We were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel.
Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things
happened —Luke 24:21
Every
fact that the disciples stated was right, but the conclusions they drew
from those facts were wrong. Anything that has even a hint of dejection
spiritually is always wrong. If I am depressed or burdened, I am to
blame, not God or anyone else. Dejection stems from one of two sources— I
have either satisfied a lust or I have not had it satisfied. In either
case, dejection is the result. Lust means “I must have it at once.”
Spiritual lust causes me to demand an answer from God, instead of
seeking God Himself who gives the answer. What have I been hoping or
trusting God would do? Is today “the third day” and He has still not
done what I expected? Am I therefore justified in being dejected and in
blaming God? Whenever we insist that God should give us an answer to
prayer we are off track. The purpose of prayer is that we get ahold of
God, not of the answer. It is impossible to be well physically and to be
dejected, because dejection is a sign of sickness. This is also true
spiritually. Dejection spiritually is wrong, and we are always to blame
for it.
We look for visions from heaven and for
earth-shaking events to see God’s power. Even the fact that we are
dejected is proof that we do this. Yet we never realize that all the
time God is at work in our everyday events and in the people around us.
If we will only obey, and do the task that He has placed closest to us,
we will see Him. One of the most amazing revelations of God comes to us
when we learn that it is in the everyday things of life that we realize
the magnificent deity of Jesus Christ.
沮喪的操練
但我們素來所盼望……不但如此，……現在已經三天了。 （路二十四21）
門徒在這裡講述的都沒有錯；但她們從其中所得的推斷卻是錯的。任何叫靈性沮喪的事，必然是錯的。苦悶和沮喪來到，是咎由自取，不必怨天尤人。沮喪頹唐，來源有二，非此即彼：一是我的私慾得到滿足，一是我得不到所慾望的。情慾的意思是必須立刻得著。屬靈的慾望叫我逼神應允我，而不是叫我尋求那位有求必應的神。我一向相信神會怎樣行，到今日－－就是此時此刻－－已經三天了，他還未動工，我就有理由沮喪，可以怪責神。什麼時候我們要神答允禱告，便已經是走差了。禱告是我們抓住神，而不是抓住禱告的應允。身體健康，便絕不頹喪；頹喪是病態的表現，在屬靈上也是這樣。屬靈的沮喪是錯的，要責怪的就責怪自己吧。
我們盼望從天看見異象，從地震、雷轟中搜尋神的大能（我們的沮喪表示我們確是這樣去搜尋），卻沒想到神竟一直在最平凡的事物、在我們周遭的人中間。我們若盡上義務，就必看見他。主耶穌的神聖，是在最平凡的事上顯現出來，我們一旦明白這一點，對神就有了最深切的認識。
祈禱◆主啊，在每日繁多的責任中，保守我有平靜的心；藉著你的撫慰和仁慈，使我成為尊貴。讓我在你裡面得著平靜安穩。
February 07, 2014
February 06, 2014
Are You Ready To Be Poured Out As an Offering? (2)
I am already being poured out as a drink offering . . . —2 Timothy 4:6
Are you ready to be poured out as an offering? It is an act of your will, not your emotions. Tell God you are ready to be offered as a sacrifice for Him. Then accept the consequences as they come, without any complaints, in spite of what God may send your way. God sends you through a crisis in private, where no other person can help you. From the outside your life may appear to be the same, but the difference is taking place in your will. Once you have experienced the crisis in your will, you will take no thought of the cost when it begins to affect you externally. If you don’t deal with God on the level of your will first, the result will be only to arouse sympathy for yourself.
“Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar” (Psalm 118:27). You must be willing to be placed on the altar and go through the fire; willing to experience what the altar represents-burning, purification, and separation for only one purpose-the elimination of every desire and affection not grounded in or directed toward God. But you don’t eliminate it, God does. You “bind the sacrifice . . . to the horns of the altar” and see to it that you don’t wallow in self-pity once the fire begins. After you have gone through the fire, there will be nothing that will be able to trouble or depress you. When another crisis arises, you will realize that things cannot touch you as they used to do. What fire lies ahead in your life?
Tell God you are ready to be poured out as an offering, and God will prove Himself to be all you ever dreamed He would be.
