These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full —John 15:11
What was the joy that Jesus had? Joy should not be confused with happiness. In fact, it is an insult to Jesus Christ to use the word happiness in connection with Him. The joy of Jesus was His absolute self-surrender and self-sacrifice to His Father— the joy of doing that which the Father sent Him to do— “. . . who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross . . .” (Hebrews 12:2). “I delight to do Your will, O my God . . .” (Psalm 40:8). Jesus prayed that our joy might continue fulfilling itself until it becomes the same joy as His. Have I allowed Jesus Christ to introduce His joy to me?
Living a full and overflowing life does not rest in bodily health, in circumstances, nor even in seeing God’s work succeed, but in the perfect understanding of God, and in the same fellowship and oneness with Him that Jesus Himself enjoyed. But the first thing that will hinder this joy is the subtle irritability caused by giving too much thought to our circumstances. Jesus said, “. . . the cares of this world, . . . choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful” (Mark 4:19). And before we even realize what has happened, we are caught up in our cares. All that God has done for us is merely the threshold— He wants us to come to the place where we will be His witnesses and proclaim who Jesus is.
Have the right relationship with God, finding your joy there, and out of you “will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38). Be a fountain through which Jesus can pour His “living water.” Stop being hypocritical and proud, aware only of yourself, and live “your life . . . hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). A person who has the right relationship with God lives a life as natural as breathing wherever he goes. The lives that have been the greatest blessing to you are the lives of those people who themselves were unaware of having been a blessing.
我的喜樂……你們的喜樂
要叫我的喜樂，存在你們心裡，並叫你們的喜樂可以滿足。 （約十五11）
耶穌的喜樂是什麼？若在耶穌身上應用[快樂]這詞，實在是一種侮辱。耶穌的喜樂是對父絕對的順服與捨己。因作成他父差他來作的工而喜樂。 [我樂意照你的旨意行。 ]耶穌的禱告是要我們的喜樂日趨完備，直到像他的喜樂一樣。我有沒有讓主把喜樂帶給我？
生命的滿溢不是在身體的健康，不是在外在的事物，不是在看見神的事工成就，乃在對神完全的明白，有耶穌與父神那種契合。攔阻這喜樂的第一件事，是挑剔猜度而來的惱怒。耶穌說今生的憂慮會阻塞神的話。我們還未知身處何方，已經被紛繁的事物抓住了。神為我們所作成的一切只帶我們來到門檻，他還要我們進入，作他的見證，活出耶穌是誰。更與神連合，從而得喜樂，就有活水從你湧流。要做活水得中心，讓主透過你倒出活水。不要在沉浸在自覺裡，不要做成聖得自負者，要藏在基督里活。與神連合的生命，自然得像呼吸一般。那些最叫你蒙福的人，是那些不覺自己成為別人祝福的人。
祈禱◆噢，神啊，讓我更多的認識你，並更切實地認識你的兒子、我的救主和主。願你賜我愈來愈認識你的主權和統治，並且愈享受在你裡面的單純喜樂。
Showing posts with label Joy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Joy. Show all posts
August 31, 2014
April 16, 2014
Can You Come Down From the Mountain?
While you have the light, believe in the light . . . —John 12:36
We all have moments when we feel better than ever before, and we say, “I feel fit for anything; if only I could always be like this!” We are not meant to be. Those moments are moments of insight which we have to live up to even when we do not feel like it. Many of us are no good for the everyday world when we are not on the mountaintop. Yet we must bring our everyday life up to the standard revealed to us on the mountaintop when we were there.
Never allow a feeling that was awakened in you on the mountaintop to evaporate. Don’t place yourself on the shelf by thinking, “How great to be in such a wonderful state of mind!” Act immediately— do something, even if your only reason to act is that you would rather not. If, during a prayer meeting, God shows you something to do, don’t say, “I’ll do it”— just doit! Pick yourself up by the back of the neck and shake off your fleshly laziness. Laziness can always be seen in our cravings for a mountaintop experience; all we talk about is our planning for our time on the mountain. We must learn to live in the ordinary “gray” day according to what we saw on the mountain.
Don’t give up because you have been blocked and confused once— go after it again. Burn your bridges behind you, and stand committed to God by an act of your own will. Never change your decisions, but be sure to make your decisions in the light of what you saw and learned on the mountain.
信從這光
你們當趁著有光，信從這光。 （約十二36）
我們都有躊躇滿志的時刻，那時便會說：[我覺得萬事都能勝任，巴不得經常如此。 ]神的旨意並不要我們如此。那些時刻，是深入體驗的時候，藉著這種體驗，要在平淡的日子裡把真理活出來。若沒有那高超的時刻，許多人就在日常生活的輪子上，頹廢無用。我們應該把日常生活提升到靈程高處所體驗的水平。
切勿讓在高處所獲的感受如煙雲消散，也不要安於自逸的說：[如此的心境多麼美妙啊！ ]要立即行動，進入事奉。你若不甘心地做，就更該去做。若在禱告中會見神，他叫你做什麼，要立即去做。別說：[我會去做。 ]振作起來，把你與生俱來的惰性甩掉。懶惰的人總渴望想得意的時刻，總愛談怎樣攀上高峰。但是，我們要學習照著山上所見的，行在灰暗的生活中。
你一次迷惑，不必氣餒，重頭再來吧。要燒絕棧道，義不回顧，心甘情願地站在神面前，而且決不朝秦暮楚。你要認清所決志的，是根據在高山上所見的亮光。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，但願我的一切思想、情感和言語都帶著愛－－對你完全的愛，並且透過這愛去接觸人。
We all have moments when we feel better than ever before, and we say, “I feel fit for anything; if only I could always be like this!” We are not meant to be. Those moments are moments of insight which we have to live up to even when we do not feel like it. Many of us are no good for the everyday world when we are not on the mountaintop. Yet we must bring our everyday life up to the standard revealed to us on the mountaintop when we were there.
Never allow a feeling that was awakened in you on the mountaintop to evaporate. Don’t place yourself on the shelf by thinking, “How great to be in such a wonderful state of mind!” Act immediately— do something, even if your only reason to act is that you would rather not. If, during a prayer meeting, God shows you something to do, don’t say, “I’ll do it”— just doit! Pick yourself up by the back of the neck and shake off your fleshly laziness. Laziness can always be seen in our cravings for a mountaintop experience; all we talk about is our planning for our time on the mountain. We must learn to live in the ordinary “gray” day according to what we saw on the mountain.
Don’t give up because you have been blocked and confused once— go after it again. Burn your bridges behind you, and stand committed to God by an act of your own will. Never change your decisions, but be sure to make your decisions in the light of what you saw and learned on the mountain.
信從這光
你們當趁著有光，信從這光。 （約十二36）
我們都有躊躇滿志的時刻，那時便會說：[我覺得萬事都能勝任，巴不得經常如此。 ]神的旨意並不要我們如此。那些時刻，是深入體驗的時候，藉著這種體驗，要在平淡的日子裡把真理活出來。若沒有那高超的時刻，許多人就在日常生活的輪子上，頹廢無用。我們應該把日常生活提升到靈程高處所體驗的水平。
切勿讓在高處所獲的感受如煙雲消散，也不要安於自逸的說：[如此的心境多麼美妙啊！ ]要立即行動，進入事奉。你若不甘心地做，就更該去做。若在禱告中會見神，他叫你做什麼，要立即去做。別說：[我會去做。 ]振作起來，把你與生俱來的惰性甩掉。懶惰的人總渴望想得意的時刻，總愛談怎樣攀上高峰。但是，我們要學習照著山上所見的，行在灰暗的生活中。
你一次迷惑，不必氣餒，重頭再來吧。要燒絕棧道，義不回顧，心甘情願地站在神面前，而且決不朝秦暮楚。你要認清所決志的，是根據在高山上所見的亮光。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，但願我的一切思想、情感和言語都帶著愛－－對你完全的愛，並且透過這愛去接觸人。
March 24, 2014
Decreasing for His Purpose
He must increase, but I must decrease —John 3:30
If you become a necessity to someone else’s life, you are out of God’s will. As a servant, your primary responsibility is to be a “friend of the bridegroom” (John 3:29). When you see a person who is close to grasping the claims of Jesus Christ, you know that your influence has been used in the right direction. And when you begin to see that person in the middle of a difficult and painful struggle, don’t try to prevent it, but pray that his difficulty will grow even ten times stronger, until no power on earth or in hell could hold him away from Jesus Christ. Over and over again, we try to be amateur providences in someone’s life. We are indeed amateurs, coming in and actually preventing God’s will and saying, “This person should not have to experience this difficulty.” Instead of being friends of the Bridegroom, our sympathy gets in the way. One day that person will say to us, “You are a thief; you stole my desire to follow Jesus, and because of you I lost sight of Him.”
