We know that all things work together for good to those who love God . . . —Romans 8:28
It is only a faithful person who truly believes that God sovereignly controls his circumstances. We take our circumstances for granted, saying God is in control, but not really believing it. We act as if the things that happen were completely controlled by people. To be faithful in every circumstance means that we have only one loyalty, or object of our faith— the Lord Jesus Christ. God may cause our circumstances to suddenly fall apart, which may bring the realization of our unfaithfulness to Him for not recognizing that He had ordained the situation. We never saw what He was trying to accomplish, and that exact event will never be repeated in our life. This is where the test of our faithfulness comes. If we will just learn to worship God even during the difficult circumstances, He will change them for the better very quickly if He so chooses.
Being faithful to Jesus Christ is the most difficult thing we try to do today. We will be faithful to our work, to serving others, or to anything else; just don’t ask us to be faithful to Jesus Christ. Many Christians become very impatient when we talk about faithfulness to Jesus. Our Lord is dethroned more deliberately by Christian workers than by the world. We treat God as if He were a machine designed only to bless us, and we think of Jesus as just another one of the workers.
The goal of faithfulness is not that we will do work for God, but that He will be free to do His work through us. God calls us to His service and places tremendous responsibilities on us. He expects no complaining on our part and offers no explanation on His part. God wants to use us as He used His own Son.
忠心的考驗
我們曉得萬事都互相效力，叫愛神的人得益處。 （羅八28）
只有忠心耿耿的人，才相信神安排環境。我們往往過於隨便，不相信自己的境遇是神所安排；口頭上雖然說相信，但當事情發生，往往視作人的作為。在任何情況下忠心，是指只有一個忠心的對象，就是我們的主。神若忽然改變某一個環境，我們就發現自己的不忠，因為沒有看出這是出於神。我們根本看不出他的用意，而那件事我們的一生中也不會再重演。忠心的考驗都是在那刻臨到的。我們若學會在苦痛的環境中敬拜他，神願意的話，可以在兩秒鐘內把環境扭轉。
向耶穌基督效忠，是我們今日抗拒的事。我們可以忠於工作、事奉、或任何事情，但別叫我們效忠耶穌基督。不少信徒對效忠基督感到不耐煩。信主的人把主從寶座上推下來，比世界的人更甚。神成為一幅祝福人的機器，耶穌基督成為工人中的工人。重點不是在我們為神工作，而是在我們完全效忠，以致他能透過我作工－－[我寄望於你的，是要你全力事奉，不發怨言，不求解釋。 ]神要用我們，像他用他兒子一樣。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，願你今天的臉光光照我們，使我們都以極大的甜蜜和自由來配合你的計劃，並且活潑輕快地與你一起走過。
Showing posts with label Personal Crisis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Personal Crisis. Show all posts
December 18, 2012
November 23, 2012
The Distraction of Contempt
Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us! For we are exceedingly filled with contempt —Psalm 123:3
What we must beware of is not damage to our belief in God but damage to our Christian disposition or state of mind. “Take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously” (Malachi 2:16). Our state of mind is powerful in its effects. It can be the enemy that penetrates right into our soul and distracts our mind from God. There are certain attitudes we should never dare to indulge. If we do, we will find they have distracted us from faith in God. Until we get back into a quiet mood before Him, our faith is of no value, and our confidence in the flesh and in human ingenuity is what rules our lives.
Beware of “the cares of this world . . .” (Mark 4:19). They are the very things that produce the wrong attitudes in our soul. It is incredible what enormous power there is in simple things to distract our attention away from God. Refuse to be swamped by “the cares of this world.”
Another thing that distracts us is our passion for vindication. St. Augustine prayed, “O Lord, deliver me from this lust of always vindicating myself.” Such a need for constant vindication destroys our soul’s faith in God. Don’t say, “I must explain myself,” or, “I must get people to understand.” Our Lord never explained anything— He left the misunderstandings or misconceptions of others to correct themselves.
When we discern that other people are not growing spiritually and allow that discernment to turn to criticism, we block our fellowship with God. God never gives us discernment so that we may criticize, but that we may intercede.
What we must beware of is not damage to our belief in God but damage to our Christian disposition or state of mind. “Take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously” (Malachi 2:16). Our state of mind is powerful in its effects. It can be the enemy that penetrates right into our soul and distracts our mind from God. There are certain attitudes we should never dare to indulge. If we do, we will find they have distracted us from faith in God. Until we get back into a quiet mood before Him, our faith is of no value, and our confidence in the flesh and in human ingenuity is what rules our lives.
Beware of “the cares of this world . . .” (Mark 4:19). They are the very things that produce the wrong attitudes in our soul. It is incredible what enormous power there is in simple things to distract our attention away from God. Refuse to be swamped by “the cares of this world.”
Another thing that distracts us is our passion for vindication. St. Augustine prayed, “O Lord, deliver me from this lust of always vindicating myself.” Such a need for constant vindication destroys our soul’s faith in God. Don’t say, “I must explain myself,” or, “I must get people to understand.” Our Lord never explained anything— He left the misunderstandings or misconceptions of others to correct themselves.
When we discern that other people are not growing spiritually and allow that discernment to turn to criticism, we block our fellowship with God. God never gives us discernment so that we may criticize, but that we may intercede.
November 05, 2012
Partakers of His Suffering
. . . but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings . . . —1 Peter 4:13
If you are going to be used by God, He will take you through a number of experiences that are not meant for you personally at all. They are designed to make you useful in His hands, and to enable you to understand what takes place in the lives of others. Because of this process, you will never be surprised by what comes your way. You say, “Oh, I can’t deal with that person.” Why can’t you? God gave you sufficient opportunities to learn from Him about that problem; but you turned away, not heeding the lesson, because it seemed foolish to spend your time that way.
The sufferings of Christ were not those of ordinary people. He suffered “according to the will of God” (1 Peter 4:19), having a different point of view of suffering from ours. It is only through our relationship with Jesus Christ that we can understand what God is after in His dealings with us. When it comes to suffering, it is part of our Christian culture to want to know God’s purpose beforehand. In the history of the Christian church, the tendency has been to avoid being identified with the sufferings of Jesus Christ. People have sought to carry out God’s orders through a shortcut of their own. God’s way is always the way of suffering— the way of the “long road home.”
Are we partakers of Christ’s sufferings? Are we prepared for God to stamp out our personal ambitions? Are we prepared for God to destroy our individual decisions by supernaturally transforming them? It will mean not knowing why God is taking us that way, because knowing would make us spiritually proud. We never realize at the time what God is putting us through— we go through it more or less without understanding. Then suddenly we come to a place of enlightenment, and realize— “God has strengthened me and I didn’t even know it!”
與基督一同受苦
倒要歡喜，因為你們是與基督一同受苦。 （彼前四13）
如果你要蒙神使用，你便要經歷許多事；不是為你本身而遭遇，乃是要把你造成神手中合用的器皿，使你明白別人心裡的景況，以致不會因所遇見的感到詫異。 [唉，我不能應付那個人。 ]為什麽不能？神讓你有足夠的機會在他面前學習這功課，只是你故意避開，認為這樣花時間太愚蠢了。
基督受的苦不是普通人的苦，他乃是按神的旨意受苦，不是照人的看法受苦。只有當我們與基督連合，才會明白神的用意。基督教化的一部分，就是要明白神的目的。在教會歷史中，可以見到人逃避與主一同受苦的傾向；人總是想用自己的捷徑，以求完成神的使命。可是，神的道路卻必定是那漫長受苦的路。
我們有分於基督的受苦麽？我們肯不肯讓神把個人的野心除掉？肯不肯藉生命的改變，把個人的志向毀掉？這不是說可以完全明白為何神領我們這樣走：這樣會叫我們成為屬靈的自大者。當時我們無法知道神的心意，我們會或多或少有點誤解；過後，卻全恍然大悟，說：[看，神把我裝備了，我竟然不察覺！ ]
祈禱◆主啊，願那些在肉身上擔負重壓的人，能藉著你的支持來繼續承擔。願你使他們能避免敵人的嚴苛對待，願主的喜樂能奇妙地成為他們的力量。
If you are going to be used by God, He will take you through a number of experiences that are not meant for you personally at all. They are designed to make you useful in His hands, and to enable you to understand what takes place in the lives of others. Because of this process, you will never be surprised by what comes your way. You say, “Oh, I can’t deal with that person.” Why can’t you? God gave you sufficient opportunities to learn from Him about that problem; but you turned away, not heeding the lesson, because it seemed foolish to spend your time that way.
The sufferings of Christ were not those of ordinary people. He suffered “according to the will of God” (1 Peter 4:19), having a different point of view of suffering from ours. It is only through our relationship with Jesus Christ that we can understand what God is after in His dealings with us. When it comes to suffering, it is part of our Christian culture to want to know God’s purpose beforehand. In the history of the Christian church, the tendency has been to avoid being identified with the sufferings of Jesus Christ. People have sought to carry out God’s orders through a shortcut of their own. God’s way is always the way of suffering— the way of the “long road home.”
Are we partakers of Christ’s sufferings? Are we prepared for God to stamp out our personal ambitions? Are we prepared for God to destroy our individual decisions by supernaturally transforming them? It will mean not knowing why God is taking us that way, because knowing would make us spiritually proud. We never realize at the time what God is putting us through— we go through it more or less without understanding. Then suddenly we come to a place of enlightenment, and realize— “God has strengthened me and I didn’t even know it!”
與基督一同受苦
倒要歡喜，因為你們是與基督一同受苦。 （彼前四13）
如果你要蒙神使用，你便要經歷許多事；不是為你本身而遭遇，乃是要把你造成神手中合用的器皿，使你明白別人心裡的景況，以致不會因所遇見的感到詫異。 [唉，我不能應付那個人。 ]為什麽不能？神讓你有足夠的機會在他面前學習這功課，只是你故意避開，認為這樣花時間太愚蠢了。
基督受的苦不是普通人的苦，他乃是按神的旨意受苦，不是照人的看法受苦。只有當我們與基督連合，才會明白神的用意。基督教化的一部分，就是要明白神的目的。在教會歷史中，可以見到人逃避與主一同受苦的傾向；人總是想用自己的捷徑，以求完成神的使命。可是，神的道路卻必定是那漫長受苦的路。
我們有分於基督的受苦麽？我們肯不肯讓神把個人的野心除掉？肯不肯藉生命的改變，把個人的志向毀掉？這不是說可以完全明白為何神領我們這樣走：這樣會叫我們成為屬靈的自大者。當時我們無法知道神的心意，我們會或多或少有點誤解；過後，卻全恍然大悟，說：[看，神把我裝備了，我竟然不察覺！ ]
祈禱◆主啊，願那些在肉身上擔負重壓的人，能藉著你的支持來繼續承擔。願你使他們能避免敵人的嚴苛對待，願主的喜樂能奇妙地成為他們的力量。
September 19, 2012
Are You Going on With Jesus?
You are those who have continued with Me in My trials —Luke 22:28
It is true that Jesus Christ is with us through our temptations, but are we going on with Him through His temptations? Many of us turn back from going on with Jesus from the very moment we have an experience of what He can do. Watch when God changes your circumstances to see whether you are going on with Jesus, or siding with the world, the flesh, and the devil. We wear His name, but are we going on with Him? “From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more” (John 6:66).
The temptations of Jesus continued throughout His earthly life, and they will continue throughout the life of the Son of God in us. Are we going on with Jesus in the life we are living right now?
We have the idea that we ought to shield ourselves from some of the things God brings around us. May it never be! It is God who engineers our circumstances, and whatever they may be we must see that we face them while continually abiding with Him in His temptations. They are His temptations, not temptations to us, but temptations to the life of the Son of God in us. Jesus Christ’s honor is at stake in our bodily lives. Are we remaining faithful to the Son of God in everything that attacks His life in us?