你準備好被澆奠嗎？
我已經預備好被澆奠。 （提後四6，意譯）
[我現在已預備好獻上。 ]這是意志的抉擇，而不是情緒的衝動。告訴神你已預備好獻上；就是不顧後果，神怎樣安排也沒有絲毫的怨嘆。神能把你帶過難關，這是沒有人可以幫你的。外面環境可能依舊，裡面的心志卻有了不同。在心志里首先經歷這種轉變，那麼當事情臨到，就不會斤斤計較了。你若沒有與神這樣碰頭，最終便會自憐自嘆。
[用繩索把祭牲綁上、拴在祭壇的角上。 ]祭壇就是火的意思－－焚燒、潔淨、隔離，其目的就是斷絕一切不由神而來的關係，隔絕所有不屬於神的物品。不是你去燒毀，乃是神；你只要把祭牲拴在壇角。 當火起來燃燒，不要去惋惜這些東西。經過了火的焚燒，就再沒有什麼會壓制你，或使你沮喪。當重要關頭臨到，發覺沒有什麼可以像昔日那樣摸著你了。你的 [火]是什麼？告訴神你預備獻上，神便會向你顯示他自己，就是你日夕所想的。
祈禱◆[但到了神我們救主的恩慈，和他向人所施的慈愛顯明的時候……]噢，主啊，這句話經常縈繞我的心頭；然而，我極少將你的恩典和慈愛展示人前！
Are you ready to be poured out as an offering? It is an act of your will, not your emotions. Tell God you are ready to be offered as a sacrifice for Him. Then accept the consequences as they come, without any complaints, in spite of what God may send your way. God sends you through a crisis in private, where no other person can help you. From the outside your life may appear to be the same, but the difference is taking place in your will. Once you have experienced the crisis in your will, you will take no thought of the cost when it begins to affect you externally. If you don’t deal with God on the level of your will first, the result will be only to arouse sympathy for yourself.
“Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar” (Psalm 118:27). You must be willing to be placed on the altar and go through the fire; willing to experience what the altar represents-burning, purification, and separation for only one purpose-the elimination of every desire and affection not grounded in or directed toward God. But you don’t eliminate it, God does. You “bind the sacrifice . . . to the horns of the altar” and see to it that you don’t wallow in self-pity once the fire begins. After you have gone through the fire, there will be nothing that will be able to trouble or depress you. When another crisis arises, you will realize that things cannot touch you as they used to do. What fire lies ahead in your life?
Tell God you are ready to be poured out as an offering, and God will prove Himself to be all you ever dreamed He would be.
你準備好被澆奠嗎？
我已經預備好被澆奠。 （提後四6，意譯）
[我現在已預備好獻上。 ]這是意志的抉擇，而不是情緒的衝動。告訴神你已預備好獻上；就是不顧後果，神怎樣安排也沒有絲毫的怨嘆。神能把你帶過難關，這是沒有人可以幫你的。外面環境可能依舊，裡面的心志卻有了不同。在心志里首先經歷這種轉變，那麼當事情臨到，就不會斤斤計較了。你若沒有與神這樣碰頭，最終便會自憐自嘆。
[用繩索把祭牲綁上、拴在祭壇的角上。 ]祭壇就是火的意思－－焚燒、潔淨、隔離，其目的就是斷絕一切不由神而來的關係，隔絕所有不屬於神的物品。不是你去燒毀，乃是神；你只要把祭牲拴在壇角。 當火起來燃燒，不要去惋惜這些東西。經過了火的焚燒，就再沒有什麼會壓制你，或使你沮喪。當重要關頭臨到，發覺沒有什麼可以像昔日那樣摸著你了。你的 [火]是什麼？告訴神你預備獻上，神便會向你顯示他自己，就是你日夕所想的。
祈禱◆[但到了神我們救主的恩慈，和他向人所施的慈愛顯明的時候……]噢，主啊，這句話經常縈繞我的心頭；然而，我極少將你的恩典和慈愛展示人前！
February 05, 2014
Are You Ready To Be Poured Out As an Offering? (1)
If I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all—Philippians 2:17
Are you willing to sacrifice yourself for the work of another believer—to pour out your life sacrificially for the ministry and faith of others? Or do you say, "I am not willing to be poured out right now, and I don’t want God to tell me how to serve Him. I want to choose the place of my own sacrifice. And I want to have certain people watching me and saying, ’Well done.’ "
It is one thing to follow God’s way of service if you are regarded as a hero, but quite another thing if the road marked out for you by God requires becoming a “doormat” under other people’s feet. God’s purpose may be to teach you to say, “I know how to be abased . . .” (Philippians 4:12). Are you ready to be sacrificed like that? Are you ready to be less than a mere drop in the bucket—to be so totally insignificant that no one remembers you even if they think of those you served? Are you willing to give and be poured out until you are used up and exhausted—not seeking to be ministered to, but to minister? Some saints cannot do menial work while maintaining a saintly attitude, because they feel such service is beneath their dignity.
