Lord, I will follow You, but . . . —Luke 9:61
Suppose God tells you to do something that is an enormous test of your common sense, totally going against it. What will you do? Will you hold back? If you get into the habit of doing something physically, you will do it every time you are tested until you break the habit through sheer determination. And the same is true spiritually. Again and again you will come right up to what Jesus wants, but every time you will turn back at the true point of testing, until you are determined to abandon yourself to God in total surrender. Yet we tend to say, “Yes, but— suppose I do obey God in this matter, what about . . . ?” Or we say, “Yes, I will obey God if what He asks of me doesn’t go against my common sense, but don’t ask me to take a step in the dark.”
Jesus Christ demands the same unrestrained, adventurous spirit in those who have placed their trust in Him that the natural man exhibits. If a person is ever going to do anything worthwhile, there will be times when he must risk everything by his leap in the dark. In the spiritual realm, Jesus Christ demands that you risk everything you hold on to or believe through common sense, and leap by faith into what He says. Once you obey, you will immediately find that what He says is as solidly consistent as common sense.
By the test of common sense, Jesus Christ’s statements may seem mad, but when you test them by the trial of faith, your findings will fill your spirit with the awesome fact that they are the very words of God. Trust completely in God, and when He brings you to a new opportunity of adventure, offering it to you, see that you take it. We act like pagans in a crisis— only one out of an entire crowd is daring enough to invest his faith in the character of God.
[好的－－但！ ]
主，我要跟從你，但……（路九61）
假如神叫你做一件與常理大相徑庭的事，你會怎樣呢？退縮？在肉身上養成的習慣，須以堅定的決心去改變，否則就會一直做下去。在屬靈上，也是如此。你屢次遵主的話起來，但到了某一關頭，就會裹足不前，甚至毅然放棄。 [好的，但－－假定我在這事上順服神，……又怎樣？ ][好了，我心順服神，只要他讓我用自己的智慧，不踏足在黑暗中。 ]耶穌基督要求倚靠他的人，有天然的那種冒險精神。若有人要做一件有價值的事，他有時必須孤注一擲。屬靈的領域裡，主也要求你用理智所堅持的一切撇下，投入他的話語裡去。你這樣做，就會發現他所說的合符理智。在常理下，耶穌基督的話似乎是瘋狂的；可是，在信心跟前，你就會驚訝地發現這正是神的話。要全心信靠神，當他領你去探險，要立刻接受。我們在危機之中，往往表現得像不信的人。所以千萬人中也許只有一個，肯將信心寄放在神身上。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，靠著你的恩典，我的思想能夠明白那麼多，所說的話也能那麼多－－求你使我的心靈和行為不單與思想踏著同一步伐，更能夠超越它。
Showing posts with label Christian Life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christian Life. Show all posts
May 30, 2014
May 30, 2013
“Yes— But . . .!”
Lord, I will follow You, but . . . —Luke 9:61
Suppose God tells you to do something that is an enormous test of your common sense, totally going against it. What will you do? Will you hold back? If you get into the habit of doing something physically, you will do it every time you are tested until you break the habit through sheer determination. And the same is true spiritually. Again and again you will come right up to what Jesus wants, but every time you will turn back at the true point of testing, until you are determined to abandon yourself to God in total surrender. Yet we tend to say, “Yes, but— suppose I do obey God in this matter, what about . . . ?” Or we say, “Yes, I will obey God if what He asks of me doesn’t go against my common sense, but don’t ask me to take a step in the dark.”
Jesus Christ demands the same unrestrained, adventurous spirit in those who have placed their trust in Him that the natural man exhibits. If a person is ever going to do anything worthwhile, there will be times when he must risk everything by his leap in the dark. In the spiritual realm, Jesus Christ demands that you risk everything you hold on to or believe through common sense, and leap by faith into what He says. Once you obey, you will immediately find that what He says is as solidly consistent as common sense.
By the test of common sense, Jesus Christ’s statements may seem mad, but when you test them by the trial of faith, your findings will fill your spirit with the awesome fact that they are the very words of God. Trust completely in God, and when He brings you to a new opportunity of adventure, offering it to you, see that you take it. We act like pagans in a crisis— only one out of an entire crowd is daring enough to invest his faith in the character of God.
[好的－－但！ ]
主，我要跟從你，但……（路九61）
假如神叫你做一件與常理大相徑庭的事，你會怎樣呢？退縮？在肉身上養成的習慣，須以堅定的決心去改變，否則就會一直做下去。在屬靈上，也是如此。你屢次遵主的話起來，但到了某一關頭，就會裹足不前，甚至毅然放棄。 [好的，但－－假定我在這事上順服神，……又怎樣？ ][好了，我心順服神，只要他讓我用自己的智慧，不踏足在黑暗中。 ]耶穌基督要求倚靠他的人，有天然的那種冒險精神。若有人要做一件有價值的事，他有時必須孤注一擲。屬靈的領域裡，主也要求你用理智所堅持的一切撇下，投入他的話語裡去。你這樣做，就會發現他所說的合符理智。在常理下，耶穌基督的話似乎是瘋狂的；可是，在信心跟前，你就會驚訝地發現這正是神的話。要全心信靠神，當他領你去探險，要立刻接受。我們在危機之中，往往表現得像不信的人。所以千萬人中也許只有一個，肯將信心寄放在神身上。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，靠著你的恩典，我的思想能夠明白那麼多，所說的話也能那麼多－－求你使我的心靈和行為不單與思想踏著同一步伐，更能夠超越它。
Suppose God tells you to do something that is an enormous test of your common sense, totally going against it. What will you do? Will you hold back? If you get into the habit of doing something physically, you will do it every time you are tested until you break the habit through sheer determination. And the same is true spiritually. Again and again you will come right up to what Jesus wants, but every time you will turn back at the true point of testing, until you are determined to abandon yourself to God in total surrender. Yet we tend to say, “Yes, but— suppose I do obey God in this matter, what about . . . ?” Or we say, “Yes, I will obey God if what He asks of me doesn’t go against my common sense, but don’t ask me to take a step in the dark.”
Jesus Christ demands the same unrestrained, adventurous spirit in those who have placed their trust in Him that the natural man exhibits. If a person is ever going to do anything worthwhile, there will be times when he must risk everything by his leap in the dark. In the spiritual realm, Jesus Christ demands that you risk everything you hold on to or believe through common sense, and leap by faith into what He says. Once you obey, you will immediately find that what He says is as solidly consistent as common sense.
By the test of common sense, Jesus Christ’s statements may seem mad, but when you test them by the trial of faith, your findings will fill your spirit with the awesome fact that they are the very words of God. Trust completely in God, and when He brings you to a new opportunity of adventure, offering it to you, see that you take it. We act like pagans in a crisis— only one out of an entire crowd is daring enough to invest his faith in the character of God.
[好的－－但！ ]
主，我要跟從你，但……（路九61）
假如神叫你做一件與常理大相徑庭的事，你會怎樣呢？退縮？在肉身上養成的習慣，須以堅定的決心去改變，否則就會一直做下去。在屬靈上，也是如此。你屢次遵主的話起來，但到了某一關頭，就會裹足不前，甚至毅然放棄。 [好的，但－－假定我在這事上順服神，……又怎樣？ ][好了，我心順服神，只要他讓我用自己的智慧，不踏足在黑暗中。 ]耶穌基督要求倚靠他的人，有天然的那種冒險精神。若有人要做一件有價值的事，他有時必須孤注一擲。屬靈的領域裡，主也要求你用理智所堅持的一切撇下，投入他的話語裡去。你這樣做，就會發現他所說的合符理智。在常理下，耶穌基督的話似乎是瘋狂的；可是，在信心跟前，你就會驚訝地發現這正是神的話。要全心信靠神，當他領你去探險，要立刻接受。我們在危機之中，往往表現得像不信的人。所以千萬人中也許只有一個，肯將信心寄放在神身上。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，靠著你的恩典，我的思想能夠明白那麼多，所說的話也能那麼多－－求你使我的心靈和行為不單與思想踏著同一步伐，更能夠超越它。
December 30, 2012
“And Every Virtue We Possess”
. . . All my springs are in you —Psalm 87:7
Our Lord never “patches up” our natural virtues, that is, our natural traits, qualities, or characteristics. He completely remakes a person on the inside— “. . . put on the new man . . .” (Ephesians 4:24). In other words, see that your natural human life is putting on all that is in keeping with the new life. The life God places within us develops its own new virtues, not the virtues of the seed of Adam, but of Jesus Christ. Once God has begun the process of sanctification in your life, watch and see how God causes your confidence in your own natural virtues and power to wither away. He will continue until you learn to draw your life from the reservoir of the resurrection life of Jesus. Thank God if you are going through this drying-up experience!
The sign that God is at work in us is that He is destroying our confidence in the natural virtues, because they are not promises of what we are going to be, but only a wasted reminder of what God created man to be. We want to cling to our natural virtues, while all the time God is trying to get us in contact with the life of Jesus Christ— a life that can never be described in terms of natural virtues. It is the saddest thing to see people who are trying to serve God depending on that which the grace of God never gave them. They are depending solely on what they have by virtue of heredity. God does not take our natural virtues and transform them, because our natural virtues could never even come close to what Jesus Christ wants. No natural love, no natural patience, no natural purity can ever come up to His demands. But as we bring every part of our natural bodily life into harmony with the new life God has placed within us, He will exhibit in us the virtues that were characteristic of the Lord Jesus.
And every virtue we possess
Is His alone.
我們一切的美德
我的泉源都在你裡面。 （詩八十七7）
我們的主從不修補天然美德，他乃是從裡面重新再造。 [穿上新人]，意思是你要給肉體的生命穿上與新生命相配的衣服。神種在我們裡頭的生命，會萌發本身的美德，不是亞當的，乃是主耶穌的。你成聖以後，會叫你對天然美德，並個人一切力量的信心枯萎，直至你學會怎樣從主耶穌復活的泉源中支取生命。你若正經歷那乾涸的階段，就得感謝神。
神在我們裡面作工的徵象，就是敗壞我們對天然德行的信念，因為那些本不是神應許的，不過是他初造人時所剩餘的品質。我們總是抓住天然品德，而神卻不住要我接駁到主耶穌的生命去，他的美德是無法用天然德行來比較的。最可悲的是事奉神的人，一味仗賴從遺傳而得的品質，這些並不是神恩典所賜下的。神不會建立並改變天然的德行，因為天然德行不能達到耶穌萬分之一的心意。任何天然的愛、忍耐、清潔，都不可能達到他的要求。只有把肉體生命的每一部分配合神放在我們裡頭的生命，他才能透過我們彰顯主耶穌的美德。而我們所有的一切美德也只是他的。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，你是永遠的活井，我所有清新的泉源都在你裡面。我來到你面前；願你大能的生命在我裡面湧現，真正地流入我的身體和心靈中。
Our Lord never “patches up” our natural virtues, that is, our natural traits, qualities, or characteristics. He completely remakes a person on the inside— “. . . put on the new man . . .” (Ephesians 4:24). In other words, see that your natural human life is putting on all that is in keeping with the new life. The life God places within us develops its own new virtues, not the virtues of the seed of Adam, but of Jesus Christ. Once God has begun the process of sanctification in your life, watch and see how God causes your confidence in your own natural virtues and power to wither away. He will continue until you learn to draw your life from the reservoir of the resurrection life of Jesus. Thank God if you are going through this drying-up experience!
The sign that God is at work in us is that He is destroying our confidence in the natural virtues, because they are not promises of what we are going to be, but only a wasted reminder of what God created man to be. We want to cling to our natural virtues, while all the time God is trying to get us in contact with the life of Jesus Christ— a life that can never be described in terms of natural virtues. It is the saddest thing to see people who are trying to serve God depending on that which the grace of God never gave them. They are depending solely on what they have by virtue of heredity. God does not take our natural virtues and transform them, because our natural virtues could never even come close to what Jesus Christ wants. No natural love, no natural patience, no natural purity can ever come up to His demands. But as we bring every part of our natural bodily life into harmony with the new life God has placed within us, He will exhibit in us the virtues that were characteristic of the Lord Jesus.
And every virtue we possess
Is His alone.
