. . . you are that one’s slaves whom you obey . . . —Romans 6:16
The
first thing I must be willing to admit when I begin to examine what
controls and dominates me is that I am the one responsible for having
yielded myself to whatever it may be. If I am a slave to myself, I am to
blame because somewhere in the past I yielded to myself. Likewise, if I
obey God I do so because at some point in my life I yielded myself to
Him.
If a child gives in to selfishness, he will find it to
be the most enslaving tyranny on earth. There is no power within the
human soul itself that is capable of breaking the bondage of the nature
created by yielding. For example, yield for one second to anything in
the nature of lust, and although you may hate yourself for having
yielded, you become enslaved to that thing. (Remember what lust is— “I
must have it now,” whether it is the lust of the flesh or the lust of
the mind.) No release or escape from it will ever come from any human
power, but only through the power of redemption. You must yield yourself
in utter humiliation to the only One who can break the dominating power
in your life, namely, the Lord Jesus Christ. “. . . He has anointed Me .
. . to proclaim liberty to the captives . . .” (Luke 4:18 and Isaiah 61:1).
When you yield to something, you will soon realize the
tremendous control it has over you. Even though you say, “Oh, I can
give up that habit whenever I like,” you will know you can’t. You will
find that the habit absolutely dominates you because you willingly
yielded to it. It is easy to sing, “He will break every fetter,” while
at the same time living a life of obvious slavery to yourself. But
yielding to Jesus will break every kind of slavery in any person’s life.
順服
順從誰，就作誰的奴僕。 （羅六16）
要省察自己被什麼力量轄制，首先要承認一個難以接受的事實，就是我這樣轄制，自己要負責，因為我向此力量屈服了。我若做自己的奴僕，便要自己承擔責任，因為我向自己屈服了。同樣地，我若順服神，是因為自己向神降服。
人若自幼順從了自私自利之心，就會發現這是世上最強暴的捆鎖。這種因降服而形成的桎梏，是人本性沒有能力擺脫的。你只要對情慾稍為縱容（所謂情慾，就是人一定要立刻得著的，這包括肉體的情慾和心思上的情慾），便成為它的奴僕了。一旦降服，你儘管恨自己不該如此，也無濟於事。除非有神的救贖，靠自己絕對沒有解救的出路；所以必須完全謙卑屈服在主耶穌面前，惟有他能潰敗轄制你的權勢。 [耶和華用膏膏我……報告被擄的得釋放。 ]我們在極小的事上，便可以發現：[啊！我要放下這嗜好是隨時都做得到的。
]是不能的。你會發覺這嗜好牢牢地轄制著你，因為你是甘願向它降服。唱[它斷開一切鎖鏈]很容易，但同時卻明明活在自我的捆鎖裡。只有降服耶穌才能解脫人生中任何的奴役。
祈禱◆主啊，我讚美你，你阻止我即時要為自己尋求各樣的東西，你使我唯獨尋求你那永久的憑證——你的感動，讓我獲得在你裡面的平安。
March 14, 2014
March 13, 2014
God’s Total Surrender to Us
For God so loved the world that He gave . . . —John 3:16
Salvation does not mean merely deliverance from sin or the experience of personal holiness. The salvation which comes from God means being completely delivered from myself, and being placed into perfect union with Him. When I think of my salvation experience, I think of being delivered from sin and gaining personal holiness. But salvation is so much more! It means that the Spirit of God has brought me into intimate contact with the true Person of God Himself. And as I am caught up into total surrender to God, I become thrilled with something infinitely greater than myself.
To say that we are called to preach holiness or sanctification is to miss the main point. We are called to proclaim Jesus Christ (see 1 Corinthians 2:2). The fact that He saves from sin and makes us holy is actually part of the effect of His wonderful and total surrender to us.
If we are truly surrendered, we will never be aware of our own efforts to remain surrendered. Our entire life will be consumed with the One to whom we surrender. Beware of talking about surrender if you know nothing about it. In fact, you will never know anything about it until you understand that John 3:16 means that God completely and absolutely gave Himself to us. In our surrender, we must give ourselves to God in the same way He gave Himself for us— totally, unconditionally, and without reservation. The consequences and circumstances resulting from our surrender will never even enter our mind, because our life will be totally consumed with Him.