Beware of rejoicing with someone over the wrong thing, but always look to rejoice over the right thing. “. . . the friend of the bridegroom . . . rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:29-30). This was spoken with joy, not with sadness-at last they were to see the Bridegroom! And John said this was his joy. It represents a stepping aside, an absolute removal of the servant, never to be thought of again.
Listen intently with your entire being until you hear the Bridegroom’s voice in the life of another person. And never give any thought to what devastation, difficulties, or sickness it will bring. Just rejoice with godly excitement that His voice has been heard. You may often have to watch Jesus Christ wreck a life before He saves it (see Matthew 10:34).
為道日損，合乎主旨
他必興旺，我必衰微。 （約三30）
你若成為別人心中重要的人，你就偏離了神。作為主的工人，最大的職分是做新郎的朋友。當你發現有人靠近主耶穌，被主得著，就知道你在他身上所產生的影響是對的。你不必伸手去阻止他的痛苦，反而要求神使那痛苦加增十倍，以致世界或地球的任何勢力，都不足以叫他與耶穌基督分離。我們若一而再、再而三的濫竽充數，以神明自居，打岔神說：[這個那個不該發生。]我們不但不是新郎忠實的朋友，反而把個人的同情心拿出來。結果，有一天那人會說：[他是個賊，偷去我對耶穌的愛情，如今我連他的形像也看不見了。 ]
當心，不要錯用你與人同樂的心，要在正當的事上與他同樂。 [新郎的朋友站著聽見新郎的聲音就甚喜樂……他必興旺，我必衰微。 ]這話是歡喜快樂地說的，不是愁苦地說的，因別人終於看見新郎了！約翰說這就是他的喜樂。主的工人功成身退，不再被人思念。
你要為人盡所有的去警醒守望，知道你在那人身上聽見新郎的聲音。不管生活如何顛沛困苦，健康如何破敗損傷，只要聽見他的聲音，就當喜從天降，滿懷高興。你可以經常看見耶穌基督先拆毀一個人，然後再建立（太十34）
祈禱◆噢，我的神，願我在你的火焰中焚燒和煉淨－－今天我的渣滓似乎太多；太少流露你那甜蜜而親切的恩典。主啊，赦免我。
If you become a necessity to someone else’s life, you are out of God’s will. As a servant, your primary responsibility is to be a “friend of the bridegroom” (John 3:29). When you see a person who is close to grasping the claims of Jesus Christ, you know that your influence has been used in the right direction. And when you begin to see that person in the middle of a difficult and painful struggle, don’t try to prevent it, but pray that his difficulty will grow even ten times stronger, until no power on earth or in hell could hold him away from Jesus Christ. Over and over again, we try to be amateur providences in someone’s life. We are indeed amateurs, coming in and actually preventing God’s will and saying, “This person should not have to experience this difficulty.” Instead of being friends of the Bridegroom, our sympathy gets in the way. One day that person will say to us, “You are a thief; you stole my desire to follow Jesus, and because of you I lost sight of Him.”
Beware of rejoicing with someone over the wrong thing, but always look to rejoice over the right thing. “. . . the friend of the bridegroom . . . rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:29-30). This was spoken with joy, not with sadness-at last they were to see the Bridegroom! And John said this was his joy. It represents a stepping aside, an absolute removal of the servant, never to be thought of again.
Listen intently with your entire being until you hear the Bridegroom’s voice in the life of another person. And never give any thought to what devastation, difficulties, or sickness it will bring. Just rejoice with godly excitement that His voice has been heard. You may often have to watch Jesus Christ wreck a life before He saves it (see Matthew 10:34).
為道日損，合乎主旨
他必興旺，我必衰微。 （約三30）
你若成為別人心中重要的人，你就偏離了神。作為主的工人，最大的職分是做新郎的朋友。當你發現有人靠近主耶穌，被主得著，就知道你在他身上所產生的影響是對的。你不必伸手去阻止他的痛苦，反而要求神使那痛苦加增十倍，以致世界或地球的任何勢力，都不足以叫他與耶穌基督分離。我們若一而再、再而三的濫竽充數，以神明自居，打岔神說：[這個那個不該發生。]我們不但不是新郎忠實的朋友，反而把個人的同情心拿出來。結果，有一天那人會說：[他是個賊，偷去我對耶穌的愛情，如今我連他的形像也看不見了。 ]
當心，不要錯用你與人同樂的心，要在正當的事上與他同樂。 [新郎的朋友站著聽見新郎的聲音就甚喜樂……他必興旺，我必衰微。 ]這話是歡喜快樂地說的，不是愁苦地說的，因別人終於看見新郎了！約翰說這就是他的喜樂。主的工人功成身退，不再被人思念。
你要為人盡所有的去警醒守望，知道你在那人身上聽見新郎的聲音。不管生活如何顛沛困苦，健康如何破敗損傷，只要聽見他的聲音，就當喜從天降，滿懷高興。你可以經常看見耶穌基督先拆毀一個人，然後再建立（太十34）
祈禱◆噢，我的神，願我在你的火焰中焚燒和煉淨－－今天我的渣滓似乎太多；太少流露你那甜蜜而親切的恩典。主啊，赦免我。
March 05, 2014
Is He Really My Lord?
. . . so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus . . . —Acts 20:24
Joy comes from seeing the complete fulfillment of the specific purpose for which I was created and born again, not from successfully doing something of my own choosing. The joy our Lord experienced came from doing what the Father sent Him to do. And He says to us, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (John 20:21). Have you received a ministry from the Lord? If so, you must be faithful to it— to consider your life valuable only for the purpose of fulfilling that ministry. Knowing that you have done what Jesus sent you to do, think how satisfying it will be to hear Him say to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21). We each have to find a niche in life, and spiritually we find it when we receive a ministry from the Lord. To do this we must have close fellowship with Jesus and must know Him as more than our personal Savior. And we must be willing to experience the full impact of Acts 9:16 — “I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
“Do you love Me?” Then, “Feed My sheep” (John 21:17). He is not offering us a choice of how we can serve Him; He is asking for absolute loyalty to His commission, a faithfulness to what we discern when we are in the closest possible fellowship with God. If you have received a ministry from the Lord Jesus, you will know that the need is not the same as the call— the need is the opportunity to exercise the call. The call is to be faithful to the ministry you received when you were in true fellowship with Him. This does not imply that there is a whole series of differing ministries marked out for you. It does mean that you must be sensitive to what God has called you to do, and this may sometimes require ignoring demands for service in other areas.