我們一切的美德
我的泉源都在你裡面。 （詩八十七7）
我們的主從不修補天然美德，他乃是從裡面重新再造。 [穿上新人]，意思是你要給肉體的生命穿上與新生命相配的衣服。神種在我們裡頭的生命，會萌發本身的美德，不是亞當的，乃是主耶穌的。你成聖以後，會叫你對天然美德，並個人一切力量的信心枯萎，直至你學會怎樣從主耶穌復活的泉源中支取生命。你若正經歷那乾涸的階段，就得感謝神。
神在我們裡面作工的徵象，就是敗壞我們對天然德行的信念，因為那些本不是神應許的，不過是他初造人時所剩餘的品質。我們總是抓住天然品德，而神卻不住要我接駁到主耶穌的生命去，他的美德是無法用天然德行來比較的。最可悲的是事奉神的人，一味仗賴從遺傳而得的品質，這些並不是神恩典所賜下的。神不會建立並改變天然的德行，因為天然德行不能達到耶穌萬分之一的心意。任何天然的愛、忍耐、清潔，都不可能達到他的要求。只有把肉體生命的每一部分配合神放在我們裡頭的生命，他才能透過我們彰顯主耶穌的美德。而我們所有的一切美德也只是他的。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，你是永遠的活井，我所有清新的泉源都在你裡面。我來到你面前；願你大能的生命在我裡面湧現，真正地流入我的身體和心靈中。
December 29, 2012
Deserter or Disciple?
From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more —John 6:66
When God, by His Spirit through His Word, gives you a clear vision of His will, you must “walk in the light” of that vision (1 John 1:7). Even though your mind and soul may be thrilled by it, if you don’t “walk in the light” of it you will sink to a level of bondage never envisioned by our Lord. Mentally disobeying the “heavenly vision” (Acts 26:19) will make you a slave to ideas and views that are completely foreign to Jesus Christ. Don’t look at someone else and say, “Well, if he can have those views and prosper, why can’t I?” You have to “walk in the light” of the vision that has been given to you. Don’t compare yourself with others or judge them— that is between God and them. When you find that one of your favorite and strongly held views clashes with the “heavenly vision,” do not begin to debate it. If you do, a sense of property and personal right will emerge in you— things on which Jesus placed no value. He was against these things as being the root of everything foreign to Himself— “. . . for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” (Luke 12:15). If we don’t see and understand this, it is because we are ignoring the underlying principles of our Lord’s teaching.
Our tendency is to lie back and bask in the memory of the wonderful experience we had when God revealed His will to us. But if a New Testament standard is revealed to us by the light of God, and we don’t try to measure up, or even feel inclined to do so, then we begin to backslide. It means your conscience does not respond to the truth. You can never be the same after the unveiling of a truth. That moment marks you as one who either continues on with even more devotion as a disciple of Jesus Christ, or as one who turns to go back as a deserter.
逃兵還是門徒？
從此他門徒中多有退去的，不再和他同行。 （約六66）
神藉聖靈透過他的話語，現實他的心意，使你心靈興奮萬分；但你若不行在這異象的光中，就沉淪在努力的狀態中，受制於一種不屬於主的觀點。你若心裡不服從天上來的異象，就必服役於主耶穌以外的觀點。不要指著別人說：[看哪，他持那些觀點，仍然順利亨通，我為什麼不可以？ ]你要行在異象的光中，不要與人比較，或判斷別人，那是他與神之間的事。你若發現自己所喜悅的觀點，與天上來的異象相違，你為此爭辯，漸漸裡面就會產生一種擁有感和個人權利感，這些都是主耶穌所棄絕的。他反對這些，因為這一切是叫人離開神的根源。 [人的生命不在乎家道豐富。 ]我們不體會這一點，是因為我們漠視主基本的教訓。
我們很容易回想過往美妙的經歷。可是，神的光若向你顯示一個標準，而你未能達到，或不想達到，那你就開始退後了，因為這表示你的良心對真理並未作出回應。真理一旦開啟，便再也無法依然故我。那一刻就決定你是向前做主的真門徒，還是退後做逃兵。
祈禱◆主啊，願我們四周的每一寸空間，今天都被你所充滿。願你引導的手，適當而奇妙地掌管一切；願你將我們舉起，進入你奇妙的計劃中，並且使我們不至衝動鹵莽。
When God, by His Spirit through His Word, gives you a clear vision of His will, you must “walk in the light” of that vision (1 John 1:7). Even though your mind and soul may be thrilled by it, if you don’t “walk in the light” of it you will sink to a level of bondage never envisioned by our Lord. Mentally disobeying the “heavenly vision” (Acts 26:19) will make you a slave to ideas and views that are completely foreign to Jesus Christ. Don’t look at someone else and say, “Well, if he can have those views and prosper, why can’t I?” You have to “walk in the light” of the vision that has been given to you. Don’t compare yourself with others or judge them— that is between God and them. When you find that one of your favorite and strongly held views clashes with the “heavenly vision,” do not begin to debate it. If you do, a sense of property and personal right will emerge in you— things on which Jesus placed no value. He was against these things as being the root of everything foreign to Himself— “. . . for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” (Luke 12:15). If we don’t see and understand this, it is because we are ignoring the underlying principles of our Lord’s teaching.
Our tendency is to lie back and bask in the memory of the wonderful experience we had when God revealed His will to us. But if a New Testament standard is revealed to us by the light of God, and we don’t try to measure up, or even feel inclined to do so, then we begin to backslide. It means your conscience does not respond to the truth. You can never be the same after the unveiling of a truth. That moment marks you as one who either continues on with even more devotion as a disciple of Jesus Christ, or as one who turns to go back as a deserter.
逃兵還是門徒？
從此他門徒中多有退去的，不再和他同行。 （約六66）
神藉聖靈透過他的話語，現實他的心意，使你心靈興奮萬分；但你若不行在這異象的光中，就沉淪在努力的狀態中，受制於一種不屬於主的觀點。你若心裡不服從天上來的異象，就必服役於主耶穌以外的觀點。不要指著別人說：[看哪，他持那些觀點，仍然順利亨通，我為什麼不可以？ ]你要行在異象的光中，不要與人比較，或判斷別人，那是他與神之間的事。你若發現自己所喜悅的觀點，與天上來的異象相違，你為此爭辯，漸漸裡面就會產生一種擁有感和個人權利感，這些都是主耶穌所棄絕的。他反對這些，因為這一切是叫人離開神的根源。 [人的生命不在乎家道豐富。 ]我們不體會這一點，是因為我們漠視主基本的教訓。
我們很容易回想過往美妙的經歷。可是，神的光若向你顯示一個標準，而你未能達到，或不想達到，那你就開始退後了，因為這表示你的良心對真理並未作出回應。真理一旦開啟，便再也無法依然故我。那一刻就決定你是向前做主的真門徒，還是退後做逃兵。
祈禱◆主啊，願我們四周的每一寸空間，今天都被你所充滿。願你引導的手，適當而奇妙地掌管一切；願你將我們舉起，進入你奇妙的計劃中，並且使我們不至衝動鹵莽。
December 28, 2012
Continuous Conversion
. . . unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven —Matthew 18:3
These words of our Lord refer to our initial conversion, but we should continue to turn to God as children, being continuously converted every day of our lives. If we trust in our own abilities, instead of God’s, we produce consequences for which God will hold us responsible. When God through His sovereignty brings us into new situations, we should immediately make sure that our natural life submits to the spiritual, obeying the orders of the Spirit of God. Just because we have responded properly in the past is no guarantee that we will do so again. The response of the natural to the spiritual should be continuous conversion, but this is where we so often refuse to be obedient. No matter what our situation is, the Spirit of God remains unchanged and His salvation unaltered. But we must “put on the new man . . .” (Ephesians 4:24). God holds us accountable every time we refuse to convert ourselves, and He sees our refusal as willful disobedience. Our natural life must not rule— God must rule in us.
To refuse to be continuously converted puts a stumbling block in the growth of our spiritual life. There are areas of self-will in our lives where our pride pours contempt on the throne of God and says, “I won’t submit.” We deify our independence and self-will and call them by the wrong name. What God sees as stubborn weakness, we call strength. There are whole areas of our lives that have not yet been brought into submission, and this can only be done by this continuous conversion. Slowly but surely we can claim the whole territory for the Spirit of God.
不斷迴轉
你們若不迴轉，變成小孩子的樣式……（太十八3）
這話不但在我們初信之時十分真確，就是在我們生命的每一天，也要迴轉，向神作小孩子。我們若信賴自己的頭腦過於神，他就要我們負責後果。我們的身體既在神安排下進入新的境況，就要讓天然生命順服聖靈的指揮。一次成功，並不等於第二次也可以成功。肉體生命與屬靈生命的關係，是不斷的迴轉，這是我們本性所不願的。不管在什麼環境下，神的靈始終不變，神的救恩也不變，但我們要[穿上新人]。我們每次不肯迴轉，神都要我們自己負責，因為我們的拒絕，是出於故意的頑梗。我們不要被肉體的生命管轄，必須讓神掌管。
屬靈生命的阻礙，是不肯經常迴轉悔改，我們用許多頑梗的藉口，在神的寶座前自傲地說：[我不肯。 ]我們尊崇獨立固執，給它們錯誤的稱號。神看作頑梗的軟弱，我們卻稱之為力量。我們生命中還有許多地方未受管治的，這只有靠經常迴轉才可以達成。逐漸地，我們必然被聖靈收復所有失地。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，願我能被你帶進你與我同在的境地，從你的立場觀看事情。今天早上，我要向你的百姓說話，噢，主啊，以你恩慈的靈重新膏立我。
These words of our Lord refer to our initial conversion, but we should continue to turn to God as children, being continuously converted every day of our lives. If we trust in our own abilities, instead of God’s, we produce consequences for which God will hold us responsible. When God through His sovereignty brings us into new situations, we should immediately make sure that our natural life submits to the spiritual, obeying the orders of the Spirit of God. Just because we have responded properly in the past is no guarantee that we will do so again. The response of the natural to the spiritual should be continuous conversion, but this is where we so often refuse to be obedient. No matter what our situation is, the Spirit of God remains unchanged and His salvation unaltered. But we must “put on the new man . . .” (Ephesians 4:24). God holds us accountable every time we refuse to convert ourselves, and He sees our refusal as willful disobedience. Our natural life must not rule— God must rule in us.
To refuse to be continuously converted puts a stumbling block in the growth of our spiritual life. There are areas of self-will in our lives where our pride pours contempt on the throne of God and says, “I won’t submit.” We deify our independence and self-will and call them by the wrong name. What God sees as stubborn weakness, we call strength. There are whole areas of our lives that have not yet been brought into submission, and this can only be done by this continuous conversion. Slowly but surely we can claim the whole territory for the Spirit of God.
不斷迴轉
你們若不迴轉，變成小孩子的樣式……（太十八3）
這話不但在我們初信之時十分真確，就是在我們生命的每一天，也要迴轉，向神作小孩子。我們若信賴自己的頭腦過於神，他就要我們負責後果。我們的身體既在神安排下進入新的境況，就要讓天然生命順服聖靈的指揮。一次成功，並不等於第二次也可以成功。肉體生命與屬靈生命的關係，是不斷的迴轉，這是我們本性所不願的。不管在什麼環境下，神的靈始終不變，神的救恩也不變，但我們要[穿上新人]。我們每次不肯迴轉，神都要我們自己負責，因為我們的拒絕，是出於故意的頑梗。我們不要被肉體的生命管轄，必須讓神掌管。
屬靈生命的阻礙，是不肯經常迴轉悔改，我們用許多頑梗的藉口，在神的寶座前自傲地說：[我不肯。 ]我們尊崇獨立固執，給它們錯誤的稱號。神看作頑梗的軟弱，我們卻稱之為力量。我們生命中還有許多地方未受管治的，這只有靠經常迴轉才可以達成。逐漸地，我們必然被聖靈收復所有失地。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，願我能被你帶進你與我同在的境地，從你的立場觀看事情。今天早上，我要向你的百姓說話，噢，主啊，以你恩慈的靈重新膏立我。
December 19, 2012
The Focus Of Our Message
I did not come to bring peace but a sword —Matthew 10:34
Never be sympathetic with a person whose situation causes you to conclude that God is dealing harshly with him. God can be more tender than we can conceive, and every once in a while He gives us the opportunity to deal firmly with someone so that He may be viewed as the tender One. If a person cannot go to God, it is because he has something secret which he does not intend to give up— he may admit his sin, but would no more give up that thing than he could fly under his own power. It is impossible to deal sympathetically with people like that. We must reach down deep in their lives to the root of the problem, which will cause hostility and resentment toward the message. People want the blessing of God, but they can’t stand something that pierces right through to the heart of the matter.
