Why are you fearful, O you of little faith? —Matthew 8:26
When we are afraid, the least we can do is pray to God. But our Lord has a right to expect that those who name His name have an underlying confidence in Him. God expects His children to be so confident in Him that in any crisis they are the ones who are reliable. Yet our trust is only in God up to a certain point, then we turn back to the elementary panic-stricken prayers of those people who do not even know God. We come to our wits’ end, showing that we don’t have even the slightest amount of confidence in Him or in His sovereign control of the world. To us He seems to be asleep, and we can see nothing but giant, breaking waves on the sea ahead of us.
“. . . O you of little faith!” What a stinging pain must have shot through the disciples as they surely thought to themselves, “We missed the mark again!” And what a sharp pain will go through us when we suddenly realize that we could have produced complete and utter joy in the heart of Jesus by remaining absolutely confident in Him, in spite of what we were facing.
There are times when there is no storm or crisis in our lives, and we do all that is humanly possible. But it is when a crisis arises that we instantly reveal upon whom we rely. If we have been learning to worship God and to place our trust in Him, the crisis will reveal that we can go to the point of breaking, yet without breaking our confidence in Him.
We have been talking quite a lot about sanctification, but what will be the result in our lives? It will be expressed in our lives as a peaceful resting in God, which means a total oneness with Him. And this oneness will make us not only blameless in His sight, but also a profound joy to Him.
安息神學
你們這小信的人哪，為什麼膽怯呢？ （太八26）
我們恐懼的時候，最不可少的就是向神禱告；可是，我們的主有權要求屬他的人，對他有一種深切了解的信任。神期望他的兒女對他大有信心，以致再任何重要關頭，仍然站得住。但我們對神的信任往往只止於某一點，就回复禱告初階時的驚惶失措，像那些不認識神的人一樣。在走投無路時，我們表現得對神毫無信心，也不信他掌管全世界；他似乎睡了，我們只看見前面得風浪。
[你們這小信得人哪！ ]門徒是何等難過－－[又失敗了！ ]我們也會同樣難過。我們知道其實可以叫主得心歡暢快樂－－只要對他保持絕對的信心，不管前路如何。人生風平浪靜時，我們會安然的盡人的力量做到最好；但當危難一到，就立即顯出倚靠的到底是誰。我們若不斷地學習敬拜神，信靠他，那末在風浪的日子，對他的信心也同樣至死不移。我們多次的談到成聖的問題－－最終的目的是什麼呢？就是在神裡面安息，與神合一。這合一不但使我們在他眼前成為無可指摘的，更叫我們成為他的喜樂。
祈禱◆主啊，我的快樂全在乎對你的紀念，否則對你那歡愉而單純的信靠，不過是一種輕率的舉動。願你今天讓快樂四面環繞我們。
Showing posts with label Fear. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fear. Show all posts
August 12, 2014
August 02, 2014
The Teaching of Adversity
In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world —John 16:33
The typical view of the Christian life is that it means being delivered from all adversity. But it actually means being delivered in adversity, which is something very different. “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling . . .” (Psalm 91:1,10)— the place where you are at one with God.
If you are a child of God, you will certainly encounter adversities, but Jesus says you should not be surprised when they come. “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” He is saying, “There is nothing for you to fear.” The same people who refused to talk about their adversities before they were saved often complain and worry after being born again because they have the wrong idea of what it means to live the life of a saint.
God does not give us overcoming life— He gives us life as we overcome. The strain of life is what builds our strength. If there is no strain, there will be no strength. Are you asking God to give you life, liberty, and joy? He cannot, unless you are willing to accept the strain. And once you face the strain, you will immediately get the strength. Overcome your own timidity and take the first step. Then God will give you nourishment— “To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life . . .” (Revelation 2:7). If you completely give of yourself physically, you become exhausted. But when you give of yourself spiritually, you get more strength. God never gives us strength for tomorrow, or for the next hour, but only for the strain of the moment. Our temptation is to face adversities from the standpoint of our own common sense. But a saint can “be of good cheer” even when seemingly defeated by adversities, because victory is absurdly impossible to everyone, except God.
苦難的操練
在世上你們有苦難，但你們可以放心，我已經勝了世界。 （約十六33）
一般人都以為基督徒的人生，是沒有苦難的。其實並非如此，基督徒乃是患難中得拯救。 [住在至高者隱密處得，必住在全能者得蔭下……禍患必不臨到你。 ]沒有災難能臨到你與神合一的處所。你若是神的兒女，必定會遭遇困難，但主耶穌說不必驚奇：[在世上你們有苦難，但你們可以放心，我已經勝了世界。 ]意思就是沒有什麼值得你害怕。在信主前不屑談苦難的人，重生後往往變得軟弱無力，因為他們對作聖徒有錯誤的理解。
神沒有給我們勝過一切的生命；卻在我們誇勝時，賜給生命。壓力就是力量。沒有壓力，就沒有力量。你求神賜生命、自由與喜樂嗎？除非你肯接受壓力，否則他無法把這些賜給你。你一面對壓力，就得力量。勝過膽怯，踏上那一步，神就讓你得吃生命樹得果子，你就得著滋養。你若消耗體力，會覺得疲憊；但若你在屬靈上愈用力，便愈發得力。神從來不賜明天得力量，也不賜下一刻的力量，他只給你勝過現今壓力的力量。我們很容易以常理去面對困難；但聖徒若被苦難壓透，反會大大喜樂，因為事情是這樣困難，除了神以外，根本沒有人能有辦法。
祈禱◆主啊，你的思想是何等令人驚服！可是，我何時才發現自己順服的心，全然被你所佔據？我似乎已被本身的渺小，自私和罪惡弄得毫無力量。
The typical view of the Christian life is that it means being delivered from all adversity. But it actually means being delivered in adversity, which is something very different. “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling . . .” (Psalm 91:1,10)— the place where you are at one with God.
If you are a child of God, you will certainly encounter adversities, but Jesus says you should not be surprised when they come. “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” He is saying, “There is nothing for you to fear.” The same people who refused to talk about their adversities before they were saved often complain and worry after being born again because they have the wrong idea of what it means to live the life of a saint.
God does not give us overcoming life— He gives us life as we overcome. The strain of life is what builds our strength. If there is no strain, there will be no strength. Are you asking God to give you life, liberty, and joy? He cannot, unless you are willing to accept the strain. And once you face the strain, you will immediately get the strength. Overcome your own timidity and take the first step. Then God will give you nourishment— “To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life . . .” (Revelation 2:7). If you completely give of yourself physically, you become exhausted. But when you give of yourself spiritually, you get more strength. God never gives us strength for tomorrow, or for the next hour, but only for the strain of the moment. Our temptation is to face adversities from the standpoint of our own common sense. But a saint can “be of good cheer” even when seemingly defeated by adversities, because victory is absurdly impossible to everyone, except God.
苦難的操練
在世上你們有苦難，但你們可以放心，我已經勝了世界。 （約十六33）
一般人都以為基督徒的人生，是沒有苦難的。其實並非如此，基督徒乃是患難中得拯救。 [住在至高者隱密處得，必住在全能者得蔭下……禍患必不臨到你。 ]沒有災難能臨到你與神合一的處所。你若是神的兒女，必定會遭遇困難，但主耶穌說不必驚奇：[在世上你們有苦難，但你們可以放心，我已經勝了世界。 ]意思就是沒有什麼值得你害怕。在信主前不屑談苦難的人，重生後往往變得軟弱無力，因為他們對作聖徒有錯誤的理解。
神沒有給我們勝過一切的生命；卻在我們誇勝時，賜給生命。壓力就是力量。沒有壓力，就沒有力量。你求神賜生命、自由與喜樂嗎？除非你肯接受壓力，否則他無法把這些賜給你。你一面對壓力，就得力量。勝過膽怯，踏上那一步，神就讓你得吃生命樹得果子，你就得著滋養。你若消耗體力，會覺得疲憊；但若你在屬靈上愈用力，便愈發得力。神從來不賜明天得力量，也不賜下一刻的力量，他只給你勝過現今壓力的力量。我們很容易以常理去面對困難；但聖徒若被苦難壓透，反會大大喜樂，因為事情是這樣困難，除了神以外，根本沒有人能有辦法。
祈禱◆主啊，你的思想是何等令人驚服！可是，我何時才發現自己順服的心，全然被你所佔據？我似乎已被本身的渺小，自私和罪惡弄得毫無力量。
June 18, 2014
Keep Recognizing Jesus
. . . Peter . . . walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid . . . —Matthew 14:29-30
The wind really was boisterous and the waves really were high, but Peter didn’t see them at first. He didn’t consider them at all; he simply recognized his Lord, stepped out in recognition of Him, and “walked on the water.” Then he began to take those things around him into account, and instantly, down he went. Why couldn’t our Lord have enabled him to walk at the bottom of the waves, as well as on top of them? He could have, yet neither could be done without Peter’s continuing recognition of the Lord Jesus.
We step right out with recognition of God in some things, then self-consideration enters our lives and down we go. If you are truly recognizing your Lord, you have no business being concerned about how and where He engineers your circumstances. The things surrounding you are real, but when you look at them you are immediately overwhelmed, and even unable to recognize Jesus. Then comes His rebuke, “. . . why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31). Let your actual circumstances be what they may, but keep recognizing Jesus, maintaining complete reliance upon Him.
If you debate for even one second when God has spoken, it is all over for you. Never start to say, “Well, I wonder if He really did speak to me?” Be reckless immediately— totally unrestrained and willing to risk everything— by casting your all upon Him. You do not know when His voice will come to you, but whenever the realization of God comes, even in the faintest way imaginable, be determined to recklessly abandon yourself, surrendering everything to Him. It is only through abandonment of yourself and your circumstances that you will recognize Him. You will only recognize His voice more clearly through recklessness— being willing to risk your all.
不必籌算了，上路吧！
彼得就……在水面上走，要到耶穌那裡去。只因見風甚大，就害怕。 （太十四29-30）
風雖然大，浪雖然高，但彼得卻視若無睹。他並不怕波濤洶湧，因為他一心一意只知道主，而且因主在水面上走。過後，他發現到現實的環境，隨即就下沉了。何以主不使他在水底行走，像在水面上一樣呢？若不認識是主耶穌，兩者都不能行。
在某些事上，我們會毅然信靠神，稍後就姑息自己，便往下沉了。所以只要認清是主，就不必問他怎樣處理環境。現實本來就是如此，你一旦注目其上，就被它支配，看不見耶穌了。神就會責備你說：[為什麼疑惑呢？ ]不管現實環境怎樣，總要認識耶穌，保持對他完全的信賴。
神的話一發出，只要你有一刻的遲疑，就完了。切勿說：[唔，他到底有沒有說過呢？ ]這時要立即孤注一擲，把一切投在他身上。你不知道他什麼時候說話，但只要稍微認識他，就該不顧一切地投上。只有捨棄一切，你才會認出他來。只有當你不顧一切時，才更清楚認出他的聲音。
祈禱◆主啊，求你在這天，讓那使我們在你的事奉中軟弱下來的自我意識永遠消失，使我們所認知的，就只有耶穌。
The wind really was boisterous and the waves really were high, but Peter didn’t see them at first. He didn’t consider them at all; he simply recognized his Lord, stepped out in recognition of Him, and “walked on the water.” Then he began to take those things around him into account, and instantly, down he went. Why couldn’t our Lord have enabled him to walk at the bottom of the waves, as well as on top of them? He could have, yet neither could be done without Peter’s continuing recognition of the Lord Jesus.
We step right out with recognition of God in some things, then self-consideration enters our lives and down we go. If you are truly recognizing your Lord, you have no business being concerned about how and where He engineers your circumstances. The things surrounding you are real, but when you look at them you are immediately overwhelmed, and even unable to recognize Jesus. Then comes His rebuke, “. . . why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31). Let your actual circumstances be what they may, but keep recognizing Jesus, maintaining complete reliance upon Him.
If you debate for even one second when God has spoken, it is all over for you. Never start to say, “Well, I wonder if He really did speak to me?” Be reckless immediately— totally unrestrained and willing to risk everything— by casting your all upon Him. You do not know when His voice will come to you, but whenever the realization of God comes, even in the faintest way imaginable, be determined to recklessly abandon yourself, surrendering everything to Him. It is only through abandonment of yourself and your circumstances that you will recognize Him. You will only recognize His voice more clearly through recklessness— being willing to risk your all.
