Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? —John 14:9
Our Lord must be repeatedly astounded at us-astounded at how “un-simple” we are. It is our own opinions that make us dense and slow to understand, but when we are simple we are never dense; we have discernment all the time. Philip expected the future revelation of a tremendous mystery, but not in Jesus, the Person he thought he already knew. The mystery of God is not in what is going to be-it is now, though we look for it to be revealed in the future in some overwhelming, momentous event. We have no reluctance to obey Jesus, but it is highly probable that we are hurting Him by what we ask-”Lord, show us the Father . . .” (John 14:8). His response immediately comes back to us as He says, “Can’t you see Him? He is always right here or He is nowhere to be found.” We look for God to exhibit Himself to His children, but God only exhibits Himself in His children. And while others see the evidence, the child of God does not. We want to be fully aware of what God is doing in us, but we cannot have complete awareness and expect to remain reasonable or balanced in our expectations of Him. If all we are asking God to give us is experiences, and the awareness of those experiences is blocking our way, we hurt the Lord. The very questions we ask hurt Jesus, because they are not the questions of a child.
“Let not your heart be troubled . . .” (14:1, 27). Am I then hurting Jesus by allowing my heart to be troubled? . If I believe in Jesus and His attributes, am I living up to my belief? Am I allowing anything to disturb my heart, or am I allowing any questions to come in which are unsound or unbalanced? I have to get to the point of the absolute and unquestionable relationship that takes everything exactly as it comes from Him. God never guides us at some time in the future, but always here and now. Realize that the Lord is here now, and the freedom you receive is immediate.
不要傷主的心！
腓力，我與你們同在這樣長久，你還不認識我麼？ （約十四9）
我們的主必定時常感到驚愕，稀奇我們為何不夠單純。認得主見，常顯明自己的愚昧；我們若單純一點，就不會愚昧，就能時時懂得分辨了。腓力期望獲得神秘莫測的啟示，卻不從他所認識的主身上去找。神的奧秘並不在於將成的事，乃在現今；我們要馬上去找，不要耽延，在各種的環境中去找，就可找到。我們順服耶穌，並不遲疑；但我們所發的問題，可能傷透他的心。 [求主將父顯給我們看。 ]他立刻回答說：[他就在這裡，一直在這裡，不在別處。 ]我們期望神要向他兒女顯現，但是，神卻只在他兒女裡面彰顯他自己。別人看見他，神的兒女卻不看見。我們要感覺到神；但我們不能一面有感於自己的意識，一面又保持清晰的頭腦。我們若求神給我們的經歷，或追求感覺，就會傷主的心。我們所發的問題傷了主的心，因為那原不是兒女所發的問題。
[你們心裡不要憂愁。 ]－－我是否任由我的心憂慮，傷主的心？我若真正相信主，我的生活是否與信心相稱？我有沒有讓什麼煩擾我？有什麼可怕的問題進來？我必須與主心心相印，訴合無間，以致我能接受一切臨到我的事，好像是從他而來的。神的引導從不延遲，他總是現在就引導。只要明白主是此時此地的主，就必即時大得釋放。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，在這新一天，願你的恩典幫助我完全感受到你的接近和你的大能。讓我面對著你的榮耀，以致我可以[變成主的形狀，榮上加榮。 ]
April 21, 2013
April 20, 2013
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。
April 19, 2013
Beware of the Least Likely Temptation
Joab had defected to Adonijah, though he had not defected to Absalom —1 Kings 2:28
Joab withstood the greatest test of his life, remaining absolutely loyal to David by not turning to follow after the fascinating and ambitious Absalom. Yet toward the end of his life he turned to follow after the weak and cowardly Adonijah. Always remain alert to the fact that where one person has turned back is exactly where anyone may be tempted to turn back (see 1 Corinthians 10:11-13). You may have just victoriously gone through a great crisis, but now be alert about the things that may appear to be the least likely to tempt you. Beware of thinking that the areas of your life where you have experienced victory in the past are now the least likely to cause you to stumble and fall.
