Thus says the Lord: ’I remember . . . the kindness of your youth . . .’ —Jeremiah 2:2
Am I as spontaneously kind to God as I used to be, or am I only expecting God to be kind to me? Does everything in my life fill His heart with gladness, or do I constantly complain because things don’t seem to be going my way? A person who has forgotten what God treasures will not be filled with joy. It is wonderful to remember that Jesus Christ has needs which we can meet— “Give Me a drink” (John 4:7). How much kindness have I shown Him in the past week? Has my life been a good reflection on His reputation?
God is saying to His people, “You are not in love with Me now, but I remember a time when you were.” He says, “I remember . . . the love of your betrothal . . .” (Jeremiah 2:2). Am I as filled to overflowing with love for Jesus Christ as I was in the beginning, when I went out of my way to prove my devotion to Him? Does He ever find me pondering the time when I cared only for Him? Is that where I am now, or have I chosen man’s wisdom over true love for Him? Am I so in love with Him that I take no thought for where He might lead me? Or am I watching to see how much respect I get as I measure how much service I should give Him?
As I recall what God remembers about me, I may also begin to realize that He is not what He used to be to me. When this happens, I should allow the shame and humiliation it creates in my life, because it will bring godly sorrow, and “godly sorrow produces repentance . . .” (2 Corinthians 7:10).
想想神記得什麼？
你幼年的恩愛……我都記得。 （耶二2）
我愛神是否像昔日一樣甘心自發？還是只指望以仁慈對待我？我有沒有許多微小的事可以討他歡心？還是因路不順遂而唉哼怨嘆？你心若忘記了神所看為寶貴的，就不會喜樂。試想主耶穌需要我——[請給我水喝]，這是多麼美妙的事！過去的一個禮拜裡，我怎樣表示愛他呢？在我的生活中，有沒有彰顯他的名呢？
神對他子民說：[你現在不再愛我了，但我很記得你愛我的那段日子。 ][我記得……你婚姻般的愛情。 ]當日我怎樣撇開一切，表明誠心愛他；如今，我是否仍對他有這不斷湧流的愛情？我除了他別無眷戀的日子，是否要在回憶中去追尋？我如今還在那境地，還是懂得怎樣去愛他？我是否深深地愛他而不管前途如何？還是在註視自己該得的地位，估計著該擺上多少事奉？假若我想起神紀念我的日子，卻發覺他在我心中已不復昔日重要的地位，就叫我羞愧自卑，因為羞愧會帶來憂愁，叫我悔改。
祈禱◆主啊，我何等渴望你帶領我與你面對面！我的靈渴想著你、你恩典的觸動和你聖靈的氣息。
January 21, 2012
January 20, 2012
Are You Fresh for Everything?
Jesus answered and said to him, ’Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God’ —John 3:3
Sometimes we are fresh and eager to attend a prayer meeting, but do we feel that same freshness for such mundane tasks as polishing shoes?
Being born again by the Spirit is an unmistakable work of God, as mysterious as the wind, and as surprising as God Himself. We don’t know where it begins— it is hidden away in the depths of our soul. Being born again from above is an enduring, perpetual, and eternal beginning. It provides a freshness all the time in thinking, talking, and living— a continual surprise of the life of God. Staleness is an indication that something in our lives is out of step with God. We say to ourselves, “I have to do this thing or it will never get done.” That is the first sign of staleness. Do we feel fresh this very moment or are we stale, frantically searching our minds for something to do? Freshness is not the result of obedience; it comes from the Holy Spirit. Obedience keeps us “in the light as He is in the light . . .” (1 John 1:7).
Jealously guard your relationship with God. Jesus prayed “that they may be one just as We are one”-with nothing in between (John 17:22). Keep your whole life continually open to Jesus Christ. Don’t pretend to be open with Him. Are you drawing your life from any source other than God Himself? If you are depending on something else as your source of freshness and strength, you will not realize when His power is gone.
Being born of the Spirit means much more than we usually think. It gives us new vision and keeps us absolutely fresh for everything through the never-ending supply of the life of God.