神的捨棄
神愛世人，甚至將他的獨生子賜給他們……（約三16）
救恩並不只是從罪惡中得解救，也不只是個人成聖的經歷；救恩乃是神把人從自己解脫出來，與他合一。我對救恩的認識，是從脫離罪開始，以致個人成聖；可是救恩的真諦，是聖靈使我接觸到神自己；因這超越自我千萬倍的主宰震撼激盪，我被神的犧牲吸引住了。若有人說我們被召是要傳聖潔與成聖之道，就偏差了。我們被召 是要傳耶穌基督。他救我們脫離罪，使我們成聖，這不過是神奇妙犧牲中的一部分。
真正的捨棄，是不會對本身所作的有所知覺，因為整個生命已經被那一位我們為他擺上的主所佔有了。你若不知道何為放下捨棄，就不要隨便講說。除非你明白約翰福音三章16節裡的意思：神怎樣毫無保留地將自己賜給人；否則，你永不會明白何為捨棄。我們的捨棄就是把自己完全交給神，正如神為我們捨了自己，不計算代價一樣。捨棄的後果如何，不會在我們 的人生觀上顯露，因為我們的生命已經充滿了基督。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，今早讓我為過往的一切讚美你——我是那麼的任性，你卻是那麼的慈愛、長久忍耐、滿有寬恕和親切。
Salvation does not mean merely deliverance from sin or the experience of personal holiness. The salvation which comes from God means being completely delivered from myself, and being placed into perfect union with Him. When I think of my salvation experience, I think of being delivered from sin and gaining personal holiness. But salvation is so much more! It means that the Spirit of God has brought me into intimate contact with the true Person of God Himself. And as I am caught up into total surrender to God, I become thrilled with something infinitely greater than myself.
To say that we are called to preach holiness or sanctification is to miss the main point. We are called to proclaim Jesus Christ (see 1 Corinthians 2:2). The fact that He saves from sin and makes us holy is actually part of the effect of His wonderful and total surrender to us.
If we are truly surrendered, we will never be aware of our own efforts to remain surrendered. Our entire life will be consumed with the One to whom we surrender. Beware of talking about surrender if you know nothing about it. In fact, you will never know anything about it until you understand that John 3:16 means that God completely and absolutely gave Himself to us. In our surrender, we must give ourselves to God in the same way He gave Himself for us— totally, unconditionally, and without reservation. The consequences and circumstances resulting from our surrender will never even enter our mind, because our life will be totally consumed with Him.
神的捨棄
神愛世人，甚至將他的獨生子賜給他們……（約三16）
救恩並不只是從罪惡中得解救，也不只是個人成聖的經歷；救恩乃是神把人從自己解脫出來，與他合一。我對救恩的認識，是從脫離罪開始，以致個人成聖；可是救恩的真諦，是聖靈使我接觸到神自己；因這超越自我千萬倍的主宰震撼激盪，我被神的犧牲吸引住了。若有人說我們被召是要傳聖潔與成聖之道，就偏差了。我們被召 是要傳耶穌基督。他救我們脫離罪，使我們成聖，這不過是神奇妙犧牲中的一部分。
真正的捨棄，是不會對本身所作的有所知覺，因為整個生命已經被那一位我們為他擺上的主所佔有了。你若不知道何為放下捨棄，就不要隨便講說。除非你明白約翰福音三章16節裡的意思：神怎樣毫無保留地將自己賜給人；否則，你永不會明白何為捨棄。我們的捨棄就是把自己完全交給神，正如神為我們捨了自己，不計算代價一樣。捨棄的後果如何，不會在我們 的人生觀上顯露，因為我們的生命已經充滿了基督。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，今早讓我為過往的一切讚美你——我是那麼的任性，你卻是那麼的慈愛、長久忍耐、滿有寬恕和親切。
March 12, 2014
Total Surrender
Peter began to say to Him, ’See, we have left all and followed You’ —Mark 10:28
Our Lord replies to this statement of Peter by saying that this surrender is “for My sake and the gospel’s” (10:29). It was not for the purpose of what the disciples themselves would get out of it. Beware of surrender that is motivated by personal benefits that may result. For example, “I’m going to give myself to God because I want to be delivered from sin, because I want to be made holy.” Being delivered from sin and being made holy are the result of being right with God, but surrender resulting from this kind of thinking is certainly not the true nature of Christianity. Our motive for surrender should not be for any personal gain at all. We have become so self-centered that we go to God only for something from Him, and not for God Himself. It is like saying, “No, Lord, I don’t want you; I want myself. But I do want You to clean me and fill me with Your Holy Spirit. I want to be on display in Your showcase so I can say, ’This is what God has done for me.’ ” Gaining heaven, being delivered from sin, and being made useful to God are things that should never even be a consideration in real surrender. Genuine total surrender is a personal sovereign preference for Jesus Christ Himself.
