Which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it . . . —Luke 14:28
Our Lord was not referring here to a cost which we have to count, but to a cost which He has already counted. The cost was those thirty years in Nazareth, those three years of popularity, scandal, and hatred, the unfathomable agony He experienced in Gethsemane, and the assault upon Him at Calvary— the central point upon which all of time and eternity turn. Jesus Christ has counted the cost. In the final analysis, people are not going to laugh at Him and say, “This man began to build and was not able to finish” (Luke 14:30).
The conditions of discipleship given to us by our Lord in verses 26, 27, and 33 mean that the men and women He is going to use in His mighty building enterprises are those in whom He has done everything. “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple ” (Luke 14:26). This verse teaches us that the only men and women our Lord will use in His building enterprises are those who love Him personally, passionately, and with great devotion— those who have a love for Him that goes far beyond any of the closest relationships on earth. The conditions are strict, but they are glorious.
All that we build is going to be inspected by God. When God inspects us with His searching and refining fire, will He detect that we have built enterprises of our own on the foundation of Jesus? (see 1 Corinthians 3:10-15). We are living in a time of tremendous enterprises, a time when we are trying to work for God, and that is where the trap is. Profoundly speaking, we can never work for God. Jesus, as the Master Builder, takes us over so that He may direct and control us completely for His enterprises and His building plans; and no one has any right to demand where he will be put to work.
永恆的建造
你們那一個要蓋一座樓，不先坐下算計花費，能蓋成不能呢？ （路十四28）
主所指的代價，不是要我們去計算，他已經計算好了。就是三十年在拿撤撒，三年被人擁戴、毀謗和憎恨，客西馬尼園無底的痛苦，加略山上被宰殺－－成為整個時間與永恆轉動的樞軸。
耶穌基督已計算了代價。所以世人最終也無法指著他說：[這人動了工，卻不能完工。 ]在26、27及33節中，主陳明作門徒的條件；在他建造大工所用的人，是他已經為他們付上一切代價的人。 [人到我這裡來，若不恨……就不能作我的門徒。 ]主的意思是在他建造大工上用得著的人，是那些熱切地、忠心地愛他，超過地上任何最親密者的人。條件非常嚴格，但卻是榮耀的。
我們一切所建造的，都要經神檢驗。神察驗的火，是否發覺在主的根基上，竟建立了我們自己的事業？現在正是建立事業的大好機會，是我們努力為神工作的日子，可是其中卻密佈著網羅。其實認真地說，我們根本不能為神作工。耶穌把我們放在他的工程上，完全放在他建造的大計中，我們是沒有權選擇要被放在什麼地方。
祈禱◆主啊，引導我們的心思進入你的計劃中。許多人已步向你那榮耀，卻帶有危險的開放境地。主啊，請傾注你那浩大的能力，來糾正我們的生命，使它成為煥發著健康的豐盛生命。
May 07, 2013
May 06, 2013
Liberty and the Standards of Jesus
Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free . . . —Galatians 5:1
A spiritually-minded person will never come to you with the demand—”Believe this and that”; a spiritually-minded person will demand that you align your life with the standards of Jesus. We are not asked to believe the Bible, but to believe the One whom the Bible reveals (see John 5:39-40). We are called to present liberty for the conscience of others, not to bring them liberty for their thoughts and opinions. And if we ourselves are free with the liberty of Christ, others will be brought into that same liberty— the liberty that comes from realizing the absolute control and authority of Jesus Christ.
Always measure your life solely by the standards of Jesus. Submit yourself to His yoke, and His alone; and always be careful never to place a yoke on others that is not of Jesus Christ. It takes God a long time to get us to stop thinking that unless everyone sees things exactly as we do, they must be wrong. That is never God’s view. There is only one true liberty— the liberty of Jesus at work in our conscience enabling us to do what is right.
Don’t get impatient with others. Remember how God dealt with you— with patience and with gentleness. But never water down the truth of God. Let it have its way and never apologize for it. Jesus said, “Go . . . and make disciples. . .” (Matthew 28:19), not, “Make converts to your own thoughts and opinions.”