Are you going on with Jesus? The way goes through Gethsemane, through the city gate, and on “outside the camp” (Hebrews 13:13). The way is lonely and goes on until there is no longer even a trace of a footprint to follow— but only the voice saying, “Follow Me” (Matthew 4:19)
你繼續與主同行麼？
我在磨煉之中，常和我同在的就是你們。 （路二十二28）
我們受試探的時候，主耶穌與我們同在，這是不錯的。可是，他受試探時我們與他同行麼？不少人一經驗到主為我們成就什麼之後，就不再與他往前行了。注意神把你的環境轉移，看你是否仍與主耶穌同行，還是與世界為友，隨從肉體與魔鬼。我們佩戴著他的徽號，可是有沒有與他同行？ [從此他門徒中多有退去的，不再和他同行。 ]耶穌在一生中不斷受到試探；那末，神兒子在我們裡面的生命，也會不斷受試探。我們現在的生活是否與耶穌同行？
我們會有保護自己的念頭，以為應該躲避一些神安排在我們周圍的東西。千萬不可！神所安排的際遇，不管是什麼，我們都必鬚麵對；同時在他的試探裡，要與他不斷同行。那些試探不是對我們而發，乃是對他，對我們裡面神的兒子而發的。耶穌基督的尊榮，係於我們這肉身上，我們是否持守對神兒子的忠貞？
你不斷與主同行麼？這條路要經過客西馬尼園、城門口，直到營外；這道路孤單寂寞，你不會再看見任何足跡，只剩下一個聲音說：[跟從我。 ]
祈禱◆主啊，為著這個清晨，我能享有與你相交這個珍貴權利，我讚美你；願你今天在我裡面動工，以致我可以[立志行事……為要成就你的美意]。
It is true that Jesus Christ is with us through our temptations, but are we going on with Him through His temptations? Many of us turn back from going on with Jesus from the very moment we have an experience of what He can do. Watch when God changes your circumstances to see whether you are going on with Jesus, or siding with the world, the flesh, and the devil. We wear His name, but are we going on with Him? “From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more” (John 6:66).
The temptations of Jesus continued throughout His earthly life, and they will continue throughout the life of the Son of God in us. Are we going on with Jesus in the life we are living right now?
We have the idea that we ought to shield ourselves from some of the things God brings around us. May it never be! It is God who engineers our circumstances, and whatever they may be we must see that we face them while continually abiding with Him in His temptations. They are His temptations, not temptations to us, but temptations to the life of the Son of God in us. Jesus Christ’s honor is at stake in our bodily lives. Are we remaining faithful to the Son of God in everything that attacks His life in us?
Are you going on with Jesus? The way goes through Gethsemane, through the city gate, and on “outside the camp” (Hebrews 13:13). The way is lonely and goes on until there is no longer even a trace of a footprint to follow— but only the voice saying, “Follow Me” (Matthew 4:19)
你繼續與主同行麼？
我在磨煉之中，常和我同在的就是你們。 （路二十二28）
我們受試探的時候，主耶穌與我們同在，這是不錯的。可是，他受試探時我們與他同行麼？不少人一經驗到主為我們成就什麼之後，就不再與他往前行了。注意神把你的環境轉移，看你是否仍與主耶穌同行，還是與世界為友，隨從肉體與魔鬼。我們佩戴著他的徽號，可是有沒有與他同行？ [從此他門徒中多有退去的，不再和他同行。 ]耶穌在一生中不斷受到試探；那末，神兒子在我們裡面的生命，也會不斷受試探。我們現在的生活是否與耶穌同行？
我們會有保護自己的念頭，以為應該躲避一些神安排在我們周圍的東西。千萬不可！神所安排的際遇，不管是什麼，我們都必鬚麵對；同時在他的試探裡，要與他不斷同行。那些試探不是對我們而發，乃是對他，對我們裡面神的兒子而發的。耶穌基督的尊榮，係於我們這肉身上，我們是否持守對神兒子的忠貞？
你不斷與主同行麼？這條路要經過客西馬尼園、城門口，直到營外；這道路孤單寂寞，你不會再看見任何足跡，只剩下一個聲音說：[跟從我。 ]
祈禱◆主啊，為著這個清晨，我能享有與你相交這個珍貴權利，我讚美你；願你今天在我裡面動工，以致我可以[立志行事……為要成就你的美意]。
September 18, 2012
His Temptation and Ours
We do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin —Hebrews 4:15
Until we are born again, the only kind of temptation we understand is the kind mentioned in James 1:14, “Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.” But through regeneration we are lifted into another realm where there are other temptations to face, namely, the kind of temptations our Lord faced. The temptations of Jesus had no appeal to us as unbelievers because they were not at home in our human nature. Our Lord’s temptations and ours are in different realms until we are born again and become His brothers. The temptations of Jesus are not those of a mere man, but the temptations of God as Man. Through regeneration, the Son of God is formed in us (see Galatians 4:19), and in our physical life He has the same setting that He had on earth. Satan does not tempt us just to make us do wrong things— he tempts us to make us lose what God has put into us through regeneration, namely, the possibility of being of value to God. He does not come to us on the premise of tempting us to sin, but on the premise of shifting our point of view, and only the Spirit of God can detect this as a temptation of the devil.
Temptation means a test of the possessions held within the inner, spiritual part of our being by a power outside us and foreign to us. This makes the temptation of our Lord explainable. After Jesus’ baptism, having accepted His mission of being the One “who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29) He “was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness” (Matthew 4:1) and into the testing devices of the devil. Yet He did not become weary or exhausted. He went through the temptation “without sin,” and He retained all the possessions of His spiritual nature completely intact.
他的試探與我們的試探
因我們的大祭司，並非不能體恤我們的軟弱，他也曾凡事受過試探，與我們一樣，只是他沒有犯罪。 （來四15）
未重生之前，我們唯一的試探是雅各所說的：[各人被試探，乃是被自己的私慾牽引誘惑的。 ]可是重生之後，便被提升到另一範圍的試探，就是面對主所受的試探。主耶穌受的試探對我們並不吸引，再人性中全無地位。主的試探與我們的試探是兩個完全不同的領域，直等到我們重生了，成為他的弟兄。主耶穌的試探不是人的試探，乃是神成為人的試探。我們重生之後，神的兒子在我們裡面成形，他在我們的肉身生命中，面對他昔日在地上所面對的。撒旦並不引誘我們去做壞事，乃是要我們失去神藉重生放進我們裡面的生命，就是在神手中成為貴重合用的潛能。它並不是要引誘人犯罪，乃是要改變人的觀點。惟有聖靈才可以偵察出這是魔鬼的試探。
試探是外在勢力對人的考驗，要攻擊人性中所擁有的。這就解明了主耶穌所受的試探。耶穌受洗之後，接受了除去世人罪孽的責任，神的靈就立即把他放在魔鬼的考驗場裡。不過他沒有被打倒，他經過試探，卻沒有犯罪，仍然保持他人格的完整。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，對於與你一同守望、與你一同經歷試探的意義，我所了解的是何等膚淺。願你在今天早上吸引我靠近你，以你的大能使我專注於你，直至我的生活言談只為了你。
Until we are born again, the only kind of temptation we understand is the kind mentioned in James 1:14, “Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.” But through regeneration we are lifted into another realm where there are other temptations to face, namely, the kind of temptations our Lord faced. The temptations of Jesus had no appeal to us as unbelievers because they were not at home in our human nature. Our Lord’s temptations and ours are in different realms until we are born again and become His brothers. The temptations of Jesus are not those of a mere man, but the temptations of God as Man. Through regeneration, the Son of God is formed in us (see Galatians 4:19), and in our physical life He has the same setting that He had on earth. Satan does not tempt us just to make us do wrong things— he tempts us to make us lose what God has put into us through regeneration, namely, the possibility of being of value to God. He does not come to us on the premise of tempting us to sin, but on the premise of shifting our point of view, and only the Spirit of God can detect this as a temptation of the devil.
Temptation means a test of the possessions held within the inner, spiritual part of our being by a power outside us and foreign to us. This makes the temptation of our Lord explainable. After Jesus’ baptism, having accepted His mission of being the One “who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29) He “was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness” (Matthew 4:1) and into the testing devices of the devil. Yet He did not become weary or exhausted. He went through the temptation “without sin,” and He retained all the possessions of His spiritual nature completely intact.
他的試探與我們的試探
因我們的大祭司，並非不能體恤我們的軟弱，他也曾凡事受過試探，與我們一樣，只是他沒有犯罪。 （來四15）
未重生之前，我們唯一的試探是雅各所說的：[各人被試探，乃是被自己的私慾牽引誘惑的。 ]可是重生之後，便被提升到另一範圍的試探，就是面對主所受的試探。主耶穌受的試探對我們並不吸引，再人性中全無地位。主的試探與我們的試探是兩個完全不同的領域，直等到我們重生了，成為他的弟兄。主耶穌的試探不是人的試探，乃是神成為人的試探。我們重生之後，神的兒子在我們裡面成形，他在我們的肉身生命中，面對他昔日在地上所面對的。撒旦並不引誘我們去做壞事，乃是要我們失去神藉重生放進我們裡面的生命，就是在神手中成為貴重合用的潛能。它並不是要引誘人犯罪，乃是要改變人的觀點。惟有聖靈才可以偵察出這是魔鬼的試探。
試探是外在勢力對人的考驗，要攻擊人性中所擁有的。這就解明了主耶穌所受的試探。耶穌受洗之後，接受了除去世人罪孽的責任，神的靈就立即把他放在魔鬼的考驗場裡。不過他沒有被打倒，他經過試探，卻沒有犯罪，仍然保持他人格的完整。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，對於與你一同守望、與你一同經歷試探的意義，我所了解的是何等膚淺。願你在今天早上吸引我靠近你，以你的大能使我專注於你，直至我的生活言談只為了你。
August 29, 2012
The Unsurpassed Intimacy of Tested Faith
Jesus said to her, ’Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?’ —John 11:40
Every time you venture out in your life of faith, you will find something in your circumstances that, from a commonsense standpoint, will flatly contradict your faith. But common sense is not faith, and faith is not common sense. In fact, they are as different as the natural life and the spiritual. Can you trust Jesus Christ where your common sense cannot trust Him? Can you venture out with courage on the words of Jesus Christ, while the realities of your commonsense life continue to shout, “It’s all a lie”? When you are on the mountaintop, it’s easy to say, “Oh yes, I believe God can do it,” but you have to come down from the mountain to the demon-possessed valley and face the realities that scoff at your Mount-of-Transfiguration belief (see Luke 9:28-42). Every time my theology becomes clear to my own mind, I encounter something that contradicts it. As soon as I say, “I believe ’God shall supply all [my] need,’ ” the testing of my faith begins (Philippians 4:19). When my strength runs dry and my vision is blinded, will I endure this trial of my faith victoriously or will I turn back in defeat?
Faith must be tested, because it can only become your intimate possession through conflict. What is challenging your faith right now? The test will either prove your faith right, or it will kill it. Jesus said, “Blessed is he who is not offended because of Me” Matthew 11:6). The ultimate thing is confidence in Jesus. “We have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end . . .” (Hebrews 3:14). Believe steadfastly on Him and everything that challenges you will strengthen your faith. There is continual testing in the life of faith up to the point of our physical death, which is the last great test. Faith is absolute trust in God— trust that could never imagine that He would forsake us (see Hebrews 13:5-6).
