Jesus said to them again, ’. . . As the Father has sent Me, I also send you’ —John 20:21
A missionary is someone sent by Jesus Christ just as He was sent by God. The great controlling factor is not the needs of people, but the command of Jesus. The source of our inspiration in our service for God is behind us, not ahead of us. The tendency today is to put the inspiration out in front— to sweep everything together in front of us and make it conform to our definition of success. But in the New Testament the inspiration is put behind us, and is the Lord Jesus Himself. The goal is to be true to Him— to carry out His plans.
Personal attachment to the Lord Jesus and to His perspective is the one thing that must not be overlooked. In missionary work the great danger is that God’s call will be replaced by the needs of the people, to the point that human sympathy for those needs will absolutely overwhelm the meaning of being sent by Jesus. The needs are so enormous, and the conditions so difficult, that every power of the mind falters and fails. We tend to forget that the one great reason underneath all missionary work is not primarily the elevation of the people, their education, nor their needs, but is first and foremost the command of Jesus Christ— “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations . . .” (Matthew 28:19).
When looking back on the lives of men and women of God, the tendency is to say, “What wonderfully keen and intelligent wisdom they had, and how perfectly they understood all that God wanted!” But the keen and intelligent mind behind them was the mind of God, not human wisdom at all. We give credit to human wisdom when we should give credit to the divine guidance of God being exhibited through childlike people who were “foolish” enough to trust God’s wisdom and His supernatural equipment.
宣教士是什麼？
"父怎樣差遣了我，我也照樣差遣你們。"約20：21
宣教士是被耶穌所差遣的人，正如耶穌被神差遣一樣。最重要的不是人的需要，而是耶穌的命令。激勵我們為神工作的根源是在後面，而不是在前面。今日的趨勢是將激勵放在前面，把每一件事帶到我們面前，使其達到我們對勝利的看法。在新約裡面，激勵是放在我們後頭，就是主耶穌。目標是向他真誠，實現他的事業。
一定不可以忽視個人對主耶穌和他的觀點的忠誠。在宣教事業中，最大的危險是神的呼召被人的需要逐漸削弱，以致人的同情心絕對的壓倒了被耶穌差遣的意義。需要是如此巨大，環境是如此令人困惑，以致我們心思裡的所有力量都動搖和失敗。我們忘記了在所有宣教事業背後最大的原因首先不是人的高尚，不是人的教育，也不是滿足他們的需要；居首位的和最重要的是耶穌基督的命令－－"所以，你們要去，使萬民作我的門徒。"（太28： 19）
當回過頭來看屬神的男女的生平，趨向說－－"他們有何等奇妙機敏的智慧！他們如此完全的明白神的旨意！"其實這機敏的心思乃是神的心思，根本不是人的智慧。我們本當信任神的屬天指引的時候，我們卻信任人的智慧；神藉著小孩子一樣的人來引導我們，他們是"愚拙"而完全信靠神的智慧和他超自然才能的人。
祈禱◆主啊，求你今天在我的禱告、敬拜和工作中，以你的靈重新膏抹我，以致在一切事情上，你都可以得居優越的位置。
October 26, 2012
October 25, 2012
Submitting to God’s Purpose
I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some —1 Corinthians 9:22
A Christian worker has to learn how to be God’s man or woman of great worth and excellence in the midst of a multitude of meager and worthless things. Never protest by saying, “If only I were somewhere else!” All of God’s people are ordinary people who have been made extraordinary by the purpose He has given them. Unless we have the right purpose intellectually in our minds and lovingly in our hearts, we will very quickly be diverted from being useful to God. We are not workers for God by choice. Many people deliberately choose to be workers, but they have no purpose of God’s almighty grace or His mighty Word in them. Paul’s whole heart, mind, and soul were consumed with the great purpose of what Jesus Christ came to do, and he never lost sight of that one thing. We must continually confront ourselves with one central fact— “. . . Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).
“I chose you . . .” (John 15:16). Keep these words as a wonderful reminder in your theology. It is not that you have gotten God, but that He has gotten you. God is at work bending, breaking, molding, and doing exactly as He chooses. And why is He doing it? He is doing it for only one purpose— that He may be able to say, “This is My man, and this is My woman.” We have to be in God’s hand so that He can place others on the Rock, Jesus Christ, just as He has placed us.
Never choose to be a worker, but once God has placed His call upon you, woe be to you if you “turn aside . . . to the right or the left . . .” (Deuteronomy 28:14). He will do with you what He never did before His call came to you, and He will do with you what He is not doing with other people. Let Him have His way.
