Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you —Matthew 6:33
When we look at these words of Jesus, we immediately find them to be the most revolutionary that human ears have ever heard. “. . . seek first the kingdom of God . . . .” Even the most spiritually-minded of us argue the exact opposite, saying, “But I must live; I must make a certain amount of money; I must be clothed; I must be fed.” The great concern of our lives is not the kingdom of God but how we are going to take care of ourselves to live. Jesus reversed the order by telling us to get the right relationship with God first, maintaining it as the primary concern of our lives, and never to place our concern on taking care of the other things of life.
“. . . do not worry about your life. . .” (Matthew 6:25). Our Lord pointed out that from His standpoint it is absolutely unreasonable for us to be anxious, worrying about how we will live. Jesus did not say that the person who takes no thought for anything in his life is blessed— no, that person is a fool. But Jesus did teach that His disciple must make his relationship with God the dominating focus of his life, and to be cautiously carefree about everything else in comparison to that. In essence, Jesus was saying, “Don’t make food and drink the controlling factor of your life, but be focused absolutely on God.” Some people are careless about what they eat and drink, and they suffer for it; they are careless about what they wear, having no business looking the way they do; they are careless with their earthly matters, and God holds them responsible. Jesus is saying that the greatest concern of life is to place our relationship with God first, and everything else second.
It is one of the most difficult, yet critical, disciplines of the Christian life to allow the Holy Spirit to bring us into absolute harmony with the teaching of Jesus in these verses.
信心的神聖推論
你們要先求他的國和他的義，這些東西都要加給你們了。 （太六33）
我們一聽到耶穌這句話，會覺得是極度革命性的，是前所未聞的論調。耶穌說要[先求神的國]，我們的理論則剛好相反；就是最體貼聖靈的人也會說：[我要生活呀，我一定要賺這麼多的錢；一定要有衣有食才行。 ]可見我們一生最關注的，不是神的國，而是怎樣謀生過活。耶穌卻把次序倒轉過來；你當先與神建立良好的關係，當作人生當務之急，而千萬別把注意力轉移到其他事物之上。 [不要為生命憂慮……]主指出我們為生活而掛慮，是完全沒有理由的。他不是說什麼都不思想的人是有福的，因這樣的人是愚不可及。耶穌是教導門徒要把與神的關係，視作生命的重心，而其他事則視作等閒。耶穌這裡的意思是：別把吃什麼喝什麼作為你生命的決定因素，只要專注在神身上。有些人由於不注意飲食，而招致損害；有些人則不注意衣著，而不修邊幅；他們都忽略地上的事，神卻要他們自己承擔。耶穌的意思是要把與神的關係，放在人生的首位，其他一切都屬次要。
讓聖靈把耶穌這番話的教訓，溶在我們裡面，這是信徒生命中最嚴格的訓練。
祈禱◆主啊，今天早上，求你使我與那些奇異的景象和聲音隔絕；將我從那些聯繫著現今和最近的東西中解脫出來，以你的靈完完全全地充滿這天。
May 21, 2014
May 20, 2014
Taking Possession of Our Own Soul
By your patience possess your souls —Luke 21:19
When a person is born again, there is a period of time when he does not have the same vitality in his thinking or reasoning that he previously had. We must learn to express this new life within us, which comes by forming the mind of Christ (see Philippians 2:5). Luke 21:19 means that we take possession of our souls through patience. But many of us prefer to stay at the entrance to the Christian life, instead of going on to create and build our soul in accordance with the new life God has placed within us. We fail because we are ignorant of the way God has made us, and we blame things on the devil that are actually the result of our own undisciplined natures. Just think what we could be when we are awakened to the truth!
There are certain things in life that we need not pray about— moods, for instance. We will never get rid of moodiness by praying, but we will by kicking it out of our lives. Moods nearly always are rooted in some physical circumstance, not in our true inner self. It is a continual struggle not to listen to the moods which arise as a result of our physical condition, but we must never submit to them for a second. We have to pick ourselves up by the back of the neck and shake ourselves; then we will find that we can do what we believed we were unable to do. The problem that most of us are cursed with is simply that we won’t. The Christian life is one of spiritual courage and determination lived out in our flesh.