無比的親密
我不是對你說過，你若信，就必看見神的榮耀麼？ （約十一40）
每次你憑信心出去闖蕩，總會發覺在常理的環境下，有些事物是完全違反你的信心的。常理並不是信心，信心也不是常理，二者的關係就是天然生命與屬靈生命之間的關係。當理性叫你不能信靠主，你仍能堅信他麼？當生活中的事實高呼這是[謊話]，你能否依然信靠主的話勇往直前？在山上很容易說：[我相信神會成就。 ]但你必須下到鬼附的山谷去，面對諷刺的現實－－對你山上變像信念當面譏諷的現實。每次在我清楚自己有信心時，就必遇到與信心互相抵觸的事情。我若說相信神會供給我需用的一切，然後不名一文，又沒有出路，那我能否通得過這信心得考驗？還是會倒退？
信心必須受試驗，只有經過爭戰，信心才能成為你個人得產業。你的信心如今遇何試煉？這試煉或證明你的信心正確，或會置之於死地。 [凡不因我跌倒的，就有福了。 ]最終的目標是對主的信靠。堅定信靠他，一切反對的事物智慧更堅定你的信心。信心的生活要不斷經歷考驗，而最後最大的考驗，就是死。求神保守我們常裝備好去作戰：信心是對神說不出來的信任，絕不去想神不支持我們。
祈禱◆噢，我驚訝自己竟那麼遲緩去發出讚美；願你使我快速而正確地讚美你。願你賜給我適當的感覺，強烈地認知到你的美善，以致我能使你的內心充滿喜樂滿足。
Every time you venture out in your life of faith, you will find something in your circumstances that, from a commonsense standpoint, will flatly contradict your faith. But common sense is not faith, and faith is not common sense. In fact, they are as different as the natural life and the spiritual. Can you trust Jesus Christ where your common sense cannot trust Him? Can you venture out with courage on the words of Jesus Christ, while the realities of your commonsense life continue to shout, “It’s all a lie”? When you are on the mountaintop, it’s easy to say, “Oh yes, I believe God can do it,” but you have to come down from the mountain to the demon-possessed valley and face the realities that scoff at your Mount-of-Transfiguration belief (see Luke 9:28-42). Every time my theology becomes clear to my own mind, I encounter something that contradicts it. As soon as I say, “I believe ’God shall supply all [my] need,’ ” the testing of my faith begins (Philippians 4:19). When my strength runs dry and my vision is blinded, will I endure this trial of my faith victoriously or will I turn back in defeat?
Faith must be tested, because it can only become your intimate possession through conflict. What is challenging your faith right now? The test will either prove your faith right, or it will kill it. Jesus said, “Blessed is he who is not offended because of Me” Matthew 11:6). The ultimate thing is confidence in Jesus. “We have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end . . .” (Hebrews 3:14). Believe steadfastly on Him and everything that challenges you will strengthen your faith. There is continual testing in the life of faith up to the point of our physical death, which is the last great test. Faith is absolute trust in God— trust that could never imagine that He would forsake us (see Hebrews 13:5-6).
無比的親密
我不是對你說過，你若信，就必看見神的榮耀麼？ （約十一40）
每次你憑信心出去闖蕩，總會發覺在常理的環境下，有些事物是完全違反你的信心的。常理並不是信心，信心也不是常理，二者的關係就是天然生命與屬靈生命之間的關係。當理性叫你不能信靠主，你仍能堅信他麼？當生活中的事實高呼這是[謊話]，你能否依然信靠主的話勇往直前？在山上很容易說：[我相信神會成就。 ]但你必須下到鬼附的山谷去，面對諷刺的現實－－對你山上變像信念當面譏諷的現實。每次在我清楚自己有信心時，就必遇到與信心互相抵觸的事情。我若說相信神會供給我需用的一切，然後不名一文，又沒有出路，那我能否通得過這信心得考驗？還是會倒退？
信心必須受試驗，只有經過爭戰，信心才能成為你個人得產業。你的信心如今遇何試煉？這試煉或證明你的信心正確，或會置之於死地。 [凡不因我跌倒的，就有福了。 ]最終的目標是對主的信靠。堅定信靠他，一切反對的事物智慧更堅定你的信心。信心的生活要不斷經歷考驗，而最後最大的考驗，就是死。求神保守我們常裝備好去作戰：信心是對神說不出來的信任，絕不去想神不支持我們。
祈禱◆噢，我驚訝自己竟那麼遲緩去發出讚美；願你使我快速而正確地讚美你。願你賜給我適當的感覺，強烈地認知到你的美善，以致我能使你的內心充滿喜樂滿足。
August 13, 2012
“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 12, 2012
The Theology of Resting in God
Why are you fearful, O you of little faith? —Matthew 8:26
When we are afraid, the least we can do is pray to God. But our Lord has a right to expect that those who name His name have an underlying confidence in Him. God expects His children to be so confident in Him that in any crisis they are the ones who are reliable. Yet our trust is only in God up to a certain point, then we turn back to the elementary panic-stricken prayers of those people who do not even know God. We come to our wits’ end, showing that we don’t have even the slightest amount of confidence in Him or in His sovereign control of the world. To us He seems to be asleep, and we can see nothing but giant, breaking waves on the sea ahead of us.
“. . . O you of little faith!” What a stinging pain must have shot through the disciples as they surely thought to themselves, “We missed the mark again!” And what a sharp pain will go through us when we suddenly realize that we could have produced complete and utter joy in the heart of Jesus by remaining absolutely confident in Him, in spite of what we were facing.
There are times when there is no storm or crisis in our lives, and we do all that is humanly possible. But it is when a crisis arises that we instantly reveal upon whom we rely. If we have been learning to worship God and to place our trust in Him, the crisis will reveal that we can go to the point of breaking, yet without breaking our confidence in Him.
We have been talking quite a lot about sanctification, but what will be the result in our lives? It will be expressed in our lives as a peaceful resting in God, which means a total oneness with Him. And this oneness will make us not only blameless in His sight, but also a profound joy to Him.
安息神學
你們這小信的人哪，為什麼膽怯呢？ （太八26）
我們恐懼的時候，最不可少的就是向神禱告；可是，我們的主有權要求屬他的人，對他有一種深切了解的信任。神期望他的兒女對他大有信心，以致再任何重要關頭，仍然站得住。但我們對神的信任往往只止於某一點，就回复禱告初階時的驚惶失措，像那些不認識神的人一樣。在走投無路時，我們表現得對神毫無信心，也不信他掌管全世界；他似乎睡了，我們只看見前面得風浪。
[你們這小信得人哪！ ]門徒是何等難過－－[又失敗了！ ]我們也會同樣難過。我們知道其實可以叫主得心歡暢快樂－－只要對他保持絕對的信心，不管前路如何。人生風平浪靜時，我們會安然的盡人的力量做到最好；但當危難一到，就立即顯出倚靠的到底是誰。我們若不斷地學習敬拜神，信靠他，那末在風浪的日子，對他的信心也同樣至死不移。我們多次的談到成聖的問題－－最終的目的是什麼呢？就是在神裡面安息，與神合一。這合一不但使我們在他眼前成為無可指摘的，更叫我們成為他的喜樂。
祈禱◆主啊，我的快樂全在乎對你的紀念，否則對你那歡愉而單純的信靠，不過是一種輕率的舉動。願你今天讓快樂四面環繞我們。
When we are afraid, the least we can do is pray to God. But our Lord has a right to expect that those who name His name have an underlying confidence in Him. God expects His children to be so confident in Him that in any crisis they are the ones who are reliable. Yet our trust is only in God up to a certain point, then we turn back to the elementary panic-stricken prayers of those people who do not even know God. We come to our wits’ end, showing that we don’t have even the slightest amount of confidence in Him or in His sovereign control of the world. To us He seems to be asleep, and we can see nothing but giant, breaking waves on the sea ahead of us.
“. . . O you of little faith!” What a stinging pain must have shot through the disciples as they surely thought to themselves, “We missed the mark again!” And what a sharp pain will go through us when we suddenly realize that we could have produced complete and utter joy in the heart of Jesus by remaining absolutely confident in Him, in spite of what we were facing.
There are times when there is no storm or crisis in our lives, and we do all that is humanly possible. But it is when a crisis arises that we instantly reveal upon whom we rely. If we have been learning to worship God and to place our trust in Him, the crisis will reveal that we can go to the point of breaking, yet without breaking our confidence in Him.
We have been talking quite a lot about sanctification, but what will be the result in our lives? It will be expressed in our lives as a peaceful resting in God, which means a total oneness with Him. And this oneness will make us not only blameless in His sight, but also a profound joy to Him.
安息神學
你們這小信的人哪，為什麼膽怯呢？ （太八26）
我們恐懼的時候，最不可少的就是向神禱告；可是，我們的主有權要求屬他的人，對他有一種深切了解的信任。神期望他的兒女對他大有信心，以致再任何重要關頭，仍然站得住。但我們對神的信任往往只止於某一點，就回复禱告初階時的驚惶失措，像那些不認識神的人一樣。在走投無路時，我們表現得對神毫無信心，也不信他掌管全世界；他似乎睡了，我們只看見前面得風浪。
[你們這小信得人哪！ ]門徒是何等難過－－[又失敗了！ ]我們也會同樣難過。我們知道其實可以叫主得心歡暢快樂－－只要對他保持絕對的信心，不管前路如何。人生風平浪靜時，我們會安然的盡人的力量做到最好；但當危難一到，就立即顯出倚靠的到底是誰。我們若不斷地學習敬拜神，信靠他，那末在風浪的日子，對他的信心也同樣至死不移。我們多次的談到成聖的問題－－最終的目的是什麼呢？就是在神裡面安息，與神合一。這合一不但使我們在他眼前成為無可指摘的，更叫我們成為他的喜樂。
祈禱◆主啊，我的快樂全在乎對你的紀念，否則對你那歡愉而單純的信靠，不過是一種輕率的舉動。願你今天讓快樂四面環繞我們。
August 11, 2012
This Experience Must Come
Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha . . . saw him no more —2 Kings 2:11-12
It is not wrong for you to depend on your “Elijah” for as long as God gives him to you. But remember that the time will come when he must leave and will no longer be your guide and your leader, because God does not intend for him to stay. Even the thought of that causes you to say, “I cannot continue without my ’Elijah.’ ” Yet God says you must continue.
Alone at Your “Jordan” (2 Kings 2:14). The Jordan River represents the type of separation where you have no fellowship with anyone else, and where no one else can take your responsibility from you. You now have to put to the test what you learned when you were with your “Elijah.” You have been to the Jordan over and over again with Elijah, but now you are facing it alone. There is no use in saying that you cannot go— the experience is here, and you must go. If you truly want to know whether or not God is the God your faith believes Him to be, then go through your “Jordan” alone.
Alone at Your “Jericho” (2 Kings 2:15). Jericho represents the place where you have seen your “Elijah” do great things. Yet when you come alone to your “Jericho,” you have a strong reluctance to take the initiative and trust in God, wanting, instead, for someone else to take it for you. But if you remain true to what you learned while with your “Elijah,” you will receive a sign, as Elisha did, that God is with you.
Alone at Your “Bethel” (2 Kings 2:23). At your “Bethel” you will find yourself at your wits’ end but at the beginning of God’s wisdom. When you come to your wits’ end and feel inclined to panic— don’t! Stand true to God and He will bring out His truth in a way that will make your life an expression of worship. Put into practice what you learned while with your “Elijah”— use his mantle and pray (see 2 Kings 2:13-14). Make a determination to trust in God, and do not even look for Elijah anymore.
必會臨到的經歷
以後不再見他了。 （王下二12）
倚賴以利亞是沒有錯的，只要是神把他給你；可是別忘記，總有一天他會離開。他不再做你的領導，因為神認為他不應該再做你的領導。你會說：[沒有以利亞，我無法前行。 ]但神說你一定要前行。
獨自在你的約但（14節）。約但是分離的表徵，表示再沒有人與你相交，沒有人分擔你的責任。你必須把從以利亞學習所得的，拿出來考驗。你跟以利亞過約但河不知有多少次了，但如今你得獨自面對。空說不能過，是沒有用處的。這事已經臨到，你必定要前行。你若要知道神是否如你所信的一樣，就得單獨的過你的約但河。
獨自在你的耶利哥（15節）。你曾在耶利哥看見以利亞行大事，但當你來到自己的耶利哥，就退縮，不肯主動去信靠神，只想別人去替你擔當。可是，你若遵從以利亞所學的，就必得著神與你同在。
獨自在你的伯利恆（23節）。在伯利恆你來到自己才智的盡頭，這卻是神智慧的開端。千萬不可在智窮力竭時，仆倒恐慌之中，要緊靠著神，忠於他，他自有方法把真理顯明，使你的生命成聖。把你跟以利亞所學的行出來，用他的外衣和他的祈禱。立志信靠神，不要再尋找你的以利亞了。
祈禱◆主啊，我餓生命是如此傾斜，如此充滿漏洞，求你今天讓我全神貫注於你！願我回到你的家中，重新過著完全倚靠你的生活。
It is not wrong for you to depend on your “Elijah” for as long as God gives him to you. But remember that the time will come when he must leave and will no longer be your guide and your leader, because God does not intend for him to stay. Even the thought of that causes you to say, “I cannot continue without my ’Elijah.’ ” Yet God says you must continue.