永遠的破碎
"向什麼樣的人，我就作什麼樣的人。無論如何總要救些人。"林前9：22
一個基督徒工人要學會如何在卑賤的事中成為屬神的高尚之人。千萬不要用這個藉口－－如果我在其他地方就好了！所有屬神的人都是平凡人，只是因神所給予他們的內容而成為特別。除非我們在心智和情感上都有了正確的內容，否則我們會對神毫無用處。我們不是選擇作神的工人。許多人刻意地選擇作神的工人，但在他們裡面沒有神全能的恩典，也沒有他大能的話語。保羅的整個心、思想和靈魂都被耶穌基督降世的偉大使命所吸引，他從沒有忘記這件事。我們也要面對自己在這個中心的事實－－耶穌基督並他釘十字架。
"我已經揀選了你。"要在你的信條裡牢記這偉大的話語。不是你得到了神，而是他得到了你。在這所學校裡，神在做工，他改變人，他打碎人，他模造人，按照他所揀選的去做。我們不知道他為什麼做這個，他只是為了一個唯一的目的－－就是他可以說，這是屬於我的男人，這是屬於我的女人。我們要在神的手裡，好讓他把人栽種在磐石上，就像栽種我們一樣。
不要自己選擇去做一個工人，但是當神呼召你時，如果你左推右搪，就有禍了。他會在你身上做些事情，是呼召你以前所未做過的；他會對付你，不像對其他人那樣。讓他按他的方式做吧。
A Christian worker has to learn how to be God’s man or woman of great worth and excellence in the midst of a multitude of meager and worthless things. Never protest by saying, “If only I were somewhere else!” All of God’s people are ordinary people who have been made extraordinary by the purpose He has given them. Unless we have the right purpose intellectually in our minds and lovingly in our hearts, we will very quickly be diverted from being useful to God. We are not workers for God by choice. Many people deliberately choose to be workers, but they have no purpose of God’s almighty grace or His mighty Word in them. Paul’s whole heart, mind, and soul were consumed with the great purpose of what Jesus Christ came to do, and he never lost sight of that one thing. We must continually confront ourselves with one central fact— “. . . Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).
“I chose you . . .” (John 15:16). Keep these words as a wonderful reminder in your theology. It is not that you have gotten God, but that He has gotten you. God is at work bending, breaking, molding, and doing exactly as He chooses. And why is He doing it? He is doing it for only one purpose— that He may be able to say, “This is My man, and this is My woman.” We have to be in God’s hand so that He can place others on the Rock, Jesus Christ, just as He has placed us.
Never choose to be a worker, but once God has placed His call upon you, woe be to you if you “turn aside . . . to the right or the left . . .” (Deuteronomy 28:14). He will do with you what He never did before His call came to you, and He will do with you what He is not doing with other people. Let Him have His way.
永遠的破碎
"向什麼樣的人，我就作什麼樣的人。無論如何總要救些人。"林前9：22
一個基督徒工人要學會如何在卑賤的事中成為屬神的高尚之人。千萬不要用這個藉口－－如果我在其他地方就好了！所有屬神的人都是平凡人，只是因神所給予他們的內容而成為特別。除非我們在心智和情感上都有了正確的內容，否則我們會對神毫無用處。我們不是選擇作神的工人。許多人刻意地選擇作神的工人，但在他們裡面沒有神全能的恩典，也沒有他大能的話語。保羅的整個心、思想和靈魂都被耶穌基督降世的偉大使命所吸引，他從沒有忘記這件事。我們也要面對自己在這個中心的事實－－耶穌基督並他釘十字架。
"我已經揀選了你。"要在你的信條裡牢記這偉大的話語。不是你得到了神，而是他得到了你。在這所學校裡，神在做工，他改變人，他打碎人，他模造人，按照他所揀選的去做。我們不知道他為什麼做這個，他只是為了一個唯一的目的－－就是他可以說，這是屬於我的男人，這是屬於我的女人。我們要在神的手裡，好讓他把人栽種在磐石上，就像栽種我們一樣。
不要自己選擇去做一個工人，但是當神呼召你時，如果你左推右搪，就有禍了。他會在你身上做些事情，是呼召你以前所未做過的；他會對付你，不像對其他人那樣。讓他按他的方式做吧。
October 24, 2012
The Proper Perspective
Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ . . . —2 Corinthians 2:14
The proper perspective of a servant of God must not simply be as near to the highest as he can get, but it must be the highest. Be careful that you vigorously maintain God’s perspective, and remember that it must be done every day, little by little. Don’t think on a finite level. No outside power can touch the proper perspective.