你對每事物都有新鮮的感覺嗎？
人若不重生，就不能見神的國。 （約三3）
有時我們對祈禱會很感興趣，但對洗臟靴子卻一點興趣也沒有。從聖靈重生，絕無疑問是神的工作，這如風的來去無踪，像神一樣叫人驚訝莫測。我們不曉得它始於何方，卻隱藏在我們生命的深處。從神而來的重生，是連綿不絕，永不衰息的永恆開端。這生命在任何時刻都是有生氣的——在思想上、話語上、生活上，都是如此；是不住活在神測不透的奇妙中。陳舊腐朽的思想表示有些地方與神脫節了。 [我一定要這樣做，否則永遠也辦不成。 ]這是臣服的第一跡象。我們這一分鐘是否活潑重生？還是呆滯不前，絞盡腦汁地去找事情來做？活潑的生命不是從順服而來，乃是從聖靈而來的。順服不過使我們活在光中，正如神在活光中一樣。緊緊維持你與神的關係。耶穌禱告說：[使他們合一，正如我們合一一樣。 ]毫無阻隔地，讓你生命全然地向他敞開，不要對他裝模作樣。除神之外，你還能從其他源頭支取生命麼？若你不單靠他，還去靠賴別的東西，那麼他什麼時候走了，你也不覺察。從聖靈而生的意思是何等深廣，超乎我們一般所論的。它給我們新的異象，使我們對每事每物都感到新鮮有趣，這都因神源源不斷的生命力。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，吹向我，直至我的意念、心思和氣質，都能與你一致。我的依靠在乎你。我再一次透徹認知到，沒有了你，我是何其失喪！
Sometimes we are fresh and eager to attend a prayer meeting, but do we feel that same freshness for such mundane tasks as polishing shoes?
Being born again by the Spirit is an unmistakable work of God, as mysterious as the wind, and as surprising as God Himself. We don’t know where it begins— it is hidden away in the depths of our soul. Being born again from above is an enduring, perpetual, and eternal beginning. It provides a freshness all the time in thinking, talking, and living— a continual surprise of the life of God. Staleness is an indication that something in our lives is out of step with God. We say to ourselves, “I have to do this thing or it will never get done.” That is the first sign of staleness. Do we feel fresh this very moment or are we stale, frantically searching our minds for something to do? Freshness is not the result of obedience; it comes from the Holy Spirit. Obedience keeps us “in the light as He is in the light . . .” (1 John 1:7).
Jealously guard your relationship with God. Jesus prayed “that they may be one just as We are one”-with nothing in between (John 17:22). Keep your whole life continually open to Jesus Christ. Don’t pretend to be open with Him. Are you drawing your life from any source other than God Himself? If you are depending on something else as your source of freshness and strength, you will not realize when His power is gone.
Being born of the Spirit means much more than we usually think. It gives us new vision and keeps us absolutely fresh for everything through the never-ending supply of the life of God.
你對每事物都有新鮮的感覺嗎？
人若不重生，就不能見神的國。 （約三3）
有時我們對祈禱會很感興趣，但對洗臟靴子卻一點興趣也沒有。從聖靈重生，絕無疑問是神的工作，這如風的來去無踪，像神一樣叫人驚訝莫測。我們不曉得它始於何方，卻隱藏在我們生命的深處。從神而來的重生，是連綿不絕，永不衰息的永恆開端。這生命在任何時刻都是有生氣的——在思想上、話語上、生活上，都是如此；是不住活在神測不透的奇妙中。陳舊腐朽的思想表示有些地方與神脫節了。 [我一定要這樣做，否則永遠也辦不成。 ]這是臣服的第一跡象。我們這一分鐘是否活潑重生？還是呆滯不前，絞盡腦汁地去找事情來做？活潑的生命不是從順服而來，乃是從聖靈而來的。順服不過使我們活在光中，正如神在活光中一樣。緊緊維持你與神的關係。耶穌禱告說：[使他們合一，正如我們合一一樣。 ]毫無阻隔地，讓你生命全然地向他敞開，不要對他裝模作樣。除神之外，你還能從其他源頭支取生命麼？若你不單靠他，還去靠賴別的東西，那麼他什麼時候走了，你也不覺察。從聖靈而生的意思是何等深廣，超乎我們一般所論的。它給我們新的異象，使我們對每事每物都感到新鮮有趣，這都因神源源不斷的生命力。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，吹向我，直至我的意念、心思和氣質，都能與你一致。我的依靠在乎你。我再一次透徹認知到，沒有了你，我是何其失喪！
January 19, 2012
Vision and Darkness
When the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him —Genesis 15:12
Whenever God gives a vision to a Christian, it is as if He puts him in “the shadow of His hand” (Isaiah 49:2). The saint’s duty is to be still and listen. There is a “darkness” that comes from too much light-that is the time to listen. The story of Abram and Hagar in Genesis 16 is an excellent example of listening to so-called good advice during a time of darkness, rather than waiting for God to send the light. When God gives you a vision and darkness follows, wait. God will bring the vision He has given you to reality in your life if you will wait on His timing. Never try to help God fulfill His word. Abram went through thirteen years of silence, but in those years all of his self-sufficiency was destroyed. He grew past the point of relying on his own common sense. Those years of silence were a time of discipline, not a period of God’s displeasure. There is never any need to pretend that your life is filled with joy and confidence; just wait upon God and be grounded in Him (see Isaiah 50:10-11).
