停在現今膚淺的滿足裡。
昨天的保證。 [因為耶和華必在你們前頭行。 ]這是滿有恩典的啟示，神在我們失敗的地方守衛，留意不讓我們重蹈覆轍。若他不作後盾，我們勢必再犯。神的手伸到昨天去，為我們的良心清除存貨。
今天的保證。 [你們出來必不至急忙。 ]在進入新一年之際，讓我們不要急躁鹵莽、興奮忘舊，也不要輕率衝動，只要從忍耐中得力，知道以色列的神必在前頭行。昨天無可挽回，錯過的機會永難再得，但神可以把這摧毀性得焦慮，變成建設性得心思，作將來之用。讓過去睡吧，但要睡在主耶穌的懷裡。
把一去不復返的過去放在他手中，然後與他一同踏進必要來到的將來。
祈禱◆主耶穌啊，[父一切的豐盛，都在你裡面居住]；[萬物都交在你的手裡]；[天上地下所有的權柄都賜給你了]－－噢，我天上的父神，願你按照你在基督耶穌榮耀裡的豐盛，滿足我一切的需要。
Security from Yesterday. “. . . God requires an account of what is past” (Ecclesiastes 3:15). At the end of the year we turn with eagerness to all that God has for the future, and yet anxiety is apt to arise when we remember our yesterdays. Our present enjoyment of God’s grace tends to be lessened by the memory of yesterday’s sins and blunders. But God is the God of our yesterdays, and He allows the memory of them to turn the past into a ministry of spiritual growth for our future. God reminds us of the past to protect us from a very shallow security in the present.
Security for Tomorrow. “. . . the Lord will go before you . . . .” This is a gracious revelation— that God will send His forces out where we have failed to do so. He will keep watch so that we will not be tripped up again by the same failures, as would undoubtedly happen if He were not our “rear guard.” And God’s hand reaches back to the past, settling all the claims against our conscience.
Security for Today. “You shall not go out with haste . . . .” As we go forth into the coming year, let it not be in the haste of impetuous, forgetful delight, nor with the quickness of impulsive thoughtlessness. But let us go out with the patient power of knowing that the God of Israel will go before us. Our yesterdays hold broken and irreversible things for us. It is true that we have lost opportunities that will never return, but God can transform this destructive anxiety into a constructive thoughtfulness for the future. Let the past rest, but let it rest in the sweet embrace of Christ.
Leave the broken, irreversible past in His hands, and step out into the invincible future with Him.
昨日
以色列的神必作你們的後裔。 （賽五十二12）
脫離昨天的保證。 [神需要用過去的事。 ]年終的時候，我們會期待地指望神帶領將來，但回想歸去，也會帶來焦慮。今天對神恩典的享受，很容易受過去的罪與錯失影響。可是神是管理昨天的神，他容許過去的回憶存留，為的是將來的屬靈培育。神有時用過去提醒我們，免得我們停在現今膚淺的滿足裡。
昨天的保證。 [因為耶和華必在你們前頭行。 ]這是滿有恩典的啟示，神在我們失敗的地方守衛，留意不讓我們重蹈覆轍。若他不作後盾，我們勢必再犯。神的手伸到昨天去，為我們的良心清除存貨。
今天的保證。 [你們出來必不至急忙。 ]在進入新一年之際，讓我們不要急躁鹵莽、興奮忘舊，也不要輕率衝動，只要從忍耐中得力，知道以色列的神必在前頭行。昨天無可挽回，錯過的機會永難再得，但神可以把這摧毀性得焦慮，變成建設性得心思，作將來之用。讓過去睡吧，但要睡在主耶穌的懷裡。
把一去不復返的過去放在他手中，然後與他一同踏進必要來到的將來。
祈禱◆主耶穌啊，[父一切的豐盛，都在你裡面居住]；[萬物都交在你的手裡]；[天上地下所有的權柄都賜給你了]－－噢，我天上的父神，願你按照你在基督耶穌榮耀裡的豐盛，滿足我一切的需要。
November 24, 2012
Direction of Focus
Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters . . . , so our eyes look to the Lord our God . . . —Psalm 123:2
This verse is a description of total reliance on God. Just as the eyes of a servant are riveted on his master, our eyes should be directed to and focused on God. This is how knowledge of His countenance is gained and how God reveals Himself to us (see Isaiah 53:1). Our spiritual strength begins to be drained when we stop lifting our eyes to Him. Our stamina is sapped, not so much through external troubles surrounding us but through problems in our thinking. We wrongfully think, “I suppose I’ve been stretching myself a little too much, standing too tall and trying to look like God instead of being an ordinary humble person.” We have to realize that no effort can be too high.
