. . . that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body —2 Corinthians 4:10
We have to develop godly habits to express what God’s grace has done in us. It is not just a question of being saved from hell, but of being saved so that “the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.” And it is adversity that makes us exhibit His life in our mortal flesh. Is my life exhibiting the essence of the sweetness of the Son of God, or just the basic irritation of “myself” that I would have apart from Him? The only thing that will enable me to enjoy adversity is the acute sense of eagerness of allowing the life of the Son of God to evidence itself in me. No matter how difficult something may be, I must say, “Lord, I am delighted to obey You in this.” Instantly, the Son of God will move to the forefront of my life, and will manifest in my body that which glorifies Him.
You must not debate. The moment you obey the light of God, His Son shines through you in that very adversity; but if you debate with God, you grieve His Spirit (see Ephesians 4:30). You must keep yourself in the proper condition to allow the life of the Son of God to be manifested in you, and you cannot keep yourself fit if you give way to self-pity. Our circumstances are the means God uses to exhibit just how wonderfully perfect and extraordinarily pure His Son is. Discovering a new way of manifesting the Son of God should make our heart beat with renewed excitement. It is one thing to choose adversity, and quite another to enter into adversity through the orchestrating of our circumstances by God’s sovereignty. And if God puts you into adversity, He is adequately sufficient to “supply all your need” (Philippians 4:19).
Keep your soul properly conditioned to manifest the life of the Son of God. Never live on your memories of past experiences, but let the Word of God always be living and active in you.
逆來順受的習慣
使耶穌的生，也顯明在我們身上。 （林後四10）
要養成述說神在我們身上所成就的恩典的習慣。這不是從地獄裡得拯救的問題，而是我們得救之後，在肉身上如何彰顯神兒子的生命問題。在不愉快的事上，正顯示我們有沒有彰顯神的生命。我是流露神兒子的溫良，還是表現離開神後自我的怒氣？唯一令我欣然接受不愉快的事情的，就是神兒子的生命在我身上彰顯的熱切期望。不管事情多麼不如意，只要說：[主，我樂意在這事上遵從你。 ]神兒子即時就會出現，在我的生命中彰顯他的榮耀。
千萬不可遲疑，一旦你順服那光，神的兒子就從那裡透射出來。要是你心裡爭辯，就必叫聖靈擔憂。你必須保持內在情況良好，讓神兒子的生命彰顯出來。若給自憐留地步，你就不健康了。我們生活的環境，是表彰神兒子何等完全、何等聖潔的機會。什麼事情叫你心慌意亂，就是表彰神又一新的機會。自己選擇不愉快的事與因神的安排而有不愉快的事，是截然不同的。若神放在你那裡，祂是綽有裕餘地供應你。
保持心靈健壯，好彰顯神兒子的生命。不可沉湎在記憶裡，讓神的話活潑有力地活在你裡面吧！
祈禱◆噢，主啊，求祢今天向我們彰顯祢的生命。讓這裡的每一個人，開始呼吸到自由的空氣，並歸向祢，在敬虔和恩典中得以堅固。
May 14, 2013
May 13, 2013
The Habit of Keeping a Clear Conscience
. . . strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men —Acts 24:16
God’s commands to us are actually given to the life of His Son in us. Consequently, to our human nature in which God’s Son has been formed (see Galatians 4:19), His commands are difficult. But they become divinely easy once we obey.
Conscience is that ability within me that attaches itself to the highest standard I know, and then continually reminds me of what that standard demands that I do. It is the eye of the soul which looks out either toward God or toward what we regard as the highest standard. This explains why conscience is different in different people. If I am in the habit of continually holding God’s standard in front of me, my conscience will always direct me to God’s perfect law and indicate what I should do. The question is, will I obey? I have to make an effort to keep my conscience so sensitive that I can live without any offense toward anyone. I should be living in such perfect harmony with God’s Son that the spirit of my mind is being renewed through every circumstance of life, and that I may be able to quickly “prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2 ; also see Ephesians 4:23).
God always instructs us down to the last detail. Is my ear sensitive enough to hear even the softest whisper of the Spirit, so that I know what I should do? “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God . . .” (Ephesians 4:30). He does not speak with a voice like thunder— His voice is so gentle that it is easy for us to ignore. And the only thing that keeps our conscience sensitive to Him is the habit of being open to God on the inside. When you begin to debate, stop immediately. Don’t ask, “Why can’t I do this?” You are on the wrong track. There is no debating possible once your conscience speaks. Whatever it is— drop it, and see that you keep your inner vision clear.