你準備好被澆奠嗎？
我以你們的信心為供獻的祭物，我若被澆奠在其上，也是喜樂，並且與你們眾人一同喜樂。 （腓二17）
你願意為建立別人的信心而被澆奠嗎？就是把自己的生命，為信仰像澆奠一般傾倒出來。還是你說：[我現在還未能獻上；我不想神為我選擇工作。我要自己挑選奉獻的崗位；我要得人的注意，得人的讚賞，說我行事得宜。 ]
走這孤單的路，要持有英雄氣概，與遵從神鋪設道路，成為他人腳下的地毯，根本是兩回事。設若神要教你[我懂得處卑 賤]的功課，你甘願嗎？你願意成為連桶裡的一滴水還不如，不被人重視，甚至你所服侍的人也不想你？你願意費財費力，不受人服侍而去服侍人？在卑賤的工作中 而不失聖徒的身份，是許多聖徒辦不到的，因為那有失她們的尊嚴哩。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我的主，願你使今天成為榮耀的日子。在我對你的事奉上，我祈求能專心一志。
Are you willing to sacrifice yourself for the work of another believer—to pour out your life sacrificially for the ministry and faith of others? Or do you say, "I am not willing to be poured out right now, and I don’t want God to tell me how to serve Him. I want to choose the place of my own sacrifice. And I want to have certain people watching me and saying, ’Well done.’ "
It is one thing to follow God’s way of service if you are regarded as a hero, but quite another thing if the road marked out for you by God requires becoming a “doormat” under other people’s feet. God’s purpose may be to teach you to say, “I know how to be abased . . .” (Philippians 4:12). Are you ready to be sacrificed like that? Are you ready to be less than a mere drop in the bucket—to be so totally insignificant that no one remembers you even if they think of those you served? Are you willing to give and be poured out until you are used up and exhausted—not seeking to be ministered to, but to minister? Some saints cannot do menial work while maintaining a saintly attitude, because they feel such service is beneath their dignity.
你準備好被澆奠嗎？
我以你們的信心為供獻的祭物，我若被澆奠在其上，也是喜樂，並且與你們眾人一同喜樂。 （腓二17）
你願意為建立別人的信心而被澆奠嗎？就是把自己的生命，為信仰像澆奠一般傾倒出來。還是你說：[我現在還未能獻上；我不想神為我選擇工作。我要自己挑選奉獻的崗位；我要得人的注意，得人的讚賞，說我行事得宜。 ]
走這孤單的路，要持有英雄氣概，與遵從神鋪設道路，成為他人腳下的地毯，根本是兩回事。設若神要教你[我懂得處卑 賤]的功課，你甘願嗎？你願意成為連桶裡的一滴水還不如，不被人重視，甚至你所服侍的人也不想你？你願意費財費力，不受人服侍而去服侍人？在卑賤的工作中 而不失聖徒的身份，是許多聖徒辦不到的，因為那有失她們的尊嚴哩。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我的主，願你使今天成為榮耀的日子。在我對你的事奉上，我祈求能專心一志。
February 04, 2014
The Compelling Majesty of His Power
The love of Christ compels us . . . —2 Corinthians 5:14
Paul said that he was overpowered, subdued, and held as in a vise by “the love of Christ.” Very few of us really know what it means to be held in the grip of the love of God. We tend so often to be controlled simply by our own experience. The one thing that gripped and held Paul, to the exclusion of everything else, was the love of God. “The love of Christ compels us . . . .” When you hear that coming from the life of a man or woman it is unmistakable. You will know that the Spirit of God is completely unhindered in that person’s life.
When we are born again by the Spirit of God, our testimony is based solely on what God has done for us, and rightly so. But that will change and be removed forever once you “receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you . . .” (Acts 1:8). Only then will you begin to realize what Jesus meant when He went on to say, “. . . you shall be witnesses to Me . . . .” Not witnesses to what Jesus can do— that is basic and understood— but “witnesses to Me . . . .” We will accept everything that happens as if it were happening to Him, whether we receive praise or blame, persecution or reward. No one is able to take this stand for Jesus Christ who is not totally compelled by the majesty of His power. It is the only thing that matters, and yet it is strange that it’s the last thing we as Christian workers realize. Paul said that he was gripped by the love of God and that is why he acted as he did. People could perceive him as mad or sane-he did not care. There was only one thing he lived for— to persuade people of the coming judgment of God and to tell them of “the love of Christ.” This total surrender to “the love of Christ” is the only thing that will bear fruit in your life. And it will always leave the mark of God’s holiness and His power, never drawing attention to your personal holiness.