真實的領域
你們常存忍耐，就必保存靈魂。 （路二十一19）
人重生了，他的思想和理智有一段時候就沒有往日那樣明達。我們要把新生命表現出來，要培養基督的心。 [要用忍耐保存靈魂。 ]我們大多數人寧可站在信徒生活的門檻上，而不根據神所賦予裡頭的新生命來建立自己的靈命。我們失敗，是因為不明白自己的本相，在許多事上，只一意抵賴魔鬼，而不歸咎在自己那不受約束的本性上。試想想我們受激動時那副樣子便可知了。
有些事是我們不可祈求的：例如情緒。情緒不是禱告可以驅散的，是要一腳把它踢開。人的情緒，多半是根據肉體的情況而定，與德性無關。要經常竭力拒絕聽從因肉體情況而生髮的情緒，一秒鐘也不可容讓。我們要揪著自己的領口，振作起來，就會發覺能夠做自己以為不能做的事。我們不肯做，就成了自己的咒詛。信徒的生命，是屬靈勇氣在肉身的一種表現。
祈禱◆主啊，為著你的說話－－[你們常存忍耐，就必保存靈魂]－－我讚美你。當我正按著你的心意，努力要得著靈魂時，為著你那將要臨到的恩典，我讚美你。
When a person is born again, there is a period of time when he does not have the same vitality in his thinking or reasoning that he previously had. We must learn to express this new life within us, which comes by forming the mind of Christ (see Philippians 2:5). Luke 21:19 means that we take possession of our souls through patience. But many of us prefer to stay at the entrance to the Christian life, instead of going on to create and build our soul in accordance with the new life God has placed within us. We fail because we are ignorant of the way God has made us, and we blame things on the devil that are actually the result of our own undisciplined natures. Just think what we could be when we are awakened to the truth!
There are certain things in life that we need not pray about— moods, for instance. We will never get rid of moodiness by praying, but we will by kicking it out of our lives. Moods nearly always are rooted in some physical circumstance, not in our true inner self. It is a continual struggle not to listen to the moods which arise as a result of our physical condition, but we must never submit to them for a second. We have to pick ourselves up by the back of the neck and shake ourselves; then we will find that we can do what we believed we were unable to do. The problem that most of us are cursed with is simply that we won’t. The Christian life is one of spiritual courage and determination lived out in our flesh.
真實的領域
你們常存忍耐，就必保存靈魂。 （路二十一19）
人重生了，他的思想和理智有一段時候就沒有往日那樣明達。我們要把新生命表現出來，要培養基督的心。 [要用忍耐保存靈魂。 ]我們大多數人寧可站在信徒生活的門檻上，而不根據神所賦予裡頭的新生命來建立自己的靈命。我們失敗，是因為不明白自己的本相，在許多事上，只一意抵賴魔鬼，而不歸咎在自己那不受約束的本性上。試想想我們受激動時那副樣子便可知了。
有些事是我們不可祈求的：例如情緒。情緒不是禱告可以驅散的，是要一腳把它踢開。人的情緒，多半是根據肉體的情況而定，與德性無關。要經常竭力拒絕聽從因肉體情況而生髮的情緒，一秒鐘也不可容讓。我們要揪著自己的領口，振作起來，就會發覺能夠做自己以為不能做的事。我們不肯做，就成了自己的咒詛。信徒的生命，是屬靈勇氣在肉身的一種表現。
祈禱◆主啊，為著你的說話－－[你們常存忍耐，就必保存靈魂]－－我讚美你。當我正按著你的心意，努力要得著靈魂時，為著你那將要臨到的恩典，我讚美你。
May 19, 2014
Out of the Wreck I Rise
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? —Romans 8:35
God does not keep His child immune from trouble; He promises, “I will be with him in trouble . . .” (Psalm 91:15). It doesn’t matter how real or intense the adversities may be; nothing can ever separate him from his relationship to God. “In all these things we are more than conquerors . . .” (Romans 8:37). Paul was not referring here to imaginary things, but to things that are dangerously real. And he said we are “super-victors” in the midst of them, not because of our own ingenuity, nor because of our courage, but because none of them affects our essential relationship with God in Jesus Christ. I feel sorry for the Christian who doesn’t have something in the circumstances of his life that he wishes were not there.
“Shall tribulation . . . ?” Tribulation is never a grand, highly welcomed event; but whatever it may be— whether exhausting, irritating, or simply causing some weakness— it is not able to “separate us from the love of Christ.” Never allow tribulations or the “cares of this world” to separate you from remembering that God loves you (Matthew 13:22).
“Shall . . . distress . . . ?” Can God’s love continue to hold fast, even when everyone and everything around us seems to be saying that His love is a lie, and that there is no such thing as justice?
“Shall . . . famine . . . ?” Can we not only believe in the love of God but also be “more than conquerors,” even while we are being starved?
Either Jesus Christ is a deceiver, having deceived even Paul, or else some extraordinary thing happens to someone who holds on to the love of God when the odds are totally against him. Logic is silenced in the face of each of these things which come against him. Only one thing can account for it— the love of God in Christ Jesus. “Out of the wreck I rise” every time.