Where does Jesus Christ figure in when we have a concern about our natural relationships? Most of us will desert Him with this excuse—”Yes, Lord, I heard you call me, but my family needs me and I have my own interests. I just can’t go any further” (see Luke 9:57-62). “Then,” Jesus says, “you ’cannot be My disciple’ ” (see Luke 14:26-33).
True surrender will always go beyond natural devotion. If we will only give up, God will surrender Himself to embrace all those around us and will meet their needs, which were created by our surrender. Beware of stopping anywhere short of total surrender to God. Most of us have only a vision of what this really means, but have never truly experienced it.
撇棄一切
彼得就對他說：看哪，我們已經撇下所有的跟從你了……（可十28）
主的回答是說為他而撇下，而不是為了門徒自己能換得什麼。當心別把商業貿易的精神參入[撇下]裡去——[我把自己給神，因為我要脫離罪，因為我要成聖。]這些都是與神和好的結果，卻不是基督教信仰裡的精神。 [撇下]根本不是為任何東西。我們已經變得太商業化了，到神面前只是為得那一點什麼，而不是為他本身。這好像是說：[主啊，我不要你，我要自己；我要自己潔淨，充滿聖靈；我要登上你得櫥窗說：『看神為我做的一切。 』]若我們為神撇下，為的是要得更多的，那末，我們的撇下便沒有聖靈，只是可憐的商業自利。我們得上天堂，罪得赦免，合神使用，這些在真正的[撇下]裡， 絕不是原因。真正的撇下，乃是個人專誠的揀選耶穌基督自己。
當我們面對人際關係的屏障，耶穌的地位何在？我們多半遺棄他說：[不錯，主，我聽見你的呼召；但我母親阻著去路，還有我的妻子，我的喜好，我無法前行。 ]耶穌說：[這樣，你不能作我的門徒。 ]
撇下的考驗總是與親情有切膚之痛。越過它，神會盡所有去懷抱你撇下時所傷害的人。要當心撇下不可中途而廢。我們多半只在異像中認識什麼叫做撇下。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，求你使我的悟性，與你聖靈的教導一同發出光輝。
Our Lord replies to this statement of Peter by saying that this surrender is “for My sake and the gospel’s” (10:29). It was not for the purpose of what the disciples themselves would get out of it. Beware of surrender that is motivated by personal benefits that may result. For example, “I’m going to give myself to God because I want to be delivered from sin, because I want to be made holy.” Being delivered from sin and being made holy are the result of being right with God, but surrender resulting from this kind of thinking is certainly not the true nature of Christianity. Our motive for surrender should not be for any personal gain at all. We have become so self-centered that we go to God only for something from Him, and not for God Himself. It is like saying, “No, Lord, I don’t want you; I want myself. But I do want You to clean me and fill me with Your Holy Spirit. I want to be on display in Your showcase so I can say, ’This is what God has done for me.’ ” Gaining heaven, being delivered from sin, and being made useful to God are things that should never even be a consideration in real surrender. Genuine total surrender is a personal sovereign preference for Jesus Christ Himself.
Where does Jesus Christ figure in when we have a concern about our natural relationships? Most of us will desert Him with this excuse—”Yes, Lord, I heard you call me, but my family needs me and I have my own interests. I just can’t go any further” (see Luke 9:57-62). “Then,” Jesus says, “you ’cannot be My disciple’ ” (see Luke 14:26-33).
True surrender will always go beyond natural devotion. If we will only give up, God will surrender Himself to embrace all those around us and will meet their needs, which were created by our surrender. Beware of stopping anywhere short of total surrender to God. Most of us have only a vision of what this really means, but have never truly experienced it.