祂真是主麼？
只要（[喜樂地]），英文譯本）行完我的路程，成就我從主耶穌所領受的職事。 （徒二十24）
喜樂的意思，是我能圓滿地完成被造和重生的目的，而不是因為成功地完成一件事。我們主的喜樂，就是在於遵行父神的旨意，他說：[我父怎樣差遣了我，我也照樣差遣你們。 ]我又從主接受職事麼？若有，我必須忠於所託，將生命的價值完全放在達成那使命上面。想想當主對你說：[好，你這又良善又忠心的僕人。 ]你會何等的心滿意足，因已完成主差你去做的事。我們必須尋找人生的崗位，在屬靈上說，就是尋找主託付你的是什麼。要達成所託，就必須與主同行；要更深認識他，不單是把他作為個人的救主。 [我也要指示他，為我的名必須受許多的枯。 ][你愛我麼？ ]然後，[你餵養我的羊。 ]事奉是不容你取捨的，只有絕對效忠於主；效忠於你最貼近神時所領受的。若你從耶穌接受了一項事奉，就會知道需要並不等於呼召，需要乃是機會，呼召則是忠 於你與主相交時所領受的。這並不是說，從此有無數的事奉要劃分出來給你，而是你要撇開其他方面事奉的需求。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，懇求你繼續賜下力量和純真的喜樂。讓我的動機和心思，都能夠保持謙卑，不會自以為是優越的人。
Joy comes from seeing the complete fulfillment of the specific purpose for which I was created and born again, not from successfully doing something of my own choosing. The joy our Lord experienced came from doing what the Father sent Him to do. And He says to us, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (John 20:21). Have you received a ministry from the Lord? If so, you must be faithful to it— to consider your life valuable only for the purpose of fulfilling that ministry. Knowing that you have done what Jesus sent you to do, think how satisfying it will be to hear Him say to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21). We each have to find a niche in life, and spiritually we find it when we receive a ministry from the Lord. To do this we must have close fellowship with Jesus and must know Him as more than our personal Savior. And we must be willing to experience the full impact of Acts 9:16 — “I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
“Do you love Me?” Then, “Feed My sheep” (John 21:17). He is not offering us a choice of how we can serve Him; He is asking for absolute loyalty to His commission, a faithfulness to what we discern when we are in the closest possible fellowship with God. If you have received a ministry from the Lord Jesus, you will know that the need is not the same as the call— the need is the opportunity to exercise the call. The call is to be faithful to the ministry you received when you were in true fellowship with Him. This does not imply that there is a whole series of differing ministries marked out for you. It does mean that you must be sensitive to what God has called you to do, and this may sometimes require ignoring demands for service in other areas.
祂真是主麼？
只要（[喜樂地]），英文譯本）行完我的路程，成就我從主耶穌所領受的職事。 （徒二十24）
喜樂的意思，是我能圓滿地完成被造和重生的目的，而不是因為成功地完成一件事。我們主的喜樂，就是在於遵行父神的旨意，他說：[我父怎樣差遣了我，我也照樣差遣你們。 ]我又從主接受職事麼？若有，我必須忠於所託，將生命的價值完全放在達成那使命上面。想想當主對你說：[好，你這又良善又忠心的僕人。 ]你會何等的心滿意足，因已完成主差你去做的事。我們必須尋找人生的崗位，在屬靈上說，就是尋找主託付你的是什麼。要達成所託，就必須與主同行；要更深認識他，不單是把他作為個人的救主。 [我也要指示他，為我的名必須受許多的枯。 ][你愛我麼？ ]然後，[你餵養我的羊。 ]事奉是不容你取捨的，只有絕對效忠於主；效忠於你最貼近神時所領受的。若你從耶穌接受了一項事奉，就會知道需要並不等於呼召，需要乃是機會，呼召則是忠 於你與主相交時所領受的。這並不是說，從此有無數的事奉要劃分出來給你，而是你要撇開其他方面事奉的需求。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，懇求你繼續賜下力量和純真的喜樂。讓我的動機和心思，都能夠保持謙卑，不會自以為是優越的人。
August 31, 2013
“My Joy . . . Your Joy”
These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full —John 15:11
What was the joy that Jesus had? Joy should not be confused with happiness. In fact, it is an insult to Jesus Christ to use the word happiness in connection with Him. The joy of Jesus was His absolute self-surrender and self-sacrifice to His Father— the joy of doing that which the Father sent Him to do— “. . . who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross . . .” (Hebrews 12:2). “I delight to do Your will, O my God . . .” (Psalm 40:8). Jesus prayed that our joy might continue fulfilling itself until it becomes the same joy as His. Have I allowed Jesus Christ to introduce His joy to me?
Living a full and overflowing life does not rest in bodily health, in circumstances, nor even in seeing God’s work succeed, but in the perfect understanding of God, and in the same fellowship and oneness with Him that Jesus Himself enjoyed. But the first thing that will hinder this joy is the subtle irritability caused by giving too much thought to our circumstances. Jesus said, “. . . the cares of this world, . . . choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful” (Mark 4:19). And before we even realize what has happened, we are caught up in our cares. All that God has done for us is merely the threshold— He wants us to come to the place where we will be His witnesses and proclaim who Jesus is.
Have the right relationship with God, finding your joy there, and out of you “will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38). Be a fountain through which Jesus can pour His “living water.” Stop being hypocritical and proud, aware only of yourself, and live “your life . . . hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). A person who has the right relationship with God lives a life as natural as breathing wherever he goes. The lives that have been the greatest blessing to you are the lives of those people who themselves were unaware of having been a blessing.
我的喜樂……你們的喜樂
要叫我的喜樂，存在你們心裡，並叫你們的喜樂可以滿足。 （約十五11）
耶穌的喜樂是什麼？若在耶穌身上應用[快樂]這詞，實在是一種侮辱。耶穌的喜樂是對父絕對的順服與捨己。因作成他父差他來作的工而喜樂。 [我樂意照你的旨意行。 ]耶穌的禱告是要我們的喜樂日趨完備，直到像他的喜樂一樣。我有沒有讓主把喜樂帶給我？
生命的滿溢不是在身體的健康，不是在外在的事物，不是在看見神的事工成就，乃在對神完全的明白，有耶穌與父神那種契合。攔阻這喜樂的第一件事，是挑剔猜度而來的惱怒。耶穌說今生的憂慮會阻塞神的話。我們還未知身處何方，已經被紛繁的事物抓住了。神為我們所作成的一切只帶我們來到門檻，他還要我們進入，作他的見證，活出耶穌是誰。更與神連合，從而得喜樂，就有活水從你湧流。要做活水得中心，讓主透過你倒出活水。不要在沉浸在自覺裡，不要做成聖得自負者，要藏在基督里活。與神連合的生命，自然得像呼吸一般。那些最叫你蒙福的人，是那些不覺自己成為別人祝福的人。
祈禱◆噢，神啊，讓我更多的認識你，並更切實地認識你的兒子、我的救主和主。願你賜我愈來愈認識你的主權和統治，並且愈享受在你裡面的單純喜樂。
What was the joy that Jesus had? Joy should not be confused with happiness. In fact, it is an insult to Jesus Christ to use the word happiness in connection with Him. The joy of Jesus was His absolute self-surrender and self-sacrifice to His Father— the joy of doing that which the Father sent Him to do— “. . . who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross . . .” (Hebrews 12:2). “I delight to do Your will, O my God . . .” (Psalm 40:8). Jesus prayed that our joy might continue fulfilling itself until it becomes the same joy as His. Have I allowed Jesus Christ to introduce His joy to me?
Living a full and overflowing life does not rest in bodily health, in circumstances, nor even in seeing God’s work succeed, but in the perfect understanding of God, and in the same fellowship and oneness with Him that Jesus Himself enjoyed. But the first thing that will hinder this joy is the subtle irritability caused by giving too much thought to our circumstances. Jesus said, “. . . the cares of this world, . . . choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful” (Mark 4:19). And before we even realize what has happened, we are caught up in our cares. All that God has done for us is merely the threshold— He wants us to come to the place where we will be His witnesses and proclaim who Jesus is.
Have the right relationship with God, finding your joy there, and out of you “will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38). Be a fountain through which Jesus can pour His “living water.” Stop being hypocritical and proud, aware only of yourself, and live “your life . . . hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). A person who has the right relationship with God lives a life as natural as breathing wherever he goes. The lives that have been the greatest blessing to you are the lives of those people who themselves were unaware of having been a blessing.