For example, you came to a crisis in your life, took a stand for God, and even had the witness of the Spirit as a confirmation that what you did was right. But now, maybe weeks or years have gone by, and you are slowly coming to the conclusion— “Well, maybe what I did showed too much pride or was superficial. Was I taking a stand a bit too high for me?” Your “rational” friends come and say, “Don’t be silly. We knew when you first talked about this spiritual awakening that it was a passing impulse, that you couldn’t hold up under the strain. And anyway, God doesn’t expect you to endure.” You respond by saying, “Well, I suppose I was expecting too much.” That sounds humble to say, but it means that your reliance on God is gone, and you are now relying on worldly opinion. The danger comes when, no longer relying on God, you neglect to focus your eyes on Him. Only when God brings you to a sudden stop will you realize that you have been the loser. Whenever there is a spiritual drain in your life, correct it immediately. Realize that something has been coming between you and God, and change or remove it at once.
This verse is a description of total reliance on God. Just as the eyes of a servant are riveted on his master, our eyes should be directed to and focused on God. This is how knowledge of His countenance is gained and how God reveals Himself to us (see Isaiah 53:1). Our spiritual strength begins to be drained when we stop lifting our eyes to Him. Our stamina is sapped, not so much through external troubles surrounding us but through problems in our thinking. We wrongfully think, “I suppose I’ve been stretching myself a little too much, standing too tall and trying to look like God instead of being an ordinary humble person.” We have to realize that no effort can be too high.
For example, you came to a crisis in your life, took a stand for God, and even had the witness of the Spirit as a confirmation that what you did was right. But now, maybe weeks or years have gone by, and you are slowly coming to the conclusion— “Well, maybe what I did showed too much pride or was superficial. Was I taking a stand a bit too high for me?” Your “rational” friends come and say, “Don’t be silly. We knew when you first talked about this spiritual awakening that it was a passing impulse, that you couldn’t hold up under the strain. And anyway, God doesn’t expect you to endure.” You respond by saying, “Well, I suppose I was expecting too much.” That sounds humble to say, but it means that your reliance on God is gone, and you are now relying on worldly opinion. The danger comes when, no longer relying on God, you neglect to focus your eyes on Him. Only when God brings you to a sudden stop will you realize that you have been the loser. Whenever there is a spiritual drain in your life, correct it immediately. Realize that something has been coming between you and God, and change or remove it at once.
October 23, 2012
Nothing of the Old Life!
If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new —2 Corinthians 5:17
Our Lord never tolerates our prejudices— He is directly opposed to them and puts them to death. We tend to think that God has some special interest in our particular prejudices, and are very sure that He will never deal with us as He has to deal with others. We even say to ourselves, “God has to deal with other people in a very strict way, but of course He knows that my prejudices are all right.” But we must learn that God accepts nothing of the old life! Instead of being on the side of our prejudices, He is deliberately removing them from us. It is part of our moral education to see our prejudices put to death by His providence, and to watch how He does it. God pays no respect to anything we bring to Him. There is only one thing God wants of us, and that is our unconditional surrender.
When we are born again, the Holy Spirit begins to work His new creation in us, and there will come a time when there is nothing remaining of the old life. Our old gloomy outlook disappears, as does our old attitude toward things, and “all things are of God” (2 Corinthians 5:18). How are we going to get a life that has no lust, no self-interest, and is not sensitive to the ridicule of others? How will we have the type of love that “is kind . . . is not provoked, [and] thinks no evil”? (1 Corinthians 13:4-5). The only way is by allowing nothing of the old life to remain, and by having only simple, perfect trust in God— such a trust that we no longer want God’s blessings, but only want God Himself. Have we come to the point where God can withdraw His blessings from us without our trust in Him being affected? Once we truly see God at work, we will never be concerned again about the things that happen, because we are actually trusting in our Father in heaven, whom the world cannot see.