養成良心無虧的習慣
對神、對人，常存無虧的良心。 （徒二十四16）
神的命令，是向他兒子而發的，也就是向我們這些有他兒子在裡面的人而發的。他的命令固然難行，但若一旦聽從，就有從天上來的能力，便變得容易。良心使我依附最高的標準，並且告訴我什麼是最高的要求，教我應該怎樣去行。它是心靈的眼睛，可以舉目向神，又或舉目向他所定的最高的標準，因此良心的標準因人而異。我若經常仰望神，我的良心必然向著神完全的律法，指示我所當行的。問題是我肯不肯順從？我必須保持良心的敏銳，使我行事不至於衝撞神。我與神兒子應該同心同德，就是不論在任何境況下，心意都得以更新，叫我知道[何為神的善良、純全可喜悅的旨意]。
神對我們的管教是極其徹底的。我的耳朵是否敏銳地聽得見聖靈最微小的聲音，而知道當作的是什麼？ [不要叫神的靈擔憂]，他的聲音並不如雷霆；他的聲音是極其微小，很容易就被疏略過去。要使良心對神敏感，就要養成經常向神敞開的習慣。一有遲疑，須即停止。 [我為什麼不可以這樣？ ]那你已在歧路上了。良心一說話，就再沒有遲疑的餘地。你若讓一件事攔阻了你與神在隱密處的交通，那太冒險了。不管是什麼，放下它吧！要常保持內心視野清晰。
祈禱◆主啊，求祢撫摸我，讓我生命的堤岸沐浴祢愛所賜的平安中，我便充滿了讚美。
God’s commands to us are actually given to the life of His Son in us. Consequently, to our human nature in which God’s Son has been formed (see Galatians 4:19), His commands are difficult. But they become divinely easy once we obey.
Conscience is that ability within me that attaches itself to the highest standard I know, and then continually reminds me of what that standard demands that I do. It is the eye of the soul which looks out either toward God or toward what we regard as the highest standard. This explains why conscience is different in different people. If I am in the habit of continually holding God’s standard in front of me, my conscience will always direct me to God’s perfect law and indicate what I should do. The question is, will I obey? I have to make an effort to keep my conscience so sensitive that I can live without any offense toward anyone. I should be living in such perfect harmony with God’s Son that the spirit of my mind is being renewed through every circumstance of life, and that I may be able to quickly “prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2 ; also see Ephesians 4:23).
God always instructs us down to the last detail. Is my ear sensitive enough to hear even the softest whisper of the Spirit, so that I know what I should do? “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God . . .” (Ephesians 4:30). He does not speak with a voice like thunder— His voice is so gentle that it is easy for us to ignore. And the only thing that keeps our conscience sensitive to Him is the habit of being open to God on the inside. When you begin to debate, stop immediately. Don’t ask, “Why can’t I do this?” You are on the wrong track. There is no debating possible once your conscience speaks. Whatever it is— drop it, and see that you keep your inner vision clear.
養成良心無虧的習慣
對神、對人，常存無虧的良心。 （徒二十四16）
神的命令，是向他兒子而發的，也就是向我們這些有他兒子在裡面的人而發的。他的命令固然難行，但若一旦聽從，就有從天上來的能力，便變得容易。良心使我依附最高的標準，並且告訴我什麼是最高的要求，教我應該怎樣去行。它是心靈的眼睛，可以舉目向神，又或舉目向他所定的最高的標準，因此良心的標準因人而異。我若經常仰望神，我的良心必然向著神完全的律法，指示我所當行的。問題是我肯不肯順從？我必須保持良心的敏銳，使我行事不至於衝撞神。我與神兒子應該同心同德，就是不論在任何境況下，心意都得以更新，叫我知道[何為神的善良、純全可喜悅的旨意]。
神對我們的管教是極其徹底的。我的耳朵是否敏銳地聽得見聖靈最微小的聲音，而知道當作的是什麼？ [不要叫神的靈擔憂]，他的聲音並不如雷霆；他的聲音是極其微小，很容易就被疏略過去。要使良心對神敏感，就要養成經常向神敞開的習慣。一有遲疑，須即停止。 [我為什麼不可以這樣？ ]那你已在歧路上了。良心一說話，就再沒有遲疑的餘地。你若讓一件事攔阻了你與神在隱密處的交通，那太冒險了。不管是什麼，放下它吧！要常保持內心視野清晰。
祈禱◆主啊，求祢撫摸我，讓我生命的堤岸沐浴祢愛所賜的平安中，我便充滿了讚美。
May 12, 2013
The Habit of Having No Habits
If these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful . . . —2 Peter 1:8
When we first begin to form a habit, we are fully aware of it. There are times when we are aware of becoming virtuous and godly, but this awareness should only be a stage we quickly pass through as we grow spiritually. If we stop at this stage, we will develop a sense of spiritual pride. The right thing to do with godly habits is to immerse them in the life of the Lord until they become such a spontaneous expression of our lives that we are no longer aware of them. Our spiritual life continually causes us to focus our attention inwardly for the determined purpose of self-examination, because each of us has some qualities we have not yet added to our lives.