If you are sensitive to God’s way, your message as His servant will be merciless and insistent, cutting to the very root. Otherwise, there will be no healing. We must drive the message home so forcefully that a person cannot possibly hide, but must apply its truth. Deal with people where they are, until they begin to realize their true need. Then hold high the standard of Jesus for their lives. Their response may be, “We can never be that.” Then drive it home with, “Jesus Christ says you must.” “But how can we be?” “You can’t, unless you have a new Spirit” (see Luke 11:13).
There must be a sense of need created before your message is of any use. Thousands of people in this world profess to be happy without God. But if we could be truly happy and moral without Jesus, then why did He come? He came because that kind of happiness and peace is only superficial. Jesus Christ came to “bring . . . a sword” through every kind of peace that is not based on a personal relationship with Himself.
注意什麼？
我來，並不是叫地上太平，乃是叫地上動刀兵。 （太十34）
若有人的遭遇令你覺得神是冷酷無情的，不要對這人表示同情。神比想像中更柔和，他有時讓我們經歷艱難，是為我們的好處。人若不能通達主前，是由於他藏著不肯放下的東西－－[我承認有錯，但我不打算放棄它。 ]對這樣的人是不需要同情的：即使他們憎惡敵擋我們的信息，也要直斥其非。人都愛神的祝福，可是卻不肯接受那些命中要害的東西。
神若是使用你，作他的僕人，你的信息就該不通融遷就，直指問題根源，否則人就得不著醫治。把信息清楚傳明，使人無可諱避。先從人的本相著手，直到他們發現自己的缺欠，然後舉出主耶穌的榜樣：[我們永遠也不能像耶穌一樣！ ]你就立即說：[耶穌基督說你必須如此。 ][我們怎能如此？ ][你不能，除非你有了更新的聖靈。 ]（路十一13）
先要喚起人的需要，你的信息才派用場。世上千萬人沒有神，生活依然快活。我在耶穌未來以先，原是快活的，道德也不差，他來到底做什麼？原來那種快樂平安是建築在錯誤的水平上；耶穌基督來，就是要用刀劍刺透一切不是建基於與他個人關係的平安。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，今天我來到你的面前，願你的美善、恩典和充滿安慰的平安臨到我。願沒有任何風暴、不適或焦慮，觸動你在我生命中和在此處的平安。
Never be sympathetic with a person whose situation causes you to conclude that God is dealing harshly with him. God can be more tender than we can conceive, and every once in a while He gives us the opportunity to deal firmly with someone so that He may be viewed as the tender One. If a person cannot go to God, it is because he has something secret which he does not intend to give up— he may admit his sin, but would no more give up that thing than he could fly under his own power. It is impossible to deal sympathetically with people like that. We must reach down deep in their lives to the root of the problem, which will cause hostility and resentment toward the message. People want the blessing of God, but they can’t stand something that pierces right through to the heart of the matter.
If you are sensitive to God’s way, your message as His servant will be merciless and insistent, cutting to the very root. Otherwise, there will be no healing. We must drive the message home so forcefully that a person cannot possibly hide, but must apply its truth. Deal with people where they are, until they begin to realize their true need. Then hold high the standard of Jesus for their lives. Their response may be, “We can never be that.” Then drive it home with, “Jesus Christ says you must.” “But how can we be?” “You can’t, unless you have a new Spirit” (see Luke 11:13).
There must be a sense of need created before your message is of any use. Thousands of people in this world profess to be happy without God. But if we could be truly happy and moral without Jesus, then why did He come? He came because that kind of happiness and peace is only superficial. Jesus Christ came to “bring . . . a sword” through every kind of peace that is not based on a personal relationship with Himself.
注意什麼？
我來，並不是叫地上太平，乃是叫地上動刀兵。 （太十34）
若有人的遭遇令你覺得神是冷酷無情的，不要對這人表示同情。神比想像中更柔和，他有時讓我們經歷艱難，是為我們的好處。人若不能通達主前，是由於他藏著不肯放下的東西－－[我承認有錯，但我不打算放棄它。 ]對這樣的人是不需要同情的：即使他們憎惡敵擋我們的信息，也要直斥其非。人都愛神的祝福，可是卻不肯接受那些命中要害的東西。
神若是使用你，作他的僕人，你的信息就該不通融遷就，直指問題根源，否則人就得不著醫治。把信息清楚傳明，使人無可諱避。先從人的本相著手，直到他們發現自己的缺欠，然後舉出主耶穌的榜樣：[我們永遠也不能像耶穌一樣！ ]你就立即說：[耶穌基督說你必須如此。 ][我們怎能如此？ ][你不能，除非你有了更新的聖靈。 ]（路十一13）
先要喚起人的需要，你的信息才派用場。世上千萬人沒有神，生活依然快活。我在耶穌未來以先，原是快活的，道德也不差，他來到底做什麼？原來那種快樂平安是建築在錯誤的水平上；耶穌基督來，就是要用刀劍刺透一切不是建基於與他個人關係的平安。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，今天我來到你的面前，願你的美善、恩典和充滿安慰的平安臨到我。願沒有任何風暴、不適或焦慮，觸動你在我生命中和在此處的平安。
December 18, 2012
Test of Faithfulness
We know that all things work together for good to those who love God . . . —Romans 8:28
It is only a faithful person who truly believes that God sovereignly controls his circumstances. We take our circumstances for granted, saying God is in control, but not really believing it. We act as if the things that happen were completely controlled by people. To be faithful in every circumstance means that we have only one loyalty, or object of our faith— the Lord Jesus Christ. God may cause our circumstances to suddenly fall apart, which may bring the realization of our unfaithfulness to Him for not recognizing that He had ordained the situation. We never saw what He was trying to accomplish, and that exact event will never be repeated in our life. This is where the test of our faithfulness comes. If we will just learn to worship God even during the difficult circumstances, He will change them for the better very quickly if He so chooses.
Being faithful to Jesus Christ is the most difficult thing we try to do today. We will be faithful to our work, to serving others, or to anything else; just don’t ask us to be faithful to Jesus Christ. Many Christians become very impatient when we talk about faithfulness to Jesus. Our Lord is dethroned more deliberately by Christian workers than by the world. We treat God as if He were a machine designed only to bless us, and we think of Jesus as just another one of the workers.
The goal of faithfulness is not that we will do work for God, but that He will be free to do His work through us. God calls us to His service and places tremendous responsibilities on us. He expects no complaining on our part and offers no explanation on His part. God wants to use us as He used His own Son.
忠心的考驗
我們曉得萬事都互相效力，叫愛神的人得益處。 （羅八28）
只有忠心耿耿的人，才相信神安排環境。我們往往過於隨便，不相信自己的境遇是神所安排；口頭上雖然說相信，但當事情發生，往往視作人的作為。在任何情況下忠心，是指只有一個忠心的對象，就是我們的主。神若忽然改變某一個環境，我們就發現自己的不忠，因為沒有看出這是出於神。我們根本看不出他的用意，而那件事我們的一生中也不會再重演。忠心的考驗都是在那刻臨到的。我們若學會在苦痛的環境中敬拜他，神願意的話，可以在兩秒鐘內把環境扭轉。
向耶穌基督效忠，是我們今日抗拒的事。我們可以忠於工作、事奉、或任何事情，但別叫我們效忠耶穌基督。不少信徒對效忠基督感到不耐煩。信主的人把主從寶座上推下來，比世界的人更甚。神成為一幅祝福人的機器，耶穌基督成為工人中的工人。重點不是在我們為神工作，而是在我們完全效忠，以致他能透過我作工－－[我寄望於你的，是要你全力事奉，不發怨言，不求解釋。 ]神要用我們，像他用他兒子一樣。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，願你今天的臉光光照我們，使我們都以極大的甜蜜和自由來配合你的計劃，並且活潑輕快地與你一起走過。
It is only a faithful person who truly believes that God sovereignly controls his circumstances. We take our circumstances for granted, saying God is in control, but not really believing it. We act as if the things that happen were completely controlled by people. To be faithful in every circumstance means that we have only one loyalty, or object of our faith— the Lord Jesus Christ. God may cause our circumstances to suddenly fall apart, which may bring the realization of our unfaithfulness to Him for not recognizing that He had ordained the situation. We never saw what He was trying to accomplish, and that exact event will never be repeated in our life. This is where the test of our faithfulness comes. If we will just learn to worship God even during the difficult circumstances, He will change them for the better very quickly if He so chooses.
Being faithful to Jesus Christ is the most difficult thing we try to do today. We will be faithful to our work, to serving others, or to anything else; just don’t ask us to be faithful to Jesus Christ. Many Christians become very impatient when we talk about faithfulness to Jesus. Our Lord is dethroned more deliberately by Christian workers than by the world. We treat God as if He were a machine designed only to bless us, and we think of Jesus as just another one of the workers.
The goal of faithfulness is not that we will do work for God, but that He will be free to do His work through us. God calls us to His service and places tremendous responsibilities on us. He expects no complaining on our part and offers no explanation on His part. God wants to use us as He used His own Son.
忠心的考驗
我們曉得萬事都互相效力，叫愛神的人得益處。 （羅八28）
只有忠心耿耿的人，才相信神安排環境。我們往往過於隨便，不相信自己的境遇是神所安排；口頭上雖然說相信，但當事情發生，往往視作人的作為。在任何情況下忠心，是指只有一個忠心的對象，就是我們的主。神若忽然改變某一個環境，我們就發現自己的不忠，因為沒有看出這是出於神。我們根本看不出他的用意，而那件事我們的一生中也不會再重演。忠心的考驗都是在那刻臨到的。我們若學會在苦痛的環境中敬拜他，神願意的話，可以在兩秒鐘內把環境扭轉。
向耶穌基督效忠，是我們今日抗拒的事。我們可以忠於工作、事奉、或任何事情，但別叫我們效忠耶穌基督。不少信徒對效忠基督感到不耐煩。信主的人把主從寶座上推下來，比世界的人更甚。神成為一幅祝福人的機器，耶穌基督成為工人中的工人。重點不是在我們為神工作，而是在我們完全效忠，以致他能透過我作工－－[我寄望於你的，是要你全力事奉，不發怨言，不求解釋。 ]神要用我們，像他用他兒子一樣。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，願你今天的臉光光照我們，使我們都以極大的甜蜜和自由來配合你的計劃，並且活潑輕快地與你一起走過。
December 14, 2012
The Great Life
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled . . . —John 14:27
Whenever we experience something difficult in our personal life, we are tempted to blame God. But we are the ones in the wrong, not God. Blaming God is evidence that we are refusing to let go of some disobedience somewhere in our lives. But as soon as we let go, everything becomes as clear as daylight to us. As long as we try to serve two masters, ourselves and God, there will be difficulties combined with doubt and confusion. Our attitude must be one of complete reliance on God. Once we get to that point, there is nothing easier than living the life of a saint. We encounter difficulties when we try to usurp the authority of the Holy Spirit for our own purposes.
God’s mark of approval, whenever you obey Him, is peace. He sends an immeasurable, deep peace; not a natural peace, “as the world gives,” but the peace of Jesus. Whenever peace does not come, wait until it does, or seek to find out why it is not coming. If you are acting on your own impulse, or out of a sense of the heroic, to be seen by others, the peace of Jesus will not exhibit itself. This shows no unity with God or confidence in Him. The spirit of simplicity, clarity, and unity is born through the Holy Spirit, not through your decisions. God counters our self-willed decisions with an appeal for simplicity and unity.
My questions arise whenever I cease to obey. When I do obey God, problems come, not between me and God, but as a means to keep my mind examining with amazement the revealed truth of God. But any problem that comes between God and myself is the result of disobedience. Any problem that comes while I obey God (and there will be many), increases my overjoyed delight, because I know that my Father knows and cares, and I can watch and anticipate how He will unravel my problems.