無以抗拒的大能
原來基督的愛激勵我們。 （林後五14）
保羅說他被基督的愛統管支配，如同給鉗子鉗住一樣。很少人知道被神的愛抓緊是怎麼一回事，因我們往往被自己的經歷所約制。但約制保羅的只有一件，就是神的愛，除此便別無所見。 [基督的愛激勵我們]，信徒身上有沒有這個音符，一聽便知。在這些人的生命裡，聖靈通行無阻。
當聖靈重生了我們，我們作見證的重點在神為我作了什麼，這是對的。但受了聖靈的洗，這些就成為過去的經驗，我們才開始了解耶穌說[你們是我的見證]的意思了。不是見證耶穌能夠做什麼，那是初步的見證，而是[見證我]。我們要視所有的事，都是發生在他身上，不論是稱許或指責，是逼迫或讚賞。人若未曾被他能力的威嚴所感召，絕不能為他站立。只是最要緊的事，而奇怪的，這卻是基督工人最忽略的。保羅說他被神的愛抓住了，就成 了他一生行事的動力。
人說他瘋狂，說他拘謹，他也毫不介意。他只為一件事而活，就是叫人相信神的審判和基督的愛。這種為基督的愛丟棄萬事的人生，才可以結出生命的果子，將神聖潔與大能的形象刻在人心裡。這是神的聖潔，絕不是我們個人的聖潔。
祈禱◆﹝在柱頂上刻著百合花。 ]噢，主啊，這句話在我的腦海中，尤其是我對那粗糙、不起眼的[百合花]是何其無知。願我藉著表達和經歷你的恩典，能屬於你。
Paul said that he was overpowered, subdued, and held as in a vise by “the love of Christ.” Very few of us really know what it means to be held in the grip of the love of God. We tend so often to be controlled simply by our own experience. The one thing that gripped and held Paul, to the exclusion of everything else, was the love of God. “The love of Christ compels us . . . .” When you hear that coming from the life of a man or woman it is unmistakable. You will know that the Spirit of God is completely unhindered in that person’s life.
When we are born again by the Spirit of God, our testimony is based solely on what God has done for us, and rightly so. But that will change and be removed forever once you “receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you . . .” (Acts 1:8). Only then will you begin to realize what Jesus meant when He went on to say, “. . . you shall be witnesses to Me . . . .” Not witnesses to what Jesus can do— that is basic and understood— but “witnesses to Me . . . .” We will accept everything that happens as if it were happening to Him, whether we receive praise or blame, persecution or reward. No one is able to take this stand for Jesus Christ who is not totally compelled by the majesty of His power. It is the only thing that matters, and yet it is strange that it’s the last thing we as Christian workers realize. Paul said that he was gripped by the love of God and that is why he acted as he did. People could perceive him as mad or sane-he did not care. There was only one thing he lived for— to persuade people of the coming judgment of God and to tell them of “the love of Christ.” This total surrender to “the love of Christ” is the only thing that will bear fruit in your life. And it will always leave the mark of God’s holiness and His power, never drawing attention to your personal holiness.