撇棄一切
彼得就對他說：看哪，我們已經撇下所有的跟從你了……（可十28）
主的回答是說為他而撇下，而不是為了門徒自己能換得什麼。當心別把商業貿易的精神參入[撇下]裡去——[我把自己給神，因為我要脫離罪，因為我要成聖。]這些都是與神和好的結果，卻不是基督教信仰裡的精神。 [撇下]根本不是為任何東西。我們已經變得太商業化了，到神面前只是為得那一點什麼，而不是為他本身。這好像是說：[主啊，我不要你，我要自己；我要自己潔淨，充滿聖靈；我要登上你得櫥窗說：『看神為我做的一切。 』]若我們為神撇下，為的是要得更多的，那末，我們的撇下便沒有聖靈，只是可憐的商業自利。我們得上天堂，罪得赦免，合神使用，這些在真正的[撇下]裡， 絕不是原因。真正的撇下，乃是個人專誠的揀選耶穌基督自己。
當我們面對人際關係的屏障，耶穌的地位何在？我們多半遺棄他說：[不錯，主，我聽見你的呼召；但我母親阻著去路，還有我的妻子，我的喜好，我無法前行。 ]耶穌說：[這樣，你不能作我的門徒。 ]
撇下的考驗總是與親情有切膚之痛。越過它，神會盡所有去懷抱你撇下時所傷害的人。要當心撇下不可中途而廢。我們多半只在異像中認識什麼叫做撇下。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，求你使我的悟性，與你聖靈的教導一同發出光輝。
March 11, 2014
Obedience to the "Heavenly Vision"
I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision —Acts 26:19
If we lose “the heavenly vision” God has given us, we alone are responsible— not God. We lose the vision because of our own lack of spiritual growth. If we do not apply our beliefs about God to the issues of everyday life, the vision God has given us will never be fulfilled. The only way to be obedient to “the heavenly vision” is to give our utmost for His highest— our best for His glory. This can be accomplished only when we make a determination to continually remember God’s vision. But the acid test is obedience to the vision in the details of our everyday life— sixty seconds out of every minute, and sixty minutes out of every hour, not just during times of personal prayer or public meetings.
“Though it tarries, wait for it . . .” (Habakkuk 2:3). We cannot bring the vision to fulfillment through our own efforts, but must live under its inspiration until it fulfills itself. We try to be so practical that we forget the vision. At the very beginning we saw the vision but did not wait for it. We rushed off to do our practical work, and once the vision was fulfilled we could no longer even see it. Waiting for a vision that “tarries” is the true test of our faithfulness to God. It is at the risk of our own soul’s welfare that we get caught up in practical busy-work, only to miss the fulfillment of the vision.
Watch for the storms of God. The only way God plants His saints is through the whirlwind of His storms. Will you be proven to be an empty pod with no seed inside? That will depend on whether or not you are actually living in the light of the vision you have seen. Let God send you out through His storm, and don’t go until He does. If you select your own spot to be planted, you will prove yourself to be an unproductive, empty pod. However, if you allow God to plant you, you will “bear much fruit” (John 15:8).
It is essential that we live and “walk in the light” of God’s vision for us (1 John 1:7).
異象
我沒有違背那從天上來的異象。 （徒二十六19）
我們若失了異象，必須單獨承擔責任。失去異象的原因，就是靈性上出現問題。我們對神的信仰，若不付諸實踐的話，神賜的異象就會消失。要不違背從天上來的異象，唯一的途徑是為神傾盡所有，並且不住地、堅持地重溫那異象。考驗是每分鐘裡的六十秒，每小時裡的六十分鐘，而不單是祈禱或培靈會裡的事。
[雖然遲延，還要等候。 ]我們不可能憑自己實現異象，乃是要活在那異象的感動裡，直到實現出來。有時我們太現實化了，以致忘記了那異象。起初，我們看見異象，卻不等候，往往一沖而出去做；當異象實現，我們又看不見。異象的等候，是考驗我們對神的忠心。若只一味專注在實際的工作上，錯失了異象的實現，對靈命的造益來說，是大有損害的。
要注意神的旋風，神把聖徒散播出去，唯一的方法是用他的旋風。你最終是否是一條空的豆莢？就在乎你是否真的行在神的亮光中。讓神把你散播出去，他不行動，你不要擅自出去。你若選擇自己喜歡的地土，必長成空豆莢。若神把你散播出去，就結出果子來。
祈禱◆主啊，求你向我們的生命張口，向我們個人吹出你使生命再造並令人振奮的氣息，驅除我們的疾病。
If we lose “the heavenly vision” God has given us, we alone are responsible— not God. We lose the vision because of our own lack of spiritual growth. If we do not apply our beliefs about God to the issues of everyday life, the vision God has given us will never be fulfilled. The only way to be obedient to “the heavenly vision” is to give our utmost for His highest— our best for His glory. This can be accomplished only when we make a determination to continually remember God’s vision. But the acid test is obedience to the vision in the details of our everyday life— sixty seconds out of every minute, and sixty minutes out of every hour, not just during times of personal prayer or public meetings.
