Blessed are the poor in spirit . . . —Matthew 5:3
The New Testament notices things that do not seem worthy of notice by our standards. “Blessed are the poor in spirit . . . .” This literally means, “Blessed are the paupers.” Paupers are remarkably commonplace! The preaching of today tends to point out a person’s strength of will or the beauty of his character— things that are easily noticed. The statement we so often hear, “Make a decision for Jesus Christ,” places the emphasis on something our Lord never trusted. He never asks us to decide for Him, but to yield to Him— something very different. At the foundation of Jesus Christ’s kingdom is the genuine loveliness of those who are commonplace. I am truly blessed in my poverty. If I have no strength of will and a nature without worth or excellence, then Jesus says to me, “Blessed are you, because it is through your poverty that you can enter My kingdom.” I cannot enter His kingdom by virtue of my goodness— I can only enter it as an absolute pauper.
The true character of the loveliness that speaks for God is always unnoticed by the one possessing that quality. Conscious influence is prideful and unchristian. If I wonder if I am being of any use to God, I instantly lose the beauty and the freshness of the touch of the Lord. “He who believes in Me . . . out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38). And if I examine the outflow, I lose the touch of the Lord.
Who are the people who have influenced us most? Certainly not the ones who thought they did, but those who did not have even the slightest idea that they were influencing us. In the Christian life, godly influence is never conscious of itself. If we are conscious of our influence, it ceases to have the genuine loveliness which is characteristic of the touch of Jesus. We always know when Jesus is at work because He produces in the commonplace something that is inspiring.
不受注意的事奉
虛心的人有福了。 （太五3）
依我們的標準來看，新約所注意的事物，似乎都是微不足道的。 [虛心的人有福了]，按原意解釋是貧窮的人有福了。貧窮的人，何等平凡！今日的講台很容易側重意志的力量、品性的美善－－一些易於惹人注目的東西。今日常聽的口號－－為主決志，其實是強調了一件我們的主從不信任的事。他從沒有叫我們為他決志，他只要我們降服，這是截然不同的兩件事。耶穌基督國度的基礎，是在於未經修飾的平凡事物。叫我蒙福的，是我的貧窮。我若自知沒有意志力、沒有高貴的品質，耶穌就會說：[你有福了。 ]因為我是透過貧窮無有，得以進入他的國。我不能以好人的身分進入，只能以一無所有的叫化子身分進去。
一切表彰神可愛事物的真正品質，必然是不自覺的。自覺有影響力，是自負及非信徒的表現。若我說：[我懷疑自己到底是否有用。 ]立時就與主的生命失了連絡。 [信我的，要從他腹中流出活水的江河來。 ]我若檢查那流出來的水，就失去了主的能力。哪些人影響我們最深？不是那自以為影響了我們的人，而是那些完全不知道影響我們的人。在基督徒的生命中，內涵的東西總不是自治自覺的；一旦意識到，就會失掉那未經修飾的美，這正是主耶穌親手撫摸的特質。我們往往可以知道耶穌何時在作工，因為他能在平凡中製造超卓。
祈禱◆主啊，我要讚美你，你在每個人的生命中，也透過每個人的生命，來實行你完美的旨意。
August 21, 2014
August 20, 2014
Christ-Awareness
. . . and I will give you rest —Matthew 11:28
Whenever anything begins to disintegrate your life with Jesus Christ, turn to Him at once, asking Him to re-establish your rest. Never allow anything to remain in your life that is causing the unrest. Think of every detail of your life that is causing the disintegration as something to fight against, not as something you should allow to remain. Ask the Lord to put awareness of Himself in you, and your self-awareness will disappear. Then He will be your all in all. Beware of allowing your self-awareness to continue, because slowly but surely it will awaken self-pity, and self-pity is satanic. Don’t allow yourself to say, “Well, they have just misunderstood me, and this is something over which they should be apologizing to me; I’m sure I must have this cleared up with them already.” Learn to leave others alone regarding this. Simply ask the Lord to give you Christ-awareness, and He will steady you until your completeness in Him is absolute.