無以抗拒的大能
原來基督的愛激勵我們。 （林後五14）
保羅說他被基督的愛統管支配，如同給鉗子鉗住一樣。很少人知道被神的愛抓緊是怎麼一回事，因我們往往被自己的經歷所約制。但約制保羅的只有一件，就是神的愛，除此便別無所見。 [基督的愛激勵我們]，信徒身上有沒有這個音符，一聽便知。在這些人的生命裡，聖靈通行無阻。
當聖靈重生了我們，我們作見證的重點在神為我作了什麼，這是對的。但受了聖靈的洗，這些就成為過去的經驗，我們才開始了解耶穌說[你們是我的見證]的意思了。不是見證耶穌能夠做什麼，那是初步的見證，而是[見證我]。我們要視所有的事，都是發生在他身上，不論是稱許或指責，是逼迫或讚賞。人若未曾被他能力的威嚴所感召，絕不能為他站立。只是最要緊的事，而奇怪的，這卻是基督工人最忽略的。保羅說他被神的愛抓住了，就成 了他一生行事的動力。
人說他瘋狂，說他拘謹，他也毫不介意。他只為一件事而活，就是叫人相信神的審判和基督的愛。這種為基督的愛丟棄萬事的人生，才可以結出生命的果子，將神聖潔與大能的形象刻在人心裡。這是神的聖潔，絕不是我們個人的聖潔。
祈禱◆﹝在柱頂上刻著百合花。 ]噢，主啊，這句話在我的腦海中，尤其是我對那粗糙、不起眼的[百合花]是何其無知。願我藉著表達和經歷你的恩典，能屬於你。
February 03, 2014
Becoming the "Filth of the World"
We have been made as the filth of the world . . . —1 Corinthians 4:13
These words are not an exaggeration. The only reason they may not be true of us who call ourselves ministers of the gospel is not that Paul forgot or misunderstood the exact truth of them, but that we are too cautious and concerned about our own desires to allow ourselves to become the refuse or “filth of the world.” “Fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ . . .” (Colossians 1:24) is not the result of the holiness of sanctification, but the evidence of consecration-being “separated to the gospel of God . . .” (Romans 1:1).
“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you . . .” (1 Peter 4:12). If we do think the things we encounter are strange, it is because we are fearful and cowardly. We pay such close attention to our own interests and desires that we stay out of the mire and say, “I won’t submit; I won’t bow or bend.” And you don’t have to— you can be saved by the “skin of your teeth” if you like. You can refuse to let God count you as one who is “separated to the gospel . . . .” Or you can say, “I don’t care if I am treated like ’the filth of the world’ as long as the gospel is proclaimed.” A true servant of Jesus Christ is one who is willing to experience martyrdom for the reality of the gospel of God. When a moral person is confronted with contempt, immorality, disloyalty, or dishonesty, he is so repulsed by the offense that he turns away and in despair closes his heart to the offender. But the miracle of the redemptive reality of God is that the worst and the vilest offender can never exhaust the depths of His love. Paul did not say that God separated him to show what a wonderful man He could make of him, but “to reveal His Son in me. . .” (Galatians 1:16).
公然斷絕關係
人還把我們看作世界上的污穢。 （林前四13）
這並非誇大的話。我們這些稱為福音的使者，看不見這話在我們身上實現，不是因為保羅這話不真確，而是我們仍有太多戀棧不捨的事物，以致未讓自己成為渣滓。 [為基督的苦難而受苦]，並不是成聖的證明，乃是[為福音分別出來]的表現。
彼得說：[有火煉的試驗臨到你們，不是以為奇怪。 ]我們若對所遇的事以為奇怪，乃是由於我們懦弱膽怯。我們顧惜面子，保持自己不掉入泥濘中去－－[我不要低頭，我不要折腰]。你大可不必，你是可以咬緊牙根過關的。你可以拒絕神，不讓他將你為福音分別出來。你也許會說：[只要福音被傳揚，即使自己被看作地上的渣滓，也不介意。 ]耶穌基督的僕人，就是肯為福音而殉道的人。一個徒有道德修養的人，當他接觸到卑污、邪淫和詭詐，人性的良善使他感到極度的噁心，以致退縮不前，在絕望中 把心門關閉起來。反之，神救贖的最奇特之處，就是他也愛那些罪惡滔天的人。保羅並沒有說神把他分別出來，要造成一個怎樣可愛的人，而是[把他兒子啟示在我心裡]。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，請你以溫柔，撫慰那被你的話語所刺透，而經歷破碎的心靈和生命。
These words are not an exaggeration. The only reason they may not be true of us who call ourselves ministers of the gospel is not that Paul forgot or misunderstood the exact truth of them, but that we are too cautious and concerned about our own desires to allow ourselves to become the refuse or “filth of the world.” “Fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ . . .” (Colossians 1:24) is not the result of the holiness of sanctification, but the evidence of consecration-being “separated to the gospel of God . . .” (Romans 1:1).
“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you . . .” (1 Peter 4:12). If we do think the things we encounter are strange, it is because we are fearful and cowardly. We pay such close attention to our own interests and desires that we stay out of the mire and say, “I won’t submit; I won’t bow or bend.” And you don’t have to— you can be saved by the “skin of your teeth” if you like. You can refuse to let God count you as one who is “separated to the gospel . . . .” Or you can say, “I don’t care if I am treated like ’the filth of the world’ as long as the gospel is proclaimed.” A true servant of Jesus Christ is one who is willing to experience martyrdom for the reality of the gospel of God. When a moral person is confronted with contempt, immorality, disloyalty, or dishonesty, he is so repulsed by the offense that he turns away and in despair closes his heart to the offender. But the miracle of the redemptive reality of God is that the worst and the vilest offender can never exhaust the depths of His love. Paul did not say that God separated him to show what a wonderful man He could make of him, but “to reveal His Son in me. . .” (Galatians 1:16).