重整旗鼓
誰能使我們與基督的愛隔絕呢？ （羅八35）
神並不叫人與患難絕緣；他說：[在患難中，我要與他同在。 ]人生不管遭受怎樣重大苦難的打擊，一概都不能叫人與神的關係隔絕。我們[在這一切事上已經得勝有餘了]，保羅在此並不是說些虛幻的事，而是指一些極其真實的事；他說我們在這些事上所以是優勝者，不是靠一己的機智，一己的勇氣，也不是靠任何其他事物，乃是根據一件事實；我們與神在基督耶穌裡的關係，而這關係不是任何事物可以影響的。不管對也好錯也好，我們的景況就是這樣，環境際遇就是這樣。那些環境一帆風順的基督徒，我為他們咕噥道可惜。
[難道是患難麼……？ ]患難絕不是什麼賞心樂事；它所包羅的範圍極大，舉凡困倦、屈辱、勞累等都接踵而至，但都不能叫我們與神的愛隔絕。千萬別讓憂慮和患難阻礙你認識神愛你這事實。
[是困苦麼……？ ]當事事不如意，人說神的愛只是謊言，而正義也不存在，神的愛仍然靠得住麼？ [是飢餓麼……？ ]我們餓著肚子的時候，是否仍然相信神的愛，而且得勝有餘呢？除非耶穌基督是個騙子，把保羅蒙在鼓裡；否則，必定有極不尋常發生在這個人身上，叫他在萬事不如意之中，仍然抓緊神的愛。在這一切事情上，邏輯已經失去它的功用。只有一件事可作解釋－－就是神在耶穌基督裡的愛。讓我重整旗鼓，再接再厲吧！
祈禱◆主啊，為著我身處的地方，我讚美你；可是在我裡面正開始猜想－－這是否稱為我預備的地方？求你牢牢地拖帶我實行你的旨意。我可能只是煩躁不安，求你使我安靜和得力，以致我不會因疑惑而得罪你。
God does not keep His child immune from trouble; He promises, “I will be with him in trouble . . .” (Psalm 91:15). It doesn’t matter how real or intense the adversities may be; nothing can ever separate him from his relationship to God. “In all these things we are more than conquerors . . .” (Romans 8:37). Paul was not referring here to imaginary things, but to things that are dangerously real. And he said we are “super-victors” in the midst of them, not because of our own ingenuity, nor because of our courage, but because none of them affects our essential relationship with God in Jesus Christ. I feel sorry for the Christian who doesn’t have something in the circumstances of his life that he wishes were not there.
“Shall tribulation . . . ?” Tribulation is never a grand, highly welcomed event; but whatever it may be— whether exhausting, irritating, or simply causing some weakness— it is not able to “separate us from the love of Christ.” Never allow tribulations or the “cares of this world” to separate you from remembering that God loves you (Matthew 13:22).
“Shall . . . distress . . . ?” Can God’s love continue to hold fast, even when everyone and everything around us seems to be saying that His love is a lie, and that there is no such thing as justice?
“Shall . . . famine . . . ?” Can we not only believe in the love of God but also be “more than conquerors,” even while we are being starved?
Either Jesus Christ is a deceiver, having deceived even Paul, or else some extraordinary thing happens to someone who holds on to the love of God when the odds are totally against him. Logic is silenced in the face of each of these things which come against him. Only one thing can account for it— the love of God in Christ Jesus. “Out of the wreck I rise” every time.
重整旗鼓
誰能使我們與基督的愛隔絕呢？ （羅八35）
神並不叫人與患難絕緣；他說：[在患難中，我要與他同在。 ]人生不管遭受怎樣重大苦難的打擊，一概都不能叫人與神的關係隔絕。我們[在這一切事上已經得勝有餘了]，保羅在此並不是說些虛幻的事，而是指一些極其真實的事；他說我們在這些事上所以是優勝者，不是靠一己的機智，一己的勇氣，也不是靠任何其他事物，乃是根據一件事實；我們與神在基督耶穌裡的關係，而這關係不是任何事物可以影響的。不管對也好錯也好，我們的景況就是這樣，環境際遇就是這樣。那些環境一帆風順的基督徒，我為他們咕噥道可惜。
[難道是患難麼……？ ]患難絕不是什麼賞心樂事；它所包羅的範圍極大，舉凡困倦、屈辱、勞累等都接踵而至，但都不能叫我們與神的愛隔絕。千萬別讓憂慮和患難阻礙你認識神愛你這事實。
[是困苦麼……？ ]當事事不如意，人說神的愛只是謊言，而正義也不存在，神的愛仍然靠得住麼？ [是飢餓麼……？ ]我們餓著肚子的時候，是否仍然相信神的愛，而且得勝有餘呢？除非耶穌基督是個騙子，把保羅蒙在鼓裡；否則，必定有極不尋常發生在這個人身上，叫他在萬事不如意之中，仍然抓緊神的愛。在這一切事情上，邏輯已經失去它的功用。只有一件事可作解釋－－就是神在耶穌基督裡的愛。讓我重整旗鼓，再接再厲吧！
祈禱◆主啊，為著我身處的地方，我讚美你；可是在我裡面正開始猜想－－這是否稱為我預備的地方？求你牢牢地拖帶我實行你的旨意。我可能只是煩躁不安，求你使我安靜和得力，以致我不會因疑惑而得罪你。
May 18, 2014
Living Simply— Yet Focused
Look at the birds of the air . . . . Consider the lilies of the field . . . —Matthew 6:26, 28
Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin”— they simply are! Think of the sea, the air, the sun, the stars, and the moon— all of these simply are as well— yet what a ministry and service they render on our behalf! So often we impair God’s designed influence, which He desires to exhibit through us, because of our own conscious efforts to be consistent and useful. Jesus said there is only one way to develop and grow spiritually, and that is through focusing and concentrating on God. In essence, Jesus was saying, “Do not worry about being of use to others; simply believe on Me.” In other words, pay attention to the Source, and out of you “will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38). We cannot discover the source of our natural life through common sense and reasoning, and Jesus is teaching here that growth in our spiritual life comes not from focusing directly on it, but from concentrating on our Father in heaven. Our heavenly Father knows our circumstances, and if we will stay focused on Him, instead of our circumstances, we will grow spiritually— just as “the lilies of the field.”