Alone at Your “Jordan” (2 Kings 2:14). The Jordan River represents the type of separation where you have no fellowship with anyone else, and where no one else can take your responsibility from you. You now have to put to the test what you learned when you were with your “Elijah.” You have been to the Jordan over and over again with Elijah, but now you are facing it alone. There is no use in saying that you cannot go— the experience is here, and you must go. If you truly want to know whether or not God is the God your faith believes Him to be, then go through your “Jordan” alone.
Alone at Your “Jericho” (2 Kings 2:15). Jericho represents the place where you have seen your “Elijah” do great things. Yet when you come alone to your “Jericho,” you have a strong reluctance to take the initiative and trust in God, wanting, instead, for someone else to take it for you. But if you remain true to what you learned while with your “Elijah,” you will receive a sign, as Elisha did, that God is with you.
Alone at Your “Bethel” (2 Kings 2:23). At your “Bethel” you will find yourself at your wits’ end but at the beginning of God’s wisdom. When you come to your wits’ end and feel inclined to panic— don’t! Stand true to God and He will bring out His truth in a way that will make your life an expression of worship. Put into practice what you learned while with your “Elijah”— use his mantle and pray (see 2 Kings 2:13-14). Make a determination to trust in God, and do not even look for Elijah anymore.
必會臨到的經歷
以後不再見他了。 （王下二12）
倚賴以利亞是沒有錯的，只要是神把他給你；可是別忘記，總有一天他會離開。他不再做你的領導，因為神認為他不應該再做你的領導。你會說：[沒有以利亞，我無法前行。 ]但神說你一定要前行。
獨自在你的約但（14節）。約但是分離的表徵，表示再沒有人與你相交，沒有人分擔你的責任。你必須把從以利亞學習所得的，拿出來考驗。你跟以利亞過約但河不知有多少次了，但如今你得獨自面對。空說不能過，是沒有用處的。這事已經臨到，你必定要前行。你若要知道神是否如你所信的一樣，就得單獨的過你的約但河。
獨自在你的耶利哥（15節）。你曾在耶利哥看見以利亞行大事，但當你來到自己的耶利哥，就退縮，不肯主動去信靠神，只想別人去替你擔當。可是，你若遵從以利亞所學的，就必得著神與你同在。
獨自在你的伯利恆（23節）。在伯利恆你來到自己才智的盡頭，這卻是神智慧的開端。千萬不可在智窮力竭時，仆倒恐慌之中，要緊靠著神，忠於他，他自有方法把真理顯明，使你的生命成聖。把你跟以利亞所學的行出來，用他的外衣和他的祈禱。立志信靠神，不要再尋找你的以利亞了。
祈禱◆主啊，我餓生命是如此傾斜，如此充滿漏洞，求你今天讓我全神貫注於你！願我回到你的家中，重新過著完全倚靠你的生活。
August 02, 2012
The Teaching of Adversity
In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world —John 16:33
The typical view of the Christian life is that it means being delivered from all adversity. But it actually means being delivered in adversity, which is something very different. “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling . . .” (Psalm 91:1,10)— the place where you are at one with God.
If you are a child of God, you will certainly encounter adversities, but Jesus says you should not be surprised when they come. “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” He is saying, “There is nothing for you to fear.” The same people who refused to talk about their adversities before they were saved often complain and worry after being born again because they have the wrong idea of what it means to live the life of a saint.
God does not give us overcoming life— He gives us life as we overcome. The strain of life is what builds our strength. If there is no strain, there will be no strength. Are you asking God to give you life, liberty, and joy? He cannot, unless you are willing to accept the strain. And once you face the strain, you will immediately get the strength. Overcome your own timidity and take the first step. Then God will give you nourishment— “To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life . . .” (Revelation 2:7). If you completely give of yourself physically, you become exhausted. But when you give of yourself spiritually, you get more strength. God never gives us strength for tomorrow, or for the next hour, but only for the strain of the moment. Our temptation is to face adversities from the standpoint of our own common sense. But a saint can “be of good cheer” even when seemingly defeated by adversities, because victory is absurdly impossible to everyone, except God.
苦難的操練
在世上你們有苦難，但你們可以放心，我已經勝了世界。 （約十六33）
一般人都以為基督徒的人生，是沒有苦難的。其實並非如此，基督徒乃是患難中得拯救。 [住在至高者隱密處得，必住在全能者得蔭下……禍患必不臨到你。 ]沒有災難能臨到你與神合一的處所。你若是神的兒女，必定會遭遇困難，但主耶穌說不必驚奇：[在世上你們有苦難，但你們可以放心，我已經勝了世界。 ]意思就是沒有什麼值得你害怕。在信主前不屑談苦難的人，重生後往往變得軟弱無力，因為他們對作聖徒有錯誤的理解。
神沒有給我們勝過一切的生命；卻在我們誇勝時，賜給生命。壓力就是力量。沒有壓力，就沒有力量。你求神賜生命、自由與喜樂嗎？除非你肯接受壓力，否則他無法把這些賜給你。你一面對壓力，就得力量。勝過膽怯，踏上那一步，神就讓你得吃生命樹得果子，你就得著滋養。你若消耗體力，會覺得疲憊；但若你在屬靈上愈用力，便愈發得力。神從來不賜明天得力量，也不賜下一刻的力量，他只給你勝過現今壓力的力量。我們很容易以常理去面對困難；但聖徒若被苦難壓透，反會大大喜樂，因為事情是這樣困難，除了神以外，根本沒有人能有辦法。
祈禱◆主啊，你的思想是何等令人驚服！可是，我何時才發現自己順服的心，全然被你所佔據？我似乎已被本身的渺小，自私和罪惡弄得毫無力量。
The typical view of the Christian life is that it means being delivered from all adversity. But it actually means being delivered in adversity, which is something very different. “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling . . .” (Psalm 91:1,10)— the place where you are at one with God.
If you are a child of God, you will certainly encounter adversities, but Jesus says you should not be surprised when they come. “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” He is saying, “There is nothing for you to fear.” The same people who refused to talk about their adversities before they were saved often complain and worry after being born again because they have the wrong idea of what it means to live the life of a saint.
God does not give us overcoming life— He gives us life as we overcome. The strain of life is what builds our strength. If there is no strain, there will be no strength. Are you asking God to give you life, liberty, and joy? He cannot, unless you are willing to accept the strain. And once you face the strain, you will immediately get the strength. Overcome your own timidity and take the first step. Then God will give you nourishment— “To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life . . .” (Revelation 2:7). If you completely give of yourself physically, you become exhausted. But when you give of yourself spiritually, you get more strength. God never gives us strength for tomorrow, or for the next hour, but only for the strain of the moment. Our temptation is to face adversities from the standpoint of our own common sense. But a saint can “be of good cheer” even when seemingly defeated by adversities, because victory is absurdly impossible to everyone, except God.
苦難的操練
在世上你們有苦難，但你們可以放心，我已經勝了世界。 （約十六33）
一般人都以為基督徒的人生，是沒有苦難的。其實並非如此，基督徒乃是患難中得拯救。 [住在至高者隱密處得，必住在全能者得蔭下……禍患必不臨到你。 ]沒有災難能臨到你與神合一的處所。你若是神的兒女，必定會遭遇困難，但主耶穌說不必驚奇：[在世上你們有苦難，但你們可以放心，我已經勝了世界。 ]意思就是沒有什麼值得你害怕。在信主前不屑談苦難的人，重生後往往變得軟弱無力，因為他們對作聖徒有錯誤的理解。
神沒有給我們勝過一切的生命；卻在我們誇勝時，賜給生命。壓力就是力量。沒有壓力，就沒有力量。你求神賜生命、自由與喜樂嗎？除非你肯接受壓力，否則他無法把這些賜給你。你一面對壓力，就得力量。勝過膽怯，踏上那一步，神就讓你得吃生命樹得果子，你就得著滋養。你若消耗體力，會覺得疲憊；但若你在屬靈上愈用力，便愈發得力。神從來不賜明天得力量，也不賜下一刻的力量，他只給你勝過現今壓力的力量。我們很容易以常理去面對困難；但聖徒若被苦難壓透，反會大大喜樂，因為事情是這樣困難，除了神以外，根本沒有人能有辦法。
祈禱◆主啊，你的思想是何等令人驚服！可是，我何時才發現自己順服的心，全然被你所佔據？我似乎已被本身的渺小，自私和罪惡弄得毫無力量。
July 31, 2012
Becoming Entirely His
Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing —James 1:4
Many of us appear to be all right in general, but there are still some areas in which we are careless and lazy; it is not a matter of sin, but the remnants of our carnal life that tend to make us careless. Carelessness is an insult to the Holy Spirit. We should have no carelessness about us either in the way we worship God, or even in the way we eat and drink.
Not only must our relationship to God be right, but the outward expression of that relationship must also be right. Ultimately, God will allow nothing to escape; every detail of our lives is under His scrutiny. God will bring us back in countless ways to the same point over and over again. And He never tires of bringing us back to that one point until we learn the lesson, because His purpose is to produce the finished product. It may be a problem arising from our impulsive nature, but again and again, with the most persistent patience, God has brought us back to that one particular point. Or the problem may be our idle and wandering thinking, or our independent nature and self-interest. Through this process, God is trying to impress upon us the one thing that is not entirely right in our lives.
We have been having a wonderful time in our studies over the revealed truth of God’s redemption, and our hearts are perfect toward Him. And His wonderful work in us makes us know that overall we are right with Him. “Let patience have its perfect work . . . .” The Holy Spirit speaking through James said, “Now let your patience become a finished product.” Beware of becoming careless over the small details of life and saying, “Oh, that will have to do for now.” Whatever it may be, God will point it out with persistence until we become entirely His.
直至你完全屬他
但忍耐也當成功，使你們成全完備，毫無缺欠。 （雅一4）
大部分人在生活上大體沒有問題，可是在某些事上卻很馬虎。這不是罪的問題，而是屬肉體的生命，叫我們馬虎。得過且過是對聖靈的一種侮辱。我們不應在任何事上懶散馬虎，不管是飲食，或是敬拜神。
我們與神不僅要有良好的關係，而這關係的外在表現也要正確。神不會容許任何事逃過他，每一細節他都鑑察。他會用無數的方法，把我們一次又一次地帶到同一的問題上。他會不厭其煩地重複又重複地，直到我們學好了那功課，因為他是要成全完備的產品。也許是衝動，也許是心不在焉，又或許是惟我獨尊的個人主義，他會一而再、再而三、恆切忍耐地，帶我們回到同一的功課上。神總要我們覺醒，知道這件事不妥當。
對神救贖的啟示，我們有美好的學習，對他我們是全心全意的；他在我們身上作成的奇妙大工，叫我們知道在大體上與他的關係是正常的；但如今聖靈卻藉雅各說：[忍耐也當成功（讓你們的忍耐成為一件製成品——英譯）]當心苟且馬虎的態度——[不管它，暫且算了吧。 ]不論是甚麼，神一定會堅持地指出，直至我們完全.
祈禱◆噢，主啊，願你的臉光臨到我們，讓你偉大而榮耀的聲音和同在，覆遍這地.
Many of us appear to be all right in general, but there are still some areas in which we are careless and lazy; it is not a matter of sin, but the remnants of our carnal life that tend to make us careless. Carelessness is an insult to the Holy Spirit. We should have no carelessness about us either in the way we worship God, or even in the way we eat and drink.
Not only must our relationship to God be right, but the outward expression of that relationship must also be right. Ultimately, God will allow nothing to escape; every detail of our lives is under His scrutiny. God will bring us back in countless ways to the same point over and over again. And He never tires of bringing us back to that one point until we learn the lesson, because His purpose is to produce the finished product. It may be a problem arising from our impulsive nature, but again and again, with the most persistent patience, God has brought us back to that one particular point. Or the problem may be our idle and wandering thinking, or our independent nature and self-interest. Through this process, God is trying to impress upon us the one thing that is not entirely right in our lives.