福音裡的自由
基督釋放了我們，叫我們得以自由。 （加五1）
一個有屬靈深度的人，絕不會要求你說：[你要信這個信那個。 ]他只會要求你的生活能夠符合耶穌的標準。神沒有叫我們相信聖經，乃是叫我們相信聖經所顯示的那一位主（比較約五39-40）。我們蒙召，是傳揚良心得釋放，而不是見解上得自由。我們若在基督的自由里得釋放，那末，別人也會被帶進同樣得自由里－－那自由就是認識耶穌基督統馭萬有的權柄。
總要照耶穌的標準去量度你的生活。你的頸項只可以套上主的軛，絕不負別的軛；同時，要當心別替人家套上那不是出於耶穌基督的軛。我們常以為人人都要與我們有同一樣的觀點，否則就是錯的。神從不這樣看，因此，他要花許多時間去糾正我們的錯誤。自由只有一種，就是耶穌在我們的心裡作工，使我們能夠做合宜的事。
不要煩躁不安，失去耐性，要記住神怎樣對待你－－用忍耐與溫柔；但卻不要減弱神的真理。讓主的道自由作工，不必為它歉疚。耶穌說：[去，使萬民作我的門徒]，而不是使人信服你的見解。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，你是何等奇妙、偉大和有力量，我要投向你。除了你以外，使我拒絕任何的統治。
A spiritually-minded person will never come to you with the demand—”Believe this and that”; a spiritually-minded person will demand that you align your life with the standards of Jesus. We are not asked to believe the Bible, but to believe the One whom the Bible reveals (see John 5:39-40). We are called to present liberty for the conscience of others, not to bring them liberty for their thoughts and opinions. And if we ourselves are free with the liberty of Christ, others will be brought into that same liberty— the liberty that comes from realizing the absolute control and authority of Jesus Christ.
Always measure your life solely by the standards of Jesus. Submit yourself to His yoke, and His alone; and always be careful never to place a yoke on others that is not of Jesus Christ. It takes God a long time to get us to stop thinking that unless everyone sees things exactly as we do, they must be wrong. That is never God’s view. There is only one true liberty— the liberty of Jesus at work in our conscience enabling us to do what is right.
Don’t get impatient with others. Remember how God dealt with you— with patience and with gentleness. But never water down the truth of God. Let it have its way and never apologize for it. Jesus said, “Go . . . and make disciples. . .” (Matthew 28:19), not, “Make converts to your own thoughts and opinions.”
福音裡的自由
基督釋放了我們，叫我們得以自由。 （加五1）
一個有屬靈深度的人，絕不會要求你說：[你要信這個信那個。 ]他只會要求你的生活能夠符合耶穌的標準。神沒有叫我們相信聖經，乃是叫我們相信聖經所顯示的那一位主（比較約五39-40）。我們蒙召，是傳揚良心得釋放，而不是見解上得自由。我們若在基督的自由里得釋放，那末，別人也會被帶進同樣得自由里－－那自由就是認識耶穌基督統馭萬有的權柄。
總要照耶穌的標準去量度你的生活。你的頸項只可以套上主的軛，絕不負別的軛；同時，要當心別替人家套上那不是出於耶穌基督的軛。我們常以為人人都要與我們有同一樣的觀點，否則就是錯的。神從不這樣看，因此，他要花許多時間去糾正我們的錯誤。自由只有一種，就是耶穌在我們的心裡作工，使我們能夠做合宜的事。
不要煩躁不安，失去耐性，要記住神怎樣對待你－－用忍耐與溫柔；但卻不要減弱神的真理。讓主的道自由作工，不必為它歉疚。耶穌說：[去，使萬民作我的門徒]，而不是使人信服你的見解。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，你是何等奇妙、偉大和有力量，我要投向你。除了你以外，使我拒絕任何的統治。
May 05, 2013
Judgment and the Love of God
The time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God . . . —1 Peter 4:17
The Christian servant must never forget that salvation is God’s idea, not man’s; therefore, it has an unfathomable depth. Salvation is the great thought of God, not an experience. Experience is simply the door through which salvation comes into the conscious level of our life so that we are aware of what has taken place on a much deeper level. Never preach the experience— preach the great thought of God behind the experience. When we preach, we are not simply proclaiming how people can be saved from hell and be made moral and pure; we are conveying good news about God.
In the teachings of Jesus Christ the element of judgment is always brought out— it is the sign of the love of God. Never sympathize with someone who finds it difficult to get to God; God is not to blame. It is not for us to figure out the reason for the difficulty, but only to present the truth of God so that the Spirit of God will reveal what is wrong. The greatest test of the quality of our preaching is whether or not it brings everyone to judgment. When the truth is preached, the Spirit of God brings each person face to face with God Himself.