偉大的生命
我留下平安給你們，我將我的平安賜給你們……你們心裡不要憂愁……（約十四27）
個人經歷若有什麼難過的事，我們很容易會怪責神；但出錯的實在不是神，而是我們。我們必定有什麼執著不肯放手，一旦肯放手，一切就必晴朗如白晝。若我們要同時事奉神，又事奉自己，就必產生困惑。我們必須對神抱完全信賴的態度，這樣，過成聖生活就輕而易舉了。有難處是因我們侵奪聖靈的主權，欲達成自己的目的。
你什麼時候順服神，他的印證就是平安。那無比的平安，不是天然的，乃是主耶穌的平安。若平安不來，就要等候直至得著，或找出沒有平安的因由。若你行事是出於衝動，或英雄氣概，主的平安就不會印證；因為其中沒有對神的單純與信心。單純的靈是從聖靈而生的，不是出於你的決定，每一個決定，都帶來反作用，以致失掉單純。
我一不順服，問題就來了。我若順服，問題就不會出於我與神之間，而只會挑旺我的心，叫我稀奇神啟示的奇妙。神與我之間任何的問題，都是出於順服。反之，若許多的問題在我順服神的當兒出現，只會增加我驚喜的欣愉，因為天父是明察的，我將可細察他怎樣解決這些問題。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我投向你。我原本是一個無家可歸的人，直至你以你平安的穩妥、你慈愛的甜蜜感覺感動我，我的生命才產生改變。
Whenever we experience something difficult in our personal life, we are tempted to blame God. But we are the ones in the wrong, not God. Blaming God is evidence that we are refusing to let go of some disobedience somewhere in our lives. But as soon as we let go, everything becomes as clear as daylight to us. As long as we try to serve two masters, ourselves and God, there will be difficulties combined with doubt and confusion. Our attitude must be one of complete reliance on God. Once we get to that point, there is nothing easier than living the life of a saint. We encounter difficulties when we try to usurp the authority of the Holy Spirit for our own purposes.
God’s mark of approval, whenever you obey Him, is peace. He sends an immeasurable, deep peace; not a natural peace, “as the world gives,” but the peace of Jesus. Whenever peace does not come, wait until it does, or seek to find out why it is not coming. If you are acting on your own impulse, or out of a sense of the heroic, to be seen by others, the peace of Jesus will not exhibit itself. This shows no unity with God or confidence in Him. The spirit of simplicity, clarity, and unity is born through the Holy Spirit, not through your decisions. God counters our self-willed decisions with an appeal for simplicity and unity.
My questions arise whenever I cease to obey. When I do obey God, problems come, not between me and God, but as a means to keep my mind examining with amazement the revealed truth of God. But any problem that comes between God and myself is the result of disobedience. Any problem that comes while I obey God (and there will be many), increases my overjoyed delight, because I know that my Father knows and cares, and I can watch and anticipate how He will unravel my problems.
偉大的生命
我留下平安給你們，我將我的平安賜給你們……你們心裡不要憂愁……（約十四27）
個人經歷若有什麼難過的事，我們很容易會怪責神；但出錯的實在不是神，而是我們。我們必定有什麼執著不肯放手，一旦肯放手，一切就必晴朗如白晝。若我們要同時事奉神，又事奉自己，就必產生困惑。我們必須對神抱完全信賴的態度，這樣，過成聖生活就輕而易舉了。有難處是因我們侵奪聖靈的主權，欲達成自己的目的。
你什麼時候順服神，他的印證就是平安。那無比的平安，不是天然的，乃是主耶穌的平安。若平安不來，就要等候直至得著，或找出沒有平安的因由。若你行事是出於衝動，或英雄氣概，主的平安就不會印證；因為其中沒有對神的單純與信心。單純的靈是從聖靈而生的，不是出於你的決定，每一個決定，都帶來反作用，以致失掉單純。
我一不順服，問題就來了。我若順服，問題就不會出於我與神之間，而只會挑旺我的心，叫我稀奇神啟示的奇妙。神與我之間任何的問題，都是出於順服。反之，若許多的問題在我順服神的當兒出現，只會增加我驚喜的欣愉，因為天父是明察的，我將可細察他怎樣解決這些問題。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我投向你。我原本是一個無家可歸的人，直至你以你平安的穩妥、你慈愛的甜蜜感覺感動我，我的生命才產生改變。
December 12, 2012
Personality
. . . that they may be one just as We are one . . . —John 17:22
Personality is the unique, limitless part of our life that makes us distinct from everyone else. It is too vast for us even to comprehend. An island in the sea may be just the top of a large mountain, and our personality is like that island. We don’t know the great depths of our being, therefore we cannot measure ourselves. We start out thinking we can, but soon realize that there is really only one Being who fully understands us, and that is our Creator.
Personality is the characteristic mark of the inner, spiritual man, just as individuality is the characteristic of the outer, natural man. Our Lord can never be described in terms of individuality and independence, but only in terms of His total Person— “I and My Father are one” (John 10:30). Personality merges, and you only reach your true identity once you are merged with another person. When love or the Spirit of God come upon a person, he is transformed. He will then no longer insist on maintaining his individuality. Our Lord never referred to a person’s individuality or his isolated position, but spoke in terms of the total person— “. . . that they may be one just as We are one . . . .” Once your rights to yourself are surrendered to God, your true personal nature begins responding to God immediately. Jesus Christ brings freedom to your total person, and even your individuality is transformed. The transformation is brought about by love— personal devotion to Jesus. Love is the overflowing result of one person in true fellowship with another.
性格
使他們合而為一，像我們合而為一。 （約十七22）
性格就是指我們與別人不同的特質，是獨特的，難以估量的，就連我們自己也往往不盡了解。海上的小島，往往是大山頂尖。性格就如小島，至於底下的奧秘，我們一無所知，因此便無法衡量自己。我們自以為自知，但最終才知道只有一位明白我們，就是造我們的神。性格是屬靈生命的特質，正如個性是天然生命的特質。我們只能以性格，而斷不能以個別性和獨立性來說明主的身份。 [我與父原為一。 ]性格是可以融合的，只有當你與別人融合，才顯出你真正身份。當愛或是神的靈激動一個人，他就會改變，不再堅持自己分隔的個別性。主從不按個性，也就是人與人隔離的身份說話，他只提到性格－－[使他們合而為一，像我們合而為一]。你若把自己的主權放棄給神，你性格的真本質就立刻像神呼應。耶穌基督把人的性格釋放了，而人的個性也隨之改變。改變的元素是愛，就是個人對主耶穌的忠誠。愛是人格的傾出，與另一個人格相通契合。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，這是你的日子，我祈求你以你那極大的恩福施恩給我。能夠靠近你是何等的奇妙！
Personality is the unique, limitless part of our life that makes us distinct from everyone else. It is too vast for us even to comprehend. An island in the sea may be just the top of a large mountain, and our personality is like that island. We don’t know the great depths of our being, therefore we cannot measure ourselves. We start out thinking we can, but soon realize that there is really only one Being who fully understands us, and that is our Creator.
Personality is the characteristic mark of the inner, spiritual man, just as individuality is the characteristic of the outer, natural man. Our Lord can never be described in terms of individuality and independence, but only in terms of His total Person— “I and My Father are one” (John 10:30). Personality merges, and you only reach your true identity once you are merged with another person. When love or the Spirit of God come upon a person, he is transformed. He will then no longer insist on maintaining his individuality. Our Lord never referred to a person’s individuality or his isolated position, but spoke in terms of the total person— “. . . that they may be one just as We are one . . . .” Once your rights to yourself are surrendered to God, your true personal nature begins responding to God immediately. Jesus Christ brings freedom to your total person, and even your individuality is transformed. The transformation is brought about by love— personal devotion to Jesus. Love is the overflowing result of one person in true fellowship with another.
性格
使他們合而為一，像我們合而為一。 （約十七22）
性格就是指我們與別人不同的特質，是獨特的，難以估量的，就連我們自己也往往不盡了解。海上的小島，往往是大山頂尖。性格就如小島，至於底下的奧秘，我們一無所知，因此便無法衡量自己。我們自以為自知，但最終才知道只有一位明白我們，就是造我們的神。性格是屬靈生命的特質，正如個性是天然生命的特質。我們只能以性格，而斷不能以個別性和獨立性來說明主的身份。 [我與父原為一。 ]性格是可以融合的，只有當你與別人融合，才顯出你真正身份。當愛或是神的靈激動一個人，他就會改變，不再堅持自己分隔的個別性。主從不按個性，也就是人與人隔離的身份說話，他只提到性格－－[使他們合而為一，像我們合而為一]。你若把自己的主權放棄給神，你性格的真本質就立刻像神呼應。耶穌基督把人的性格釋放了，而人的個性也隨之改變。改變的元素是愛，就是個人對主耶穌的忠誠。愛是人格的傾出，與另一個人格相通契合。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，這是你的日子，我祈求你以你那極大的恩福施恩給我。能夠靠近你是何等的奇妙！
December 07, 2012
Repentance
Godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation . . . —2 Corinthians 7:10
Conviction of sin is best described in the words:
My sins, my sins, my Savior,
How sad on Thee they fall.
Conviction of sin is one of the most uncommon things that ever happens to a person. It is the beginning of an understanding of God. Jesus Christ said that when the Holy Spirit came He would convict people of sin (see John 16:8). And when the Holy Spirit stirs a person’s conscience and brings him into the presence of God, it is not that person’s relationship with others that bothers him but his relationship with God— “Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in your sight . . .” (Psalm 51:4). The wonders of conviction of sin, forgiveness, and holiness are so interwoven that it is only the forgiven person who is truly holy. He proves he is forgiven by being the opposite of what he was previously, by the grace of God. Repentance always brings a person to the point of saying, “I have sinned.” The surest sign that God is at work in his life is when he says that and means it. Anything less is simply sorrow for having made foolish mistakes— a reflex action caused by self-disgust.
The entrance into the kingdom of God is through the sharp, sudden pains of repentance colliding with man’s respectable “goodness.” Then the Holy Spirit, who produces these struggles, begins the formation of the Son of God in the person’s life (see Galatians 4:19). This new life will reveal itself in conscious repentance followed by unconscious holiness, never the other way around. The foundation of Christianity is repentance. Strictly speaking, a person cannot repent when he chooses— repentance is a gift of God. The old Puritans used to pray for “the gift of tears.” If you ever cease to understand the value of repentance, you allow yourself to remain in sin. Examine yourself to see if you have forgotten how to be truly repentant.
悔改
依著神的意思憂愁，就生出沒有後悔的懊悔來，以致得救。 （林後七10）
對罪的自責，哲學話說的最貼切：[我的罪，我的罪啊，落在你身上，我的救主，多悲痛！ ]認罪是一個人最罕有的打擊，那是認識神的門檻。耶穌基督說聖靈來，是叫人為罪自責；當聖靈喚醒人的良心，叫他面對神的時候，使他不安的，不是與人的關係，而是與神的關係－－[我向你犯罪，惟獨得罪了你，在你眼前行了這惡。 ]認罪、赦免和聖潔三者奇妙的交織著，只有蒙赦罪的人，才成為聖潔。他蒙赦免的證據，是因著神的恩典，以致前後判若兩人。悔改總叫人承認：[我犯了罪。 ]一個人肯這樣忠心表示，就是神作工的最大明證。若非這樣，那就只不過是因犯錯事而勝的懊悔，是鄙屑自己的一種反射作用罷了。
進入神的過度，是藉著悔改的苦痛，刺透人自以為是的高貴良善；然後聖靈來了，在人裡面開始創造神兒子的生命。新生命的表彰，是明明的悔改，與不知不覺的成聖，絕不會有相反表現的。基督信仰的基石是悔改。嚴格來說，人無法自己悔改，悔改是神的禮物。古代清教徒就常求[眼淚的恩賜]。所以什麼時候你不再覺得悔改的好處，就是在黑暗裡了。試省察自己，是否已忘記了怎樣知錯。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，藉著你的聖靈和恩典，我的內心產生和孕育了極大的渴望－－願我能適當地讚美你。
Conviction of sin is best described in the words:
My sins, my sins, my Savior,
How sad on Thee they fall.
Conviction of sin is one of the most uncommon things that ever happens to a person. It is the beginning of an understanding of God. Jesus Christ said that when the Holy Spirit came He would convict people of sin (see John 16:8). And when the Holy Spirit stirs a person’s conscience and brings him into the presence of God, it is not that person’s relationship with others that bothers him but his relationship with God— “Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in your sight . . .” (Psalm 51:4). The wonders of conviction of sin, forgiveness, and holiness are so interwoven that it is only the forgiven person who is truly holy. He proves he is forgiven by being the opposite of what he was previously, by the grace of God. Repentance always brings a person to the point of saying, “I have sinned.” The surest sign that God is at work in his life is when he says that and means it. Anything less is simply sorrow for having made foolish mistakes— a reflex action caused by self-disgust.