We are apt to say, “It is not at all likely that having been through the greatest crisis of my life I would now turn back to the things of the world.” Do not try to predict where the temptation will come; it is the least likely thing that is the real danger. It is in the aftermath of a great spiritual event that the least likely things begin to have an effect. They may not be forceful and dominant, but they are there. And if you are not careful to be forewarned, they will trip you. You have remained true to God under great and intense trials— now beware of the undercurrent. Do not be abnormally examining your inner self, looking forward with dread, but stay alert; keep your memory sharp before God. Unguarded strength is actually a double weakness, because that is where the least likely temptations will be effective in sapping strength. The Bible characters stumbled over their strong points, never their weak ones.
“. . . kept by the power of God . . .”— that is the only safety. (1 Peter 1:5).
絕不可能嗎？
約押雖然沒有歸從押沙龍，卻歸從了亞多尼雅。 （王上二28）
約押在大考驗中站得住，始終對大衛絕對效忠，沒有隨從那野心勃勃、欺世惑眾的押沙龍。但到了晚年，卻跟隨了貪鄙的亞多尼雅。所以要常常提高警覺；有一個人可以這樣倒退，眾人都有這倒退的可能（林前十13）。你過了大難關嗎？現在就要在最小的事上留心。那最不為人注意的小事，要懂得留心。
我們會很隨意的說：[既然經過這樣大的考驗，就不會再回到世俗中去，留戀世事了。 ]不要自以為知道試探的來源；最不可能發生的事，往往是最致命的。在一次重大的屬靈轉變過後，那隱而不露的試探就開始出現了；這不會很昭彰明顯，卻潛藏在那裡，若不警覺，就必把你絆倒。你在烈火的考驗下曾經持守純正，向神忠貞，如今卻要當心暗潮。但不必無病呻吟，內省自疚，對前途恐懼不前，只要保持警覺，在神面前有一種清晰能力。沒有防衛看守，力量就會變弱，那暗潮便會湧入，叫防守崩陷。聖經人物很多都在優點上失敗，而不是在弱點上。
[蒙神能力保守]－－這是唯一安全之方。
祈禱◆主啊，今天我要奉你的名講道；求你使它藉著你的能力而發放。使我的靈魂確實認識你，讓我在所有深入和終極的意義上只專注於你。
Joab withstood the greatest test of his life, remaining absolutely loyal to David by not turning to follow after the fascinating and ambitious Absalom. Yet toward the end of his life he turned to follow after the weak and cowardly Adonijah. Always remain alert to the fact that where one person has turned back is exactly where anyone may be tempted to turn back (see 1 Corinthians 10:11-13). You may have just victoriously gone through a great crisis, but now be alert about the things that may appear to be the least likely to tempt you. Beware of thinking that the areas of your life where you have experienced victory in the past are now the least likely to cause you to stumble and fall.
We are apt to say, “It is not at all likely that having been through the greatest crisis of my life I would now turn back to the things of the world.” Do not try to predict where the temptation will come; it is the least likely thing that is the real danger. It is in the aftermath of a great spiritual event that the least likely things begin to have an effect. They may not be forceful and dominant, but they are there. And if you are not careful to be forewarned, they will trip you. You have remained true to God under great and intense trials— now beware of the undercurrent. Do not be abnormally examining your inner self, looking forward with dread, but stay alert; keep your memory sharp before God. Unguarded strength is actually a double weakness, because that is where the least likely temptations will be effective in sapping strength. The Bible characters stumbled over their strong points, never their weak ones.
“. . . kept by the power of God . . .”— that is the only safety. (1 Peter 1:5).
