Do you not know that . . . you are not your own? —1 Corinthians 6:19
There is no such thing as a private life, or a place to hide in this world, for a man or woman who is intimately aware of and shares in the sufferings of Jesus Christ. God divides the private life of His saints and makes it a highway for the world on one hand and for Himself on the other. No human being can stand that unless he is identified with Jesus Christ. We are not sanctified for ourselves. We are called into intimacy with the gospel, and things happen that appear to have nothing to do with us. But God is getting us into fellowship with Himself. Let Him have His way. If you refuse, you will be of no value to God in His redemptive work in the world, but will be a hindrance and a stumbling block.
The first thing God does is get us grounded on strong reality and truth. He does this until our cares for ourselves individually have been brought into submission to His way for the purpose of His redemption. Why shouldn’t we experience heartbreak? Through those doorways God is opening up ways of fellowship with His Son. Most of us collapse at the first grip of pain. We sit down at the door of God’s purpose and enter a slow death through self-pity. And all the so-called Christian sympathy of others helps us to our deathbed. But God will not. He comes with the grip of the pierced hand of His Son, as if to say, “Enter into fellowship with Me; arise and shine.” If God can accomplish His purposes in this world through a broken heart, then why not thank Him for breaking yours?
你不屬自己
豈不知……你們不是自己的人。 （林前六19）
一個在耶穌基督受苦上有分的人，根本就沒有所謂的私生活，亦即[世界裡的世界]。神把聖徒的私生活打碎了，造成一條通道，是通往他自己的通道。除非人與主耶穌認同，否則沒有人能受得住這個。我們成聖，不是為自己，乃是蒙召同得福音的好處；與我們無關的事發生，為要叫我們與神相交。所以，要讓神旨意通行，否則你不但在他救贖世界的大工上沒有絲毫用處，反成為阻礙。
神首先做的，是使我們面對最粗陋的現實，直至我們對任何發生在個人身上的時不再介懷，只要他救贖的目的達成。我們為何不可以經歷一下心痛欲絕呢？通過這些門徒，神開啟與他兒子相通的道路。多半人一受痛楚，就仆倒；我們坐在神心意的門檻上，死在自憐自憫之中。信徒間所謂同情心，更加速了死亡率。神卻不是這樣，他拿著他兒子釘痕的手，說：[進來與我相交，起來發光。 ]若破碎的心靈能使神的旨意在世上成就，那麽，要為他破碎你的心而感謝他。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，願你今天的說話帶著能力和恩慈。願你引導我，與你進入內心隱密的相交，以致你可以正確地傳達你自己。
Showing posts with label Fellowship With. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fellowship With. Show all posts
November 01, 2014
October 19, 2014
The Unheeded Secret
Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world —John 18:36
The great enemy of the Lord Jesus Christ today is the idea of practical work that has no basis in the New Testament but comes from the systems of the world. This work insists upon endless energy and activities, but no private life with God. The emphasis is put on the wrong thing. Jesus said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation . . . . For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21). It is a hidden, obscure thing. An active Christian worker too often lives to be seen by others, while it is the innermost, personal area that reveals the power of a person’s life.
We must get rid of the plague of the spirit of this religious age in which we live. In our Lord’s life there was none of the pressure and the rushing of tremendous activity that we regard so highly today, and a disciple is to be like His Master. The central point of the kingdom of Jesus Christ is a personal relationship with Him, not public usefulness to others.
It is not the practical activities that are the strength of this Bible Training College— its entire strength lies in the fact that here you are immersed in the truths of God to soak in them before Him. You have no idea of where or how God is going to engineer your future circumstances, and no knowledge of what stress and strain is going to be placed on you either at home or abroad. And if you waste your time in overactivity, instead of being immersed in the great fundamental truths of God’s redemption, then you will snap when the stress and strain do come. But if this time of soaking before God is being spent in getting rooted and grounded in Him, which may appear to be impractical, then you will remain true to Him whatever happens.
被忽視的秘密
"我的國不屬這世界。"約18:36
如今主耶穌基督最大的敵人，是我們對實際事工的觀念，它不從新約聖經而來，而是從這世界的系統而來，在支持各種活動上付出了無窮的精力，幾乎沒有了與神同在的個人關係，把重點放在了錯誤的事情上。耶穌說：" 神的國來到不是眼所能見的。因為神的國就在你們心裡，"（路17:20-21）它是一個隱藏的，不明顯的事物。一個活躍的基督徒工人經常活在商店的櫥窗裡。其實，只有內心的最深處才展現出生命的力量。
我們必須除去現在所處的宗教時代的精神災禍，在主的生命裡，並沒有那種我們熱崇的事工活動所出現的擁擠和匆促，作主門徒的要像他的主一樣。耶穌基督的國度裡最中心的事，是與他的個人關係，而不是對人的外在貢獻。這所聖經訓練學院的力量，不在於實際的活動。它全部的力量在於這個事實??你是否完全浸透在神的里面。你根本不知道神要如何安排你的環境，也不知道你要在國內或者國外遭遇怎樣的壓力，如果你浪費你的時間、精力在過於活躍的活動上，而不是沉浸在關於神的救贖的偉大基要真理上，當壓力來時你就會被折斷。但是,如果花時間沉浸在神的里面，實質地在神裡面紮根， 那麼無論發生什麼，你都將保持對他的忠誠。
The great enemy of the Lord Jesus Christ today is the idea of practical work that has no basis in the New Testament but comes from the systems of the world. This work insists upon endless energy and activities, but no private life with God. The emphasis is put on the wrong thing. Jesus said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation . . . . For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21). It is a hidden, obscure thing. An active Christian worker too often lives to be seen by others, while it is the innermost, personal area that reveals the power of a person’s life.
We must get rid of the plague of the spirit of this religious age in which we live. In our Lord’s life there was none of the pressure and the rushing of tremendous activity that we regard so highly today, and a disciple is to be like His Master. The central point of the kingdom of Jesus Christ is a personal relationship with Him, not public usefulness to others.
It is not the practical activities that are the strength of this Bible Training College— its entire strength lies in the fact that here you are immersed in the truths of God to soak in them before Him. You have no idea of where or how God is going to engineer your future circumstances, and no knowledge of what stress and strain is going to be placed on you either at home or abroad. And if you waste your time in overactivity, instead of being immersed in the great fundamental truths of God’s redemption, then you will snap when the stress and strain do come. But if this time of soaking before God is being spent in getting rooted and grounded in Him, which may appear to be impractical, then you will remain true to Him whatever happens.
被忽視的秘密
"我的國不屬這世界。"約18:36
如今主耶穌基督最大的敵人，是我們對實際事工的觀念，它不從新約聖經而來，而是從這世界的系統而來，在支持各種活動上付出了無窮的精力，幾乎沒有了與神同在的個人關係，把重點放在了錯誤的事情上。耶穌說：" 神的國來到不是眼所能見的。因為神的國就在你們心裡，"（路17:20-21）它是一個隱藏的，不明顯的事物。一個活躍的基督徒工人經常活在商店的櫥窗裡。其實，只有內心的最深處才展現出生命的力量。
我們必須除去現在所處的宗教時代的精神災禍，在主的生命裡，並沒有那種我們熱崇的事工活動所出現的擁擠和匆促，作主門徒的要像他的主一樣。耶穌基督的國度裡最中心的事，是與他的個人關係，而不是對人的外在貢獻。這所聖經訓練學院的力量，不在於實際的活動。它全部的力量在於這個事實??你是否完全浸透在神的里面。你根本不知道神要如何安排你的環境，也不知道你要在國內或者國外遭遇怎樣的壓力，如果你浪費你的時間、精力在過於活躍的活動上，而不是沉浸在關於神的救贖的偉大基要真理上，當壓力來時你就會被折斷。但是,如果花時間沉浸在神的里面，實質地在神裡面紮根， 那麼無論發生什麼，你都將保持對他的忠誠。
October 12, 2014
Getting into God’s Stride
Enoch walked with God . . . —Genesis 5:24
The true test of a person’s spiritual life and character is not what he does in the extraordinary moments of life, but what he does during the ordinary times when there is nothing tremendous or exciting happening. A person’s worth is revealed in his attitude toward the ordinary things of life when he is not under the spotlight (see John 1:35-37 and John 3:30). It is painful work to get in step with God and to keep pace with Him— it means getting your second wind spiritually. In learning to walk with God, there is always the difficulty of getting into His stride, but once we have done so, the only characteristic that exhibits itself is the very life of God Himself. The individual person is merged into a personal oneness with God, and God’s stride and His power alone are exhibited.
It is difficult to get into stride with God, because as soon as we start walking with Him we find that His pace has surpassed us before we have even taken three steps. He has different ways of doing things, and we have to be trained and disciplined in His ways. It was said of Jesus— “He will not fail nor be discouraged . . .” (Isaiah 42:4) because He never worked from His own individual standpoint, but always worked from the standpoint of His Father. And we must learn to do the same. Spiritual truth is learned through the atmosphere that surrounds us, not through intellectual reasoning. It is God’s Spirit that changes the atmosphere of our way of looking at things, and then things begin to be possible which before were impossible. Getting into God’s stride means nothing less than oneness with Him. It takes a long time to get there, but keep at it. Don’t give up because the pain is intense right now— get on with it, and before long you will find that you have a new vision and a new purpose.
與神同步
以諾與神同行。 （創五24）
一個人屬靈生命與個性的考驗，不是在特殊情況下的表現，乃在平凡無奇的時日中所行所作。人的價值視乎他在隱藏時對普通事物所抱的態度（比較約一36）。要達致與神同步的境地，是一件痛苦的事，那是屬靈上[第二陣風]的經歷。學習與神同行，總有跟不上他步伐的困難；但一旦跟上樂，所表現的唯一特質，就是神的生命。個人的生命在與神結合中隱藏樂，所表現的只有神的步伐與能力。
與神步伐一致是不容易的,因為一開始與神同行,就會發現我們才走了三步,他已在老遠樂.他有他作事的方法,我們必須學習餅接受操練,才能以他的方法作事.耶穌[不灰心,也不喪膽],因為他從不以他個人的觀點去行事,乃是以他父的觀點,我們也要如此.屬靈真理是在薰陶下學習的,而不是靠頭腦的推理.神的靈改變我們看事物的態度,於是從來不可能的事,也變得可能樂.與神同行,就是與神聯合.要做到這個,需時甚久,但要持之以恆。不要因現在的痛苦而放棄，不久，你會得著新的異象與目標。
祈禱◆主啊，如此眾多的活動，如此眾多的事情，如此眾多的人！願你因你的榮耀，以寬大的心胸和美善的屬性來賜福今天。
The true test of a person’s spiritual life and character is not what he does in the extraordinary moments of life, but what he does during the ordinary times when there is nothing tremendous or exciting happening. A person’s worth is revealed in his attitude toward the ordinary things of life when he is not under the spotlight (see John 1:35-37 and John 3:30). It is painful work to get in step with God and to keep pace with Him— it means getting your second wind spiritually. In learning to walk with God, there is always the difficulty of getting into His stride, but once we have done so, the only characteristic that exhibits itself is the very life of God Himself. The individual person is merged into a personal oneness with God, and God’s stride and His power alone are exhibited.
It is difficult to get into stride with God, because as soon as we start walking with Him we find that His pace has surpassed us before we have even taken three steps. He has different ways of doing things, and we have to be trained and disciplined in His ways. It was said of Jesus— “He will not fail nor be discouraged . . .” (Isaiah 42:4) because He never worked from His own individual standpoint, but always worked from the standpoint of His Father. And we must learn to do the same. Spiritual truth is learned through the atmosphere that surrounds us, not through intellectual reasoning. It is God’s Spirit that changes the atmosphere of our way of looking at things, and then things begin to be possible which before were impossible. Getting into God’s stride means nothing less than oneness with Him. It takes a long time to get there, but keep at it. Don’t give up because the pain is intense right now— get on with it, and before long you will find that you have a new vision and a new purpose.
與神同步
以諾與神同行。 （創五24）
一個人屬靈生命與個性的考驗，不是在特殊情況下的表現，乃在平凡無奇的時日中所行所作。人的價值視乎他在隱藏時對普通事物所抱的態度（比較約一36）。要達致與神同步的境地，是一件痛苦的事，那是屬靈上[第二陣風]的經歷。學習與神同行，總有跟不上他步伐的困難；但一旦跟上樂，所表現的唯一特質，就是神的生命。個人的生命在與神結合中隱藏樂，所表現的只有神的步伐與能力。
與神步伐一致是不容易的,因為一開始與神同行,就會發現我們才走了三步,他已在老遠樂.他有他作事的方法,我們必須學習餅接受操練,才能以他的方法作事.耶穌[不灰心,也不喪膽],因為他從不以他個人的觀點去行事,乃是以他父的觀點,我們也要如此.屬靈真理是在薰陶下學習的,而不是靠頭腦的推理.神的靈改變我們看事物的態度,於是從來不可能的事,也變得可能樂.與神同行,就是與神聯合.要做到這個,需時甚久,但要持之以恆。不要因現在的痛苦而放棄，不久，你會得著新的異象與目標。
祈禱◆主啊，如此眾多的活動，如此眾多的事情，如此眾多的人！願你因你的榮耀，以寬大的心胸和美善的屬性來賜福今天。
September 05, 2014
Watching With Jesus
Stay here and watch with Me —Matthew 26:38
“Watch with Me.” Jesus was saying, in effect, “Watch with no private point of view at all, but watch solely and entirely with Me.” In the early stages of our Christian life, we do not watch with Jesus, we watch for Him. We do not watch with Him through the revealed truth of the Bible even in the circumstances of our own lives. Our Lord is trying to introduce us to identification with Himself through a particular “Gethsemane” experience of our own. But we refuse to go, saying, “No, Lord, I can’t see the meaning of this, and besides, it’s very painful.” And how can we possibly watch with Someone who is so incomprehensible? How are we going to understand Jesus sufficiently to watch with Him in His Gethsemane, when we don’t even know why He is suffering? We don’t know how to watch with Him— we are only used to the idea of Jesus watching with us.