Do I trust at all in the flesh? Or have I learned to go beyond all confidence in myself and other people of God? Do I trust in books and prayers or other joys in my life? Or have I placed my confidence in God Himself, not in His blessings? “I am Almighty God . . .”— El-Shaddai, the All-Powerful God (Genesis 17:1). The reason we are all being disciplined is that we will know God is real. As soon as God becomes real to us, people pale by comparison, becoming shadows of reality. Nothing that other saints do or say can ever upset the one who is built on God.
異象與黑暗
忽然有驚人的大黑暗落在他身上。 （創十五12） 神什麼時候把異像給信徒，就什麼時候把他放在他手的陰影底下。聖徒那時的責任，是要安靜聆聽。在極度強烈的光線下，會產生一種黑暗，那時就得洗耳恭聽。創世紀十五章就是個好例子。在黑暗中，人只會尋求人的指示，卻不等候神的光照。每逢神賜下異象，黑暗卻接踵而來的話，就要等候。只要等候神的時間，他會按照給你的異象成就。切勿自告奮勇的幫助神成就他的應許。亞伯拉罕有十三年在靜默中度過，在那些年日里，一切自己的辦法都行不通，故不能憑頭腦理智去解決問題。那段寂靜的日子是操練的日子，而不是愁苦的日子。不必故意製造喜樂和勇氣，只要心堅依靠神。 （賽五十10-11）
我對肉體還有所倚恃麼？還是我已經脫離了對自己、對神的兒女、對書本、對禱告、及興奮感覺的信賴，甚至是他的祝福，而把信心完全放在神身上，[我是全能的神]——是作為父母的神。我們受操練的目的，是要認識神是真實的。一旦看見神是真實的，其他人就成為影子了。其他信徒無論說什麼，做什麼，再也無法影響一個建造在神裡面的人。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我在重重的黑暗中靠近你，求你為我驅散黑暗，並以你的臉光照我。
Whenever God gives a vision to a Christian, it is as if He puts him in “the shadow of His hand” (Isaiah 49:2). The saint’s duty is to be still and listen. There is a “darkness” that comes from too much light-that is the time to listen. The story of Abram and Hagar in Genesis 16 is an excellent example of listening to so-called good advice during a time of darkness, rather than waiting for God to send the light. When God gives you a vision and darkness follows, wait. God will bring the vision He has given you to reality in your life if you will wait on His timing. Never try to help God fulfill His word. Abram went through thirteen years of silence, but in those years all of his self-sufficiency was destroyed. He grew past the point of relying on his own common sense. Those years of silence were a time of discipline, not a period of God’s displeasure. There is never any need to pretend that your life is filled with joy and confidence; just wait upon God and be grounded in Him (see Isaiah 50:10-11).
Do I trust at all in the flesh? Or have I learned to go beyond all confidence in myself and other people of God? Do I trust in books and prayers or other joys in my life? Or have I placed my confidence in God Himself, not in His blessings? “I am Almighty God . . .”— El-Shaddai, the All-Powerful God (Genesis 17:1). The reason we are all being disciplined is that we will know God is real. As soon as God becomes real to us, people pale by comparison, becoming shadows of reality. Nothing that other saints do or say can ever upset the one who is built on God.