絕不可能嗎？
約押雖然沒有歸從押沙龍，卻歸從了亞多尼雅。 （王上二28）
約押在大考驗中站得住，始終對大衛絕對效忠，沒有隨從那野心勃勃、欺世惑眾的押沙龍。但到了晚年，卻跟隨了貪鄙的亞多尼雅。所以要常常提高警覺；有一個人可以這樣倒退，眾人都有這倒退的可能（林前十13）。你過了大難關嗎？現在就要在最小的事上留心。那最不為人注意的小事，要懂得留心。
我們會很隨意的說：[既然經過這樣大的考驗，就不會再回到世俗中去，留戀世事了。 ]不要自以為知道試探的來源；最不可能發生的事，往往是最致命的。在一次重大的屬靈轉變過後，那隱而不露的試探就開始出現了；這不會很昭彰明顯，卻潛藏在那裡，若不警覺，就必把你絆倒。你在烈火的考驗下曾經持守純正，向神忠貞，如今卻要當心暗潮。但不必無病呻吟，內省自疚，對前途恐懼不前，只要保持警覺，在神面前有一種清晰能力。沒有防衛看守，力量就會變弱，那暗潮便會湧入，叫防守崩陷。聖經人物很多都在優點上失敗，而不是在弱點上。
[蒙神能力保守]－－這是唯一安全之方。
祈禱◆主啊，今天我要奉你的名講道；求你使它藉著你的能力而發放。使我的靈魂確實認識你，讓我在所有深入和終極的意義上只專注於你。
April 18, 2013
Readiness
God called to him . . . . And he said, ’Here I am’ —Exodus 3:4
When God speaks, many of us are like people in a fog, and we give no answer. Moses’ reply to God revealed that he knew where he was and that he was ready. Readiness means having a right relationship to God and having the knowledge of where we are. We are so busy telling God where we would like to go. Yet the man or woman who is ready for God and His work is the one who receives the prize when the summons comes. We wait with the idea that some great opportunity or something sensational will be coming our way, and when it does come we are quick to cry out, “Here I am.” Whenever we sense that Jesus Christ is rising up to take authority over some great task, we are there, but we are not ready for some obscure duty.
Readiness for God means that we are prepared to do the smallest thing or the largest thing— it makes no difference. It means we have no choice in what we want to do, but that whatever God’s plans may be, we are there and ready. Whenever any duty presents itself, we hear God’s voice as our Lord heard His Father’s voice, and we are ready for it with the total readiness of our love for Him. Jesus Christ expects to do with us just as His Father did with Him. He can put us wherever He wants, in pleasant duties or in menial ones, because our union with Him is the same as His union with the Father. “. . . that they may be one just as We are one . . .” (John 17:22).
Be ready for the sudden surprise visits of God. A ready person never needs to get ready— he is ready. Think of the time we waste trying to get ready once God has called! The burning bush is a symbol of everything that surrounds the person who is ready, and it is on fire with the presence of God Himself.
常作準備
神……呼叫說……他說，我在這裡。 （出三4）
神說話的時候，我們卻像在五里霧中，毫無反應。摩西的回答，表示他站在某一崗位上。常作準備的意思，就是與神有正常的關係，又知道自己目前所站的崗位。我們往往很急切的告訴神，我們想到那裡去。但那對神工作常作準備的人，呼召一臨到，他們就奪得獎賞。我們總是等待特別的時機、特別的激情，當這臨到，我們就會迅速回答：[我在這裡。 ]耶穌基督被高舉上升，我們就願意與他一同上升；但對不為人所知的任務，我們往往不准備承擔。
為神常作準備的意思，就是事無大小，我們都樂意去做。我們行事沒有選擇的餘地；不論神的計劃怎樣，我們都樂於遵循。無論什麼任務臨到，我們聽見神的聲音，如同我們的主聽見他父的聲音一樣。我們當存著活潑的愛，作好充分準備，隨時待命而發。父怎樣對待耶穌基督，他也盼望父照樣對待我們。他可以任意差遣我們，叫我們承擔愉快的任務，或卑微的任務；因為我們與主合一，正如父與主合一一樣。 [叫他們合而為一，像我們一樣。 ]
要隨時準備神突然來訪。一個常作準備的人是不必再作準備的了。試想想神呼召我們後，我們花多少時間去作準備！那火燒的荊棘，正像徵一個常作準備的心靈四周的景象，有神的同在，火燒得更熊。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，最能夠感受你的，可能就是我自己，願你的旨意能毫無障礙地在我裡面，並透過我得以成就。
When God speaks, many of us are like people in a fog, and we give no answer. Moses’ reply to God revealed that he knew where he was and that he was ready. Readiness means having a right relationship to God and having the knowledge of where we are. We are so busy telling God where we would like to go. Yet the man or woman who is ready for God and His work is the one who receives the prize when the summons comes. We wait with the idea that some great opportunity or something sensational will be coming our way, and when it does come we are quick to cry out, “Here I am.” Whenever we sense that Jesus Christ is rising up to take authority over some great task, we are there, but we are not ready for some obscure duty.