The people who influence us the most are not those who detain us with their continual talk, but those who live their lives like the stars in the sky and “the lilies of the field”— simply and unaffectedly. Those are the lives that mold and shape us.
If you want to be of use to God, maintain the proper relationship with Jesus Christ by staying focused on Him, and He will make use of you every minute you live— yet you will be unaware, on the conscious level of your life, that you are being used of Him.
不合理的憂慮
你們看那天上的飛鳥，……你想野地裡的百合花……。 （太六26-28）
試想想野地的百合花怎樣長起來，它們無非是順應自然而生！又試想想大海、空氣、太陽、星星、月亮－－這一切就是這樣存在，然而，它們所達成的，是何等的任務！許多時候，我們憑著自己的努力，去作一個言行一致、有用的人，反而將神原要我們對別人的影響破壞了。耶穌說，屬靈的生長只有一個途徑，就是在神自己。 [不要顧慮自己對被人是否有幫助，相信我吧！ ]
注目在至高的源頭上，你就有生命的活水流出來。我們若用人的常識本能，是無法得著生命的泉源；所以耶穌教導我們不是靠自己的守望，乃是專注在天父身上。天父知道我們所處的景況，只要我們專心仰望他，就可像百合花一般生長。
對我們影響最大的人，不是那些整天嘮嘮叨叨教訓我們的人，而是那些生活如星辰、如野地百合花般單純真誠的人。這樣的生命才足以模造我們。你要是想合神使用，就要與耶穌基督建立正常的關係，這樣，他便會叫你一生在不知不覺中，時刻為他所使用。
祈禱◆今早我懷著崇敬的心靠近你，感到你是我的天父，並且完全知悉你忍耐著我不真實的一面。但是，主啊，我現在似乎不關心自己是否真實，因為你本身就是最偉大的實體。
Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin”— they simply are! Think of the sea, the air, the sun, the stars, and the moon— all of these simply are as well— yet what a ministry and service they render on our behalf! So often we impair God’s designed influence, which He desires to exhibit through us, because of our own conscious efforts to be consistent and useful. Jesus said there is only one way to develop and grow spiritually, and that is through focusing and concentrating on God. In essence, Jesus was saying, “Do not worry about being of use to others; simply believe on Me.” In other words, pay attention to the Source, and out of you “will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38). We cannot discover the source of our natural life through common sense and reasoning, and Jesus is teaching here that growth in our spiritual life comes not from focusing directly on it, but from concentrating on our Father in heaven. Our heavenly Father knows our circumstances, and if we will stay focused on Him, instead of our circumstances, we will grow spiritually— just as “the lilies of the field.”
The people who influence us the most are not those who detain us with their continual talk, but those who live their lives like the stars in the sky and “the lilies of the field”— simply and unaffectedly. Those are the lives that mold and shape us.
If you want to be of use to God, maintain the proper relationship with Jesus Christ by staying focused on Him, and He will make use of you every minute you live— yet you will be unaware, on the conscious level of your life, that you are being used of Him.