The proper perspective to maintain is that we are here for only one purpose— to be captives marching in the procession of Christ’s triumphs. We are not on display in God’s showcase— we are here to exhibit only one thing— the “captivity [of our lives] to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). How small all the other perspectives are! For example, the ones that say, “I am standing all alone, battling for Jesus,” or, “I have to maintain the cause of Christ and hold down this fort for Him.” But Paul said, in essence, “I am in the procession of a conqueror, and it doesn’t matter what the difficulties are, for I am always led in triumph.” Is this idea being worked out practically in us? Paul’s secret joy was that God took him as a blatant rebel against Jesus Christ, and made him a captive— and that became his purpose. It was Paul’s joy to be a captive of the Lord, and he had no other interest in heaven or on earth. It is a shameful thing for a Christian to talk about getting the victory. We should belong so completely to the Victor that it is always His victory, and “we are more than conquerors through Him . . .” (Romans 8:37).
“We are to God the fragrance of Christ . . .” (2 Corinthians 2:15). We are encompassed with the sweet aroma of Jesus, and wherever we go we are a wonderful refreshment to God.
觀點
"感謝神！常率領我們在基督裡誇勝。"林後2：14
對於一個為神工作的工人，他的觀點不能是接近他所能達到的最高，而必須是最高。要當心只是費力地維持神的觀點，要每天這樣做，一點點地，不要考慮期限。沒有任何外在的力量可以觸到神的觀點。
我們要維持的觀點乃是，我們在這世上單單是為一個目的，即成為基督得勝的軍隊中的俘虜。我們不是在神的陳列室裡，我們在世是要展示一件事－－我們的生命被耶穌基督絕對的俘虜。其他的觀點是何等渺小－－"我在獨自為耶穌爭戰，我要維持基督的事業，為他堅守崗位"。保羅說，我在勝利者的隊伍裡，無論遇到什麼困難，我總是在得勝中。這個觀念是否實際在我們裡面運行呢？保羅喜樂的秘決是神帶領他，一個雙手沾染了鮮血的反叛耶穌基督的人，成為了耶穌基督的俘虜，現在這就是他在世的全部目的。保羅的喜樂就是成為主的俘虜，對天地裡的一切再沒有其他的興趣。對於一個基督徒來說，談論如何得到勝利是一件羞恥的事。得勝者應當完全的得著我們，以致始終都是他的得勝，我們也藉著他成為了得勝者。
"因為我們在神面前，無論在得救的人身上，或滅亡的人身上，都有基督馨香之氣。"（ 15 節）我們被耶穌的香氣包圍，無論我們走到哪裡，都叫神舒暢，使人奇妙的恢復與神的關係。
The proper perspective of a servant of God must not simply be as near to the highest as he can get, but it must be the highest. Be careful that you vigorously maintain God’s perspective, and remember that it must be done every day, little by little. Don’t think on a finite level. No outside power can touch the proper perspective.
The proper perspective to maintain is that we are here for only one purpose— to be captives marching in the procession of Christ’s triumphs. We are not on display in God’s showcase— we are here to exhibit only one thing— the “captivity [of our lives] to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). How small all the other perspectives are! For example, the ones that say, “I am standing all alone, battling for Jesus,” or, “I have to maintain the cause of Christ and hold down this fort for Him.” But Paul said, in essence, “I am in the procession of a conqueror, and it doesn’t matter what the difficulties are, for I am always led in triumph.” Is this idea being worked out practically in us? Paul’s secret joy was that God took him as a blatant rebel against Jesus Christ, and made him a captive— and that became his purpose. It was Paul’s joy to be a captive of the Lord, and he had no other interest in heaven or on earth. It is a shameful thing for a Christian to talk about getting the victory. We should belong so completely to the Victor that it is always His victory, and “we are more than conquerors through Him . . .” (Romans 8:37).
“We are to God the fragrance of Christ . . .” (2 Corinthians 2:15). We are encompassed with the sweet aroma of Jesus, and wherever we go we are a wonderful refreshment to God.
觀點
"感謝神！常率領我們在基督裡誇勝。"林後2：14
對於一個為神工作的工人，他的觀點不能是接近他所能達到的最高，而必須是最高。要當心只是費力地維持神的觀點，要每天這樣做，一點點地，不要考慮期限。沒有任何外在的力量可以觸到神的觀點。
我們要維持的觀點乃是，我們在這世上單單是為一個目的，即成為基督得勝的軍隊中的俘虜。我們不是在神的陳列室裡，我們在世是要展示一件事－－我們的生命被耶穌基督絕對的俘虜。其他的觀點是何等渺小－－"我在獨自為耶穌爭戰，我要維持基督的事業，為他堅守崗位"。保羅說，我在勝利者的隊伍裡，無論遇到什麼困難，我總是在得勝中。這個觀念是否實際在我們裡面運行呢？保羅喜樂的秘決是神帶領他，一個雙手沾染了鮮血的反叛耶穌基督的人，成為了耶穌基督的俘虜，現在這就是他在世的全部目的。保羅的喜樂就是成為主的俘虜，對天地裡的一切再沒有其他的興趣。對於一個基督徒來說，談論如何得到勝利是一件羞恥的事。得勝者應當完全的得著我們，以致始終都是他的得勝，我們也藉著他成為了得勝者。
"因為我們在神面前，無論在得救的人身上，或滅亡的人身上，都有基督馨香之氣。"（ 15 節）我們被耶穌的香氣包圍，無論我們走到哪裡，都叫神舒暢，使人奇妙的恢復與神的關係。
October 23, 2012
Nothing of the Old Life!