Your god may be your little Christian habit— the habit of prayer or Bible reading at certain times of your day. Watch how your Father will upset your schedule if you begin to worship your habit instead of what the habit symbolizes. We say, “I can’t do that right now; this is my time alone with God.” No, this is your time alone with your habit. There is a quality that is still lacking in you. Identify your shortcoming and then look for opportunities to work into your life that missing quality.
Love means that there are no visible habits— that your habits are so immersed in the Lord that you practice them without realizing it. If you are consciously aware of your own holiness, you place limitations on yourself from doing certain things— things God is not restricting you from at all. This means there is a missing quality that needs to be added to your life. The only supernatural life is the life the Lord Jesus lived, and He was at home with God anywhere. Is there someplace where you are not at home with God? Then allow God to work through whatever that particular circumstance may be until you increase in Him, adding His qualities. Your life will then become the simple life of a child.
不為習慣所束縛
你們若充充足足的有這幾樣，就必使你們在認識我們的主耶穌基督上，不至於閒懶不結果子了。 （彼後一8）
習慣開始形成時，我們是知道的。好些時候，我們自覺在德行、忍耐、虔誠上有了長進，但這不過是生命的初階。但若老是停留在這地步，在靈性上必定趾高氣揚，夜郎自大。而正確的做法是把習慣溶在主的生命裡，直至每一種習慣，都不再是自覺的表現。屬靈的生命需要經常自省，因為還有好些品質未加上去。到了最終，與主的關係就極為單純了。
神可能只是你的一套信徒習慣，在指定的時間內祈禱讀經。假若你崇拜的是這些習慣，而不是習慣所象徵的意義－－[我現在沒空，我正在禱告，這是我親近神的時間。 ]天父可能會把那些時間顛倒。這只是你習慣的時間，你身上仍缺少一些品質。要找出缺點，然後在需要加上去的品質上多多操練。
愛不是習慣，是到了忘掉習慣的地步，達到不自覺的境地。你若自覺聖潔，那麼必然有些事你認為是乾不來的，在某些關係上你也未夠單純；那就是說你還要加上的品質。只有耶穌所過的生活，才是超人的生活，他隨時隨地都與神同在，沒有絲毫隔膜。你有沒有什麼地方與神有隙，不能與他契合無間？讓神在特別的環境下施以壓力，知道你得著他。那時，你的生命就如嬰孩一般單純。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，求你向我們解明真理，讓我們明白，並使我們在你裡面得以剛強。
When we first begin to form a habit, we are fully aware of it. There are times when we are aware of becoming virtuous and godly, but this awareness should only be a stage we quickly pass through as we grow spiritually. If we stop at this stage, we will develop a sense of spiritual pride. The right thing to do with godly habits is to immerse them in the life of the Lord until they become such a spontaneous expression of our lives that we are no longer aware of them. Our spiritual life continually causes us to focus our attention inwardly for the determined purpose of self-examination, because each of us has some qualities we have not yet added to our lives.
Your god may be your little Christian habit— the habit of prayer or Bible reading at certain times of your day. Watch how your Father will upset your schedule if you begin to worship your habit instead of what the habit symbolizes. We say, “I can’t do that right now; this is my time alone with God.” No, this is your time alone with your habit. There is a quality that is still lacking in you. Identify your shortcoming and then look for opportunities to work into your life that missing quality.
Love means that there are no visible habits— that your habits are so immersed in the Lord that you practice them without realizing it. If you are consciously aware of your own holiness, you place limitations on yourself from doing certain things— things God is not restricting you from at all. This means there is a missing quality that needs to be added to your life. The only supernatural life is the life the Lord Jesus lived, and He was at home with God anywhere. Is there someplace where you are not at home with God? Then allow God to work through whatever that particular circumstance may be until you increase in Him, adding His qualities. Your life will then become the simple life of a child.
不為習慣所束縛
你們若充充足足的有這幾樣，就必使你們在認識我們的主耶穌基督上，不至於閒懶不結果子了。 （彼後一8）
習慣開始形成時，我們是知道的。好些時候，我們自覺在德行、忍耐、虔誠上有了長進，但這不過是生命的初階。但若老是停留在這地步，在靈性上必定趾高氣揚，夜郎自大。而正確的做法是把習慣溶在主的生命裡，直至每一種習慣，都不再是自覺的表現。屬靈的生命需要經常自省，因為還有好些品質未加上去。到了最終，與主的關係就極為單純了。
神可能只是你的一套信徒習慣，在指定的時間內祈禱讀經。假若你崇拜的是這些習慣，而不是習慣所象徵的意義－－[我現在沒空，我正在禱告，這是我親近神的時間。 ]天父可能會把那些時間顛倒。這只是你習慣的時間，你身上仍缺少一些品質。要找出缺點，然後在需要加上去的品質上多多操練。
愛不是習慣，是到了忘掉習慣的地步，達到不自覺的境地。你若自覺聖潔，那麼必然有些事你認為是乾不來的，在某些關係上你也未夠單純；那就是說你還要加上的品質。只有耶穌所過的生活，才是超人的生活，他隨時隨地都與神同在，沒有絲毫隔膜。你有沒有什麼地方與神有隙，不能與他契合無間？讓神在特別的環境下施以壓力，知道你得著他。那時，你的生命就如嬰孩一般單純。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，求你向我們解明真理，讓我們明白，並使我們在你裡面得以剛強。
May 11, 2013
"Love One Another"
. . . add to your . . . brotherly kindness love —2 Peter 1:5, 7
Love is an indefinite thing to most of us; we don’t know what we mean when we talk about love. Love is the loftiest preference of one person for another, and spiritually Jesus demands that this sovereign preference be for Himself (see Luke 14:26). Initially, when “the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit” (Romans 5:5), it is easy to put Jesus first. But then we must practice the things mentioned in 2 Peter 1 to see them worked out in our lives.