不合理的憂慮
你們看那天上的飛鳥，……你想野地裡的百合花……。 （太六26-28）
試想想野地的百合花怎樣長起來，它們無非是順應自然而生！又試想想大海、空氣、太陽、星星、月亮－－這一切就是這樣存在，然而，它們所達成的，是何等的任務！許多時候，我們憑著自己的努力，去作一個言行一致、有用的人，反而將神原要我們對別人的影響破壞了。耶穌說，屬靈的生長只有一個途徑，就是在神自己。 [不要顧慮自己對被人是否有幫助，相信我吧！ ]
注目在至高的源頭上，你就有生命的活水流出來。我們若用人的常識本能，是無法得著生命的泉源；所以耶穌教導我們不是靠自己的守望，乃是專注在天父身上。天父知道我們所處的景況，只要我們專心仰望他，就可像百合花一般生長。
對我們影響最大的人，不是那些整天嘮嘮叨叨教訓我們的人，而是那些生活如星辰、如野地百合花般單純真誠的人。這樣的生命才足以模造我們。你要是想合神使用，就要與耶穌基督建立正常的關係，這樣，他便會叫你一生在不知不覺中，時刻為他所使用。
祈禱◆今早我懷著崇敬的心靠近你，感到你是我的天父，並且完全知悉你忍耐著我不真實的一面。但是，主啊，我現在似乎不關心自己是否真實，因為你本身就是最偉大的實體。
May 17, 2014
His Ascension and Our Access
It came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven —Luke 24:51
We have no experiences in our lives that correspond to the events in our Lord’s life after the transfiguration. From that moment forward His life was altogether substitutionary. Up to the time of the transfiguration, He had exhibited the normal, perfect life of a man. But from the transfiguration forward— Gethsemane, the Cross, the resurrection— everything is unfamiliar to us. His Cross is the door by which every member of the human race can enter into the life of God; by His resurrection He has the right to give eternal life to anyone, and by His ascension our Lord entered heaven, keeping the door open for humanity.
The transfiguration was completed on the Mount of Ascension. If Jesus had gone to heaven directly from the Mount of Transfiguration, He would have gone alone. He would have been nothing more to us than a glorious Figure. But He turned His back on the glory, and came down from the mountain to identify Himself with fallen humanity.
The ascension is the complete fulfillment of the transfiguration. Our Lord returned to His original glory, but not simply as the Son of God— He returned to His father as the Son of Man as well. There is now freedom of access for anyone straight to the very throne of God because of the ascension of the Son of Man. As the Son of Man, Jesus Christ deliberately limited His omnipotence, omnipresence, and omniscience. But now they are His in absolute, full power. As the Son of Man, Jesus Christ now has all the power at the throne of God. From His ascension forward He is the King of kings and Lord of lords.
他的升天與我們的合一
正祝福的時候，他就離開他們，被帶到天上去了。 （路二十四51）
主登山變像之後的經歷，是我們沒法體驗的。從那時起，主的生命完全是為了代贖。登山之前，他過的是正常人的生活；登山之後，經過客西馬尼、十字架，以至復活，都不是我們所熟悉的。他的十字架，是人類進入神生命的門；他的複活，使他有賜人永生的權柄；他的升天，使天門為人敞開。
在升天的山上，登山變像的意義就明顯了。耶穌若在登山變像時升了天，他就是獨自而去，對我們只是一個榮耀的形像而已。可是，他紆尊降貴，從山上來，與墮落的人類等量齊觀。
升天是登山變像的實現，我們的主這時回到他原有的榮耀裡去；可是他不單是以神兒子的身分回去，也以人子的身分回到神那裡去。因為人子升天，人就有自由的通道直接去到神寶座前。
作為人子，耶穌故意限制了他的權能、全知，以及無所不在的自由；升天后卻全部在他掌管之中了。耶穌基督為人子，有著神寶座的一切權能，從他升天之日起直到今天，他是萬王之王，萬主之主。
祈禱◆主啊，我的每一方面，都徹底、完全和絕對需要你。我是一個等待你注滿的龐大潭穴，以你的榮耀和美善注滿我，直至湧流不息。
We have no experiences in our lives that correspond to the events in our Lord’s life after the transfiguration. From that moment forward His life was altogether substitutionary. Up to the time of the transfiguration, He had exhibited the normal, perfect life of a man. But from the transfiguration forward— Gethsemane, the Cross, the resurrection— everything is unfamiliar to us. His Cross is the door by which every member of the human race can enter into the life of God; by His resurrection He has the right to give eternal life to anyone, and by His ascension our Lord entered heaven, keeping the door open for humanity.
The transfiguration was completed on the Mount of Ascension. If Jesus had gone to heaven directly from the Mount of Transfiguration, He would have gone alone. He would have been nothing more to us than a glorious Figure. But He turned His back on the glory, and came down from the mountain to identify Himself with fallen humanity.
The ascension is the complete fulfillment of the transfiguration. Our Lord returned to His original glory, but not simply as the Son of God— He returned to His father as the Son of Man as well. There is now freedom of access for anyone straight to the very throne of God because of the ascension of the Son of Man. As the Son of Man, Jesus Christ deliberately limited His omnipotence, omnipresence, and omniscience. But now they are His in absolute, full power. As the Son of Man, Jesus Christ now has all the power at the throne of God. From His ascension forward He is the King of kings and Lord of lords.