If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new —2 Corinthians 5:17
Our Lord never tolerates our prejudices— He is directly opposed to them and puts them to death. We tend to think that God has some special interest in our particular prejudices, and are very sure that He will never deal with us as He has to deal with others. We even say to ourselves, “God has to deal with other people in a very strict way, but of course He knows that my prejudices are all right.” But we must learn that God accepts nothing of the old life! Instead of being on the side of our prejudices, He is deliberately removing them from us. It is part of our moral education to see our prejudices put to death by His providence, and to watch how He does it. God pays no respect to anything we bring to Him. There is only one thing God wants of us, and that is our unconditional surrender.
When we are born again, the Holy Spirit begins to work His new creation in us, and there will come a time when there is nothing remaining of the old life. Our old gloomy outlook disappears, as does our old attitude toward things, and “all things are of God” (2 Corinthians 5:18). How are we going to get a life that has no lust, no self-interest, and is not sensitive to the ridicule of others? How will we have the type of love that “is kind . . . is not provoked, [and] thinks no evil”? (1 Corinthians 13:4-5). The only way is by allowing nothing of the old life to remain, and by having only simple, perfect trust in God— such a trust that we no longer want God’s blessings, but only want God Himself. Have we come to the point where God can withdraw His blessings from us without our trust in Him being affected? Once we truly see God at work, we will never be concerned again about the things that happen, because we are actually trusting in our Father in heaven, whom the world cannot see.
一點也不
"若有人在基督裡，他就是新造的人，舊事已過，都變成新的了。"林後5:17
我們的主從不看護我們的成見，他只克服它們，清理它們。我們想像神對我們的特別成見有著特別的興趣；我們很肯定神不會像對付其他人那樣對付我們。 "神一定會非常嚴厲的對付其他人，他當然知道我的成見是對的。可是我們必須認識到神不但不站在我們的成見這邊，反而有意地要將它們清掃出去。我們所受的道德教育的一部分是，讓神的旨意除去我們的成見，並看看他怎麼做。神毫不在意我們帶給他什麼。神只想要我們做一件事，就是無條件的降服。
當我們重生的時候，聖靈開始將他的新創造做在我們裡面，必有一天舊秩序所遺留的會蕩然無存，離開舊的儀式，離開舊的態度，"所有的都是屬神的。 "我們如何得到那沒有情慾，沒有自我利益，對別人的刺痛不敏感，有不輕易發怒的愛，不思想罪惡，常待人有恩慈的生命呢？唯一的辦法是不讓一點點舊生命留下來，而只單單完全的信靠神，以致我們不再想要神的祝福，只想要他自己。我們是否到達一個地步，神可以撤回他的祝福而不會影響我們對他的信靠？當一旦我們看到神在做工，我們就不會為所發生的事煩擾，因為我們正實際的信靠我們在天上的父，他是這世界無法看到的。
Our Lord never tolerates our prejudices— He is directly opposed to them and puts them to death. We tend to think that God has some special interest in our particular prejudices, and are very sure that He will never deal with us as He has to deal with others. We even say to ourselves, “God has to deal with other people in a very strict way, but of course He knows that my prejudices are all right.” But we must learn that God accepts nothing of the old life! Instead of being on the side of our prejudices, He is deliberately removing them from us. It is part of our moral education to see our prejudices put to death by His providence, and to watch how He does it. God pays no respect to anything we bring to Him. There is only one thing God wants of us, and that is our unconditional surrender.
When we are born again, the Holy Spirit begins to work His new creation in us, and there will come a time when there is nothing remaining of the old life. Our old gloomy outlook disappears, as does our old attitude toward things, and “all things are of God” (2 Corinthians 5:18). How are we going to get a life that has no lust, no self-interest, and is not sensitive to the ridicule of others? How will we have the type of love that “is kind . . . is not provoked, [and] thinks no evil”? (1 Corinthians 13:4-5). The only way is by allowing nothing of the old life to remain, and by having only simple, perfect trust in God— such a trust that we no longer want God’s blessings, but only want God Himself. Have we come to the point where God can withdraw His blessings from us without our trust in Him being affected? Once we truly see God at work, we will never be concerned again about the things that happen, because we are actually trusting in our Father in heaven, whom the world cannot see.