The entrance into the kingdom of God is through the sharp, sudden pains of repentance colliding with man’s respectable “goodness.” Then the Holy Spirit, who produces these struggles, begins the formation of the Son of God in the person’s life (see Galatians 4:19). This new life will reveal itself in conscious repentance followed by unconscious holiness, never the other way around. The foundation of Christianity is repentance. Strictly speaking, a person cannot repent when he chooses— repentance is a gift of God. The old Puritans used to pray for “the gift of tears.” If you ever cease to understand the value of repentance, you allow yourself to remain in sin. Examine yourself to see if you have forgotten how to be truly repentant.
悔改
依著神的意思憂愁，就生出沒有後悔的懊悔來，以致得救。 （林後七10）
對罪的自責，哲學話說的最貼切：[我的罪，我的罪啊，落在你身上，我的救主，多悲痛！ ]認罪是一個人最罕有的打擊，那是認識神的門檻。耶穌基督說聖靈來，是叫人為罪自責；當聖靈喚醒人的良心，叫他面對神的時候，使他不安的，不是與人的關係，而是與神的關係－－[我向你犯罪，惟獨得罪了你，在你眼前行了這惡。 ]認罪、赦免和聖潔三者奇妙的交織著，只有蒙赦罪的人，才成為聖潔。他蒙赦免的證據，是因著神的恩典，以致前後判若兩人。悔改總叫人承認：[我犯了罪。 ]一個人肯這樣忠心表示，就是神作工的最大明證。若非這樣，那就只不過是因犯錯事而勝的懊悔，是鄙屑自己的一種反射作用罷了。
進入神的過度，是藉著悔改的苦痛，刺透人自以為是的高貴良善；然後聖靈來了，在人裡面開始創造神兒子的生命。新生命的表彰，是明明的悔改，與不知不覺的成聖，絕不會有相反表現的。基督信仰的基石是悔改。嚴格來說，人無法自己悔改，悔改是神的禮物。古代清教徒就常求[眼淚的恩賜]。所以什麼時候你不再覺得悔改的好處，就是在黑暗裡了。試省察自己，是否已忘記了怎樣知錯。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，藉著你的聖靈和恩典，我的內心產生和孕育了極大的渴望－－願我能適當地讚美你。
December 05, 2012
“The Temple of the Holy Spirit”
. . . only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you —Genesis 41:40
I am accountable to God for the way I control my body under His authority. Paul said he did not “set aside the grace of God”— make it ineffective (Galatians 2:21). The grace of God is absolute and limitless, and the work of salvation through Jesus is complete and finished forever. I am not being saved— I am saved. Salvation is as eternal as God’s throne, but I must put to work or use what God has placed within me. To “work out [my] own salvation” (Philippians 2:12) means that I am responsible for using what He has given me. It also means that I must exhibit in my own body the life of the Lord Jesus, not mysteriously or secretly, but openly and boldly. “I discipline my body and bring it into subjection . . .” (1 Corinthians 9:27). Every Christian can have his body under absolute control for God. God has given us the responsibility to rule over all “the temple of the Holy Spirit,” including our thoughts and desires (1 Corinthians 6:19). We are responsible for these, and we must never give way to improper ones. But most of us are much more severe in our judgment of others than we are in judging ourselves. We make excuses for things in ourselves, while we condemn things in the lives of others simply because we are not naturally inclined to do them.
Paul said, “I beseech you . . . that you present your bodies a living sacrifice . . .” (Romans 12:1). What I must decide is whether or not I will agree with my Lord and Master that my body will indeed be His temple. Once I agree, all the rules, regulations, and requirements of the law concerning the body are summed up for me in this revealed truth-my body is “the temple of the Holy Spirit.”
聖靈的殿
惟獨在寶座上，我比你大。 （創四十一40）
在神的主權下，我必須向神交代怎樣管理自己的身體。保羅說他不能徒受神的恩典，就是把神的恩典當作無用的。神的恩典是絕對的，耶穌的救恩是完全的，是永遠有功效的。我不是在蒙拯救中，乃是已經得救。救恩正如神的寶座一樣永恆不改；我要作的，是把神放進我裡面的活出來。 [作成你們得救的功夫]是我的責任，意思是我要明明的，著力的，而不是隱秘的，以我的身子活出主耶穌的生命。 [我是攻克己身，叫身服我。 ]每一聖徒都當把身體服在神絕對的管治下。神要我們管理整個聖靈的殿，管理自己的幻想和情感。為此我們要負責任，絕不可放任感情。我們往往嚴於責人，寬於恕己；為自己製造許多藉口，卻定別人的罪，因為那些事是我們自己天性不喜好的。
保羅說：[我以神的慈悲勸你們，將身體獻上，當作活祭。 ]決定的因素在於：[我同意以我的身體作神的殿麼？ ]若然，那我整個身體的律就總括在這個啟示裡；我的身體是聖靈的殿。
祈禱◆主啊，我肉身的生命若沒有了你，是何等暗晦，冷漠和憂鬱；求你以你神性的生命，來充滿我。
I am accountable to God for the way I control my body under His authority. Paul said he did not “set aside the grace of God”— make it ineffective (Galatians 2:21). The grace of God is absolute and limitless, and the work of salvation through Jesus is complete and finished forever. I am not being saved— I am saved. Salvation is as eternal as God’s throne, but I must put to work or use what God has placed within me. To “work out [my] own salvation” (Philippians 2:12) means that I am responsible for using what He has given me. It also means that I must exhibit in my own body the life of the Lord Jesus, not mysteriously or secretly, but openly and boldly. “I discipline my body and bring it into subjection . . .” (1 Corinthians 9:27). Every Christian can have his body under absolute control for God. God has given us the responsibility to rule over all “the temple of the Holy Spirit,” including our thoughts and desires (1 Corinthians 6:19). We are responsible for these, and we must never give way to improper ones. But most of us are much more severe in our judgment of others than we are in judging ourselves. We make excuses for things in ourselves, while we condemn things in the lives of others simply because we are not naturally inclined to do them.
Paul said, “I beseech you . . . that you present your bodies a living sacrifice . . .” (Romans 12:1). What I must decide is whether or not I will agree with my Lord and Master that my body will indeed be His temple. Once I agree, all the rules, regulations, and requirements of the law concerning the body are summed up for me in this revealed truth-my body is “the temple of the Holy Spirit.”
聖靈的殿
惟獨在寶座上，我比你大。 （創四十一40）
在神的主權下，我必須向神交代怎樣管理自己的身體。保羅說他不能徒受神的恩典，就是把神的恩典當作無用的。神的恩典是絕對的，耶穌的救恩是完全的，是永遠有功效的。我不是在蒙拯救中，乃是已經得救。救恩正如神的寶座一樣永恆不改；我要作的，是把神放進我裡面的活出來。 [作成你們得救的功夫]是我的責任，意思是我要明明的，著力的，而不是隱秘的，以我的身子活出主耶穌的生命。 [我是攻克己身，叫身服我。 ]每一聖徒都當把身體服在神絕對的管治下。神要我們管理整個聖靈的殿，管理自己的幻想和情感。為此我們要負責任，絕不可放任感情。我們往往嚴於責人，寬於恕己；為自己製造許多藉口，卻定別人的罪，因為那些事是我們自己天性不喜好的。
保羅說：[我以神的慈悲勸你們，將身體獻上，當作活祭。 ]決定的因素在於：[我同意以我的身體作神的殿麼？ ]若然，那我整個身體的律就總括在這個啟示裡；我的身體是聖靈的殿。
祈禱◆主啊，我肉身的生命若沒有了你，是何等暗晦，冷漠和憂鬱；求你以你神性的生命，來充滿我。
December 01, 2012
The Law and the Gospel
Whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all —James 2:10
The moral law does not consider our weaknesses as human beings; in fact, it does not take into account our heredity or infirmities. It simply demands that we be absolutely moral. The moral law never changes, either for the highest of society or for the weakest in the world. It is enduring and eternally the same. The moral law, ordained by God, does not make itself weak to the weak by excusing our shortcomings. It remains absolute for all time and eternity. If we are not aware of this, it is because we are less than alive. Once we do realize it, our life immediately becomes a fatal tragedy. “I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died” (Romans 7:9). The moment we realize this, the Spirit of God convicts us of sin. Until a person gets there and sees that there is no hope, the Cross of Christ remains absurd to him. Conviction of sin always brings a fearful, confining sense of the law. It makes a person hopeless— “. . . sold under sin” (Romans 7:14). I, a guilty sinner, can never work to get right with God— it is impossible. There is only one way by which I can get right with God, and that is through the death of Jesus Christ. I must get rid of the underlying idea that I can ever be right with God because of my obedience. Who of us could ever obey God to absolute perfection!
We only begin to realize the power of the moral law once we see that it comes with a condition and a promise. But God never coerces us. Sometimes we wish He would make us be obedient, and at other times we wish He would leave us alone. Whenever God’s will is in complete control, He removes all pressure. And when we deliberately choose to obey Him, He will reach to the remotest star and to the ends of the earth to assist us with all of His almighty power.
律法與福音
因為凡遵守金法律的，只在一條上跌倒，他就是犯了眾條。 （雅二10)
律法並不因我們是軟弱的人而稍徇情面，它不理會我們有什麼遺傳因素和缺陷，只要求我們絕對道德。律法從不更改，不管你是最高尚還是最軟弱的，它永遠都不改變。神所定的律法，並不遷就人的軟弱，也不因人的缺點而修改，它是永遠絕對的。我們若不領會這一點，是因為我們並未真正活著；一旦活著，生命就成了一個悲劇。 [我以前沒有律法是活著的，但是誡命來到，罪又活了，我就死了。 ]若明白這點，神的靈就叫我們自知有罪。除非人到了自知絕望的地步，否則耶穌基督的十字架不過是一場鬧劇。自覺有罪，叫人對捆綁人的律法產生恐懼，又叫人絕望，因為[被賣給罪]。我，一個污穢的罪人，永無法與神和好，是絕無可能的。只有一個方法可以與神和好，就是藉耶穌基督的死。我必須除掉那潛伏的思想，以為可以因順服得與神和好－－有誰能絕對完全順服神哩！
當律法帶著[假若]而來，我們才體會它勢力之大。神從不勉強我們。我們有時想神逼我們去做，但心情變了時，又想神不要管我們。當神的旨意得勢，就不會有被逼的感覺了。我們若是定志順服他，他就會以無窮的大能，召喚最遠的星，乃最後的一粒沙來幫助我們。
祈禱◆主啊，我完全投向你。願這樣的氣氛充滿我們環繞我們，好叫我們成為湧流活水江河的人。
The moral law does not consider our weaknesses as human beings; in fact, it does not take into account our heredity or infirmities. It simply demands that we be absolutely moral. The moral law never changes, either for the highest of society or for the weakest in the world. It is enduring and eternally the same. The moral law, ordained by God, does not make itself weak to the weak by excusing our shortcomings. It remains absolute for all time and eternity. If we are not aware of this, it is because we are less than alive. Once we do realize it, our life immediately becomes a fatal tragedy. “I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died” (Romans 7:9). The moment we realize this, the Spirit of God convicts us of sin. Until a person gets there and sees that there is no hope, the Cross of Christ remains absurd to him. Conviction of sin always brings a fearful, confining sense of the law. It makes a person hopeless— “. . . sold under sin” (Romans 7:14). I, a guilty sinner, can never work to get right with God— it is impossible. There is only one way by which I can get right with God, and that is through the death of Jesus Christ. I must get rid of the underlying idea that I can ever be right with God because of my obedience. Who of us could ever obey God to absolute perfection!
We only begin to realize the power of the moral law once we see that it comes with a condition and a promise. But God never coerces us. Sometimes we wish He would make us be obedient, and at other times we wish He would leave us alone. Whenever God’s will is in complete control, He removes all pressure. And when we deliberately choose to obey Him, He will reach to the remotest star and to the ends of the earth to assist us with all of His almighty power.