不必籌算了，上路吧！
彼得就……在水面上走，要到耶穌那裡去。只因見風甚大，就害怕。 （太十四29-30）
風雖然大，浪雖然高，但彼得卻視若無睹。他並不怕波濤洶湧，因為他一心一意只知道主，而且因主在水面上走。過後，他發現到現實的環境，隨即就下沉了。何以主不使他在水底行走，像在水面上一樣呢？若不認識是主耶穌，兩者都不能行。
在某些事上，我們會毅然信靠神，稍後就姑息自己，便往下沉了。所以只要認清是主，就不必問他怎樣處理環境。現實本來就是如此，你一旦注目其上，就被它支配，看不見耶穌了。神就會責備你說：[為什麼疑惑呢？ ]不管現實環境怎樣，總要認識耶穌，保持對他完全的信賴。
神的話一發出，只要你有一刻的遲疑，就完了。切勿說：[唔，他到底有沒有說過呢？ ]這時要立即孤注一擲，把一切投在他身上。你不知道他什麼時候說話，但只要稍微認識他，就該不顧一切地投上。只有捨棄一切，你才會認出他來。只有當你不顧一切時，才更清楚認出他的聲音。
祈禱◆主啊，求你在這天，讓那使我們在你的事奉中軟弱下來的自我意識永遠消失，使我們所認知的，就只有耶穌。
June 05, 2014
God’s Assurance
He Himself has said . . . . So we may boldly say . . . —Hebrews 13:5-6
My assurance is to be built upon God’s assurance to me. God says, “I will never leave you,” so that then I “may boldly say, ’The Lord is my helper; I will not fear’ ” (Hebrews 13:5-6). In other words, I will not be obsessed with apprehension. This does not mean that I will not be tempted to fear, but I will remember God’s words of assurance. I will be full of courage, like a child who strives to reach the standard his father has set for him. The faith of many people begins to falter when apprehensions enter their thinking, and they forget the meaning of God’s assurance— they forget to take a deep spiritual breath. The only way to remove the fear from our lives is to listen to God’s assurance to us.
What are you fearing? Whatever it may be, you are not a coward about it— you are determined to face it, yet you still have a feeling of fear. When it seems that there is nothing and no one to help you, say to yourself, “But ’The Lord is my helper’ this very moment, even in my present circumstance.” Are you learning to listen to God before you speak, or are you saying things and then trying to make God’s Word fit what you have said? Take hold of the Father’s assurance, and then say with strong courage, “I will not fear.” It does not matter what evil or wrong may be in our way, because “He Himself has said, ’I will never leave you . . . .’ ”
Human frailty is another thing that gets between God’s words of assurance and our own words and thoughts. When we realize how feeble we are in facing difficulties, the difficulties become like giants, we become like grasshoppers, and God seems to be nonexistent. But remember God’s assurance to us— “I will never. . . forsake you.” Have we learned to sing after hearing God’s keynote? Are we continually filled with enough courage to say, “The Lord is my helper,” or are we yielding to fear?
神如此說
主曾說……所以我們可以放膽說……(來十三5-6)
[我如此說]必須以[神如此說]做根基。神既說：[我總不撇下你。 ]我就可以勇敢地說：[主是幫助我的，我必不懼怕。 ]——我不會被恐懼侵擾。這不是說我不會有恐懼的試探，乃是我知道神曾如此說。這樣我就會鼓起勇氣，像孩子一鼓作氣似的，竭力達到父親所要求的水平。不少人在恐懼中信心動搖，忘記了神曾[如此說]，忘記了在聖靈裡深深地吸一口氣。唯一脫離恐懼的方法，就是聽神[如此說]。
你害怕的是什麼？你不是懦夫，你要面對現實，可是總有一種恐懼的感覺。你在孤獨無援之中，要說：[主是幫助我的，就在此時此地。 ]你有沒有學習先聽神的話，然後才開口說話？抑或你擅自發言，然後企圖拿神的話來支持？你當抓住父神的[如此說]，然後勇氣十足地說：[我必不懼怕。 ]路上的兇險不要緊，因他已說過：[我總不撇下你。 ]
另一樣阻隔神[如此說]的，就是意志薄弱。我們在難處中，往往很柔弱；難處就成為強大的巨人，而我們反而像蚱蜢，就像神不存在一般。要記住神如此說：[我總不撇下你。 ]我們是否學會聽見神的主音想起就唱和？我們是否時常有這勇氣：[主是幫助我的。 ]還是就此一蹶不振？
祈禱◆主啊，現在向我說話，為著今天的日子激勵我；那深沉而具有破壞力的暗晦，似乎正緊緊操縱著我的能力。主啊，與我們同在。
My assurance is to be built upon God’s assurance to me. God says, “I will never leave you,” so that then I “may boldly say, ’The Lord is my helper; I will not fear’ ” (Hebrews 13:5-6). In other words, I will not be obsessed with apprehension. This does not mean that I will not be tempted to fear, but I will remember God’s words of assurance. I will be full of courage, like a child who strives to reach the standard his father has set for him. The faith of many people begins to falter when apprehensions enter their thinking, and they forget the meaning of God’s assurance— they forget to take a deep spiritual breath. The only way to remove the fear from our lives is to listen to God’s assurance to us.
What are you fearing? Whatever it may be, you are not a coward about it— you are determined to face it, yet you still have a feeling of fear. When it seems that there is nothing and no one to help you, say to yourself, “But ’The Lord is my helper’ this very moment, even in my present circumstance.” Are you learning to listen to God before you speak, or are you saying things and then trying to make God’s Word fit what you have said? Take hold of the Father’s assurance, and then say with strong courage, “I will not fear.” It does not matter what evil or wrong may be in our way, because “He Himself has said, ’I will never leave you . . . .’ ”
Human frailty is another thing that gets between God’s words of assurance and our own words and thoughts. When we realize how feeble we are in facing difficulties, the difficulties become like giants, we become like grasshoppers, and God seems to be nonexistent. But remember God’s assurance to us— “I will never. . . forsake you.” Have we learned to sing after hearing God’s keynote? Are we continually filled with enough courage to say, “The Lord is my helper,” or are we yielding to fear?
神如此說
主曾說……所以我們可以放膽說……(來十三5-6)
[我如此說]必須以[神如此說]做根基。神既說：[我總不撇下你。 ]我就可以勇敢地說：[主是幫助我的，我必不懼怕。 ]——我不會被恐懼侵擾。這不是說我不會有恐懼的試探，乃是我知道神曾如此說。這樣我就會鼓起勇氣，像孩子一鼓作氣似的，竭力達到父親所要求的水平。不少人在恐懼中信心動搖，忘記了神曾[如此說]，忘記了在聖靈裡深深地吸一口氣。唯一脫離恐懼的方法，就是聽神[如此說]。
你害怕的是什麼？你不是懦夫，你要面對現實，可是總有一種恐懼的感覺。你在孤獨無援之中，要說：[主是幫助我的，就在此時此地。 ]你有沒有學習先聽神的話，然後才開口說話？抑或你擅自發言，然後企圖拿神的話來支持？你當抓住父神的[如此說]，然後勇氣十足地說：[我必不懼怕。 ]路上的兇險不要緊，因他已說過：[我總不撇下你。 ]
另一樣阻隔神[如此說]的，就是意志薄弱。我們在難處中，往往很柔弱；難處就成為強大的巨人，而我們反而像蚱蜢，就像神不存在一般。要記住神如此說：[我總不撇下你。 ]我們是否學會聽見神的主音想起就唱和？我們是否時常有這勇氣：[主是幫助我的。 ]還是就此一蹶不振？
祈禱◆主啊，現在向我說話，為著今天的日子激勵我；那深沉而具有破壞力的暗晦，似乎正緊緊操縱著我的能力。主啊，與我們同在。
May 24, 2014
The Delight of Despair
When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead —Revelation 1:17
It may be that, like the apostle John, you know Jesus Christ intimately. Yet when He suddenly appears to you with totally unfamiliar characteristics, the only thing you can do is fall “at His feet as dead.” There are times when God cannot reveal Himself in any other way than in His majesty, and it is the awesomeness of the vision which brings you to the delight of despair. You experience this joy in hopelessness, realizing that if you are ever to be raised up it must be by the hand of God.
“He laid His right hand on me . . .” (Revelation 1:17). In the midst of the awesomeness, a touch comes, and you know it is the right hand of Jesus Christ. You know it is not the hand of restraint, correction, nor chastisement, but the right hand of the Everlasting Father. Whenever His hand is laid upon you, it gives inexpressible peace and comfort, and the sense that “underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deuteronomy 33:27), full of support, provision, comfort, and strength. And once His touch comes, nothing at all can throw you into fear again. In the midst of all His ascended glory, the Lord Jesus comes to speak to an insignificant disciple, saying, “Do not be afraid” (Revelation 1:17). His tenderness is inexpressibly sweet. Do I know Him like that?
Take a look at some of the things that cause despair. There is despair which has no delight, no limits whatsoever, and no hope of anything brighter. But the delight of despair comes when “I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells . . .” (Romans 7:18). I delight in knowing that there is something in me which must fall prostrate before God when He reveals Himself to me, and also in knowing that if I am ever to be raised up it must be by the hand of God. God can do nothing for me until I recognize the limits of what is humanly possible, allowing Him to do the impossible.
絕望中的興奮
我一看見，就仆倒在他腳前，像死了一樣。 （啟一17）
也許你像約翰一樣，與主耶穌相知甚深。但當他突然以完全陌生的面貌出現，你只能仆倒他腳前像死去一樣。有時神不能以別的辦法顯示他自己，就只好以他的威嚴顯現。那異像中的威榮，叫你在絕望中心懷興奮。那時，你要再起來，就必須捉著神的手了。
[他用右手按著我說。 ]在驚恐中，有人觸摸你，你便曉得那時耶穌基督的右手。不是阻止、糾正或管教的右手，而是永在的父的右手。無論他的手什麼時候放在你身上，總有難以形容的平安與安慰，因為知道有永遠的膀臂在扶持，就得著供應、安慰與力量。神的撫摸一來，就再沒有什麼能叫你恐懼的了。主耶穌帶著天上的榮耀，對一個微不足道的門徒說：[不要懼怕。 ]他的仁慈是那樣的溫柔，我對他有這樣的認識麼？
留心那些令人絕望的事物。有一種絕望是沒有喜樂、沒有展望、沒有曙光。可是只要我知道[在我裡頭，就是在我肉體之中，沒有良善]，那時絕望中的喜樂就來了。在神榮耀的彰顯之中，我必須謙恭俯伏。若要起來，神必親手攙扶。除非我到了一切的盡頭，否則神不能為我作什麼。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，在屬靈和各方滿，願你加倍地保守這聖靈的殿。賜給我們你所喜悅的光輝和明亮。
It may be that, like the apostle John, you know Jesus Christ intimately. Yet when He suddenly appears to you with totally unfamiliar characteristics, the only thing you can do is fall “at His feet as dead.” There are times when God cannot reveal Himself in any other way than in His majesty, and it is the awesomeness of the vision which brings you to the delight of despair. You experience this joy in hopelessness, realizing that if you are ever to be raised up it must be by the hand of God.
“He laid His right hand on me . . .” (Revelation 1:17). In the midst of the awesomeness, a touch comes, and you know it is the right hand of Jesus Christ. You know it is not the hand of restraint, correction, nor chastisement, but the right hand of the Everlasting Father. Whenever His hand is laid upon you, it gives inexpressible peace and comfort, and the sense that “underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deuteronomy 33:27), full of support, provision, comfort, and strength. And once His touch comes, nothing at all can throw you into fear again. In the midst of all His ascended glory, the Lord Jesus comes to speak to an insignificant disciple, saying, “Do not be afraid” (Revelation 1:17). His tenderness is inexpressibly sweet. Do I know Him like that?
Take a look at some of the things that cause despair. There is despair which has no delight, no limits whatsoever, and no hope of anything brighter. But the delight of despair comes when “I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells . . .” (Romans 7:18). I delight in knowing that there is something in me which must fall prostrate before God when He reveals Himself to me, and also in knowing that if I am ever to be raised up it must be by the hand of God. God can do nothing for me until I recognize the limits of what is humanly possible, allowing Him to do the impossible.