異象與黑暗
忽然有驚人的大黑暗落在他身上。 （創十五12） 神什麼時候把異像給信徒，就什麼時候把他放在他手的陰影底下。聖徒那時的責任，是要安靜聆聽。在極度強烈的光線下，會產生一種黑暗，那時就得洗耳恭聽。創世紀十五章就是個好例子。在黑暗中，人只會尋求人的指示，卻不等候神的光照。每逢神賜下異象，黑暗卻接踵而來的話，就要等候。只要等候神的時間，他會按照給你的異象成就。切勿自告奮勇的幫助神成就他的應許。亞伯拉罕有十三年在靜默中度過，在那些年日里，一切自己的辦法都行不通，故不能憑頭腦理智去解決問題。那段寂靜的日子是操練的日子，而不是愁苦的日子。不必故意製造喜樂和勇氣，只要心堅依靠神。 （賽五十10-11）
我對肉體還有所倚恃麼？還是我已經脫離了對自己、對神的兒女、對書本、對禱告、及興奮感覺的信賴，甚至是他的祝福，而把信心完全放在神身上，[我是全能的神]——是作為父母的神。我們受操練的目的，是要認識神是真實的。一旦看見神是真實的，其他人就成為影子了。其他信徒無論說什麼，做什麼，再也無法影響一個建造在神裡面的人。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我在重重的黑暗中靠近你，求你為我驅散黑暗，並以你的臉光照我。
January 18, 2012
"It Is the Lord!"
Thomas answered and said to Him, 'My Lord and my God!' —John 20:28
Jesus said to her, 'Give Me a drink' " (John 4:7). How many of us are expecting Jesus Christ to quench our thirst when we should be satisfying Him! We should be pouring out our lives, investing our total beings, not drawing on Him to satisfy us. “You shall be witnesses to Me . . ." (Acts 1:8). That means lives of pure, uncompromising, and unrestrained devotion to the Lord Jesus, which will be satisfying to Him wherever He may send us.
Beware of anything that competes with your loyalty to Jesus Christ. The greatest competitor of true devotion to Jesus is the service we do for Him. It is easier to serve than to pour out our lives completely for Him. The goal of the call of God is His satisfaction, not simply that we should do something for Him. We are not sent to do battle for God, but to be used by God in His battles. Are we more devoted to service than we are to Jesus Christ Himself?
是主！
多馬說，我的主，我的神。 （約二十28）
[請你給我水喝。 ]我們許多人只期望耶穌解我們的渴，沒想到我們該叫他得著滿足！今天我們早該倒空一切，竭盡所有服侍基督，而不再是要求主來滿足我們。 [你們要作我的見證]，不玷污、不妥協、不打折扣的對主盡忠；不論主放我們在什麼崗位，都叫主心滿足。
忠於基督最大的敵人是事奉主的工作。神呼召的唯一目的是叫他心滿意足，而不呼召人去做點什麼工作。神不是差派我們去為他打仗，而是在他的戰場上被他所用。我們獻身於事奉的熱誠是否過於我們愛主的熱誠呢？
祈禱◆為著你的說話——[父親怎樣憐恤他的兒女，耶和華也怎樣憐恤敬畏他的人]——我讚美你。我何其認清我所領受的，絕不是你的嚴苛，卻全然是你的慈愛。噢，願你向我所施的慈愛、溫柔與忍耐，能夠透過我向其他人表達出來。
Jesus said to her, 'Give Me a drink' " (John 4:7). How many of us are expecting Jesus Christ to quench our thirst when we should be satisfying Him! We should be pouring out our lives, investing our total beings, not drawing on Him to satisfy us. “You shall be witnesses to Me . . ." (Acts 1:8). That means lives of pure, uncompromising, and unrestrained devotion to the Lord Jesus, which will be satisfying to Him wherever He may send us.
Beware of anything that competes with your loyalty to Jesus Christ. The greatest competitor of true devotion to Jesus is the service we do for Him. It is easier to serve than to pour out our lives completely for Him. The goal of the call of God is His satisfaction, not simply that we should do something for Him. We are not sent to do battle for God, but to be used by God in His battles. Are we more devoted to service than we are to Jesus Christ Himself?
