Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? —Acts 26:14
Are you determined to have your own way in living for God? We will never be free from this trap until we are brought into the experience of the baptism of “the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matthew 3:11). Stubbornness and self-will will always stab Jesus Christ. It may hurt no one else, but it wounds His Spirit. Whenever we are obstinate and self-willed and set on our own ambitions, we are hurting Jesus. Every time we stand on our own rights and insist that this is what we intend to do, we are persecuting Him. Whenever we rely on self-respect, we systematically disturb and grieve His Spirit. And when we finally understand that it is Jesus we have been persecuting all this time, it is the most crushing revelation ever.
Is the Word of God tremendously penetrating and sharp in me as I hand it on to you, or does my life betray the things I profess to teach? I may teach sanctification and yet exhibit the spirit of Satan, the very spirit that persecutes Jesus Christ. The Spirit of Jesus is conscious of only one thing— a perfect oneness with the Father. And He tells us, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29). All I do should be based on a perfect oneness with Him, not on a self-willed determination to be godly. This will mean that others may use me, go around me, or completely ignore me, but if I will submit to it for His sake, I will prevent Jesus Christ from being persecuted.
人這樣逼迫耶穌實在不可思意！
掃羅，掃羅，為什麼逼迫我？
對神我是否自作主張？除非我們先經歷了聖靈與火的洗，否則永遠也不能脫離這個網羅。剛愎自用是會刺傷耶穌基督的，也許別人不會受損害，但主卻受了傷。每當我們頑梗。自專、野心勃勃的去行事，我們就傷了耶穌的心。每當我們堅持自己的主張，堅持自己的意向，我們就是逼迫耶穌了。每當我們維護自己的尊嚴，就勢必叫他的靈痛苦擔憂。當我們恍悟自己一直再逼迫耶穌，這是在是最沉痛的光照。
我把神的話傳給你的時候，這些話對我是否真的如此敏銳？還是我的生活與口所教導的兩相違背？我可能教導人成聖，而同時卻表現出撒旦的靈，就是逼迫耶穌基督。耶穌的靈只知道一件事，就是與父全然合一。他說：[我心裡柔和謙卑，你們要學我的樣式。 ]我所做的一切，應以與他完全合一為根基，而不是憑自己的意志去過敬虔生活。這樣我可能被人欺壓，被人排擠，被人忽視；但我若肯順服，主就不用受逼迫了。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，正如你與父合而為一，我也盼望與你合而為一！為著你的榮耀，求你賜給我們這種合一，願你的臉光照我們，賜給我們平安。
January 28, 2012
January 27, 2012
Look Again And Think
Take no thought for your life. — Matthew 6:25
A warning which needs to be reiterated is that the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lust of other things entering in, will choke all that God puts in. We are never free from the recurring tides of this encroachment. If it does not come on the line of clothes and food, it will come on the line of money or lack of money; of friends or lack of friends; or on the line of difficult circumstances. It is one steady encroachment all the time, and unless we allow the Spirit of God to raise up the standard against it, these things will come in like a flood.
"Take no thought for your life." "Be careful about one thing only," says our Lord – "your relationship to Me." Common sense shouts loud and says – "That is absurd, I must consider how I am going to live, I must consider what I am going to eat and drink." Jesus says you must not. Beware of allowing the thought that this statement is made by One Who does not understand our particular circumstances. Jesus Christ knows our circumstances better than we do, and He says we must not think about these things so as to make them the one concern of our life. Whenever there is competition, be sure that you put your relationship to God first.
"Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." How much evil has begun to threaten you to-day? What kind of mean little imps have been looking in and saying – Now what are you going to do next month – this summer? "Be anxious for nothing," Jesus says. Look again and think. Keep your mind on the "much more" of your heavenly Father.