絕望中的興奮
我一看見，就仆倒在他腳前，像死了一樣。 （啟一17）
也許你像約翰一樣，與主耶穌相知甚深。但當他突然以完全陌生的面貌出現，你只能仆倒他腳前像死去一樣。有時神不能以別的辦法顯示他自己，就只好以他的威嚴顯現。那異像中的威榮，叫你在絕望中心懷興奮。那時，你要再起來，就必須捉著神的手了。
[他用右手按著我說。 ]在驚恐中，有人觸摸你，你便曉得那時耶穌基督的右手。不是阻止、糾正或管教的右手，而是永在的父的右手。無論他的手什麼時候放在你身上，總有難以形容的平安與安慰，因為知道有永遠的膀臂在扶持，就得著供應、安慰與力量。神的撫摸一來，就再沒有什麼能叫你恐懼的了。主耶穌帶著天上的榮耀，對一個微不足道的門徒說：[不要懼怕。 ]他的仁慈是那樣的溫柔，我對他有這樣的認識麼？
留心那些令人絕望的事物。有一種絕望是沒有喜樂、沒有展望、沒有曙光。可是只要我知道[在我裡頭，就是在我肉體之中，沒有良善]，那時絕望中的喜樂就來了。在神榮耀的彰顯之中，我必須謙恭俯伏。若要起來，神必親手攙扶。除非我到了一切的盡頭，否則神不能為我作什麼。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，在屬靈和各方滿，願你加倍地保守這聖靈的殿。賜給我們你所喜悅的光輝和明亮。
March 07, 2014
The Source of Abundant Joy
In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us —Romans 8:37
Paul was speaking here of the things that might seem likely to separate a saint from the love of God. But the remarkable thing is that nothing can come between the love of God and a saint. The things Paul mentioned in this passage can and do disrupt the close fellowship of our soul with God and separate our natural life from Him. But none of them is able to come between the love of God and the soul of a saint on the spiritual level. The underlying foundation of the Christian faith is the undeserved, limitless miracle of the love of God that was exhibited on the Cross of Calvary; a love that is not earned and can never be. Paul said this is the reason that “in all these things we are more than conquerors.” We are super-victors with a joy that comes from experiencing the very things which look as if they are going to overwhelm us.
Huge waves that would frighten an ordinary swimmer produce a tremendous thrill for the surfer who has ridden them. Let’s apply that to our own circumstances. The things we try to avoid and fight against— tribulation, suffering, and persecution— are the very things that produce abundant joy in us. “We are more than conquerors through Him” “in all these things”; not in spite of them, but in the midst of them. A saint doesn’t know the joy of the Lord in spite of tribulation, but because of it. Paul said, “I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation” (2 Corinthians 7:4).
The undiminished radiance, which is the result of abundant joy, is not built on anything passing, but on the love of God that nothing can change. And the experiences of life, whether they are everyday events or terrifying ones, are powerless to “separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39).
不朽的喜樂
然而靠著愛我們的主，在這一切的事上，已經得勝有餘了。 （羅八37）
保羅列舉許多的事情，似乎會把聖徒與神的愛隔開；但奇特的是，沒有任何事物可以將聖徒與神的愛隔絕。這些事可以而且實際的進入人的事奉操練中，隔開了神，叫個人的生命與神分開。但是，絕沒有一樣能插入神的愛與聖徒的心靈中間。我們信仰的基石，就是神在加略十架上彰顯出來那高深莫測、奇妙無比的愛，這愛是我們永遠不配得的。保羅說正因為這緣故，我們在這一切事上已經得勝有餘，成為超然的得勝者。正在那似乎要把我們制服的事上，獲得無比的喜樂。
游泳者所懼怕的波濤，對滑浪者卻是駕浪凌空的賞心樂事。應用在我們的身上，這些事——患難、困苦、逼迫——在我們裡面卻生出喜樂來；這些事不是我們爭鬥的物件、藉著他，我們在這一切困擾裡面，已經得勝有餘。不是[儘管]有這些也得勝，乃是置身其中仍然得勝。信徒從來不會因為[徒有]患難，就體會主裡的喜樂，乃是由於在患難之中而體會到的。保羅說：[我在患難中格外喜樂。 ]
不朽的喜樂，並不建築在短暫的事上，乃是在神永不改變的愛上。人生的經歷不論是可怕的或是單調的，都無法影響神的愛，這愛是在我們的主基督耶穌裡的。
祈禱◆主啊，為著如今在我生命中的喜樂——妻兒之愛、所教的學生、聖靈的恩惠——我讚美你。它們所帶來的喜樂和福氣，是何等奇妙！
Paul was speaking here of the things that might seem likely to separate a saint from the love of God. But the remarkable thing is that nothing can come between the love of God and a saint. The things Paul mentioned in this passage can and do disrupt the close fellowship of our soul with God and separate our natural life from Him. But none of them is able to come between the love of God and the soul of a saint on the spiritual level. The underlying foundation of the Christian faith is the undeserved, limitless miracle of the love of God that was exhibited on the Cross of Calvary; a love that is not earned and can never be. Paul said this is the reason that “in all these things we are more than conquerors.” We are super-victors with a joy that comes from experiencing the very things which look as if they are going to overwhelm us.
Huge waves that would frighten an ordinary swimmer produce a tremendous thrill for the surfer who has ridden them. Let’s apply that to our own circumstances. The things we try to avoid and fight against— tribulation, suffering, and persecution— are the very things that produce abundant joy in us. “We are more than conquerors through Him” “in all these things”; not in spite of them, but in the midst of them. A saint doesn’t know the joy of the Lord in spite of tribulation, but because of it. Paul said, “I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation” (2 Corinthians 7:4).
The undiminished radiance, which is the result of abundant joy, is not built on anything passing, but on the love of God that nothing can change. And the experiences of life, whether they are everyday events or terrifying ones, are powerless to “separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39).
不朽的喜樂
然而靠著愛我們的主，在這一切的事上，已經得勝有餘了。 （羅八37）
保羅列舉許多的事情，似乎會把聖徒與神的愛隔開；但奇特的是，沒有任何事物可以將聖徒與神的愛隔絕。這些事可以而且實際的進入人的事奉操練中，隔開了神，叫個人的生命與神分開。但是，絕沒有一樣能插入神的愛與聖徒的心靈中間。我們信仰的基石，就是神在加略十架上彰顯出來那高深莫測、奇妙無比的愛，這愛是我們永遠不配得的。保羅說正因為這緣故，我們在這一切事上已經得勝有餘，成為超然的得勝者。正在那似乎要把我們制服的事上，獲得無比的喜樂。
游泳者所懼怕的波濤，對滑浪者卻是駕浪凌空的賞心樂事。應用在我們的身上，這些事——患難、困苦、逼迫——在我們裡面卻生出喜樂來；這些事不是我們爭鬥的物件、藉著他，我們在這一切困擾裡面，已經得勝有餘。不是[儘管]有這些也得勝，乃是置身其中仍然得勝。信徒從來不會因為[徒有]患難，就體會主裡的喜樂，乃是由於在患難之中而體會到的。保羅說：[我在患難中格外喜樂。 ]
不朽的喜樂，並不建築在短暫的事上，乃是在神永不改變的愛上。人生的經歷不論是可怕的或是單調的，都無法影響神的愛，這愛是在我們的主基督耶穌裡的。
祈禱◆主啊，為著如今在我生命中的喜樂——妻兒之愛、所教的學生、聖靈的恩惠——我讚美你。它們所帶來的喜樂和福氣，是何等奇妙！
August 12, 2013
The Theology of Resting in God
Why are you fearful, O you of little faith? —Matthew 8:26
When we are afraid, the least we can do is pray to God. But our Lord has a right to expect that those who name His name have an underlying confidence in Him. God expects His children to be so confident in Him that in any crisis they are the ones who are reliable. Yet our trust is only in God up to a certain point, then we turn back to the elementary panic-stricken prayers of those people who do not even know God. We come to our wits’ end, showing that we don’t have even the slightest amount of confidence in Him or in His sovereign control of the world. To us He seems to be asleep, and we can see nothing but giant, breaking waves on the sea ahead of us.
“. . . O you of little faith!” What a stinging pain must have shot through the disciples as they surely thought to themselves, “We missed the mark again!” And what a sharp pain will go through us when we suddenly realize that we could have produced complete and utter joy in the heart of Jesus by remaining absolutely confident in Him, in spite of what we were facing.
There are times when there is no storm or crisis in our lives, and we do all that is humanly possible. But it is when a crisis arises that we instantly reveal upon whom we rely. If we have been learning to worship God and to place our trust in Him, the crisis will reveal that we can go to the point of breaking, yet without breaking our confidence in Him.
We have been talking quite a lot about sanctification, but what will be the result in our lives? It will be expressed in our lives as a peaceful resting in God, which means a total oneness with Him. And this oneness will make us not only blameless in His sight, but also a profound joy to Him.
安息神學
你們這小信的人哪，為什麼膽怯呢？ （太八26）
我們恐懼的時候，最不可少的就是向神禱告；可是，我們的主有權要求屬他的人，對他有一種深切了解的信任。神期望他的兒女對他大有信心，以致再任何重要關頭，仍然站得住。但我們對神的信任往往只止於某一點，就回复禱告初階時的驚惶失措，像那些不認識神的人一樣。在走投無路時，我們表現得對神毫無信心，也不信他掌管全世界；他似乎睡了，我們只看見前面得風浪。
[你們這小信得人哪！ ]門徒是何等難過－－[又失敗了！ ]我們也會同樣難過。我們知道其實可以叫主得心歡暢快樂－－只要對他保持絕對的信心，不管前路如何。人生風平浪靜時，我們會安然的盡人的力量做到最好；但當危難一到，就立即顯出倚靠的到底是誰。我們若不斷地學習敬拜神，信靠他，那末在風浪的日子，對他的信心也同樣至死不移。我們多次的談到成聖的問題－－最終的目的是什麼呢？就是在神裡面安息，與神合一。這合一不但使我們在他眼前成為無可指摘的，更叫我們成為他的喜樂。
祈禱◆主啊，我的快樂全在乎對你的紀念，否則對你那歡愉而單純的信靠，不過是一種輕率的舉動。願你今天讓快樂四面環繞我們。
When we are afraid, the least we can do is pray to God. But our Lord has a right to expect that those who name His name have an underlying confidence in Him. God expects His children to be so confident in Him that in any crisis they are the ones who are reliable. Yet our trust is only in God up to a certain point, then we turn back to the elementary panic-stricken prayers of those people who do not even know God. We come to our wits’ end, showing that we don’t have even the slightest amount of confidence in Him or in His sovereign control of the world. To us He seems to be asleep, and we can see nothing but giant, breaking waves on the sea ahead of us.
“. . . O you of little faith!” What a stinging pain must have shot through the disciples as they surely thought to themselves, “We missed the mark again!” And what a sharp pain will go through us when we suddenly realize that we could have produced complete and utter joy in the heart of Jesus by remaining absolutely confident in Him, in spite of what we were facing.
There are times when there is no storm or crisis in our lives, and we do all that is humanly possible. But it is when a crisis arises that we instantly reveal upon whom we rely. If we have been learning to worship God and to place our trust in Him, the crisis will reveal that we can go to the point of breaking, yet without breaking our confidence in Him.
We have been talking quite a lot about sanctification, but what will be the result in our lives? It will be expressed in our lives as a peaceful resting in God, which means a total oneness with Him. And this oneness will make us not only blameless in His sight, but also a profound joy to Him.
安息神學
你們這小信的人哪，為什麼膽怯呢？ （太八26）
我們恐懼的時候，最不可少的就是向神禱告；可是，我們的主有權要求屬他的人，對他有一種深切了解的信任。神期望他的兒女對他大有信心，以致再任何重要關頭，仍然站得住。但我們對神的信任往往只止於某一點，就回复禱告初階時的驚惶失措，像那些不認識神的人一樣。在走投無路時，我們表現得對神毫無信心，也不信他掌管全世界；他似乎睡了，我們只看見前面得風浪。
[你們這小信得人哪！ ]門徒是何等難過－－[又失敗了！ ]我們也會同樣難過。我們知道其實可以叫主得心歡暢快樂－－只要對他保持絕對的信心，不管前路如何。人生風平浪靜時，我們會安然的盡人的力量做到最好；但當危難一到，就立即顯出倚靠的到底是誰。我們若不斷地學習敬拜神，信靠他，那末在風浪的日子，對他的信心也同樣至死不移。我們多次的談到成聖的問題－－最終的目的是什麼呢？就是在神裡面安息，與神合一。這合一不但使我們在他眼前成為無可指摘的，更叫我們成為他的喜樂。
祈禱◆主啊，我的快樂全在乎對你的紀念，否則對你那歡愉而單純的信靠，不過是一種輕率的舉動。願你今天讓快樂四面環繞我們。
August 02, 2013
The Teaching of Adversity
In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world —John 16:33
The typical view of the Christian life is that it means being delivered from all adversity. But it actually means being delivered in adversity, which is something very different. “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling . . .” (Psalm 91:1,10)— the place where you are at one with God.
If you are a child of God, you will certainly encounter adversities, but Jesus says you should not be surprised when they come. “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” He is saying, “There is nothing for you to fear.” The same people who refused to talk about their adversities before they were saved often complain and worry after being born again because they have the wrong idea of what it means to live the life of a saint.