The disciples loved Jesus Christ to the limit of their natural capacity, but they did not fully understand His purpose. In the Garden of Gethsemane they slept as a result of their own sorrow, and at the end of three years of the closest and most intimate relationship of their lives they “all . . . forsook Him and fled” (Matthew 26:56).
“They were all filled with the Holy Spirit . . .” (Acts 2:4). “They” refers to the same people, but something wonderful has happened between these two events— our Lord’s death, resurrection, and ascension— and the disciples have now been invaded and “filled with the Holy Spirit.” Our Lord had said, “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you . . .” (Acts 1:8). This meant that they learned to watch with Him the rest of their lives.
傳道者的警醒
同我警醒。 （太二十六40）
[同我警醒。 ]－－完全沒有自己的私見，單單與主一同警醒。初時，我們不會與主一同警醒，只會為他警醒。我們不懂得透過聖經的啟示和生活的環境，與他一同警醒。主一直想用一個特定的客西馬尼，帶我們與他同心，有一同的體驗，可是我們不肯去。我們說：[不，主啊，我看不出這有何用處，太苦了。 ]怎樣可以與一個難以捉摸的物件一同警醒呢？我們若不明他受苦的目的，怎能對耶穌有充分的了解，以致肯在客西馬尼與他一同警醒？我們根本不懂得怎樣與他一同警醒，只習慣於他與我們一同警醒的觀念。
門徒愛耶穌，只到天然本能的限度為止，因她們不明白他在做什麼。在客西馬尼園中，她們因憂愁睡著了。在三年親密關係結束的時候，他們都離棄他逃跑了。 [他們都被聖靈充滿。 ]同樣是[他們]，只是奇妙的事發生了。就是主的死、復活、升天，門徒被聖靈充滿，主曾說：[聖靈降臨在你們身上，你們就必得著能力。 ]就是他們已學會終其一生與主一同警醒。
祈禱◆主啊，今天早上，為著你的話－－[主用手攙扶他]，我感謝你。
“Watch with Me.” Jesus was saying, in effect, “Watch with no private point of view at all, but watch solely and entirely with Me.” In the early stages of our Christian life, we do not watch with Jesus, we watch for Him. We do not watch with Him through the revealed truth of the Bible even in the circumstances of our own lives. Our Lord is trying to introduce us to identification with Himself through a particular “Gethsemane” experience of our own. But we refuse to go, saying, “No, Lord, I can’t see the meaning of this, and besides, it’s very painful.” And how can we possibly watch with Someone who is so incomprehensible? How are we going to understand Jesus sufficiently to watch with Him in His Gethsemane, when we don’t even know why He is suffering? We don’t know how to watch with Him— we are only used to the idea of Jesus watching with us.
The disciples loved Jesus Christ to the limit of their natural capacity, but they did not fully understand His purpose. In the Garden of Gethsemane they slept as a result of their own sorrow, and at the end of three years of the closest and most intimate relationship of their lives they “all . . . forsook Him and fled” (Matthew 26:56).
“They were all filled with the Holy Spirit . . .” (Acts 2:4). “They” refers to the same people, but something wonderful has happened between these two events— our Lord’s death, resurrection, and ascension— and the disciples have now been invaded and “filled with the Holy Spirit.” Our Lord had said, “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you . . .” (Acts 1:8). This meant that they learned to watch with Him the rest of their lives.
傳道者的警醒
同我警醒。 （太二十六40）
[同我警醒。 ]－－完全沒有自己的私見，單單與主一同警醒。初時，我們不會與主一同警醒，只會為他警醒。我們不懂得透過聖經的啟示和生活的環境，與他一同警醒。主一直想用一個特定的客西馬尼，帶我們與他同心，有一同的體驗，可是我們不肯去。我們說：[不，主啊，我看不出這有何用處，太苦了。 ]怎樣可以與一個難以捉摸的物件一同警醒呢？我們若不明他受苦的目的，怎能對耶穌有充分的了解，以致肯在客西馬尼與他一同警醒？我們根本不懂得怎樣與他一同警醒，只習慣於他與我們一同警醒的觀念。
門徒愛耶穌，只到天然本能的限度為止，因她們不明白他在做什麼。在客西馬尼園中，她們因憂愁睡著了。在三年親密關係結束的時候，他們都離棄他逃跑了。 [他們都被聖靈充滿。 ]同樣是[他們]，只是奇妙的事發生了。就是主的死、復活、升天，門徒被聖靈充滿，主曾說：[聖靈降臨在你們身上，你們就必得著能力。 ]就是他們已學會終其一生與主一同警醒。
祈禱◆主啊，今天早上，為著你的話－－[主用手攙扶他]，我感謝你。
August 25, 2014
Sacrifice and Friendship
I have called you friends . . . —John 15:15
We will never know the joy of self-sacrifice until we surrender in every detail of our lives. Yet self-surrender is the most difficult thing for us to do. We make it conditional by saying, “I’ll surrender if . . . !” Or we approach it by saying, “I suppose I have to devote my life to God.” We will never find the joy of self-sacrifice in either of these ways.
But as soon as we do totally surrender, abandoning ourselves to Jesus, the Holy Spirit gives us a taste of His joy. The ultimate goal of self-sacrifice is to lay down our lives for our Friend (see John 15:13-14). When the Holy Spirit comes into our lives, our greatest desire is to lay down our lives for Jesus. Yet the thought of self-sacrifice never even crosses our minds, because sacrifice is the Holy Spirit’s ultimate expression of love.
Our Lord is our example of a life of self-sacrifice, and He perfectly exemplified Psalm 40:8, “I delight to do Your will, O my God . . . .” He endured tremendous personal sacrifice, yet with overflowing joy. Have I ever yielded myself in absolute submission to Jesus Christ? If He is not the One to whom I am looking for direction and guidance, then there is no benefit in my sacrifice. But when my sacrifice is made with my eyes focused on Him, slowly but surely His molding influence becomes evident in my life (see Hebrews 12:1-2).
Beware of letting your natural desires hinder your walk in love before God. One of the cruelest ways to kill natural love is through the rejection that results from having built the love on natural desires. But the one true desire of a saint is the Lord Jesus. Love for God is not something sentimental or emotional— for a saint to love as God loves is the most practical thing imaginable.
“I have called you friends. . . .” Our friendship with Jesus is based on the new life He created in us, which has no resemblance or attraction to our old life but only to the life of God. It is a life that is completely humble, pure, and devoted to God.
結實累累的友誼
我乃稱你們為朋友。 （約十五15）
除非我們完全的投上，否則不能真正體會獻上的喜樂。自我的降服是最難的事－－[如果……我就肯了！ ][或許我也該把生命奉獻給神。 ]其中是沒有絲毫捨己的喜樂。待我們真的完全捨棄了，聖靈就叫我們嚐到主耶穌的喜樂。捨己的最終目標是為[朋友]（主耶穌）捨命。聖靈一來，最大的心願就是為耶穌捨命；以往捨己的意念從不會觸動我們的心，因為捨己是聖靈的愛。
主捨己的一生是我們的榜樣－－[我的神，我樂意照你的旨意行。 ]主的捨己是滿有喜樂的。我已經完全降服耶穌基督了嗎？耶穌基督若不是我們的目標，我們的捨己奉獻就毫無益處；我們的奉獻若是專注在他身上，那模造的工夫就必逐漸明朗地顯明。
當心別讓天然的親屬關係，阻礙你行在愛中。扼殺愛最殘酷的方法，是蔑視天然親屬的關係。聖徒唯一的吸引是主耶穌自己。對神的愛並非情感用事，因為聖徒以神的愛去愛，是最實際不過的事。 [我乃稱你們為朋友。 ]這友誼的根基是我們裡面新造的生命。這新生命只與神的生命相連，與舊生命沒有半點關係，是無可言喻的謙和，沒有玷污的潔淨，絕對忠於神。
We will never know the joy of self-sacrifice until we surrender in every detail of our lives. Yet self-surrender is the most difficult thing for us to do. We make it conditional by saying, “I’ll surrender if . . . !” Or we approach it by saying, “I suppose I have to devote my life to God.” We will never find the joy of self-sacrifice in either of these ways.
But as soon as we do totally surrender, abandoning ourselves to Jesus, the Holy Spirit gives us a taste of His joy. The ultimate goal of self-sacrifice is to lay down our lives for our Friend (see John 15:13-14). When the Holy Spirit comes into our lives, our greatest desire is to lay down our lives for Jesus. Yet the thought of self-sacrifice never even crosses our minds, because sacrifice is the Holy Spirit’s ultimate expression of love.
Our Lord is our example of a life of self-sacrifice, and He perfectly exemplified Psalm 40:8, “I delight to do Your will, O my God . . . .” He endured tremendous personal sacrifice, yet with overflowing joy. Have I ever yielded myself in absolute submission to Jesus Christ? If He is not the One to whom I am looking for direction and guidance, then there is no benefit in my sacrifice. But when my sacrifice is made with my eyes focused on Him, slowly but surely His molding influence becomes evident in my life (see Hebrews 12:1-2).
Beware of letting your natural desires hinder your walk in love before God. One of the cruelest ways to kill natural love is through the rejection that results from having built the love on natural desires. But the one true desire of a saint is the Lord Jesus. Love for God is not something sentimental or emotional— for a saint to love as God loves is the most practical thing imaginable.
“I have called you friends. . . .” Our friendship with Jesus is based on the new life He created in us, which has no resemblance or attraction to our old life but only to the life of God. It is a life that is completely humble, pure, and devoted to God.
結實累累的友誼
我乃稱你們為朋友。 （約十五15）
除非我們完全的投上，否則不能真正體會獻上的喜樂。自我的降服是最難的事－－[如果……我就肯了！ ][或許我也該把生命奉獻給神。 ]其中是沒有絲毫捨己的喜樂。待我們真的完全捨棄了，聖靈就叫我們嚐到主耶穌的喜樂。捨己的最終目標是為[朋友]（主耶穌）捨命。聖靈一來，最大的心願就是為耶穌捨命；以往捨己的意念從不會觸動我們的心，因為捨己是聖靈的愛。
主捨己的一生是我們的榜樣－－[我的神，我樂意照你的旨意行。 ]主的捨己是滿有喜樂的。我已經完全降服耶穌基督了嗎？耶穌基督若不是我們的目標，我們的捨己奉獻就毫無益處；我們的奉獻若是專注在他身上，那模造的工夫就必逐漸明朗地顯明。
當心別讓天然的親屬關係，阻礙你行在愛中。扼殺愛最殘酷的方法，是蔑視天然親屬的關係。聖徒唯一的吸引是主耶穌自己。對神的愛並非情感用事，因為聖徒以神的愛去愛，是最實際不過的事。 [我乃稱你們為朋友。 ]這友誼的根基是我們裡面新造的生命。這新生命只與神的生命相連，與舊生命沒有半點關係，是無可言喻的謙和，沒有玷污的潔淨，絕對忠於神。
August 19, 2014
Self-Awareness
Come to Me . . . —Matthew 11:28
God intends for us to live a well-rounded life in Christ Jesus, but there are times when that life is attacked from the outside. Then we tend to fall back into self-examination, a habit that we thought was gone. Self-awareness is the first thing that will upset the completeness of our life in God, and self-awareness continually produces a sense of struggling and turmoil in our lives. Self-awareness is not sin, and it can be produced by nervous emotions or by suddenly being dropped into a totally new set of circumstances. Yet it is never God’s will that we should be anything less than absolutely complete in Him. Anything that disturbs our rest in Him must be rectified at once, and it is not rectified by being ignored but only by coming to Jesus Christ. If we will come to Him, asking Him to produce Christ-awareness in us, He will always do it, until we fully learn to abide in Him.
Never allow anything that divides or destroys the oneness of your life with Christ to remain in your life without facing it. Beware of allowing the influence of your friends or your circumstances to divide your life. This only serves to sap your strength and slow your spiritual growth. Beware of anything that can split your oneness with Him, causing you to see yourself as separate from Him. Nothing is as important as staying right spiritually. And the only solution is a very simple one— “Come to Me . . . .” The intellectual, moral, and spiritual depth of our reality as a person is tested and measured by these words. Yet in every detail of our lives where we are found not to be real, we would rather dispute the findings than come to Jesus.