是主！
多馬說，我的主，我的神。 （約二十28）
[請你給我水喝。 ]我們許多人只期望耶穌解我們的渴，沒想到我們該叫他得著滿足！今天我們早該倒空一切，竭盡所有服侍基督，而不再是要求主來滿足我們。 [你們要作我的見證]，不玷污、不妥協、不打折扣的對主盡忠；不論主放我們在什麼崗位，都叫主心滿足。
忠於基督最大的敵人是事奉主的工作。神呼召的唯一目的是叫他心滿意足，而不呼召人去做點什麼工作。神不是差派我們去為他打仗，而是在他的戰場上被他所用。我們獻身於事奉的熱誠是否過於我們愛主的熱誠呢？
祈禱◆為著你的說話——[父親怎樣憐恤他的兒女，耶和華也怎樣憐恤敬畏他的人]——我讚美你。我何其認清我所領受的，絕不是你的嚴苛，卻全然是你的慈愛。噢，願你向我所施的慈愛、溫柔與忍耐，能夠透過我向其他人表達出來。
January 17, 2012
The Call of the Natural Life
When it pleased God . . . to reveal His Son in me . . . —Galatians 1:15-16
The call of God is not a call to serve Him in any particular way. My contact with the nature of God will shape my understanding of His call and will help me realize what I truly desire to do for Him. The call of God is an expression of His nature; the service which results in my life is suited to me and is an expression of my nature. The call of the natural life was stated by the apostle Paul— “When it pleased God . . . to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him [that is, purely and solemnly express Him] among the Gentiles . . . .”
Service is the overflow which pours from a life filled with love and devotion. But strictly speaking, there is no call to that. Service is what I bring to the relationship and is the reflection of my identification with the nature of God. Service becomes a natural part of my life. God brings me into the proper relationship with Himself so that I can understand His call, and then I serve Him on my own out of a motivation of absolute love. Service to God is the deliberate love-gift of a nature that has heard the call of God. Service is an expression of my nature, and God’s call is an expression of His nature. Therefore, when I receive His nature and hear His call, His divine voice resounds throughout His nature and mine and the two become one in service. The Son of God reveals Himself in me, and out of devotion to Him service becomes my everyday way of life.
今生的事奉
神既然樂意他的兒子啟示在我心裡。 ……（加-15-16）
神的呼召並不是要我們去做某一種工作；我這樣的解釋也許是由於與神親密的相交，使我自然領會該為他做什麼。呼召是神本性的表達，而事奉則是適合我個性工作的結果。使徒保羅說：[神樂意將他兒子啟示在我心裡，叫我把他傳在外邦人中。 ]（傳就是神聖的表達）這說明了保羅在地上的職務是要傳揚神的兒子。
事奉是內裡無限熱誠的湧流；可是，深入一點說，其實是沒有事奉的呼召的；這乃是我對神的體認和回應，以微不足道的行動表現出來。事奉，是屬於我天然生命的一部分。神與我們建立關係，叫人認出他的呼聲，然後就甘心情願為愛他而有所行動。事奉神，是人聽見了神的呼召而專誠獻上愛的禮物。事奉是我的一種表達；而神的呼召是他的表達。因此，當我有了他的性情，又見他的呼召時，兩者就同時響應，互相配合。神的兒子啟示在我心裡，於是我以誠以愛在日常生活中事奉他。
祈禱◆主啊，你的說話來的那麼靜悄悄，卻是無處不在——[若有人服侍我，就當跟從我]，和[若有人服侍我，我父必尊重他]。在這種意義上，請接納我成為你的僕人。
The call of God is not a call to serve Him in any particular way. My contact with the nature of God will shape my understanding of His call and will help me realize what I truly desire to do for Him. The call of God is an expression of His nature; the service which results in my life is suited to me and is an expression of my nature. The call of the natural life was stated by the apostle Paul— “When it pleased God . . . to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him [that is, purely and solemnly express Him] among the Gentiles . . . .”
Service is the overflow which pours from a life filled with love and devotion. But strictly speaking, there is no call to that. Service is what I bring to the relationship and is the reflection of my identification with the nature of God. Service becomes a natural part of my life. God brings me into the proper relationship with Himself so that I can understand His call, and then I serve Him on my own out of a motivation of absolute love. Service to God is the deliberate love-gift of a nature that has heard the call of God. Service is an expression of my nature, and God’s call is an expression of His nature. Therefore, when I receive His nature and hear His call, His divine voice resounds throughout His nature and mine and the two become one in service. The Son of God reveals Himself in me, and out of devotion to Him service becomes my everyday way of life.