再三思量
不要為生命憂慮。
今世的憂慮、錢財的迷惑，及其他的私慾一點進入我們心中，就會把神所賜予的生命窒息，這是必須再三告誡的。屬世的東西勢如潮湧，連連進擊，使我們無法擺脫。若不從衣食而來，就會從金錢或貧乏而來；不從朋友而來，就從孤獨無友而來；甚至又會從困境而來。這些東西不住地、逐步地蠶食我們屬靈的生命，除非我們讓聖靈來抵抗，否則這些東西將如洪水氾濫，淹沒我們。
[不要為生命憂慮。 ]主說：[只要關心一件事便夠了，那就是你與我的關係。 ]我們會理性地大聲疾呼，說：[真是無稽，我不能不為生計打算，打算吃什麼喝什麼阿!]耶穌卻說不可。不要以為說這話的主，根本不明白我們的境況。其實耶穌基督知道得比我們更清楚。他說，我們不應該把這些事當作生活中唯一需要關注的事。什麼時候屬世的事務與主相爭，就要把你和神的關係擺在前頭。
[一天的難處一天當就夠了。 ]今日有多少難處在向你威嚇？有什麼頑童小鬼在窺探說：[看你下個月怎辦？暑假又如何？ ]耶穌說：[應當一無掛慮。 ]請你再三思想，慎加明辨！把你的心思放在天父的[何況你們]這一句話上吧。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，使我離開那些關乎感官和時間的事情，引導我進入與大君王同在之境地。保守我的心思意念全屬於你。
A warning which needs to be reiterated is that the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lust of other things entering in, will choke all that God puts in. We are never free from the recurring tides of this encroachment. If it does not come on the line of clothes and food, it will come on the line of money or lack of money; of friends or lack of friends; or on the line of difficult circumstances. It is one steady encroachment all the time, and unless we allow the Spirit of God to raise up the standard against it, these things will come in like a flood.
"Take no thought for your life." "Be careful about one thing only," says our Lord – "your relationship to Me." Common sense shouts loud and says – "That is absurd, I must consider how I am going to live, I must consider what I am going to eat and drink." Jesus says you must not. Beware of allowing the thought that this statement is made by One Who does not understand our particular circumstances. Jesus Christ knows our circumstances better than we do, and He says we must not think about these things so as to make them the one concern of our life. Whenever there is competition, be sure that you put your relationship to God first.
"Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." How much evil has begun to threaten you to-day? What kind of mean little imps have been looking in and saying – Now what are you going to do next month – this summer? "Be anxious for nothing," Jesus says. Look again and think. Keep your mind on the "much more" of your heavenly Father.
再三思量
不要為生命憂慮。
今世的憂慮、錢財的迷惑，及其他的私慾一點進入我們心中，就會把神所賜予的生命窒息，這是必須再三告誡的。屬世的東西勢如潮湧，連連進擊，使我們無法擺脫。若不從衣食而來，就會從金錢或貧乏而來；不從朋友而來，就從孤獨無友而來；甚至又會從困境而來。這些東西不住地、逐步地蠶食我們屬靈的生命，除非我們讓聖靈來抵抗，否則這些東西將如洪水氾濫，淹沒我們。
[不要為生命憂慮。 ]主說：[只要關心一件事便夠了，那就是你與我的關係。 ]我們會理性地大聲疾呼，說：[真是無稽，我不能不為生計打算，打算吃什麼喝什麼阿!]耶穌卻說不可。不要以為說這話的主，根本不明白我們的境況。其實耶穌基督知道得比我們更清楚。他說，我們不應該把這些事當作生活中唯一需要關注的事。什麼時候屬世的事務與主相爭，就要把你和神的關係擺在前頭。
[一天的難處一天當就夠了。 ]今日有多少難處在向你威嚇？有什麼頑童小鬼在窺探說：[看你下個月怎辦？暑假又如何？ ]耶穌說：[應當一無掛慮。 ]請你再三思想，慎加明辨！把你的心思放在天父的[何況你們]這一句話上吧。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，使我離開那些關乎感官和時間的事情，引導我進入與大君王同在之境地。保守我的心思意念全屬於你。
January 26, 2012
Look Again And Consecrate
If God so clothe the grass of the field . . . shall He not much more clothe you? — Matthew 6:30
A simple statement of Jesus is always a puzzle to us if we are not simple. How are we going to be simple with the simplicity of Jesus? By receiving His Spirit, recognizing and relying on Him, obeying Him as He brings the word of God, and life will become amazingly simple. "Consider," says Jesus, "how much more your Father Who clothes the grass of the field will clothe you, if you keep your relationship right with Him." Every time we have gone back in spiritual communion it has been because we have impertinently known better than Jesus Christ. We have allowed the cares of the world to come in, and have forgotten the "much more" of our Heavenly Father.