一點也不
"若有人在基督裡，他就是新造的人，舊事已過，都變成新的了。"林後5:17
我們的主從不看護我們的成見，他只克服它們，清理它們。我們想像神對我們的特別成見有著特別的興趣；我們很肯定神不會像對付其他人那樣對付我們。 "神一定會非常嚴厲的對付其他人，他當然知道我的成見是對的。可是我們必須認識到神不但不站在我們的成見這邊，反而有意地要將它們清掃出去。我們所受的道德教育的一部分是，讓神的旨意除去我們的成見，並看看他怎麼做。神毫不在意我們帶給他什麼。神只想要我們做一件事，就是無條件的降服。
當我們重生的時候，聖靈開始將他的新創造做在我們裡面，必有一天舊秩序所遺留的會蕩然無存，離開舊的儀式，離開舊的態度，"所有的都是屬神的。 "我們如何得到那沒有情慾，沒有自我利益，對別人的刺痛不敏感，有不輕易發怒的愛，不思想罪惡，常待人有恩慈的生命呢？唯一的辦法是不讓一點點舊生命留下來，而只單單完全的信靠神，以致我們不再想要神的祝福，只想要他自己。我們是否到達一個地步，神可以撤回他的祝福而不會影響我們對他的信靠？當一旦我們看到神在做工，我們就不會為所發生的事煩擾，因為我們正實際的信靠我們在天上的父，他是這世界無法看到的。
October 22, 2012
The Witness of the Spirit
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit . . . —Romans 8:16
We are in danger of getting into a bargaining spirit with God when we come to Him—we want the witness of the Spirit before we have done what God tells us to do.
Why doesn’t God reveal Himself to you? He cannot. It is not that He will not, but He cannot, because you are in the way as long as you won’t abandon yourself to Him in total surrender. Yet once you do, immediately God witnesses to Himself—He cannot witness to you, but He instantly witnesses to His own nature in you. If you received the witness of the Spirit before the reality and truth that comes from obedience, it would simply result in sentimental emotion. But when you act on the basis of redemption, and stop the disrespectfulness of debating with God, He immediately gives His witness. As soon as you abandon your own reasoning and arguing, God witnesses to what He has done, and you are amazed at your total disrespect in having kept Him waiting. If you are debating as to whether or not God can deliver from sin, then either let Him do it or tell Him that He cannot. Do not quote this or that person to Him. Simply obey Matthew 11:28, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden . . . .” Come, if you are weary, and ask, if you know you are evil (see Luke 11:9-13).
The Spirit of God witnesses to the redemption of our Lord, and to nothing else. He cannot witness to our reason. We are inclined to mistake the simplicity that comes from our natural commonsense decisions for the witness of the Spirit, but the Spirit witnesses only to His own nature, and to the work of redemption, never to our reason. If we are trying to make Him witness to our reason, it is no wonder that we are in darkness and uncertainty. Throw it all overboard, trust in Him, and He will give you the witness of the Spirit.
聖靈的見證
聖靈與我們的心同證……（羅八16）
我們常存交易的心到神面前。我們順服神吩咐之前，先要求見證。 [為什麼神不向我顯示他自己？ ]他不能。不是他不肯，而是不能，因為你若不完全降服於神，你就成為神向你顯示的攔阻。你一降服，她就即時為自己作見證；他不能向你見證，乃是向他在你裡面的本性見證。若你先得著見證，那不過是情感作用。在你不再理論爭辯的那一刻，神見證他的作為，你會因自己的悖逆而詫異，因為你竟讓神苦等。若以仍為神是否能救人脫罪的問題爭辯的話，最好是讓他去做，或乾脆對他說：你無此能力。不要引用這人或那人的說話，試試馬太福音十一章28節的話－－[到我這裡來。 ]你若勞苦擔重擔，來吧；你若自知有罪，求吧（路十一13）。
我們天然常理的抉擇，往往來得很簡單，很容易誤認作聖靈的見證；可是，聖靈只對他的本性，和救贖的工作見證，而不能向我們的推理見證。若一味要聖靈向我們的理性見證，難怪我們總在黑暗疑雲中。把這些一概拋開，信靠神，他自然給我們見證。
祈禱◆主啊，我無助地來到你面前，卻盼望因著你的靈的內住，我可以被你的愛、你神性無私的屬性，你慈憐的忍耐所充滿，不再被個人的因素所傷害。
We are in danger of getting into a bargaining spirit with God when we come to Him—we want the witness of the Spirit before we have done what God tells us to do.