自覺
可以到我這裡來。 （太十一28）
神的心意是要我們過一個完全以基督為中心的生活，但有時外界的攻擊來了，我們就掉進向內觀察的圈中，還以為這些東西早已對付了。自覺是破壞我們在神裡面完整生命的第一個敵人，並且會不斷帶來摔跤。自覺不是罪，神經質的個性，或突然碰到新環境，都會產生自覺。神的心意是要我們在他裡面絕對完全。任何攪擾我們在他裡面安息的東西，都必須接受治療，置之不理並非治方，而治療的方法是來到主耶穌面前。我們若來就他，求他叫我們有基督的意識，他一定會作工，直到我們住在他裡面。
絕不可讓在主裡的生命分割而置之不理。當心滴漏，就是因朋友或環境的影響，而造成生命的分割。當心任何破壞你與主合一，叫你單獨看自己的事。保持屬靈狀態的正常，是至重要的。解決的辦法很簡單－－[到我這裡來。 ]這句話就是我們有多少實質，我們的心志、道德、靈性有多少深度的考驗。若有任何虛假的成分，那我們寧願爭辯，也不願到耶穌那裡。
祈禱◆主啊，為著今早我內心的平安感覺，我讚美你。為著救贖的深刻啟示，我何其稱頌你！願你的光輝從無雲的青空上，照耀我們！
God intends for us to live a well-rounded life in Christ Jesus, but there are times when that life is attacked from the outside. Then we tend to fall back into self-examination, a habit that we thought was gone. Self-awareness is the first thing that will upset the completeness of our life in God, and self-awareness continually produces a sense of struggling and turmoil in our lives. Self-awareness is not sin, and it can be produced by nervous emotions or by suddenly being dropped into a totally new set of circumstances. Yet it is never God’s will that we should be anything less than absolutely complete in Him. Anything that disturbs our rest in Him must be rectified at once, and it is not rectified by being ignored but only by coming to Jesus Christ. If we will come to Him, asking Him to produce Christ-awareness in us, He will always do it, until we fully learn to abide in Him.
Never allow anything that divides or destroys the oneness of your life with Christ to remain in your life without facing it. Beware of allowing the influence of your friends or your circumstances to divide your life. This only serves to sap your strength and slow your spiritual growth. Beware of anything that can split your oneness with Him, causing you to see yourself as separate from Him. Nothing is as important as staying right spiritually. And the only solution is a very simple one— “Come to Me . . . .” The intellectual, moral, and spiritual depth of our reality as a person is tested and measured by these words. Yet in every detail of our lives where we are found not to be real, we would rather dispute the findings than come to Jesus.
自覺
可以到我這裡來。 （太十一28）
神的心意是要我們過一個完全以基督為中心的生活，但有時外界的攻擊來了，我們就掉進向內觀察的圈中，還以為這些東西早已對付了。自覺是破壞我們在神裡面完整生命的第一個敵人，並且會不斷帶來摔跤。自覺不是罪，神經質的個性，或突然碰到新環境，都會產生自覺。神的心意是要我們在他裡面絕對完全。任何攪擾我們在他裡面安息的東西，都必須接受治療，置之不理並非治方，而治療的方法是來到主耶穌面前。我們若來就他，求他叫我們有基督的意識，他一定會作工，直到我們住在他裡面。
絕不可讓在主裡的生命分割而置之不理。當心滴漏，就是因朋友或環境的影響，而造成生命的分割。當心任何破壞你與主合一，叫你單獨看自己的事。保持屬靈狀態的正常，是至重要的。解決的辦法很簡單－－[到我這裡來。 ]這句話就是我們有多少實質，我們的心志、道德、靈性有多少深度的考驗。若有任何虛假的成分，那我們寧願爭辯，也不願到耶穌那裡。
祈禱◆主啊，為著今早我內心的平安感覺，我讚美你。為著救贖的深刻啟示，我何其稱頌你！願你的光輝從無雲的青空上，照耀我們！
August 16, 2014
Does He Know Me . . . ?
He calls his own . . . by name . . . —John 10:3
When I have sadly misunderstood Him? (see John 20:11-18). It is possible to know all about doctrine and still not know Jesus. A person’s soul is in grave danger when the knowledge of doctrine surpasses Jesus, avoiding intimate touch with Him. Why was Mary weeping? Doctrine meant no more to her than the grass under her feet. In fact, any Pharisee could have made a fool of Mary doctrinally, but one thing they could never ridicule was the fact that Jesus had cast seven demons out of her (see Luke 8:2); yet His blessings were nothing to her in comparison with knowing Jesus Himself. “. . . she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. . . . Jesus said to her, ’Mary!’ ” (John 20:14, 16). Once He called Mary by her name, she immediately knew that she had a personal history with the One who spoke. “She turned and said to Him, ’Rabboni!’ ” (John 20:16).
When I have stubbornly doubted? (see John 20:24-29). Have I been doubting something about Jesus— maybe an experience to which others testify, but which I have not yet experienced? The other disciples said to Thomas, “We have seen the Lord” (John 20:25). But Thomas doubted, saying, “Unless I see . . . I will not believe” (John 20:25). Thomas needed the personal touch of Jesus. When His touches will come we never know, but when they do come they are indescribably precious. “Thomas . . . said to Him, ’My Lord and my God!’ ” (John 20:28).
When I have selfishly denied Him? (see John 21:15-17). Peter denied Jesus Christ with oaths and curses (see Matthew 26:69-75), and yet after His resurrection Jesus appeared to Peter alone. Jesus restored Peter in private, and then He restored him publicly before the others. And Peter said to Him, “Lord . . . You know that I love You” (John 21:17).
Do I have a personal history with Jesus Christ? The one true sign of discipleship is intimate oneness with Him— a knowledge of Jesus that nothing can shake.
認識我麼？
他按著名叫自己的羊。 （約十3）
當我誤會他時，他認識我麼？ （約二十17）人可以認識所有教義，卻不一定認識耶穌。若教義的只是霸占了與主的相親，那人就陷入危機裡。馬利亞為什麼哭？教義對馬利亞來說，無重於腳下的草。任何法利賽人都可以在教義上愚弄馬利亞，可是有一件事實卻是他們無法抹煞的；耶穌曾從她身上趕出七個鬼。不過他的賜福，絕對比不上他自己。馬利亞[看見耶穌站在那裡，卻不知道是耶穌。 ]但當她一聽見祂的聲音，便立刻知道說話的那一位原與她有關係。 [夫子！ ]
在我固執地懷疑時，他認識我麼？ （約二十27）我有沒有對主某一方面存疑－－懷疑人家的見證，因為我沒有那樣的經歷？門徒告訴多馬看見了主，多馬卻懷疑－－[我非看見……我總不信。 ]多馬需要主耶穌個人的接觸。他什麼時候觸摸，怎樣觸摸，我們不曉得，但當這臨到，是何等的寶貴哩。 [我的主，我的神！ ]
我自私地不認他時，他認識我麼？ （約二十一15-17）彼得曾發咒起誓不認耶穌，但主復活以後，卻單獨向他顯現。祂扶起他，然後又在別人面前復興他。 [主啊，你知道我愛你！ ]（約二十15-17）我與耶穌基督有沒有一段個人的歷史？門徒的標記之一，就是與主緊密的聯繫，深切的認識祂，以致任何東西也不能搖動對祂的信心。
祈禱◆我們所需要的就只有你！願今天我們與你的親密關係，成為永遠難忘的日子！
When I have sadly misunderstood Him? (see John 20:11-18). It is possible to know all about doctrine and still not know Jesus. A person’s soul is in grave danger when the knowledge of doctrine surpasses Jesus, avoiding intimate touch with Him. Why was Mary weeping? Doctrine meant no more to her than the grass under her feet. In fact, any Pharisee could have made a fool of Mary doctrinally, but one thing they could never ridicule was the fact that Jesus had cast seven demons out of her (see Luke 8:2); yet His blessings were nothing to her in comparison with knowing Jesus Himself. “. . . she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. . . . Jesus said to her, ’Mary!’ ” (John 20:14, 16). Once He called Mary by her name, she immediately knew that she had a personal history with the One who spoke. “She turned and said to Him, ’Rabboni!’ ” (John 20:16).
When I have stubbornly doubted? (see John 20:24-29). Have I been doubting something about Jesus— maybe an experience to which others testify, but which I have not yet experienced? The other disciples said to Thomas, “We have seen the Lord” (John 20:25). But Thomas doubted, saying, “Unless I see . . . I will not believe” (John 20:25). Thomas needed the personal touch of Jesus. When His touches will come we never know, but when they do come they are indescribably precious. “Thomas . . . said to Him, ’My Lord and my God!’ ” (John 20:28).
When I have selfishly denied Him? (see John 21:15-17). Peter denied Jesus Christ with oaths and curses (see Matthew 26:69-75), and yet after His resurrection Jesus appeared to Peter alone. Jesus restored Peter in private, and then He restored him publicly before the others. And Peter said to Him, “Lord . . . You know that I love You” (John 21:17).
Do I have a personal history with Jesus Christ? The one true sign of discipleship is intimate oneness with Him— a knowledge of Jesus that nothing can shake.
認識我麼？
他按著名叫自己的羊。 （約十3）
當我誤會他時，他認識我麼？ （約二十17）人可以認識所有教義，卻不一定認識耶穌。若教義的只是霸占了與主的相親，那人就陷入危機裡。馬利亞為什麼哭？教義對馬利亞來說，無重於腳下的草。任何法利賽人都可以在教義上愚弄馬利亞，可是有一件事實卻是他們無法抹煞的；耶穌曾從她身上趕出七個鬼。不過他的賜福，絕對比不上他自己。馬利亞[看見耶穌站在那裡，卻不知道是耶穌。 ]但當她一聽見祂的聲音，便立刻知道說話的那一位原與她有關係。 [夫子！ ]
在我固執地懷疑時，他認識我麼？ （約二十27）我有沒有對主某一方面存疑－－懷疑人家的見證，因為我沒有那樣的經歷？門徒告訴多馬看見了主，多馬卻懷疑－－[我非看見……我總不信。 ]多馬需要主耶穌個人的接觸。他什麼時候觸摸，怎樣觸摸，我們不曉得，但當這臨到，是何等的寶貴哩。 [我的主，我的神！ ]
我自私地不認他時，他認識我麼？ （約二十一15-17）彼得曾發咒起誓不認耶穌，但主復活以後，卻單獨向他顯現。祂扶起他，然後又在別人面前復興他。 [主啊，你知道我愛你！ ]（約二十15-17）我與耶穌基督有沒有一段個人的歷史？門徒的標記之一，就是與主緊密的聯繫，深切的認識祂，以致任何東西也不能搖動對祂的信心。
祈禱◆我們所需要的就只有你！願今天我們與你的親密關係，成為永遠難忘的日子！
August 13, 2014
“Do Not Quench the Spirit”
Do not quench the Spirit —1 Thessalonians 5:19
The voice of the Spirit of God is as gentle as a summer breeze— so gentle that unless you are living in complete fellowship and oneness with God, you will never hear it. The sense of warning and restraint that the Spirit gives comes to us in the most amazingly gentle ways. And if you are not sensitive enough to detect His voice, you will quench it, and your spiritual life will be impaired. This sense of restraint will always come as a “still small voice” (1 Kings 19:12), so faint that no one except a saint of God will notice it.
Beware if in sharing your personal testimony you continually have to look back, saying, “Once, a number of years ago, I was saved.” If you have put your “hand to the plow” and are walking in the light, there is no “looking back”— the past is instilled into the present wonder of fellowship and oneness with God (Luke 9:62 ; also see 1 John 1:6-7). If you get out of the light, you become a sentimental Christian, and live only on your memories, and your testimony will have a hard metallic ring to it. Beware of trying to cover up your present refusal to “walk in the light” by recalling your past experiences when you did “walk in the light” (1 John 1:7). When-ever the Spirit gives you that sense of restraint, call a halt and make things right, or else you will go on quenching and grieving Him without even knowing it.
Suppose God brings you to a crisis and you almost endure it, but not completely. He will engineer the crisis again, but this time some of the intensity will be lost. You will have less discernment and more humiliation at having disobeyed. If you continue to grieve His Spirit, there will come a time when that crisis cannot be repeated, because you have totally quenched Him. But if you will go on through the crisis, your life will become a hymn of praise to God. Never become attached to anything that continues to hurt God. For you to be free of it, God must be allowed to hurt whatever it may be.
不要消滅聖靈的感動
不要消滅聖靈的感動。 （帖前五19）
聖靈的聲音柔如微風，除非與神完全契合，否則不能聽見。聖靈的攔阻來得及其柔細，你若不夠敏感，就不能察覺他的聲音。消滅了他的感動，你屬靈的生命就受虧損。他攔阻的聲音總是 微細的，只有聖徒才聽得見。
當心在你個人的見證裡，要追述過去說：[許多年前，我得救了。 ]你若行在光中，就不必追憶，過去一切已經融合在今日與神的合一里了。你若不在光中行，就會變成一個感情用事的信徒；你若活在回憶之中，見證也變得生硬。當心別拿過去行在光中的經歷，來縫補你現今不肯在光中行的破洞。聖靈一攔阻，就要停下來迴轉，否則，你就使他憂傷而不自知。
假設神叫你面臨一個重要關頭，你就差一點點未能勝過。然後神會叫你再面對同樣的情形，不過沒有上次那麼明顯。漸漸地，你對神的辨認減弱了，因自己未曾順服而帶來的羞辱卻加強。
若你仍繼續叫聖靈擔憂，終有一天機會不再有，因為你把聖靈憂傷得退去了。但你若在這重要 關頭中誇勝，無邊得讚美就要對神升起。對那些不斷刺痛神得東西，你絕不應表同情。會刺傷 神得那些東西，你必須撇棄。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我舉目仰望你，將我的盼望、我的禱告呈獻給你。求你從高處藉著聖靈的內住，使我重新得力，以致神的亮光再今天可以在我們周圍和里面燃點起來。願你按著本身的喜悅，以甜蜜和榮耀來充滿這天。
The voice of the Spirit of God is as gentle as a summer breeze— so gentle that unless you are living in complete fellowship and oneness with God, you will never hear it. The sense of warning and restraint that the Spirit gives comes to us in the most amazingly gentle ways. And if you are not sensitive enough to detect His voice, you will quench it, and your spiritual life will be impaired. This sense of restraint will always come as a “still small voice” (1 Kings 19:12), so faint that no one except a saint of God will notice it.