他的升天與我們的合一
正祝福的時候，他就離開他們，被帶到天上去了。 （路二十四51）
主登山變像之後的經歷，是我們沒法體驗的。從那時起，主的生命完全是為了代贖。登山之前，他過的是正常人的生活；登山之後，經過客西馬尼、十字架，以至復活，都不是我們所熟悉的。他的十字架，是人類進入神生命的門；他的複活，使他有賜人永生的權柄；他的升天，使天門為人敞開。
在升天的山上，登山變像的意義就明顯了。耶穌若在登山變像時升了天，他就是獨自而去，對我們只是一個榮耀的形像而已。可是，他紆尊降貴，從山上來，與墮落的人類等量齊觀。
升天是登山變像的實現，我們的主這時回到他原有的榮耀裡去；可是他不單是以神兒子的身分回去，也以人子的身分回到神那裡去。因為人子升天，人就有自由的通道直接去到神寶座前。
作為人子，耶穌故意限制了他的權能、全知，以及無所不在的自由；升天后卻全部在他掌管之中了。耶穌基督為人子，有著神寶座的一切權能，從他升天之日起直到今天，他是萬王之王，萬主之主。
祈禱◆主啊，我的每一方面，都徹底、完全和絕對需要你。我是一個等待你注滿的龐大潭穴，以你的榮耀和美善注滿我，直至湧流不息。
May 16, 2014
The Habit of Recognizing God’s Provision
. . . you may be partakers of the divine nature . . . —2 Peter 1:4
We are made “partakers of the divine nature,” receiving and sharing God’s own nature through His promises. Then we have to work that divine nature into our human nature by developing godly habits. The first habit to develop is the habit of recognizing God’s provision for us. We say, however, “Oh, I can’t afford it.” One of the worst lies is wrapped up in that statement. We talk as if our heavenly Father has cut us off without a penny! We think it is a sign of true humility to say at the end of the day, “Well, I just barely got by today, but it was a severe struggle.” And yet all of Almighty God is ours in the Lord Jesus! And He will reach to the last grain of sand and the remotest star to bless us if we will only obey Him. Does it really matter that our circumstances are difficult? Why shouldn’t they be! If we give way to self-pity and indulge in the luxury of misery, we remove God’s riches from our lives and hinder others from entering into His provision. No sin is worse than the sin of self-pity, because it removes God from the throne of our lives, replacing Him with our own self-interests. It causes us to open our mouths only to complain, and we simply become spiritual sponges— always absorbing, never giving, and never being satisfied. And there is nothing lovely or generous about our lives.
Before God becomes satisfied with us, He will take everything of our so-called wealth, until we learn that He is our Source; as the psalmist said, “All my springs are in You” (Psalm 87:7). If the majesty, grace, and power of God are not being exhibited in us, God holds us responsible. “God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you . . . may have an abundance . . .” (2 Corinthians 9:8)— then learn to lavish the grace of God on others, generously giving of yourself. Be marked and identified with God’s nature, and His blessing will flow through you all the time.
常覺富足的習慣
與神的性情有分。 （彼後一4）
我們既是憑應許與神的性情有分，就必須習慣地把神的性情[運用]在我們的人性裡。這樣，首先要養成的習慣，就是明白神的供給。我們說：[呀！我沒有這能力，買不起哩！ ]這句話藏著最大的謊話。在大自然裡談金錢，頗令人覺得不是味道；在屬靈上也是如此。在我們說話裡，似乎說神對我們非常的吝嗇！我們以為在一天結束時說[好了，這天剛好夠用，總算掙扎過去]，這樣才是真的謙遜，其實在主耶穌裡，全能的神的一切都是我們的。我們若順服神，他可以吩咐最後一粒沙，最遠的一顆星來祝福我們。環境困苦又有何妨？難道環境不可以困難麼？我們若縱容自己自憐自憫，享受自怨自艾的淒涼，就是棄絕神給我們的豐盛，也攔阻別人得著他得供應。沒有罪比自憐的罪更大，因為它遮掩了神，把自我放在寶座上。它叫我們口吐怨言，使我們的生命成為不知足的屬靈海綿，一點也不美，也不大方。
當神開始對我們滿意，他就會把一切虛浮的財富挪開，直至我們認識一切泉源都在他裡面。神的恩惠、權能，若不能在我們身上彰顯（我們不自覺的），神就要追究我們。 [神能將各樣的恩惠，多多的加給你們。 ]所以要學習把神的恩惠施予別人。身上常帶著神的印記，這樣，神的祝福必常藉你流露。
祈禱◆主啊，讓你能力的甜美和完全，在今天臨到我。讓我得著偉大、豐富、充滿恩慈和喜樂的屬神生命。
We are made “partakers of the divine nature,” receiving and sharing God’s own nature through His promises. Then we have to work that divine nature into our human nature by developing godly habits. The first habit to develop is the habit of recognizing God’s provision for us. We say, however, “Oh, I can’t afford it.” One of the worst lies is wrapped up in that statement. We talk as if our heavenly Father has cut us off without a penny! We think it is a sign of true humility to say at the end of the day, “Well, I just barely got by today, but it was a severe struggle.” And yet all of Almighty God is ours in the Lord Jesus! And He will reach to the last grain of sand and the remotest star to bless us if we will only obey Him. Does it really matter that our circumstances are difficult? Why shouldn’t they be! If we give way to self-pity and indulge in the luxury of misery, we remove God’s riches from our lives and hinder others from entering into His provision. No sin is worse than the sin of self-pity, because it removes God from the throne of our lives, replacing Him with our own self-interests. It causes us to open our mouths only to complain, and we simply become spiritual sponges— always absorbing, never giving, and never being satisfied. And there is nothing lovely or generous about our lives.