律法與福音
因為凡遵守金法律的，只在一條上跌倒，他就是犯了眾條。 （雅二10)
律法並不因我們是軟弱的人而稍徇情面，它不理會我們有什麼遺傳因素和缺陷，只要求我們絕對道德。律法從不更改，不管你是最高尚還是最軟弱的，它永遠都不改變。神所定的律法，並不遷就人的軟弱，也不因人的缺點而修改，它是永遠絕對的。我們若不領會這一點，是因為我們並未真正活著；一旦活著，生命就成了一個悲劇。 [我以前沒有律法是活著的，但是誡命來到，罪又活了，我就死了。 ]若明白這點，神的靈就叫我們自知有罪。除非人到了自知絕望的地步，否則耶穌基督的十字架不過是一場鬧劇。自覺有罪，叫人對捆綁人的律法產生恐懼，又叫人絕望，因為[被賣給罪]。我，一個污穢的罪人，永無法與神和好，是絕無可能的。只有一個方法可以與神和好，就是藉耶穌基督的死。我必須除掉那潛伏的思想，以為可以因順服得與神和好－－有誰能絕對完全順服神哩！
當律法帶著[假若]而來，我們才體會它勢力之大。神從不勉強我們。我們有時想神逼我們去做，但心情變了時，又想神不要管我們。當神的旨意得勢，就不會有被逼的感覺了。我們若是定志順服他，他就會以無窮的大能，召喚最遠的星，乃最後的一粒沙來幫助我們。
祈禱◆主啊，我完全投向你。願這樣的氣氛充滿我們環繞我們，好叫我們成為湧流活水江河的人。
November 30, 2012
“By the Grace of God I Am What I Am”
By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain . . . —1 Corinthians 15:10
The way we continually talk about our own inabilities is an insult to our Creator. To complain over our incompetence is to accuse God falsely of having overlooked us. Get into the habit of examining from God’s perspective those things that sound so humble to men. You will be amazed at how unbelievably inappropriate and disrespectful they are to Him. We say things such as, “Oh, I shouldn’t claim to be sanctified; I’m not a saint.” But to say that before God means, “No, Lord, it is impossible for You to save and sanctify me; there are opportunities I have not had and so many imperfections in my brain and body; no, Lord, it isn’t possible.” That may sound wonderfully humble to others, but before God it is an attitude of defiance.
Conversely, the things that sound humble before God may sound exactly the opposite to people. To say, “Thank God, I know I am saved and sanctified,” is in God’s eyes the purest expression of humility. It means you have so completely surrendered yourself to God that you know He is true. Never worry about whether what you say sounds humble before others or not. But always be humble before God, and allow Him to be your all in all.
There is only one relationship that really matters, and that is your personal relationship to your personal Redeemer and Lord. If you maintain that at all costs, letting everything else go, God will fulfill His purpose through your life. One individual life may be of priceless value to God’s purposes, and yours may be that life.
The way we continually talk about our own inabilities is an insult to our Creator. To complain over our incompetence is to accuse God falsely of having overlooked us. Get into the habit of examining from God’s perspective those things that sound so humble to men. You will be amazed at how unbelievably inappropriate and disrespectful they are to Him. We say things such as, “Oh, I shouldn’t claim to be sanctified; I’m not a saint.” But to say that before God means, “No, Lord, it is impossible for You to save and sanctify me; there are opportunities I have not had and so many imperfections in my brain and body; no, Lord, it isn’t possible.” That may sound wonderfully humble to others, but before God it is an attitude of defiance.
Conversely, the things that sound humble before God may sound exactly the opposite to people. To say, “Thank God, I know I am saved and sanctified,” is in God’s eyes the purest expression of humility. It means you have so completely surrendered yourself to God that you know He is true. Never worry about whether what you say sounds humble before others or not. But always be humble before God, and allow Him to be your all in all.
There is only one relationship that really matters, and that is your personal relationship to your personal Redeemer and Lord. If you maintain that at all costs, letting everything else go, God will fulfill His purpose through your life. One individual life may be of priceless value to God’s purposes, and yours may be that life.
November 23, 2012
The Distraction of Contempt
Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us! For we are exceedingly filled with contempt —Psalm 123:3
What we must beware of is not damage to our belief in God but damage to our Christian disposition or state of mind. “Take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously” (Malachi 2:16). Our state of mind is powerful in its effects. It can be the enemy that penetrates right into our soul and distracts our mind from God. There are certain attitudes we should never dare to indulge. If we do, we will find they have distracted us from faith in God. Until we get back into a quiet mood before Him, our faith is of no value, and our confidence in the flesh and in human ingenuity is what rules our lives.
Beware of “the cares of this world . . .” (Mark 4:19). They are the very things that produce the wrong attitudes in our soul. It is incredible what enormous power there is in simple things to distract our attention away from God. Refuse to be swamped by “the cares of this world.”
Another thing that distracts us is our passion for vindication. St. Augustine prayed, “O Lord, deliver me from this lust of always vindicating myself.” Such a need for constant vindication destroys our soul’s faith in God. Don’t say, “I must explain myself,” or, “I must get people to understand.” Our Lord never explained anything— He left the misunderstandings or misconceptions of others to correct themselves.
When we discern that other people are not growing spiritually and allow that discernment to turn to criticism, we block our fellowship with God. God never gives us discernment so that we may criticize, but that we may intercede.
What we must beware of is not damage to our belief in God but damage to our Christian disposition or state of mind. “Take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously” (Malachi 2:16). Our state of mind is powerful in its effects. It can be the enemy that penetrates right into our soul and distracts our mind from God. There are certain attitudes we should never dare to indulge. If we do, we will find they have distracted us from faith in God. Until we get back into a quiet mood before Him, our faith is of no value, and our confidence in the flesh and in human ingenuity is what rules our lives.
Beware of “the cares of this world . . .” (Mark 4:19). They are the very things that produce the wrong attitudes in our soul. It is incredible what enormous power there is in simple things to distract our attention away from God. Refuse to be swamped by “the cares of this world.”
Another thing that distracts us is our passion for vindication. St. Augustine prayed, “O Lord, deliver me from this lust of always vindicating myself.” Such a need for constant vindication destroys our soul’s faith in God. Don’t say, “I must explain myself,” or, “I must get people to understand.” Our Lord never explained anything— He left the misunderstandings or misconceptions of others to correct themselves.
When we discern that other people are not growing spiritually and allow that discernment to turn to criticism, we block our fellowship with God. God never gives us discernment so that we may criticize, but that we may intercede.
November 22, 2012
Shallow and Profound
Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God —1 Corinthians 10:31
Beware of allowing yourself to think that the shallow aspects of life are not ordained by God; they are ordained by Him equally as much as the profound. We sometimes refuse to be shallow, not out of our deep devotion to God but because we wish to impress other people with the fact that we are not shallow. This is a sure sign of spiritual pride. We must be careful, for this is how contempt for others is produced in our lives. And it causes us to be a walking rebuke to other people because they are more shallow than we are. Beware of posing as a profound person— God became a baby.
To be shallow is not a sign of being sinful, nor is shallowness an indication that there is no depth to your life at all— the ocean has a shore. Even the shallow things of life, such as eating and drinking, walking and talking, are ordained by God. These are all things our Lord did. He did them as the Son of God, and He said, “A disciple is not above his teacher . . .” (Matthew 10:24).
We are safeguarded by the shallow things of life. We have to live the surface, commonsense life in a commonsense way. Then when God gives us the deeper things, they are obviously separated from the shallow concerns. Never show the depth of your life to anyone but God. We are so nauseatingly serious, so desperately interested in our own character and reputation, we refuse to behave like Christians in the shallow concerns of life.
Make a determination to take no one seriously except God. You may find that the first person you must be the most critical with, as being the greatest fraud you have ever known, is yourself.
Beware of allowing yourself to think that the shallow aspects of life are not ordained by God; they are ordained by Him equally as much as the profound. We sometimes refuse to be shallow, not out of our deep devotion to God but because we wish to impress other people with the fact that we are not shallow. This is a sure sign of spiritual pride. We must be careful, for this is how contempt for others is produced in our lives. And it causes us to be a walking rebuke to other people because they are more shallow than we are. Beware of posing as a profound person— God became a baby.
To be shallow is not a sign of being sinful, nor is shallowness an indication that there is no depth to your life at all— the ocean has a shore. Even the shallow things of life, such as eating and drinking, walking and talking, are ordained by God. These are all things our Lord did. He did them as the Son of God, and He said, “A disciple is not above his teacher . . .” (Matthew 10:24).
We are safeguarded by the shallow things of life. We have to live the surface, commonsense life in a commonsense way. Then when God gives us the deeper things, they are obviously separated from the shallow concerns. Never show the depth of your life to anyone but God. We are so nauseatingly serious, so desperately interested in our own character and reputation, we refuse to behave like Christians in the shallow concerns of life.
Make a determination to take no one seriously except God. You may find that the first person you must be the most critical with, as being the greatest fraud you have ever known, is yourself.
November 20, 2012
The Forgiveness of God
In Him we have . . . the forgiveness of sins . . . —Ephesians 1:7
Beware of the pleasant view of the fatherhood of God: God is so kind and loving that of course He will forgive us. That thought, based solely on emotion, cannot be found anywhere in the New Testament. The only basis on which God can forgive us is the tremendous tragedy of the Cross of Christ. To base our forgiveness on any other ground is unconscious blasphemy. The only ground on which God can forgive our sin and reinstate us to His favor is through the Cross of Christ. There is no other way! Forgiveness, which is so easy for us to accept, cost the agony at Calvary. We should never take the forgiveness of sin, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and our sanctification in simple faith, and then forget the enormous cost to God that made all of this ours.
Forgiveness is the divine miracle of grace. The cost to God was the Cross of Christ. To forgive sin, while remaining a holy God, this price had to be paid. Never accept a view of the fatherhood of God if it blots out the atonement. The revealed truth of God is that without the atonement He cannot forgive— He would contradict His nature if He did. The only way we can be forgiven is by being brought back to God through the atonement of the Cross. God’s forgiveness is possible only in the supernatural realm.
Compared with the miracle of the forgiveness of sin, the experience of sanctification is small. Sanctification is simply the wonderful expression or evidence of the forgiveness of sins in a human life. But the thing that awakens the deepest fountain of gratitude in a human being is that God has forgiven his sin. Paul never got away from this. Once you realize all that it cost God to forgive you, you will be held as in a vise, constrained by the love of God.
神的赦免
我們藉這愛子的血……過犯得以赦免。 （弗一7）
別以為神既是父親－－他既是這樣慈愛，必會赦免我們。這種情感作用在新約是沒有的。神赦免我們，唯一的根源就是基督十字架上的大悲劇；若把赦免放在任何別的根據上，是無形的褻瀆。神赦免哦我們，唯一原因是叫我們重生與他相和好，是藉基督的十字架，此外別無他法。赦免是多麼容易接受的事，可是卻付上加略山的苦楚。我們接受赦罪，接受所賜的聖靈，憑單純的信心得以成聖，卻忘記了是神付出極大的代價為我們成就的。
赦免是神恩典的神聖奇蹟：他要付出基督的十字架，才能赦罪，而仍不失為聖潔的神。切勿接受一個把救贖刪去，只以神為父的觀點。神的啟示是他不能赦免；若赦免就違反他的本性。我們蒙赦的唯一途徑，是藉救贖歸回神。神的赦免惟有在超然的領域上，才不反其自然。
若拿赦罪的奇蹟來比較，成聖的經歷就顯得微不足道。成聖不過是人生命蒙赦罪之後奇妙的表現，在人心中挑起最深感激的，該是神赦免罪。保羅從未忘懷這一點。你一旦體會神為赦免你的罪所付出的，你就會被抓住，被神的愛深深激勵。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，為著你透過主耶穌的恩典，向我顯明你至高的父性，我讚美你。噢，我因此可以成為天父的孩子了！
Beware of the pleasant view of the fatherhood of God: God is so kind and loving that of course He will forgive us. That thought, based solely on emotion, cannot be found anywhere in the New Testament. The only basis on which God can forgive us is the tremendous tragedy of the Cross of Christ. To base our forgiveness on any other ground is unconscious blasphemy. The only ground on which God can forgive our sin and reinstate us to His favor is through the Cross of Christ. There is no other way! Forgiveness, which is so easy for us to accept, cost the agony at Calvary. We should never take the forgiveness of sin, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and our sanctification in simple faith, and then forget the enormous cost to God that made all of this ours.
Forgiveness is the divine miracle of grace. The cost to God was the Cross of Christ. To forgive sin, while remaining a holy God, this price had to be paid. Never accept a view of the fatherhood of God if it blots out the atonement. The revealed truth of God is that without the atonement He cannot forgive— He would contradict His nature if He did. The only way we can be forgiven is by being brought back to God through the atonement of the Cross. God’s forgiveness is possible only in the supernatural realm.
Compared with the miracle of the forgiveness of sin, the experience of sanctification is small. Sanctification is simply the wonderful expression or evidence of the forgiveness of sins in a human life. But the thing that awakens the deepest fountain of gratitude in a human being is that God has forgiven his sin. Paul never got away from this. Once you realize all that it cost God to forgive you, you will be held as in a vise, constrained by the love of God.