今生的事奉
神既然樂意他的兒子啟示在我心裡。 ……（加-15-16）
神的呼召並不是要我們去做某一種工作；我這樣的解釋也許是由於與神親密的相交，使我自然領會該為他做什麼。呼召是神本性的表達，而事奉則是適合我個性工作的結果。使徒保羅說：[神樂意將他兒子啟示在我心裡，叫我把他傳在外邦人中。 ]（傳就是神聖的表達）這說明了保羅在地上的職務是要傳揚神的兒子。
事奉是內裡無限熱誠的湧流；可是，深入一點說，其實是沒有事奉的呼召的；這乃是我對神的體認和回應，以微不足道的行動表現出來。事奉，是屬於我天然生命的一部分。神與我們建立關係，叫人認出他的呼聲，然後就甘心情願為愛他而有所行動。事奉神，是人聽見了神的呼召而專誠獻上愛的禮物。事奉是我的一種表達；而神的呼召是他的表達。因此，當我有了他的性情，又見他的呼召時，兩者就同時響應，互相配合。神的兒子啟示在我心裡，於是我以誠以愛在日常生活中事奉他。
祈禱◆主啊，你的說話來的那麼靜悄悄，卻是無處不在——[若有人服侍我，就當跟從我]，和[若有人服侍我，我父必尊重他]。在這種意義上，請接納我成為你的僕人。
January 16, 2012
The Voice of the Nature of God
I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ’Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?’ —Isaiah 6:8
When we talk about the call of God, we often forget the most important thing, namely, the nature of Him who calls. There are many things calling each of us today. Some of these calls will be answered, and others will not even be heard. The call is the expression of the nature of the One who calls, and we can only recognize the call if that same nature is in us.
The call of God is the expression of God’s nature, not ours. God providentially weaves the threads of His call through our lives, and only we can distinguish them. It is the threading of God’s voice directly to us over a certain concern, and it is useless to seek another person’s opinion of it. Our dealings over the call of God should be kept exclusively between ourselves and Him. The call of God is not a reflection of my nature; my personal desires and temperament are of no consideration. As long as I dwell on my own qualities and traits and think about what I am suited for, I will never hear the call of God. But when God brings me into the right relationship with Himself, I will be in the same condition Isaiah was. Isaiah was so attuned to God, because of the great crisis he had just endured, that the call of God penetrated his soul. The majority of us cannot hear anything but ourselves. And we cannot hear anything God says. But to be brought to the place where we can hear the call of God is to be profoundly changed.
神本性的呼聲
我又聽見主的聲音，說，我可以差遣誰呢？ （賽六8） 說到神的呼召，我們很容易忘記一件最重要的事：就是呼召者的本性。海有海的呼聲，山有山的呼聲，冰山有冰山的呼聲；這些呼聲只有少數人聽見。呼聲是事物本性的一種表現，必須有同樣的性情才能接收那呼聲。神的呼召是神本性的流露，而不是我們的。神的呼聲中，有好些線路是預定給我們用的，所以我們才認得那聲音。神的聲音透過那線路來呼召我們，別人是呼不出來的。在某些特別的事上，與人磋商斟酌是無濟於事，我們必須保持與神的密切關係。
神的呼召不是我們本性的反響；我的喜好傾向與個性，也渺不相涉。如果只一直注視自己的個性，想看自己到底適合做什麼，那將永遠聽不見神的呼召。但當我與神深交，就落在以賽亞的情景裡了。以賽亞的心靈因經歷了重大的事件，與神密切貼近，他驚異的心靈就錄下了神呼喚的聲音。我們多半只用耳朵聽自己，神所說的，一點也聽不進去。我們若一旦進入神呼召的音城裡，必然徹底改變。
祈禱◆[讓我聽見你的聲音]——這是我的祈禱。我極其盼望去聆聽你、去感覺你，被你的同在所震撼。
When we talk about the call of God, we often forget the most important thing, namely, the nature of Him who calls. There are many things calling each of us today. Some of these calls will be answered, and others will not even be heard. The call is the expression of the nature of the One who calls, and we can only recognize the call if that same nature is in us.