The first thing God does is forcibly remove any insincerity, pride, and vanity from my life. And the Holy Spirit reveals to me that God loved me not because I was lovable, but because it was His nature to do so. Now He commands me to show the same love to others by saying, “. . . love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12). He is saying, “I will bring a number of people around you whom you cannot respect, but you must exhibit My love to them, just as I have exhibited it to you.” This kind of love is not a patronizing love for the unlovable— it is His love, and it will not be evidenced in us overnight. Some of us may have tried to force it, but we were soon tired and frustrated.
“The Lord . . . is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish . . .” (2 Peter 3:9). I should look within and remember how wonderfully He has dealt with me. The knowledge that God has loved me beyond all limits will compel me to go into the world to love others in the same way. I may get irritated because I have to live with an unusually difficult person. But just think how disagreeable I have been with God! Am I prepared to be identified so closely with the Lord Jesus that His life and His sweetness will be continually poured out through Me? Neither natural love nor God’s divine love will remain and grow in me unless it is nurtured. Love is spontaneous, but it has to be maintained through discipline.
你不能一蹴而就
有了愛弟兄的心，又要加上愛眾人的心。 （彼後一7）
對大多數人來說，愛的意義是模糊的；人談論愛，卻不知愛是什麼。愛是一個人對另一個人超出一切的欣賞。屬靈方面，耶穌要求我們揀選他超過一切（路十四26）。當聖靈將神的愛澆灌在我們心裡，耶穌基督就很自然的居首位了。從此，我們就能活出彼得在此所列舉的種種德行了。
首先，神要把我的偽裝、外表的敬虔，一概拆除。聖靈顯明神愛我，不是因為我可愛，而是因為他愛的本性。他對我說：[好了，如今你要用同樣的愛去愛別人。 ][我怎樣愛你們，你們也要怎樣相愛。 ][我會把好些你看不在眼內的人，擺在你周圍，你必須用我的愛去愛他們，像我愛你們一樣。 ]愛是不能矯揉造作的。不少人試著這樣作，但不久就厭倦了。
[主長久忍耐……]讓我看看自己，又看看他怎樣待我。神愛我到一個地步，以致我一切的罪惡、卑鄙、自私、惡行，他都不追究；因此我就能活在世上，以神的愛去愛人。神對我的愛既是用之不竭，我對別人的愛也必須如此。若我一動怒，在恩典中的長進就會停止。我所以發怒，是因為要與一個怪癖的人共處。但試想，從前我與神相處，叫他多麼難堪！我們是否願意與主耶穌合而為一，讓他的生命與溫馨，每時每刻流露出來？不論人性的愛，或神聖的愛，都需要加以培育，才能存留。愛雖然是自然流露的，卻要操練去持守。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，以你活潑的能力、恩賜和美善，影響我們生活的每一方面，使它能反映出你臉上的榮光。這似乎是我全部的禱告。
Love is an indefinite thing to most of us; we don’t know what we mean when we talk about love. Love is the loftiest preference of one person for another, and spiritually Jesus demands that this sovereign preference be for Himself (see Luke 14:26). Initially, when “the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit” (Romans 5:5), it is easy to put Jesus first. But then we must practice the things mentioned in 2 Peter 1 to see them worked out in our lives.
The first thing God does is forcibly remove any insincerity, pride, and vanity from my life. And the Holy Spirit reveals to me that God loved me not because I was lovable, but because it was His nature to do so. Now He commands me to show the same love to others by saying, “. . . love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12). He is saying, “I will bring a number of people around you whom you cannot respect, but you must exhibit My love to them, just as I have exhibited it to you.” This kind of love is not a patronizing love for the unlovable— it is His love, and it will not be evidenced in us overnight. Some of us may have tried to force it, but we were soon tired and frustrated.