公然斷絕關係
人還把我們看作世界上的污穢。 （林前四13）
這並非誇大的話。我們這些稱為福音的使者，看不見這話在我們身上實現，不是因為保羅這話不真確，而是我們仍有太多戀棧不捨的事物，以致未讓自己成為渣滓。 [為基督的苦難而受苦]，並不是成聖的證明，乃是[為福音分別出來]的表現。
彼得說：[有火煉的試驗臨到你們，不是以為奇怪。 ]我們若對所遇的事以為奇怪，乃是由於我們懦弱膽怯。我們顧惜面子，保持自己不掉入泥濘中去－－[我不要低頭，我不要折腰]。你大可不必，你是可以咬緊牙根過關的。你可以拒絕神，不讓他將你為福音分別出來。你也許會說：[只要福音被傳揚，即使自己被看作地上的渣滓，也不介意。 ]耶穌基督的僕人，就是肯為福音而殉道的人。一個徒有道德修養的人，當他接觸到卑污、邪淫和詭詐，人性的良善使他感到極度的噁心，以致退縮不前，在絕望中 把心門關閉起來。反之，神救贖的最奇特之處，就是他也愛那些罪惡滔天的人。保羅並沒有說神把他分別出來，要造成一個怎樣可愛的人，而是[把他兒子啟示在我心裡]。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，請你以溫柔，撫慰那被你的話語所刺透，而經歷破碎的心靈和生命。
February 02, 2014
The Compelling Force of the Call
Woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! —1 Corinthians 9:16
Beware of refusing to hear the call of God. Everyone who is saved is called to testify to the fact of his salvation. That, however, is not the same as the call to preach, but is merely an illustration which can be used in preaching. In this verse, Paul was referring to the stinging pains produced in him by the compelling force of the call to preach the gospel. Never try to apply what Paul said regarding the call to preach to those souls who are being called to God for salvation. There is nothing easier than getting saved, because it is solely God’s sovereign work— “Look to Me, and be saved . . .” (Isaiah 45:22). Our Lord never requires the same conditions for discipleship that he requires for salvation. We are condemned to salvation through the Cross of Christ. But discipleship has an option with it-”If anyone . . .” (Luke 14:26).
Paul’s words have to do with our being made servants of Jesus Christ, and our permission is never asked as to what we will do or where we will go. God makes us as broken bread and poured-out wine to please Himself. To be “separated to the gospel” means being able to hear the call of God (Romans 1:1). Once someone begins to hear that call, a suffering worthy of the name of Christ is produced. Suddenly, every ambition, every desire of life, and every outlook is completely blotted out and extinguished. Only one thing remains— “. . . separated to the gospel. . . .” Woe be to the soul who tries to head in any other direction once that call has come to him. The Bible Training College exists so that each of you may know whether or not God has a man or woman here who truly cares about proclaiming His gospel and to see if God grips you for this purpose. Beware of competing calls once the call of God grips you.