We have been having a wonderful time in our studies over the revealed truth of God’s redemption, and our hearts are perfect toward Him. And His wonderful work in us makes us know that overall we are right with Him. “Let patience have its perfect work . . . .” The Holy Spirit speaking through James said, “Now let your patience become a finished product.” Beware of becoming careless over the small details of life and saying, “Oh, that will have to do for now.” Whatever it may be, God will point it out with persistence until we become entirely His.
直至你完全屬他
但忍耐也當成功，使你們成全完備，毫無缺欠。 （雅一4）
大部分人在生活上大體沒有問題，可是在某些事上卻很馬虎。這不是罪的問題，而是屬肉體的生命，叫我們馬虎。得過且過是對聖靈的一種侮辱。我們不應在任何事上懶散馬虎，不管是飲食，或是敬拜神。
我們與神不僅要有良好的關係，而這關係的外在表現也要正確。神不會容許任何事逃過他，每一細節他都鑑察。他會用無數的方法，把我們一次又一次地帶到同一的問題上。他會不厭其煩地重複又重複地，直到我們學好了那功課，因為他是要成全完備的產品。也許是衝動，也許是心不在焉，又或許是惟我獨尊的個人主義，他會一而再、再而三、恆切忍耐地，帶我們回到同一的功課上。神總要我們覺醒，知道這件事不妥當。
對神救贖的啟示，我們有美好的學習，對他我們是全心全意的；他在我們身上作成的奇妙大工，叫我們知道在大體上與他的關係是正常的；但如今聖靈卻藉雅各說：[忍耐也當成功（讓你們的忍耐成為一件製成品——英譯）]當心苟且馬虎的態度——[不管它，暫且算了吧。 ]不論是甚麼，神一定會堅持地指出，直至我們完全.
祈禱◆噢，主啊，願你的臉光臨到我們，讓你偉大而榮耀的聲音和同在，覆遍這地.
July 04, 2012
One of God’s Great “Don’ts”
Do not fret— it only causes harm —Psalm 37:8
Fretting means getting ourselves “out of joint” mentally or spiritually. It is one thing to say, “Do not fret,” but something very different to have such a nature that you find yourself unable to fret. It’s easy to say, “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him” (Psalm 37:7) until our own little world is turned upside down and we are forced to live in confusion and agony like so many other people. Is it possible to “rest in the Lord” then? If this “Do not” doesn’t work there, then it will not work anywhere. This “Do not” must work during our days of difficulty and uncertainty, as well as our peaceful days, or it will never work. And if it will not work in your particular case, it will not work for anyone else. Resting in the Lord is not dependent on your external circumstances at all, but on your relationship with God Himself.
Worrying always results in sin. We tend to think that a little anxiety and worry are simply an indication of how wise we really are, yet it is actually a much better indication of just how wicked we are. Fretting rises from our determination to have our own way. Our Lord never worried and was never anxious, because His purpose was never to accomplish His own plans but to fulfill God’s plans. Fretting is wickedness for a child of God.
Have you been propping up that foolish soul of yours with the idea that your circumstances are too much for God to handle? Set all your opinions and speculations aside and “abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1). Deliberately tell God that you will not fret about whatever concerns you. All our fretting and worrying is caused by planning without God.
神的[不要]
不要心懷不平，以致作惡。 （詩三十七8）
心懷不平就是思想上或靈性上的反抗狀態。口頭上說不要心懷不平，與內心真的沒有不平是兩回事。說[安息在主裡]、[忍耐等候主]多麼容易，但風浪一至，生活落在困逼苦惱中，真能安息在主裡麼？若這個[不要]在此行不通，在其他方面就更無功效。這[不要]不但要在平安無事的日子行得通，也必須在煩惱的日子行得通，否則，這就完全沒有意義。再者，若在你身上行不通，就別希冀在別人身上行得通了。安心靠主是完全不仗賴外在得環境，只在乎你與神的關係。
不安結果總變成罪。我們以為一點點的焦慮憂心是表示自己的聰明，其實這正顯示我們的劣根性。不安不平是從偏行己路而來的。我們的主從不焦慮，從不憂心，因為他來到世上並非為了自己，乃是要實現神的旨意。你若是神的兒女，心懷不平是壞透了的。
你是否認為當前的處境連神也難倒道了？這個思想是否支撐著你愚頑的心？把所有[假如]放在一旁，住在全能者的蔭下。鄭重的對神說你不再為那事心懷不平。一切的不平與掛慮，其實是離開神而自作打算。
祈禱◆主啊，我自覺深切地渴慕你和你的生命，我從詩篇九十一篇中找到保證——[他必救你]。主啊，我對它深信不疑，並且，為著你保護看顧我，我感謝你。
Fretting means getting ourselves “out of joint” mentally or spiritually. It is one thing to say, “Do not fret,” but something very different to have such a nature that you find yourself unable to fret. It’s easy to say, “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him” (Psalm 37:7) until our own little world is turned upside down and we are forced to live in confusion and agony like so many other people. Is it possible to “rest in the Lord” then? If this “Do not” doesn’t work there, then it will not work anywhere. This “Do not” must work during our days of difficulty and uncertainty, as well as our peaceful days, or it will never work. And if it will not work in your particular case, it will not work for anyone else. Resting in the Lord is not dependent on your external circumstances at all, but on your relationship with God Himself.
Worrying always results in sin. We tend to think that a little anxiety and worry are simply an indication of how wise we really are, yet it is actually a much better indication of just how wicked we are. Fretting rises from our determination to have our own way. Our Lord never worried and was never anxious, because His purpose was never to accomplish His own plans but to fulfill God’s plans. Fretting is wickedness for a child of God.
Have you been propping up that foolish soul of yours with the idea that your circumstances are too much for God to handle? Set all your opinions and speculations aside and “abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1). Deliberately tell God that you will not fret about whatever concerns you. All our fretting and worrying is caused by planning without God.
神的[不要]
不要心懷不平，以致作惡。 （詩三十七8）
心懷不平就是思想上或靈性上的反抗狀態。口頭上說不要心懷不平，與內心真的沒有不平是兩回事。說[安息在主裡]、[忍耐等候主]多麼容易，但風浪一至，生活落在困逼苦惱中，真能安息在主裡麼？若這個[不要]在此行不通，在其他方面就更無功效。這[不要]不但要在平安無事的日子行得通，也必須在煩惱的日子行得通，否則，這就完全沒有意義。再者，若在你身上行不通，就別希冀在別人身上行得通了。安心靠主是完全不仗賴外在得環境，只在乎你與神的關係。
不安結果總變成罪。我們以為一點點的焦慮憂心是表示自己的聰明，其實這正顯示我們的劣根性。不安不平是從偏行己路而來的。我們的主從不焦慮，從不憂心，因為他來到世上並非為了自己，乃是要實現神的旨意。你若是神的兒女，心懷不平是壞透了的。
你是否認為當前的處境連神也難倒道了？這個思想是否支撐著你愚頑的心？把所有[假如]放在一旁，住在全能者的蔭下。鄭重的對神說你不再為那事心懷不平。一切的不平與掛慮，其實是離開神而自作打算。
祈禱◆主啊，我自覺深切地渴慕你和你的生命，我從詩篇九十一篇中找到保證——[他必救你]。主啊，我對它深信不疑，並且，為著你保護看顧我，我感謝你。
May 24, 2012
The Delight of Despair
When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead —Revelation 1:17
It may be that, like the apostle John, you know Jesus Christ intimately. Yet when He suddenly appears to you with totally unfamiliar characteristics, the only thing you can do is fall “at His feet as dead.” There are times when God cannot reveal Himself in any other way than in His majesty, and it is the awesomeness of the vision which brings you to the delight of despair. You experience this joy in hopelessness, realizing that if you are ever to be raised up it must be by the hand of God.
“He laid His right hand on me . . .” (Revelation 1:17). In the midst of the awesomeness, a touch comes, and you know it is the right hand of Jesus Christ. You know it is not the hand of restraint, correction, nor chastisement, but the right hand of the Everlasting Father. Whenever His hand is laid upon you, it gives inexpressible peace and comfort, and the sense that “underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deuteronomy 33:27), full of support, provision, comfort, and strength. And once His touch comes, nothing at all can throw you into fear again. In the midst of all His ascended glory, the Lord Jesus comes to speak to an insignificant disciple, saying, “Do not be afraid” (Revelation 1:17). His tenderness is inexpressibly sweet. Do I know Him like that?
Take a look at some of the things that cause despair. There is despair which has no delight, no limits whatsoever, and no hope of anything brighter. But the delight of despair comes when “I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells . . .” (Romans 7:18). I delight in knowing that there is something in me which must fall prostrate before God when He reveals Himself to me, and also in knowing that if I am ever to be raised up it must be by the hand of God. God can do nothing for me until I recognize the limits of what is humanly possible, allowing Him to do the impossible.
絕望中的興奮
我一看見，就仆倒在他腳前，像死了一樣。 （啟一17）
也許你像約翰一樣，與主耶穌相知甚深。但當他突然以完全陌生的面貌出現，你只能仆倒他腳前像死去一樣。有時神不能以別的辦法顯示他自己，就只好以他的威嚴顯現。那異像中的威榮，叫你在絕望中心懷興奮。那時，你要再起來，就必須捉著神的手了。
[他用右手按著我說。 ]在驚恐中，有人觸摸你，你便曉得那時耶穌基督的右手。不是阻止、糾正或管教的右手，而是永在的父的右手。無論他的手什麼時候放在你身上，總有難以形容的平安與安慰，因為知道有永遠的膀臂在扶持，就得著供應、安慰與力量。神的撫摸一來，就再沒有什麼能叫你恐懼的了。主耶穌帶著天上的榮耀，對一個微不足道的門徒說：[不要懼怕。 ]他的仁慈是那樣的溫柔，我對他有這樣的認識麼？
留心那些令人絕望的事物。有一種絕望是沒有喜樂、沒有展望、沒有曙光。可是只要我知道[在我裡頭，就是在我肉體之中，沒有良善]，那時絕望中的喜樂就來了。在神榮耀的彰顯之中，我必須謙恭俯伏。若要起來，神必親手攙扶。除非我到了一切的盡頭，否則神不能為我作什麼。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，在屬靈和各方滿，願你加倍地保守這聖靈的殿。賜給我們你所喜悅的光輝和明亮。
It may be that, like the apostle John, you know Jesus Christ intimately. Yet when He suddenly appears to you with totally unfamiliar characteristics, the only thing you can do is fall “at His feet as dead.” There are times when God cannot reveal Himself in any other way than in His majesty, and it is the awesomeness of the vision which brings you to the delight of despair. You experience this joy in hopelessness, realizing that if you are ever to be raised up it must be by the hand of God.
“He laid His right hand on me . . .” (Revelation 1:17). In the midst of the awesomeness, a touch comes, and you know it is the right hand of Jesus Christ. You know it is not the hand of restraint, correction, nor chastisement, but the right hand of the Everlasting Father. Whenever His hand is laid upon you, it gives inexpressible peace and comfort, and the sense that “underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deuteronomy 33:27), full of support, provision, comfort, and strength. And once His touch comes, nothing at all can throw you into fear again. In the midst of all His ascended glory, the Lord Jesus comes to speak to an insignificant disciple, saying, “Do not be afraid” (Revelation 1:17). His tenderness is inexpressibly sweet. Do I know Him like that?
Take a look at some of the things that cause despair. There is despair which has no delight, no limits whatsoever, and no hope of anything brighter. But the delight of despair comes when “I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells . . .” (Romans 7:18). I delight in knowing that there is something in me which must fall prostrate before God when He reveals Himself to me, and also in knowing that if I am ever to be raised up it must be by the hand of God. God can do nothing for me until I recognize the limits of what is humanly possible, allowing Him to do the impossible.