Beware if in sharing your personal testimony you continually have to look back, saying, “Once, a number of years ago, I was saved.” If you have put your “hand to the plow” and are walking in the light, there is no “looking back”— the past is instilled into the present wonder of fellowship and oneness with God (Luke 9:62 ; also see 1 John 1:6-7). If you get out of the light, you become a sentimental Christian, and live only on your memories, and your testimony will have a hard metallic ring to it. Beware of trying to cover up your present refusal to “walk in the light” by recalling your past experiences when you did “walk in the light” (1 John 1:7). When-ever the Spirit gives you that sense of restraint, call a halt and make things right, or else you will go on quenching and grieving Him without even knowing it.
Suppose God brings you to a crisis and you almost endure it, but not completely. He will engineer the crisis again, but this time some of the intensity will be lost. You will have less discernment and more humiliation at having disobeyed. If you continue to grieve His Spirit, there will come a time when that crisis cannot be repeated, because you have totally quenched Him. But if you will go on through the crisis, your life will become a hymn of praise to God. Never become attached to anything that continues to hurt God. For you to be free of it, God must be allowed to hurt whatever it may be.
不要消滅聖靈的感動
不要消滅聖靈的感動。 （帖前五19）
聖靈的聲音柔如微風，除非與神完全契合，否則不能聽見。聖靈的攔阻來得及其柔細，你若不夠敏感，就不能察覺他的聲音。消滅了他的感動，你屬靈的生命就受虧損。他攔阻的聲音總是 微細的，只有聖徒才聽得見。
當心在你個人的見證裡，要追述過去說：[許多年前，我得救了。 ]你若行在光中，就不必追憶，過去一切已經融合在今日與神的合一里了。你若不在光中行，就會變成一個感情用事的信徒；你若活在回憶之中，見證也變得生硬。當心別拿過去行在光中的經歷，來縫補你現今不肯在光中行的破洞。聖靈一攔阻，就要停下來迴轉，否則，你就使他憂傷而不自知。
假設神叫你面臨一個重要關頭，你就差一點點未能勝過。然後神會叫你再面對同樣的情形，不過沒有上次那麼明顯。漸漸地，你對神的辨認減弱了，因自己未曾順服而帶來的羞辱卻加強。
若你仍繼續叫聖靈擔憂，終有一天機會不再有，因為你把聖靈憂傷得退去了。但你若在這重要 關頭中誇勝，無邊得讚美就要對神升起。對那些不斷刺痛神得東西，你絕不應表同情。會刺傷 神得那些東西，你必須撇棄。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我舉目仰望你，將我的盼望、我的禱告呈獻給你。求你從高處藉著聖靈的內住，使我重新得力，以致神的亮光再今天可以在我們周圍和里面燃點起來。願你按著本身的喜悅，以甜蜜和榮耀來充滿這天。
August 04, 2014
The Brave Friendship of God
He took the twelve aside . . . —Luke 18:31
Oh, the bravery of God in trusting us! Do you say, “But He has been unwise to choose me, because there is nothing good in me and I have no value”? That is exactly why He chose you. As long as you think that you are of value to Him He cannot choose you, because you have purposes of your own to serve. But if you will allow Him to take you to the end of your own self-sufficiency, then He can choose you to go with Him “to Jerusalem” (Luke 18:31). And that will mean the fulfillment of purposes which He does not discuss with you.
We tend to say that because a person has natural ability, he will make a good Christian. It is not a matter of our equipment, but a matter of our poverty; not of what we bring with us, but of what God puts into us; not a matter of natural virtues, of strength of character, of knowledge, or of experience— all of that is of no avail in this concern. The only thing of value is being taken into the compelling purpose of God and being made His friends (see 1 Corinthians 1:26-31). God’s friendship is with people who know their poverty. He can accomplish nothing with the person who thinks that he is of use to God. As Christians we are not here for our own purpose at all— we are here for the purpose of God, and the two are not the same. We do not know what God’s compelling purpose is, but whatever happens, we must maintain our relationship with Him. We must never allow anything to damage our relationship with God, but if something does damage it, we must take the time to make it right again. The most important aspect of Christianity is not the work we do, but the relationship we maintain and the surrounding influence and qualities produced by that relationship. That is all God asks us to give our attention to, and it is the one thing that is continually under attack.
神與我們同行的勇氣
耶穌帶著十二個門徒。 （路十八31）
神信任我們，這是多大的勇氣！你說：”他挑選了我，實在不智，因為我一無所有，也一文不值。”這正是神揀選你的原因。你若自以為有，神就無法揀選你，因為你還有自己的目的。你若讓他帶你去到自滿自足的盡頭，他就能揀選你一同上耶路撒冷。這樣，就成就他沒有與你商量的計畫。
我們常因一個人具有天然才幹，便說他可以成為好的基督徒。其實，問題不在我們的裝備，而在我們的貧窮；不在我們帶什麼來，而在神放什麼在我們裡面；不在知識、經驗、天然的德行或堅強的個性－－這一切都無關重要。唯一要緊的，是我們在神的強力催策下，成為與他同行的人（比較林前一26-30）。與神同行的人，都是自知貧窮的人。那些自以為於神有用的人，神是無能為力的。作為基督徒，我們絕不是為自己的目標，而是單為神的目標。神的目標絕不同人的目標。我們不知道神怎樣打算，但無論發生什麼事，也必須保持與他的關係。絕不可容讓任何事損害我們與神的關係，若這關係有損，就必須花時間去複原。基督教的重點不在於我們所作的工、乃在我們所持守的關係，與及因著這關係而產生的情操。神要我們看守的就是這個，而不斷受到攻擊的也正是個。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，你何等清楚地向我顯明，最重要的是神，惟獨是神。願我在這偉大的認知上，絕不絆跌任何人。
Oh, the bravery of God in trusting us! Do you say, “But He has been unwise to choose me, because there is nothing good in me and I have no value”? That is exactly why He chose you. As long as you think that you are of value to Him He cannot choose you, because you have purposes of your own to serve. But if you will allow Him to take you to the end of your own self-sufficiency, then He can choose you to go with Him “to Jerusalem” (Luke 18:31). And that will mean the fulfillment of purposes which He does not discuss with you.
We tend to say that because a person has natural ability, he will make a good Christian. It is not a matter of our equipment, but a matter of our poverty; not of what we bring with us, but of what God puts into us; not a matter of natural virtues, of strength of character, of knowledge, or of experience— all of that is of no avail in this concern. The only thing of value is being taken into the compelling purpose of God and being made His friends (see 1 Corinthians 1:26-31). God’s friendship is with people who know their poverty. He can accomplish nothing with the person who thinks that he is of use to God. As Christians we are not here for our own purpose at all— we are here for the purpose of God, and the two are not the same. We do not know what God’s compelling purpose is, but whatever happens, we must maintain our relationship with Him. We must never allow anything to damage our relationship with God, but if something does damage it, we must take the time to make it right again. The most important aspect of Christianity is not the work we do, but the relationship we maintain and the surrounding influence and qualities produced by that relationship. That is all God asks us to give our attention to, and it is the one thing that is continually under attack.
神與我們同行的勇氣
耶穌帶著十二個門徒。 （路十八31）
神信任我們，這是多大的勇氣！你說：”他挑選了我，實在不智，因為我一無所有，也一文不值。”這正是神揀選你的原因。你若自以為有，神就無法揀選你，因為你還有自己的目的。你若讓他帶你去到自滿自足的盡頭，他就能揀選你一同上耶路撒冷。這樣，就成就他沒有與你商量的計畫。
我們常因一個人具有天然才幹，便說他可以成為好的基督徒。其實，問題不在我們的裝備，而在我們的貧窮；不在我們帶什麼來，而在神放什麼在我們裡面；不在知識、經驗、天然的德行或堅強的個性－－這一切都無關重要。唯一要緊的，是我們在神的強力催策下，成為與他同行的人（比較林前一26-30）。與神同行的人，都是自知貧窮的人。那些自以為於神有用的人，神是無能為力的。作為基督徒，我們絕不是為自己的目標，而是單為神的目標。神的目標絕不同人的目標。我們不知道神怎樣打算，但無論發生什麼事，也必須保持與他的關係。絕不可容讓任何事損害我們與神的關係，若這關係有損，就必須花時間去複原。基督教的重點不在於我們所作的工、乃在我們所持守的關係，與及因著這關係而產生的情操。神要我們看守的就是這個，而不斷受到攻擊的也正是個。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，你何等清楚地向我顯明，最重要的是神，惟獨是神。願我在這偉大的認知上，絕不絆跌任何人。
June 03, 2014
“The Secret of the Lord”
The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him . . . —Psalm 25:14
What is the sign of a friend? Is it that he tells you his secret sorrows? No, it is that he tells you his secret joys. Many people will confide their secret sorrows to you, but the final mark of intimacy is when they share their secret joys with you. Have we ever let God tell us any of His joys? Or are we continually telling God our secrets, leaving Him no time to talk to us? At the beginning of our Christian life we are full of requests to God. But then we find that God wants to get us into an intimate relationship with Himself— to get us in touch with His purposes. Are we so intimately united to Jesus Christ’s idea of prayer— “Your will be done” (Matthew 6:10)— that we catch the secrets of God? What makes God so dear to us is not so much His big blessings to us, but the tiny things, because they show His amazing intimacy with us— He knows every detail of each of our individual lives.
“Him shall He teach in the way He chooses” (Psalm 25:12). At first, we want the awareness of being guided by God. But then as we grow spiritually, we live so fully aware of God that we do not even need to ask what His will is, because the thought of choosing another way will never occur to us. If we are saved and sanctified, God guides us by our everyday choices. And if we are about to choose what He does not want, He will give us a sense of doubt or restraint, which we must heed. Whenever there is doubt, stop at once. Never try to reason it out, saying, “I wonder why I shouldn’t do this?” God instructs us in what we choose; that is, He actually guides our common sense. And when we yield to His teachings and guidance, we no longer hinder His Spirit by continually asking, “Now, Lord, what is Your will?”
主的秘密
耶和華與敬畏他的人親密，他必將自己的約指示他們。 （詩二十五14）
朋友的標記是什麼？是他把隱藏的愁苦告訴你？不是的，是他把隱藏的喜樂告訴你。許多人會把心底的愁苦向人傾訴，但是傾吐心底的喜樂才是親密的最高表現。我們是讓神向我們吐露他的喜樂，還是不斷地把自己的心事向他傾吐，不容他有機會向我們說話？初信主的時候，對神有一大堆的請求；後來就發現神希望我們與他建立關係，摸著他的心意。耶穌對禱告的觀念－－照你的旨意而行－－我們有沒有緊緊遵守，以致獲得神的奧秘？哦我們覺得寶貴的往往不是神所賜的大福，而是一些細微的事物。因為這些表示他與我們奇妙無比的親密，深知我們生命的任何細節。
[……耶和華必指示他當選擇的道路。 ]起初我們所要的，知道神愛引導；後來既然知道日益活在神裡面，就不需要追問他的旨意是什麼，因為根本沒有想過還有其他可選擇的旨意。我們得救成聖了，神就依我們一般的選擇來引導我們；若我們選了神不喜悅的，他就會阻止，我們就要聽從。一有疑惑，要立刻止步。切勿諸多辯駁說：[為什麼不可以？ ]神借我們的選擇教導我們，也就是說，他引導我們依常理來選擇，我們不必經常問：[主啊，你的旨意怎樣？ ]這樣反阻礙了聖靈的工作。
祈禱◆啊，主啊，願意跟從你是何等有益和重要的事。我願意和極之渴望你的旨意得以成就。當我預期沒有東西比你的旨意那樣滿有榮耀，我整個人都深深地感到喜樂。
What is the sign of a friend? Is it that he tells you his secret sorrows? No, it is that he tells you his secret joys. Many people will confide their secret sorrows to you, but the final mark of intimacy is when they share their secret joys with you. Have we ever let God tell us any of His joys? Or are we continually telling God our secrets, leaving Him no time to talk to us? At the beginning of our Christian life we are full of requests to God. But then we find that God wants to get us into an intimate relationship with Himself— to get us in touch with His purposes. Are we so intimately united to Jesus Christ’s idea of prayer— “Your will be done” (Matthew 6:10)— that we catch the secrets of God? What makes God so dear to us is not so much His big blessings to us, but the tiny things, because they show His amazing intimacy with us— He knows every detail of each of our individual lives.
“Him shall He teach in the way He chooses” (Psalm 25:12). At first, we want the awareness of being guided by God. But then as we grow spiritually, we live so fully aware of God that we do not even need to ask what His will is, because the thought of choosing another way will never occur to us. If we are saved and sanctified, God guides us by our everyday choices. And if we are about to choose what He does not want, He will give us a sense of doubt or restraint, which we must heed. Whenever there is doubt, stop at once. Never try to reason it out, saying, “I wonder why I shouldn’t do this?” God instructs us in what we choose; that is, He actually guides our common sense. And when we yield to His teachings and guidance, we no longer hinder His Spirit by continually asking, “Now, Lord, what is Your will?”