"Behold the fowls of the air" – their main aim is to obey the principle of life that is in them and God looks after them. Jesus says that if you are rightly related to Him and obey His Spirit that is in you, God will look after your ‘feathers.’
"Consider the lilies of the field" – they grow where they are put. Many of us refuse to grow where we are put, consequently we take root nowhere. Jesus says that if we obey the life God has given us, He will look after all the other things. Has Jesus Christ told us a lie? If we are not experiencing the "much more," it is because we are not obeying the life God has given us, we are taken up with confusing considerations. How much time have we taken up worrying God with questions when we should have been absolutely free to concentrate on His work? Consecration means the continual separating of myself to one particular thing. We cannot consecrate once and for all. Am I continually separating myself to consider God every day of my life?
專心審查，重新奉獻
野地裡的草……神還給它這樣的妝飾，何況你們呢？ （太六30） 這是耶穌一句很簡單的說話，若果我們不單純，就會大惑不解。我們怎樣才能像耶穌那樣單純呢？接受他的靈，承認他，依靠他，順服他所傳遞神的話語，這樣，生命就會變得單純了。耶穌說：[試想，天父怎樣妝飾野地裡的草，你若與他親近，他豈不更加照樣妝飾你？ ]每次我們靈性上後退，都是因為妄自尊大，以為自己比主耶穌懂得更多。我們讓世界的憂慮進來，忘記了天父的[何況……]
[你們看那天上的飛鳥]——它們主要的任務就是服從那生命的律，神便看顧它們了。耶穌說如果你與他有好的關係，同時又順服聖靈，神自然照顧你。 [你想野地裡的百合花]——它們被放置在那裡，就生長在那裡。我們不少人不肯在所處的地方生長，因此無法紮根。耶穌說，如果我們順服神，他便會料理其他的一切。耶穌基督撒了謊嗎？我們若未經驗到那[何況]，是因為我們尚未順服神，自討煩惱，落在諸般憂慮裡。我們花多少時間向神發問，叫他擔憂，而其實我們該毫無束縛地獻身在他的工作上？獻身就是為某特定的目標，不斷地把自己投上。獻身不是一次便解決的事。我是否每天不斷地把自己分別出來，以神為念？
祈禱◆噢，主啊，為著你透過主耶穌的恩典，將你至高無上的父性向我顯明，我讚美你。噢，我可以成為天父的孩子了！
A simple statement of Jesus is always a puzzle to us if we are not simple. How are we going to be simple with the simplicity of Jesus? By receiving His Spirit, recognizing and relying on Him, obeying Him as He brings the word of God, and life will become amazingly simple. "Consider," says Jesus, "how much more your Father Who clothes the grass of the field will clothe you, if you keep your relationship right with Him." Every time we have gone back in spiritual communion it has been because we have impertinently known better than Jesus Christ. We have allowed the cares of the world to come in, and have forgotten the "much more" of our Heavenly Father.
"Behold the fowls of the air" – their main aim is to obey the principle of life that is in them and God looks after them. Jesus says that if you are rightly related to Him and obey His Spirit that is in you, God will look after your ‘feathers.’
"Consider the lilies of the field" – they grow where they are put. Many of us refuse to grow where we are put, consequently we take root nowhere. Jesus says that if we obey the life God has given us, He will look after all the other things. Has Jesus Christ told us a lie? If we are not experiencing the "much more," it is because we are not obeying the life God has given us, we are taken up with confusing considerations. How much time have we taken up worrying God with questions when we should have been absolutely free to concentrate on His work? Consecration means the continual separating of myself to one particular thing. We cannot consecrate once and for all. Am I continually separating myself to consider God every day of my life?