If Jesus ever commanded us to do something that He was unable to equip us to accomplish, He would be a liar. And if we make our own inability a stumbling block or an excuse not to be obedient, it means that we are telling God that there is something which He has not yet taken into account. Every element of our own self-reliance must be put to death by the power of God. The moment we recognize our complete weakness and our dependence upon Him will be the very moment that the Spirit of God will exhibit His power.
在愛的淵中受審判
因為時候到了,審判要從神的家起首.(彼前四17)
作主的工人必須記住,救恩是從神來的,不是人自己可以得到;因此,這是一道測不透的深淵.救恩是神一個極高超偉大的意念,而不是一個經歷.經歷只不過是一道門,讓救恩進入我們的生命裡。千萬別傳揚經歷,乃要傳揚經歷背後神偉大的意念。我們傳道，並不是宣佈人怎樣可以得救，脫離地獄，變成有道德、聖潔的人；我們乃是傳達神的好消息。
在耶穌基督的教訓中，總夾著審判，這是神愛的表徵。若有人覺得接近神是件難事，我們不必表示同情，因為這不是神的錯。我們也不必設法解釋困難的緣故，只要把神真理講出來，聖靈就會指出毛病所在。傳道最大的考驗，就是要把各人帶進審判裡去。神的靈會個別對付每一個人。
耶穌若給我們一條命令，而不給我們力量去實行的話，他就是個說謊者。若我們讓自己的無力實行成為順服的攔阻，那就是在對神說，他有些事考慮不周詳。任何的自倚自恃，都必須被神粉碎。完全的軟弱與信賴，往往是聖靈彰顯他能力的時候。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，願你的賜福今天臨到我們，那麼多人正需要你。求你拯救的大能在我們當中運行，掌管和振奮我們。
The Christian servant must never forget that salvation is God’s idea, not man’s; therefore, it has an unfathomable depth. Salvation is the great thought of God, not an experience. Experience is simply the door through which salvation comes into the conscious level of our life so that we are aware of what has taken place on a much deeper level. Never preach the experience— preach the great thought of God behind the experience. When we preach, we are not simply proclaiming how people can be saved from hell and be made moral and pure; we are conveying good news about God.
In the teachings of Jesus Christ the element of judgment is always brought out— it is the sign of the love of God. Never sympathize with someone who finds it difficult to get to God; God is not to blame. It is not for us to figure out the reason for the difficulty, but only to present the truth of God so that the Spirit of God will reveal what is wrong. The greatest test of the quality of our preaching is whether or not it brings everyone to judgment. When the truth is preached, the Spirit of God brings each person face to face with God Himself.
If Jesus ever commanded us to do something that He was unable to equip us to accomplish, He would be a liar. And if we make our own inability a stumbling block or an excuse not to be obedient, it means that we are telling God that there is something which He has not yet taken into account. Every element of our own self-reliance must be put to death by the power of God. The moment we recognize our complete weakness and our dependence upon Him will be the very moment that the Spirit of God will exhibit His power.
在愛的淵中受審判
因為時候到了,審判要從神的家起首.(彼前四17)
作主的工人必須記住,救恩是從神來的,不是人自己可以得到;因此,這是一道測不透的深淵.救恩是神一個極高超偉大的意念,而不是一個經歷.經歷只不過是一道門,讓救恩進入我們的生命裡。千萬別傳揚經歷,乃要傳揚經歷背後神偉大的意念。我們傳道，並不是宣佈人怎樣可以得救，脫離地獄，變成有道德、聖潔的人；我們乃是傳達神的好消息。
在耶穌基督的教訓中，總夾著審判，這是神愛的表徵。若有人覺得接近神是件難事，我們不必表示同情，因為這不是神的錯。我們也不必設法解釋困難的緣故，只要把神真理講出來，聖靈就會指出毛病所在。傳道最大的考驗，就是要把各人帶進審判裡去。神的靈會個別對付每一個人。
耶穌若給我們一條命令，而不給我們力量去實行的話，他就是個說謊者。若我們讓自己的無力實行成為順服的攔阻，那就是在對神說，他有些事考慮不周詳。任何的自倚自恃，都必須被神粉碎。完全的軟弱與信賴，往往是聖靈彰顯他能力的時候。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，願你的賜福今天臨到我們，那麼多人正需要你。求你拯救的大能在我們當中運行，掌管和振奮我們。
May 04, 2013
Vicarious Intercession
. . having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus . . . —Hebrews 10:19
Beware of thinking that intercession means bringing our own personal sympathies and concerns into the presence of God, and then demanding that He do whatever we ask. Our ability to approach God is due entirely to the vicarious, or substitutionary, identification of our Lord with sin. We have “boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus.”