A complete life is the life of a child. When I am fully conscious of my awareness of Christ, there is something wrong. It is the sick person who really knows what health is. A child of God is not aware of the will of God because he is the will of God. When we have deviated even slightly from the will of God, we begin to ask, “Lord, what is your will?” A child of God never prays to be made aware of the fact that God answers prayer, because he is so restfully certain that God always answers prayer.
If we try to overcome our self-awareness through any of our own commonsense methods, we will only serve to strengthen our self-awareness tremendously. Jesus says, “Come to Me . . . and I will give you rest,” that is, Christ-awareness will take the place of self-awareness. Wherever Jesus comes He establishes rest— the rest of the completion of activity in our lives that is never aware of itself.
完全
我就使你們得安息。 （太十一28）
若有任何事物開始分化你與耶穌基督的關係，就要立即轉向他，求他使你安息。不可容讓任何製造不安的東西存留，要視一切分化的東西為摔跤的物件，而不要去容忍。對主說：[主啊，請證實你的意識卻在我裡面。 ]自我的意識就必退去，只要他成為一切的一切。不要讓自覺意識不斷的佔據，因為慢慢地，就會變成自憐，而自憐是屬撒但的。 [我被人誤會了理他們該向我道歉；這一點我早就該澄清了。 ]不要理會別人怎樣，求神給你基督的意識，他會使你絕對安全。完全的生命，是小孩子的生命。當我有強烈的自覺，必然是出了亂子。只有生病的人才知道健康為何物。神的孩子不會意識到神的旨意，因為他就是神的旨意。當我們稍有偏離，才會問[你的旨意是什麼？ ]神的孩子絕不求神讓他知道神聽禱告，因為他確實知道神一向垂聽祈禱。
我們若想用常理去勝過自覺意識，反會使它增強。耶穌說：[到我這裡來，我就使你們得安息。 ]也就是說，基督的意識取代了自我的意識。耶穌一來，就帶來安息，這是最完美的安息，是永不自覺的。
祈禱◆我的心靈和肉體向永生神呼求！啊，我是何等瘦弱無力！主啊，你是我的活力和喜樂！
Whenever anything begins to disintegrate your life with Jesus Christ, turn to Him at once, asking Him to re-establish your rest. Never allow anything to remain in your life that is causing the unrest. Think of every detail of your life that is causing the disintegration as something to fight against, not as something you should allow to remain. Ask the Lord to put awareness of Himself in you, and your self-awareness will disappear. Then He will be your all in all. Beware of allowing your self-awareness to continue, because slowly but surely it will awaken self-pity, and self-pity is satanic. Don’t allow yourself to say, “Well, they have just misunderstood me, and this is something over which they should be apologizing to me; I’m sure I must have this cleared up with them already.” Learn to leave others alone regarding this. Simply ask the Lord to give you Christ-awareness, and He will steady you until your completeness in Him is absolute.
A complete life is the life of a child. When I am fully conscious of my awareness of Christ, there is something wrong. It is the sick person who really knows what health is. A child of God is not aware of the will of God because he is the will of God. When we have deviated even slightly from the will of God, we begin to ask, “Lord, what is your will?” A child of God never prays to be made aware of the fact that God answers prayer, because he is so restfully certain that God always answers prayer.
If we try to overcome our self-awareness through any of our own commonsense methods, we will only serve to strengthen our self-awareness tremendously. Jesus says, “Come to Me . . . and I will give you rest,” that is, Christ-awareness will take the place of self-awareness. Wherever Jesus comes He establishes rest— the rest of the completion of activity in our lives that is never aware of itself.