“Though it tarries, wait for it . . .” (Habakkuk 2:3). We cannot bring the vision to fulfillment through our own efforts, but must live under its inspiration until it fulfills itself. We try to be so practical that we forget the vision. At the very beginning we saw the vision but did not wait for it. We rushed off to do our practical work, and once the vision was fulfilled we could no longer even see it. Waiting for a vision that “tarries” is the true test of our faithfulness to God. It is at the risk of our own soul’s welfare that we get caught up in practical busy-work, only to miss the fulfillment of the vision.
Watch for the storms of God. The only way God plants His saints is through the whirlwind of His storms. Will you be proven to be an empty pod with no seed inside? That will depend on whether or not you are actually living in the light of the vision you have seen. Let God send you out through His storm, and don’t go until He does. If you select your own spot to be planted, you will prove yourself to be an unproductive, empty pod. However, if you allow God to plant you, you will “bear much fruit” (John 15:8).
It is essential that we live and “walk in the light” of God’s vision for us (1 John 1:7).
異象
我沒有違背那從天上來的異象。 （徒二十六19）
我們若失了異象，必須單獨承擔責任。失去異象的原因，就是靈性上出現問題。我們對神的信仰，若不付諸實踐的話，神賜的異象就會消失。要不違背從天上來的異象，唯一的途徑是為神傾盡所有，並且不住地、堅持地重溫那異象。考驗是每分鐘裡的六十秒，每小時裡的六十分鐘，而不單是祈禱或培靈會裡的事。
[雖然遲延，還要等候。 ]我們不可能憑自己實現異象，乃是要活在那異象的感動裡，直到實現出來。有時我們太現實化了，以致忘記了那異象。起初，我們看見異象，卻不等候，往往一沖而出去做；當異象實現，我們又看不見。異象的等候，是考驗我們對神的忠心。若只一味專注在實際的工作上，錯失了異象的實現，對靈命的造益來說，是大有損害的。
要注意神的旋風，神把聖徒散播出去，唯一的方法是用他的旋風。你最終是否是一條空的豆莢？就在乎你是否真的行在神的亮光中。讓神把你散播出去，他不行動，你不要擅自出去。你若選擇自己喜歡的地土，必長成空豆莢。若神把你散播出去，就結出果子來。
祈禱◆主啊，求你向我們的生命張口，向我們個人吹出你使生命再造並令人振奮的氣息，驅除我們的疾病。
March 10, 2014
Being an Example of His Message
Preach the word! —2 Timothy 4:2
We are not saved only to be instruments for God, but to be His sons and daughters. He does not turn us into spiritual agents but into spiritual messengers, and the message must be a part of us. The Son of God was His own message— “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). As His disciples, our lives must be a holy example of the reality of our message. Even the natural heart of the unsaved will serve if called upon to do so, but it takes a heart broken by conviction of sin, baptized by the Holy Spirit, and crushed into submission to God’s purpose to make a person’s life a holy example of God’s message.
There is a difference between giving a testimony and preaching. A preacher is someone who has received the call of God and is determined to use all his energy to proclaim God’s truth. God takes us beyond our own aspirations and ideas for our lives, and molds and shapes us for His purpose, just as He worked in the disciples’ lives after Pentecost. The purpose of Pentecost was not to teach the disciples something, but to make them the incarnation of what they preached so that they would literally become God’s message in the flesh. “. . . you shall be witnesses to Me . . .” (Acts 1:8).
Allow God to have complete liberty in your life when you speak. Before God’s message can liberate other people, His liberation must first be real in you. Gather your material carefully, and then allow God to “set your words on fire” for His glory.