神的赦免
我們藉這愛子的血……過犯得以赦免。 （弗一7）
別以為神既是父親－－他既是這樣慈愛，必會赦免我們。這種情感作用在新約是沒有的。神赦免我們，唯一的根源就是基督十字架上的大悲劇；若把赦免放在任何別的根據上，是無形的褻瀆。神赦免哦我們，唯一原因是叫我們重生與他相和好，是藉基督的十字架，此外別無他法。赦免是多麼容易接受的事，可是卻付上加略山的苦楚。我們接受赦罪，接受所賜的聖靈，憑單純的信心得以成聖，卻忘記了是神付出極大的代價為我們成就的。
赦免是神恩典的神聖奇蹟：他要付出基督的十字架，才能赦罪，而仍不失為聖潔的神。切勿接受一個把救贖刪去，只以神為父的觀點。神的啟示是他不能赦免；若赦免就違反他的本性。我們蒙赦的唯一途徑，是藉救贖歸回神。神的赦免惟有在超然的領域上，才不反其自然。
若拿赦罪的奇蹟來比較，成聖的經歷就顯得微不足道。成聖不過是人生命蒙赦罪之後奇妙的表現，在人心中挑起最深感激的，該是神赦免罪。保羅從未忘懷這一點。你一旦體會神為赦免你的罪所付出的，你就會被抓住，被神的愛深深激勵。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，為著你透過主耶穌的恩典，向我顯明你至高的父性，我讚美你。噢，我因此可以成為天父的孩子了！
November 19, 2012
“When He Has Come”
When He has come, He will convict the world of sin . . . —John 16:8
Very few of us know anything about conviction of sin. We know the experience of being disturbed because we have done wrong things. But conviction of sin by the Holy Spirit blots out every relationship on earth and makes us aware of only one— “Against You, You only, have I sinned . . .” (Psalm 51:4). When a person is convicted of sin in this way, he knows with every bit of his conscience that God would not dare to forgive him. If God did forgive him, then this person would have a stronger sense of justice than God. God does forgive, but it cost the breaking of His heart with grief in the death of Christ to enable Him to do so. The great miracle of the grace of God is that He forgives sin, and it is the death of Jesus Christ alone that enables the divine nature to forgive and to remain true to itself in doing so. It is shallow nonsense to say that God forgives us because He is love. Once we have been convicted of sin, we will never say this again. The love of God means Calvary— nothing less! The love of God is spelled out on the Cross and nowhere else. The only basis for which God can forgive me is the Cross of Christ. It is there that His conscience is satisfied.
Forgiveness doesn’t merely mean that I am saved from hell and have been made ready for heaven (no one would accept forgiveness on that level). Forgiveness means that I am forgiven into a newly created relationship which identifies me with God in Christ. The miracle of redemption is that God turns me, the unholy one, into the standard of Himself, the Holy One. He does this by putting into me a new nature, the nature of Jesus Christ.
祂既來了
他既來了，就要叫世人為罪、為義、為審判、自己責備自己。 （約十六8）
很少人真懂得什麼叫做為罪責備自己，我們做錯事之後，只有煩惱；可是聖靈叫人為罪自責，把地上一切的關係刪除，只剩下一個關係，就是[我犯罪得罪了你，惟獨得罪了你]。人若這樣為罪自責，他的良心會告訴他，神不會赦免他。若神赦免他，他的公義感就比神更高了。但神實在赦免，這是要透過耶穌的死，使神心腸撕裂破碎，才做得到。神恩典的奇妙，在於他藉主耶穌的死赦罪，以致他赦罪，仍忠於自己的本性。若說神是愛，所以他赦免我們，這是很膚淺無稽的。我們若曾為罪自責，就絕不會這樣說了。神的愛等如加略山，一絲一毫不減。神的愛在十字架上完全表現出來，此外別無他處。神惟獨根據主的十字架而赦免我。在那兒，他的心才得以滿足。
赦免不單是我從地獄中被救出來，進入天堂（沒有人以這個看法接受赦免）；赦免的意思是，我得赦免進入一個新造的關係裡，進入與神在基督的合一里。救贖的奇蹟是神把我這不潔的人，改變成他的標準，是聖潔的；把新的個性－－耶穌基督的個性－－放進我裡面。
祈禱◆對於在世上為你結果子上，我是何等的無助，那麼的氣量狹小，而且毫不像你。求你赦免我，並且藉著住在耶穌裡面，願我多結果子，榮耀父神。
Very few of us know anything about conviction of sin. We know the experience of being disturbed because we have done wrong things. But conviction of sin by the Holy Spirit blots out every relationship on earth and makes us aware of only one— “Against You, You only, have I sinned . . .” (Psalm 51:4). When a person is convicted of sin in this way, he knows with every bit of his conscience that God would not dare to forgive him. If God did forgive him, then this person would have a stronger sense of justice than God. God does forgive, but it cost the breaking of His heart with grief in the death of Christ to enable Him to do so. The great miracle of the grace of God is that He forgives sin, and it is the death of Jesus Christ alone that enables the divine nature to forgive and to remain true to itself in doing so. It is shallow nonsense to say that God forgives us because He is love. Once we have been convicted of sin, we will never say this again. The love of God means Calvary— nothing less! The love of God is spelled out on the Cross and nowhere else. The only basis for which God can forgive me is the Cross of Christ. It is there that His conscience is satisfied.
Forgiveness doesn’t merely mean that I am saved from hell and have been made ready for heaven (no one would accept forgiveness on that level). Forgiveness means that I am forgiven into a newly created relationship which identifies me with God in Christ. The miracle of redemption is that God turns me, the unholy one, into the standard of Himself, the Holy One. He does this by putting into me a new nature, the nature of Jesus Christ.
祂既來了
他既來了，就要叫世人為罪、為義、為審判、自己責備自己。 （約十六8）
很少人真懂得什麼叫做為罪責備自己，我們做錯事之後，只有煩惱；可是聖靈叫人為罪自責，把地上一切的關係刪除，只剩下一個關係，就是[我犯罪得罪了你，惟獨得罪了你]。人若這樣為罪自責，他的良心會告訴他，神不會赦免他。若神赦免他，他的公義感就比神更高了。但神實在赦免，這是要透過耶穌的死，使神心腸撕裂破碎，才做得到。神恩典的奇妙，在於他藉主耶穌的死赦罪，以致他赦罪，仍忠於自己的本性。若說神是愛，所以他赦免我們，這是很膚淺無稽的。我們若曾為罪自責，就絕不會這樣說了。神的愛等如加略山，一絲一毫不減。神的愛在十字架上完全表現出來，此外別無他處。神惟獨根據主的十字架而赦免我。在那兒，他的心才得以滿足。
赦免不單是我從地獄中被救出來，進入天堂（沒有人以這個看法接受赦免）；赦免的意思是，我得赦免進入一個新造的關係裡，進入與神在基督的合一里。救贖的奇蹟是神把我這不潔的人，改變成他的標準，是聖潔的；把新的個性－－耶穌基督的個性－－放進我裡面。
祈禱◆對於在世上為你結果子上，我是何等的無助，那麼的氣量狹小，而且毫不像你。求你赦免我，並且藉著住在耶穌裡面，願我多結果子，榮耀父神。
November 18, 2012
Winning into Freedom
If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed —John 8:36
If there is even a trace of individual self-satisfaction left in us, it always says, “I can’t surrender,” or “I can’t be free.” But the spiritual part of our being never says “I can’t”; it simply soaks up everything around it. Our spirit hungers for more and more. It is the way we are built. We are designed with a great capacity for God, but sin, our own individuality, and wrong thinking keep us from getting to Him. God delivers us from sin— we have to deliver ourselves from our individuality. This means offering our natural life to God and sacrificing it to Him, so He may transform it into spiritual life through our obedience.
God pays no attention to our natural individuality in the development of our spiritual life. His plan runs right through our natural life. We must see to it that we aid and assist God, and not stand against Him by saying, “I can’t do that.” God will not discipline us; we must discipline ourselves. God will not bring our “arguments . . . and every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5)— we have to do it. Don’t say, “Oh, Lord, I suffer from wandering thoughts.” Don’t suffer from wandering thoughts. Stop listening to the tyranny of your individual natural life and win freedom into the spiritual life.
“If the Son makes you free . . . .” Do not substitute Savior for Son in this passage. The Savior has set us free from sin, but this is the freedom that comes from being set free from myself by the Son. It is what Paul meant in Galatians 2:20 when he said, “I have been crucified with Christ . . . .” His individuality had been broken and his spirit had been united with his Lord; not just merged into Him, but made one with Him. “. . . you shall be free indeed”— free to the very core of your being; free from the inside to the outside. We tend to rely on our own energy, instead of being energized by the power that comes from identification with Jesus.
邁進自由
天父的兒子若叫你們自由，你們就真自由了。 （約八36）
人若還存在留任何的自負，總是說：[我辦不到。 ]但[人格]永不說[辦不到]，它會不斷吸取。 [人格]總是渴求得到更多，因為我們是被造成這樣的。我們被造，對神有極大的渴求；阻隔我們近神的，是罪和我們的[個性]。神救我們脫離罪；我們卻要救自己脫離個性，就是要天然的生命作活祭獻給神，直至因順服而改變成屬靈的生命。
在屬靈生命的過程中，神不會理會我們天然的個性，他的命令會直闖我們天然的生命。我們要協助神，而不要阻擋他說：[我辦不到。 ]神不會操練我們，我們要操練自己。神不會管制我們每一個念頭與幻想，這工作我們要自己做。不要說：[主啊，我思想時常浮游，好苦！ ]那就不要再浮游，不要再受個性的操縱，乃要釋放出來，活出真正的個性。
[天父的兒子若叫你們自由……]不要用[救主]代替[兒子]，救主救我們離罪；這個自由卻是從[兒子]而來的。保羅在加拉太書二章20節正是這意思：[我已經與基督同釘十字架]，他天然的[個性]已破碎了，他的人格與主合一，不是混合，乃是合一。 [你們就真自由了]，自由的本質是內裡的自由。我們堅持的是主動，而不是被動的推向與主耶穌認同。
祈禱◆主啊，我何等需要你和渴慕你。求你完完全全地回到我裡面，將你的生命注滿我們的意念和心靈，直至滿溢，願榮耀歸於你的名。
If there is even a trace of individual self-satisfaction left in us, it always says, “I can’t surrender,” or “I can’t be free.” But the spiritual part of our being never says “I can’t”; it simply soaks up everything around it. Our spirit hungers for more and more. It is the way we are built. We are designed with a great capacity for God, but sin, our own individuality, and wrong thinking keep us from getting to Him. God delivers us from sin— we have to deliver ourselves from our individuality. This means offering our natural life to God and sacrificing it to Him, so He may transform it into spiritual life through our obedience.
God pays no attention to our natural individuality in the development of our spiritual life. His plan runs right through our natural life. We must see to it that we aid and assist God, and not stand against Him by saying, “I can’t do that.” God will not discipline us; we must discipline ourselves. God will not bring our “arguments . . . and every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5)— we have to do it. Don’t say, “Oh, Lord, I suffer from wandering thoughts.” Don’t suffer from wandering thoughts. Stop listening to the tyranny of your individual natural life and win freedom into the spiritual life.
“If the Son makes you free . . . .” Do not substitute Savior for Son in this passage. The Savior has set us free from sin, but this is the freedom that comes from being set free from myself by the Son. It is what Paul meant in Galatians 2:20 when he said, “I have been crucified with Christ . . . .” His individuality had been broken and his spirit had been united with his Lord; not just merged into Him, but made one with Him. “. . . you shall be free indeed”— free to the very core of your being; free from the inside to the outside. We tend to rely on our own energy, instead of being energized by the power that comes from identification with Jesus.