我的喜樂……你們的喜樂
要叫我的喜樂，存在你們心裡，並叫你們的喜樂可以滿足。 （約十五11）
耶穌的喜樂是什麼？若在耶穌身上應用[快樂]這詞，實在是一種侮辱。耶穌的喜樂是對父絕對的順服與捨己。因作成他父差他來作的工而喜樂。 [我樂意照你的旨意行。 ]耶穌的禱告是要我們的喜樂日趨完備，直到像他的喜樂一樣。我有沒有讓主把喜樂帶給我？
生命的滿溢不是在身體的健康，不是在外在的事物，不是在看見神的事工成就，乃在對神完全的明白，有耶穌與父神那種契合。攔阻這喜樂的第一件事，是挑剔猜度而來的惱怒。耶穌說今生的憂慮會阻塞神的話。我們還未知身處何方，已經被紛繁的事物抓住了。神為我們所作成的一切只帶我們來到門檻，他還要我們進入，作他的見證，活出耶穌是誰。更與神連合，從而得喜樂，就有活水從你湧流。要做活水得中心，讓主透過你倒出活水。不要在沉浸在自覺裡，不要做成聖得自負者，要藏在基督里活。與神連合的生命，自然得像呼吸一般。那些最叫你蒙福的人，是那些不覺自己成為別人祝福的人。
祈禱◆噢，神啊，讓我更多的認識你，並更切實地認識你的兒子、我的救主和主。願你賜我愈來愈認識你的主權和統治，並且愈享受在你裡面的單純喜樂。
April 16, 2013
Can You Come Down From the Mountain?
While you have the light, believe in the light . . . —John 12:36
We all have moments when we feel better than ever before, and we say, “I feel fit for anything; if only I could always be like this!” We are not meant to be. Those moments are moments of insight which we have to live up to even when we do not feel like it. Many of us are no good for the everyday world when we are not on the mountaintop. Yet we must bring our everyday life up to the standard revealed to us on the mountaintop when we were there.
Never allow a feeling that was awakened in you on the mountaintop to evaporate. Don’t place yourself on the shelf by thinking, “How great to be in such a wonderful state of mind!” Act immediately— do something, even if your only reason to act is that you would rather not. If, during a prayer meeting, God shows you something to do, don’t say, “I’ll do it”— just doit! Pick yourself up by the back of the neck and shake off your fleshly laziness. Laziness can always be seen in our cravings for a mountaintop experience; all we talk about is our planning for our time on the mountain. We must learn to live in the ordinary “gray” day according to what we saw on the mountain.
Don’t give up because you have been blocked and confused once— go after it again. Burn your bridges behind you, and stand committed to God by an act of your own will. Never change your decisions, but be sure to make your decisions in the light of what you saw and learned on the mountain.
信從這光
你們當趁著有光，信從這光。 （約十二36）
我們都有躊躇滿志的時刻，那時便會說：[我覺得萬事都能勝任，巴不得經常如此。 ]神的旨意並不要我們如此。那些時刻，是深入體驗的時候，藉著這種體驗，要在平淡的日子裡把真理活出來。若沒有那高超的時刻，許多人就在日常生活的輪子上，頹廢無用。我們應該把日常生活提升到靈程高處所體驗的水平。
切勿讓在高處所獲的感受如煙雲消散，也不要安於自逸的說：[如此的心境多麼美妙啊！ ]要立即行動，進入事奉。你若不甘心地做，就更該去做。若在禱告中會見神，他叫你做什麼，要立即去做。別說：[我會去做。 ]振作起來，把你與生俱來的惰性甩掉。懶惰的人總渴望想得意的時刻，總愛談怎樣攀上高峰。但是，我們要學習照著山上所見的，行在灰暗的生活中。
你一次迷惑，不必氣餒，重頭再來吧。要燒絕棧道，義不回顧，心甘情願地站在神面前，而且決不朝秦暮楚。你要認清所決志的，是根據在高山上所見的亮光。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，但願我的一切思想、情感和言語都帶著愛－－對你完全的愛，並且透過這愛去接觸人。
We all have moments when we feel better than ever before, and we say, “I feel fit for anything; if only I could always be like this!” We are not meant to be. Those moments are moments of insight which we have to live up to even when we do not feel like it. Many of us are no good for the everyday world when we are not on the mountaintop. Yet we must bring our everyday life up to the standard revealed to us on the mountaintop when we were there.
Never allow a feeling that was awakened in you on the mountaintop to evaporate. Don’t place yourself on the shelf by thinking, “How great to be in such a wonderful state of mind!” Act immediately— do something, even if your only reason to act is that you would rather not. If, during a prayer meeting, God shows you something to do, don’t say, “I’ll do it”— just doit! Pick yourself up by the back of the neck and shake off your fleshly laziness. Laziness can always be seen in our cravings for a mountaintop experience; all we talk about is our planning for our time on the mountain. We must learn to live in the ordinary “gray” day according to what we saw on the mountain.
Don’t give up because you have been blocked and confused once— go after it again. Burn your bridges behind you, and stand committed to God by an act of your own will. Never change your decisions, but be sure to make your decisions in the light of what you saw and learned on the mountain.
信從這光
你們當趁著有光，信從這光。 （約十二36）
我們都有躊躇滿志的時刻，那時便會說：[我覺得萬事都能勝任，巴不得經常如此。 ]神的旨意並不要我們如此。那些時刻，是深入體驗的時候，藉著這種體驗，要在平淡的日子裡把真理活出來。若沒有那高超的時刻，許多人就在日常生活的輪子上，頹廢無用。我們應該把日常生活提升到靈程高處所體驗的水平。
切勿讓在高處所獲的感受如煙雲消散，也不要安於自逸的說：[如此的心境多麼美妙啊！ ]要立即行動，進入事奉。你若不甘心地做，就更該去做。若在禱告中會見神，他叫你做什麼，要立即去做。別說：[我會去做。 ]振作起來，把你與生俱來的惰性甩掉。懶惰的人總渴望想得意的時刻，總愛談怎樣攀上高峰。但是，我們要學習照著山上所見的，行在灰暗的生活中。
你一次迷惑，不必氣餒，重頭再來吧。要燒絕棧道，義不回顧，心甘情願地站在神面前，而且決不朝秦暮楚。你要認清所決志的，是根據在高山上所見的亮光。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，但願我的一切思想、情感和言語都帶著愛－－對你完全的愛，並且透過這愛去接觸人。
March 24, 2013
Decreasing for His Purpose
He must increase, but I must decrease —John 3:30
If you become a necessity to someone else’s life, you are out of God’s will. As a servant, your primary responsibility is to be a “friend of the bridegroom” (John 3:29). When you see a person who is close to grasping the claims of Jesus Christ, you know that your influence has been used in the right direction. And when you begin to see that person in the middle of a difficult and painful struggle, don’t try to prevent it, but pray that his difficulty will grow even ten times stronger, until no power on earth or in hell could hold him away from Jesus Christ. Over and over again, we try to be amateur providences in someone’s life. We are indeed amateurs, coming in and actually preventing God’s will and saying, “This person should not have to experience this difficulty.” Instead of being friends of the Bridegroom, our sympathy gets in the way. One day that person will say to us, “You are a thief; you stole my desire to follow Jesus, and because of you I lost sight of Him.”
Beware of rejoicing with someone over the wrong thing, but always look to rejoice over the right thing. “. . . the friend of the bridegroom . . . rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:29-30). This was spoken with joy, not with sadness-at last they were to see the Bridegroom! And John said this was his joy. It represents a stepping aside, an absolute removal of the servant, never to be thought of again.
Listen intently with your entire being until you hear the Bridegroom’s voice in the life of another person. And never give any thought to what devastation, difficulties, or sickness it will bring. Just rejoice with godly excitement that His voice has been heard. You may often have to watch Jesus Christ wreck a life before He saves it (see Matthew 10:34).