完全
我就使你們得安息。 （太十一28）
若有任何事物開始分化你與耶穌基督的關係，就要立即轉向他，求他使你安息。不可容讓任何製造不安的東西存留，要視一切分化的東西為摔跤的物件，而不要去容忍。對主說：[主啊，請證實你的意識卻在我裡面。 ]自我的意識就必退去，只要他成為一切的一切。不要讓自覺意識不斷的佔據，因為慢慢地，就會變成自憐，而自憐是屬撒但的。 [我被人誤會了理他們該向我道歉；這一點我早就該澄清了。 ]不要理會別人怎樣，求神給你基督的意識，他會使你絕對安全。完全的生命，是小孩子的生命。當我有強烈的自覺，必然是出了亂子。只有生病的人才知道健康為何物。神的孩子不會意識到神的旨意，因為他就是神的旨意。當我們稍有偏離，才會問[你的旨意是什麼？ ]神的孩子絕不求神讓他知道神聽禱告，因為他確實知道神一向垂聽祈禱。
我們若想用常理去勝過自覺意識，反會使它增強。耶穌說：[到我這裡來，我就使你們得安息。 ]也就是說，基督的意識取代了自我的意識。耶穌一來，就帶來安息，這是最完美的安息，是永不自覺的。
祈禱◆我的心靈和肉體向永生神呼求！啊，我是何等瘦弱無力！主啊，你是我的活力和喜樂！
August 19, 2014
Self-Awareness
Come to Me . . . —Matthew 11:28
God intends for us to live a well-rounded life in Christ Jesus, but there are times when that life is attacked from the outside. Then we tend to fall back into self-examination, a habit that we thought was gone. Self-awareness is the first thing that will upset the completeness of our life in God, and self-awareness continually produces a sense of struggling and turmoil in our lives. Self-awareness is not sin, and it can be produced by nervous emotions or by suddenly being dropped into a totally new set of circumstances. Yet it is never God’s will that we should be anything less than absolutely complete in Him. Anything that disturbs our rest in Him must be rectified at once, and it is not rectified by being ignored but only by coming to Jesus Christ. If we will come to Him, asking Him to produce Christ-awareness in us, He will always do it, until we fully learn to abide in Him.
Never allow anything that divides or destroys the oneness of your life with Christ to remain in your life without facing it. Beware of allowing the influence of your friends or your circumstances to divide your life. This only serves to sap your strength and slow your spiritual growth. Beware of anything that can split your oneness with Him, causing you to see yourself as separate from Him. Nothing is as important as staying right spiritually. And the only solution is a very simple one— “Come to Me . . . .” The intellectual, moral, and spiritual depth of our reality as a person is tested and measured by these words. Yet in every detail of our lives where we are found not to be real, we would rather dispute the findings than come to Jesus.
自覺
可以到我這裡來。 （太十一28）
神的心意是要我們過一個完全以基督為中心的生活，但有時外界的攻擊來了，我們就掉進向內觀察的圈中，還以為這些東西早已對付了。自覺是破壞我們在神裡面完整生命的第一個敵人，並且會不斷帶來摔跤。自覺不是罪，神經質的個性，或突然碰到新環境，都會產生自覺。神的心意是要我們在他裡面絕對完全。任何攪擾我們在他裡面安息的東西，都必須接受治療，置之不理並非治方，而治療的方法是來到主耶穌面前。我們若來就他，求他叫我們有基督的意識，他一定會作工，直到我們住在他裡面。
絕不可讓在主裡的生命分割而置之不理。當心滴漏，就是因朋友或環境的影響，而造成生命的分割。當心任何破壞你與主合一，叫你單獨看自己的事。保持屬靈狀態的正常，是至重要的。解決的辦法很簡單－－[到我這裡來。 ]這句話就是我們有多少實質，我們的心志、道德、靈性有多少深度的考驗。若有任何虛假的成分，那我們寧願爭辯，也不願到耶穌那裡。
祈禱◆主啊，為著今早我內心的平安感覺，我讚美你。為著救贖的深刻啟示，我何其稱頌你！願你的光輝從無雲的青空上，照耀我們！
God intends for us to live a well-rounded life in Christ Jesus, but there are times when that life is attacked from the outside. Then we tend to fall back into self-examination, a habit that we thought was gone. Self-awareness is the first thing that will upset the completeness of our life in God, and self-awareness continually produces a sense of struggling and turmoil in our lives. Self-awareness is not sin, and it can be produced by nervous emotions or by suddenly being dropped into a totally new set of circumstances. Yet it is never God’s will that we should be anything less than absolutely complete in Him. Anything that disturbs our rest in Him must be rectified at once, and it is not rectified by being ignored but only by coming to Jesus Christ. If we will come to Him, asking Him to produce Christ-awareness in us, He will always do it, until we fully learn to abide in Him.