God does not give us overcoming life— He gives us life as we overcome. The strain of life is what builds our strength. If there is no strain, there will be no strength. Are you asking God to give you life, liberty, and joy? He cannot, unless you are willing to accept the strain. And once you face the strain, you will immediately get the strength. Overcome your own timidity and take the first step. Then God will give you nourishment— “To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life . . .” (Revelation 2:7). If you completely give of yourself physically, you become exhausted. But when you give of yourself spiritually, you get more strength. God never gives us strength for tomorrow, or for the next hour, but only for the strain of the moment. Our temptation is to face adversities from the standpoint of our own common sense. But a saint can “be of good cheer” even when seemingly defeated by adversities, because victory is absurdly impossible to everyone, except God.
苦難的操練
在世上你們有苦難，但你們可以放心，我已經勝了世界。 （約十六33）
一般人都以為基督徒的人生，是沒有苦難的。其實並非如此，基督徒乃是患難中得拯救。 [住在至高者隱密處得，必住在全能者得蔭下……禍患必不臨到你。 ]沒有災難能臨到你與神合一的處所。你若是神的兒女，必定會遭遇困難，但主耶穌說不必驚奇：[在世上你們有苦難，但你們可以放心，我已經勝了世界。 ]意思就是沒有什麼值得你害怕。在信主前不屑談苦難的人，重生後往往變得軟弱無力，因為他們對作聖徒有錯誤的理解。
神沒有給我們勝過一切的生命；卻在我們誇勝時，賜給生命。壓力就是力量。沒有壓力，就沒有力量。你求神賜生命、自由與喜樂嗎？除非你肯接受壓力，否則他無法把這些賜給你。你一面對壓力，就得力量。勝過膽怯，踏上那一步，神就讓你得吃生命樹得果子，你就得著滋養。你若消耗體力，會覺得疲憊；但若你在屬靈上愈用力，便愈發得力。神從來不賜明天得力量，也不賜下一刻的力量，他只給你勝過現今壓力的力量。我們很容易以常理去面對困難；但聖徒若被苦難壓透，反會大大喜樂，因為事情是這樣困難，除了神以外，根本沒有人能有辦法。
祈禱◆主啊，你的思想是何等令人驚服！可是，我何時才發現自己順服的心，全然被你所佔據？我似乎已被本身的渺小，自私和罪惡弄得毫無力量。
The typical view of the Christian life is that it means being delivered from all adversity. But it actually means being delivered in adversity, which is something very different. “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling . . .” (Psalm 91:1,10)— the place where you are at one with God.
If you are a child of God, you will certainly encounter adversities, but Jesus says you should not be surprised when they come. “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” He is saying, “There is nothing for you to fear.” The same people who refused to talk about their adversities before they were saved often complain and worry after being born again because they have the wrong idea of what it means to live the life of a saint.
God does not give us overcoming life— He gives us life as we overcome. The strain of life is what builds our strength. If there is no strain, there will be no strength. Are you asking God to give you life, liberty, and joy? He cannot, unless you are willing to accept the strain. And once you face the strain, you will immediately get the strength. Overcome your own timidity and take the first step. Then God will give you nourishment— “To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life . . .” (Revelation 2:7). If you completely give of yourself physically, you become exhausted. But when you give of yourself spiritually, you get more strength. God never gives us strength for tomorrow, or for the next hour, but only for the strain of the moment. Our temptation is to face adversities from the standpoint of our own common sense. But a saint can “be of good cheer” even when seemingly defeated by adversities, because victory is absurdly impossible to everyone, except God.
苦難的操練
在世上你們有苦難，但你們可以放心，我已經勝了世界。 （約十六33）
一般人都以為基督徒的人生，是沒有苦難的。其實並非如此，基督徒乃是患難中得拯救。 [住在至高者隱密處得，必住在全能者得蔭下……禍患必不臨到你。 ]沒有災難能臨到你與神合一的處所。你若是神的兒女，必定會遭遇困難，但主耶穌說不必驚奇：[在世上你們有苦難，但你們可以放心，我已經勝了世界。 ]意思就是沒有什麼值得你害怕。在信主前不屑談苦難的人，重生後往往變得軟弱無力，因為他們對作聖徒有錯誤的理解。
神沒有給我們勝過一切的生命；卻在我們誇勝時，賜給生命。壓力就是力量。沒有壓力，就沒有力量。你求神賜生命、自由與喜樂嗎？除非你肯接受壓力，否則他無法把這些賜給你。你一面對壓力，就得力量。勝過膽怯，踏上那一步，神就讓你得吃生命樹得果子，你就得著滋養。你若消耗體力，會覺得疲憊；但若你在屬靈上愈用力，便愈發得力。神從來不賜明天得力量，也不賜下一刻的力量，他只給你勝過現今壓力的力量。我們很容易以常理去面對困難；但聖徒若被苦難壓透，反會大大喜樂，因為事情是這樣困難，除了神以外，根本沒有人能有辦法。
祈禱◆主啊，你的思想是何等令人驚服！可是，我何時才發現自己順服的心，全然被你所佔據？我似乎已被本身的渺小，自私和罪惡弄得毫無力量。
June 18, 2013
Keep Recognizing Jesus
. . . Peter . . . walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid . . . —Matthew 14:29-30
The wind really was boisterous and the waves really were high, but Peter didn’t see them at first. He didn’t consider them at all; he simply recognized his Lord, stepped out in recognition of Him, and “walked on the water.” Then he began to take those things around him into account, and instantly, down he went. Why couldn’t our Lord have enabled him to walk at the bottom of the waves, as well as on top of them? He could have, yet neither could be done without Peter’s continuing recognition of the Lord Jesus.
We step right out with recognition of God in some things, then self-consideration enters our lives and down we go. If you are truly recognizing your Lord, you have no business being concerned about how and where He engineers your circumstances. The things surrounding you are real, but when you look at them you are immediately overwhelmed, and even unable to recognize Jesus. Then comes His rebuke, “. . . why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31). Let your actual circumstances be what they may, but keep recognizing Jesus, maintaining complete reliance upon Him.
If you debate for even one second when God has spoken, it is all over for you. Never start to say, “Well, I wonder if He really did speak to me?” Be reckless immediately— totally unrestrained and willing to risk everything— by casting your all upon Him. You do not know when His voice will come to you, but whenever the realization of God comes, even in the faintest way imaginable, be determined to recklessly abandon yourself, surrendering everything to Him. It is only through abandonment of yourself and your circumstances that you will recognize Him. You will only recognize His voice more clearly through recklessness— being willing to risk your all.
不必籌算了，上路吧！
彼得就……在水面上走，要到耶穌那裡去。只因見風甚大，就害怕。 （太十四29-30）
風雖然大，浪雖然高，但彼得卻視若無睹。他並不怕波濤洶湧，因為他一心一意只知道主，而且因主在水面上走。過後，他發現到現實的環境，隨即就下沉了。何以主不使他在水底行走，像在水面上一樣呢？若不認識是主耶穌，兩者都不能行。
在某些事上，我們會毅然信靠神，稍後就姑息自己，便往下沉了。所以只要認清是主，就不必問他怎樣處理環境。現實本來就是如此，你一旦注目其上，就被它支配，看不見耶穌了。神就會責備你說：[為什麼疑惑呢？ ]不管現實環境怎樣，總要認識耶穌，保持對他完全的信賴。
神的話一發出，只要你有一刻的遲疑，就完了。切勿說：[唔，他到底有沒有說過呢？ ]這時要立即孤注一擲，把一切投在他身上。你不知道他什麼時候說話，但只要稍微認識他，就該不顧一切地投上。只有捨棄一切，你才會認出他來。只有當你不顧一切時，才更清楚認出他的聲音。
祈禱◆主啊，求你在這天，讓那使我們在你的事奉中軟弱下來的自我意識永遠消失，使我們所認知的，就只有耶穌。
The wind really was boisterous and the waves really were high, but Peter didn’t see them at first. He didn’t consider them at all; he simply recognized his Lord, stepped out in recognition of Him, and “walked on the water.” Then he began to take those things around him into account, and instantly, down he went. Why couldn’t our Lord have enabled him to walk at the bottom of the waves, as well as on top of them? He could have, yet neither could be done without Peter’s continuing recognition of the Lord Jesus.
We step right out with recognition of God in some things, then self-consideration enters our lives and down we go. If you are truly recognizing your Lord, you have no business being concerned about how and where He engineers your circumstances. The things surrounding you are real, but when you look at them you are immediately overwhelmed, and even unable to recognize Jesus. Then comes His rebuke, “. . . why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31). Let your actual circumstances be what they may, but keep recognizing Jesus, maintaining complete reliance upon Him.
If you debate for even one second when God has spoken, it is all over for you. Never start to say, “Well, I wonder if He really did speak to me?” Be reckless immediately— totally unrestrained and willing to risk everything— by casting your all upon Him. You do not know when His voice will come to you, but whenever the realization of God comes, even in the faintest way imaginable, be determined to recklessly abandon yourself, surrendering everything to Him. It is only through abandonment of yourself and your circumstances that you will recognize Him. You will only recognize His voice more clearly through recklessness— being willing to risk your all.
不必籌算了，上路吧！
彼得就……在水面上走，要到耶穌那裡去。只因見風甚大，就害怕。 （太十四29-30）
風雖然大，浪雖然高，但彼得卻視若無睹。他並不怕波濤洶湧，因為他一心一意只知道主，而且因主在水面上走。過後，他發現到現實的環境，隨即就下沉了。何以主不使他在水底行走，像在水面上一樣呢？若不認識是主耶穌，兩者都不能行。
在某些事上，我們會毅然信靠神，稍後就姑息自己，便往下沉了。所以只要認清是主，就不必問他怎樣處理環境。現實本來就是如此，你一旦注目其上，就被它支配，看不見耶穌了。神就會責備你說：[為什麼疑惑呢？ ]不管現實環境怎樣，總要認識耶穌，保持對他完全的信賴。
神的話一發出，只要你有一刻的遲疑，就完了。切勿說：[唔，他到底有沒有說過呢？ ]這時要立即孤注一擲，把一切投在他身上。你不知道他什麼時候說話，但只要稍微認識他，就該不顧一切地投上。只有捨棄一切，你才會認出他來。只有當你不顧一切時，才更清楚認出他的聲音。
祈禱◆主啊，求你在這天，讓那使我們在你的事奉中軟弱下來的自我意識永遠消失，使我們所認知的，就只有耶穌。
June 05, 2013
God’s Assurance
He Himself has said . . . . So we may boldly say . . . —Hebrews 13:5-6
My assurance is to be built upon God’s assurance to me. God says, “I will never leave you,” so that then I “may boldly say, ’The Lord is my helper; I will not fear’ ” (Hebrews 13:5-6). In other words, I will not be obsessed with apprehension. This does not mean that I will not be tempted to fear, but I will remember God’s words of assurance. I will be full of courage, like a child who strives to reach the standard his father has set for him. The faith of many people begins to falter when apprehensions enter their thinking, and they forget the meaning of God’s assurance— they forget to take a deep spiritual breath. The only way to remove the fear from our lives is to listen to God’s assurance to us.
What are you fearing? Whatever it may be, you are not a coward about it— you are determined to face it, yet you still have a feeling of fear. When it seems that there is nothing and no one to help you, say to yourself, “But ’The Lord is my helper’ this very moment, even in my present circumstance.” Are you learning to listen to God before you speak, or are you saying things and then trying to make God’s Word fit what you have said? Take hold of the Father’s assurance, and then say with strong courage, “I will not fear.” It does not matter what evil or wrong may be in our way, because “He Himself has said, ’I will never leave you . . . .’ ”
Human frailty is another thing that gets between God’s words of assurance and our own words and thoughts. When we realize how feeble we are in facing difficulties, the difficulties become like giants, we become like grasshoppers, and God seems to be nonexistent. But remember God’s assurance to us— “I will never. . . forsake you.” Have we learned to sing after hearing God’s keynote? Are we continually filled with enough courage to say, “The Lord is my helper,” or are we yielding to fear?