主的秘密
耶和華與敬畏他的人親密，他必將自己的約指示他們。 （詩二十五14）
朋友的標記是什麼？是他把隱藏的愁苦告訴你？不是的，是他把隱藏的喜樂告訴你。許多人會把心底的愁苦向人傾訴，但是傾吐心底的喜樂才是親密的最高表現。我們是讓神向我們吐露他的喜樂，還是不斷地把自己的心事向他傾吐，不容他有機會向我們說話？初信主的時候，對神有一大堆的請求；後來就發現神希望我們與他建立關係，摸著他的心意。耶穌對禱告的觀念－－照你的旨意而行－－我們有沒有緊緊遵守，以致獲得神的奧秘？哦我們覺得寶貴的往往不是神所賜的大福，而是一些細微的事物。因為這些表示他與我們奇妙無比的親密，深知我們生命的任何細節。
[……耶和華必指示他當選擇的道路。 ]起初我們所要的，知道神愛引導；後來既然知道日益活在神裡面，就不需要追問他的旨意是什麼，因為根本沒有想過還有其他可選擇的旨意。我們得救成聖了，神就依我們一般的選擇來引導我們；若我們選了神不喜悅的，他就會阻止，我們就要聽從。一有疑惑，要立刻止步。切勿諸多辯駁說：[為什麼不可以？ ]神借我們的選擇教導我們，也就是說，他引導我們依常理來選擇，我們不必經常問：[主啊，你的旨意怎樣？ ]這樣反阻礙了聖靈的工作。
祈禱◆啊，主啊，願意跟從你是何等有益和重要的事。我願意和極之渴望你的旨意得以成就。當我預期沒有東西比你的旨意那樣滿有榮耀，我整個人都深深地感到喜樂。
May 14, 2014
The Habit of Enjoying Adversity
. . . that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body —2 Corinthians 4:10
We have to develop godly habits to express what God’s grace has done in us. It is not just a question of being saved from hell, but of being saved so that “the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.” And it is adversity that makes us exhibit His life in our mortal flesh. Is my life exhibiting the essence of the sweetness of the Son of God, or just the basic irritation of “myself” that I would have apart from Him? The only thing that will enable me to enjoy adversity is the acute sense of eagerness of allowing the life of the Son of God to evidence itself in me. No matter how difficult something may be, I must say, “Lord, I am delighted to obey You in this.” Instantly, the Son of God will move to the forefront of my life, and will manifest in my body that which glorifies Him.
You must not debate. The moment you obey the light of God, His Son shines through you in that very adversity; but if you debate with God, you grieve His Spirit (see Ephesians 4:30). You must keep yourself in the proper condition to allow the life of the Son of God to be manifested in you, and you cannot keep yourself fit if you give way to self-pity. Our circumstances are the means God uses to exhibit just how wonderfully perfect and extraordinarily pure His Son is. Discovering a new way of manifesting the Son of God should make our heart beat with renewed excitement. It is one thing to choose adversity, and quite another to enter into adversity through the orchestrating of our circumstances by God’s sovereignty. And if God puts you into adversity, He is adequately sufficient to “supply all your need” (Philippians 4:19).
Keep your soul properly conditioned to manifest the life of the Son of God. Never live on your memories of past experiences, but let the Word of God always be living and active in you.
逆來順受的習慣
使耶穌的生，也顯明在我們身上。 （林後四10）
要養成述說神在我們身上所成就的恩典的習慣。這不是從地獄裡得拯救的問題，而是我們得救之後，在肉身上如何彰顯神兒子的生命問題。在不愉快的事上，正顯示我們有沒有彰顯神的生命。我是流露神兒子的溫良，還是表現離開神後自我的怒氣？唯一令我欣然接受不愉快的事情的，就是神兒子的生命在我身上彰顯的熱切期望。不管事情多麼不如意，只要說：[主，我樂意在這事上遵從你。 ]神兒子即時就會出現，在我的生命中彰顯他的榮耀。
千萬不可遲疑，一旦你順服那光，神的兒子就從那裡透射出來。要是你心裡爭辯，就必叫聖靈擔憂。你必須保持內在情況良好，讓神兒子的生命彰顯出來。若給自憐留地步，你就不健康了。我們生活的環境，是表彰神兒子何等完全、何等聖潔的機會。什麼事情叫你心慌意亂，就是表彰神又一新的機會。自己選擇不愉快的事與因神的安排而有不愉快的事，是截然不同的。若神放在你那裡，祂是綽有裕餘地供應你。
保持心靈健壯，好彰顯神兒子的生命。不可沉湎在記憶裡，讓神的話活潑有力地活在你裡面吧！
祈禱◆噢，主啊，求祢今天向我們彰顯祢的生命。讓這裡的每一個人，開始呼吸到自由的空氣，並歸向祢，在敬虔和恩典中得以堅固。
We have to develop godly habits to express what God’s grace has done in us. It is not just a question of being saved from hell, but of being saved so that “the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.” And it is adversity that makes us exhibit His life in our mortal flesh. Is my life exhibiting the essence of the sweetness of the Son of God, or just the basic irritation of “myself” that I would have apart from Him? The only thing that will enable me to enjoy adversity is the acute sense of eagerness of allowing the life of the Son of God to evidence itself in me. No matter how difficult something may be, I must say, “Lord, I am delighted to obey You in this.” Instantly, the Son of God will move to the forefront of my life, and will manifest in my body that which glorifies Him.
You must not debate. The moment you obey the light of God, His Son shines through you in that very adversity; but if you debate with God, you grieve His Spirit (see Ephesians 4:30). You must keep yourself in the proper condition to allow the life of the Son of God to be manifested in you, and you cannot keep yourself fit if you give way to self-pity. Our circumstances are the means God uses to exhibit just how wonderfully perfect and extraordinarily pure His Son is. Discovering a new way of manifesting the Son of God should make our heart beat with renewed excitement. It is one thing to choose adversity, and quite another to enter into adversity through the orchestrating of our circumstances by God’s sovereignty. And if God puts you into adversity, He is adequately sufficient to “supply all your need” (Philippians 4:19).
Keep your soul properly conditioned to manifest the life of the Son of God. Never live on your memories of past experiences, but let the Word of God always be living and active in you.
逆來順受的習慣
使耶穌的生，也顯明在我們身上。 （林後四10）
要養成述說神在我們身上所成就的恩典的習慣。這不是從地獄裡得拯救的問題，而是我們得救之後，在肉身上如何彰顯神兒子的生命問題。在不愉快的事上，正顯示我們有沒有彰顯神的生命。我是流露神兒子的溫良，還是表現離開神後自我的怒氣？唯一令我欣然接受不愉快的事情的，就是神兒子的生命在我身上彰顯的熱切期望。不管事情多麼不如意，只要說：[主，我樂意在這事上遵從你。 ]神兒子即時就會出現，在我的生命中彰顯他的榮耀。
千萬不可遲疑，一旦你順服那光，神的兒子就從那裡透射出來。要是你心裡爭辯，就必叫聖靈擔憂。你必須保持內在情況良好，讓神兒子的生命彰顯出來。若給自憐留地步，你就不健康了。我們生活的環境，是表彰神兒子何等完全、何等聖潔的機會。什麼事情叫你心慌意亂，就是表彰神又一新的機會。自己選擇不愉快的事與因神的安排而有不愉快的事，是截然不同的。若神放在你那裡，祂是綽有裕餘地供應你。
保持心靈健壯，好彰顯神兒子的生命。不可沉湎在記憶裡，讓神的話活潑有力地活在你裡面吧！
祈禱◆噢，主啊，求祢今天向我們彰顯祢的生命。讓這裡的每一個人，開始呼吸到自由的空氣，並歸向祢，在敬虔和恩典中得以堅固。
April 22, 2014
The Light That Never Fails
We all, with unveiled face, beholding . . . the glory of the Lord . . . —2 Corinthians 3:18
A servant of God must stand so very much alone that he never realizes he is alone. In the early stages of the Christian life, disappointments will come— people who used to be lights will flicker out, and those who used to stand with us will turn away. We have to get so used to it that we will not even realize we are standing alone. Paul said, “. . . no one stood with me, but all forsook me . . . . But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me . . .” (2 Timothy 4:16-17). We must build our faith not on fading lights but on the Light that never fails. When “important” individuals go away we are sad, until we see that they are meant to go, so that only one thing is left for us to do— to look into the face of God for ourselves.
Allow nothing to keep you from looking with strong determination into the face of God regarding yourself and your doctrine. And every time you preach make sure you look God in the face about the message first, then the glory will remain through all of it. A Christian servant is one who perpetually looks into the face of God and then goes forth to talk to others. The ministry of Christ is characterized by an abiding glory of which the servant is totally unaware— “. . . Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him” (Exodus 34:29).
We are never called on to display our doubts openly or to express the hidden joys and delights of our life with God. The secret of the servant’s life is that he stays in tune with God all the time.
褪去的光
我們眾人既然敞著臉，得以看見主的榮光……（林後三18）
神的僕人必須時常獨處，以致不覺得自己是孤單的。在信徒生活的初期，很容易灰心失意，本來是領導的人黯然消失，本來與我們一起事奉的人離開了。我們必須視為尋常，以致不覺得自己是孤單的。 [沒有人前來幫助，竟都離棄我…..惟有主站在我旁邊。 ]（提後四16-17）。我們的信心，不是建立在會熄滅的光上，乃是在那不滅的光。我們會為[偉人]逝世而傷心，除非明白他們是命定要過去的。那不能消逝的，只有一件，就是仰望神的臉。
別讓任何事物阻礙你仰望神，從他的面光中，去正視你自己和你的信念；每次講道之前，記得先仰望向神，把事情全擺在他臉光之下；這樣，必一直有他的榮光。主的工人必須不斷的與神面對面，然後才去向人傳道。基督工作的特色，就是有那不自覺的榮光同在。 [摩西不知道自己的面有榮光，因耶和華和他說話而使他發光。 ]神從沒有叫我們把疑惑顯示出來，也沒有叫我們把與神相交的喜樂張揚。神工人生活的秘訣，就是一直與神保持和諧的關係。
祈禱◆噢，主，我的神，你是何等的奇妙和大有能力，讓我知道救贖是偉大地把啟示實現。
A servant of God must stand so very much alone that he never realizes he is alone. In the early stages of the Christian life, disappointments will come— people who used to be lights will flicker out, and those who used to stand with us will turn away. We have to get so used to it that we will not even realize we are standing alone. Paul said, “. . . no one stood with me, but all forsook me . . . . But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me . . .” (2 Timothy 4:16-17). We must build our faith not on fading lights but on the Light that never fails. When “important” individuals go away we are sad, until we see that they are meant to go, so that only one thing is left for us to do— to look into the face of God for ourselves.
Allow nothing to keep you from looking with strong determination into the face of God regarding yourself and your doctrine. And every time you preach make sure you look God in the face about the message first, then the glory will remain through all of it. A Christian servant is one who perpetually looks into the face of God and then goes forth to talk to others. The ministry of Christ is characterized by an abiding glory of which the servant is totally unaware— “. . . Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him” (Exodus 34:29).
We are never called on to display our doubts openly or to express the hidden joys and delights of our life with God. The secret of the servant’s life is that he stays in tune with God all the time.
褪去的光
我們眾人既然敞著臉，得以看見主的榮光……（林後三18）
神的僕人必須時常獨處，以致不覺得自己是孤單的。在信徒生活的初期，很容易灰心失意，本來是領導的人黯然消失，本來與我們一起事奉的人離開了。我們必須視為尋常，以致不覺得自己是孤單的。 [沒有人前來幫助，竟都離棄我…..惟有主站在我旁邊。 ]（提後四16-17）。我們的信心，不是建立在會熄滅的光上，乃是在那不滅的光。我們會為[偉人]逝世而傷心，除非明白他們是命定要過去的。那不能消逝的，只有一件，就是仰望神的臉。
別讓任何事物阻礙你仰望神，從他的面光中，去正視你自己和你的信念；每次講道之前，記得先仰望向神，把事情全擺在他臉光之下；這樣，必一直有他的榮光。主的工人必須不斷的與神面對面，然後才去向人傳道。基督工作的特色，就是有那不自覺的榮光同在。 [摩西不知道自己的面有榮光，因耶和華和他說話而使他發光。 ]神從沒有叫我們把疑惑顯示出來，也沒有叫我們把與神相交的喜樂張揚。神工人生活的秘訣，就是一直與神保持和諧的關係。
祈禱◆噢，主，我的神，你是何等的奇妙和大有能力，讓我知道救贖是偉大地把啟示實現。
March 20, 2014
Friendship with God
Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing . . . ? —Genesis 18:17
The Delights of His Friendship. Genesis 18 brings out the delight of true friendship with God, as compared with simply feeling His presence occasionally in prayer. This friendship means being so intimately in touch with God that you never even need to ask Him to show you His will. It is evidence of a level of intimacy which confirms that you are nearing the final stage of your discipline in the life of faith. When you have a right-standing relationship with God, you have a life of freedom, liberty, and delight; you are God’s will. And all of your commonsense decisions are actually His will for you, unless you sense a feeling of restraint brought on by a check in your spirit. You are free to make decisions in the light of a perfect and delightful friendship with God, knowing that if your decisions are wrong He will lovingly produce that sense of restraint. Once he does, you must stop immediately.
The Difficulties of His Friendship. Why did Abraham stop praying when he did? He stopped because he still was lacking the level of intimacy in his relationship with God, which would enable him boldly to continue on with the Lord in prayer until his desire was granted. Whenever we stop short of our true desire in prayer and say, “Well, I don’t know, maybe this is not God’s will,” then we still have another level to go. It shows that we are not as intimately acquainted with God as Jesus was, and as Jesus would have us to be— “. . . that they may be one just as We are one . . .” (John 17:22). Think of the last thing you prayed about-were you devoted to your desire or to God? Was your determination to get some gift of the Spirit for yourself or to get to God? “For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him” (Matthew 6:8). The reason for asking is so you may get to know God better. “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). We should keep praying to get a perfect understanding of God Himself.