為道日損，合乎主旨
他必興旺，我必衰微。 （約三30）
你若成為別人心中重要的人，你就偏離了神。作為主的工人，最大的職分是做新郎的朋友。當你發現有人靠近主耶穌，被主得著，就知道你在他身上所產生的影響是對的。你不必伸手去阻止他的痛苦，反而要求神使那痛苦加增十倍，以致世界或地球的任何勢力，都不足以叫他與耶穌基督分離。我們若一而再、再而三的濫竽充數，以神明自居，打岔神說：[這個那個不該發生。 ]我們不但不是新郎忠實的朋友，反而把個人的同情心拿出來。結果，有一天那人會說：[他是個賊，偷去我對耶穌的愛情，如今我連他的形像也看不見了。 ]
當心，不要錯用你與人同樂的心，要在正當的事上與他同樂。 [新郎的朋友站著聽見新郎的聲音就甚喜樂……他必興旺，我必衰微。 ]這話是歡喜快樂地說的，不是愁苦地說的，因別人終於看見新郎了！約翰說這就是他的喜樂。主的工人功成身退，不再被人思念。
你要為人盡所有的去警醒守望，知道你在那人身上聽見新郎的聲音。不管生活如何顛沛困苦，健康如何破敗損傷，只要聽見他的聲音，就當喜從天降，滿懷高興。你可以經常看見耶穌基督先拆毀一個人，然後再建立（太十34）
祈禱◆噢，我的神，願我在你的火焰中焚燒和煉淨－－今天我的渣滓似乎太多；太少流露你那甜蜜而親切的恩典。主啊，赦免我。
If you become a necessity to someone else’s life, you are out of God’s will. As a servant, your primary responsibility is to be a “friend of the bridegroom” (John 3:29). When you see a person who is close to grasping the claims of Jesus Christ, you know that your influence has been used in the right direction. And when you begin to see that person in the middle of a difficult and painful struggle, don’t try to prevent it, but pray that his difficulty will grow even ten times stronger, until no power on earth or in hell could hold him away from Jesus Christ. Over and over again, we try to be amateur providences in someone’s life. We are indeed amateurs, coming in and actually preventing God’s will and saying, “This person should not have to experience this difficulty.” Instead of being friends of the Bridegroom, our sympathy gets in the way. One day that person will say to us, “You are a thief; you stole my desire to follow Jesus, and because of you I lost sight of Him.”
Beware of rejoicing with someone over the wrong thing, but always look to rejoice over the right thing. “. . . the friend of the bridegroom . . . rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:29-30). This was spoken with joy, not with sadness-at last they were to see the Bridegroom! And John said this was his joy. It represents a stepping aside, an absolute removal of the servant, never to be thought of again.
Listen intently with your entire being until you hear the Bridegroom’s voice in the life of another person. And never give any thought to what devastation, difficulties, or sickness it will bring. Just rejoice with godly excitement that His voice has been heard. You may often have to watch Jesus Christ wreck a life before He saves it (see Matthew 10:34).
為道日損，合乎主旨
他必興旺，我必衰微。 （約三30）
你若成為別人心中重要的人，你就偏離了神。作為主的工人，最大的職分是做新郎的朋友。當你發現有人靠近主耶穌，被主得著，就知道你在他身上所產生的影響是對的。你不必伸手去阻止他的痛苦，反而要求神使那痛苦加增十倍，以致世界或地球的任何勢力，都不足以叫他與耶穌基督分離。我們若一而再、再而三的濫竽充數，以神明自居，打岔神說：[這個那個不該發生。 ]我們不但不是新郎忠實的朋友，反而把個人的同情心拿出來。結果，有一天那人會說：[他是個賊，偷去我對耶穌的愛情，如今我連他的形像也看不見了。 ]
當心，不要錯用你與人同樂的心，要在正當的事上與他同樂。 [新郎的朋友站著聽見新郎的聲音就甚喜樂……他必興旺，我必衰微。 ]這話是歡喜快樂地說的，不是愁苦地說的，因別人終於看見新郎了！約翰說這就是他的喜樂。主的工人功成身退，不再被人思念。
你要為人盡所有的去警醒守望，知道你在那人身上聽見新郎的聲音。不管生活如何顛沛困苦，健康如何破敗損傷，只要聽見他的聲音，就當喜從天降，滿懷高興。你可以經常看見耶穌基督先拆毀一個人，然後再建立（太十34）
祈禱◆噢，我的神，願我在你的火焰中焚燒和煉淨－－今天我的渣滓似乎太多；太少流露你那甜蜜而親切的恩典。主啊，赦免我。
March 05, 2013
Is He Really My Lord?
. . . so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus . . . —Acts 20:24
Joy comes from seeing the complete fulfillment of the specific purpose for which I was created and born again, not from successfully doing something of my own choosing. The joy our Lord experienced came from doing what the Father sent Him to do. And He says to us, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (John 20:21). Have you received a ministry from the Lord? If so, you must be faithful to it— to consider your life valuable only for the purpose of fulfilling that ministry. Knowing that you have done what Jesus sent you to do, think how satisfying it will be to hear Him say to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21). We each have to find a niche in life, and spiritually we find it when we receive a ministry from the Lord. To do this we must have close fellowship with Jesus and must know Him as more than our personal Savior. And we must be willing to experience the full impact of Acts 9:16 — “I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
“Do you love Me?” Then, “Feed My sheep” (John 21:17). He is not offering us a choice of how we can serve Him; He is asking for absolute loyalty to His commission, a faithfulness to what we discern when we are in the closest possible fellowship with God. If you have received a ministry from the Lord Jesus, you will know that the need is not the same as the call— the need is the opportunity to exercise the call. The call is to be faithful to the ministry you received when you were in true fellowship with Him. This does not imply that there is a whole series of differing ministries marked out for you. It does mean that you must be sensitive to what God has called you to do, and this may sometimes require ignoring demands for service in other areas.
祂真是主麼？
只要（[喜樂地]），英文譯本）行完我的路程，成就我從主耶穌所領受的職事。 （徒二十24）
喜樂的意思，是我能圓滿地完成被造和重生的目的，而不是因為成功地完成一件事。我們主的喜樂，就是在於遵行父神的旨意，他說：[我父怎樣差遣了我，我也照樣差遣你們。 ]我又從主接受職事麼？若有，我必須忠於所託，將生命的價值完全放在達成那使命上面。想想當主對你說：[好，你這又良善又忠心的僕人。 ]你會何等的心滿意足，因已完成主差你去做的事。我們必須尋找人生的崗位，在屬靈上說，就是尋找主託付你的是什麼。要達成所託，就必須與主同行；要更深認識他，不單是把他作為個人的救主。 [我也要指示他，為我的名必須受許多的枯。 ][你愛我麼？ ]然後，[你餵養我的羊。 ]事奉是不容你取捨的，只有絕對效忠於主；效忠於你最貼近神時所領受的。若你從耶穌接受了一項事奉，就會知道需要並不等於呼召，需要乃是機會，呼召則是忠於你與主相交時所領受的。這並不是說，從此有無數的事奉要劃分出來給你，而是你要撇開其他方面事奉的需求。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，懇求你繼續賜下力量和純真的喜樂。讓我的動機和心思，都能夠保持謙卑，不會自以為是優越的人。
Joy comes from seeing the complete fulfillment of the specific purpose for which I was created and born again, not from successfully doing something of my own choosing. The joy our Lord experienced came from doing what the Father sent Him to do. And He says to us, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (John 20:21). Have you received a ministry from the Lord? If so, you must be faithful to it— to consider your life valuable only for the purpose of fulfilling that ministry. Knowing that you have done what Jesus sent you to do, think how satisfying it will be to hear Him say to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21). We each have to find a niche in life, and spiritually we find it when we receive a ministry from the Lord. To do this we must have close fellowship with Jesus and must know Him as more than our personal Savior. And we must be willing to experience the full impact of Acts 9:16 — “I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
“Do you love Me?” Then, “Feed My sheep” (John 21:17). He is not offering us a choice of how we can serve Him; He is asking for absolute loyalty to His commission, a faithfulness to what we discern when we are in the closest possible fellowship with God. If you have received a ministry from the Lord Jesus, you will know that the need is not the same as the call— the need is the opportunity to exercise the call. The call is to be faithful to the ministry you received when you were in true fellowship with Him. This does not imply that there is a whole series of differing ministries marked out for you. It does mean that you must be sensitive to what God has called you to do, and this may sometimes require ignoring demands for service in other areas.