呼召的催逼
若不傳福音，我就有禍了。 （林前九16）
當心對神的呼召充耳不聞。每一個得救的人，神都呼召他作見證；可是那並不是傳道的呼召，那只是傳道中的例證。保羅所指的是神催逼他傳福音所帶來的壓力。千萬不要把保羅在此所說的，於人來到神面前求拯救一事相提並論。得救是最容易不過的事，因為這是神完成的工作－－[你來就我，我必定拯救。 ]主並沒有把作門徒的條件，作為得救的條件。我們藉耶穌基督的十字架，由定罪而獲得拯救。但作門徒卻有取捨的餘地－－[若有人……]。
保羅實說我們既成為耶穌基督的僕人，無論他要我們做什麼或往那裡去，都不必徵得我們的同意。我們成為擘開的餅，倒出來的酒，為要叫神喜悅。 [為福音分別出來]，就是聽見神的呼召。當人聽見這個呼召，痛苦隨即便來，因為要為這名受苦。所有的生活慾望停止了，所有的期望理想也消失淨盡，雄心大志也像花草在萌芽時摘下，如今只剩下一件事－－為福音分別出來。一旦呼召臨到，卻偏行己路、自作抉擇，那人便有禍了。
要你們看看神在這裡是否尋得一個弟兄或一個姊妹，肯擺上地傳福音；也要看看神有沒有抓住你。神若真的抓住你，就當留心那些與神為敵的事物。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，吸引我進入與你不可缺少得靈交裡。陽光給自然界帶來的差別是何等顯著：你臨到我們時，所帶來的差別也是何等的炯异！求你不住的催促，直至我們因你的同在而振奮。
Beware of refusing to hear the call of God. Everyone who is saved is called to testify to the fact of his salvation. That, however, is not the same as the call to preach, but is merely an illustration which can be used in preaching. In this verse, Paul was referring to the stinging pains produced in him by the compelling force of the call to preach the gospel. Never try to apply what Paul said regarding the call to preach to those souls who are being called to God for salvation. There is nothing easier than getting saved, because it is solely God’s sovereign work— “Look to Me, and be saved . . .” (Isaiah 45:22). Our Lord never requires the same conditions for discipleship that he requires for salvation. We are condemned to salvation through the Cross of Christ. But discipleship has an option with it-”If anyone . . .” (Luke 14:26).
Paul’s words have to do with our being made servants of Jesus Christ, and our permission is never asked as to what we will do or where we will go. God makes us as broken bread and poured-out wine to please Himself. To be “separated to the gospel” means being able to hear the call of God (Romans 1:1). Once someone begins to hear that call, a suffering worthy of the name of Christ is produced. Suddenly, every ambition, every desire of life, and every outlook is completely blotted out and extinguished. Only one thing remains— “. . . separated to the gospel. . . .” Woe be to the soul who tries to head in any other direction once that call has come to him. The Bible Training College exists so that each of you may know whether or not God has a man or woman here who truly cares about proclaiming His gospel and to see if God grips you for this purpose. Beware of competing calls once the call of God grips you.
呼召的催逼
若不傳福音，我就有禍了。 （林前九16）
當心對神的呼召充耳不聞。每一個得救的人，神都呼召他作見證；可是那並不是傳道的呼召，那只是傳道中的例證。保羅所指的是神催逼他傳福音所帶來的壓力。千萬不要把保羅在此所說的，於人來到神面前求拯救一事相提並論。得救是最容易不過的事，因為這是神完成的工作－－[你來就我，我必定拯救。 ]主並沒有把作門徒的條件，作為得救的條件。我們藉耶穌基督的十字架，由定罪而獲得拯救。但作門徒卻有取捨的餘地－－[若有人……]。
保羅實說我們既成為耶穌基督的僕人，無論他要我們做什麼或往那裡去，都不必徵得我們的同意。我們成為擘開的餅，倒出來的酒，為要叫神喜悅。 [為福音分別出來]，就是聽見神的呼召。當人聽見這個呼召，痛苦隨即便來，因為要為這名受苦。所有的生活慾望停止了，所有的期望理想也消失淨盡，雄心大志也像花草在萌芽時摘下，如今只剩下一件事－－為福音分別出來。一旦呼召臨到，卻偏行己路、自作抉擇，那人便有禍了。
要你們看看神在這裡是否尋得一個弟兄或一個姊妹，肯擺上地傳福音；也要看看神有沒有抓住你。神若真的抓住你，就當留心那些與神為敵的事物。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，吸引我進入與你不可缺少得靈交裡。陽光給自然界帶來的差別是何等顯著：你臨到我們時，所帶來的差別也是何等的炯异！求你不住的催促，直至我們因你的同在而振奮。
February 01, 2014
The Call of God
Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel . . . —1 Corinthians 1:17
Paul states here that the call of God is to preach the gospel. But remember what Paul means by “the gospel,” namely, the reality of redemption in our Lord Jesus Christ. We are inclined to make sanctification the goal of our preaching. Paul refers to personal experiences only by way of illustration, never as the end of the matter. We are not commissioned to preach salvation or sanctification— we are commissioned to lift up Jesus Christ (see John 12:32). It is an injustice to say that Jesus Christ labored in redemption to make me a saint. Jesus Christ labored in redemption to redeem the whole world and to place it perfectly whole and restored before the throne of God. The fact that we can experience redemption illustrates the power of its reality, but that experience is a byproduct and not the goal of redemption. If God were human, how sick and tired He would be of the constant requests we make for our salvation and for our sanctification. We burden His energies from morning till night asking for things for ourselves or for something from which we want to be delivered! When we finally touch the underlying foundation of the reality of the gospel of God, we will never bother Him anymore with little personal complaints.