與神為友
我所要作的事，豈可瞞著亞伯拉罕呢？ （創十八17）
與神為友的快樂。這一章說出與神真正為友的快樂，較之祈禱時偶爾感到他同在是大有不同。若與神親密到一個地步，不需要求他向你指示他的心意。這樣，你的信心生活就進入成長的階段了。與神的關係正常，生命就自由快樂；你就是神的旨意，你一切憑理智所作出的決定，就是他在你身上的旨意，除非他有特別的攔阻。你與神有美好愉快的友誼，便可以決定一切事情，因為就是決定錯了，他總會阻止；他一阻止，就該立刻停止。
與神為友的困難。亞伯拉罕為什麼停止了禱告？他與神的關係還未夠親密，所以在神未答應他的要求之前，便不敢前進。這時他與神的關係，仍有待改進。我們禱告時，若突然中止，說：[唔，我不敢肯定，這也許不是神的旨意。]這樣，你還有另一些階段要經歷。我們認識神還未及耶穌的深切，也未達到他要我們應有的認識－－[使他們合而為一，像我們合而為一。]試想想你最後禱告的事是什麼？是專注於自己的需求呢？還是神自己？是堅持要得一些聖靈的恩賜？還是要見神的面？ [你們沒有祈求以先，你們所需用的，你們的父早已知道了。 ]所以，祈求的目的是使你更認識神。 [要以耶和華為樂，他就將你心裡所求的賜給你。]不住的禱告，使對神有更完全的認識。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，[願祢晝夜看顧這殿。]願祢保守和護衛它，遠離所有與祢心意相違的東西，並且使我們每一個都成為祢內心深處所切望的人。
The Delights of His Friendship. Genesis 18 brings out the delight of true friendship with God, as compared with simply feeling His presence occasionally in prayer. This friendship means being so intimately in touch with God that you never even need to ask Him to show you His will. It is evidence of a level of intimacy which confirms that you are nearing the final stage of your discipline in the life of faith. When you have a right-standing relationship with God, you have a life of freedom, liberty, and delight; you are God’s will. And all of your commonsense decisions are actually His will for you, unless you sense a feeling of restraint brought on by a check in your spirit. You are free to make decisions in the light of a perfect and delightful friendship with God, knowing that if your decisions are wrong He will lovingly produce that sense of restraint. Once he does, you must stop immediately.
The Difficulties of His Friendship. Why did Abraham stop praying when he did? He stopped because he still was lacking the level of intimacy in his relationship with God, which would enable him boldly to continue on with the Lord in prayer until his desire was granted. Whenever we stop short of our true desire in prayer and say, “Well, I don’t know, maybe this is not God’s will,” then we still have another level to go. It shows that we are not as intimately acquainted with God as Jesus was, and as Jesus would have us to be— “. . . that they may be one just as We are one . . .” (John 17:22). Think of the last thing you prayed about-were you devoted to your desire or to God? Was your determination to get some gift of the Spirit for yourself or to get to God? “For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him” (Matthew 6:8). The reason for asking is so you may get to know God better. “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). We should keep praying to get a perfect understanding of God Himself.
與神為友
我所要作的事，豈可瞞著亞伯拉罕呢？ （創十八17）
與神為友的快樂。這一章說出與神真正為友的快樂，較之祈禱時偶爾感到他同在是大有不同。若與神親密到一個地步，不需要求他向你指示他的心意。這樣，你的信心生活就進入成長的階段了。與神的關係正常，生命就自由快樂；你就是神的旨意，你一切憑理智所作出的決定，就是他在你身上的旨意，除非他有特別的攔阻。你與神有美好愉快的友誼，便可以決定一切事情，因為就是決定錯了，他總會阻止；他一阻止，就該立刻停止。
與神為友的困難。亞伯拉罕為什麼停止了禱告？他與神的關係還未夠親密，所以在神未答應他的要求之前，便不敢前進。這時他與神的關係，仍有待改進。我們禱告時，若突然中止，說：[唔，我不敢肯定，這也許不是神的旨意。]這樣，你還有另一些階段要經歷。我們認識神還未及耶穌的深切，也未達到他要我們應有的認識－－[使他們合而為一，像我們合而為一。]試想想你最後禱告的事是什麼？是專注於自己的需求呢？還是神自己？是堅持要得一些聖靈的恩賜？還是要見神的面？ [你們沒有祈求以先，你們所需用的，你們的父早已知道了。 ]所以，祈求的目的是使你更認識神。 [要以耶和華為樂，他就將你心裡所求的賜給你。]不住的禱告，使對神有更完全的認識。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，[願祢晝夜看顧這殿。]願祢保守和護衛它，遠離所有與祢心意相違的東西，並且使我們每一個都成為祢內心深處所切望的人。
March 02, 2014
Have You Felt the Pain Inflicted by the Lord?
He said to him the third time, ’. . . do you love Me?’ —John 21:17
Have you ever felt the pain, inflicted by the Lord, at the very center of your being, deep down in the most sensitive area of your life? The devil never inflicts pain there, and neither can sin nor human emotions.
Have you ever felt the pain, inflicted by the Lord, at the very center of your being, deep down in the most sensitive area of your life? The devil never inflicts pain there, and neither can sin nor human emotions.
Nothing can cut through to that part of our being but the Word of God.
“Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, ’Do you love
Me?’ ” Yet he was awakened to the fact that at the center of his
personal life he was devoted to Jesus. And then he began to see what
Jesus’ patient questioning meant. There was not the slightest bit of
doubt left in Peter’s mind; he could never be deceived again. And there
was no need for an impassioned response; no need for immediate action or
an emotional display. It was a revelation to him to realize how much he
did love the Lord, and with amazement he simply said, “Lord, You know
all things . . . .” Peter began to see how very much he did love Jesus,
and there was no need to say, “Look at this or that as proof of my
love.” Peter was beginning to discover within himself just how much he
really did love the Lord. He discovered that his eyes were so fixed on
Jesus Christ that he saw no one else in heaven above or on the earth
below. But he did not know it until the probing, hurting questions of
the Lord were asked. The Lord’s questions always reveal the true me to
myself.
Oh, the wonder of the patient directness and skill of Jesus Christ with Peter! Our Lord never asks questions until the perfect time. Rarely, but probably once in each of our lives, He will back us into a corner where He will hurt us with His piercing questions. Then we will realize that we do love Him far more deeply than our words can ever say.
你感到主的刺傷麼？
第三次對他說，約翰的兒子西門，你愛我麼？ （約二十一17）
你感到主的刺傷痛入骨髓，正中你生命是最敏感的要害麼？魔鬼從不刺入那裡，罪惡或人的感情也不刺到那裡，惟有神的話才透得過。 [彼得因為耶穌第三次對他說……就憂愁。 ]他開始覺悟在他生命的最深處，是全心愛耶穌的，也開始明白主再三問他的用意。他心裡再沒有絲毫的疑惑，也不再迷糊了。這時，已沒有衝動訴說的餘地，也不能用激昂的情緒示愛了。他醒悟自己原來有多愛主，以致他滿心讚歎他說：[主阿，你是無所不知的。 ]彼得開始發現自己多麼愛主；但他並沒有說：[請看這件那件事便可以證明。 ]他心裡發現對主的愛有多深，就是在天上地下除了主耶穌，再沒有別的了。但他一直都不知道，直到主的問話刺入剖開。主的問話總是把我自己顯露出來。
主耶穌對彼得是多麼忍耐、坦率和巧妙，他總是在合適的時刻才發問。他會把我們引到一個角落，用他毫不放鬆的問話刺透我們；雖然他並不常是這樣，也可能只此一次。不過，我們卻覺察到自己真真愛他，比任何口頭的宣稱更真。
祈禱◆[我在困苦中，你曾使我寬廣。 ]噢，這個在我心中的思想，愈來愈像一個珍貴而湧流不息的恩典泉源！
Oh, the wonder of the patient directness and skill of Jesus Christ with Peter! Our Lord never asks questions until the perfect time. Rarely, but probably once in each of our lives, He will back us into a corner where He will hurt us with His piercing questions. Then we will realize that we do love Him far more deeply than our words can ever say.
你感到主的刺傷麼？
第三次對他說，約翰的兒子西門，你愛我麼？ （約二十一17）
你感到主的刺傷痛入骨髓，正中你生命是最敏感的要害麼？魔鬼從不刺入那裡，罪惡或人的感情也不刺到那裡，惟有神的話才透得過。 [彼得因為耶穌第三次對他說……就憂愁。 ]他開始覺悟在他生命的最深處，是全心愛耶穌的，也開始明白主再三問他的用意。他心裡再沒有絲毫的疑惑，也不再迷糊了。這時，已沒有衝動訴說的餘地，也不能用激昂的情緒示愛了。他醒悟自己原來有多愛主，以致他滿心讚歎他說：[主阿，你是無所不知的。 ]彼得開始發現自己多麼愛主；但他並沒有說：[請看這件那件事便可以證明。 ]他心裡發現對主的愛有多深，就是在天上地下除了主耶穌，再沒有別的了。但他一直都不知道，直到主的問話刺入剖開。主的問話總是把我自己顯露出來。
主耶穌對彼得是多麼忍耐、坦率和巧妙，他總是在合適的時刻才發問。他會把我們引到一個角落，用他毫不放鬆的問話刺透我們；雖然他並不常是這樣，也可能只此一次。不過，我們卻覺察到自己真真愛他，比任何口頭的宣稱更真。
祈禱◆[我在困苦中，你曾使我寬廣。 ]噢，這個在我心中的思想，愈來愈像一個珍貴而湧流不息的恩典泉源！
January 24, 2014
God’s Overpowering Purpose
I have appeared to you for this purpose . . .—Acts 26:16
The vision Paul had on the road to Damascus was not a passing emotional experience, but a vision that had very clear and emphatic directions for him. And Paul stated, “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision” (Acts 26:19). Our Lord said to Paul, in effect, “Your whole life is to be overpowered or subdued by Me; you are to have no end, no aim, and no purpose but Mine.” And the Lord also says to us, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go . . .” (John 15:16).
When we are born again, if we are spiritual at all, we have visions of what Jesus wants us to be. It is important that I learn not to be “disobedient to the heavenly vision”—not to doubt that it can be attained. It is not enough to give mental assent to the fact that God has redeemed the world, nor even to know that the Holy Spirit can make all that Jesus did a reality in my life. I must have the foundation of a personal relationship with Him. Paul was not given a message or a doctrine to proclaim. He was brought into a vivid, personal, overpowering relationship with Jesus Christ. Acts 26:16 is tremendously compelling “. . . to make you a minister and a witness . . . .” There would be nothing there without a personal relationship. Paul was devoted to a Person, not to a cause. He was absolutely Jesus Christ’s. He saw nothing else and he lived for nothing else. “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).
全權在握的指揮
我特意向你顯現。 （徒二十六16）
保羅在大馬色路上所見的異象，絕非霎時的衝動，而是十分清楚肯定是從神而來的指示，因此他說：[故此我沒有違背那從 天上來的異象。 ]主其實是對保羅說：[你的一生完全由我作主；除了我，你不能再有任何目標與計畫。 ]
[我揀選了他。 ]
我們重生了，必然都有異象。要是我們要靈命長進，便要行主要我們行的；而最要緊的就是學習不違背異象，不要說那是無法達致的（或作高不可及的）。
單單知道神救贖了世人，又知道聖靈叫耶穌所成就的一切，並實現在我身上，這還是不夠的；我必須與他有個人的關係，作為根基。保羅所得的不是一篇道理，一套教義，叫他去傳揚；他乃是與耶穌基督有一個親身的經歷，讓主完全佔有了他。第16節最令人觸目——[派你作執事作見證]。保羅是效忠於主，而不是一個使命。他是完完全全屬於耶穌基督的；此外，便別無所見，也不再為別的事物而活。 [我在你們中間不知道別的，只知道耶穌基督，並他釘十字架。 ]
祈禱◆噢，主啊，求你以愛慕的枷鎖將我與你結連；在你差派我時，以你的眷佑環繞我；加添我的能力，以致我愈來愈能夠被你使用。
The vision Paul had on the road to Damascus was not a passing emotional experience, but a vision that had very clear and emphatic directions for him. And Paul stated, “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision” (Acts 26:19). Our Lord said to Paul, in effect, “Your whole life is to be overpowered or subdued by Me; you are to have no end, no aim, and no purpose but Mine.” And the Lord also says to us, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go . . .” (John 15:16).
When we are born again, if we are spiritual at all, we have visions of what Jesus wants us to be. It is important that I learn not to be “disobedient to the heavenly vision”—not to doubt that it can be attained. It is not enough to give mental assent to the fact that God has redeemed the world, nor even to know that the Holy Spirit can make all that Jesus did a reality in my life. I must have the foundation of a personal relationship with Him. Paul was not given a message or a doctrine to proclaim. He was brought into a vivid, personal, overpowering relationship with Jesus Christ. Acts 26:16 is tremendously compelling “. . . to make you a minister and a witness . . . .” There would be nothing there without a personal relationship. Paul was devoted to a Person, not to a cause. He was absolutely Jesus Christ’s. He saw nothing else and he lived for nothing else. “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).