Spiritual stubbornness is the most effective hindrance to intercession, because it is based on a sympathetic “understanding” of things we see in ourselves and others that we think needs no atonement. We have the idea that there are certain good and virtuous things in each of us that do not need to be based on the atonement by the Cross of Christ. Just the sluggishness and lack of interest produced by this kind of thinking makes us unable to intercede. We do not identify ourselves with God’s interests and concerns for others, and we get irritated with Him. Yet we are always ready with our own ideas, and our intercession becomes only the glorification of our own natural sympathies. We have to realize that the identification of Jesus with sin means a radical change of all of our sympathies and interests. Vicarious intercession means that we deliberately substitute God’s interests in others for our natural sympathy with them.
Am I stubborn or substituted? Am I spoiled or complete in my relationship to God? Am I irritable or spiritual? Am I determined to have my own way or determined to be identified with Him?
替代的代求
弟兄們，我們既因耶穌的血，得以坦然進入至聖所。 （來十19）
當心別以為代求是把自己的同情心，帶到神面前，然後要求他照我們所求的成就。哦我們能親近神，完全是由於主耶穌作成這贖罪的工作。我們是[因耶穌的血，坦然進入至聖所]。
屬靈的固執，是代求中最大的障礙。因為同情心的根據，是我們裡面和別人裡面那些自以為不必用血來救贖的部分。我們以為還有些好處與德行，是不必用血來救贖的。這觀念所產生的障礙，叫我們無法代求。我們沒有與神愛人的心合一，我們生神的氣；我們總有自己的主意，代求就成為天然同情心的自我吹擂。耶穌自己成為罪，就把人所有的同情心徹底地改變了。替代式的代求，就是立志把我們對人的天然同情心，換上神對人愛顧的心。
我是固執還是作神的代替者？與神的關係是失調還是和諧？在鬧意氣還是屬靈？偏行己路還是與神同心？
祈禱◆主啊,你最明白在展開未來之前,那種奇異的感覺.此刻極之需要提升我的情緒/思想和心態.求你確證我的思想.
Beware of thinking that intercession means bringing our own personal sympathies and concerns into the presence of God, and then demanding that He do whatever we ask. Our ability to approach God is due entirely to the vicarious, or substitutionary, identification of our Lord with sin. We have “boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus.”
Spiritual stubbornness is the most effective hindrance to intercession, because it is based on a sympathetic “understanding” of things we see in ourselves and others that we think needs no atonement. We have the idea that there are certain good and virtuous things in each of us that do not need to be based on the atonement by the Cross of Christ. Just the sluggishness and lack of interest produced by this kind of thinking makes us unable to intercede. We do not identify ourselves with God’s interests and concerns for others, and we get irritated with Him. Yet we are always ready with our own ideas, and our intercession becomes only the glorification of our own natural sympathies. We have to realize that the identification of Jesus with sin means a radical change of all of our sympathies and interests. Vicarious intercession means that we deliberately substitute God’s interests in others for our natural sympathy with them.
Am I stubborn or substituted? Am I spoiled or complete in my relationship to God? Am I irritable or spiritual? Am I determined to have my own way or determined to be identified with Him?
替代的代求
弟兄們，我們既因耶穌的血，得以坦然進入至聖所。 （來十19）
當心別以為代求是把自己的同情心，帶到神面前，然後要求他照我們所求的成就。哦我們能親近神，完全是由於主耶穌作成這贖罪的工作。我們是[因耶穌的血，坦然進入至聖所]。
屬靈的固執，是代求中最大的障礙。因為同情心的根據，是我們裡面和別人裡面那些自以為不必用血來救贖的部分。我們以為還有些好處與德行，是不必用血來救贖的。這觀念所產生的障礙，叫我們無法代求。我們沒有與神愛人的心合一，我們生神的氣；我們總有自己的主意，代求就成為天然同情心的自我吹擂。耶穌自己成為罪，就把人所有的同情心徹底地改變了。替代式的代求，就是立志把我們對人的天然同情心，換上神對人愛顧的心。
我是固執還是作神的代替者？與神的關係是失調還是和諧？在鬧意氣還是屬靈？偏行己路還是與神同心？
祈禱◆主啊,你最明白在展開未來之前,那種奇異的感覺.此刻極之需要提升我的情緒/思想和心態.求你確證我的思想.