The call of God is the expression of God’s nature, not ours. God providentially weaves the threads of His call through our lives, and only we can distinguish them. It is the threading of God’s voice directly to us over a certain concern, and it is useless to seek another person’s opinion of it. Our dealings over the call of God should be kept exclusively between ourselves and Him. The call of God is not a reflection of my nature; my personal desires and temperament are of no consideration. As long as I dwell on my own qualities and traits and think about what I am suited for, I will never hear the call of God. But when God brings me into the right relationship with Himself, I will be in the same condition Isaiah was. Isaiah was so attuned to God, because of the great crisis he had just endured, that the call of God penetrated his soul. The majority of us cannot hear anything but ourselves. And we cannot hear anything God says. But to be brought to the place where we can hear the call of God is to be profoundly changed.
神本性的呼聲
我又聽見主的聲音，說，我可以差遣誰呢？ （賽六8） 說到神的呼召，我們很容易忘記一件最重要的事：就是呼召者的本性。海有海的呼聲，山有山的呼聲，冰山有冰山的呼聲；這些呼聲只有少數人聽見。呼聲是事物本性的一種表現，必須有同樣的性情才能接收那呼聲。神的呼召是神本性的流露，而不是我們的。神的呼聲中，有好些線路是預定給我們用的，所以我們才認得那聲音。神的聲音透過那線路來呼召我們，別人是呼不出來的。在某些特別的事上，與人磋商斟酌是無濟於事，我們必須保持與神的密切關係。
神的呼召不是我們本性的反響；我的喜好傾向與個性，也渺不相涉。如果只一直注視自己的個性，想看自己到底適合做什麼，那將永遠聽不見神的呼召。但當我與神深交，就落在以賽亞的情景裡了。以賽亞的心靈因經歷了重大的事件，與神密切貼近，他驚異的心靈就錄下了神呼喚的聲音。我們多半只用耳朵聽自己，神所說的，一點也聽不進去。我們若一旦進入神呼召的音城裡，必然徹底改變。
祈禱◆[讓我聽見你的聲音]——這是我的祈禱。我極其盼望去聆聽你、去感覺你，被你的同在所震撼。
January 15, 2012
Do You Walk In White?
We were buried with Him . . . that just as Christ was raised from the dead . . . even so we also should walk in newness of life —Romans 6:4
No one experiences complete sanctification without going through a “white funeral”-the burial of the old life. If there has never been this crucial moment of change through death, sanctification will never be more than an elusive dream. There must be a “white funeral,” a death with only one resurrection-a resurrection into the life of Jesus Christ. Nothing can defeat a life like this. It has oneness with God for only one purpose— to be a witness for Him. Have you really come to your last days? You have often come to them in your mind, but have you really experienced them? You cannot die or go to your funeral in a mood of excitement. Death means you stop being. You must agree with God and stop being the intensely striving kind of Christian you have been. We avoid the cemetery and continually refuse our own death. It will not happen by striving, but by yielding to death. It is dying— being “baptized into His death” (Romans 6:3).
Have you had your “white funeral,” or are you piously deceiving your own soul? Has there been a point in your life which you now mark as your last day? Is there a place in your life to which you go back in memory with humility and overwhelming gratitude, so that you can honestly proclaim, “Yes, it was then, at my ’white funeral,’ that I made an agreement with God.”
“This is the will of God, your sanctification . . .” (1 Thessalonians 4:3). Once you truly realize this is God’s will, you will enter into the process of sanctification as a natural response. Are you willing to experience that “white funeral” now? Will you agree with Him that this is your last day on earth? The moment of agreement depends on you.