Readiness for God means that we are prepared to do the smallest thing or the largest thing— it makes no difference. It means we have no choice in what we want to do, but that whatever God’s plans may be, we are there and ready. Whenever any duty presents itself, we hear God’s voice as our Lord heard His Father’s voice, and we are ready for it with the total readiness of our love for Him. Jesus Christ expects to do with us just as His Father did with Him. He can put us wherever He wants, in pleasant duties or in menial ones, because our union with Him is the same as His union with the Father. “. . . that they may be one just as We are one . . .” (John 17:22).
Be ready for the sudden surprise visits of God. A ready person never needs to get ready— he is ready. Think of the time we waste trying to get ready once God has called! The burning bush is a symbol of everything that surrounds the person who is ready, and it is on fire with the presence of God Himself.
常作準備
神……呼叫說……他說，我在這裡。 （出三4）
神說話的時候，我們卻像在五里霧中，毫無反應。摩西的回答，表示他站在某一崗位上。常作準備的意思，就是與神有正常的關係，又知道自己目前所站的崗位。我們往往很急切的告訴神，我們想到那裡去。但那對神工作常作準備的人，呼召一臨到，他們就奪得獎賞。我們總是等待特別的時機、特別的激情，當這臨到，我們就會迅速回答：[我在這裡。 ]耶穌基督被高舉上升，我們就願意與他一同上升；但對不為人所知的任務，我們往往不准備承擔。
為神常作準備的意思，就是事無大小，我們都樂意去做。我們行事沒有選擇的餘地；不論神的計劃怎樣，我們都樂於遵循。無論什麼任務臨到，我們聽見神的聲音，如同我們的主聽見他父的聲音一樣。我們當存著活潑的愛，作好充分準備，隨時待命而發。父怎樣對待耶穌基督，他也盼望父照樣對待我們。他可以任意差遣我們，叫我們承擔愉快的任務，或卑微的任務；因為我們與主合一，正如父與主合一一樣。 [叫他們合而為一，像我們一樣。 ]
要隨時準備神突然來訪。一個常作準備的人是不必再作準備的了。試想想神呼召我們後，我們花多少時間去作準備！那火燒的荊棘，正像徵一個常作準備的心靈四周的景象，有神的同在，火燒得更熊。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，最能夠感受你的，可能就是我自己，願你的旨意能毫無障礙地在我裡面，並透過我得以成就。
April 17, 2013
All or Nothing?
When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment . . . and plunged into the sea —John 21:7
Have you ever had a crisis in your life in which you deliberately, earnestly, and recklessly abandoned everything? It is a crisis of the will. You may come to that point many times externally, but it will amount to nothing. The true deep crisis of abandonment, or total surrender, is reached internally, not externally. The giving up of only external things may actually be an indication of your being in total bondage.
Have you deliberately committed your will to Jesus Christ? It is a transaction of the will, not of emotion; any positive emotion that results is simply a superficial blessing arising out of the transaction. If you focus your attention on the emotion, you will never make the transaction. Do not ask God what the transaction is to be, but make the determination to surrender your will regarding whatever you see, whether it is in the shallow or the deep, profound places internally.
If you have heard Jesus Christ’s voice on the waves of the sea, you can let your convictions and your consistency take care of themselves by concentrating on maintaining your intimate relationship to Him.
不顧一切
那時西門彼得赤著身子，一聽見是主，就束上一件外衣，跳在海裡。 （約二十一7）
曾否有一次經歷叫你立意不顧一切撇下所有呢？這是意志的一關。你可能在外面碰過許多事，但對你沒有絲毫改變。要真正撇下一切的，是在裡面的改變，而不是外面的。表面上的撇棄，可能正表示你裡面仍受捆綁。
你曾否破釜沉舟地順服耶穌基督？這是一項意志的抉擇，而非感情用事；感情只是整個抉擇的附屬品。你若把感情放在首位，就永遠辦不成這項交易。不要問神這交易的後果到底是怎樣，只要就眼前可見的事來作個決定，不管這是簡單還是困難的事。
你若在波濤洶湧中聽見主的呼聲，只管乘風破浪，憑著信念出去！只要保持你與主的關係，就不用怕一切的衝擊！
祈禱◆[你們要將一切的憂慮卸給神，因為他顧念你們。 ]噢，主啊，這句話是多麼的奇妙！不良的思想總是偶爾出現，需要你經常將它們驅走。我仰賴你更新我的思想。
Have you ever had a crisis in your life in which you deliberately, earnestly, and recklessly abandoned everything? It is a crisis of the will. You may come to that point many times externally, but it will amount to nothing. The true deep crisis of abandonment, or total surrender, is reached internally, not externally. The giving up of only external things may actually be an indication of your being in total bondage.