祂真是主麼？
只要（[喜樂地]），英文譯本）行完我的路程，成就我從主耶穌所領受的職事。 （徒二十24）
喜樂的意思，是我能圓滿地完成被造和重生的目的，而不是因為成功地完成一件事。我們主的喜樂，就是在於遵行父神的旨意，他說：[我父怎樣差遣了我，我也照樣差遣你們。 ]我又從主接受職事麼？若有，我必須忠於所託，將生命的價值完全放在達成那使命上面。想想當主對你說：[好，你這又良善又忠心的僕人。 ]你會何等的心滿意足，因已完成主差你去做的事。我們必須尋找人生的崗位，在屬靈上說，就是尋找主託付你的是什麼。要達成所託，就必須與主同行；要更深認識他，不單是把他作為個人的救主。 [我也要指示他，為我的名必須受許多的枯。 ][你愛我麼？ ]然後，[你餵養我的羊。 ]事奉是不容你取捨的，只有絕對效忠於主；效忠於你最貼近神時所領受的。若你從耶穌接受了一項事奉，就會知道需要並不等於呼召，需要乃是機會，呼召則是忠於你與主相交時所領受的。這並不是說，從此有無數的事奉要劃分出來給你，而是你要撇開其他方面事奉的需求。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，懇求你繼續賜下力量和純真的喜樂。讓我的動機和心思，都能夠保持謙卑，不會自以為是優越的人。
August 31, 2012
“My Joy . . . Your Joy”
These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full —John 15:11
What was the joy that Jesus had? Joy should not be confused with happiness. In fact, it is an insult to Jesus Christ to use the word happiness in connection with Him. The joy of Jesus was His absolute self-surrender and self-sacrifice to His Father— the joy of doing that which the Father sent Him to do— “. . . who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross . . .” (Hebrews 12:2). “I delight to do Your will, O my God . . .” (Psalm 40:8). Jesus prayed that our joy might continue fulfilling itself until it becomes the same joy as His. Have I allowed Jesus Christ to introduce His joy to me?
Living a full and overflowing life does not rest in bodily health, in circumstances, nor even in seeing God’s work succeed, but in the perfect understanding of God, and in the same fellowship and oneness with Him that Jesus Himself enjoyed. But the first thing that will hinder this joy is the subtle irritability caused by giving too much thought to our circumstances. Jesus said, “. . . the cares of this world, . . . choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful” (Mark 4:19). And before we even realize what has happened, we are caught up in our cares. All that God has done for us is merely the threshold— He wants us to come to the place where we will be His witnesses and proclaim who Jesus is.
Have the right relationship with God, finding your joy there, and out of you “will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38). Be a fountain through which Jesus can pour His “living water.” Stop being hypocritical and proud, aware only of yourself, and live “your life . . . hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). A person who has the right relationship with God lives a life as natural as breathing wherever he goes. The lives that have been the greatest blessing to you are the lives of those people who themselves were unaware of having been a blessing.
我的喜樂……你們的喜樂
要叫我的喜樂，存在你們心裡，並叫你們的喜樂可以滿足。 （約十五11）
耶穌的喜樂是什麼？若在耶穌身上應用[快樂]這詞，實在是一種侮辱。耶穌的喜樂是對父絕對的順服與捨己。因作成他父差他來作的工而喜樂。 [我樂意照你的旨意行。 ]耶穌的禱告是要我們的喜樂日趨完備，直到像他的喜樂一樣。我有沒有讓主把喜樂帶給我？
生命的滿溢不是在身體的健康，不是在外在的事物，不是在看見神的事工成就，乃在對神完全的明白，有耶穌與父神那種契合。攔阻這喜樂的第一件事，是挑剔猜度而來的惱怒。耶穌說今生的憂慮會阻塞神的話。我們還未知身處何方，已經被紛繁的事物抓住了。神為我們所作成的一切只帶我們來到門檻，他還要我們進入，作他的見證，活出耶穌是誰。更與神連合，從而得喜樂，就有活水從你湧流。要做活水得中心，讓主透過你倒出活水。不要在沉浸在自覺裡，不要做成聖得自負者，要藏在基督里活。與神連合的生命，自然得像呼吸一般。那些最叫你蒙福的人，是那些不覺自己成為別人祝福的人。
祈禱◆噢，神啊，讓我更多的認識你，並更切實地認識你的兒子、我的救主和主。願你賜我愈來愈認識你的主權和統治，並且愈享受在你裡面的單純喜樂。
What was the joy that Jesus had? Joy should not be confused with happiness. In fact, it is an insult to Jesus Christ to use the word happiness in connection with Him. The joy of Jesus was His absolute self-surrender and self-sacrifice to His Father— the joy of doing that which the Father sent Him to do— “. . . who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross . . .” (Hebrews 12:2). “I delight to do Your will, O my God . . .” (Psalm 40:8). Jesus prayed that our joy might continue fulfilling itself until it becomes the same joy as His. Have I allowed Jesus Christ to introduce His joy to me?
Living a full and overflowing life does not rest in bodily health, in circumstances, nor even in seeing God’s work succeed, but in the perfect understanding of God, and in the same fellowship and oneness with Him that Jesus Himself enjoyed. But the first thing that will hinder this joy is the subtle irritability caused by giving too much thought to our circumstances. Jesus said, “. . . the cares of this world, . . . choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful” (Mark 4:19). And before we even realize what has happened, we are caught up in our cares. All that God has done for us is merely the threshold— He wants us to come to the place where we will be His witnesses and proclaim who Jesus is.
Have the right relationship with God, finding your joy there, and out of you “will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38). Be a fountain through which Jesus can pour His “living water.” Stop being hypocritical and proud, aware only of yourself, and live “your life . . . hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). A person who has the right relationship with God lives a life as natural as breathing wherever he goes. The lives that have been the greatest blessing to you are the lives of those people who themselves were unaware of having been a blessing.
我的喜樂……你們的喜樂
要叫我的喜樂，存在你們心裡，並叫你們的喜樂可以滿足。 （約十五11）
耶穌的喜樂是什麼？若在耶穌身上應用[快樂]這詞，實在是一種侮辱。耶穌的喜樂是對父絕對的順服與捨己。因作成他父差他來作的工而喜樂。 [我樂意照你的旨意行。 ]耶穌的禱告是要我們的喜樂日趨完備，直到像他的喜樂一樣。我有沒有讓主把喜樂帶給我？
生命的滿溢不是在身體的健康，不是在外在的事物，不是在看見神的事工成就，乃在對神完全的明白，有耶穌與父神那種契合。攔阻這喜樂的第一件事，是挑剔猜度而來的惱怒。耶穌說今生的憂慮會阻塞神的話。我們還未知身處何方，已經被紛繁的事物抓住了。神為我們所作成的一切只帶我們來到門檻，他還要我們進入，作他的見證，活出耶穌是誰。更與神連合，從而得喜樂，就有活水從你湧流。要做活水得中心，讓主透過你倒出活水。不要在沉浸在自覺裡，不要做成聖得自負者，要藏在基督里活。與神連合的生命，自然得像呼吸一般。那些最叫你蒙福的人，是那些不覺自己成為別人祝福的人。
祈禱◆噢，神啊，讓我更多的認識你，並更切實地認識你的兒子、我的救主和主。願你賜我愈來愈認識你的主權和統治，並且愈享受在你裡面的單純喜樂。
April 16, 2012
Can You Come Down From the Mountain?
While you have the light, believe in the light . . . —John 12:36
We all have moments when we feel better than ever before, and we say, “I feel fit for anything; if only I could always be like this!” We are not meant to be. Those moments are moments of insight which we have to live up to even when we do not feel like it. Many of us are no good for the everyday world when we are not on the mountaintop. Yet we must bring our everyday life up to the standard revealed to us on the mountaintop when we were there.