Why doesn’t God reveal Himself to you? He cannot. It is not that He will not, but He cannot, because you are in the way as long as you won’t abandon yourself to Him in total surrender. Yet once you do, immediately God witnesses to Himself—He cannot witness to you, but He instantly witnesses to His own nature in you. If you received the witness of the Spirit before the reality and truth that comes from obedience, it would simply result in sentimental emotion. But when you act on the basis of redemption, and stop the disrespectfulness of debating with God, He immediately gives His witness. As soon as you abandon your own reasoning and arguing, God witnesses to what He has done, and you are amazed at your total disrespect in having kept Him waiting. If you are debating as to whether or not God can deliver from sin, then either let Him do it or tell Him that He cannot. Do not quote this or that person to Him. Simply obey Matthew 11:28, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden . . . .” Come, if you are weary, and ask, if you know you are evil (see Luke 11:9-13).
The Spirit of God witnesses to the redemption of our Lord, and to nothing else. He cannot witness to our reason. We are inclined to mistake the simplicity that comes from our natural commonsense decisions for the witness of the Spirit, but the Spirit witnesses only to His own nature, and to the work of redemption, never to our reason. If we are trying to make Him witness to our reason, it is no wonder that we are in darkness and uncertainty. Throw it all overboard, trust in Him, and He will give you the witness of the Spirit.
聖靈的見證
聖靈與我們的心同證……（羅八16）
我們常存交易的心到神面前。我們順服神吩咐之前，先要求見證。 [為什麼神不向我顯示他自己？ ]他不能。不是他不肯，而是不能，因為你若不完全降服於神，你就成為神向你顯示的攔阻。你一降服，她就即時為自己作見證；他不能向你見證，乃是向他在你裡面的本性見證。若你先得著見證，那不過是情感作用。在你不再理論爭辯的那一刻，神見證他的作為，你會因自己的悖逆而詫異，因為你竟讓神苦等。若以仍為神是否能救人脫罪的問題爭辯的話，最好是讓他去做，或乾脆對他說：你無此能力。不要引用這人或那人的說話，試試馬太福音十一章28節的話－－[到我這裡來。 ]你若勞苦擔重擔，來吧；你若自知有罪，求吧（路十一13）。
我們天然常理的抉擇，往往來得很簡單，很容易誤認作聖靈的見證；可是，聖靈只對他的本性，和救贖的工作見證，而不能向我們的推理見證。若一味要聖靈向我們的理性見證，難怪我們總在黑暗疑雲中。把這些一概拋開，信靠神，他自然給我們見證。
祈禱◆主啊，我無助地來到你面前，卻盼望因著你的靈的內住，我可以被你的愛、你神性無私的屬性，你慈憐的忍耐所充滿，不再被個人的因素所傷害。
October 21, 2012
Impulsiveness or Discipleship?
But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith . . . —Jude 20
There was nothing of the nature of impulsive or thoughtless action about our Lord, but only a calm strength that never got into a panic. Most of us develop our Christianity along the lines of our own nature, not along the lines of God’s nature. Impulsiveness is a trait of the natural life, and our Lord always ignores it, because it hinders the development of the life of a disciple. Watch how the Spirit of God gives a sense of restraint to impulsiveness, suddenly bringing us a feeling of self-conscious foolishness, which makes us instantly want to vindicate ourselves. Impulsiveness is all right in a child, but is disastrous in a man or woman—an impulsive adult is always a spoiled person. Impulsiveness needs to be trained into intuition through discipline.
Discipleship is built entirely on the supernatural grace of God. Walking on water is easy to someone with impulsive boldness, but walking on dry land as a disciple of Jesus Christ is something altogether different. Peter walked on the water to go to Jesus, but he “followed Him at a distance” on dry land (Mark 14:54). We do not need the grace of God to withstand crises—human nature and pride are sufficient for us to face the stress and strain magnificently. But it does require the supernatural grace of God to live twenty-four hours of every day as a saint, going through drudgery, and living an ordinary, unnoticed, and ignored existence as a disciple of Jesus. It is ingrained in us that we have to do exceptional things for God—but we do not. We have to be exceptional in the ordinary things of life, and holy on the ordinary streets, among ordinary people—and this is not learned in five minutes.