要有言教，更要有身教
務要傳道。 （提後四2）
我們得救，並不單是做[導管]，乃是做神的兒女。我們不是變成屬靈的媒介，乃是屬靈的使者；所傳的資訊必須是我們本身一部分。神的兒子本身就是神的資訊，他的話就是靈和生命。我們作他門徒的，生命必須成為資訊的印證。人天然的心喜歡做許多的事奉，但是要心靈真正在罪的自責中破碎，被聖靈澆灌，被搓揉進神的旨 意裡去，這時生命才成為資訊的印證。
作見證與講道原有分別。傳道人是有神的呼召，決志竭盡一切傳神的真理。神把我們從自己的觀念裡領出來，把我們陶冶塑造，加以使用，正如五旬節後的門徒一般。五旬節並沒有教導門徒什麼，神只是把門徒變成為他們所傳的資訊——[你們要作 我的見證]。你說話的時候，要讓神有絕對的自由。神的話釋放別人靈魂之先，必須先釋放你。然後將你所經歷的說出來，為主發光。
祈禱◆無所不知的主神，求你在今天將智慧賜給我，讓我的敬拜、正確的行為都討你的喜悅。主啊，求你在你的完全和美善中，不斷向我述說你自己的奇妙！
We are not saved only to be instruments for God, but to be His sons and daughters. He does not turn us into spiritual agents but into spiritual messengers, and the message must be a part of us. The Son of God was His own message— “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). As His disciples, our lives must be a holy example of the reality of our message. Even the natural heart of the unsaved will serve if called upon to do so, but it takes a heart broken by conviction of sin, baptized by the Holy Spirit, and crushed into submission to God’s purpose to make a person’s life a holy example of God’s message.
There is a difference between giving a testimony and preaching. A preacher is someone who has received the call of God and is determined to use all his energy to proclaim God’s truth. God takes us beyond our own aspirations and ideas for our lives, and molds and shapes us for His purpose, just as He worked in the disciples’ lives after Pentecost. The purpose of Pentecost was not to teach the disciples something, but to make them the incarnation of what they preached so that they would literally become God’s message in the flesh. “. . . you shall be witnesses to Me . . .” (Acts 1:8).
Allow God to have complete liberty in your life when you speak. Before God’s message can liberate other people, His liberation must first be real in you. Gather your material carefully, and then allow God to “set your words on fire” for His glory.
要有言教，更要有身教
務要傳道。 （提後四2）
我們得救，並不單是做[導管]，乃是做神的兒女。我們不是變成屬靈的媒介，乃是屬靈的使者；所傳的資訊必須是我們本身一部分。神的兒子本身就是神的資訊，他的話就是靈和生命。我們作他門徒的，生命必須成為資訊的印證。人天然的心喜歡做許多的事奉，但是要心靈真正在罪的自責中破碎，被聖靈澆灌，被搓揉進神的旨 意裡去，這時生命才成為資訊的印證。
作見證與講道原有分別。傳道人是有神的呼召，決志竭盡一切傳神的真理。神把我們從自己的觀念裡領出來，把我們陶冶塑造，加以使用，正如五旬節後的門徒一般。五旬節並沒有教導門徒什麼，神只是把門徒變成為他們所傳的資訊——[你們要作 我的見證]。你說話的時候，要讓神有絕對的自由。神的話釋放別人靈魂之先，必須先釋放你。然後將你所經歷的說出來，為主發光。
祈禱◆無所不知的主神，求你在今天將智慧賜給我，讓我的敬拜、正確的行為都討你的喜悅。主啊，求你在你的完全和美善中，不斷向我述說你自己的奇妙！
March 09, 2014
Turning Back or Walking with Jesus?
Do you also want to go away? —John 6:67
What a penetrating question! Our Lord’s words often hit home for us when He speaks in the simplest way. In spite of the fact that we know who Jesus is, He asks, “Do you also want to go away?” We must continually maintain an adventurous attitude toward Him, despite any potential personal risk.
“From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more” (John 6:66). They turned back from walking with Jesus; not into sin, but away from Him. Many people today are pouring their lives out and working for Jesus Christ, but are not really walking with Him. One thing God constantly requires of us is a oneness with Jesus Christ. After being set apart through sanctification, we should discipline our lives spiritually to maintain this intimate oneness. When God gives you a clear determination of His will for you, all your striving to maintain that relationship by some particular method is completely unnecessary. All that is required is to live a natural life of absolute dependence on Jesus Christ. Never try to live your life with God in any other way than His way. And His way means absolute devotion to Him. Showing no concern for the uncertainties that lie ahead is the secret of walking with Jesus.
Peter saw in Jesus only someone who could minister salvation to him and to the world. But our Lord wants us to be fellow laborers with Him.
In John 6:70 Jesus lovingly reminded Peter that he was chosen to go with Him. And each of us must answer this question for ourselves and no one else: “Do you also want to go away?”