May 03, 2013
Vital Intercession
. . . praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit . . . —Ephesians 6:18
As we continue on in our intercession for others, we may find that our obedience to God in interceding is going to cost those for whom we intercede more than we ever thought. The danger in this is that we begin to intercede in sympathy with those whom God was gradually lifting up to a totally different level in direct answer to our prayers. Whenever we step back from our close identification with God’s interest and concern for others and step into having emotional sympathy with them, the vital connection with God is gone. We have then put our sympathy and concern for them in the way, and this is a deliberate rebuke to God.
It is impossible for us to have living and vital intercession unless we are perfectly and completely sure of God. And the greatest destroyer of that confident relationship to God, so necessary for intercession, is our own personal sympathy and preconceived bias. Identification with God is the key to intercession, and whenever we stop being identified with Him it is because of our sympathy with others, not because of sin. It is not likely that sin will interfere with our intercessory relationship with God, but sympathy will. It is sympathy with ourselves or with others that makes us say, “I will not allow that thing to happen.” And instantly we are out of that vital connection with God.
Vital intercession leaves you with neither the time nor the inclination to pray for your own “sad and pitiful self.” You do not have to struggle to keep thoughts of yourself out, because they are not even there to be kept out of your thinking. You are completely and entirely identified with God’s interests and concerns in other lives. God gives us discernment in the lives of others to call us to intercession for them, never so that we may find fault with them.
有力的代求
靠著聖靈，隨時多方禱告祈求。 （弗六18）
我們代求的時候，會發覺對神的順服，與別人的得失有極大的關係，這是我們想不到的。但有一個危機，就是那些神聽了禱告而逐漸被提升到另一個不同領域裡的人，我們用人的同情心去代求。一旦我們從與神同心去關懷別人，退到用同情心去代禱，那與神息息相關的聯繫就失去了。我們把同情心摻入代禱中，便是故意頂撞神。
除非我們完全認識神，否則無法作有效的代求。我們與神的關係最大的分化力，就是個人的同情與偏見。認同是代求的鑰匙，一旦停止與神同心，就是同情心而不是罪在作祟，不一定是罪阻礙我們與神的關係，同情心也會。對自己的同情，對別人的同情，令我們說：[我不要讓這樣的事發生。 ]這樣，與神密切的關係，就立時中斷。
代求根本沒有時間，也沒有傾向於為自己的愁腸禱告。你不用排除自己的憂愁，因為根本不應該有自己的成分在裡面。你這時是與神同心，完完全全地關懷別人。神呼召我們代求，是要明辨，不是要吹毛求疵。
祈禱◆主啊，當我們開始在晨禱中[為我們的國家代求]，懇求你的靈指引我們。
As we continue on in our intercession for others, we may find that our obedience to God in interceding is going to cost those for whom we intercede more than we ever thought. The danger in this is that we begin to intercede in sympathy with those whom God was gradually lifting up to a totally different level in direct answer to our prayers. Whenever we step back from our close identification with God’s interest and concern for others and step into having emotional sympathy with them, the vital connection with God is gone. We have then put our sympathy and concern for them in the way, and this is a deliberate rebuke to God.
It is impossible for us to have living and vital intercession unless we are perfectly and completely sure of God. And the greatest destroyer of that confident relationship to God, so necessary for intercession, is our own personal sympathy and preconceived bias. Identification with God is the key to intercession, and whenever we stop being identified with Him it is because of our sympathy with others, not because of sin. It is not likely that sin will interfere with our intercessory relationship with God, but sympathy will. It is sympathy with ourselves or with others that makes us say, “I will not allow that thing to happen.” And instantly we are out of that vital connection with God.
Vital intercession leaves you with neither the time nor the inclination to pray for your own “sad and pitiful self.” You do not have to struggle to keep thoughts of yourself out, because they are not even there to be kept out of your thinking. You are completely and entirely identified with God’s interests and concerns in other lives. God gives us discernment in the lives of others to call us to intercession for them, never so that we may find fault with them.