“The Lord . . . is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish . . .” (2 Peter 3:9). I should look within and remember how wonderfully He has dealt with me. The knowledge that God has loved me beyond all limits will compel me to go into the world to love others in the same way. I may get irritated because I have to live with an unusually difficult person. But just think how disagreeable I have been with God! Am I prepared to be identified so closely with the Lord Jesus that His life and His sweetness will be continually poured out through Me? Neither natural love nor God’s divine love will remain and grow in me unless it is nurtured. Love is spontaneous, but it has to be maintained through discipline.
你不能一蹴而就
有了愛弟兄的心，又要加上愛眾人的心。 （彼後一7）
對大多數人來說，愛的意義是模糊的；人談論愛，卻不知愛是什麼。愛是一個人對另一個人超出一切的欣賞。屬靈方面，耶穌要求我們揀選他超過一切（路十四26）。當聖靈將神的愛澆灌在我們心裡，耶穌基督就很自然的居首位了。從此，我們就能活出彼得在此所列舉的種種德行了。
首先，神要把我的偽裝、外表的敬虔，一概拆除。聖靈顯明神愛我，不是因為我可愛，而是因為他愛的本性。他對我說：[好了，如今你要用同樣的愛去愛別人。 ][我怎樣愛你們，你們也要怎樣相愛。 ][我會把好些你看不在眼內的人，擺在你周圍，你必須用我的愛去愛他們，像我愛你們一樣。 ]愛是不能矯揉造作的。不少人試著這樣作，但不久就厭倦了。
[主長久忍耐……]讓我看看自己，又看看他怎樣待我。神愛我到一個地步，以致我一切的罪惡、卑鄙、自私、惡行，他都不追究；因此我就能活在世上，以神的愛去愛人。神對我的愛既是用之不竭，我對別人的愛也必須如此。若我一動怒，在恩典中的長進就會停止。我所以發怒，是因為要與一個怪癖的人共處。但試想，從前我與神相處，叫他多麼難堪！我們是否願意與主耶穌合而為一，讓他的生命與溫馨，每時每刻流露出來？不論人性的愛，或神聖的愛，都需要加以培育，才能存留。愛雖然是自然流露的，卻要操練去持守。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，以你活潑的能力、恩賜和美善，影響我們生活的每一方面，使它能反映出你臉上的榮光。這似乎是我全部的禱告。
May 10, 2013
Take the Initiative
. . . add to your faith virtue . . . —2 Peter 1:5
Add means that we have to do something. We are in danger of forgetting that we cannot do what God does, and that God will not do what we can do. We cannot save nor sanctify ourselves— God does that. But God will not give us good habits or character, and He will not force us to walk correctly before Him. We have to do all that ourselves. We must “work out” our “own salvation” which God has worked in us (Philippians 2:12). Add means that we must get into the habit of doing things, and in the initial stages that is difficult. To take the initiative is to make a beginning— to instruct yourself in the way you must go.
Beware of the tendency to ask the way when you know it perfectly well. Take the initiative— stop hesitating— take the first step. Be determined to act immediately in faith on what God says to you when He speaks, and never reconsider or change your initial decisions. If you hesitate when God tells you to do something, you are being careless, spurning the grace in which you stand. Take the initiative yourself, make a decision of your will right now, and make it impossible to go back. Burn your bridges behind you, saying, “I will write that letter,” or “I will pay that debt”; and then do it! Make it irrevocable.
We have to get into the habit of carefully listening to God about everything, forming the habit of finding out what He says and heeding it. If, when a crisis comes, we instinctively turn to God, we will know that the habit has been formed in us. We have to take the initiative where we are, not where we have not yet been.
採取主動
"...有了信心，又要加上德行..." (彼後1:5)
“加上”的意思是要有所行動。我們常有一個危險，就是忘記我們不能作上帝作的事，上帝也不會作我們能作的。我們不能救自己，也不能叫自己成聖--那是上帝作的事。上帝既不會給我們好的習慣或者性格，也不會強迫我們行在他的旨意裡。我們自己必須作這些事。神在我們裡面作工，但我們自己必須“作成”我們“得救的功夫”（腓2:12）。 “加上”意味著我們必須養成作事情的習慣，而這在一開始總是很困難。採取主動要有一個開頭--把自己帶到必走之路上。
要警醒本來清楚知道神的旨意卻要反复詢問的傾向。採取主動--停止猶豫--邁開第一步。當上帝告訴你他的心意時，靠信心馬上就付諸行動，永遠都不要再考慮或者改變最初的決定。如果當神要你去做一件事，你卻猶猶豫豫，那你就在不經意間摒棄了神的恩典。自己要採取主動，現在就做出決定，不要讓自己那麼容易就回頭。破釜沉舟之時，告訴自己，“我要寫那封信”，或者“我要把那筆債還掉“；然後就去作吧！不要輕易改變！
我們必須養成在一切事情上仔細聆聽神聲音的習慣，明白他的心意並聽從他的命令。如果當災難到來時，我們能條件反射般地轉向神，我們就知道自己已經養成了這種習慣了。採取主動必須從目前所站的崗位上開始，而不是那些我們還沒有經歷過的。
Add means that we have to do something. We are in danger of forgetting that we cannot do what God does, and that God will not do what we can do. We cannot save nor sanctify ourselves— God does that. But God will not give us good habits or character, and He will not force us to walk correctly before Him. We have to do all that ourselves. We must “work out” our “own salvation” which God has worked in us (Philippians 2:12). Add means that we must get into the habit of doing things, and in the initial stages that is difficult. To take the initiative is to make a beginning— to instruct yourself in the way you must go.