你穿白衣而行嗎？
和他一同埋葬……一舉一動有新生的樣式。 （羅六4） 一個人要經歷完全的成聖，不能不先經過[白色的葬禮]——舊生命的埋葬。若沒有這死的轉捩點，成聖只不過是幻影。必須有一次[白色的喪禮]，死才有復活——復活在耶穌基督的生命裡頭。什麼都不能搖動這生命，這是與神合一的生命；而我們的目的只有一個，就是為他作見證。你真的來到生命的盡頭了嗎？在情緒上你固然時常會來到，但是否真真正面對它？你不可能興興奮奮地死去。死的意思是你不復存在。你有沒有答應神，讓往日那竭力掙扎、熱情充沛的信徒經歷成為過去？我們往往巡視墳場的四周，始終不肯死去。我們並不是要竭力求死，乃是[受洗歸入他的死]。
你行過你[白色的葬禮]沒有？還是在與自己的靈魂愚弄嬉耍？你生命中有沒有一個地方標明[末日]？有沒有一個地方讓你想起當日所的管教，心中萬分感激地說：[是了，就在那時，在那『白色喪禮』中，我與神立了約]?神的旨意是叫我們成聖。當你一旦覺察到神的旨意什麼，就十分自然地進到成聖的地步。你願意現在就行那[白色喪禮]嗎？你能否像神首肯說，這一天是你在地上的最後一天？首肯的時刻是在你手上。
祈禱◆[非聖潔沒有人能見主。 ]主啊，感謝你，賜下這句話。倘若你不是聖潔的，那會是何等可怕！有些時候，我們是多麼容易墜入一個較鬆散、較卑賤的生活中了；感謝你藉著聖靈的嘆息提醒我——我何其渴望它們能帶領我與你面對面。寬恕我的遲緩，我需要那麼久，才醒悟某些事情。
No one experiences complete sanctification without going through a “white funeral”-the burial of the old life. If there has never been this crucial moment of change through death, sanctification will never be more than an elusive dream. There must be a “white funeral,” a death with only one resurrection-a resurrection into the life of Jesus Christ. Nothing can defeat a life like this. It has oneness with God for only one purpose— to be a witness for Him. Have you really come to your last days? You have often come to them in your mind, but have you really experienced them? You cannot die or go to your funeral in a mood of excitement. Death means you stop being. You must agree with God and stop being the intensely striving kind of Christian you have been. We avoid the cemetery and continually refuse our own death. It will not happen by striving, but by yielding to death. It is dying— being “baptized into His death” (Romans 6:3).
Have you had your “white funeral,” or are you piously deceiving your own soul? Has there been a point in your life which you now mark as your last day? Is there a place in your life to which you go back in memory with humility and overwhelming gratitude, so that you can honestly proclaim, “Yes, it was then, at my ’white funeral,’ that I made an agreement with God.”
“This is the will of God, your sanctification . . .” (1 Thessalonians 4:3). Once you truly realize this is God’s will, you will enter into the process of sanctification as a natural response. Are you willing to experience that “white funeral” now? Will you agree with Him that this is your last day on earth? The moment of agreement depends on you.
你穿白衣而行嗎？
和他一同埋葬……一舉一動有新生的樣式。 （羅六4） 一個人要經歷完全的成聖，不能不先經過[白色的葬禮]——舊生命的埋葬。若沒有這死的轉捩點，成聖只不過是幻影。必須有一次[白色的喪禮]，死才有復活——復活在耶穌基督的生命裡頭。什麼都不能搖動這生命，這是與神合一的生命；而我們的目的只有一個，就是為他作見證。你真的來到生命的盡頭了嗎？在情緒上你固然時常會來到，但是否真真正面對它？你不可能興興奮奮地死去。死的意思是你不復存在。你有沒有答應神，讓往日那竭力掙扎、熱情充沛的信徒經歷成為過去？我們往往巡視墳場的四周，始終不肯死去。我們並不是要竭力求死，乃是[受洗歸入他的死]。
你行過你[白色的葬禮]沒有？還是在與自己的靈魂愚弄嬉耍？你生命中有沒有一個地方標明[末日]？有沒有一個地方讓你想起當日所的管教，心中萬分感激地說：[是了，就在那時，在那『白色喪禮』中，我與神立了約]?神的旨意是叫我們成聖。當你一旦覺察到神的旨意什麼，就十分自然地進到成聖的地步。你願意現在就行那[白色喪禮]嗎？你能否像神首肯說，這一天是你在地上的最後一天？首肯的時刻是在你手上。
祈禱◆[非聖潔沒有人能見主。 ]主啊，感謝你，賜下這句話。倘若你不是聖潔的，那會是何等可怕！有些時候，我們是多麼容易墜入一個較鬆散、較卑賤的生活中了；感謝你藉著聖靈的嘆息提醒我——我何其渴望它們能帶領我與你面對面。寬恕我的遲緩，我需要那麼久，才醒悟某些事情。
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