一點也不
"若有人在基督裡，他就是新造的人，舊事已過，都變成新的了。"林後5:17
我們的主從不看護我們的成見，他只克服它們，清理它們。我們想像神對我們的特別成見有著特別的興趣；我們很肯定神不會像對付其他人那樣對付我們。 "神一定會非常嚴厲的對付其他人，他當然知道我的成見是對的。可是我們必須認識到神不但不站在我們的成見這邊，反而有意地要將它們清掃出去。我們所受的道德教育的一部分是，讓神的旨意除去我們的成見，並看看他怎麼做。神毫不在意我們帶給他什麼。神只想要我們做一件事，就是無條件的降服。
當我們重生的時候，聖靈開始將他的新創造做在我們裡面，必有一天舊秩序所遺留的會蕩然無存，離開舊的儀式，離開舊的態度，"所有的都是屬神的。 "我們如何得到那沒有情慾，沒有自我利益，對別人的刺痛不敏感，有不輕易發怒的愛，不思想罪惡，常待人有恩慈的生命呢？唯一的辦法是不讓一點點舊生命留下來，而只單單完全的信靠神，以致我們不再想要神的祝福，只想要他自己。我們是否到達一個地步，神可以撤回他的祝福而不會影響我們對他的信靠？當一旦我們看到神在做工，我們就不會為所發生的事煩擾，因為我們正實際的信靠我們在天上的父，他是這世界無法看到的。
Our Lord never tolerates our prejudices— He is directly opposed to them and puts them to death. We tend to think that God has some special interest in our particular prejudices, and are very sure that He will never deal with us as He has to deal with others. We even say to ourselves, “God has to deal with other people in a very strict way, but of course He knows that my prejudices are all right.” But we must learn that God accepts nothing of the old life! Instead of being on the side of our prejudices, He is deliberately removing them from us. It is part of our moral education to see our prejudices put to death by His providence, and to watch how He does it. God pays no respect to anything we bring to Him. There is only one thing God wants of us, and that is our unconditional surrender.
When we are born again, the Holy Spirit begins to work His new creation in us, and there will come a time when there is nothing remaining of the old life. Our old gloomy outlook disappears, as does our old attitude toward things, and “all things are of God” (2 Corinthians 5:18). How are we going to get a life that has no lust, no self-interest, and is not sensitive to the ridicule of others? How will we have the type of love that “is kind . . . is not provoked, [and] thinks no evil”? (1 Corinthians 13:4-5). The only way is by allowing nothing of the old life to remain, and by having only simple, perfect trust in God— such a trust that we no longer want God’s blessings, but only want God Himself. Have we come to the point where God can withdraw His blessings from us without our trust in Him being affected? Once we truly see God at work, we will never be concerned again about the things that happen, because we are actually trusting in our Father in heaven, whom the world cannot see.
一點也不
"若有人在基督裡，他就是新造的人，舊事已過，都變成新的了。"林後5:17
我們的主從不看護我們的成見，他只克服它們，清理它們。我們想像神對我們的特別成見有著特別的興趣；我們很肯定神不會像對付其他人那樣對付我們。 "神一定會非常嚴厲的對付其他人，他當然知道我的成見是對的。可是我們必須認識到神不但不站在我們的成見這邊，反而有意地要將它們清掃出去。我們所受的道德教育的一部分是，讓神的旨意除去我們的成見，並看看他怎麼做。神毫不在意我們帶給他什麼。神只想要我們做一件事，就是無條件的降服。
當我們重生的時候，聖靈開始將他的新創造做在我們裡面，必有一天舊秩序所遺留的會蕩然無存，離開舊的儀式，離開舊的態度，"所有的都是屬神的。 "我們如何得到那沒有情慾，沒有自我利益，對別人的刺痛不敏感，有不輕易發怒的愛，不思想罪惡，常待人有恩慈的生命呢？唯一的辦法是不讓一點點舊生命留下來，而只單單完全的信靠神，以致我們不再想要神的祝福，只想要他自己。我們是否到達一個地步，神可以撤回他的祝福而不會影響我們對他的信靠？當一旦我們看到神在做工，我們就不會為所發生的事煩擾，因為我們正實際的信靠我們在天上的父，他是這世界無法看到的。
April 13, 2012
What To Do When Your Burden Is Overwhelming
Cast your burden on the Lord . . . —Psalm 55:22
We must recognize the difference between burdens that are right for us to bear and burdens that are wrong. We should never bear the burdens of sin or doubt, but there are some burdens placed on us by God which He does not intend to lift off. God wants us to roll them back on Him— to literally “cast your burden,” which He has given you, “on the Lord . . . .” If we set out to serve God and do His work but get out of touch with Him, the sense of responsibility we feel will be overwhelming and defeating. But if we will only roll back on God the burdens He has placed on us, He will take away that immense feeling of responsibility, replacing it with an awareness and understanding of Himself and His presence.
Many servants set out to serve God with great courage and with the right motives. But with no intimate fellowship with Jesus Christ, they are soon defeated. They do not know what to do with their burden, and it produces weariness in their lives. Others will see this and say, “What a sad end to something that had such a great beginning!”