Have you deliberately committed your will to Jesus Christ? It is a transaction of the will, not of emotion; any positive emotion that results is simply a superficial blessing arising out of the transaction. If you focus your attention on the emotion, you will never make the transaction. Do not ask God what the transaction is to be, but make the determination to surrender your will regarding whatever you see, whether it is in the shallow or the deep, profound places internally.
If you have heard Jesus Christ’s voice on the waves of the sea, you can let your convictions and your consistency take care of themselves by concentrating on maintaining your intimate relationship to Him.
不顧一切
那時西門彼得赤著身子，一聽見是主，就束上一件外衣，跳在海裡。 （約二十一7）
曾否有一次經歷叫你立意不顧一切撇下所有呢？這是意志的一關。你可能在外面碰過許多事，但對你沒有絲毫改變。要真正撇下一切的，是在裡面的改變，而不是外面的。表面上的撇棄，可能正表示你裡面仍受捆綁。
你曾否破釜沉舟地順服耶穌基督？這是一項意志的抉擇，而非感情用事；感情只是整個抉擇的附屬品。你若把感情放在首位，就永遠辦不成這項交易。不要問神這交易的後果到底是怎樣，只要就眼前可見的事來作個決定，不管這是簡單還是困難的事。
你若在波濤洶湧中聽見主的呼聲，只管乘風破浪，憑著信念出去！只要保持你與主的關係，就不用怕一切的衝擊！
祈禱◆[你們要將一切的憂慮卸給神，因為他顧念你們。 ]噢，主啊，這句話是多麼的奇妙！不良的思想總是偶爾出現，需要你經常將它們驅走。我仰賴你更新我的思想。
April 16, 2013
Can You Come Down From the Mountain?
While you have the light, believe in the light . . . —John 12:36
We all have moments when we feel better than ever before, and we say, “I feel fit for anything; if only I could always be like this!” We are not meant to be. Those moments are moments of insight which we have to live up to even when we do not feel like it. Many of us are no good for the everyday world when we are not on the mountaintop. Yet we must bring our everyday life up to the standard revealed to us on the mountaintop when we were there.
Never allow a feeling that was awakened in you on the mountaintop to evaporate. Don’t place yourself on the shelf by thinking, “How great to be in such a wonderful state of mind!” Act immediately— do something, even if your only reason to act is that you would rather not. If, during a prayer meeting, God shows you something to do, don’t say, “I’ll do it”— just doit! Pick yourself up by the back of the neck and shake off your fleshly laziness. Laziness can always be seen in our cravings for a mountaintop experience; all we talk about is our planning for our time on the mountain. We must learn to live in the ordinary “gray” day according to what we saw on the mountain.
Don’t give up because you have been blocked and confused once— go after it again. Burn your bridges behind you, and stand committed to God by an act of your own will. Never change your decisions, but be sure to make your decisions in the light of what you saw and learned on the mountain.