神如此說
主曾說……所以我們可以放膽說……(來十三5-6)
[我如此說]必須以[神如此說]做根基。神既說：[我總不撇下你。 ]我就可以勇敢地說：[主是幫助我的，我必不懼怕。 ]——我不會被恐懼侵擾。這不是說我不會有恐懼的試探，乃是我知道神曾如此說。這樣我就會鼓起勇氣，像孩子一鼓作氣似的，竭力達到父親所要求的水平。不少人在恐懼中信心動搖，忘記了神曾[如此說]，忘記了在聖靈裡深深地吸一口氣。唯一脫離恐懼的方法，就是聽神[如此說]。
你害怕的是什麼？你不是懦夫，你要面對現實，可是總有一種恐懼的感覺。你在孤獨無援之中，要說：[主是幫助我的，就在此時此地。 ]你有沒有學習先聽神的話，然後才開口說話？抑或你擅自發言，然後企圖拿神的話來支持？你當抓住父神的[如此說]，然後勇氣十足地說：[我必不懼怕。 ]路上的兇險不要緊，因他已說過：[我總不撇下你。 ]
另一樣阻隔神[如此說]的，就是意志薄弱。我們在難處中，往往很柔弱；難處就成為強大的巨人，而我們反而像蚱蜢，就像神不存在一般。要記住神如此說：[我總不撇下你。 ]我們是否學會聽見神的主音想起就唱和？我們是否時常有這勇氣：[主是幫助我的。 ]還是就此一蹶不振？
祈禱◆主啊，現在向我說話，為著今天的日子激勵我；那深沉而具有破壞力的暗晦，似乎正緊緊操縱著我的能力。主啊，與我們同在。
My assurance is to be built upon God’s assurance to me. God says, “I will never leave you,” so that then I “may boldly say, ’The Lord is my helper; I will not fear’ ” (Hebrews 13:5-6). In other words, I will not be obsessed with apprehension. This does not mean that I will not be tempted to fear, but I will remember God’s words of assurance. I will be full of courage, like a child who strives to reach the standard his father has set for him. The faith of many people begins to falter when apprehensions enter their thinking, and they forget the meaning of God’s assurance— they forget to take a deep spiritual breath. The only way to remove the fear from our lives is to listen to God’s assurance to us.
What are you fearing? Whatever it may be, you are not a coward about it— you are determined to face it, yet you still have a feeling of fear. When it seems that there is nothing and no one to help you, say to yourself, “But ’The Lord is my helper’ this very moment, even in my present circumstance.” Are you learning to listen to God before you speak, or are you saying things and then trying to make God’s Word fit what you have said? Take hold of the Father’s assurance, and then say with strong courage, “I will not fear.” It does not matter what evil or wrong may be in our way, because “He Himself has said, ’I will never leave you . . . .’ ”
Human frailty is another thing that gets between God’s words of assurance and our own words and thoughts. When we realize how feeble we are in facing difficulties, the difficulties become like giants, we become like grasshoppers, and God seems to be nonexistent. But remember God’s assurance to us— “I will never. . . forsake you.” Have we learned to sing after hearing God’s keynote? Are we continually filled with enough courage to say, “The Lord is my helper,” or are we yielding to fear?
神如此說
主曾說……所以我們可以放膽說……(來十三5-6)
[我如此說]必須以[神如此說]做根基。神既說：[我總不撇下你。 ]我就可以勇敢地說：[主是幫助我的，我必不懼怕。 ]——我不會被恐懼侵擾。這不是說我不會有恐懼的試探，乃是我知道神曾如此說。這樣我就會鼓起勇氣，像孩子一鼓作氣似的，竭力達到父親所要求的水平。不少人在恐懼中信心動搖，忘記了神曾[如此說]，忘記了在聖靈裡深深地吸一口氣。唯一脫離恐懼的方法，就是聽神[如此說]。
你害怕的是什麼？你不是懦夫，你要面對現實，可是總有一種恐懼的感覺。你在孤獨無援之中，要說：[主是幫助我的，就在此時此地。 ]你有沒有學習先聽神的話，然後才開口說話？抑或你擅自發言，然後企圖拿神的話來支持？你當抓住父神的[如此說]，然後勇氣十足地說：[我必不懼怕。 ]路上的兇險不要緊，因他已說過：[我總不撇下你。 ]
另一樣阻隔神[如此說]的，就是意志薄弱。我們在難處中，往往很柔弱；難處就成為強大的巨人，而我們反而像蚱蜢，就像神不存在一般。要記住神如此說：[我總不撇下你。 ]我們是否學會聽見神的主音想起就唱和？我們是否時常有這勇氣：[主是幫助我的。 ]還是就此一蹶不振？
祈禱◆主啊，現在向我說話，為著今天的日子激勵我；那深沉而具有破壞力的暗晦，似乎正緊緊操縱著我的能力。主啊，與我們同在。
May 24, 2013
The Delight of Despair
When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead —Revelation 1:17
It may be that, like the apostle John, you know Jesus Christ intimately. Yet when He suddenly appears to you with totally unfamiliar characteristics, the only thing you can do is fall “at His feet as dead.” There are times when God cannot reveal Himself in any other way than in His majesty, and it is the awesomeness of the vision which brings you to the delight of despair. You experience this joy in hopelessness, realizing that if you are ever to be raised up it must be by the hand of God.
“He laid His right hand on me . . .” (Revelation 1:17). In the midst of the awesomeness, a touch comes, and you know it is the right hand of Jesus Christ. You know it is not the hand of restraint, correction, nor chastisement, but the right hand of the Everlasting Father. Whenever His hand is laid upon you, it gives inexpressible peace and comfort, and the sense that “underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deuteronomy 33:27), full of support, provision, comfort, and strength. And once His touch comes, nothing at all can throw you into fear again. In the midst of all His ascended glory, the Lord Jesus comes to speak to an insignificant disciple, saying, “Do not be afraid” (Revelation 1:17). His tenderness is inexpressibly sweet. Do I know Him like that?
Take a look at some of the things that cause despair. There is despair which has no delight, no limits whatsoever, and no hope of anything brighter. But the delight of despair comes when “I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells . . .” (Romans 7:18). I delight in knowing that there is something in me which must fall prostrate before God when He reveals Himself to me, and also in knowing that if I am ever to be raised up it must be by the hand of God. God can do nothing for me until I recognize the limits of what is humanly possible, allowing Him to do the impossible.
絕望中的興奮
我一看見，就仆倒在他腳前，像死了一樣。 （啟一17）
也許你像約翰一樣，與主耶穌相知甚深。但當他突然以完全陌生的面貌出現，你只能仆倒他腳前像死去一樣。有時神不能以別的辦法顯示他自己，就只好以他的威嚴顯現。那異像中的威榮，叫你在絕望中心懷興奮。那時，你要再起來，就必須捉著神的手了。
[他用右手按著我說。 ]在驚恐中，有人觸摸你，你便曉得那時耶穌基督的右手。不是阻止、糾正或管教的右手，而是永在的父的右手。無論他的手什麼時候放在你身上，總有難以形容的平安與安慰，因為知道有永遠的膀臂在扶持，就得著供應、安慰與力量。神的撫摸一來，就再沒有什麼能叫你恐懼的了。主耶穌帶著天上的榮耀，對一個微不足道的門徒說：[不要懼怕。 ]他的仁慈是那樣的溫柔，我對他有這樣的認識麼？
留心那些令人絕望的事物。有一種絕望是沒有喜樂、沒有展望、沒有曙光。可是只要我知道[在我裡頭，就是在我肉體之中，沒有良善]，那時絕望中的喜樂就來了。在神榮耀的彰顯之中，我必須謙恭俯伏。若要起來，神必親手攙扶。除非我到了一切的盡頭，否則神不能為我作什麼。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，在屬靈和各方滿，願你加倍地保守這聖靈的殿。賜給我們你所喜悅的光輝和明亮。
It may be that, like the apostle John, you know Jesus Christ intimately. Yet when He suddenly appears to you with totally unfamiliar characteristics, the only thing you can do is fall “at His feet as dead.” There are times when God cannot reveal Himself in any other way than in His majesty, and it is the awesomeness of the vision which brings you to the delight of despair. You experience this joy in hopelessness, realizing that if you are ever to be raised up it must be by the hand of God.
“He laid His right hand on me . . .” (Revelation 1:17). In the midst of the awesomeness, a touch comes, and you know it is the right hand of Jesus Christ. You know it is not the hand of restraint, correction, nor chastisement, but the right hand of the Everlasting Father. Whenever His hand is laid upon you, it gives inexpressible peace and comfort, and the sense that “underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deuteronomy 33:27), full of support, provision, comfort, and strength. And once His touch comes, nothing at all can throw you into fear again. In the midst of all His ascended glory, the Lord Jesus comes to speak to an insignificant disciple, saying, “Do not be afraid” (Revelation 1:17). His tenderness is inexpressibly sweet. Do I know Him like that?
Take a look at some of the things that cause despair. There is despair which has no delight, no limits whatsoever, and no hope of anything brighter. But the delight of despair comes when “I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells . . .” (Romans 7:18). I delight in knowing that there is something in me which must fall prostrate before God when He reveals Himself to me, and also in knowing that if I am ever to be raised up it must be by the hand of God. God can do nothing for me until I recognize the limits of what is humanly possible, allowing Him to do the impossible.
絕望中的興奮
我一看見，就仆倒在他腳前，像死了一樣。 （啟一17）
也許你像約翰一樣，與主耶穌相知甚深。但當他突然以完全陌生的面貌出現，你只能仆倒他腳前像死去一樣。有時神不能以別的辦法顯示他自己，就只好以他的威嚴顯現。那異像中的威榮，叫你在絕望中心懷興奮。那時，你要再起來，就必須捉著神的手了。
[他用右手按著我說。 ]在驚恐中，有人觸摸你，你便曉得那時耶穌基督的右手。不是阻止、糾正或管教的右手，而是永在的父的右手。無論他的手什麼時候放在你身上，總有難以形容的平安與安慰，因為知道有永遠的膀臂在扶持，就得著供應、安慰與力量。神的撫摸一來，就再沒有什麼能叫你恐懼的了。主耶穌帶著天上的榮耀，對一個微不足道的門徒說：[不要懼怕。 ]他的仁慈是那樣的溫柔，我對他有這樣的認識麼？
留心那些令人絕望的事物。有一種絕望是沒有喜樂、沒有展望、沒有曙光。可是只要我知道[在我裡頭，就是在我肉體之中，沒有良善]，那時絕望中的喜樂就來了。在神榮耀的彰顯之中，我必須謙恭俯伏。若要起來，神必親手攙扶。除非我到了一切的盡頭，否則神不能為我作什麼。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，在屬靈和各方滿，願你加倍地保守這聖靈的殿。賜給我們你所喜悅的光輝和明亮。
March 07, 2013
The Source of Abundant Joy
In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us —Romans 8:37
Paul was speaking here of the things that might seem likely to separate a saint from the love of God. But the remarkable thing is that nothing can come between the love of God and a saint. The things Paul mentioned in this passage can and do disrupt the close fellowship of our soul with God and separate our natural life from Him. But none of them is able to come between the love of God and the soul of a saint on the spiritual level. The underlying foundation of the Christian faith is the undeserved, limitless miracle of the love of God that was exhibited on the Cross of Calvary; a love that is not earned and can never be. Paul said this is the reason that “in all these things we are more than conquerors.” We are super-victors with a joy that comes from experiencing the very things which look as if they are going to overwhelm us.
Huge waves that would frighten an ordinary swimmer produce a tremendous thrill for the surfer who has ridden them. Let’s apply that to our own circumstances. The things we try to avoid and fight against— tribulation, suffering, and persecution— are the very things that produce abundant joy in us. “We are more than conquerors through Him” “in all these things”; not in spite of them, but in the midst of them. A saint doesn’t know the joy of the Lord in spite of tribulation, but because of it. Paul said, “I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation” (2 Corinthians 7:4).
The undiminished radiance, which is the result of abundant joy, is not built on anything passing, but on the love of God that nothing can change. And the experiences of life, whether they are everyday events or terrifying ones, are powerless to “separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39).
不朽的喜樂
然而靠著愛我們的主，在這一切的事上，已經得勝有餘了。 （羅八37）
保羅列舉許多的事情，似乎會把聖徒與神的愛隔開；但奇特的是，沒有任何事物可以將聖徒與神的愛隔絕。這些事可以而且實際的進入人的事奉操練中，隔開了神，叫個人的生命與神分開。但是，絕沒有一樣能插入神的愛與聖徒的心靈中間。我們信仰的基石，就是神在加略十架上彰顯出來那高深莫測、奇妙無比的愛，這愛是我們永遠不配得的。保羅說正因為這緣故，我們在這一切事上已經得勝有餘，成為超然的得勝者。正在那似乎要把我們制服的事上，獲得無比的喜樂。
游泳者所懼怕的波濤，對滑浪者卻是駕浪凌空的賞心樂事。應用在我們的身上，這些事——患難、困苦、逼迫——在我們裡面卻生出喜樂來；這些事不是我們爭鬥的物件、藉著他，我們在這一切困擾裡面，已經得勝有餘。不是[儘管]有這些也得勝，乃是置身其中仍然得勝。信徒從來不會因為[徒有]患難，就體會主裡的喜樂，乃是由於在患難之中而體會到的。保羅說：[我在患難中格外喜樂。 ]
不朽的喜樂，並不建築在短暫的事上，乃是在神永不改變的愛上。人生的經歷不論是可怕的或是單調的，都無法影響神的愛，這愛是在我們的主基督耶穌裡的。
祈禱◆主啊，為著如今在我生命中的喜樂——妻兒之愛、所教的學生、聖靈的恩惠——我讚美你。它們所帶來的喜樂和福氣，是何等奇妙！
Paul was speaking here of the things that might seem likely to separate a saint from the love of God. But the remarkable thing is that nothing can come between the love of God and a saint. The things Paul mentioned in this passage can and do disrupt the close fellowship of our soul with God and separate our natural life from Him. But none of them is able to come between the love of God and the soul of a saint on the spiritual level. The underlying foundation of the Christian faith is the undeserved, limitless miracle of the love of God that was exhibited on the Cross of Calvary; a love that is not earned and can never be. Paul said this is the reason that “in all these things we are more than conquerors.” We are super-victors with a joy that comes from experiencing the very things which look as if they are going to overwhelm us.