絕望中的興奮
我一看見，就仆倒在他腳前，像死了一樣。 （啟一17）
也許你像約翰一樣，與主耶穌相知甚深。但當他突然以完全陌生的面貌出現，你只能仆倒他腳前像死去一樣。有時神不能以別的辦法顯示他自己，就只好以他的威嚴顯現。那異像中的威榮，叫你在絕望中心懷興奮。那時，你要再起來，就必須捉著神的手了。
[他用右手按著我說。 ]在驚恐中，有人觸摸你，你便曉得那時耶穌基督的右手。不是阻止、糾正或管教的右手，而是永在的父的右手。無論他的手什麼時候放在你身上，總有難以形容的平安與安慰，因為知道有永遠的膀臂在扶持，就得著供應、安慰與力量。神的撫摸一來，就再沒有什麼能叫你恐懼的了。主耶穌帶著天上的榮耀，對一個微不足道的門徒說：[不要懼怕。 ]他的仁慈是那樣的溫柔，我對他有這樣的認識麼？
留心那些令人絕望的事物。有一種絕望是沒有喜樂、沒有展望、沒有曙光。可是只要我知道[在我裡頭，就是在我肉體之中，沒有良善]，那時絕望中的喜樂就來了。在神榮耀的彰顯之中，我必須謙恭俯伏。若要起來，神必親手攙扶。除非我到了一切的盡頭，否則神不能為我作什麼。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，在屬靈和各方滿，願你加倍地保守這聖靈的殿。賜給我們你所喜悅的光輝和明亮。
May 20, 2012
Taking Possession of Our Own Soul
By your patience possess your souls —Luke 21:19
When a person is born again, there is a period of time when he does not have the same vitality in his thinking or reasoning that he previously had. We must learn to express this new life within us, which comes by forming the mind of Christ (see Philippians 2:5). Luke 21:19 means that we take possession of our souls through patience. But many of us prefer to stay at the entrance to the Christian life, instead of going on to create and build our soul in accordance with the new life God has placed within us. We fail because we are ignorant of the way God has made us, and we blame things on the devil that are actually the result of our own undisciplined natures. Just think what we could be when we are awakened to the truth!
There are certain things in life that we need not pray about— moods, for instance. We will never get rid of moodiness by praying, but we will by kicking it out of our lives. Moods nearly always are rooted in some physical circumstance, not in our true inner self. It is a continual struggle not to listen to the moods which arise as a result of our physical condition, but we must never submit to them for a second. We have to pick ourselves up by the back of the neck and shake ourselves; then we will find that we can do what we believed we were unable to do. The problem that most of us are cursed with is simply that we won’t. The Christian life is one of spiritual courage and determination lived out in our flesh.
真實的領域
你們常存忍耐，就必保存靈魂。 （路二十一19）
人重生了，他的思想和理智有一段時候就沒有往日那樣明達。我們要把新生命表現出來，要培養基督的心。 [要用忍耐保存靈魂。 ]我們大多數人寧可站在信徒生活的門檻上，而不根據神所賦予裡頭的新生命來建立自己的靈命。我們失敗，是因為不明白自己的本相，在許多事上，只一意抵賴魔鬼，而不歸咎在自己那不受約束的本性上。試想想我們受激動時那副樣子便可知了。
有些事是我們不可祈求的：例如情緒。情緒不是禱告可以驅散的，是要一腳把它踢開。人的情緒，多半是根據肉體的情況而定，與德性無關。要經常竭力拒絕聽從因肉體情況而生髮的情緒，一秒鐘也不可容讓。我們要揪著自己的領口，振作起來，就會發覺能夠做自己以為不能做的事。我們不肯做，就成了自己的咒詛。信徒的生命，是屬靈勇氣在肉身的一種表現。
祈禱◆主啊，為著你的說話－－[你們常存忍耐，就必保存靈魂]－－我讚美你。當我正按著你的心意，努力要得著靈魂時，為著你那將要臨到的恩典，我讚美你。
When a person is born again, there is a period of time when he does not have the same vitality in his thinking or reasoning that he previously had. We must learn to express this new life within us, which comes by forming the mind of Christ (see Philippians 2:5). Luke 21:19 means that we take possession of our souls through patience. But many of us prefer to stay at the entrance to the Christian life, instead of going on to create and build our soul in accordance with the new life God has placed within us. We fail because we are ignorant of the way God has made us, and we blame things on the devil that are actually the result of our own undisciplined natures. Just think what we could be when we are awakened to the truth!
There are certain things in life that we need not pray about— moods, for instance. We will never get rid of moodiness by praying, but we will by kicking it out of our lives. Moods nearly always are rooted in some physical circumstance, not in our true inner self. It is a continual struggle not to listen to the moods which arise as a result of our physical condition, but we must never submit to them for a second. We have to pick ourselves up by the back of the neck and shake ourselves; then we will find that we can do what we believed we were unable to do. The problem that most of us are cursed with is simply that we won’t. The Christian life is one of spiritual courage and determination lived out in our flesh.
真實的領域
你們常存忍耐，就必保存靈魂。 （路二十一19）
人重生了，他的思想和理智有一段時候就沒有往日那樣明達。我們要把新生命表現出來，要培養基督的心。 [要用忍耐保存靈魂。 ]我們大多數人寧可站在信徒生活的門檻上，而不根據神所賦予裡頭的新生命來建立自己的靈命。我們失敗，是因為不明白自己的本相，在許多事上，只一意抵賴魔鬼，而不歸咎在自己那不受約束的本性上。試想想我們受激動時那副樣子便可知了。
有些事是我們不可祈求的：例如情緒。情緒不是禱告可以驅散的，是要一腳把它踢開。人的情緒，多半是根據肉體的情況而定，與德性無關。要經常竭力拒絕聽從因肉體情況而生髮的情緒，一秒鐘也不可容讓。我們要揪著自己的領口，振作起來，就會發覺能夠做自己以為不能做的事。我們不肯做，就成了自己的咒詛。信徒的生命，是屬靈勇氣在肉身的一種表現。
祈禱◆主啊，為著你的說話－－[你們常存忍耐，就必保存靈魂]－－我讚美你。當我正按著你的心意，努力要得著靈魂時，為著你那將要臨到的恩典，我讚美你。
May 15, 2012
The Habit of Rising to the Occasion
. . . that you may know what is the hope of His calling . . . —Ephesians 1:18
Remember that you have been saved so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in your body (see 2 Corinthians 4:10). Direct the total energy of your powers so that you may achieve everything your election as a child of God provides; rise every time to whatever occasion may come your way.
You did not do anything to achieve your salvation, but you must do something to exhibit it. You must “work out your own salvation” which God has worked in you already (Philippians 2:12). Are your speech, your thinking, and your emotions evidence that you are working it “out”? If you are still the same miserable, grouchy person, set on having your own way, then it is a lie to say that God has saved and sanctified you.
God is the Master Designer, and He allows adversities into your life to see if you can jump over them properly—”By my God I can leap over a wall” (Psalm 18:29). God will never shield you from the requirements of being His son or daughter. First Peter 4:12 says, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you . . . .” Rise to the occasion—do what the trial demands of you. It does not matter how much it hurts as long as it gives God the opportunity to manifest the life of Jesus in your body.
May God not find complaints in us anymore, but spiritual vitality—a readiness to face anything He brings our way. The only proper goal of life is that we manifest the Son of God; and when this occurs, all of our dictating of our demands to God disappears. Our Lord never dictated demands to His Father, and neither are we to make demands on God. We are here to submit to His will so that He may work through us what He wants. Once we realize this, He will make us broken bread and poured-out wine with which to feed and nourish others.
把握機會，面對現實
使你們知道他的恩召有何等指望。 （弗一18）
要記得你蒙拯救的目的是什麼－－是叫神兒子的生命在你必朽的肉身上彰顯出來。要殫精竭慮，去體會成為神兒女的恩召；要每次正面面對所遭遇的。
你雖然沒有辦法救自己，卻必須有所事事，以表彰所得的救恩。你要把神做在你身上的表揚出來。你有沒有用舌頭、腦筋、精神去努力表揚？你若仍然是昔日可憐的老樣子，孤行己意，那麼你說神已拯救你，並叫你成聖，這不過是謊話。
神是大工程師，他容許困難臨到你身上，要看你能否越過－－[我靠著神跳過牆垣]。神不會放鬆對他兒女的要求。彼得說：[有火煉的試驗臨到你們，不要以為奇怪。 ]把握機會，面對現實，付諸行動！不管痛苦多大，只要身有機會藉著你彰顯他自己就好了。
但願神不再看見我們裡面的怨嘆，卻看見我們充滿屬靈的果敢與奮勇，準備面對任何從神而來的事物。我們必須操練自己，叫神兒子可以在我們必朽的肉身上彰顯出來。生命唯一的目標，就是彰顯神的兒子，並且不再向神發號施令。我們的主從來沒有指揮他的父，我們在此也不得指揮神；我們在世上是要順服他的旨意，使他能在我們身上成就他所要成就的。我們若明白這點，神就會使我們成為擘開的餅，傾出來的酒，去餵養與滋潤別人。
祈禱◆主啊，你已經啟示了很多真理，還有不少事情要告訴我們，可是，我感到自己的生活太少按著你所指示的去行。主啊，加力給我，讓我彰顯你的榮耀。
Remember that you have been saved so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in your body (see 2 Corinthians 4:10). Direct the total energy of your powers so that you may achieve everything your election as a child of God provides; rise every time to whatever occasion may come your way.
You did not do anything to achieve your salvation, but you must do something to exhibit it. You must “work out your own salvation” which God has worked in you already (Philippians 2:12). Are your speech, your thinking, and your emotions evidence that you are working it “out”? If you are still the same miserable, grouchy person, set on having your own way, then it is a lie to say that God has saved and sanctified you.
God is the Master Designer, and He allows adversities into your life to see if you can jump over them properly—”By my God I can leap over a wall” (Psalm 18:29). God will never shield you from the requirements of being His son or daughter. First Peter 4:12 says, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you . . . .” Rise to the occasion—do what the trial demands of you. It does not matter how much it hurts as long as it gives God the opportunity to manifest the life of Jesus in your body.
May God not find complaints in us anymore, but spiritual vitality—a readiness to face anything He brings our way. The only proper goal of life is that we manifest the Son of God; and when this occurs, all of our dictating of our demands to God disappears. Our Lord never dictated demands to His Father, and neither are we to make demands on God. We are here to submit to His will so that He may work through us what He wants. Once we realize this, He will make us broken bread and poured-out wine with which to feed and nourish others.
把握機會，面對現實
使你們知道他的恩召有何等指望。 （弗一18）
要記得你蒙拯救的目的是什麼－－是叫神兒子的生命在你必朽的肉身上彰顯出來。要殫精竭慮，去體會成為神兒女的恩召；要每次正面面對所遭遇的。
你雖然沒有辦法救自己，卻必須有所事事，以表彰所得的救恩。你要把神做在你身上的表揚出來。你有沒有用舌頭、腦筋、精神去努力表揚？你若仍然是昔日可憐的老樣子，孤行己意，那麼你說神已拯救你，並叫你成聖，這不過是謊話。
神是大工程師，他容許困難臨到你身上，要看你能否越過－－[我靠著神跳過牆垣]。神不會放鬆對他兒女的要求。彼得說：[有火煉的試驗臨到你們，不要以為奇怪。 ]把握機會，面對現實，付諸行動！不管痛苦多大，只要身有機會藉著你彰顯他自己就好了。
但願神不再看見我們裡面的怨嘆，卻看見我們充滿屬靈的果敢與奮勇，準備面對任何從神而來的事物。我們必須操練自己，叫神兒子可以在我們必朽的肉身上彰顯出來。生命唯一的目標，就是彰顯神的兒子，並且不再向神發號施令。我們的主從來沒有指揮他的父，我們在此也不得指揮神；我們在世上是要順服他的旨意，使他能在我們身上成就他所要成就的。我們若明白這點，神就會使我們成為擘開的餅，傾出來的酒，去餵養與滋潤別人。
祈禱◆主啊，你已經啟示了很多真理，還有不少事情要告訴我們，可是，我感到自己的生活太少按著你所指示的去行。主啊，加力給我，讓我彰顯你的榮耀。
May 14, 2012
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。
May 08, 2012
The Faith to Persevere
Because you have kept My command to persevere . . . —Revelation 3:10
Perseverance means more than endurance— more than simply holding on until the end. A saint’s life is in the hands of God like a bow and arrow in the hands of an archer. God is aiming at something the saint cannot see, but our Lord continues to stretch and strain, and every once in a while the saint says, “I can’t take any more.” Yet God pays no attention; He goes on stretching until His purpose is in sight, and then He lets the arrow fly. Entrust yourself to God’s hands. Is there something in your life for which you need perseverance right now? Maintain your intimate relationship with Jesus Christ through the perseverance of faith. Proclaim as Job did, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” (Job 13:15).