Never allow anything that divides or destroys the oneness of your life with Christ to remain in your life without facing it. Beware of allowing the influence of your friends or your circumstances to divide your life. This only serves to sap your strength and slow your spiritual growth. Beware of anything that can split your oneness with Him, causing you to see yourself as separate from Him. Nothing is as important as staying right spiritually. And the only solution is a very simple one— “Come to Me . . . .” The intellectual, moral, and spiritual depth of our reality as a person is tested and measured by these words. Yet in every detail of our lives where we are found not to be real, we would rather dispute the findings than come to Jesus.
自覺
可以到我這裡來。 （太十一28）
神的心意是要我們過一個完全以基督為中心的生活，但有時外界的攻擊來了，我們就掉進向內觀察的圈中，還以為這些東西早已對付了。自覺是破壞我們在神裡面完整生命的第一個敵人，並且會不斷帶來摔跤。自覺不是罪，神經質的個性，或突然碰到新環境，都會產生自覺。神的心意是要我們在他裡面絕對完全。任何攪擾我們在他裡面安息的東西，都必須接受治療，置之不理並非治方，而治療的方法是來到主耶穌面前。我們若來就他，求他叫我們有基督的意識，他一定會作工，直到我們住在他裡面。
絕不可讓在主裡的生命分割而置之不理。當心滴漏，就是因朋友或環境的影響，而造成生命的分割。當心任何破壞你與主合一，叫你單獨看自己的事。保持屬靈狀態的正常，是至重要的。解決的辦法很簡單－－[到我這裡來。 ]這句話就是我們有多少實質，我們的心志、道德、靈性有多少深度的考驗。若有任何虛假的成分，那我們寧願爭辯，也不願到耶穌那裡。
祈禱◆主啊，為著今早我內心的平安感覺，我讚美你。為著救贖的深刻啟示，我何其稱頌你！願你的光輝從無雲的青空上，照耀我們！
August 18, 2014
Have You Ever Been Speechless with Sorrow?
When he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich —Luke 18:23
The rich young ruler went away from Jesus speechless with sorrow, having nothing to say in response to Jesus’ words. He had no doubt about what Jesus had said or what it meant, and it produced in him a sorrow with no words with which to respond. Have you ever been there? Has God’s Word ever come to you, pointing out an area of your life, requiring you to yield it to Him? Maybe He has pointed out certain personal qualities, desires, and interests, or possibly relationships of your heart and mind. If so, then you have often been speechless with sorrow. The Lord will not go after you, and He will not plead with you. But every time He meets you at the place where He has pointed, He will simply repeat His words, saying, “If you really mean what you say, these are the conditions.”
“Sell all that you have . . .” (Luke 18:22). In other words, rid yourself before God of everything that might be considered a possession until you are a mere conscious human being standing before Him, and then give God that. That is where the battle is truly fought— in the realm of your will before God. Are you more devoted to your idea of what Jesus wants than to Jesus Himself? If so, you are likely to hear one of His harsh and unyielding statements that will produce sorrow in you. What Jesus says is difficult— it is only easy when it is heard by those who have His nature in them. Beware of allowing anything to soften the hard words of Jesus Christ.