Huge waves that would frighten an ordinary swimmer produce a tremendous thrill for the surfer who has ridden them. Let’s apply that to our own circumstances. The things we try to avoid and fight against— tribulation, suffering, and persecution— are the very things that produce abundant joy in us. “We are more than conquerors through Him” “in all these things”; not in spite of them, but in the midst of them. A saint doesn’t know the joy of the Lord in spite of tribulation, but because of it. Paul said, “I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation” (2 Corinthians 7:4).
The undiminished radiance, which is the result of abundant joy, is not built on anything passing, but on the love of God that nothing can change. And the experiences of life, whether they are everyday events or terrifying ones, are powerless to “separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39).
不朽的喜樂
然而靠著愛我們的主，在這一切的事上，已經得勝有餘了。 （羅八37）
保羅列舉許多的事情，似乎會把聖徒與神的愛隔開；但奇特的是，沒有任何事物可以將聖徒與神的愛隔絕。這些事可以而且實際的進入人的事奉操練中，隔開了神，叫個人的生命與神分開。但是，絕沒有一樣能插入神的愛與聖徒的心靈中間。我們信仰的基石，就是神在加略十架上彰顯出來那高深莫測、奇妙無比的愛，這愛是我們永遠不配得的。保羅說正因為這緣故，我們在這一切事上已經得勝有餘，成為超然的得勝者。正在那似乎要把我們制服的事上，獲得無比的喜樂。
游泳者所懼怕的波濤，對滑浪者卻是駕浪凌空的賞心樂事。應用在我們的身上，這些事——患難、困苦、逼迫——在我們裡面卻生出喜樂來；這些事不是我們爭鬥的物件、藉著他，我們在這一切困擾裡面，已經得勝有餘。不是[儘管]有這些也得勝，乃是置身其中仍然得勝。信徒從來不會因為[徒有]患難，就體會主裡的喜樂，乃是由於在患難之中而體會到的。保羅說：[我在患難中格外喜樂。 ]
不朽的喜樂，並不建築在短暫的事上，乃是在神永不改變的愛上。人生的經歷不論是可怕的或是單調的，都無法影響神的愛，這愛是在我們的主基督耶穌裡的。
祈禱◆主啊，為著如今在我生命中的喜樂——妻兒之愛、所教的學生、聖靈的恩惠——我讚美你。它們所帶來的喜樂和福氣，是何等奇妙！
August 12, 2012
The Theology of Resting in God
Why are you fearful, O you of little faith? —Matthew 8:26
When we are afraid, the least we can do is pray to God. But our Lord has a right to expect that those who name His name have an underlying confidence in Him. God expects His children to be so confident in Him that in any crisis they are the ones who are reliable. Yet our trust is only in God up to a certain point, then we turn back to the elementary panic-stricken prayers of those people who do not even know God. We come to our wits’ end, showing that we don’t have even the slightest amount of confidence in Him or in His sovereign control of the world. To us He seems to be asleep, and we can see nothing but giant, breaking waves on the sea ahead of us.
“. . . O you of little faith!” What a stinging pain must have shot through the disciples as they surely thought to themselves, “We missed the mark again!” And what a sharp pain will go through us when we suddenly realize that we could have produced complete and utter joy in the heart of Jesus by remaining absolutely confident in Him, in spite of what we were facing.
There are times when there is no storm or crisis in our lives, and we do all that is humanly possible. But it is when a crisis arises that we instantly reveal upon whom we rely. If we have been learning to worship God and to place our trust in Him, the crisis will reveal that we can go to the point of breaking, yet without breaking our confidence in Him.
We have been talking quite a lot about sanctification, but what will be the result in our lives? It will be expressed in our lives as a peaceful resting in God, which means a total oneness with Him. And this oneness will make us not only blameless in His sight, but also a profound joy to Him.
安息神學
你們這小信的人哪，為什麼膽怯呢？ （太八26）
我們恐懼的時候，最不可少的就是向神禱告；可是，我們的主有權要求屬他的人，對他有一種深切了解的信任。神期望他的兒女對他大有信心，以致再任何重要關頭，仍然站得住。但我們對神的信任往往只止於某一點，就回复禱告初階時的驚惶失措，像那些不認識神的人一樣。在走投無路時，我們表現得對神毫無信心，也不信他掌管全世界；他似乎睡了，我們只看見前面得風浪。
[你們這小信得人哪！ ]門徒是何等難過－－[又失敗了！ ]我們也會同樣難過。我們知道其實可以叫主得心歡暢快樂－－只要對他保持絕對的信心，不管前路如何。人生風平浪靜時，我們會安然的盡人的力量做到最好；但當危難一到，就立即顯出倚靠的到底是誰。我們若不斷地學習敬拜神，信靠他，那末在風浪的日子，對他的信心也同樣至死不移。我們多次的談到成聖的問題－－最終的目的是什麼呢？就是在神裡面安息，與神合一。這合一不但使我們在他眼前成為無可指摘的，更叫我們成為他的喜樂。
祈禱◆主啊，我的快樂全在乎對你的紀念，否則對你那歡愉而單純的信靠，不過是一種輕率的舉動。願你今天讓快樂四面環繞我們。
When we are afraid, the least we can do is pray to God. But our Lord has a right to expect that those who name His name have an underlying confidence in Him. God expects His children to be so confident in Him that in any crisis they are the ones who are reliable. Yet our trust is only in God up to a certain point, then we turn back to the elementary panic-stricken prayers of those people who do not even know God. We come to our wits’ end, showing that we don’t have even the slightest amount of confidence in Him or in His sovereign control of the world. To us He seems to be asleep, and we can see nothing but giant, breaking waves on the sea ahead of us.
“. . . O you of little faith!” What a stinging pain must have shot through the disciples as they surely thought to themselves, “We missed the mark again!” And what a sharp pain will go through us when we suddenly realize that we could have produced complete and utter joy in the heart of Jesus by remaining absolutely confident in Him, in spite of what we were facing.
There are times when there is no storm or crisis in our lives, and we do all that is humanly possible. But it is when a crisis arises that we instantly reveal upon whom we rely. If we have been learning to worship God and to place our trust in Him, the crisis will reveal that we can go to the point of breaking, yet without breaking our confidence in Him.
We have been talking quite a lot about sanctification, but what will be the result in our lives? It will be expressed in our lives as a peaceful resting in God, which means a total oneness with Him. And this oneness will make us not only blameless in His sight, but also a profound joy to Him.
安息神學
你們這小信的人哪，為什麼膽怯呢？ （太八26）
我們恐懼的時候，最不可少的就是向神禱告；可是，我們的主有權要求屬他的人，對他有一種深切了解的信任。神期望他的兒女對他大有信心，以致再任何重要關頭，仍然站得住。但我們對神的信任往往只止於某一點，就回复禱告初階時的驚惶失措，像那些不認識神的人一樣。在走投無路時，我們表現得對神毫無信心，也不信他掌管全世界；他似乎睡了，我們只看見前面得風浪。
[你們這小信得人哪！ ]門徒是何等難過－－[又失敗了！ ]我們也會同樣難過。我們知道其實可以叫主得心歡暢快樂－－只要對他保持絕對的信心，不管前路如何。人生風平浪靜時，我們會安然的盡人的力量做到最好；但當危難一到，就立即顯出倚靠的到底是誰。我們若不斷地學習敬拜神，信靠他，那末在風浪的日子，對他的信心也同樣至死不移。我們多次的談到成聖的問題－－最終的目的是什麼呢？就是在神裡面安息，與神合一。這合一不但使我們在他眼前成為無可指摘的，更叫我們成為他的喜樂。
祈禱◆主啊，我的快樂全在乎對你的紀念，否則對你那歡愉而單純的信靠，不過是一種輕率的舉動。願你今天讓快樂四面環繞我們。
August 02, 2012
The Teaching of Adversity
In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world —John 16:33
The typical view of the Christian life is that it means being delivered from all adversity. But it actually means being delivered in adversity, which is something very different. “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling . . .” (Psalm 91:1,10)— the place where you are at one with God.
If you are a child of God, you will certainly encounter adversities, but Jesus says you should not be surprised when they come. “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” He is saying, “There is nothing for you to fear.” The same people who refused to talk about their adversities before they were saved often complain and worry after being born again because they have the wrong idea of what it means to live the life of a saint.
God does not give us overcoming life— He gives us life as we overcome. The strain of life is what builds our strength. If there is no strain, there will be no strength. Are you asking God to give you life, liberty, and joy? He cannot, unless you are willing to accept the strain. And once you face the strain, you will immediately get the strength. Overcome your own timidity and take the first step. Then God will give you nourishment— “To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life . . .” (Revelation 2:7). If you completely give of yourself physically, you become exhausted. But when you give of yourself spiritually, you get more strength. God never gives us strength for tomorrow, or for the next hour, but only for the strain of the moment. Our temptation is to face adversities from the standpoint of our own common sense. But a saint can “be of good cheer” even when seemingly defeated by adversities, because victory is absurdly impossible to everyone, except God.
苦難的操練
在世上你們有苦難，但你們可以放心，我已經勝了世界。 （約十六33）
一般人都以為基督徒的人生，是沒有苦難的。其實並非如此，基督徒乃是患難中得拯救。 [住在至高者隱密處得，必住在全能者得蔭下……禍患必不臨到你。 ]沒有災難能臨到你與神合一的處所。你若是神的兒女，必定會遭遇困難，但主耶穌說不必驚奇：[在世上你們有苦難，但你們可以放心，我已經勝了世界。 ]意思就是沒有什麼值得你害怕。在信主前不屑談苦難的人，重生後往往變得軟弱無力，因為他們對作聖徒有錯誤的理解。
神沒有給我們勝過一切的生命；卻在我們誇勝時，賜給生命。壓力就是力量。沒有壓力，就沒有力量。你求神賜生命、自由與喜樂嗎？除非你肯接受壓力，否則他無法把這些賜給你。你一面對壓力，就得力量。勝過膽怯，踏上那一步，神就讓你得吃生命樹得果子，你就得著滋養。你若消耗體力，會覺得疲憊；但若你在屬靈上愈用力，便愈發得力。神從來不賜明天得力量，也不賜下一刻的力量，他只給你勝過現今壓力的力量。我們很容易以常理去面對困難；但聖徒若被苦難壓透，反會大大喜樂，因為事情是這樣困難，除了神以外，根本沒有人能有辦法。
祈禱◆主啊，你的思想是何等令人驚服！可是，我何時才發現自己順服的心，全然被你所佔據？我似乎已被本身的渺小，自私和罪惡弄得毫無力量。
The typical view of the Christian life is that it means being delivered from all adversity. But it actually means being delivered in adversity, which is something very different. “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling . . .” (Psalm 91:1,10)— the place where you are at one with God.
If you are a child of God, you will certainly encounter adversities, but Jesus says you should not be surprised when they come. “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” He is saying, “There is nothing for you to fear.” The same people who refused to talk about their adversities before they were saved often complain and worry after being born again because they have the wrong idea of what it means to live the life of a saint.
God does not give us overcoming life— He gives us life as we overcome. The strain of life is what builds our strength. If there is no strain, there will be no strength. Are you asking God to give you life, liberty, and joy? He cannot, unless you are willing to accept the strain. And once you face the strain, you will immediately get the strength. Overcome your own timidity and take the first step. Then God will give you nourishment— “To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life . . .” (Revelation 2:7). If you completely give of yourself physically, you become exhausted. But when you give of yourself spiritually, you get more strength. God never gives us strength for tomorrow, or for the next hour, but only for the strain of the moment. Our temptation is to face adversities from the standpoint of our own common sense. But a saint can “be of good cheer” even when seemingly defeated by adversities, because victory is absurdly impossible to everyone, except God.