專心審查，重新奉獻
野地裡的草……神還給它這樣的妝飾，何況你們呢？ （太六30） 這是耶穌一句很簡單的說話，若果我們不單純，就會大惑不解。我們怎樣才能像耶穌那樣單純呢？接受他的靈，承認他，依靠他，順服他所傳遞神的話語，這樣，生命就會變得單純了。耶穌說：[試想，天父怎樣妝飾野地裡的草，你若與他親近，他豈不更加照樣妝飾你？ ]每次我們靈性上後退，都是因為妄自尊大，以為自己比主耶穌懂得更多。我們讓世界的憂慮進來，忘記了天父的[何況……]
[你們看那天上的飛鳥]——它們主要的任務就是服從那生命的律，神便看顧它們了。耶穌說如果你與他有好的關係，同時又順服聖靈，神自然照顧你。 [你想野地裡的百合花]——它們被放置在那裡，就生長在那裡。我們不少人不肯在所處的地方生長，因此無法紮根。耶穌說，如果我們順服神，他便會料理其他的一切。耶穌基督撒了謊嗎？我們若未經驗到那[何況]，是因為我們尚未順服神，自討煩惱，落在諸般憂慮裡。我們花多少時間向神發問，叫他擔憂，而其實我們該毫無束縛地獻身在他的工作上？獻身就是為某特定的目標，不斷地把自己投上。獻身不是一次便解決的事。我是否每天不斷地把自己分別出來，以神為念？
祈禱◆噢，主啊，為著你透過主耶穌的恩典，將你至高無上的父性向我顯明，我讚美你。噢，我可以成為天父的孩子了！
January 25, 2012
Leave Room For God
But when it pleased God. . . — Galatians 1:15
As workers for God we have to learn to make room for God – to give God "elbow room." We calculate and estimate, and say that this and that will happen, and we forget to make room for God to come in as He chooses. Would we be surprised if God came into our meeting or into our preaching in a way we had never looked for Him to come? Do not look for God to come in any particular way, but look for Him. That is the way to make room for Him. Expect Him to come, but do not expect Him only in a certain way. However much we may know God, the great lesson to learn is that at any minute He may break in. We are apt to over look this element of surprise, yet God never works in any other way. All of a sudden God meets the life – "When it was the good pleasure of God. . ."
Keep your life so constant in its contact with God that His surprising power may break out on the right hand and on the left. Always be in a state of expectancy, and see that you leave room for God to come in as He likes.
留位置給神
神既然樂意。 。 。 。 。 。 （加一15-16）
作為神的工人，我們必須學習給神留下應有的地位，就是給他有自由活動的空間。我們會計算量度，說這個那個會這樣那樣，卻忘記騰出空間，給神自由進出的餘地。神若突然闖入我們的聚會中，或我們講道時他來了，我們會詫異嗎？不要指望神照你指定的方式來到，只要注目在他身上，這才是給他空間。要指望他來，但不要限制他只能用某種方式來。不論我們認識神有多少，最重要的是要知道：神任何一分鐘都可以裂天而降。我們很容易忽視這個突如其來的可能性，其實神做工一向就是如此。神往往出其不意地臨到人當中——[神樂意。 。 。 。 。 。 ]。
經常與神保持貼近，以致神奇異的大能隨時地從他右手或左手發出。要常在期待當中，給神空間隨他的意思降臨。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，求你以愛慕的枷鎖將我與你結連；在你差派我時，以你的眷佑環繞我；加添我的能力，以致我愈來愈能夠被你使用。
As workers for God we have to learn to make room for God – to give God "elbow room." We calculate and estimate, and say that this and that will happen, and we forget to make room for God to come in as He chooses. Would we be surprised if God came into our meeting or into our preaching in a way we had never looked for Him to come? Do not look for God to come in any particular way, but look for Him. That is the way to make room for Him. Expect Him to come, but do not expect Him only in a certain way. However much we may know God, the great lesson to learn is that at any minute He may break in. We are apt to over look this element of surprise, yet God never works in any other way. All of a sudden God meets the life – "When it was the good pleasure of God. . ."