靈性的倒退
你們也要去麼？ （約六67）
多刺透人心的問題。主最深入人心的話，往往是最簡單的話。我們雖然知道耶穌是誰？但他仍然要問：[你們也要去麼？ ]對主我們必須時刻持著敢作敢為的態度。 [從此他門徒中多有退去的，不再和他同行。 ]他們轉身不與耶穌同行，並不是回去犯罪，只是回復原形，依然故我。今日不少人為主作工竭盡心力，可是並沒有他同行。神要我們持守的，是要我們與耶穌基督合一。成聖之後，屬靈生命的操練是循這方向走。神若在你心中清楚地啟示他的心意，你不要用什麼特別的方法去保持與神的關係，只要順其自然地，完全靠賴耶穌基督而生活。與神同行的生活除了依循神的路徑之外，萬不能別開蹊徑。這條路就是要絕對忠心愛他。我真知道自己無知——這就是與主同行的秘訣了。
彼得只看見耶穌是他的救主，是世人的救主。但主卻要我們與他同負一軛。在第70節耶穌答覆了彼得的問話，填補他想法上的漏洞。我們不可以代人作答。
祈禱◆主啊，對於住在我裡面的基督，我所給予的滋養是何其短缺；噢，主啊，赦免我。求你讓我深深地感受到你的寬恕，以致我不單為著你的救恩而喜樂，更讓你的靈充滿這裡的工作。
What a penetrating question! Our Lord’s words often hit home for us when He speaks in the simplest way. In spite of the fact that we know who Jesus is, He asks, “Do you also want to go away?” We must continually maintain an adventurous attitude toward Him, despite any potential personal risk.
“From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more” (John 6:66). They turned back from walking with Jesus; not into sin, but away from Him. Many people today are pouring their lives out and working for Jesus Christ, but are not really walking with Him. One thing God constantly requires of us is a oneness with Jesus Christ. After being set apart through sanctification, we should discipline our lives spiritually to maintain this intimate oneness. When God gives you a clear determination of His will for you, all your striving to maintain that relationship by some particular method is completely unnecessary. All that is required is to live a natural life of absolute dependence on Jesus Christ. Never try to live your life with God in any other way than His way. And His way means absolute devotion to Him. Showing no concern for the uncertainties that lie ahead is the secret of walking with Jesus.
Peter saw in Jesus only someone who could minister salvation to him and to the world. But our Lord wants us to be fellow laborers with Him.
In John 6:70 Jesus lovingly reminded Peter that he was chosen to go with Him. And each of us must answer this question for ourselves and no one else: “Do you also want to go away?”
靈性的倒退
你們也要去麼？ （約六67）
多刺透人心的問題。主最深入人心的話，往往是最簡單的話。我們雖然知道耶穌是誰？但他仍然要問：[你們也要去麼？ ]對主我們必須時刻持著敢作敢為的態度。 [從此他門徒中多有退去的，不再和他同行。 ]他們轉身不與耶穌同行，並不是回去犯罪，只是回復原形，依然故我。今日不少人為主作工竭盡心力，可是並沒有他同行。神要我們持守的，是要我們與耶穌基督合一。成聖之後，屬靈生命的操練是循這方向走。神若在你心中清楚地啟示他的心意，你不要用什麼特別的方法去保持與神的關係，只要順其自然地，完全靠賴耶穌基督而生活。與神同行的生活除了依循神的路徑之外，萬不能別開蹊徑。這條路就是要絕對忠心愛他。我真知道自己無知——這就是與主同行的秘訣了。
彼得只看見耶穌是他的救主，是世人的救主。但主卻要我們與他同負一軛。在第70節耶穌答覆了彼得的問話，填補他想法上的漏洞。我們不可以代人作答。
祈禱◆主啊，對於住在我裡面的基督，我所給予的滋養是何其短缺；噢，主啊，赦免我。求你讓我深深地感受到你的寬恕，以致我不單為著你的救恩而喜樂，更讓你的靈充滿這裡的工作。
March 08, 2014
The Surrendered Life
I have been crucified with Christ . . . —Galatians 2:20
To become one with Jesus Christ, a person must be willing not only to give up sin, but also to surrender his whole way of looking at things. Being born again by the Spirit of God means that we must first be willing to let go before we can grasp something else. The first thing we must surrender is all of our pretense or deceit. What our Lord wants us to present to Him is not our goodness, honesty, or our efforts to do better, but real solid sin. Actually, that is all He can take from us. And what He gives us in exchange for our sin is real solid righteousness. But we must surrender all pretense that we are anything, and give up all our claims of even being worthy of God’s consideration.
Once we have done that, the Spirit of God will show us what we need to surrender next. Along each step of this process, we will have to give up our claims to our rights to ourselves. Are we willing to surrender our grasp on all that we possess, our desires, and everything else in our lives? Are we ready to be identified with the death of Jesus Christ?