苦難的操練
在世上你們有苦難，但你們可以放心，我已經勝了世界。 （約十六33）
一般人都以為基督徒的人生，是沒有苦難的。其實並非如此，基督徒乃是患難中得拯救。 [住在至高者隱密處得，必住在全能者得蔭下……禍患必不臨到你。 ]沒有災難能臨到你與神合一的處所。你若是神的兒女，必定會遭遇困難，但主耶穌說不必驚奇：[在世上你們有苦難，但你們可以放心，我已經勝了世界。 ]意思就是沒有什麼值得你害怕。在信主前不屑談苦難的人，重生後往往變得軟弱無力，因為他們對作聖徒有錯誤的理解。
神沒有給我們勝過一切的生命；卻在我們誇勝時，賜給生命。壓力就是力量。沒有壓力，就沒有力量。你求神賜生命、自由與喜樂嗎？除非你肯接受壓力，否則他無法把這些賜給你。你一面對壓力，就得力量。勝過膽怯，踏上那一步，神就讓你得吃生命樹得果子，你就得著滋養。你若消耗體力，會覺得疲憊；但若你在屬靈上愈用力，便愈發得力。神從來不賜明天得力量，也不賜下一刻的力量，他只給你勝過現今壓力的力量。我們很容易以常理去面對困難；但聖徒若被苦難壓透，反會大大喜樂，因為事情是這樣困難，除了神以外，根本沒有人能有辦法。
祈禱◆主啊，你的思想是何等令人驚服！可是，我何時才發現自己順服的心，全然被你所佔據？我似乎已被本身的渺小，自私和罪惡弄得毫無力量。
June 18, 2012
Keep Recognizing Jesus
. . . Peter . . . walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid . . . —Matthew 14:29-30
The wind really was boisterous and the waves really were high, but Peter didn’t see them at first. He didn’t consider them at all; he simply recognized his Lord, stepped out in recognition of Him, and “walked on the water.” Then he began to take those things around him into account, and instantly, down he went. Why couldn’t our Lord have enabled him to walk at the bottom of the waves, as well as on top of them? He could have, yet neither could be done without Peter’s continuing recognition of the Lord Jesus.
We step right out with recognition of God in some things, then self-consideration enters our lives and down we go. If you are truly recognizing your Lord, you have no business being concerned about how and where He engineers your circumstances. The things surrounding you are real, but when you look at them you are immediately overwhelmed, and even unable to recognize Jesus. Then comes His rebuke, “. . . why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31). Let your actual circumstances be what they may, but keep recognizing Jesus, maintaining complete reliance upon Him.
If you debate for even one second when God has spoken, it is all over for you. Never start to say, “Well, I wonder if He really did speak to me?” Be reckless immediately— totally unrestrained and willing to risk everything— by casting your all upon Him. You do not know when His voice will come to you, but whenever the realization of God comes, even in the faintest way imaginable, be determined to recklessly abandon yourself, surrendering everything to Him. It is only through abandonment of yourself and your circumstances that you will recognize Him. You will only recognize His voice more clearly through recklessness— being willing to risk your all.
不必籌算了，上路吧！
彼得就……在水面上走，要到耶穌那裡去。只因見風甚大，就害怕。 （太十四29-30）
風雖然大，浪雖然高，但彼得卻視若無睹。他並不怕波濤洶湧，因為他一心一意只知道主，而且因主在水面上走。過後，他發現到現實的環境，隨即就下沉了。何以主不使他在水底行走，像在水面上一樣呢？若不認識是主耶穌，兩者都不能行。
在某些事上，我們會毅然信靠神，稍後就姑息自己，便往下沉了。所以只要認清是主，就不必問他怎樣處理環境。現實本來就是如此，你一旦注目其上，就被它支配，看不見耶穌了。神就會責備你說：[為什麼疑惑呢？ ]不管現實環境怎樣，總要認識耶穌，保持對他完全的信賴。
神的話一發出，只要你有一刻的遲疑，就完了。切勿說：[唔，他到底有沒有說過呢？ ]這時要立即孤注一擲，把一切投在他身上。你不知道他什麼時候說話，但只要稍微認識他，就該不顧一切地投上。只有捨棄一切，你才會認出他來。只有當你不顧一切時，才更清楚認出他的聲音。
祈禱◆主啊，求你在這天，讓那使我們在你的事奉中軟弱下來的自我意識永遠消失，使我們所認知的，就只有耶穌。
The wind really was boisterous and the waves really were high, but Peter didn’t see them at first. He didn’t consider them at all; he simply recognized his Lord, stepped out in recognition of Him, and “walked on the water.” Then he began to take those things around him into account, and instantly, down he went. Why couldn’t our Lord have enabled him to walk at the bottom of the waves, as well as on top of them? He could have, yet neither could be done without Peter’s continuing recognition of the Lord Jesus.
We step right out with recognition of God in some things, then self-consideration enters our lives and down we go. If you are truly recognizing your Lord, you have no business being concerned about how and where He engineers your circumstances. The things surrounding you are real, but when you look at them you are immediately overwhelmed, and even unable to recognize Jesus. Then comes His rebuke, “. . . why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31). Let your actual circumstances be what they may, but keep recognizing Jesus, maintaining complete reliance upon Him.
If you debate for even one second when God has spoken, it is all over for you. Never start to say, “Well, I wonder if He really did speak to me?” Be reckless immediately— totally unrestrained and willing to risk everything— by casting your all upon Him. You do not know when His voice will come to you, but whenever the realization of God comes, even in the faintest way imaginable, be determined to recklessly abandon yourself, surrendering everything to Him. It is only through abandonment of yourself and your circumstances that you will recognize Him. You will only recognize His voice more clearly through recklessness— being willing to risk your all.
不必籌算了，上路吧！
彼得就……在水面上走，要到耶穌那裡去。只因見風甚大，就害怕。 （太十四29-30）
風雖然大，浪雖然高，但彼得卻視若無睹。他並不怕波濤洶湧，因為他一心一意只知道主，而且因主在水面上走。過後，他發現到現實的環境，隨即就下沉了。何以主不使他在水底行走，像在水面上一樣呢？若不認識是主耶穌，兩者都不能行。
在某些事上，我們會毅然信靠神，稍後就姑息自己，便往下沉了。所以只要認清是主，就不必問他怎樣處理環境。現實本來就是如此，你一旦注目其上，就被它支配，看不見耶穌了。神就會責備你說：[為什麼疑惑呢？ ]不管現實環境怎樣，總要認識耶穌，保持對他完全的信賴。
神的話一發出，只要你有一刻的遲疑，就完了。切勿說：[唔，他到底有沒有說過呢？ ]這時要立即孤注一擲，把一切投在他身上。你不知道他什麼時候說話，但只要稍微認識他，就該不顧一切地投上。只有捨棄一切，你才會認出他來。只有當你不顧一切時，才更清楚認出他的聲音。
祈禱◆主啊，求你在這天，讓那使我們在你的事奉中軟弱下來的自我意識永遠消失，使我們所認知的，就只有耶穌。
June 05, 2012
God’s Assurance
He Himself has said . . . . So we may boldly say . . . —Hebrews 13:5-6
My assurance is to be built upon God’s assurance to me. God says, “I will never leave you,” so that then I “may boldly say, ’The Lord is my helper; I will not fear’ ” (Hebrews 13:5-6). In other words, I will not be obsessed with apprehension. This does not mean that I will not be tempted to fear, but I will remember God’s words of assurance. I will be full of courage, like a child who strives to reach the standard his father has set for him. The faith of many people begins to falter when apprehensions enter their thinking, and they forget the meaning of God’s assurance— they forget to take a deep spiritual breath. The only way to remove the fear from our lives is to listen to God’s assurance to us.
What are you fearing? Whatever it may be, you are not a coward about it— you are determined to face it, yet you still have a feeling of fear. When it seems that there is nothing and no one to help you, say to yourself, “But ’The Lord is my helper’ this very moment, even in my present circumstance.” Are you learning to listen to God before you speak, or are you saying things and then trying to make God’s Word fit what you have said? Take hold of the Father’s assurance, and then say with strong courage, “I will not fear.” It does not matter what evil or wrong may be in our way, because “He Himself has said, ’I will never leave you . . . .’ ”
Human frailty is another thing that gets between God’s words of assurance and our own words and thoughts. When we realize how feeble we are in facing difficulties, the difficulties become like giants, we become like grasshoppers, and God seems to be nonexistent. But remember God’s assurance to us— “I will never. . . forsake you.” Have we learned to sing after hearing God’s keynote? Are we continually filled with enough courage to say, “The Lord is my helper,” or are we yielding to fear?
神如此說
主曾說……所以我們可以放膽說……(來十三5-6)
[我如此說]必須以[神如此說]做根基。神既說：[我總不撇下你。 ]我就可以勇敢地說：[主是幫助我的，我必不懼怕。 ]——我不會被恐懼侵擾。這不是說我不會有恐懼的試探，乃是我知道神曾如此說。這樣我就會鼓起勇氣，像孩子一鼓作氣似的，竭力達到父親所要求的水平。不少人在恐懼中信心動搖，忘記了神曾[如此說]，忘記了在聖靈裡深深地吸一口氣。唯一脫離恐懼的方法，就是聽神[如此說]。
你害怕的是什麼？你不是懦夫，你要面對現實，可是總有一種恐懼的感覺。你在孤獨無援之中，要說：[主是幫助我的，就在此時此地。 ]你有沒有學習先聽神的話，然後才開口說話？抑或你擅自發言，然後企圖拿神的話來支持？你當抓住父神的[如此說]，然後勇氣十足地說：[我必不懼怕。 ]路上的兇險不要緊，因他已說過：[我總不撇下你。 ]
另一樣阻隔神[如此說]的，就是意志薄弱。我們在難處中，往往很柔弱；難處就成為強大的巨人，而我們反而像蚱蜢，就像神不存在一般。要記住神如此說：[我總不撇下你。 ]我們是否學會聽見神的主音想起就唱和？我們是否時常有這勇氣：[主是幫助我的。 ]還是就此一蹶不振？
祈禱◆主啊，現在向我說話，為著今天的日子激勵我；那深沉而具有破壞力的暗晦，似乎正緊緊操縱著我的能力。主啊，與我們同在。
My assurance is to be built upon God’s assurance to me. God says, “I will never leave you,” so that then I “may boldly say, ’The Lord is my helper; I will not fear’ ” (Hebrews 13:5-6). In other words, I will not be obsessed with apprehension. This does not mean that I will not be tempted to fear, but I will remember God’s words of assurance. I will be full of courage, like a child who strives to reach the standard his father has set for him. The faith of many people begins to falter when apprehensions enter their thinking, and they forget the meaning of God’s assurance— they forget to take a deep spiritual breath. The only way to remove the fear from our lives is to listen to God’s assurance to us.
What are you fearing? Whatever it may be, you are not a coward about it— you are determined to face it, yet you still have a feeling of fear. When it seems that there is nothing and no one to help you, say to yourself, “But ’The Lord is my helper’ this very moment, even in my present circumstance.” Are you learning to listen to God before you speak, or are you saying things and then trying to make God’s Word fit what you have said? Take hold of the Father’s assurance, and then say with strong courage, “I will not fear.” It does not matter what evil or wrong may be in our way, because “He Himself has said, ’I will never leave you . . . .’ ”
Human frailty is another thing that gets between God’s words of assurance and our own words and thoughts. When we realize how feeble we are in facing difficulties, the difficulties become like giants, we become like grasshoppers, and God seems to be nonexistent. But remember God’s assurance to us— “I will never. . . forsake you.” Have we learned to sing after hearing God’s keynote? Are we continually filled with enough courage to say, “The Lord is my helper,” or are we yielding to fear?