有力的代求
靠著聖靈，隨時多方禱告祈求。 （弗六18）
我們代求的時候，會發覺對神的順服，與別人的得失有極大的關係，這是我們想不到的。但有一個危機，就是那些神聽了禱告而逐漸被提升到另一個不同領域裡的人，我們用人的同情心去代求。一旦我們從與神同心去關懷別人，退到用同情心去代禱，那與神息息相關的聯繫就失去了。我們把同情心摻入代禱中，便是故意頂撞神。
除非我們完全認識神，否則無法作有效的代求。我們與神的關係最大的分化力，就是個人的同情與偏見。認同是代求的鑰匙，一旦停止與神同心，就是同情心而不是罪在作祟，不一定是罪阻礙我們與神的關係，同情心也會。對自己的同情，對別人的同情，令我們說：[我不要讓這樣的事發生。 ]這樣，與神密切的關係，就立時中斷。
代求根本沒有時間，也沒有傾向於為自己的愁腸禱告。你不用排除自己的憂愁，因為根本不應該有自己的成分在裡面。你這時是與神同心，完完全全地關懷別人。神呼召我們代求，是要明辨，不是要吹毛求疵。
祈禱◆主啊，當我們開始在晨禱中[為我們的國家代求]，懇求你的靈指引我們。
May 02, 2013
The Patience To Wait for the Vision
Though it tarries, wait for it . . . —Habakkuk 2:3
Patience is not the same as indifference; patience conveys the idea of someone who is tremendously strong and able to withstand all assaults. Having the vision of God is the source of patience because it gives us God’s true and proper inspiration. Moses endured, not because of his devotion to his principles of what was right, nor because of his sense of duty to God, but because he had a vision of God. “. . . he endured as seeing Him who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:27). A person who has the vision of God is not devoted to a cause or to any particular issue— he is devoted to God Himself. You always know when the vision is of God because of the inspiration that comes with it. Things come to you with greatness and add vitality to your life because everything is energized by God. He may give you a time spiritually, with no word from Himself at all, just as His Son experienced during His time of temptation in the wilderness. When God does that, simply endure, and the power to endure will be there because you see God.
“Though it tarries, wait for it . . . .” The proof that we have the vision is that we are reaching out for more than we have already grasped. It is a bad thing to be satisfied spiritually. The psalmist said, “What shall I render to the Lord . . . ? I will take up the cup of salvation . . .” (Psalm 116:12-13). We are apt to look for satisfaction within ourselves and say, “Now I’ve got it! Now I am completely sanctified. Now I can endure.” Instantly we are on the road to ruin. Our reach must exceed our grasp. Paul said, “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on . . .” (Philippians 3:12). If we have only what we have experienced, we have nothing. But if we have the inspiration of the vision of God, we have more than we can experience. Beware of the danger of spiritual relaxation.
忍耐的情操
雖然遲延，還要等候。 （哈二3）
忍耐不是置之不理；忍耐是一座極其堅強的磐石，受得起一切的打擊。忍耐的根源，是看見了神的異象；因為看見神，就帶來品德上的啟示。摩西之所以能堅忍，不是因為他對正義與責任的理想，而是因為看見了神。他恆心忍耐，[如同看見那不能看見的主。 ]一個有神異象的人，不是投身於一件工作或某一項任務，而是獻身於神自己。異像是否出於神，是看得出來的，只要看所帶來的啟示便可知；生命會變得廣大和滋潤，因為一切由神發動。神若在屬靈上給你一段曠野試探的時期，像他兒子所經歷的，完全沒他的話語，你就要忍耐；恆心忍耐，是因為你看見神。
[雖然遲延，還要等候。 ]要證明我們的確看見了異象，是要伸手去抓住那超乎我們所能抓住的（意即竭力追求）。屬靈的自滿是不好的。詩人說：[我拿什麼報答耶和華？ ][我要舉起救恩的杯。 ]我們很容易自滿自足－－[現在我得著了；現在我完全聖潔了；現在我能夠忍受了。 ]這樣我們馬上就會跌倒。我們的目標必須超越實際的。 [我不是以為自己已經得著了，已經完全了。 ]我們有的若只是經歷，就一無所有了；但我們若有神異象的啟示，那所有的就遠超過所經歷的了。要當心屬靈懈怠的危險。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，在我自覺的生活中，但願能流露更多的愛、憐憫、敬虔和對你的熱愛。求你使我對周圍的人，能有善意的表現，並以忍耐和溫柔去待他們。
Patience is not the same as indifference; patience conveys the idea of someone who is tremendously strong and able to withstand all assaults. Having the vision of God is the source of patience because it gives us God’s true and proper inspiration. Moses endured, not because of his devotion to his principles of what was right, nor because of his sense of duty to God, but because he had a vision of God. “. . . he endured as seeing Him who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:27). A person who has the vision of God is not devoted to a cause or to any particular issue— he is devoted to God Himself. You always know when the vision is of God because of the inspiration that comes with it. Things come to you with greatness and add vitality to your life because everything is energized by God. He may give you a time spiritually, with no word from Himself at all, just as His Son experienced during His time of temptation in the wilderness. When God does that, simply endure, and the power to endure will be there because you see God.