I can be so rich in my own poverty, or in the awareness of the fact that I am nobody, that I will never be a disciple of Jesus. Or I can be so rich in the awareness that I am somebody that I will never be a disciple. Am I willing to be destitute and poor even in my sense of awareness of my destitution and poverty? If not, that is why I become discouraged. Discouragement is disillusioned self-love, and self-love may be love for my devotion to Jesus— not love for Jesus Himself.
必會臨到的經歷
以後不再見他了。 （王下二12）
倚賴以利亞是沒有錯的，只要是神把他給你；可是別忘記，總有一天他會離開。他不再做你的領導，因為神認為他不應該再做你的領導。你會說：[沒有以利亞，我無法前行。 ]但神說你一定要前行。
獨自在你的約但（14節）。約但是分離的表徵，表示再沒有人與你相交，沒有人分擔你的責任。你必須把從以利亞學習所得的，拿出來考驗。你跟以利亞過約但河不知有多少次了，但如今你得獨自面對。空說不能過，是沒有用處的。這事已經臨到，你必定要前行。你若要知道神是否如你所信的一樣，就得單獨的過你的約但河。
獨自在你的耶利哥（15節）。你曾在耶利哥看見以利亞行大事，但當你來到自己的耶利哥，就退縮，不肯主動去信靠神，只想別人去替你擔當。可是，你若遵從以利亞所學的，就必得著神與你同在。
獨自在你的伯利恆（23節）。在伯利恆你來到自己才智的盡頭，這卻是神智慧的開端。千萬不可在智窮力竭時，仆倒恐慌之中，要緊靠著神，忠於他，他自有方法把真理顯明，使你的生命成聖。把你跟以利亞所學的行出來，用他的外衣和他的祈禱。立志信靠神，不要再尋找你的以利亞了。
祈禱◆主啊，我餓生命是如此傾斜，如此充滿漏洞，求你今天讓我全神貫注於你！願我回到你的家中，重新過著完全倚靠你的生活。
The rich young ruler went away from Jesus speechless with sorrow, having nothing to say in response to Jesus’ words. He had no doubt about what Jesus had said or what it meant, and it produced in him a sorrow with no words with which to respond. Have you ever been there? Has God’s Word ever come to you, pointing out an area of your life, requiring you to yield it to Him? Maybe He has pointed out certain personal qualities, desires, and interests, or possibly relationships of your heart and mind. If so, then you have often been speechless with sorrow. The Lord will not go after you, and He will not plead with you. But every time He meets you at the place where He has pointed, He will simply repeat His words, saying, “If you really mean what you say, these are the conditions.”
“Sell all that you have . . .” (Luke 18:22). In other words, rid yourself before God of everything that might be considered a possession until you are a mere conscious human being standing before Him, and then give God that. That is where the battle is truly fought— in the realm of your will before God. Are you more devoted to your idea of what Jesus wants than to Jesus Himself? If so, you are likely to hear one of His harsh and unyielding statements that will produce sorrow in you. What Jesus says is difficult— it is only easy when it is heard by those who have His nature in them. Beware of allowing anything to soften the hard words of Jesus Christ.
I can be so rich in my own poverty, or in the awareness of the fact that I am nobody, that I will never be a disciple of Jesus. Or I can be so rich in the awareness that I am somebody that I will never be a disciple. Am I willing to be destitute and poor even in my sense of awareness of my destitution and poverty? If not, that is why I become discouraged. Discouragement is disillusioned self-love, and self-love may be love for my devotion to Jesus— not love for Jesus Himself.