Faith is not some weak and pitiful emotion, but is strong and vigorous confidence built on the fact that God is holy love. And even though you cannot see Him right now and cannot understand what He is doing, you know Him. Disaster occurs in your life when you lack the mental composure that comes from establishing yourself on the eternal truth that God is holy love. Faith is the supreme effort of your life— throwing yourself with abandon and total confidence upon God.
God ventured His all in Jesus Christ to save us, and now He wants us to venture our all with total abandoned confidence in Him. There are areas in our lives where that faith has not worked in us as yet— places still untouched by the life of God. There were none of those places in Jesus Christ’s life, and there are to be none in ours. Jesus prayed, “This is eternal life, that they may know You . . .” (John 17:3). The real meaning of eternal life is a life that can face anything it has to face without wavering. If we will take this view, life will become one great romance— a glorious opportunity of seeing wonderful things all the time. God is disciplining us to get us into this central place of power.
信心的忍耐
你既遵守我忍耐的道。 （啟三10）
忍耐不單是忍受。聖徒的生命在神手中，有如弓箭在射箭者的手上。神正瞄準一些我們看不見的東西，在用力拉開弓；聖徒卻說：[我再也受不了。 ]神不加理會，反而繼續拉緊，直至目標在望，才鬆手讓箭射出。放心把自己放在神手中。你現在正要忍耐什麼呢？只要用忍耐的信心，保持你與耶穌基督的關係。 [他雖然殺我，我仍要等候他。 ]
信心不是悲觀的情緒，乃是強而有力的信任，是建造在神聖潔的愛上。你如今看不見他，也不明白他在做什麼，但你是認識他的。我們心靈的平穩，在乎我們是否建立在神至聖的愛這永恆的真理上；否則，信心必如船觸礁而覆沒。信心是你人生中最英勇的奮鬥，是不顧一切的把自己交託神，一心投靠他。
神在耶穌基督裡已赴湯蹈火，不顧一切地救了我們；如今他要我們不惜犧牲一切，全心信靠他。我們裡面還有許多地方，是信心尚未耕耘過的，就是神的生命尚未觸摸到的。在耶穌基督的生命裡，卻沒有這樣的光景，我們也不該有。 [認識你……這就是永生。 ]永生的真正意義，就是一種面對任何事情而不動搖的生命。我們若有這種看見，人生就成為一頁羅曼史，能夠每時每刻經歷到奇妙的事。神一直在操練我們，好使我們進入這能力的中心裡去。
祈禱◆主啊，我理應成為何等樣的人！我那充滿恩典的生命在你的掌管下是那麼奇妙；然而，我仍發覺自己是那麼氣量狹小。主啊，我還可以說什麼呢！
Perseverance means more than endurance— more than simply holding on until the end. A saint’s life is in the hands of God like a bow and arrow in the hands of an archer. God is aiming at something the saint cannot see, but our Lord continues to stretch and strain, and every once in a while the saint says, “I can’t take any more.” Yet God pays no attention; He goes on stretching until His purpose is in sight, and then He lets the arrow fly. Entrust yourself to God’s hands. Is there something in your life for which you need perseverance right now? Maintain your intimate relationship with Jesus Christ through the perseverance of faith. Proclaim as Job did, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” (Job 13:15).
Faith is not some weak and pitiful emotion, but is strong and vigorous confidence built on the fact that God is holy love. And even though you cannot see Him right now and cannot understand what He is doing, you know Him. Disaster occurs in your life when you lack the mental composure that comes from establishing yourself on the eternal truth that God is holy love. Faith is the supreme effort of your life— throwing yourself with abandon and total confidence upon God.
God ventured His all in Jesus Christ to save us, and now He wants us to venture our all with total abandoned confidence in Him. There are areas in our lives where that faith has not worked in us as yet— places still untouched by the life of God. There were none of those places in Jesus Christ’s life, and there are to be none in ours. Jesus prayed, “This is eternal life, that they may know You . . .” (John 17:3). The real meaning of eternal life is a life that can face anything it has to face without wavering. If we will take this view, life will become one great romance— a glorious opportunity of seeing wonderful things all the time. God is disciplining us to get us into this central place of power.
信心的忍耐
你既遵守我忍耐的道。 （啟三10）
忍耐不單是忍受。聖徒的生命在神手中，有如弓箭在射箭者的手上。神正瞄準一些我們看不見的東西，在用力拉開弓；聖徒卻說：[我再也受不了。 ]神不加理會，反而繼續拉緊，直至目標在望，才鬆手讓箭射出。放心把自己放在神手中。你現在正要忍耐什麼呢？只要用忍耐的信心，保持你與耶穌基督的關係。 [他雖然殺我，我仍要等候他。 ]
信心不是悲觀的情緒，乃是強而有力的信任，是建造在神聖潔的愛上。你如今看不見他，也不明白他在做什麼，但你是認識他的。我們心靈的平穩，在乎我們是否建立在神至聖的愛這永恆的真理上；否則，信心必如船觸礁而覆沒。信心是你人生中最英勇的奮鬥，是不顧一切的把自己交託神，一心投靠他。
神在耶穌基督裡已赴湯蹈火，不顧一切地救了我們；如今他要我們不惜犧牲一切，全心信靠他。我們裡面還有許多地方，是信心尚未耕耘過的，就是神的生命尚未觸摸到的。在耶穌基督的生命裡，卻沒有這樣的光景，我們也不該有。 [認識你……這就是永生。 ]永生的真正意義，就是一種面對任何事情而不動搖的生命。我們若有這種看見，人生就成為一頁羅曼史，能夠每時每刻經歷到奇妙的事。神一直在操練我們，好使我們進入這能力的中心裡去。
祈禱◆主啊，我理應成為何等樣的人！我那充滿恩典的生命在你的掌管下是那麼奇妙；然而，我仍發覺自己是那麼氣量狹小。主啊，我還可以說什麼呢！
May 02, 2012
The Patience To Wait for the Vision
Though it tarries, wait for it . . . —Habakkuk 2:3
Patience is not the same as indifference; patience conveys the idea of someone who is tremendously strong and able to withstand all assaults. Having the vision of God is the source of patience because it gives us God’s true and proper inspiration. Moses endured, not because of his devotion to his principles of what was right, nor because of his sense of duty to God, but because he had a vision of God. “. . . he endured as seeing Him who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:27). A person who has the vision of God is not devoted to a cause or to any particular issue— he is devoted to God Himself. You always know when the vision is of God because of the inspiration that comes with it. Things come to you with greatness and add vitality to your life because everything is energized by God. He may give you a time spiritually, with no word from Himself at all, just as His Son experienced during His time of temptation in the wilderness. When God does that, simply endure, and the power to endure will be there because you see God.
“Though it tarries, wait for it . . . .” The proof that we have the vision is that we are reaching out for more than we have already grasped. It is a bad thing to be satisfied spiritually. The psalmist said, “What shall I render to the Lord . . . ? I will take up the cup of salvation . . .” (Psalm 116:12-13). We are apt to look for satisfaction within ourselves and say, “Now I’ve got it! Now I am completely sanctified. Now I can endure.” Instantly we are on the road to ruin. Our reach must exceed our grasp. Paul said, “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on . . .” (Philippians 3:12). If we have only what we have experienced, we have nothing. But if we have the inspiration of the vision of God, we have more than we can experience. Beware of the danger of spiritual relaxation.
忍耐的情操
雖然遲延，還要等候。 （哈二3）
忍耐不是置之不理；忍耐是一座極其堅強的磐石，受得起一切的打擊。忍耐的根源，是看見了神的異象；因為看見神，就帶來品德上的啟示。摩西之所以能堅忍，不是因為他對正義與責任的理想，而是因為看見了神。他恆心忍耐，[如同看見那不能看見的主。 ]一個有神異象的人，不是投身於一件工作或某一項任務，而是獻身於神自己。異像是否出於神，是看得出來的，只要看所帶來的啟示便可知；生命會變得廣大和滋潤，因為一切由神發動。神若在屬靈上給你一段曠野試探的時期，像他兒子所經歷的，完全沒他的話語，你就要忍耐；恆心忍耐，是因為你看見神。
[雖然遲延，還要等候。 ]要證明我們的確看見了異象，是要伸手去抓住那超乎我們所能抓住的（意即竭力追求）。屬靈的自滿是不好的。詩人說：[我拿什麼報答耶和華？ ][我要舉起救恩的杯。 ]我們很容易自滿自足－－[現在我得著了；現在我完全聖潔了；現在我能夠忍受了。 ]這樣我們馬上就會跌倒。我們的目標必須超越實際的。 [我不是以為自己已經得著了，已經完全了。 ]我們有的若只是經歷，就一無所有了；但我們若有神異象的啟示，那所有的就遠超過所經歷的了。要當心屬靈懈怠的危險。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，在我自覺的生活中，但願能流露更多的愛、憐憫、敬虔和對你的熱愛。求你使我對周圍的人，能有善意的表現，並以忍耐和溫柔去待他們。
Patience is not the same as indifference; patience conveys the idea of someone who is tremendously strong and able to withstand all assaults. Having the vision of God is the source of patience because it gives us God’s true and proper inspiration. Moses endured, not because of his devotion to his principles of what was right, nor because of his sense of duty to God, but because he had a vision of God. “. . . he endured as seeing Him who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:27). A person who has the vision of God is not devoted to a cause or to any particular issue— he is devoted to God Himself. You always know when the vision is of God because of the inspiration that comes with it. Things come to you with greatness and add vitality to your life because everything is energized by God. He may give you a time spiritually, with no word from Himself at all, just as His Son experienced during His time of temptation in the wilderness. When God does that, simply endure, and the power to endure will be there because you see God.
“Though it tarries, wait for it . . . .” The proof that we have the vision is that we are reaching out for more than we have already grasped. It is a bad thing to be satisfied spiritually. The psalmist said, “What shall I render to the Lord . . . ? I will take up the cup of salvation . . .” (Psalm 116:12-13). We are apt to look for satisfaction within ourselves and say, “Now I’ve got it! Now I am completely sanctified. Now I can endure.” Instantly we are on the road to ruin. Our reach must exceed our grasp. Paul said, “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on . . .” (Philippians 3:12). If we have only what we have experienced, we have nothing. But if we have the inspiration of the vision of God, we have more than we can experience. Beware of the danger of spiritual relaxation.
忍耐的情操
雖然遲延，還要等候。 （哈二3）
忍耐不是置之不理；忍耐是一座極其堅強的磐石，受得起一切的打擊。忍耐的根源，是看見了神的異象；因為看見神，就帶來品德上的啟示。摩西之所以能堅忍，不是因為他對正義與責任的理想，而是因為看見了神。他恆心忍耐，[如同看見那不能看見的主。 ]一個有神異象的人，不是投身於一件工作或某一項任務，而是獻身於神自己。異像是否出於神，是看得出來的，只要看所帶來的啟示便可知；生命會變得廣大和滋潤，因為一切由神發動。神若在屬靈上給你一段曠野試探的時期，像他兒子所經歷的，完全沒他的話語，你就要忍耐；恆心忍耐，是因為你看見神。
[雖然遲延，還要等候。 ]要證明我們的確看見了異象，是要伸手去抓住那超乎我們所能抓住的（意即竭力追求）。屬靈的自滿是不好的。詩人說：[我拿什麼報答耶和華？ ][我要舉起救恩的杯。 ]我們很容易自滿自足－－[現在我得著了；現在我完全聖潔了；現在我能夠忍受了。 ]這樣我們馬上就會跌倒。我們的目標必須超越實際的。 [我不是以為自己已經得著了，已經完全了。 ]我們有的若只是經歷，就一無所有了；但我們若有神異象的啟示，那所有的就遠超過所經歷的了。要當心屬靈懈怠的危險。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，在我自覺的生活中，但願能流露更多的愛、憐憫、敬虔和對你的熱愛。求你使我對周圍的人，能有善意的表現，並以忍耐和溫柔去待他們。
April 28, 2012
What You Will Get
I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go —Jeremiah 45:5
This is the firm and immovable secret of the Lord to those who trust Him— “I will give your life to you . . . .” What more does a man want than his life? It is the essential thing. “. . . your life . . . as a prize . . .” means that wherever you may go, even if it is into hell, you will come out with your life and nothing can harm it. So many of us are caught up in exhibiting things for others to see, not showing off property and possessions, but our blessings. All these things that we so proudly show have to go. But there is something greater that can never go— the life that “is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3).