The one passion of Paul’s life was to proclaim the gospel of God. He welcomed heartbreak, disillusionment, and tribulation for only one reason— these things kept him unmovable in his devotion to the gospel of God.
神的呼召
基督差遣我，原不是為施洗，乃是為傳福音。 （林前一17）
保羅在此指明，神的呼召是傳福音；不過要知道保羅所說的福音究竟是什麼意思。福音就是主耶穌基督救贖的實在。我們很容易把成聖作為我們傳道的最終目的，然而保羅卻把個人的經歷作為例證，說明這不是他傳道的鵠的。神從來沒有吩咐我們去傳揚得救或成聖；他乃吩咐我們高舉耶穌基督（參 約十二32）。我若說耶穌基督在救贖中受苦，為要使我成為聖徒，這便是曲解聖經。耶穌基督在救贖中受苦，乃是要拯救全人類，使她們無瑕疵地，重新活在神的寶座面前。我們能夠經歷救贖，便足以證明救贖之實在大能，可是這仍舊非救贖的終極目標。神若像人一樣，對我們日夕要求得救，要求成聖，他將感到多麼心煩於厭倦哩！我們朝夕為自己求這求那，求把我拯救出來！真是消耗了神許多的精力！一旦我們觸摸到福音的真正意義時，就不會再為個人微不足道的事去煩神了。
保羅一生唯一的願望就是傳福音。他面對創痛、誤解、逼迫而不退後，唯一的原因就是這些事保守他對福音忠心不移。
祈禱◆主啊，你最清楚知道，今天早上我何等需要振奮！願我所說，能讓人聽聞你榮耀的聲音、看見你慈愛的面容，和感受到你那無處不在的靈。
Paul states here that the call of God is to preach the gospel. But remember what Paul means by “the gospel,” namely, the reality of redemption in our Lord Jesus Christ. We are inclined to make sanctification the goal of our preaching. Paul refers to personal experiences only by way of illustration, never as the end of the matter. We are not commissioned to preach salvation or sanctification— we are commissioned to lift up Jesus Christ (see John 12:32). It is an injustice to say that Jesus Christ labored in redemption to make me a saint. Jesus Christ labored in redemption to redeem the whole world and to place it perfectly whole and restored before the throne of God. The fact that we can experience redemption illustrates the power of its reality, but that experience is a byproduct and not the goal of redemption. If God were human, how sick and tired He would be of the constant requests we make for our salvation and for our sanctification. We burden His energies from morning till night asking for things for ourselves or for something from which we want to be delivered! When we finally touch the underlying foundation of the reality of the gospel of God, we will never bother Him anymore with little personal complaints.
The one passion of Paul’s life was to proclaim the gospel of God. He welcomed heartbreak, disillusionment, and tribulation for only one reason— these things kept him unmovable in his devotion to the gospel of God.
神的呼召
基督差遣我，原不是為施洗，乃是為傳福音。 （林前一17）
保羅在此指明，神的呼召是傳福音；不過要知道保羅所說的福音究竟是什麼意思。福音就是主耶穌基督救贖的實在。我們很容易把成聖作為我們傳道的最終目的，然而保羅卻把個人的經歷作為例證，說明這不是他傳道的鵠的。神從來沒有吩咐我們去傳揚得救或成聖；他乃吩咐我們高舉耶穌基督（參 約十二32）。我若說耶穌基督在救贖中受苦，為要使我成為聖徒，這便是曲解聖經。耶穌基督在救贖中受苦，乃是要拯救全人類，使她們無瑕疵地，重新活在神的寶座面前。我們能夠經歷救贖，便足以證明救贖之實在大能，可是這仍舊非救贖的終極目標。神若像人一樣，對我們日夕要求得救，要求成聖，他將感到多麼心煩於厭倦哩！我們朝夕為自己求這求那，求把我拯救出來！真是消耗了神許多的精力！一旦我們觸摸到福音的真正意義時，就不會再為個人微不足道的事去煩神了。
保羅一生唯一的願望就是傳福音。他面對創痛、誤解、逼迫而不退後，唯一的原因就是這些事保守他對福音忠心不移。
祈禱◆主啊，你最清楚知道，今天早上我何等需要振奮！願我所說，能讓人聽聞你榮耀的聲音、看見你慈愛的面容，和感受到你那無處不在的靈。
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