Keep your life so constant in its contact with God that His surprising power may break out on the right hand and on the left. Always be in a state of expectancy, and see that you leave room for God to come in as He likes.
留位置給神
神既然樂意。 。 。 。 。 。 （加一15-16）
作為神的工人，我們必須學習給神留下應有的地位，就是給他有自由活動的空間。我們會計算量度，說這個那個會這樣那樣，卻忘記騰出空間，給神自由進出的餘地。神若突然闖入我們的聚會中，或我們講道時他來了，我們會詫異嗎？不要指望神照你指定的方式來到，只要注目在他身上，這才是給他空間。要指望他來，但不要限制他只能用某種方式來。不論我們認識神有多少，最重要的是要知道：神任何一分鐘都可以裂天而降。我們很容易忽視這個突如其來的可能性，其實神做工一向就是如此。神往往出其不意地臨到人當中——[神樂意。 。 。 。 。 。 ]。
經常與神保持貼近，以致神奇異的大能隨時地從他右手或左手發出。要常在期待當中，給神空間隨他的意思降臨。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，求你以愛慕的枷鎖將我與你結連；在你差派我時，以你的眷佑環繞我；加添我的能力，以致我愈來愈能夠被你使用。
January 24, 2012
God’s Overpowering Purpose
I have appeared to you for this purpose . . .—Acts 26:16
The vision Paul had on the road to Damascus was not a passing emotional experience, but a vision that had very clear and emphatic directions for him. And Paul stated, “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision” (Acts 26:19). Our Lord said to Paul, in effect, “Your whole life is to be overpowered or subdued by Me; you are to have no end, no aim, and no purpose but Mine.” And the Lord also says to us, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go . . .” (John 15:16).
When we are born again, if we are spiritual at all, we have visions of what Jesus wants us to be. It is important that I learn not to be “disobedient to the heavenly vision”—not to doubt that it can be attained. It is not enough to give mental assent to the fact that God has redeemed the world, nor even to know that the Holy Spirit can make all that Jesus did a reality in my life. I must have the foundation of a personal relationship with Him. Paul was not given a message or a doctrine to proclaim. He was brought into a vivid, personal, overpowering relationship with Jesus Christ. Acts 26:16 is tremendously compelling “. . . to make you a minister and a witness . . . .” There would be nothing there without a personal relationship. Paul was devoted to a Person, not to a cause. He was absolutely Jesus Christ’s. He saw nothing else and he lived for nothing else. “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).
全權在握的指揮
我特意向你顯現。 （徒二十六16）
保羅在大馬色路上所見的異象，絕非霎時的衝動，而是十分清楚肯定是從神而來的指示，因此他說：[故此我沒有違背那從天上來的異象。 ]主其實是對保羅說：[你的一生完全由我作主；除了我，你不能再有任何目標與計畫。 ]我揀選了他。我們重生了，必然都有異象。要是我們要靈命長進，便要行主要我們行的；而最要緊的就是學習不違背異象，不要說那是無法達致的（或作高不可及的）。
單單知道神救贖了世人，又知道聖靈叫耶穌所成就的一切，並實現在我身上，這還是不夠的；我必須與他有個人的關係，作為根基。保羅所得的不是一篇道理，一套教義，叫他去傳揚；他乃是與耶穌基督有一個親身的經歷，讓主完全佔有了他。第16節最令人觸目——[派你作執事作見證]。保羅是效忠於主，而不是一個使命。他是完完全全屬於耶穌基督的；此外，便別無所見，也不再為別的事物而活。 [我在你們中間不知道別的，只知道耶穌基督，並他釘十字架。 ]
祈禱◆噢，主啊，求你以愛慕的枷鎖將我與你結連；在你差派我時，以你的眷佑環繞我；加添我的能力，以致我愈來愈能夠被你使用。
The vision Paul had on the road to Damascus was not a passing emotional experience, but a vision that had very clear and emphatic directions for him. And Paul stated, “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision” (Acts 26:19). Our Lord said to Paul, in effect, “Your whole life is to be overpowered or subdued by Me; you are to have no end, no aim, and no purpose but Mine.” And the Lord also says to us, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go . . .” (John 15:16).