“Cast your burden on the Lord . . . .” You have been bearing it all, but you need to deliberately place one end on God’s shoulder. “. . . the government will be upon His shoulder” (Isaiah 9:6). Commit to God whatever burden He has placed on you. Don’t just cast it aside, but put it over onto Him and place yourself there with it. You will see that your burden is then lightened by the sense of companionship. But you should never try to separate yourself from your burden.
擔子沉重，如何是好？
你要把你的重擔卸給耶和華。 （詩五十五22）
我們必須分辨什麼是我們所當負的擔子，又什麼是我們不當背負的。我們千萬不要背負罪與疑惑的擔子，但有些擔子卻是神放在我們身上的。神之所以不把擔子挪開，是要我們這些擔子卸給他。 [把他放在你身上的卸給他。 ]如果我們為神承擔一份工作，卻與他失去聯絡，那責任感會壓得你透不過氣來；但我們若懂得把神放在我們身上的，轉回給他，有他的同在，那責任感的擔子就得以卸下。
不少工人憑著一腔熱血，鼓起勇氣出去，卻與耶穌基督沒有親密的相交，所以不消多久，就受壓難當。他們不知如何應付重擔，結果便產生了厭倦。人們會說：[好一個開頭，落得如何淒涼的收場！ ]
[把重擔卸給神]－－你一向自負重擔，現在要把擔子的一端放在神的肩頭上。 [政權必擔在他肩頭上。 ]把神給你的委付與神；不是把它丟掉，而是把它連自己一起交給他，與神同工，擔子便變得輕省了。切勿讓自己與擔子分開。
祈禱◆主啊，求你呼喚我的名字，讓我因那奇妙的呼喚而振奮！你一次的呼喚、一次的接觸，將會帶來何等大的改變，我們都會在狂喜之中！噢，為何你不是經常這樣做呢？
We must recognize the difference between burdens that are right for us to bear and burdens that are wrong. We should never bear the burdens of sin or doubt, but there are some burdens placed on us by God which He does not intend to lift off. God wants us to roll them back on Him— to literally “cast your burden,” which He has given you, “on the Lord . . . .” If we set out to serve God and do His work but get out of touch with Him, the sense of responsibility we feel will be overwhelming and defeating. But if we will only roll back on God the burdens He has placed on us, He will take away that immense feeling of responsibility, replacing it with an awareness and understanding of Himself and His presence.
Many servants set out to serve God with great courage and with the right motives. But with no intimate fellowship with Jesus Christ, they are soon defeated. They do not know what to do with their burden, and it produces weariness in their lives. Others will see this and say, “What a sad end to something that had such a great beginning!”
“Cast your burden on the Lord . . . .” You have been bearing it all, but you need to deliberately place one end on God’s shoulder. “. . . the government will be upon His shoulder” (Isaiah 9:6). Commit to God whatever burden He has placed on you. Don’t just cast it aside, but put it over onto Him and place yourself there with it. You will see that your burden is then lightened by the sense of companionship. But you should never try to separate yourself from your burden.
擔子沉重，如何是好？
你要把你的重擔卸給耶和華。 （詩五十五22）
我們必須分辨什麼是我們所當負的擔子，又什麼是我們不當背負的。我們千萬不要背負罪與疑惑的擔子，但有些擔子卻是神放在我們身上的。神之所以不把擔子挪開，是要我們這些擔子卸給他。 [把他放在你身上的卸給他。 ]如果我們為神承擔一份工作，卻與他失去聯絡，那責任感會壓得你透不過氣來；但我們若懂得把神放在我們身上的，轉回給他，有他的同在，那責任感的擔子就得以卸下。
不少工人憑著一腔熱血，鼓起勇氣出去，卻與耶穌基督沒有親密的相交，所以不消多久，就受壓難當。他們不知如何應付重擔，結果便產生了厭倦。人們會說：[好一個開頭，落得如何淒涼的收場！ ]
[把重擔卸給神]－－你一向自負重擔，現在要把擔子的一端放在神的肩頭上。 [政權必擔在他肩頭上。 ]把神給你的委付與神；不是把它丟掉，而是把它連自己一起交給他，與神同工，擔子便變得輕省了。切勿讓自己與擔子分開。
祈禱◆主啊，求你呼喚我的名字，讓我因那奇妙的呼喚而振奮！你一次的呼喚、一次的接觸，將會帶來何等大的改變，我們都會在狂喜之中！噢，為何你不是經常這樣做呢？
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