Beware of the tendency to ask the way when you know it perfectly well. Take the initiative— stop hesitating— take the first step. Be determined to act immediately in faith on what God says to you when He speaks, and never reconsider or change your initial decisions. If you hesitate when God tells you to do something, you are being careless, spurning the grace in which you stand. Take the initiative yourself, make a decision of your will right now, and make it impossible to go back. Burn your bridges behind you, saying, “I will write that letter,” or “I will pay that debt”; and then do it! Make it irrevocable.
We have to get into the habit of carefully listening to God about everything, forming the habit of finding out what He says and heeding it. If, when a crisis comes, we instinctively turn to God, we will know that the habit has been formed in us. We have to take the initiative where we are, not where we have not yet been.
採取主動
"...有了信心，又要加上德行..." (彼後1:5)
“加上”的意思是要有所行動。我們常有一個危險，就是忘記我們不能作上帝作的事，上帝也不會作我們能作的。我們不能救自己，也不能叫自己成聖--那是上帝作的事。上帝既不會給我們好的習慣或者性格，也不會強迫我們行在他的旨意裡。我們自己必須作這些事。神在我們裡面作工，但我們自己必須“作成”我們“得救的功夫”（腓2:12）。 “加上”意味著我們必須養成作事情的習慣，而這在一開始總是很困難。採取主動要有一個開頭--把自己帶到必走之路上。
要警醒本來清楚知道神的旨意卻要反复詢問的傾向。採取主動--停止猶豫--邁開第一步。當上帝告訴你他的心意時，靠信心馬上就付諸行動，永遠都不要再考慮或者改變最初的決定。如果當神要你去做一件事，你卻猶猶豫豫，那你就在不經意間摒棄了神的恩典。自己要採取主動，現在就做出決定，不要讓自己那麼容易就回頭。破釜沉舟之時，告訴自己，“我要寫那封信”，或者“我要把那筆債還掉“；然後就去作吧！不要輕易改變！
我們必須養成在一切事情上仔細聆聽神聲音的習慣，明白他的心意並聽從他的命令。如果當災難到來時，我們能條件反射般地轉向神，我們就知道自己已經養成了這種習慣了。採取主動必須從目前所站的崗位上開始，而不是那些我們還沒有經歷過的。
May 09, 2013
Reaching Beyond Our Grasp
Where there is no revelation [or prophetic vision], the people cast off restraint . . . —Proverbs 29:18
There is a difference between holding on to a principle and having a vision. A principle does not come from moral inspiration, but a vision does. People who are totally consumed with idealistic principles rarely do anything. A person’s own idea of God and His attributes may actually be used to justify and rationalize his deliberate neglect of his duty. Jonah tried to excuse his disobedience by saying to God, “. . . I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm” (Jonah 4:2). I too may have the right idea of God and His attributes, but that may be the very reason why I do not do my duty. But wherever there is vision, there is also a life of honesty and integrity, because the vision gives me the moral incentive.
Our own idealistic principles may actually lull us into ruin. Examine yourself spiritually to see if you have vision, or only principles.
Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp, Or what’s a heaven for?
“Where there is no revelation [or prophetic vision]. . . .” Once we lose sight of God, we begin to be reckless. We cast off certain restraints from activities we know are wrong. We set prayer aside as well and cease having God’s vision in the little things of life. We simply begin to act on our own initiative. If we are eating only out of our own hand, and doing things solely on our own initiative without expecting God to come in, we are on a downward path. We have lost the vision. Is our attitude today an attitude that flows from our vision of God? Are we expecting God to do greater things than He has ever done before? Is there a freshness and a vitality in our spiritual outlook?