When we are born again, if we are spiritual at all, we have visions of what Jesus wants us to be. It is important that I learn not to be “disobedient to the heavenly vision”—not to doubt that it can be attained. It is not enough to give mental assent to the fact that God has redeemed the world, nor even to know that the Holy Spirit can make all that Jesus did a reality in my life. I must have the foundation of a personal relationship with Him. Paul was not given a message or a doctrine to proclaim. He was brought into a vivid, personal, overpowering relationship with Jesus Christ. Acts 26:16 is tremendously compelling “. . . to make you a minister and a witness . . . .” There would be nothing there without a personal relationship. Paul was devoted to a Person, not to a cause. He was absolutely Jesus Christ’s. He saw nothing else and he lived for nothing else. “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).
全權在握的指揮
我特意向你顯現。 （徒二十六16）
保羅在大馬色路上所見的異象，絕非霎時的衝動，而是十分清楚肯定是從神而來的指示，因此他說：[故此我沒有違背那從天上來的異象。 ]主其實是對保羅說：[你的一生完全由我作主；除了我，你不能再有任何目標與計畫。 ]我揀選了他。我們重生了，必然都有異象。要是我們要靈命長進，便要行主要我們行的；而最要緊的就是學習不違背異象，不要說那是無法達致的（或作高不可及的）。
單單知道神救贖了世人，又知道聖靈叫耶穌所成就的一切，並實現在我身上，這還是不夠的；我必須與他有個人的關係，作為根基。保羅所得的不是一篇道理，一套教義，叫他去傳揚；他乃是與耶穌基督有一個親身的經歷，讓主完全佔有了他。第16節最令人觸目——[派你作執事作見證]。保羅是效忠於主，而不是一個使命。他是完完全全屬於耶穌基督的；此外，便別無所見，也不再為別的事物而活。 [我在你們中間不知道別的，只知道耶穌基督，並他釘十字架。 ]
祈禱◆噢，主啊，求你以愛慕的枷鎖將我與你結連；在你差派我時，以你的眷佑環繞我；加添我的能力，以致我愈來愈能夠被你使用。
January 23, 2012
Transformed by Beholding
We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image . . . —2 Corinthians 3:18
The greatest characteristic a Christian can exhibit is this completely unveiled openness before God, which allows that person’s life to become a mirror for others. When the Spirit fills us, we are transformed, and by beholding God we become mirrors. You can always tell when someone has been beholding the glory of the Lord, because your inner spirit senses that he mirrors the Lord’s own character. Beware of anything that would spot or tarnish that mirror in you. It is almost always something good that will stain it— something good, but not what is best.
The most important rule for us is to concentrate on keeping our lives open to God. Let everything else including work, clothes, and food be set aside. The busyness of things obscures our concentration on God. We must maintain a position of beholding Him, keeping our lives completely spiritual through and through. Let other things come and go as they will; let other people criticize us as they will; but never allow anything to obscure the life that “is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). Never let a hurried lifestyle disturb the relationship of abiding in Him. This is an easy thing to allow, but we must guard against it. The most difficult lesson of the Christian life is learning how to continue “beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord . . . .”