Are you prepared to let God take you into total oneness with Himself, paying no more attention to what you call the great things of life? Are you prepared to surrender totally and let go? The true test of abandonment or surrender is in refusing to say, “Well, what about this?” Beware of your own ideas and speculations. The moment you allow yourself to think, “What about this?” you show that you have not surrendered and that you do not really trust God. But once you do surrender, you will no longer think about what God is going to do. Abandonment means to refuse yourself the luxury of asking any questions. If you totally abandon yourself to God, He immediately says to you, “I will give your life to you as a prize . . . .” The reason people are tired of life is that God has not given them anything— they have not been given their life “as a prize.” The way to get out of that condition is to abandon yourself to God. And once you do get to the point of total surrender to Him, you will be the most surprised and delighted person on earth. God will have you absolutely, without any limitations, and He will have given you your life. If you are not there, it is either because of disobedience in your life or your refusal to be simple enough.
你要得著什麼？
但你無論往那裡去，我必使你以自己的命為掠物。 （耶四十五5）
主對信靠他的人，有一個堅定不移的秘密，就是[我要把你的生命給你]。除了生命，人好要什麼呢？生命是最重要的。 [以自己的命為掠物]，意思是不論你到那裡去，甚至進入地獄，你仍然能夠帶著生命出來，沒有任何事物能害你的。我們多半被事物的榮美所吸引；啟示受吸引的不該是屬物質的產業，而是所蒙的祝福。一切都會過去；但有一樣比這些更榮美，且永不過去－－就是[與基督一同藏在神裡面的生命]。
你是否願意與神聯合，不再注目於你所謂的[大事]上？你願否盡棄所有，付之東流？放棄一切就是不再問：[那末，這個又怎麼辦？ ]要提防一切的假設。一旦容讓[怎麼辦]，就是意味著你仍未肯放棄一切，仍未肯完全信靠神。只要你肯放下一切，就不再擔心神會怎樣辦。你若完全撇下給神，他就立即說：[我必使你以自己的命為掠物。 ]人對生命厭倦的原因，是神沒有賞給他們什麼，他們並未得著生命的掠物。要脫離這景況，就要完全向神降服。若向神完全順服，你會成為地上最驚喜的人；神完全得著你，是把生命賜給你。但如果你尚未到達這地步，可能是你不肯順服，也可能是你不夠單純。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我的靈魂因著信靠你而發出讚美，願我的靈魂緊隨這你的撫摸和笑容，除去我任何混亂的思想或幻想，免致我在基督裡的真純遭受污染。
This is the firm and immovable secret of the Lord to those who trust Him— “I will give your life to you . . . .” What more does a man want than his life? It is the essential thing. “. . . your life . . . as a prize . . .” means that wherever you may go, even if it is into hell, you will come out with your life and nothing can harm it. So many of us are caught up in exhibiting things for others to see, not showing off property and possessions, but our blessings. All these things that we so proudly show have to go. But there is something greater that can never go— the life that “is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3).
Are you prepared to let God take you into total oneness with Himself, paying no more attention to what you call the great things of life? Are you prepared to surrender totally and let go? The true test of abandonment or surrender is in refusing to say, “Well, what about this?” Beware of your own ideas and speculations. The moment you allow yourself to think, “What about this?” you show that you have not surrendered and that you do not really trust God. But once you do surrender, you will no longer think about what God is going to do. Abandonment means to refuse yourself the luxury of asking any questions. If you totally abandon yourself to God, He immediately says to you, “I will give your life to you as a prize . . . .” The reason people are tired of life is that God has not given them anything— they have not been given their life “as a prize.” The way to get out of that condition is to abandon yourself to God. And once you do get to the point of total surrender to Him, you will be the most surprised and delighted person on earth. God will have you absolutely, without any limitations, and He will have given you your life. If you are not there, it is either because of disobedience in your life or your refusal to be simple enough.
你要得著什麼？
但你無論往那裡去，我必使你以自己的命為掠物。 （耶四十五5）
主對信靠他的人，有一個堅定不移的秘密，就是[我要把你的生命給你]。除了生命，人好要什麼呢？生命是最重要的。 [以自己的命為掠物]，意思是不論你到那裡去，甚至進入地獄，你仍然能夠帶著生命出來，沒有任何事物能害你的。我們多半被事物的榮美所吸引；啟示受吸引的不該是屬物質的產業，而是所蒙的祝福。一切都會過去；但有一樣比這些更榮美，且永不過去－－就是[與基督一同藏在神裡面的生命]。
你是否願意與神聯合，不再注目於你所謂的[大事]上？你願否盡棄所有，付之東流？放棄一切就是不再問：[那末，這個又怎麼辦？ ]要提防一切的假設。一旦容讓[怎麼辦]，就是意味著你仍未肯放棄一切，仍未肯完全信靠神。只要你肯放下一切，就不再擔心神會怎樣辦。你若完全撇下給神，他就立即說：[我必使你以自己的命為掠物。 ]人對生命厭倦的原因，是神沒有賞給他們什麼，他們並未得著生命的掠物。要脫離這景況，就要完全向神降服。若向神完全順服，你會成為地上最驚喜的人；神完全得著你，是把生命賜給你。但如果你尚未到達這地步，可能是你不肯順服，也可能是你不夠單純。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我的靈魂因著信靠你而發出讚美，願我的靈魂緊隨這你的撫摸和笑容，除去我任何混亂的思想或幻想，免致我在基督裡的真純遭受污染。
April 20, 2012
Can a Saint Falsely Accuse God?
All the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen . . . —2 Corinthians 1:20
Jesus’ parable of the talents recorded in Matthew 25:14-30 was a warning that it is possible for us to misjudge our capacities. This parable has nothing to do with natural gifts and abilities, but relates to the gift of the Holy Spirit as He was first given at Pentecost. We must never measure our spiritual capacity on the basis of our education or our intellect; our capacity in spiritual things is measured on the basis of the promises of God. If we get less than God wants us to have, we will falsely accuse Him as the servant falsely accused his master when he said, “You expect more of me than you gave me the power to do. You demand too much of me, and I cannot stand true to you here where you have placed me.” When it is a question of God’s Almighty Spirit, never say, “I can’t.” Never allow the limitation of your own natural ability to enter into the matter. If we have received the Holy Spirit, God expects the work of the Holy Spirit to be exhibited in us.
The servant justified himself, while condemning his lord on every point, as if to say, “Your demand on me is way out of proportion to what you gave to me.” Have we been falsely accusing God by daring to worry after He has said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you”? (Matthew 6:33). Worrying means exactly what this servant implied— “I know your intent is to leave me unprotected and vulnerable.” A person who is lazy in the natural realm is always critical, saying, “I haven’t had a decent chance,” and someone who is lazy in the spiritual realm is critical of God. Lazy people always strike out at others in an independent way.
Never forget that our capacity and capability in spiritual matters is measured by, and based on, the promises of God. Is God able to fulfill His promises? Our answer depends on whether or not we have received the Holy Spirit.
聖徒也讒謗神？
神的應許，不論有多少，在基督裡都是是的，所以藉著他也都是實在的。 （林後一20）
耶穌在馬太福音二十五章所說的比喻，是一個警告，指出我們對自己的能力也會判斷錯誤。這比喻所論到的與天然的禀賦毫不相涉，乃是指聖靈所賜給人的恩賜所言。屬靈的才幹決不是以學識或才智去衡量，而是以神的應許去衡量。我們所得的若少於神所要我們得的，過不多時，我們就會埋怨神，好像那僕人埋怨主人一樣：[你對我要求這麼高，卻沒有給我足夠的能力，你太苛求了；你放我在這崗位上，我根本無法向你效忠。 ]這涉及神的全能的問題，切勿說[我不能]。千萬別讓天然的才幹限制了你。我們若接受了聖靈，神就希望聖靈的工作在我們身上彰顯出來。
但僕人事事自以為是，反倒處處怪責主人：[你的要求，與你所賦予我的才幹，根本不成比例。 ]神說：[先求我的國和我的義，這些東西都要加給你們了。 ]你竟憂愁掛慮，對神大肆謗瀆？憂慮意味著這僕人在想：[我知道你會在我遇危難時，丟下我不顧。 ]一個天生怠惰的人，總是吹毛求疵說：[我根本沒有機會。 ]一個在屬靈上怠惰的人，同樣向神吹毛求疵。懶惰的人總愛我行我素，有他獨創的主意。
不要忘記，在屬靈上的才幹，是以神的應許來量度的。神能成就他的應許麼？答案就視乎我們有沒有接受聖靈。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，願你今天與我們真實地同在－－願聖靈同在的極大喜樂瀰漫四周。
Jesus’ parable of the talents recorded in Matthew 25:14-30 was a warning that it is possible for us to misjudge our capacities. This parable has nothing to do with natural gifts and abilities, but relates to the gift of the Holy Spirit as He was first given at Pentecost. We must never measure our spiritual capacity on the basis of our education or our intellect; our capacity in spiritual things is measured on the basis of the promises of God. If we get less than God wants us to have, we will falsely accuse Him as the servant falsely accused his master when he said, “You expect more of me than you gave me the power to do. You demand too much of me, and I cannot stand true to you here where you have placed me.” When it is a question of God’s Almighty Spirit, never say, “I can’t.” Never allow the limitation of your own natural ability to enter into the matter. If we have received the Holy Spirit, God expects the work of the Holy Spirit to be exhibited in us.
The servant justified himself, while condemning his lord on every point, as if to say, “Your demand on me is way out of proportion to what you gave to me.” Have we been falsely accusing God by daring to worry after He has said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you”? (Matthew 6:33). Worrying means exactly what this servant implied— “I know your intent is to leave me unprotected and vulnerable.” A person who is lazy in the natural realm is always critical, saying, “I haven’t had a decent chance,” and someone who is lazy in the spiritual realm is critical of God. Lazy people always strike out at others in an independent way.
Never forget that our capacity and capability in spiritual matters is measured by, and based on, the promises of God. Is God able to fulfill His promises? Our answer depends on whether or not we have received the Holy Spirit.
聖徒也讒謗神？
神的應許，不論有多少，在基督裡都是是的，所以藉著他也都是實在的。 （林後一20）
耶穌在馬太福音二十五章所說的比喻，是一個警告，指出我們對自己的能力也會判斷錯誤。這比喻所論到的與天然的禀賦毫不相涉，乃是指聖靈所賜給人的恩賜所言。屬靈的才幹決不是以學識或才智去衡量，而是以神的應許去衡量。我們所得的若少於神所要我們得的，過不多時，我們就會埋怨神，好像那僕人埋怨主人一樣：[你對我要求這麼高，卻沒有給我足夠的能力，你太苛求了；你放我在這崗位上，我根本無法向你效忠。 ]這涉及神的全能的問題，切勿說[我不能]。千萬別讓天然的才幹限制了你。我們若接受了聖靈，神就希望聖靈的工作在我們身上彰顯出來。
但僕人事事自以為是，反倒處處怪責主人：[你的要求，與你所賦予我的才幹，根本不成比例。 ]神說：[先求我的國和我的義，這些東西都要加給你們了。 ]你竟憂愁掛慮，對神大肆謗瀆？憂慮意味著這僕人在想：[我知道你會在我遇危難時，丟下我不顧。 ]一個天生怠惰的人，總是吹毛求疵說：[我根本沒有機會。 ]一個在屬靈上怠惰的人，同樣向神吹毛求疵。懶惰的人總愛我行我素，有他獨創的主意。
不要忘記，在屬靈上的才幹，是以神的應許來量度的。神能成就他的應許麼？答案就視乎我們有沒有接受聖靈。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，願你今天與我們真實地同在－－願聖靈同在的極大喜樂瀰漫四周。
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