邁進自由
天父的兒子若叫你們自由，你們就真自由了。 （約八36）
人若還存在留任何的自負，總是說：[我辦不到。 ]但[人格]永不說[辦不到]，它會不斷吸取。 [人格]總是渴求得到更多，因為我們是被造成這樣的。我們被造，對神有極大的渴求；阻隔我們近神的，是罪和我們的[個性]。神救我們脫離罪；我們卻要救自己脫離個性，就是要天然的生命作活祭獻給神，直至因順服而改變成屬靈的生命。
在屬靈生命的過程中，神不會理會我們天然的個性，他的命令會直闖我們天然的生命。我們要協助神，而不要阻擋他說：[我辦不到。 ]神不會操練我們，我們要操練自己。神不會管制我們每一個念頭與幻想，這工作我們要自己做。不要說：[主啊，我思想時常浮游，好苦！ ]那就不要再浮游，不要再受個性的操縱，乃要釋放出來，活出真正的個性。
[天父的兒子若叫你們自由……]不要用[救主]代替[兒子]，救主救我們離罪；這個自由卻是從[兒子]而來的。保羅在加拉太書二章20節正是這意思：[我已經與基督同釘十字架]，他天然的[個性]已破碎了，他的人格與主合一，不是混合，乃是合一。 [你們就真自由了]，自由的本質是內裡的自由。我們堅持的是主動，而不是被動的推向與主耶穌認同。
祈禱◆主啊，我何等需要你和渴慕你。求你完完全全地回到我裡面，將你的生命注滿我們的意念和心靈，直至滿溢，願榮耀歸於你的名。
November 17, 2012
The Eternal Goal
By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing . . . I will bless you . . . —Genesis 22:16-17
Abraham, at this point, has reached where he is in touch with the very nature of God. He now understands the reality of God.
My goal is God Himself . . .
At any cost, dear Lord, by any road.
“At any cost . . . by any road” means submitting to God’s way of bringing us to the goal.
There is no possibility of questioning God when He speaks, if He speaks to His own nature in me. Prompt obedience is the only result. When Jesus says, “Come,” I simply come; when He says, “Let go,” I let go; when He says, “Trust God in this matter,” I trust. This work of obedience is the evidence that the nature of God is in me.
God’s revelation of Himself to me is influenced by my character, not by God’s character.
’Tis because I am ordinary,
Thy ways so often look ordinary to me.
It is through the discipline of obedience that I get to the place where Abraham was and I see who God is. God will never be real to me until I come face to face with Him in Jesus Christ. Then I will know and can boldly proclaim, “In all the world, my God, there is none but Thee, there is none but Thee.”
The promises of God are of no value to us until, through obedience, we come to understand the nature of God. We may read some things in the Bible every day for a year and they may mean nothing to us. Then, because we have been obedient to God in some small detail, we suddenly see what God means and His nature is instantly opened up to us. “All the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen . . .” (2 Corinthians 1:20). Our “Yes” must be born of obedience; when by obedience we ratify a promise of God by saying, “Amen,” or, “So be it.” That promise becomes ours.
永恆的目標
你既行了這事……我便指著自己起誓說，論福，我必賜大福給你……。 （創二十二15-19）
亞伯拉罕接觸到神的本性，他如今明白神的真實。 [神自己，是我的目標，不論代價，親愛的主，不論何方。 ]
不論代價，不論何方，就是自己沒有任何可選擇的，只求神帶領到達目標。若神對我裡面的性情說話，我根本不會質疑發問，只會馬上順服。耶穌說：[來]，我就來；他說：[放手]，我就放手；他說：[這事要信靠神]，我就信靠。整個過程證明了神的性情在我裡面。
神對我啟示他自己，決定於我的品性，而不在於神的品性。 [由於我是卑賤的，以致你的道路，在我看來也往往是卑賤的。 ]在順服的操練下，我來到亞伯拉罕曾到之處，認識神是誰。我沒有在主耶穌裡與神面對面以前，沒有遇到一位真的神，但如今我知道[在整個世界中，除你以外，我再沒有誰]。
神的應許對我們毫無價值，除非我們藉順服明白神的本性。聖經的話可以念過三百六十五次，而仍對我們毫無意義。但突然我們卻看出神的意思，因為在某些事上我們順服神，他的性情立刻向我們開敞了。 [神的應許不論有多少，在基督都是是的，所以藉著他也是實在的。 ]這個[是的]，必須從順服中出來；我們若藉著生命中的順服對應許說[阿們]，那應許就屬於我們。
祈禱◆主啊，求你喚醒我，以致我那必死的身體，能真正成為一個順服聖靈的僕人。
Abraham, at this point, has reached where he is in touch with the very nature of God. He now understands the reality of God.
My goal is God Himself . . .
At any cost, dear Lord, by any road.
“At any cost . . . by any road” means submitting to God’s way of bringing us to the goal.
There is no possibility of questioning God when He speaks, if He speaks to His own nature in me. Prompt obedience is the only result. When Jesus says, “Come,” I simply come; when He says, “Let go,” I let go; when He says, “Trust God in this matter,” I trust. This work of obedience is the evidence that the nature of God is in me.
God’s revelation of Himself to me is influenced by my character, not by God’s character.
’Tis because I am ordinary,
Thy ways so often look ordinary to me.
It is through the discipline of obedience that I get to the place where Abraham was and I see who God is. God will never be real to me until I come face to face with Him in Jesus Christ. Then I will know and can boldly proclaim, “In all the world, my God, there is none but Thee, there is none but Thee.”
The promises of God are of no value to us until, through obedience, we come to understand the nature of God. We may read some things in the Bible every day for a year and they may mean nothing to us. Then, because we have been obedient to God in some small detail, we suddenly see what God means and His nature is instantly opened up to us. “All the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen . . .” (2 Corinthians 1:20). Our “Yes” must be born of obedience; when by obedience we ratify a promise of God by saying, “Amen,” or, “So be it.” That promise becomes ours.
永恆的目標
你既行了這事……我便指著自己起誓說，論福，我必賜大福給你……。 （創二十二15-19）
亞伯拉罕接觸到神的本性，他如今明白神的真實。 [神自己，是我的目標，不論代價，親愛的主，不論何方。 ]
不論代價，不論何方，就是自己沒有任何可選擇的，只求神帶領到達目標。若神對我裡面的性情說話，我根本不會質疑發問，只會馬上順服。耶穌說：[來]，我就來；他說：[放手]，我就放手；他說：[這事要信靠神]，我就信靠。整個過程證明了神的性情在我裡面。
神對我啟示他自己，決定於我的品性，而不在於神的品性。 [由於我是卑賤的，以致你的道路，在我看來也往往是卑賤的。 ]在順服的操練下，我來到亞伯拉罕曾到之處，認識神是誰。我沒有在主耶穌裡與神面對面以前，沒有遇到一位真的神，但如今我知道[在整個世界中，除你以外，我再沒有誰]。
神的應許對我們毫無價值，除非我們藉順服明白神的本性。聖經的話可以念過三百六十五次，而仍對我們毫無意義。但突然我們卻看出神的意思，因為在某些事上我們順服神，他的性情立刻向我們開敞了。 [神的應許不論有多少，在基督都是是的，所以藉著他也是實在的。 ]這個[是的]，必須從順服中出來；我們若藉著生命中的順服對應許說[阿們]，那應許就屬於我們。
祈禱◆主啊，求你喚醒我，以致我那必死的身體，能真正成為一個順服聖靈的僕人。
November 16, 2012
Still Human!
. . . whatever you do, do all to the glory of God —1 Corinthians 10:31
In the Scriptures, the great miracle of the incarnation slips into the ordinary life of a child; the great miracle of the transfiguration fades into the demon-possessed valley below; the glory of the resurrection descends into a breakfast on the seashore. This is not an anticlimax, but a great revelation of God.
We have a tendency to look for wonder in our experience, and we mistake heroic actions for real heroes. It’s one thing to go through a crisis grandly, yet quite another to go through every day glorifying God when there is no witness, no limelight, and no one paying even the remotest attention to us. If we are not looking for halos, we at least want something that will make people say, “What a wonderful man of prayer he is!” or, “What a great woman of devotion she is!” If you are properly devoted to the Lord Jesus, you have reached the lofty height where no one would ever notice you personally. All that is noticed is the power of God coming through you all the time.
We want to be able to say, “Oh, I have had a wonderful call from God!” But to do even the most humbling tasks to the glory of God takes the Almighty God Incarnate working in us. To be utterly unnoticeable requires God’s Spirit in us making us absolutely humanly His. The true test of a saint’s life is not successfulness but faithfulness on the human level of life. We tend to set up success in Christian work as our purpose, but our purpose should be to display the glory of God in human life, to live a life “hidden with Christ in God” in our everyday human conditions (Colossians 3:3). Our human relationships are the very conditions in which the ideal life of God should be exhibited.
仍然是人
無論作什麼，都要為榮耀神而行。 （林前十31）
道成肉身的超其，湮沒在平凡的童年生活；登山變象的輝煌光彩，消失在鬼附的山谷間；復活的榮耀，降卑成為海旁早餐。這不是反高潮，而是神極大的啟示。我們總有一種傾向，就是想去追求超奇的經歷；錯把英雄感當作英雄。在重大關頭昂然度過是一回事，在每天生活中榮耀神，沒有人作證，沒有光彩，絲毫沒有被注意，又是另一回事。我們 有時雖然不求中世紀那種聖人的光環，也想做些事令人家說：[看他是個多麼會祈禱的人！ ]或[她多虔誠，多熱心！ ]可是，若你對主耶穌有正確的獻上，人所注意的是神透過你流露出來的大能。
[噢，我從神得到一個奇妙的呼召！ ]其實要在最卑微的生活上榮耀神，正需要那全能的神在我們裡面，才可以做得到。惟有聖靈在我們裡面，才能使我們完全地屬於他，以致全不為人所注意。聖徒生命的考驗不在於成功，而是對實際生活的忠心。我們會以在基督教事工上的成功作目標，可是正確的目標，乃是在生活上彰顯神的榮耀，在屬世的環境下，活出與基督一同藏在神裡面的生命。屬神的理想生命，是在人與人之間的實際關係上表現出來。
祈禱◆主啊，在今天的讀經中，一下這句話使我的心靈震盪－－[摩西這樣行，耶和華怎樣吩咐他，他就照樣行了。 ]
In the Scriptures, the great miracle of the incarnation slips into the ordinary life of a child; the great miracle of the transfiguration fades into the demon-possessed valley below; the glory of the resurrection descends into a breakfast on the seashore. This is not an anticlimax, but a great revelation of God.
We have a tendency to look for wonder in our experience, and we mistake heroic actions for real heroes. It’s one thing to go through a crisis grandly, yet quite another to go through every day glorifying God when there is no witness, no limelight, and no one paying even the remotest attention to us. If we are not looking for halos, we at least want something that will make people say, “What a wonderful man of prayer he is!” or, “What a great woman of devotion she is!” If you are properly devoted to the Lord Jesus, you have reached the lofty height where no one would ever notice you personally. All that is noticed is the power of God coming through you all the time.
We want to be able to say, “Oh, I have had a wonderful call from God!” But to do even the most humbling tasks to the glory of God takes the Almighty God Incarnate working in us. To be utterly unnoticeable requires God’s Spirit in us making us absolutely humanly His. The true test of a saint’s life is not successfulness but faithfulness on the human level of life. We tend to set up success in Christian work as our purpose, but our purpose should be to display the glory of God in human life, to live a life “hidden with Christ in God” in our everyday human conditions (Colossians 3:3). Our human relationships are the very conditions in which the ideal life of God should be exhibited.
仍然是人
無論作什麼，都要為榮耀神而行。 （林前十31）
道成肉身的超其，湮沒在平凡的童年生活；登山變象的輝煌光彩，消失在鬼附的山谷間；復活的榮耀，降卑成為海旁早餐。這不是反高潮，而是神極大的啟示。我們總有一種傾向，就是想去追求超奇的經歷；錯把英雄感當作英雄。在重大關頭昂然度過是一回事，在每天生活中榮耀神，沒有人作證，沒有光彩，絲毫沒有被注意，又是另一回事。我們 有時雖然不求中世紀那種聖人的光環，也想做些事令人家說：[看他是個多麼會祈禱的人！ ]或[她多虔誠，多熱心！ ]可是，若你對主耶穌有正確的獻上，人所注意的是神透過你流露出來的大能。
[噢，我從神得到一個奇妙的呼召！ ]其實要在最卑微的生活上榮耀神，正需要那全能的神在我們裡面，才可以做得到。惟有聖靈在我們裡面，才能使我們完全地屬於他，以致全不為人所注意。聖徒生命的考驗不在於成功，而是對實際生活的忠心。我們會以在基督教事工上的成功作目標，可是正確的目標，乃是在生活上彰顯神的榮耀，在屬世的環境下，活出與基督一同藏在神裡面的生命。屬神的理想生命，是在人與人之間的實際關係上表現出來。
祈禱◆主啊，在今天的讀經中，一下這句話使我的心靈震盪－－[摩西這樣行，耶和華怎樣吩咐他，他就照樣行了。 ]
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