被沖動引導
"你們卻要在至聖的真道上造就自己" 猶20
我們的主既沒有衝動的本性，也不是冷血無情，他有一種鎮定的力量永遠不會陷入恐慌。我們大多數人是按著自己性情的方式來過基督徒的生活，而不是按著神的方式。衝動是天然生命的特性，但我們的主卻總是不顧它，因為衝動會阻礙門徒生命的成長。留意神的靈如何阻止我們的衝動，他的阻止帶來一種自覺愚蠢倉促，使我們立刻想要為自己辯護。對於一個孩子，衝動還可以接受，但對於一個大人，衝動就是災難性的了。一個衝動的人常是一個耍小孩子脾氣的人。衝動必須要藉著管教訓練成為直覺。
作門徒完全建造在神超自然的恩典上。行走在水面對於憑著一股衝動的勇氣是容易的，但行走在乾地上作耶穌基督的門徒卻是一件不同的事情。彼得在水面上向耶穌走去，但在地上卻遠遠地跟著他。我們不需要神的恩典去面對危機，人的本性和驕傲已經足夠了。我們可以高貴地面對壓力，但每天二十四小時活出聖徒的生活，像一個門徒一樣經受勞苦，過一個平凡、沒人留意、被人忽視的生活，就一定需要神超自然的恩典。我們的天性想要為神做一件特別的事，但不需要這樣。我們應當在平凡事上成為不平凡，在簡陋的街道中,在卑劣的人群中成為聖潔，這不是五分鐘學得會的功課。
There was nothing of the nature of impulsive or thoughtless action about our Lord, but only a calm strength that never got into a panic. Most of us develop our Christianity along the lines of our own nature, not along the lines of God’s nature. Impulsiveness is a trait of the natural life, and our Lord always ignores it, because it hinders the development of the life of a disciple. Watch how the Spirit of God gives a sense of restraint to impulsiveness, suddenly bringing us a feeling of self-conscious foolishness, which makes us instantly want to vindicate ourselves. Impulsiveness is all right in a child, but is disastrous in a man or woman—an impulsive adult is always a spoiled person. Impulsiveness needs to be trained into intuition through discipline.
Discipleship is built entirely on the supernatural grace of God. Walking on water is easy to someone with impulsive boldness, but walking on dry land as a disciple of Jesus Christ is something altogether different. Peter walked on the water to go to Jesus, but he “followed Him at a distance” on dry land (Mark 14:54). We do not need the grace of God to withstand crises—human nature and pride are sufficient for us to face the stress and strain magnificently. But it does require the supernatural grace of God to live twenty-four hours of every day as a saint, going through drudgery, and living an ordinary, unnoticed, and ignored existence as a disciple of Jesus. It is ingrained in us that we have to do exceptional things for God—but we do not. We have to be exceptional in the ordinary things of life, and holy on the ordinary streets, among ordinary people—and this is not learned in five minutes.
被沖動引導
"你們卻要在至聖的真道上造就自己" 猶20
我們的主既沒有衝動的本性，也不是冷血無情，他有一種鎮定的力量永遠不會陷入恐慌。我們大多數人是按著自己性情的方式來過基督徒的生活，而不是按著神的方式。衝動是天然生命的特性，但我們的主卻總是不顧它，因為衝動會阻礙門徒生命的成長。留意神的靈如何阻止我們的衝動，他的阻止帶來一種自覺愚蠢倉促，使我們立刻想要為自己辯護。對於一個孩子，衝動還可以接受，但對於一個大人，衝動就是災難性的了。一個衝動的人常是一個耍小孩子脾氣的人。衝動必須要藉著管教訓練成為直覺。
作門徒完全建造在神超自然的恩典上。行走在水面對於憑著一股衝動的勇氣是容易的，但行走在乾地上作耶穌基督的門徒卻是一件不同的事情。彼得在水面上向耶穌走去，但在地上卻遠遠地跟著他。我們不需要神的恩典去面對危機，人的本性和驕傲已經足夠了。我們可以高貴地面對壓力，但每天二十四小時活出聖徒的生活，像一個門徒一樣經受勞苦，過一個平凡、沒人留意、被人忽視的生活，就一定需要神超自然的恩典。我們的天性想要為神做一件特別的事，但不需要這樣。我們應當在平凡事上成為不平凡，在簡陋的街道中,在卑劣的人群中成為聖潔，這不是五分鐘學得會的功課。
October 20, 2012
Is God’s Will My Will?
This is the will of God, your sanctification . . . —1 Thessalonians 4:3
Sanctification is not a question of whether God is willing to sanctify me— is it my will? Am I willing to let God do in me everything that has been made possible through the atonement of the Cross of Christ? Am I willing to let Jesus become sanctification to me, and to let His life be exhibited in my human flesh? (see 1 Corinthians 1:30). Beware of saying, “Oh, I am longing to be sanctified.” No, you are not. Recognize your need, but stop longing and make it a matter of action. Receive Jesus Christ to become sanctification for you by absolute, unquestioning faith, and the great miracle of the atonement of Jesus will become real in you.
All that Jesus made possible becomes mine through the free and loving gift of God on the basis of what Christ accomplished on the cross. And my attitude as a saved and sanctified soul is that of profound, humble holiness (there is no such thing as proud holiness). It is a holiness based on agonizing repentance, a sense of inexpressible shame and degradation, and also on the amazing realization that the love of God demonstrated itself to me while I cared nothing about Him (see Romans 5:8). He completed everything for my salvation and sanctification. No wonder Paul said that nothing “shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39).