信從這光
你們當趁著有光，信從這光。 （約十二36）
我們都有躊躇滿志的時刻，那時便會說：[我覺得萬事都能勝任，巴不得經常如此。 ]神的旨意並不要我們如此。那些時刻，是深入體驗的時候，藉著這種體驗，要在平淡的日子裡把真理活出來。若沒有那高超的時刻，許多人就在日常生活的輪子上，頹廢無用。我們應該把日常生活提升到靈程高處所體驗的水平。
切勿讓在高處所獲的感受如煙雲消散，也不要安於自逸的說：[如此的心境多麼美妙啊！ ]要立即行動，進入事奉。你若不甘心地做，就更該去做。若在禱告中會見神，他叫你做什麼，要立即去做。別說：[我會去做。 ]振作起來，把你與生俱來的惰性甩掉。懶惰的人總渴望想得意的時刻，總愛談怎樣攀上高峰。但是，我們要學習照著山上所見的，行在灰暗的生活中。
你一次迷惑，不必氣餒，重頭再來吧。要燒絕棧道，義不回顧，心甘情願地站在神面前，而且決不朝秦暮楚。你要認清所決志的，是根據在高山上所見的亮光。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，但願我的一切思想、情感和言語都帶著愛－－對你完全的愛，並且透過這愛去接觸人。
We all have moments when we feel better than ever before, and we say, “I feel fit for anything; if only I could always be like this!” We are not meant to be. Those moments are moments of insight which we have to live up to even when we do not feel like it. Many of us are no good for the everyday world when we are not on the mountaintop. Yet we must bring our everyday life up to the standard revealed to us on the mountaintop when we were there.
Never allow a feeling that was awakened in you on the mountaintop to evaporate. Don’t place yourself on the shelf by thinking, “How great to be in such a wonderful state of mind!” Act immediately— do something, even if your only reason to act is that you would rather not. If, during a prayer meeting, God shows you something to do, don’t say, “I’ll do it”— just doit! Pick yourself up by the back of the neck and shake off your fleshly laziness. Laziness can always be seen in our cravings for a mountaintop experience; all we talk about is our planning for our time on the mountain. We must learn to live in the ordinary “gray” day according to what we saw on the mountain.
Don’t give up because you have been blocked and confused once— go after it again. Burn your bridges behind you, and stand committed to God by an act of your own will. Never change your decisions, but be sure to make your decisions in the light of what you saw and learned on the mountain.
信從這光
你們當趁著有光，信從這光。 （約十二36）
我們都有躊躇滿志的時刻，那時便會說：[我覺得萬事都能勝任，巴不得經常如此。 ]神的旨意並不要我們如此。那些時刻，是深入體驗的時候，藉著這種體驗，要在平淡的日子裡把真理活出來。若沒有那高超的時刻，許多人就在日常生活的輪子上，頹廢無用。我們應該把日常生活提升到靈程高處所體驗的水平。
切勿讓在高處所獲的感受如煙雲消散，也不要安於自逸的說：[如此的心境多麼美妙啊！ ]要立即行動，進入事奉。你若不甘心地做，就更該去做。若在禱告中會見神，他叫你做什麼，要立即去做。別說：[我會去做。 ]振作起來，把你與生俱來的惰性甩掉。懶惰的人總渴望想得意的時刻，總愛談怎樣攀上高峰。但是，我們要學習照著山上所見的，行在灰暗的生活中。
你一次迷惑，不必氣餒，重頭再來吧。要燒絕棧道，義不回顧，心甘情願地站在神面前，而且決不朝秦暮楚。你要認清所決志的，是根據在高山上所見的亮光。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，但願我的一切思想、情感和言語都帶著愛－－對你完全的愛，並且透過這愛去接觸人。
April 15, 2013
The Failure To Pay Close Attention
The high places were not removed from Israel. Nevertheless the heart of Asa was loyal all his days —2 Chronicles 15:17
Asa was not completely obedient in the outward, visible areas of his life. He was obedient in what he considered the most important areas, but he was not entirely right. Beware of ever thinking, “Oh, that thing in my life doesn't matter much.” The fact that it doesn't matter much to you may mean that it matters a great deal to God. Nothing should be considered a trivial matter by a child of God. How much longer are we going to prevent God from teaching us even one thing? But He keeps trying to teach us and He never loses patience. You say, “I know I am right with God”— yet the “high places” still remain in your life. There is still an area of disobedience. Do you protest that your heart is right with God, and yet there is something in your life He causes you to doubt? Whenever God causes a doubt about something, stop it immediately, no matter what it may be. Nothing in our lives is a mere insignificant detail to God.
Are there some things regarding your physical or intellectual life to which you have been paying no attention at all? If so, you may think you are all correct in the important areas, but you are careless— you are failing to concentrate or to focus properly. You no more need a day off from spiritual concentration on matters in your life than your heart needs a day off from beating. As you cannot take a day off morally and remain moral, neither can you take a day off spiritually and remain spiritual. God wants you to be entirely His, and it requires paying close attention to keep yourself fit. It also takes a tremendous amount of time. Yet some of us expect to rise above all of our problems, going from one mountaintop experience to another, with only a few minutes’ effort.