沒有開展的把持
沒有異象，民就放肆。 （箴二十九18）
理想與異像是不同的。理想沒有道德性的啟示；異象則有。沉湎在理想中的人，甚少有所作為。一個人可以用對神的看法，作為逃避責任的藉口。約拿曾自辯說，神既然是公義憐憫的，因此一切都必妥當。我也許對神有十分正確的觀念，但這可能成為我不盡本分的理由。若有異象，生命必然公義正直，因為異象帶來道德的催逼。
理想可以緩頓以至消滅，試審察一下你的屬靈狀況，看看是只有理想，還是真有異象。 [啊，人所達致的，該超過他所把握的，否則，天堂何價？ ][沒有異象……]一旦看不見神，我們就會放肆，不受約束，不作禱告，在小事上把神撇在一邊，依照自己的意思行事。我們若一手包辦，自作主張，不期望神介入，我們就在走下坡，失去了異象。我們今日的態度，是否從神的異象而來的呢？我們期望神行大事，勝於往日嗎？我們屬靈的展望是否活潑有力？
祈禱◆噢，主啊，某些情緒似乎很容易令人悄悄地從你的身邊和你的計劃中溜走。可是，主啊，我不相信這是現在的情況；我所相信的，是人可能像一頭野獸那樣進入你的計劃中，沒有判斷能力，也缺乏異象。主啊，我深願成為你的兒子。
There is a difference between holding on to a principle and having a vision. A principle does not come from moral inspiration, but a vision does. People who are totally consumed with idealistic principles rarely do anything. A person’s own idea of God and His attributes may actually be used to justify and rationalize his deliberate neglect of his duty. Jonah tried to excuse his disobedience by saying to God, “. . . I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm” (Jonah 4:2). I too may have the right idea of God and His attributes, but that may be the very reason why I do not do my duty. But wherever there is vision, there is also a life of honesty and integrity, because the vision gives me the moral incentive.
Our own idealistic principles may actually lull us into ruin. Examine yourself spiritually to see if you have vision, or only principles.
Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp, Or what’s a heaven for?
“Where there is no revelation [or prophetic vision]. . . .” Once we lose sight of God, we begin to be reckless. We cast off certain restraints from activities we know are wrong. We set prayer aside as well and cease having God’s vision in the little things of life. We simply begin to act on our own initiative. If we are eating only out of our own hand, and doing things solely on our own initiative without expecting God to come in, we are on a downward path. We have lost the vision. Is our attitude today an attitude that flows from our vision of God? Are we expecting God to do greater things than He has ever done before? Is there a freshness and a vitality in our spiritual outlook?
沒有開展的把持
沒有異象，民就放肆。 （箴二十九18）
理想與異像是不同的。理想沒有道德性的啟示；異象則有。沉湎在理想中的人，甚少有所作為。一個人可以用對神的看法，作為逃避責任的藉口。約拿曾自辯說，神既然是公義憐憫的，因此一切都必妥當。我也許對神有十分正確的觀念，但這可能成為我不盡本分的理由。若有異象，生命必然公義正直，因為異象帶來道德的催逼。
理想可以緩頓以至消滅，試審察一下你的屬靈狀況，看看是只有理想，還是真有異象。 [啊，人所達致的，該超過他所把握的，否則，天堂何價？ ][沒有異象……]一旦看不見神，我們就會放肆，不受約束，不作禱告，在小事上把神撇在一邊，依照自己的意思行事。我們若一手包辦，自作主張，不期望神介入，我們就在走下坡，失去了異象。我們今日的態度，是否從神的異象而來的呢？我們期望神行大事，勝於往日嗎？我們屬靈的展望是否活潑有力？
祈禱◆噢，主啊，某些情緒似乎很容易令人悄悄地從你的身邊和你的計劃中溜走。可是，主啊，我不相信這是現在的情況；我所相信的，是人可能像一頭野獸那樣進入你的計劃中，沒有判斷能力，也缺乏異象。主啊，我深願成為你的兒子。
May 08, 2013
The Faith to Persevere
Because you have kept My command to persevere . . . —Revelation 3:10
Perseverance means more than endurance— more than simply holding on until the end. A saint’s life is in the hands of God like a bow and arrow in the hands of an archer. God is aiming at something the saint cannot see, but our Lord continues to stretch and strain, and every once in a while the saint says, “I can’t take any more.” Yet God pays no attention; He goes on stretching until His purpose is in sight, and then He lets the arrow fly. Entrust yourself to God’s hands. Is there something in your life for which you need perseverance right now? Maintain your intimate relationship with Jesus Christ through the perseverance of faith. Proclaim as Job did, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” (Job 13:15).
Faith is not some weak and pitiful emotion, but is strong and vigorous confidence built on the fact that God is holy love. And even though you cannot see Him right now and cannot understand what He is doing, you know Him. Disaster occurs in your life when you lack the mental composure that comes from establishing yourself on the eternal truth that God is holy love. Faith is the supreme effort of your life— throwing yourself with abandon and total confidence upon God.
God ventured His all in Jesus Christ to save us, and now He wants us to venture our all with total abandoned confidence in Him. There are areas in our lives where that faith has not worked in us as yet— places still untouched by the life of God. There were none of those places in Jesus Christ’s life, and there are to be none in ours. Jesus prayed, “This is eternal life, that they may know You . . .” (John 17:3). The real meaning of eternal life is a life that can face anything it has to face without wavering. If we will take this view, life will become one great romance— a glorious opportunity of seeing wonderful things all the time. God is disciplining us to get us into this central place of power.