Sanctification makes me one with Jesus Christ, and in Him one with God, and it is accomplished only through the magnificent atonement of Christ. Never confuse the effect with the cause. The effect in me is obedience, service, and prayer, and is the outcome of inexpressible thanks and adoration for the miraculous sanctification that has been brought about in me because of the atonement through the Cross of Christ.
上帝的旨意是我的心願嗎？
" 神的旨意就是要你們成為聖潔。" 帖前4：3
神是否願意使我成聖並不是一個問題，而是這是我的心願嗎？我是否願意讓神將所有贖罪已經成功的事做在我的里面？我是否願意讓耶穌成為我的聖潔，讓耶穌的生命在我的肉身裡彰顯？當心你會說："噢，我渴望成聖。"其實，你並非如此，你要停止渴望，付出實際行動達到預定目標??"我兩手空空。"要以絕對的信心接受耶穌基督成為你的聖潔，耶穌救贖的偉大奇跡將在你裡面成為真實。耶穌所成就的一切,因著神充滿愛的禮物白白的給了你。作為一個得救和得以成聖的靈魂，我的態度是完全謙卑的聖潔（並沒有驕傲的聖潔這件事），這聖潔是基於痛苦難忍的悔改，及無法言說的羞愧和降卑；同時,令人驚異的認識到，當我根本對他毫不在意時，神的愛將自己託付給我，他為我的得救和成聖完成了一切（參看羅5:8）。保羅說沒有一件事"能叫我們與神的愛隔絕；這愛是在我們的主基督耶穌裡的。"（羅8:39）
成聖使我與耶穌基督合一，並在他裡面與神合一，這只能藉由基督的贖罪才能做到。不要把效果當成原因。在我裡面的效果是順服、事奉和禱告，這是出於無法用言語表達的感謝和崇拜，為著因贖罪而在我裡面做出的非凡的成聖。
Sanctification is not a question of whether God is willing to sanctify me— is it my will? Am I willing to let God do in me everything that has been made possible through the atonement of the Cross of Christ? Am I willing to let Jesus become sanctification to me, and to let His life be exhibited in my human flesh? (see 1 Corinthians 1:30). Beware of saying, “Oh, I am longing to be sanctified.” No, you are not. Recognize your need, but stop longing and make it a matter of action. Receive Jesus Christ to become sanctification for you by absolute, unquestioning faith, and the great miracle of the atonement of Jesus will become real in you.
All that Jesus made possible becomes mine through the free and loving gift of God on the basis of what Christ accomplished on the cross. And my attitude as a saved and sanctified soul is that of profound, humble holiness (there is no such thing as proud holiness). It is a holiness based on agonizing repentance, a sense of inexpressible shame and degradation, and also on the amazing realization that the love of God demonstrated itself to me while I cared nothing about Him (see Romans 5:8). He completed everything for my salvation and sanctification. No wonder Paul said that nothing “shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39).
Sanctification makes me one with Jesus Christ, and in Him one with God, and it is accomplished only through the magnificent atonement of Christ. Never confuse the effect with the cause. The effect in me is obedience, service, and prayer, and is the outcome of inexpressible thanks and adoration for the miraculous sanctification that has been brought about in me because of the atonement through the Cross of Christ.
上帝的旨意是我的心願嗎？
" 神的旨意就是要你們成為聖潔。" 帖前4：3
神是否願意使我成聖並不是一個問題，而是這是我的心願嗎？我是否願意讓神將所有贖罪已經成功的事做在我的里面？我是否願意讓耶穌成為我的聖潔，讓耶穌的生命在我的肉身裡彰顯？當心你會說："噢，我渴望成聖。"其實，你並非如此，你要停止渴望，付出實際行動達到預定目標??"我兩手空空。"要以絕對的信心接受耶穌基督成為你的聖潔，耶穌救贖的偉大奇跡將在你裡面成為真實。耶穌所成就的一切,因著神充滿愛的禮物白白的給了你。作為一個得救和得以成聖的靈魂，我的態度是完全謙卑的聖潔（並沒有驕傲的聖潔這件事），這聖潔是基於痛苦難忍的悔改，及無法言說的羞愧和降卑；同時,令人驚異的認識到，當我根本對他毫不在意時，神的愛將自己託付給我，他為我的得救和成聖完成了一切（參看羅5:8）。保羅說沒有一件事"能叫我們與神的愛隔絕；這愛是在我們的主基督耶穌裡的。"（羅8:39）
成聖使我與耶穌基督合一，並在他裡面與神合一，這只能藉由基督的贖罪才能做到。不要把效果當成原因。在我裡面的效果是順服、事奉和禱告，這是出於無法用言語表達的感謝和崇拜，為著因贖罪而在我裡面做出的非凡的成聖。
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