Never allow a feeling that was awakened in you on the mountaintop to evaporate. Don’t place yourself on the shelf by thinking, “How great to be in such a wonderful state of mind!” Act immediately— do something, even if your only reason to act is that you would rather not. If, during a prayer meeting, God shows you something to do, don’t say, “I’ll do it”— just doit! Pick yourself up by the back of the neck and shake off your fleshly laziness. Laziness can always be seen in our cravings for a mountaintop experience; all we talk about is our planning for our time on the mountain. We must learn to live in the ordinary “gray” day according to what we saw on the mountain.
Don’t give up because you have been blocked and confused once— go after it again. Burn your bridges behind you, and stand committed to God by an act of your own will. Never change your decisions, but be sure to make your decisions in the light of what you saw and learned on the mountain.
信從這光
你們當趁著有光，信從這光。 （約十二36）
我們都有躊躇滿志的時刻，那時便會說：[我覺得萬事都能勝任，巴不得經常如此。 ]神的旨意並不要我們如此。那些時刻，是深入體驗的時候，藉著這種體驗，要在平淡的日子裡把真理活出來。若沒有那高超的時刻，許多人就在日常生活的輪子上，頹廢無用。我們應該把日常生活提升到靈程高處所體驗的水平。
切勿讓在高處所獲的感受如煙雲消散，也不要安於自逸的說：[如此的心境多麼美妙啊！ ]要立即行動，進入事奉。你若不甘心地做，就更該去做。若在禱告中會見神，他叫你做什麼，要立即去做。別說：[我會去做。 ]振作起來，把你與生俱來的惰性甩掉。懶惰的人總渴望想得意的時刻，總愛談怎樣攀上高峰。但是，我們要學習照著山上所見的，行在灰暗的生活中。
你一次迷惑，不必氣餒，重頭再來吧。要燒絕棧道，義不回顧，心甘情願地站在神面前，而且決不朝秦暮楚。你要認清所決志的，是根據在高山上所見的亮光。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，但願我的一切思想、情感和言語都帶著愛－－對你完全的愛，並且透過這愛去接觸人。
We all have moments when we feel better than ever before, and we say, “I feel fit for anything; if only I could always be like this!” We are not meant to be. Those moments are moments of insight which we have to live up to even when we do not feel like it. Many of us are no good for the everyday world when we are not on the mountaintop. Yet we must bring our everyday life up to the standard revealed to us on the mountaintop when we were there.
Never allow a feeling that was awakened in you on the mountaintop to evaporate. Don’t place yourself on the shelf by thinking, “How great to be in such a wonderful state of mind!” Act immediately— do something, even if your only reason to act is that you would rather not. If, during a prayer meeting, God shows you something to do, don’t say, “I’ll do it”— just doit! Pick yourself up by the back of the neck and shake off your fleshly laziness. Laziness can always be seen in our cravings for a mountaintop experience; all we talk about is our planning for our time on the mountain. We must learn to live in the ordinary “gray” day according to what we saw on the mountain.
Don’t give up because you have been blocked and confused once— go after it again. Burn your bridges behind you, and stand committed to God by an act of your own will. Never change your decisions, but be sure to make your decisions in the light of what you saw and learned on the mountain.
信從這光
你們當趁著有光，信從這光。 （約十二36）
我們都有躊躇滿志的時刻，那時便會說：[我覺得萬事都能勝任，巴不得經常如此。 ]神的旨意並不要我們如此。那些時刻，是深入體驗的時候，藉著這種體驗，要在平淡的日子裡把真理活出來。若沒有那高超的時刻，許多人就在日常生活的輪子上，頹廢無用。我們應該把日常生活提升到靈程高處所體驗的水平。
切勿讓在高處所獲的感受如煙雲消散，也不要安於自逸的說：[如此的心境多麼美妙啊！ ]要立即行動，進入事奉。你若不甘心地做，就更該去做。若在禱告中會見神，他叫你做什麼，要立即去做。別說：[我會去做。 ]振作起來，把你與生俱來的惰性甩掉。懶惰的人總渴望想得意的時刻，總愛談怎樣攀上高峰。但是，我們要學習照著山上所見的，行在灰暗的生活中。
你一次迷惑，不必氣餒，重頭再來吧。要燒絕棧道，義不回顧，心甘情願地站在神面前，而且決不朝秦暮楚。你要認清所決志的，是根據在高山上所見的亮光。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，但願我的一切思想、情感和言語都帶著愛－－對你完全的愛，並且透過這愛去接觸人。
March 24, 2012
Decreasing for His Purpose
He must increase, but I must decrease —John 3:30
If you become a necessity to someone else’s life, you are out of God’s will. As a servant, your primary responsibility is to be a “friend of the bridegroom” (John 3:29). When you see a person who is close to grasping the claims of Jesus Christ, you know that your influence has been used in the right direction. And when you begin to see that person in the middle of a difficult and painful struggle, don’t try to prevent it, but pray that his difficulty will grow even ten times stronger, until no power on earth or in hell could hold him away from Jesus Christ. Over and over again, we try to be amateur providences in someone’s life. We are indeed amateurs, coming in and actually preventing God’s will and saying, “This person should not have to experience this difficulty.” Instead of being friends of the Bridegroom, our sympathy gets in the way. One day that person will say to us, “You are a thief; you stole my desire to follow Jesus, and because of you I lost sight of Him.”
Beware of rejoicing with someone over the wrong thing, but always look to rejoice over the right thing. “. . . the friend of the bridegroom . . . rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:29-30). This was spoken with joy, not with sadness-at last they were to see the Bridegroom! And John said this was his joy. It represents a stepping aside, an absolute removal of the servant, never to be thought of again.
Listen intently with your entire being until you hear the Bridegroom’s voice in the life of another person. And never give any thought to what devastation, difficulties, or sickness it will bring. Just rejoice with godly excitement that His voice has been heard. You may often have to watch Jesus Christ wreck a life before He saves it (see Matthew 10:34).
為道日損，合乎主旨
他必興旺，我必衰微。 （約三30）
你若成為別人心中重要的人，你就偏離了神。作為主的工人，最大的職分是做新郎的朋友。當你發現有人靠近主耶穌，被主得著，就知道你在他身上所產生的影響是對的。你不必伸手去阻止他的痛苦，反而要求神使那痛苦加增十倍，以致世界或地球的任何勢力，都不足以叫他與耶穌基督分離。我們若一而再、再而三的濫竽充數，以神明自居，打岔神說：[這個那個不該發生。 ]我們不但不是新郎忠實的朋友，反而把個人的同情心拿出來。結果，有一天那人會說：[他是個賊，偷去我對耶穌的愛情，如今我連他的形像也看不見了。 ]
當心，不要錯用你與人同樂的心，要在正當的事上與他同樂。 [新郎的朋友站著聽見新郎的聲音就甚喜樂……他必興旺，我必衰微。 ]這話是歡喜快樂地說的，不是愁苦地說的，因別人終於看見新郎了！約翰說這就是他的喜樂。主的工人功成身退，不再被人思念。
你要為人盡所有的去警醒守望，知道你在那人身上聽見新郎的聲音。不管生活如何顛沛困苦，健康如何破敗損傷，只要聽見他的聲音，就當喜從天降，滿懷高興。你可以經常看見耶穌基督先拆毀一個人，然後再建立（太十34）
祈禱◆噢，我的神，願我在你的火焰中焚燒和煉淨－－今天我的渣滓似乎太多；太少流露你那甜蜜而親切的恩典。主啊，赦免我。
If you become a necessity to someone else’s life, you are out of God’s will. As a servant, your primary responsibility is to be a “friend of the bridegroom” (John 3:29). When you see a person who is close to grasping the claims of Jesus Christ, you know that your influence has been used in the right direction. And when you begin to see that person in the middle of a difficult and painful struggle, don’t try to prevent it, but pray that his difficulty will grow even ten times stronger, until no power on earth or in hell could hold him away from Jesus Christ. Over and over again, we try to be amateur providences in someone’s life. We are indeed amateurs, coming in and actually preventing God’s will and saying, “This person should not have to experience this difficulty.” Instead of being friends of the Bridegroom, our sympathy gets in the way. One day that person will say to us, “You are a thief; you stole my desire to follow Jesus, and because of you I lost sight of Him.”