在專誠上散漫
只是邱壇還沒有從以色列中廢去，然而亞撒的心一生誠實。 （代下十五17）
亞撒外在的順服並不完全－－他大體上是對的，但並不完全。若說[不大要緊]的事，要特別當心。對你不大要緊的，對神可能十分要緊。對神的兒女來說，沒有一件事是小的。我們阻止神來教導我們到底要多久呢？但神不會失去耐性。你說：[我知道自己對得起神。 ]可是邱壇猶在，你仍有未順服的事。你是否一面堅稱自己對得起神，一面在生活上仍有些東西令你猶豫不決？一有猶豫，要立即放手，不管這是什麼。沒有什麼事是無關重要的。
在你身體上、思想上，有沒有任何東西，叫你不能專心的？你大致上沒有問題了，但卻很隨便馬虎；那就是在專心的事上出了岔子。你的心臟不能[告假]，停止跳動，同樣的，你屬靈的專一也不能[告假]，稍有鬆懈。你德行的操練若放假一天，你的道德就墮落了；你的靈若放假一天，你就不再屬靈。神要你完全屬他，這就是說，你要警醒自守，保持最佳狀態。這實在需要很長的時間，但有些人卻以為兩三分鐘就可以一飛沖天！
祈禱◆噢，主啊，願你的光穿透我。將你滿意的笑容和福祉賜給我，使我整個人都屬於你。
Asa was not completely obedient in the outward, visible areas of his life. He was obedient in what he considered the most important areas, but he was not entirely right. Beware of ever thinking, “Oh, that thing in my life doesn't matter much.” The fact that it doesn't matter much to you may mean that it matters a great deal to God. Nothing should be considered a trivial matter by a child of God. How much longer are we going to prevent God from teaching us even one thing? But He keeps trying to teach us and He never loses patience. You say, “I know I am right with God”— yet the “high places” still remain in your life. There is still an area of disobedience. Do you protest that your heart is right with God, and yet there is something in your life He causes you to doubt? Whenever God causes a doubt about something, stop it immediately, no matter what it may be. Nothing in our lives is a mere insignificant detail to God.
Are there some things regarding your physical or intellectual life to which you have been paying no attention at all? If so, you may think you are all correct in the important areas, but you are careless— you are failing to concentrate or to focus properly. You no more need a day off from spiritual concentration on matters in your life than your heart needs a day off from beating. As you cannot take a day off morally and remain moral, neither can you take a day off spiritually and remain spiritual. God wants you to be entirely His, and it requires paying close attention to keep yourself fit. It also takes a tremendous amount of time. Yet some of us expect to rise above all of our problems, going from one mountaintop experience to another, with only a few minutes’ effort.
在專誠上散漫
只是邱壇還沒有從以色列中廢去，然而亞撒的心一生誠實。 （代下十五17）
亞撒外在的順服並不完全－－他大體上是對的，但並不完全。若說[不大要緊]的事，要特別當心。對你不大要緊的，對神可能十分要緊。對神的兒女來說，沒有一件事是小的。我們阻止神來教導我們到底要多久呢？但神不會失去耐性。你說：[我知道自己對得起神。 ]可是邱壇猶在，你仍有未順服的事。你是否一面堅稱自己對得起神，一面在生活上仍有些東西令你猶豫不決？一有猶豫，要立即放手，不管這是什麼。沒有什麼事是無關重要的。
在你身體上、思想上，有沒有任何東西，叫你不能專心的？你大致上沒有問題了，但卻很隨便馬虎；那就是在專心的事上出了岔子。你的心臟不能[告假]，停止跳動，同樣的，你屬靈的專一也不能[告假]，稍有鬆懈。你德行的操練若放假一天，你的道德就墮落了；你的靈若放假一天，你就不再屬靈。神要你完全屬他，這就是說，你要警醒自守，保持最佳狀態。這實在需要很長的時間，但有些人卻以為兩三分鐘就可以一飛沖天！
祈禱◆噢，主啊，願你的光穿透我。將你滿意的笑容和福祉賜給我，使我整個人都屬於你。
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