全權在握的指揮
我特意向你顯現。 （徒二十六16）
保羅在大馬色路上所見的異象，絕非霎時的衝動，而是十分清楚肯定是從神而來的指示，因此他說：[故此我沒有違背那從 天上來的異象。 ]主其實是對保羅說：[你的一生完全由我作主；除了我，你不能再有任何目標與計畫。 ]
[我揀選了他。 ]
我們重生了，必然都有異象。要是我們要靈命長進，便要行主要我們行的；而最要緊的就是學習不違背異象，不要說那是無法達致的（或作高不可及的）。
單單知道神救贖了世人，又知道聖靈叫耶穌所成就的一切，並實現在我身上，這還是不夠的；我必須與他有個人的關係，作為根基。保羅所得的不是一篇道理，一套教義，叫他去傳揚；他乃是與耶穌基督有一個親身的經歷，讓主完全佔有了他。第16節最令人觸目——[派你作執事作見證]。保羅是效忠於主，而不是一個使命。他是完完全全屬於耶穌基督的；此外，便別無所見，也不再為別的事物而活。 [我在你們中間不知道別的，只知道耶穌基督，並他釘十字架。 ]
祈禱◆噢，主啊，求你以愛慕的枷鎖將我與你結連；在你差派我時，以你的眷佑環繞我；加添我的能力，以致我愈來愈能夠被你使用。
January 07, 2014
Intimate With Jesus
Jesus said to him, ’Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip?’ —John 14:9
These words were not spoken as a rebuke, nor even with surprise; Jesus was encouraging Philip to draw closer. Yet the last person we get intimate with is Jesus. Before Pentecost the disciples knew Jesus as the One who gave them power to conquer demons and to bring about a revival (see Luke 10:18-20). It was a wonderful intimacy, but there was a much closer intimacy to come: “. . . I have called you friends . . .” (John 15:15). True friendship is rare on earth. It means identifying with someone in thought, heart, and spirit. The whole experience of life is designed to enable us to enter into this closest relationship with Jesus Christ. We receive His blessings and know His Word, but do we really know Him?
Jesus said, “It is to your advantage that I go away . . .” (John 16:7). He left that relationship to lead them even closer. It is a joy to Jesus when a disciple takes time to walk more intimately with Him. The bearing of fruit is always shown in Scripture to be the visible result of an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ (see John 15:1-4).
Once we get intimate with Jesus we are never lonely and we never lack for understanding or compassion. We can continually pour out our hearts to Him without being perceived as overly emotional or pitiful. The Christian who is truly intimate with Jesus will never draw attention to himself but will only show the evidence of a life where Jesus is completely in control. This is the outcome of allowing Jesus to satisfy every area of life to its depth. The picture resulting from such a life is that of the strong, calm balance that our Lord gives to those who are intimate with Him.
與耶穌親密
我與你們同在這樣長久，你還不認識我麼？ （約十四9） 這些並不是責備的話，也不是詫異之言，耶穌是領導腓力向前。在我們的密友之中，最末一個是耶穌。五旬節之前，門徒所認識的耶穌，是給他們權柄勝過鬼魔，而且帶來復興的那一位（路十18-20）。這固然是一種密切的關係，但更密切的關係還在未來——[我稱你們為朋友]。友誼是珍貴的，它是人思想與心靈的契合。其實我們整個人生的操練，就是要與耶穌基督進入一個最親密的關係裡去。我們得過他的祝福，明瞭他的話，可是，我們認識他嗎？
耶穌說：[我去是與你們有意的。 ]這是為了增進那關係，引導門徒向前。當一個門徒肯下功夫追求主更親密，他的心就喜樂了。聖經裡說的結果子，總是指由於與耶穌基督合一的必然表現（約十五1-4）。
我們一旦與耶穌建立深交，就永不再孤單，也永不再要人同情。我們可以不住的向主傾訴，而不至於自憐自怨。與耶穌親密的聖徒，從不給人留下他自己的形象。他只將主耶穌的形象毫無阻隔地彰顯出來，因為他天性裡所有的罅隙，已被主填滿了。這種生命給人唯一的印象，就是主賜給與他親密的人那種強烈的平靜與穩妥。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，將你自己那親切。和善的形象賜給我，讓我今天可以討你的喜悅，使我的生命變得完美，成為周圍的人真正的祝福。
These words were not spoken as a rebuke, nor even with surprise; Jesus was encouraging Philip to draw closer. Yet the last person we get intimate with is Jesus. Before Pentecost the disciples knew Jesus as the One who gave them power to conquer demons and to bring about a revival (see Luke 10:18-20). It was a wonderful intimacy, but there was a much closer intimacy to come: “. . . I have called you friends . . .” (John 15:15). True friendship is rare on earth. It means identifying with someone in thought, heart, and spirit. The whole experience of life is designed to enable us to enter into this closest relationship with Jesus Christ. We receive His blessings and know His Word, but do we really know Him?
Jesus said, “It is to your advantage that I go away . . .” (John 16:7). He left that relationship to lead them even closer. It is a joy to Jesus when a disciple takes time to walk more intimately with Him. The bearing of fruit is always shown in Scripture to be the visible result of an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ (see John 15:1-4).
Once we get intimate with Jesus we are never lonely and we never lack for understanding or compassion. We can continually pour out our hearts to Him without being perceived as overly emotional or pitiful. The Christian who is truly intimate with Jesus will never draw attention to himself but will only show the evidence of a life where Jesus is completely in control. This is the outcome of allowing Jesus to satisfy every area of life to its depth. The picture resulting from such a life is that of the strong, calm balance that our Lord gives to those who are intimate with Him.
與耶穌親密
我與你們同在這樣長久，你還不認識我麼？ （約十四9） 這些並不是責備的話，也不是詫異之言，耶穌是領導腓力向前。在我們的密友之中，最末一個是耶穌。五旬節之前，門徒所認識的耶穌，是給他們權柄勝過鬼魔，而且帶來復興的那一位（路十18-20）。這固然是一種密切的關係，但更密切的關係還在未來——[我稱你們為朋友]。友誼是珍貴的，它是人思想與心靈的契合。其實我們整個人生的操練，就是要與耶穌基督進入一個最親密的關係裡去。我們得過他的祝福，明瞭他的話，可是，我們認識他嗎？
耶穌說：[我去是與你們有意的。 ]這是為了增進那關係，引導門徒向前。當一個門徒肯下功夫追求主更親密，他的心就喜樂了。聖經裡說的結果子，總是指由於與耶穌基督合一的必然表現（約十五1-4）。
我們一旦與耶穌建立深交，就永不再孤單，也永不再要人同情。我們可以不住的向主傾訴，而不至於自憐自怨。與耶穌親密的聖徒，從不給人留下他自己的形象。他只將主耶穌的形象毫無阻隔地彰顯出來，因為他天性裡所有的罅隙，已被主填滿了。這種生命給人唯一的印象，就是主賜給與他親密的人那種強烈的平靜與穩妥。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，將你自己那親切。和善的形象賜給我，讓我今天可以討你的喜悅，使我的生命變得完美，成為周圍的人真正的祝福。
November 01, 2013
“You Are Not Your Own”
Do you not know that . . . you are not your own? —1 Corinthians 6:19
There is no such thing as a private life, or a place to hide in this world, for a man or woman who is intimately aware of and shares in the sufferings of Jesus Christ. God divides the private life of His saints and makes it a highway for the world on one hand and for Himself on the other. No human being can stand that unless he is identified with Jesus Christ. We are not sanctified for ourselves. We are called into intimacy with the gospel, and things happen that appear to have nothing to do with us. But God is getting us into fellowship with Himself. Let Him have His way. If you refuse, you will be of no value to God in His redemptive work in the world, but will be a hindrance and a stumbling block.
The first thing God does is get us grounded on strong reality and truth. He does this until our cares for ourselves individually have been brought into submission to His way for the purpose of His redemption. Why shouldn’t we experience heartbreak? Through those doorways God is opening up ways of fellowship with His Son. Most of us collapse at the first grip of pain. We sit down at the door of God’s purpose and enter a slow death through self-pity. And all the so-called Christian sympathy of others helps us to our deathbed. But God will not. He comes with the grip of the pierced hand of His Son, as if to say, “Enter into fellowship with Me; arise and shine.” If God can accomplish His purposes in this world through a broken heart, then why not thank Him for breaking yours?
你不屬自己
豈不知……你們不是自己的人。 （林前六19）
一個在耶穌基督受苦上有分的人，根本就沒有所謂的私生活，亦即[世界裡的世界]。神把聖徒的私生活打碎了，造成一條通道，是通往他自己的通道。除非人與主耶穌認同，否則沒有人能受得住這個。我們成聖，不是為自己，乃是蒙召同得福音的好處；與我們無關的事發生，為要叫我們與神相交。所以，要讓神旨意通行，否則你不但在他救贖世界的大工上沒有絲毫用處，反成為阻礙。
神首先做的，是使我們面對最粗陋的現實，直至我們對任何發生在個人身上的時不再介懷，只要他救贖的目的達成。我們為何不可以經歷一下心痛欲絕呢？通過這些門徒，神開啟與他兒子相通的道路。多半人一受痛楚，就仆倒；我們坐在神心意的門檻上，死在自憐自憫之中。信徒間所謂同情心，更加速了死亡率。神卻不是這樣，他拿著他兒子釘痕的手，說：[進來與我相交，起來發光。 ]若破碎的心靈能使神的旨意在世上成就，那麽，要為他破碎你的心而感謝他。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，願你今天的說話帶著能力和恩慈。願你引導我，與你進入內心隱密的相交，以致你可以正確地傳達你自己。
There is no such thing as a private life, or a place to hide in this world, for a man or woman who is intimately aware of and shares in the sufferings of Jesus Christ. God divides the private life of His saints and makes it a highway for the world on one hand and for Himself on the other. No human being can stand that unless he is identified with Jesus Christ. We are not sanctified for ourselves. We are called into intimacy with the gospel, and things happen that appear to have nothing to do with us. But God is getting us into fellowship with Himself. Let Him have His way. If you refuse, you will be of no value to God in His redemptive work in the world, but will be a hindrance and a stumbling block.
The first thing God does is get us grounded on strong reality and truth. He does this until our cares for ourselves individually have been brought into submission to His way for the purpose of His redemption. Why shouldn’t we experience heartbreak? Through those doorways God is opening up ways of fellowship with His Son. Most of us collapse at the first grip of pain. We sit down at the door of God’s purpose and enter a slow death through self-pity. And all the so-called Christian sympathy of others helps us to our deathbed. But God will not. He comes with the grip of the pierced hand of His Son, as if to say, “Enter into fellowship with Me; arise and shine.” If God can accomplish His purposes in this world through a broken heart, then why not thank Him for breaking yours?
你不屬自己
豈不知……你們不是自己的人。 （林前六19）
一個在耶穌基督受苦上有分的人，根本就沒有所謂的私生活，亦即[世界裡的世界]。神把聖徒的私生活打碎了，造成一條通道，是通往他自己的通道。除非人與主耶穌認同，否則沒有人能受得住這個。我們成聖，不是為自己，乃是蒙召同得福音的好處；與我們無關的事發生，為要叫我們與神相交。所以，要讓神旨意通行，否則你不但在他救贖世界的大工上沒有絲毫用處，反成為阻礙。
神首先做的，是使我們面對最粗陋的現實，直至我們對任何發生在個人身上的時不再介懷，只要他救贖的目的達成。我們為何不可以經歷一下心痛欲絕呢？通過這些門徒，神開啟與他兒子相通的道路。多半人一受痛楚，就仆倒；我們坐在神心意的門檻上，死在自憐自憫之中。信徒間所謂同情心，更加速了死亡率。神卻不是這樣，他拿著他兒子釘痕的手，說：[進來與我相交，起來發光。 ]若破碎的心靈能使神的旨意在世上成就，那麽，要為他破碎你的心而感謝他。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，願你今天的說話帶著能力和恩慈。願你引導我，與你進入內心隱密的相交，以致你可以正確地傳達你自己。
October 19, 2013
The Unheeded Secret
Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world —John 18:36
The great enemy of the Lord Jesus Christ today is the idea of practical work that has no basis in the New Testament but comes from the systems of the world. This work insists upon endless energy and activities, but no private life with God. The emphasis is put on the wrong thing. Jesus said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation . . . . For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21). It is a hidden, obscure thing. An active Christian worker too often lives to be seen by others, while it is the innermost, personal area that reveals the power of a person’s life.
We must get rid of the plague of the spirit of this religious age in which we live. In our Lord’s life there was none of the pressure and the rushing of tremendous activity that we regard so highly today, and a disciple is to be like His Master. The central point of the kingdom of Jesus Christ is a personal relationship with Him, not public usefulness to others.
It is not the practical activities that are the strength of this Bible Training College— its entire strength lies in the fact that here you are immersed in the truths of God to soak in them before Him. You have no idea of where or how God is going to engineer your future circumstances, and no knowledge of what stress and strain is going to be placed on you either at home or abroad. And if you waste your time in overactivity, instead of being immersed in the great fundamental truths of God’s redemption, then you will snap when the stress and strain do come. But if this time of soaking before God is being spent in getting rooted and grounded in Him, which may appear to be impractical, then you will remain true to Him whatever happens.
被忽視的秘密
"我的國不屬這世界。"約18:36
如今主耶穌基督最大的敵人，是我們對實際事工的觀念，它不從新約聖經而來，而是從這世界的系統而來，在支持各種活動上付出了無窮的精力，幾乎沒有了與神同在的個人關係，把重點放在了錯誤的事情上。耶穌說：" 神的國來到不是眼所能見的。因為神的國就在你們心裡，"（路17:20-21）它是一個隱藏的，不明顯的事物。一個活躍的基督徒工人經常活在商店的櫥窗裡。其實，只有內心的最深處才展現出生命的力量。
我們必須除去現在所處的宗教時代的精神災禍，在主的生命裡，並沒有那種我們熱崇的事工活動所出現的擁擠和匆促，作主門徒的要像他的主一樣。耶穌基督的國度裡最中心的事，是與他的個人關係，而不是對人的外在貢獻。這所聖經訓練學院的力量，不在於實際的活動。它全部的力量在於這個事實??你是否完全浸透在神的里面。你根本不知道神要如何安排你的環境，也不知道你要在國內或者國外遭遇怎樣的壓力，如果你浪費你的時間、精力在過於活躍的活動上，而不是沉浸在關於神的救贖的偉大基要真理上，當壓力來時你就會被折斷。但是,如果花時間沉浸在神的里面，實質地在神裡面紮根， 那麼無論發生什麼，你都將保持對他的忠誠。
The great enemy of the Lord Jesus Christ today is the idea of practical work that has no basis in the New Testament but comes from the systems of the world. This work insists upon endless energy and activities, but no private life with God. The emphasis is put on the wrong thing. Jesus said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation . . . . For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21). It is a hidden, obscure thing. An active Christian worker too often lives to be seen by others, while it is the innermost, personal area that reveals the power of a person’s life.