Before God becomes satisfied with us, He will take everything of our so-called wealth, until we learn that He is our Source; as the psalmist said, “All my springs are in You” (Psalm 87:7). If the majesty, grace, and power of God are not being exhibited in us, God holds us responsible. “God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you . . . may have an abundance . . .” (2 Corinthians 9:8)— then learn to lavish the grace of God on others, generously giving of yourself. Be marked and identified with God’s nature, and His blessing will flow through you all the time.
常覺富足的習慣
與神的性情有分。 （彼後一4）
我們既是憑應許與神的性情有分，就必須習慣地把神的性情[運用]在我們的人性裡。這樣，首先要養成的習慣，就是明白神的供給。我們說：[呀！我沒有這能力，買不起哩！ ]這句話藏著最大的謊話。在大自然裡談金錢，頗令人覺得不是味道；在屬靈上也是如此。在我們說話裡，似乎說神對我們非常的吝嗇！我們以為在一天結束時說[好了，這天剛好夠用，總算掙扎過去]，這樣才是真的謙遜，其實在主耶穌裡，全能的神的一切都是我們的。我們若順服神，他可以吩咐最後一粒沙，最遠的一顆星來祝福我們。環境困苦又有何妨？難道環境不可以困難麼？我們若縱容自己自憐自憫，享受自怨自艾的淒涼，就是棄絕神給我們的豐盛，也攔阻別人得著他得供應。沒有罪比自憐的罪更大，因為它遮掩了神，把自我放在寶座上。它叫我們口吐怨言，使我們的生命成為不知足的屬靈海綿，一點也不美，也不大方。
當神開始對我們滿意，他就會把一切虛浮的財富挪開，直至我們認識一切泉源都在他裡面。神的恩惠、權能，若不能在我們身上彰顯（我們不自覺的），神就要追究我們。 [神能將各樣的恩惠，多多的加給你們。 ]所以要學習把神的恩惠施予別人。身上常帶著神的印記，這樣，神的祝福必常藉你流露。
祈禱◆主啊，讓你能力的甜美和完全，在今天臨到我。讓我得著偉大、豐富、充滿恩慈和喜樂的屬神生命。
May 15, 2014
The Habit of Rising to the Occasion
. . . that you may know what is the hope of His calling . . . —Ephesians 1:18
Remember that you have been saved so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in your body (see 2 Corinthians 4:10). Direct the total energy of your powers so that you may achieve everything your election as a child of God provides; rise every time to whatever occasion may come your way.
You did not do anything to achieve your salvation, but you must do something to exhibit it. You must “work out your own salvation” which God has worked in you already (Philippians 2:12). Are your speech, your thinking, and your emotions evidence that you are working it “out”? If you are still the same miserable, grouchy person, set on having your own way, then it is a lie to say that God has saved and sanctified you.
God is the Master Designer, and He allows adversities into your life to see if you can jump over them properly—”By my God I can leap over a wall” (Psalm 18:29). God will never shield you from the requirements of being His son or daughter. First Peter 4:12 says, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you . . . .” Rise to the occasion—do what the trial demands of you. It does not matter how much it hurts as long as it gives God the opportunity to manifest the life of Jesus in your body.
May God not find complaints in us anymore, but spiritual vitality—a readiness to face anything He brings our way. The only proper goal of life is that we manifest the Son of God; and when this occurs, all of our dictating of our demands to God disappears. Our Lord never dictated demands to His Father, and neither are we to make demands on God. We are here to submit to His will so that He may work through us what He wants. Once we realize this, He will make us broken bread and poured-out wine with which to feed and nourish others.