“Though it tarries, wait for it . . . .” The proof that we have the vision is that we are reaching out for more than we have already grasped. It is a bad thing to be satisfied spiritually. The psalmist said, “What shall I render to the Lord . . . ? I will take up the cup of salvation . . .” (Psalm 116:12-13). We are apt to look for satisfaction within ourselves and say, “Now I’ve got it! Now I am completely sanctified. Now I can endure.” Instantly we are on the road to ruin. Our reach must exceed our grasp. Paul said, “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on . . .” (Philippians 3:12). If we have only what we have experienced, we have nothing. But if we have the inspiration of the vision of God, we have more than we can experience. Beware of the danger of spiritual relaxation.
忍耐的情操
雖然遲延，還要等候。 （哈二3）
忍耐不是置之不理；忍耐是一座極其堅強的磐石，受得起一切的打擊。忍耐的根源，是看見了神的異象；因為看見神，就帶來品德上的啟示。摩西之所以能堅忍，不是因為他對正義與責任的理想，而是因為看見了神。他恆心忍耐，[如同看見那不能看見的主。 ]一個有神異象的人，不是投身於一件工作或某一項任務，而是獻身於神自己。異像是否出於神，是看得出來的，只要看所帶來的啟示便可知；生命會變得廣大和滋潤，因為一切由神發動。神若在屬靈上給你一段曠野試探的時期，像他兒子所經歷的，完全沒他的話語，你就要忍耐；恆心忍耐，是因為你看見神。
[雖然遲延，還要等候。 ]要證明我們的確看見了異象，是要伸手去抓住那超乎我們所能抓住的（意即竭力追求）。屬靈的自滿是不好的。詩人說：[我拿什麼報答耶和華？ ][我要舉起救恩的杯。 ]我們很容易自滿自足－－[現在我得著了；現在我完全聖潔了；現在我能夠忍受了。 ]這樣我們馬上就會跌倒。我們的目標必須超越實際的。 [我不是以為自己已經得著了，已經完全了。 ]我們有的若只是經歷，就一無所有了；但我們若有神異象的啟示，那所有的就遠超過所經歷的了。要當心屬靈懈怠的危險。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，在我自覺的生活中，但願能流露更多的愛、憐憫、敬虔和對你的熱愛。求你使我對周圍的人，能有善意的表現，並以忍耐和溫柔去待他們。
May 01, 2013
Faith— Not Emotion
We walk by faith, not by sight —2 Corinthians 5:7
For a while, we are fully aware of God’s concern for us. But then, when God begins to use us in His work, we begin to take on a pitiful look and talk only of our trials and difficulties. And all the while God is trying to make us do our work as hidden people who are not in the spotlight. None of us would be hidden spiritually if we could help it. Can we do our work when it seems that God has sealed up heaven? Some of us always want to be brightly illuminated saints with golden halos and with the continual glow of inspiration, and to have other saints of God dealing with us all the time. A self-assured saint is of no value to God. He is abnormal, unfit for daily life, and completely unlike God. We are here, not as immature angels, but as men and women, to do the work of this world. And we are to do it with an infinitely greater power to withstand the struggle because we have been born from above.
If we continually try to bring back those exceptional moments of inspiration, it is a sign that it is not God we want. We are becoming obsessed with the moments when God did come and speak with us, and we are insisting that He do it again. But what God wants us to do is to “walk by faith.” How many of us have set ourselves aside as if to say, “I cannot do anything else until God appears to me”? He will never do it. We will have to get up on our own, without any inspiration and without any sudden touch from God. Then comes our surprise and we find ourselves exclaiming, “Why, He was there all the time, and I never knew it!” Never live for those exceptional moments— they are surprises. God will give us His touches of inspiration only when He sees that we are not in danger of being led away by them. We must never consider our moments of inspiration as the standard way of life— our work is our standard.