We must get rid of the plague of the spirit of this religious age in which we live. In our Lord’s life there was none of the pressure and the rushing of tremendous activity that we regard so highly today, and a disciple is to be like His Master. The central point of the kingdom of Jesus Christ is a personal relationship with Him, not public usefulness to others.
It is not the practical activities that are the strength of this Bible Training College— its entire strength lies in the fact that here you are immersed in the truths of God to soak in them before Him. You have no idea of where or how God is going to engineer your future circumstances, and no knowledge of what stress and strain is going to be placed on you either at home or abroad. And if you waste your time in overactivity, instead of being immersed in the great fundamental truths of God’s redemption, then you will snap when the stress and strain do come. But if this time of soaking before God is being spent in getting rooted and grounded in Him, which may appear to be impractical, then you will remain true to Him whatever happens.
被忽視的秘密
"我的國不屬這世界。"約18:36
如今主耶穌基督最大的敵人，是我們對實際事工的觀念，它不從新約聖經而來，而是從這世界的系統而來，在支持各種活動上付出了無窮的精力，幾乎沒有了與神同在的個人關係，把重點放在了錯誤的事情上。耶穌說：" 神的國來到不是眼所能見的。因為神的國就在你們心裡，"（路17:20-21）它是一個隱藏的，不明顯的事物。一個活躍的基督徒工人經常活在商店的櫥窗裡。其實，只有內心的最深處才展現出生命的力量。
我們必須除去現在所處的宗教時代的精神災禍，在主的生命裡，並沒有那種我們熱崇的事工活動所出現的擁擠和匆促，作主門徒的要像他的主一樣。耶穌基督的國度裡最中心的事，是與他的個人關係，而不是對人的外在貢獻。這所聖經訓練學院的力量，不在於實際的活動。它全部的力量在於這個事實??你是否完全浸透在神的里面。你根本不知道神要如何安排你的環境，也不知道你要在國內或者國外遭遇怎樣的壓力，如果你浪費你的時間、精力在過於活躍的活動上，而不是沉浸在關於神的救贖的偉大基要真理上，當壓力來時你就會被折斷。但是,如果花時間沉浸在神的里面，實質地在神裡面紮根， 那麼無論發生什麼，你都將保持對他的忠誠。
October 12, 2013
Getting into God’s Stride
Enoch walked with God . . . —Genesis 5:24
The true test of a person’s spiritual life and character is not what he does in the extraordinary moments of life, but what he does during the ordinary times when there is nothing tremendous or exciting happening. A person’s worth is revealed in his attitude toward the ordinary things of life when he is not under the spotlight (see John 1:35-37 and John 3:30). It is painful work to get in step with God and to keep pace with Him— it means getting your second wind spiritually. In learning to walk with God, there is always the difficulty of getting into His stride, but once we have done so, the only characteristic that exhibits itself is the very life of God Himself. The individual person is merged into a personal oneness with God, and God’s stride and His power alone are exhibited.
It is difficult to get into stride with God, because as soon as we start walking with Him we find that His pace has surpassed us before we have even taken three steps. He has different ways of doing things, and we have to be trained and disciplined in His ways. It was said of Jesus— “He will not fail nor be discouraged . . .” (Isaiah 42:4) because He never worked from His own individual standpoint, but always worked from the standpoint of His Father. And we must learn to do the same. Spiritual truth is learned through the atmosphere that surrounds us, not through intellectual reasoning. It is God’s Spirit that changes the atmosphere of our way of looking at things, and then things begin to be possible which before were impossible. Getting into God’s stride means nothing less than oneness with Him. It takes a long time to get there, but keep at it. Don’t give up because the pain is intense right now— get on with it, and before long you will find that you have a new vision and a new purpose.
與神同步
以諾與神同行。 （創五24）
一個人屬靈生命與個性的考驗，不是在特殊情況下的表現，乃在平凡無奇的時日中所行所作。人的價值視乎他在隱藏時對普通事物所抱的態度（比較約一36）。要達致與神同步的境地，是一件痛苦的事，那是屬靈上[第二陣風]的經歷。學習與神同行，總有跟不上他步伐的困難；但一旦跟上樂，所表現的唯一特質，就是神的生命。個人的生命在與神結合中隱藏樂，所表現的只有神的步伐與能力。
與神步伐一致是不容易的,因為一開始與神同行,就會發現我們才走了三步,他已在老遠樂.他有他作事的方法,我們必須學習餅接受操練,才能以他的方法作事.耶穌[不灰心,也不喪膽],因為他從不以他個人的觀點去行事,乃是以他父的觀點,我們也要如此.屬靈真理是在薰陶下學習的,而不是靠頭腦的推理.神的靈改變我們看事物的態度,於是從來不可能的事,也變得可能樂.與神同行,就是與神聯合.要做到這個,需時甚久,但要持之以恆。不要因現在的痛苦而放棄，不久，你會得著新的異象與目標。
祈禱◆主啊，如此眾多的活動，如此眾多的事情，如此眾多的人！願你因你的榮耀，以寬大的心胸和美善的屬性來賜福今天。
The true test of a person’s spiritual life and character is not what he does in the extraordinary moments of life, but what he does during the ordinary times when there is nothing tremendous or exciting happening. A person’s worth is revealed in his attitude toward the ordinary things of life when he is not under the spotlight (see John 1:35-37 and John 3:30). It is painful work to get in step with God and to keep pace with Him— it means getting your second wind spiritually. In learning to walk with God, there is always the difficulty of getting into His stride, but once we have done so, the only characteristic that exhibits itself is the very life of God Himself. The individual person is merged into a personal oneness with God, and God’s stride and His power alone are exhibited.
It is difficult to get into stride with God, because as soon as we start walking with Him we find that His pace has surpassed us before we have even taken three steps. He has different ways of doing things, and we have to be trained and disciplined in His ways. It was said of Jesus— “He will not fail nor be discouraged . . .” (Isaiah 42:4) because He never worked from His own individual standpoint, but always worked from the standpoint of His Father. And we must learn to do the same. Spiritual truth is learned through the atmosphere that surrounds us, not through intellectual reasoning. It is God’s Spirit that changes the atmosphere of our way of looking at things, and then things begin to be possible which before were impossible. Getting into God’s stride means nothing less than oneness with Him. It takes a long time to get there, but keep at it. Don’t give up because the pain is intense right now— get on with it, and before long you will find that you have a new vision and a new purpose.
與神同步
以諾與神同行。 （創五24）
一個人屬靈生命與個性的考驗，不是在特殊情況下的表現，乃在平凡無奇的時日中所行所作。人的價值視乎他在隱藏時對普通事物所抱的態度（比較約一36）。要達致與神同步的境地，是一件痛苦的事，那是屬靈上[第二陣風]的經歷。學習與神同行，總有跟不上他步伐的困難；但一旦跟上樂，所表現的唯一特質，就是神的生命。個人的生命在與神結合中隱藏樂，所表現的只有神的步伐與能力。
與神步伐一致是不容易的,因為一開始與神同行,就會發現我們才走了三步,他已在老遠樂.他有他作事的方法,我們必須學習餅接受操練,才能以他的方法作事.耶穌[不灰心,也不喪膽],因為他從不以他個人的觀點去行事,乃是以他父的觀點,我們也要如此.屬靈真理是在薰陶下學習的,而不是靠頭腦的推理.神的靈改變我們看事物的態度,於是從來不可能的事,也變得可能樂.與神同行,就是與神聯合.要做到這個,需時甚久,但要持之以恆。不要因現在的痛苦而放棄，不久，你會得著新的異象與目標。
祈禱◆主啊，如此眾多的活動，如此眾多的事情，如此眾多的人！願你因你的榮耀，以寬大的心胸和美善的屬性來賜福今天。
September 05, 2013
Watching With Jesus
Stay here and watch with Me —Matthew 26:38
“Watch with Me.” Jesus was saying, in effect, “Watch with no private point of view at all, but watch solely and entirely with Me.” In the early stages of our Christian life, we do not watch with Jesus, we watch for Him. We do not watch with Him through the revealed truth of the Bible even in the circumstances of our own lives. Our Lord is trying to introduce us to identification with Himself through a particular “Gethsemane” experience of our own. But we refuse to go, saying, “No, Lord, I can’t see the meaning of this, and besides, it’s very painful.” And how can we possibly watch with Someone who is so incomprehensible? How are we going to understand Jesus sufficiently to watch with Him in His Gethsemane, when we don’t even know why He is suffering? We don’t know how to watch with Him— we are only used to the idea of Jesus watching with us.
The disciples loved Jesus Christ to the limit of their natural capacity, but they did not fully understand His purpose. In the Garden of Gethsemane they slept as a result of their own sorrow, and at the end of three years of the closest and most intimate relationship of their lives they “all . . . forsook Him and fled” (Matthew 26:56).
“They were all filled with the Holy Spirit . . .” (Acts 2:4). “They” refers to the same people, but something wonderful has happened between these two events— our Lord’s death, resurrection, and ascension— and the disciples have now been invaded and “filled with the Holy Spirit.” Our Lord had said, “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you . . .” (Acts 1:8). This meant that they learned to watch with Him the rest of their lives.
傳道者的警醒
同我警醒。 （太二十六40）
[同我警醒。 ]－－完全沒有自己的私見，單單與主一同警醒。初時，我們不會與主一同警醒，只會為他警醒。我們不懂得透過聖經的啟示和生活的環境，與他一同警醒。主一直想用一個特定的客西馬尼，帶我們與他同心，有一同的體驗，可是我們不肯去。我們說：[不，主啊，我看不出這有何用處，太苦了。 ]怎樣可以與一個難以捉摸的物件一同警醒呢？我們若不明他受苦的目的，怎能對耶穌有充分的了解，以致肯在客西馬尼與他一同警醒？我們根本不懂得怎樣與他一同警醒，只習慣於他與我們一同警醒的觀念。
門徒愛耶穌，只到天然本能的限度為止，因她們不明白他在做什麼。在客西馬尼園中，她們因憂愁睡著了。在三年親密關係結束的時候，他們都離棄他逃跑了。 [他們都被聖靈充滿。 ]同樣是[他們]，只是奇妙的事發生了。就是主的死、復活、升天，門徒被聖靈充滿，主曾說：[聖靈降臨在你們身上，你們就必得著能力。 ]就是他們已學會終其一生與主一同警醒。
祈禱◆主啊，今天早上，為著你的話－－[主用手攙扶他]，我感謝你。
“Watch with Me.” Jesus was saying, in effect, “Watch with no private point of view at all, but watch solely and entirely with Me.” In the early stages of our Christian life, we do not watch with Jesus, we watch for Him. We do not watch with Him through the revealed truth of the Bible even in the circumstances of our own lives. Our Lord is trying to introduce us to identification with Himself through a particular “Gethsemane” experience of our own. But we refuse to go, saying, “No, Lord, I can’t see the meaning of this, and besides, it’s very painful.” And how can we possibly watch with Someone who is so incomprehensible? How are we going to understand Jesus sufficiently to watch with Him in His Gethsemane, when we don’t even know why He is suffering? We don’t know how to watch with Him— we are only used to the idea of Jesus watching with us.
The disciples loved Jesus Christ to the limit of their natural capacity, but they did not fully understand His purpose. In the Garden of Gethsemane they slept as a result of their own sorrow, and at the end of three years of the closest and most intimate relationship of their lives they “all . . . forsook Him and fled” (Matthew 26:56).
“They were all filled with the Holy Spirit . . .” (Acts 2:4). “They” refers to the same people, but something wonderful has happened between these two events— our Lord’s death, resurrection, and ascension— and the disciples have now been invaded and “filled with the Holy Spirit.” Our Lord had said, “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you . . .” (Acts 1:8). This meant that they learned to watch with Him the rest of their lives.
傳道者的警醒
同我警醒。 （太二十六40）
[同我警醒。 ]－－完全沒有自己的私見，單單與主一同警醒。初時，我們不會與主一同警醒，只會為他警醒。我們不懂得透過聖經的啟示和生活的環境，與他一同警醒。主一直想用一個特定的客西馬尼，帶我們與他同心，有一同的體驗，可是我們不肯去。我們說：[不，主啊，我看不出這有何用處，太苦了。 ]怎樣可以與一個難以捉摸的物件一同警醒呢？我們若不明他受苦的目的，怎能對耶穌有充分的了解，以致肯在客西馬尼與他一同警醒？我們根本不懂得怎樣與他一同警醒，只習慣於他與我們一同警醒的觀念。
門徒愛耶穌，只到天然本能的限度為止，因她們不明白他在做什麼。在客西馬尼園中，她們因憂愁睡著了。在三年親密關係結束的時候，他們都離棄他逃跑了。 [他們都被聖靈充滿。 ]同樣是[他們]，只是奇妙的事發生了。就是主的死、復活、升天，門徒被聖靈充滿，主曾說：[聖靈降臨在你們身上，你們就必得著能力。 ]就是他們已學會終其一生與主一同警醒。
祈禱◆主啊，今天早上，為著你的話－－[主用手攙扶他]，我感謝你。
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)