把握機會，面對現實
使你們知道他的恩召有何等指望。 （弗一18）
要記得你蒙拯救的目的是什麼－－是叫神兒子的生命在你必朽的肉身上彰顯出來。要殫精竭慮，去體會成為神兒女的恩召；要每次正面面對所遭遇的。
你雖然沒有辦法救自己，卻必須有所事事，以表彰所得的救恩。你要把神做在你身上的表揚出來。你有沒有用舌頭、腦筋、精神去努力表揚？你若仍然是昔日可憐的老樣子，孤行己意，那麼你說神已拯救你，並叫你成聖，這不過是謊話。
神是大工程師，他容許困難臨到你身上，要看你能否越過－－[我靠著神跳過牆垣]。神不會放鬆對他兒女的要求。彼得說：[有火煉的試驗臨到你們，不要以為奇怪。 ]把握機會，面對現實，付諸行動！不管痛苦多大，只要身有機會藉著你彰顯他自己就好了。
但願神不再看見我們裡面的怨嘆，卻看見我們充滿屬靈的果敢與奮勇，準備面對任何從神而來的事物。我們必須操練自己，叫神兒子可以在我們必朽的肉身上彰顯出來。生命唯一的目標，就是彰顯神的兒子，並且不再向神發號施令。我們的主從來沒有指揮他的父，我們在此也不得指揮神；我們在世上是要順服他的旨意，使他能在我們身上成就他所要成就的。我們若明白這點，神就會使我們成為擘開的餅，傾出來的酒，去餵養與滋潤別人。
祈禱◆主啊，你已經啟示了很多真理，還有不少事情要告訴我們，可是，我感到自己的生活太少按著你所指示的去行。主啊，加力給我，讓我彰顯你的榮耀。
Remember that you have been saved so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in your body (see 2 Corinthians 4:10). Direct the total energy of your powers so that you may achieve everything your election as a child of God provides; rise every time to whatever occasion may come your way.
You did not do anything to achieve your salvation, but you must do something to exhibit it. You must “work out your own salvation” which God has worked in you already (Philippians 2:12). Are your speech, your thinking, and your emotions evidence that you are working it “out”? If you are still the same miserable, grouchy person, set on having your own way, then it is a lie to say that God has saved and sanctified you.
God is the Master Designer, and He allows adversities into your life to see if you can jump over them properly—”By my God I can leap over a wall” (Psalm 18:29). God will never shield you from the requirements of being His son or daughter. First Peter 4:12 says, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you . . . .” Rise to the occasion—do what the trial demands of you. It does not matter how much it hurts as long as it gives God the opportunity to manifest the life of Jesus in your body.
May God not find complaints in us anymore, but spiritual vitality—a readiness to face anything He brings our way. The only proper goal of life is that we manifest the Son of God; and when this occurs, all of our dictating of our demands to God disappears. Our Lord never dictated demands to His Father, and neither are we to make demands on God. We are here to submit to His will so that He may work through us what He wants. Once we realize this, He will make us broken bread and poured-out wine with which to feed and nourish others.
把握機會，面對現實
使你們知道他的恩召有何等指望。 （弗一18）
要記得你蒙拯救的目的是什麼－－是叫神兒子的生命在你必朽的肉身上彰顯出來。要殫精竭慮，去體會成為神兒女的恩召；要每次正面面對所遭遇的。
你雖然沒有辦法救自己，卻必須有所事事，以表彰所得的救恩。你要把神做在你身上的表揚出來。你有沒有用舌頭、腦筋、精神去努力表揚？你若仍然是昔日可憐的老樣子，孤行己意，那麼你說神已拯救你，並叫你成聖，這不過是謊話。
神是大工程師，他容許困難臨到你身上，要看你能否越過－－[我靠著神跳過牆垣]。神不會放鬆對他兒女的要求。彼得說：[有火煉的試驗臨到你們，不要以為奇怪。 ]把握機會，面對現實，付諸行動！不管痛苦多大，只要身有機會藉著你彰顯他自己就好了。
但願神不再看見我們裡面的怨嘆，卻看見我們充滿屬靈的果敢與奮勇，準備面對任何從神而來的事物。我們必須操練自己，叫神兒子可以在我們必朽的肉身上彰顯出來。生命唯一的目標，就是彰顯神的兒子，並且不再向神發號施令。我們的主從來沒有指揮他的父，我們在此也不得指揮神；我們在世上是要順服他的旨意，使他能在我們身上成就他所要成就的。我們若明白這點，神就會使我們成為擘開的餅，傾出來的酒，去餵養與滋潤別人。
祈禱◆主啊，你已經啟示了很多真理，還有不少事情要告訴我們，可是，我感到自己的生活太少按著你所指示的去行。主啊，加力給我，讓我彰顯你的榮耀。
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