因瞻仰而改變
我們眾人既然敞著臉，得以看見主的榮光，好像從鏡子裡反照，就變成主的形狀。 （林後三18）
信徒最卓越的品德與特徵，就是在神面前毫無掩飾，以致她的生命成為別人的一面鏡子。我們被聖靈充滿而改變，又因[定睛仰望]而成為鏡子。一個人若有主的榮光，你必然回覺察出來，也會感到他正是主性情的反照。要提防那些叫這鏡子模糊的東西；這些東西多半是好的，卻不是最好的。
你我生活的準則，就是要專注地保持向神開放。其他一切如工作、服飾、食物，地上的東西就任它去吧。次要的東西不斷湧來，很容易阻礙對神的專一。所以我們要常常瞻仰主的榮光，同時要保持生命完全屬靈。旁的事隨它去吧，旁的人任他批評吧，卻絕不可讓任何事務迷糊了與基督一同藏在神裡面的生命。不要讓忙亂破壞了你與他同住的關係，雖然這是很容易被搖動的。信徒生活上最嚴格的操練，就是學習不斷[看見主的榮光，好像從鏡子反照。 ]
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我完全仰賴你。離了你，我就毫無價值。求你今天將智慧、明辨和敏悟的心賜給我。
The greatest characteristic a Christian can exhibit is this completely unveiled openness before God, which allows that person’s life to become a mirror for others. When the Spirit fills us, we are transformed, and by beholding God we become mirrors. You can always tell when someone has been beholding the glory of the Lord, because your inner spirit senses that he mirrors the Lord’s own character. Beware of anything that would spot or tarnish that mirror in you. It is almost always something good that will stain it— something good, but not what is best.
The most important rule for us is to concentrate on keeping our lives open to God. Let everything else including work, clothes, and food be set aside. The busyness of things obscures our concentration on God. We must maintain a position of beholding Him, keeping our lives completely spiritual through and through. Let other things come and go as they will; let other people criticize us as they will; but never allow anything to obscure the life that “is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). Never let a hurried lifestyle disturb the relationship of abiding in Him. This is an easy thing to allow, but we must guard against it. The most difficult lesson of the Christian life is learning how to continue “beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord . . . .”
因瞻仰而改變
我們眾人既然敞著臉，得以看見主的榮光，好像從鏡子裡反照，就變成主的形狀。 （林後三18）
信徒最卓越的品德與特徵，就是在神面前毫無掩飾，以致她的生命成為別人的一面鏡子。我們被聖靈充滿而改變，又因[定睛仰望]而成為鏡子。一個人若有主的榮光，你必然回覺察出來，也會感到他正是主性情的反照。要提防那些叫這鏡子模糊的東西；這些東西多半是好的，卻不是最好的。
你我生活的準則，就是要專注地保持向神開放。其他一切如工作、服飾、食物，地上的東西就任它去吧。次要的東西不斷湧來，很容易阻礙對神的專一。所以我們要常常瞻仰主的榮光，同時要保持生命完全屬靈。旁的事隨它去吧，旁的人任他批評吧，卻絕不可讓任何事務迷糊了與基督一同藏在神裡面的生命。不要讓忙亂破壞了你與他同住的關係，雖然這是很容易被搖動的。信徒生活上最嚴格的操練，就是學習不斷[看見主的榮光，好像從鏡子反照。 ]
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我完全仰賴你。離了你，我就毫無價值。求你今天將智慧、明辨和敏悟的心賜給我。
January 22, 2012
Am I Looking To God?
Look to Me, and be saved . . . —Isaiah 45:22
Do we expect God to come to us with His blessings and save us? He says, “Look to Me, and be saved . . . .” The greatest difficulty spiritually is to concentrate on God, and His blessings are what make it so difficult. Troubles almost always make us look to God, but His blessings tend to divert our attention elsewhere. The basic lesson of the Sermon on the Mount is to narrow all your interests until your mind, heart, and body are focused on Jesus Christ. “Look to Me . . . .”
Many of us have a mental picture of what a Christian should be, and looking at this image in other Christians’ lives becomes a hindrance to our focusing on God. This is not salvation— it is not simple enough. He says, in effect, “Look to Me and you are saved,” not “You will be saved someday.” We will find what we are looking for if we will concentrate on Him. We get distracted from God and irritable with Him while He continues to say to us, “Look to Me, and be saved . . . .” Our difficulties, our trials, and our worries about tomorrow all vanish when we look to God.
Wake yourself up and look to God. Build your hope on Him. No matter how many things seem to be pressing in on you, be determined to push them aside and look to Him. “Look to Me . . . .” Salvation is yours the moment you look.