是真知而非感情
因我們行事為人，是憑著信心，不是憑著眼見。 （林後五7）
有些時候，我們感覺到神的關顧；之後，他就開始使用我們。不久，我們便裝出一副可憐兮兮的樣子，整天說什麼試煉困難；其實，神一直訓練我們在隱藏中儘自己的本分。屬靈方面來說，除非是不得已，沒有一個人願意隱藏自己。神若關上天門，我們能盡什麼本分？有些人整天想著頭上有發光的金圈，做榮光四射的聖徒，充滿了感動啟示，並有聖徒經常造就。徒有外表（原文作鍍金邊）的聖徒是無用的，是不正常的。他無法過平凡的生活，而且根本不像神。我們活在地上，不是做行將長成的天使。我們在世作工，是因為我們已從上面而生，有極大無比的能力，得以在磨難中站立。
要是我們想把罕有的啟示經歷重演一遍，就表示我們要的不是神。我們只是寶貴與神說話的時刻，並且堅持要他再來一次。其實神是要我們行在信心中。我們多少人曾袖手旁觀地說：[神若不向我顯現，我是無能為力的。 ]他不會顯現。這樣，就是沒有啟示，沒有神出奇不意的觸摸，我們也得著手去做。那知，[原來他一直在這裡，我竟然不知！ ]不要為那罕有的時刻而活，這只是驚喜的禮物。當神看我們沒有走歪，就會將啟示顯明出來。千萬別把啟示的一刻作為標準，我們的標準乃是儘自己的本份。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，為著你的釋放和鼓勵，我感謝你。那近乎璀璨的喜樂已湧流在我心內。願你那寧靜的平安在此刻充滿我。
For a while, we are fully aware of God’s concern for us. But then, when God begins to use us in His work, we begin to take on a pitiful look and talk only of our trials and difficulties. And all the while God is trying to make us do our work as hidden people who are not in the spotlight. None of us would be hidden spiritually if we could help it. Can we do our work when it seems that God has sealed up heaven? Some of us always want to be brightly illuminated saints with golden halos and with the continual glow of inspiration, and to have other saints of God dealing with us all the time. A self-assured saint is of no value to God. He is abnormal, unfit for daily life, and completely unlike God. We are here, not as immature angels, but as men and women, to do the work of this world. And we are to do it with an infinitely greater power to withstand the struggle because we have been born from above.
If we continually try to bring back those exceptional moments of inspiration, it is a sign that it is not God we want. We are becoming obsessed with the moments when God did come and speak with us, and we are insisting that He do it again. But what God wants us to do is to “walk by faith.” How many of us have set ourselves aside as if to say, “I cannot do anything else until God appears to me”? He will never do it. We will have to get up on our own, without any inspiration and without any sudden touch from God. Then comes our surprise and we find ourselves exclaiming, “Why, He was there all the time, and I never knew it!” Never live for those exceptional moments— they are surprises. God will give us His touches of inspiration only when He sees that we are not in danger of being led away by them. We must never consider our moments of inspiration as the standard way of life— our work is our standard.
是真知而非感情
因我們行事為人，是憑著信心，不是憑著眼見。 （林後五7）
有些時候，我們感覺到神的關顧；之後，他就開始使用我們。不久，我們便裝出一副可憐兮兮的樣子，整天說什麼試煉困難；其實，神一直訓練我們在隱藏中儘自己的本分。屬靈方面來說，除非是不得已，沒有一個人願意隱藏自己。神若關上天門，我們能盡什麼本分？有些人整天想著頭上有發光的金圈，做榮光四射的聖徒，充滿了感動啟示，並有聖徒經常造就。徒有外表（原文作鍍金邊）的聖徒是無用的，是不正常的。他無法過平凡的生活，而且根本不像神。我們活在地上，不是做行將長成的天使。我們在世作工，是因為我們已從上面而生，有極大無比的能力，得以在磨難中站立。
要是我們想把罕有的啟示經歷重演一遍，就表示我們要的不是神。我們只是寶貴與神說話的時刻，並且堅持要他再來一次。其實神是要我們行在信心中。我們多少人曾袖手旁觀地說：[神若不向我顯現，我是無能為力的。 ]他不會顯現。這樣，就是沒有啟示，沒有神出奇不意的觸摸，我們也得著手去做。那知，[原來他一直在這裡，我竟然不知！ ]不要為那罕有的時刻而活，這只是驚喜的禮物。當神看我們沒有走歪，就會將啟示顯明出來。千萬別把啟示的一刻作為標準，我們的標準乃是儘自己的本份。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，為著你的釋放和鼓勵，我感謝你。那近乎璀璨的喜樂已湧流在我心內。願你那寧靜的平安在此刻充滿我。
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