We will suffer a sharp painful disillusionment before we fully surrender. When people really see themselves as the Lord sees them, it is not the terribly offensive sins of the flesh that shock them, but the awful nature of the pride of their own hearts opposing Jesus Christ. When they see themselves in the light of the Lord, the shame, horror, and desperate conviction hit home for them.
If you are faced with the question of whether or not to surrender, make a determination to go on through the crisis, surrendering all that you have and all that you are to Him. And God will then equip you to do all that He requires of you.
全捨的生命
我已經與基督同釘十字架。 （加二20）
一個真正與耶穌基督聯合的人，不但捨棄了罪，更把個人對事物的觀點也一概捨棄。從上頭、從聖靈而生的意思，就是先放下，然後才得著；而第一步要放下的就是一切虛假。主要我們帶到他面前的，不是良善、不是誠實、不是努力，而是罪；他所要接受的就是這些。那他以什麼代替我們的罪呢？真正的義。但我們先得放下一切自以為是的偽裝，一切自以為配得神恩眷的資格。
然後，聖靈會繼續顯示我們還有什麼要放下得。我必須在任何情況下，放棄自己的主權。我是否願意視自己與基督同死，放棄一切所有的？放棄感情上羈絆，放棄所有手上執著的東西。不再緊緊抓住，視為己有。
我們放下之先，總會經歷刻骨銘心的痛苦。當人真以主的眼光看自己，震驚的不是那些肉體可怕的罪，而是心中對耶穌基督那驚人的高傲本性。當他在主的光中看見自己，那羞愧、驚懼、絕望，必顯露無遺。要是你正在面臨[放下的問題]，就必須經過那抉擇的關頭。若能放下一切，神便按他的心意模造你。
祈禱◆[散佈亮光是為義人。 ]主啊，何等的豐收！你的道路是何等的奇妙。
To become one with Jesus Christ, a person must be willing not only to give up sin, but also to surrender his whole way of looking at things. Being born again by the Spirit of God means that we must first be willing to let go before we can grasp something else. The first thing we must surrender is all of our pretense or deceit. What our Lord wants us to present to Him is not our goodness, honesty, or our efforts to do better, but real solid sin. Actually, that is all He can take from us. And what He gives us in exchange for our sin is real solid righteousness. But we must surrender all pretense that we are anything, and give up all our claims of even being worthy of God’s consideration.
Once we have done that, the Spirit of God will show us what we need to surrender next. Along each step of this process, we will have to give up our claims to our rights to ourselves. Are we willing to surrender our grasp on all that we possess, our desires, and everything else in our lives? Are we ready to be identified with the death of Jesus Christ?
We will suffer a sharp painful disillusionment before we fully surrender. When people really see themselves as the Lord sees them, it is not the terribly offensive sins of the flesh that shock them, but the awful nature of the pride of their own hearts opposing Jesus Christ. When they see themselves in the light of the Lord, the shame, horror, and desperate conviction hit home for them.
If you are faced with the question of whether or not to surrender, make a determination to go on through the crisis, surrendering all that you have and all that you are to Him. And God will then equip you to do all that He requires of you.
全捨的生命
我已經與基督同釘十字架。 （加二20）
一個真正與耶穌基督聯合的人，不但捨棄了罪，更把個人對事物的觀點也一概捨棄。從上頭、從聖靈而生的意思，就是先放下，然後才得著；而第一步要放下的就是一切虛假。主要我們帶到他面前的，不是良善、不是誠實、不是努力，而是罪；他所要接受的就是這些。那他以什麼代替我們的罪呢？真正的義。但我們先得放下一切自以為是的偽裝，一切自以為配得神恩眷的資格。
然後，聖靈會繼續顯示我們還有什麼要放下得。我必須在任何情況下，放棄自己的主權。我是否願意視自己與基督同死，放棄一切所有的？放棄感情上羈絆，放棄所有手上執著的東西。不再緊緊抓住，視為己有。
我們放下之先，總會經歷刻骨銘心的痛苦。當人真以主的眼光看自己，震驚的不是那些肉體可怕的罪，而是心中對耶穌基督那驚人的高傲本性。當他在主的光中看見自己，那羞愧、驚懼、絕望，必顯露無遺。要是你正在面臨[放下的問題]，就必須經過那抉擇的關頭。若能放下一切，神便按他的心意模造你。
祈禱◆[散佈亮光是為義人。 ]主啊，何等的豐收！你的道路是何等的奇妙。
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