神如此說
主曾說……所以我們可以放膽說……(來十三5-6)
[我如此說]必須以[神如此說]做根基。神既說：[我總不撇下你。 ]我就可以勇敢地說：[主是幫助我的，我必不懼怕。 ]——我不會被恐懼侵擾。這不是說我不會有恐懼的試探，乃是我知道神曾如此說。這樣我就會鼓起勇氣，像孩子一鼓作氣似的，竭力達到父親所要求的水平。不少人在恐懼中信心動搖，忘記了神曾[如此說]，忘記了在聖靈裡深深地吸一口氣。唯一脫離恐懼的方法，就是聽神[如此說]。
你害怕的是什麼？你不是懦夫，你要面對現實，可是總有一種恐懼的感覺。你在孤獨無援之中，要說：[主是幫助我的，就在此時此地。 ]你有沒有學習先聽神的話，然後才開口說話？抑或你擅自發言，然後企圖拿神的話來支持？你當抓住父神的[如此說]，然後勇氣十足地說：[我必不懼怕。 ]路上的兇險不要緊，因他已說過：[我總不撇下你。 ]
另一樣阻隔神[如此說]的，就是意志薄弱。我們在難處中，往往很柔弱；難處就成為強大的巨人，而我們反而像蚱蜢，就像神不存在一般。要記住神如此說：[我總不撇下你。 ]我們是否學會聽見神的主音想起就唱和？我們是否時常有這勇氣：[主是幫助我的。 ]還是就此一蹶不振？
祈禱◆主啊，現在向我說話，為著今天的日子激勵我；那深沉而具有破壞力的暗晦，似乎正緊緊操縱著我的能力。主啊，與我們同在。
May 24, 2012
The Delight of Despair
When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead —Revelation 1:17
It may be that, like the apostle John, you know Jesus Christ intimately. Yet when He suddenly appears to you with totally unfamiliar characteristics, the only thing you can do is fall “at His feet as dead.” There are times when God cannot reveal Himself in any other way than in His majesty, and it is the awesomeness of the vision which brings you to the delight of despair. You experience this joy in hopelessness, realizing that if you are ever to be raised up it must be by the hand of God.
“He laid His right hand on me . . .” (Revelation 1:17). In the midst of the awesomeness, a touch comes, and you know it is the right hand of Jesus Christ. You know it is not the hand of restraint, correction, nor chastisement, but the right hand of the Everlasting Father. Whenever His hand is laid upon you, it gives inexpressible peace and comfort, and the sense that “underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deuteronomy 33:27), full of support, provision, comfort, and strength. And once His touch comes, nothing at all can throw you into fear again. In the midst of all His ascended glory, the Lord Jesus comes to speak to an insignificant disciple, saying, “Do not be afraid” (Revelation 1:17). His tenderness is inexpressibly sweet. Do I know Him like that?
Take a look at some of the things that cause despair. There is despair which has no delight, no limits whatsoever, and no hope of anything brighter. But the delight of despair comes when “I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells . . .” (Romans 7:18). I delight in knowing that there is something in me which must fall prostrate before God when He reveals Himself to me, and also in knowing that if I am ever to be raised up it must be by the hand of God. God can do nothing for me until I recognize the limits of what is humanly possible, allowing Him to do the impossible.
絕望中的興奮
我一看見，就仆倒在他腳前，像死了一樣。 （啟一17）
也許你像約翰一樣，與主耶穌相知甚深。但當他突然以完全陌生的面貌出現，你只能仆倒他腳前像死去一樣。有時神不能以別的辦法顯示他自己，就只好以他的威嚴顯現。那異像中的威榮，叫你在絕望中心懷興奮。那時，你要再起來，就必須捉著神的手了。
[他用右手按著我說。 ]在驚恐中，有人觸摸你，你便曉得那時耶穌基督的右手。不是阻止、糾正或管教的右手，而是永在的父的右手。無論他的手什麼時候放在你身上，總有難以形容的平安與安慰，因為知道有永遠的膀臂在扶持，就得著供應、安慰與力量。神的撫摸一來，就再沒有什麼能叫你恐懼的了。主耶穌帶著天上的榮耀，對一個微不足道的門徒說：[不要懼怕。 ]他的仁慈是那樣的溫柔，我對他有這樣的認識麼？
留心那些令人絕望的事物。有一種絕望是沒有喜樂、沒有展望、沒有曙光。可是只要我知道[在我裡頭，就是在我肉體之中，沒有良善]，那時絕望中的喜樂就來了。在神榮耀的彰顯之中，我必須謙恭俯伏。若要起來，神必親手攙扶。除非我到了一切的盡頭，否則神不能為我作什麼。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，在屬靈和各方滿，願你加倍地保守這聖靈的殿。賜給我們你所喜悅的光輝和明亮。
It may be that, like the apostle John, you know Jesus Christ intimately. Yet when He suddenly appears to you with totally unfamiliar characteristics, the only thing you can do is fall “at His feet as dead.” There are times when God cannot reveal Himself in any other way than in His majesty, and it is the awesomeness of the vision which brings you to the delight of despair. You experience this joy in hopelessness, realizing that if you are ever to be raised up it must be by the hand of God.
“He laid His right hand on me . . .” (Revelation 1:17). In the midst of the awesomeness, a touch comes, and you know it is the right hand of Jesus Christ. You know it is not the hand of restraint, correction, nor chastisement, but the right hand of the Everlasting Father. Whenever His hand is laid upon you, it gives inexpressible peace and comfort, and the sense that “underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deuteronomy 33:27), full of support, provision, comfort, and strength. And once His touch comes, nothing at all can throw you into fear again. In the midst of all His ascended glory, the Lord Jesus comes to speak to an insignificant disciple, saying, “Do not be afraid” (Revelation 1:17). His tenderness is inexpressibly sweet. Do I know Him like that?
Take a look at some of the things that cause despair. There is despair which has no delight, no limits whatsoever, and no hope of anything brighter. But the delight of despair comes when “I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells . . .” (Romans 7:18). I delight in knowing that there is something in me which must fall prostrate before God when He reveals Himself to me, and also in knowing that if I am ever to be raised up it must be by the hand of God. God can do nothing for me until I recognize the limits of what is humanly possible, allowing Him to do the impossible.
絕望中的興奮
我一看見，就仆倒在他腳前，像死了一樣。 （啟一17）
也許你像約翰一樣，與主耶穌相知甚深。但當他突然以完全陌生的面貌出現，你只能仆倒他腳前像死去一樣。有時神不能以別的辦法顯示他自己，就只好以他的威嚴顯現。那異像中的威榮，叫你在絕望中心懷興奮。那時，你要再起來，就必須捉著神的手了。
[他用右手按著我說。 ]在驚恐中，有人觸摸你，你便曉得那時耶穌基督的右手。不是阻止、糾正或管教的右手，而是永在的父的右手。無論他的手什麼時候放在你身上，總有難以形容的平安與安慰，因為知道有永遠的膀臂在扶持，就得著供應、安慰與力量。神的撫摸一來，就再沒有什麼能叫你恐懼的了。主耶穌帶著天上的榮耀，對一個微不足道的門徒說：[不要懼怕。 ]他的仁慈是那樣的溫柔，我對他有這樣的認識麼？
留心那些令人絕望的事物。有一種絕望是沒有喜樂、沒有展望、沒有曙光。可是只要我知道[在我裡頭，就是在我肉體之中，沒有良善]，那時絕望中的喜樂就來了。在神榮耀的彰顯之中，我必須謙恭俯伏。若要起來，神必親手攙扶。除非我到了一切的盡頭，否則神不能為我作什麼。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，在屬靈和各方滿，願你加倍地保守這聖靈的殿。賜給我們你所喜悅的光輝和明亮。
March 07, 2012
The Source of Abundant Joy
In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us —Romans 8:37
Paul was speaking here of the things that might seem likely to separate a saint from the love of God. But the remarkable thing is that nothing can come between the love of God and a saint. The things Paul mentioned in this passage can and do disrupt the close fellowship of our soul with God and separate our natural life from Him. But none of them is able to come between the love of God and the soul of a saint on the spiritual level. The underlying foundation of the Christian faith is the undeserved, limitless miracle of the love of God that was exhibited on the Cross of Calvary; a love that is not earned and can never be. Paul said this is the reason that “in all these things we are more than conquerors.” We are super-victors with a joy that comes from experiencing the very things which look as if they are going to overwhelm us.
Huge waves that would frighten an ordinary swimmer produce a tremendous thrill for the surfer who has ridden them. Let’s apply that to our own circumstances. The things we try to avoid and fight against— tribulation, suffering, and persecution— are the very things that produce abundant joy in us. “We are more than conquerors through Him” “in all these things”; not in spite of them, but in the midst of them. A saint doesn’t know the joy of the Lord in spite of tribulation, but because of it. Paul said, “I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation” (2 Corinthians 7:4).
The undiminished radiance, which is the result of abundant joy, is not built on anything passing, but on the love of God that nothing can change. And the experiences of life, whether they are everyday events or terrifying ones, are powerless to “separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39).
不朽的喜樂
然而靠著愛我們的主，在這一切的事上，已經得勝有餘了。 （羅八37）
保羅列舉許多的事情，似乎會把聖徒與神的愛隔開；但奇特的是，沒有任何事物可以將聖徒與神的愛隔絕。這些事可以而且實際的進入人的事奉操練中，隔開了神，叫個人的生命與神分開。但是，絕沒有一樣能插入神的愛與聖徒的心靈中間。我們信仰的基石，就是神在加略十架上彰顯出來那高深莫測、奇妙無比的愛，這愛是我們永遠不配得的。保羅說正因為這緣故，我們在這一切事上已經得勝有餘，成為超然的得勝者。正在那似乎要把我們制服的事上，獲得無比的喜樂。
游泳者所懼怕的波濤，對滑浪者卻是駕浪凌空的賞心樂事。應用在我們的身上，這些事——患難、困苦、逼迫——在我們裡面卻生出喜樂來；這些事不是我們爭鬥的物件、藉著他，我們在這一切困擾裡面，已經得勝有餘。不是[儘管]有這些也得勝，乃是置身其中仍然得勝。信徒從來不會因為[徒有]患難，就體會主裡的喜樂，乃是由於在患難之中而體會到的。保羅說：[我在患難中格外喜樂。 ]
不朽的喜樂，並不建築在短暫的事上，乃是在神永不改變的愛上。人生的經歷不論是可怕的或是單調的，都無法影響神的愛，這愛是在我們的主基督耶穌裡的。
祈禱◆主啊，為著如今在我生命中的喜樂——妻兒之愛、所教的學生、聖靈的恩惠——我讚美你。它們所帶來的喜樂和福氣，是何等奇妙！
Paul was speaking here of the things that might seem likely to separate a saint from the love of God. But the remarkable thing is that nothing can come between the love of God and a saint. The things Paul mentioned in this passage can and do disrupt the close fellowship of our soul with God and separate our natural life from Him. But none of them is able to come between the love of God and the soul of a saint on the spiritual level. The underlying foundation of the Christian faith is the undeserved, limitless miracle of the love of God that was exhibited on the Cross of Calvary; a love that is not earned and can never be. Paul said this is the reason that “in all these things we are more than conquerors.” We are super-victors with a joy that comes from experiencing the very things which look as if they are going to overwhelm us.
Huge waves that would frighten an ordinary swimmer produce a tremendous thrill for the surfer who has ridden them. Let’s apply that to our own circumstances. The things we try to avoid and fight against— tribulation, suffering, and persecution— are the very things that produce abundant joy in us. “We are more than conquerors through Him” “in all these things”; not in spite of them, but in the midst of them. A saint doesn’t know the joy of the Lord in spite of tribulation, but because of it. Paul said, “I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation” (2 Corinthians 7:4).
The undiminished radiance, which is the result of abundant joy, is not built on anything passing, but on the love of God that nothing can change. And the experiences of life, whether they are everyday events or terrifying ones, are powerless to “separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39).
不朽的喜樂
然而靠著愛我們的主，在這一切的事上，已經得勝有餘了。 （羅八37）
保羅列舉許多的事情，似乎會把聖徒與神的愛隔開；但奇特的是，沒有任何事物可以將聖徒與神的愛隔絕。這些事可以而且實際的進入人的事奉操練中，隔開了神，叫個人的生命與神分開。但是，絕沒有一樣能插入神的愛與聖徒的心靈中間。我們信仰的基石，就是神在加略十架上彰顯出來那高深莫測、奇妙無比的愛，這愛是我們永遠不配得的。保羅說正因為這緣故，我們在這一切事上已經得勝有餘，成為超然的得勝者。正在那似乎要把我們制服的事上，獲得無比的喜樂。
游泳者所懼怕的波濤，對滑浪者卻是駕浪凌空的賞心樂事。應用在我們的身上，這些事——患難、困苦、逼迫——在我們裡面卻生出喜樂來；這些事不是我們爭鬥的物件、藉著他，我們在這一切困擾裡面，已經得勝有餘。不是[儘管]有這些也得勝，乃是置身其中仍然得勝。信徒從來不會因為[徒有]患難，就體會主裡的喜樂，乃是由於在患難之中而體會到的。保羅說：[我在患難中格外喜樂。 ]
不朽的喜樂，並不建築在短暫的事上，乃是在神永不改變的愛上。人生的經歷不論是可怕的或是單調的，都無法影響神的愛，這愛是在我們的主基督耶穌裡的。
祈禱◆主啊，為著如今在我生命中的喜樂——妻兒之愛、所教的學生、聖靈的恩惠——我讚美你。它們所帶來的喜樂和福氣，是何等奇妙！
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