Beware of rejoicing with someone over the wrong thing, but always look to rejoice over the right thing. “. . . the friend of the bridegroom . . . rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:29-30). This was spoken with joy, not with sadness-at last they were to see the Bridegroom! And John said this was his joy. It represents a stepping aside, an absolute removal of the servant, never to be thought of again.
Listen intently with your entire being until you hear the Bridegroom’s voice in the life of another person. And never give any thought to what devastation, difficulties, or sickness it will bring. Just rejoice with godly excitement that His voice has been heard. You may often have to watch Jesus Christ wreck a life before He saves it (see Matthew 10:34).
為道日損，合乎主旨
他必興旺，我必衰微。 （約三30）
你若成為別人心中重要的人，你就偏離了神。作為主的工人，最大的職分是做新郎的朋友。當你發現有人靠近主耶穌，被主得著，就知道你在他身上所產生的影響是對的。你不必伸手去阻止他的痛苦，反而要求神使那痛苦加增十倍，以致世界或地球的任何勢力，都不足以叫他與耶穌基督分離。我們若一而再、再而三的濫竽充數，以神明自居，打岔神說：[這個那個不該發生。 ]我們不但不是新郎忠實的朋友，反而把個人的同情心拿出來。結果，有一天那人會說：[他是個賊，偷去我對耶穌的愛情，如今我連他的形像也看不見了。 ]
當心，不要錯用你與人同樂的心，要在正當的事上與他同樂。 [新郎的朋友站著聽見新郎的聲音就甚喜樂……他必興旺，我必衰微。 ]這話是歡喜快樂地說的，不是愁苦地說的，因別人終於看見新郎了！約翰說這就是他的喜樂。主的工人功成身退，不再被人思念。
你要為人盡所有的去警醒守望，知道你在那人身上聽見新郎的聲音。不管生活如何顛沛困苦，健康如何破敗損傷，只要聽見他的聲音，就當喜從天降，滿懷高興。你可以經常看見耶穌基督先拆毀一個人，然後再建立（太十34）
祈禱◆噢，我的神，願我在你的火焰中焚燒和煉淨－－今天我的渣滓似乎太多；太少流露你那甜蜜而親切的恩典。主啊，赦免我。
March 05, 2012
Is He Really My Lord?
. . . so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus . . . —Acts 20:24
Joy comes from seeing the complete fulfillment of the specific purpose for which I was created and born again, not from successfully doing something of my own choosing. The joy our Lord experienced came from doing what the Father sent Him to do. And He says to us, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (John 20:21). Have you received a ministry from the Lord? If so, you must be faithful to it— to consider your life valuable only for the purpose of fulfilling that ministry. Knowing that you have done what Jesus sent you to do, think how satisfying it will be to hear Him say to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21). We each have to find a niche in life, and spiritually we find it when we receive a ministry from the Lord. To do this we must have close fellowship with Jesus and must know Him as more than our personal Savior. And we must be willing to experience the full impact of Acts 9:16 — “I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
“Do you love Me?” Then, “Feed My sheep” (John 21:17). He is not offering us a choice of how we can serve Him; He is asking for absolute loyalty to His commission, a faithfulness to what we discern when we are in the closest possible fellowship with God. If you have received a ministry from the Lord Jesus, you will know that the need is not the same as the call— the need is the opportunity to exercise the call. The call is to be faithful to the ministry you received when you were in true fellowship with Him. This does not imply that there is a whole series of differing ministries marked out for you. It does mean that you must be sensitive to what God has called you to do, and this may sometimes require ignoring demands for service in other areas.
祂真是主麼？
只要（[喜樂地]），英文譯本）行完我的路程，成就我從主耶穌所領受的職事。 （徒二十24）
喜樂的意思，是我能圓滿地完成被造和重生的目的，而不是因為成功地完成一件事。我們主的喜樂，就是在於遵行父神的旨意，他說：[我父怎樣差遣了我，我也照樣差遣你們。 ]我又從主接受職事麼？若有，我必須忠於所託，將生命的價值完全放在達成那使命上面。想想當主對你說：[好，你這又良善又忠心的僕人。 ]你會何等的心滿意足，因已完成主差你去做的事。我們必須尋找人生的崗位，在屬靈上說，就是尋找主託付你的是什麼。要達成所託，就必須與主同行；要更深認識他，不單是把他作為個人的救主。 [我也要指示他，為我的名必須受許多的枯。 ][你愛我麼？ ]然後，[你餵養我的羊。 ]事奉是不容你取捨的，只有絕對效忠於主；效忠於你最貼近神時所領受的。若你從耶穌接受了一項事奉，就會知道需要並不等於呼召，需要乃是機會，呼召則是忠於你與主相交時所領受的。這並不是說，從此有無數的事奉要劃分出來給你，而是你要撇開其他方面事奉的需求。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，懇求你繼續賜下力量和純真的喜樂。讓我的動機和心思，都能夠保持謙卑，不會自以為是優越的人。
Joy comes from seeing the complete fulfillment of the specific purpose for which I was created and born again, not from successfully doing something of my own choosing. The joy our Lord experienced came from doing what the Father sent Him to do. And He says to us, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (John 20:21). Have you received a ministry from the Lord? If so, you must be faithful to it— to consider your life valuable only for the purpose of fulfilling that ministry. Knowing that you have done what Jesus sent you to do, think how satisfying it will be to hear Him say to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21). We each have to find a niche in life, and spiritually we find it when we receive a ministry from the Lord. To do this we must have close fellowship with Jesus and must know Him as more than our personal Savior. And we must be willing to experience the full impact of Acts 9:16 — “I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
“Do you love Me?” Then, “Feed My sheep” (John 21:17). He is not offering us a choice of how we can serve Him; He is asking for absolute loyalty to His commission, a faithfulness to what we discern when we are in the closest possible fellowship with God. If you have received a ministry from the Lord Jesus, you will know that the need is not the same as the call— the need is the opportunity to exercise the call. The call is to be faithful to the ministry you received when you were in true fellowship with Him. This does not imply that there is a whole series of differing ministries marked out for you. It does mean that you must be sensitive to what God has called you to do, and this may sometimes require ignoring demands for service in other areas.
祂真是主麼？
只要（[喜樂地]），英文譯本）行完我的路程，成就我從主耶穌所領受的職事。 （徒二十24）
喜樂的意思，是我能圓滿地完成被造和重生的目的，而不是因為成功地完成一件事。我們主的喜樂，就是在於遵行父神的旨意，他說：[我父怎樣差遣了我，我也照樣差遣你們。 ]我又從主接受職事麼？若有，我必須忠於所託，將生命的價值完全放在達成那使命上面。想想當主對你說：[好，你這又良善又忠心的僕人。 ]你會何等的心滿意足，因已完成主差你去做的事。我們必須尋找人生的崗位，在屬靈上說，就是尋找主託付你的是什麼。要達成所託，就必須與主同行；要更深認識他，不單是把他作為個人的救主。 [我也要指示他，為我的名必須受許多的枯。 ][你愛我麼？ ]然後，[你餵養我的羊。 ]事奉是不容你取捨的，只有絕對效忠於主；效忠於你最貼近神時所領受的。若你從耶穌接受了一項事奉，就會知道需要並不等於呼召，需要乃是機會，呼召則是忠於你與主相交時所領受的。這並不是說，從此有無數的事奉要劃分出來給你，而是你要撇開其他方面事奉的需求。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，懇求你繼續賜下力量和純真的喜樂。讓我的動機和心思，都能夠保持謙卑，不會自以為是優越的人。
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