信心的忍耐
你既遵守我忍耐的道。 （啟三10）
忍耐不單是忍受。聖徒的生命在神手中，有如弓箭在射箭者的手上。神正瞄準一些我們看不見的東西，在用力拉開弓；聖徒卻說：[我再也受不了。 ]神不加理會，反而繼續拉緊，直至目標在望，才鬆手讓箭射出。放心把自己放在神手中。你現在正要忍耐什麼呢？只要用忍耐的信心，保持你與耶穌基督的關係。 [他雖然殺我，我仍要等候他。 ]
信心不是悲觀的情緒，乃是強而有力的信任，是建造在神聖潔的愛上。你如今看不見他，也不明白他在做什麼，但你是認識他的。我們心靈的平穩，在乎我們是否建立在神至聖的愛這永恆的真理上；否則，信心必如船觸礁而覆沒。信心是你人生中最英勇的奮鬥，是不顧一切的把自己交託神，一心投靠他。
神在耶穌基督裡已赴湯蹈火，不顧一切地救了我們；如今他要我們不惜犧牲一切，全心信靠他。我們裡面還有許多地方，是信心尚未耕耘過的，就是神的生命尚未觸摸到的。在耶穌基督的生命裡，卻沒有這樣的光景，我們也不該有。 [認識你……這就是永生。 ]永生的真正意義，就是一種面對任何事情而不動搖的生命。我們若有這種看見，人生就成為一頁羅曼史，能夠每時每刻經歷到奇妙的事。神一直在操練我們，好使我們進入這能力的中心裡去。
祈禱◆主啊，我理應成為何等樣的人！我那充滿恩典的生命在你的掌管下是那麼奇妙；然而，我仍發覺自己是那麼氣量狹小。主啊，我還可以說什麼呢！
Perseverance means more than endurance— more than simply holding on until the end. A saint’s life is in the hands of God like a bow and arrow in the hands of an archer. God is aiming at something the saint cannot see, but our Lord continues to stretch and strain, and every once in a while the saint says, “I can’t take any more.” Yet God pays no attention; He goes on stretching until His purpose is in sight, and then He lets the arrow fly. Entrust yourself to God’s hands. Is there something in your life for which you need perseverance right now? Maintain your intimate relationship with Jesus Christ through the perseverance of faith. Proclaim as Job did, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” (Job 13:15).
Faith is not some weak and pitiful emotion, but is strong and vigorous confidence built on the fact that God is holy love. And even though you cannot see Him right now and cannot understand what He is doing, you know Him. Disaster occurs in your life when you lack the mental composure that comes from establishing yourself on the eternal truth that God is holy love. Faith is the supreme effort of your life— throwing yourself with abandon and total confidence upon God.
God ventured His all in Jesus Christ to save us, and now He wants us to venture our all with total abandoned confidence in Him. There are areas in our lives where that faith has not worked in us as yet— places still untouched by the life of God. There were none of those places in Jesus Christ’s life, and there are to be none in ours. Jesus prayed, “This is eternal life, that they may know You . . .” (John 17:3). The real meaning of eternal life is a life that can face anything it has to face without wavering. If we will take this view, life will become one great romance— a glorious opportunity of seeing wonderful things all the time. God is disciplining us to get us into this central place of power.
信心的忍耐
你既遵守我忍耐的道。 （啟三10）
忍耐不單是忍受。聖徒的生命在神手中，有如弓箭在射箭者的手上。神正瞄準一些我們看不見的東西，在用力拉開弓；聖徒卻說：[我再也受不了。 ]神不加理會，反而繼續拉緊，直至目標在望，才鬆手讓箭射出。放心把自己放在神手中。你現在正要忍耐什麼呢？只要用忍耐的信心，保持你與耶穌基督的關係。 [他雖然殺我，我仍要等候他。 ]
信心不是悲觀的情緒，乃是強而有力的信任，是建造在神聖潔的愛上。你如今看不見他，也不明白他在做什麼，但你是認識他的。我們心靈的平穩，在乎我們是否建立在神至聖的愛這永恆的真理上；否則，信心必如船觸礁而覆沒。信心是你人生中最英勇的奮鬥，是不顧一切的把自己交託神，一心投靠他。
神在耶穌基督裡已赴湯蹈火，不顧一切地救了我們；如今他要我們不惜犧牲一切，全心信靠他。我們裡面還有許多地方，是信心尚未耕耘過的，就是神的生命尚未觸摸到的。在耶穌基督的生命裡，卻沒有這樣的光景，我們也不該有。 [認識你……這就是永生。 ]永生的真正意義，就是一種面對任何事情而不動搖的生命。我們若有這種看見，人生就成為一頁羅曼史，能夠每時每刻經歷到奇妙的事。神一直在操練我們，好使我們進入這能力的中心裡去。
祈禱◆主啊，我理應成為何等樣的人！我那充滿恩典的生命在你的掌管下是那麼奇妙；然而，我仍發覺自己是那麼氣量狹小。主啊，我還可以說什麼呢！
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