我觀望什麼？
地極的人都當仰望我，就必得救。 （賽四十五22）
我們是否指望神帶著許多祝福來拯救我們？他說：[仰望我，就必得救。 ]屬靈生命上最難做到的，就是專心一意仰望神，這可是出於他的祝福。因為困難使我們仰望神，祝福卻使我們望到別處去。登山寶訓的精意，其實是：把你所有的注意力收窄，直到你的心志、心靈與身體，完全集中在主耶穌身上——仰望他。
不少人對做基督徒存一固定模式，就是其他聖徒的榜樣，成了我們集中在神身上的障礙。這樣是不會得救的，那太複雜了。 [仰望我]不是[將會得救]，而是[就必得救]。我們期盼的東西，只要集中在他身上，就必得著。但我們對神往往心不在焉，或向神怨嘆憤懣，可是他卻一直在對我們說：[仰望我就得救。 ]一切困難試煉，如這個暑假我有什麼計畫，明天又該作什麼？這些縈回在腦際的問題，一經仰望神，都會得著解決了。
醒來吧，仰望神。把盼望建築在神身上，不論有多少件事情壓著你，只管放下它們，一心一意望著他。 [仰望我]，必得救，就在你望的一剎那。
祈禱◆主啊，我仰望你。我何其瞭解[在我裡面沒有良善]；然而，你的恩典是何等奇妙，我如今竟發現自己的內心，除了你的榮耀以外，再別無他求。
Do we expect God to come to us with His blessings and save us? He says, “Look to Me, and be saved . . . .” The greatest difficulty spiritually is to concentrate on God, and His blessings are what make it so difficult. Troubles almost always make us look to God, but His blessings tend to divert our attention elsewhere. The basic lesson of the Sermon on the Mount is to narrow all your interests until your mind, heart, and body are focused on Jesus Christ. “Look to Me . . . .”
Many of us have a mental picture of what a Christian should be, and looking at this image in other Christians’ lives becomes a hindrance to our focusing on God. This is not salvation— it is not simple enough. He says, in effect, “Look to Me and you are saved,” not “You will be saved someday.” We will find what we are looking for if we will concentrate on Him. We get distracted from God and irritable with Him while He continues to say to us, “Look to Me, and be saved . . . .” Our difficulties, our trials, and our worries about tomorrow all vanish when we look to God.
Wake yourself up and look to God. Build your hope on Him. No matter how many things seem to be pressing in on you, be determined to push them aside and look to Him. “Look to Me . . . .” Salvation is yours the moment you look.
我觀望什麼？
地極的人都當仰望我，就必得救。 （賽四十五22）
我們是否指望神帶著許多祝福來拯救我們？他說：[仰望我，就必得救。 ]屬靈生命上最難做到的，就是專心一意仰望神，這可是出於他的祝福。因為困難使我們仰望神，祝福卻使我們望到別處去。登山寶訓的精意，其實是：把你所有的注意力收窄，直到你的心志、心靈與身體，完全集中在主耶穌身上——仰望他。
不少人對做基督徒存一固定模式，就是其他聖徒的榜樣，成了我們集中在神身上的障礙。這樣是不會得救的，那太複雜了。 [仰望我]不是[將會得救]，而是[就必得救]。我們期盼的東西，只要集中在他身上，就必得著。但我們對神往往心不在焉，或向神怨嘆憤懣，可是他卻一直在對我們說：[仰望我就得救。 ]一切困難試煉，如這個暑假我有什麼計畫，明天又該作什麼？這些縈回在腦際的問題，一經仰望神，都會得著解決了。
醒來吧，仰望神。把盼望建築在神身上，不論有多少件事情壓著你，只管放下它們，一心一意望著他。 [仰望我]，必得救，就在你望的一剎那。
祈禱◆主啊，我仰望你。我何其瞭解[在我裡面沒有良善]；然而，你的恩典是何等奇妙，我如今竟發現自己的內心，除了你的榮耀以外，再別無他求。
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