必會臨到的經歷
以後不再見他了。 （王下二12）
倚賴以利亞是沒有錯的，只要是神把他給你；可是別忘記，總有一天他會離開。他不再做你的領導，因為神認為他不應該再做你的領導。你會說：[沒有以利亞，我無法前行。 ]但神說你一定要前行。
獨自在你的約但（14節）。約但是分離的表徵，表示再沒有人與你相交，沒有人分擔你的責任。你必須把從以利亞學習所得的，拿出來考驗。你跟以利亞過約但河不知有多少次了，但如今你得獨自面對。空說不能過，是沒有用處的。這事已經臨到，你必定要前行。你若要知道神是否如你所信的一樣，就得單獨的過你的約但河。
獨自在你的耶利哥（15節）。你曾在耶利哥看見以利亞行大事，但當你來到自己的耶利哥，就退縮，不肯主動去信靠神，只想別人去替你擔當。可是，你若遵從以利亞所學的，就必得著神與你同在。
獨自在你的伯利恆（23節）。在伯利恆你來到自己才智的盡頭，這卻是神智慧的開端。千萬不可在智窮力竭時，仆倒恐慌之中，要緊靠著神，忠於他，他自有方法把真理顯明，使你的生命成聖。把你跟以利亞所學的行出來，用他的外衣和他的祈禱。立志信靠神，不要再尋找你的以利亞了。
祈禱◆主啊，我餓生命是如此傾斜，如此充滿漏洞，求你今天讓我全神貫注於你！願我回到你的家中，重新過著完全倚靠你的生活。
August 17, 2014
Are You Discouraged or Devoted?
. . . Jesus . . . said to him, ’You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have . . . and come, follow Me.’ But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich —Luke 18:22-23
Have you ever heard the Master say something very difficult to you? If you haven’t, I question whether you have ever heard Him say anything at all. Jesus says a tremendous amount to us that we listen to, but do not actually hear. And once we do hear Him, His words are harsh and unyielding.
Jesus did not show the least concern that this rich young ruler should do what He told him, nor did Jesus make any attempt to keep this man with Him. He simply said to him, “Sell all that you have . . . and come, follow Me.” Our Lord never pleaded with him; He never tried to lure him— He simply spoke the strictest words that human ears have ever heard, and then left him alone.
Have I ever heard Jesus say something difficult and unyielding to me? Has He said something personally to me to which I have deliberately listened— not something I can explain for the sake of others, but something I have heard Him say directly to me? This man understood what Jesus said. He heard it clearly, realizing the full impact of its meaning, and it broke his heart. He did not go away as a defiant person, but as one who was sorrowful and discouraged. He had come to Jesus on fire with zeal and determination, but the words of Jesus simply froze him. Instead of producing enthusiastic devotion to Jesus, they produced heartbreaking discouragement. And Jesus did not go after him, but let him go. Our Lord knows perfectly well that once His word is truly heard, it will bear fruit sooner or later. What is so terrible is that some of us prevent His words from bearing fruit in our present life. I wonder what we will say when we finally make up our minds to be devoted to Him on that particular point? One thing is certain— He will never throw our past failures back in our faces.
你在奉獻上灰心嗎？
你還缺少一件，要變賣你一切所有的……你還要來跟從我。 （路十八22）
[他聽見這話……]你聽過主說嚴厲的話麼？若沒有，可能你從未聽見他的話。我們聽了主說許多話，卻沒有聽見。若是真聽見，他的話會顯得出奇的嚴厲。耶穌似乎並不在乎這人是否照他的話去行。他也沒有設法去挽留他。他只說：[變賣你所有的，來跟從我。 ]我們的主從不乞求、不勸誘，也不籠絡。他只用人從未聽過的嚴厲話，然後就順其自然。
我聽過主說嚴厲的話麼？他直接對我說話時，我是否立意恭聽？我是否直截地聽他向我說話，而不是隨意解說？這個人確實明白耶穌的話，他聽見了，又衡量過，然而這些話叫他心碎。他不是侮慢地離開，乃是憂愁地離開，時頹喪極了。他著滿腔熱誠來見耶穌，耶穌的話卻給他一盆冷水。他的話沒有帶來忠誠的奉獻，相反地卻叫人心碎地灰心失意。耶穌沒有去追他，是任他離去。主知道他的話一發出，人聽見了，總有一天會結出果子。可怕的事實卻是我們當中好些人，不讓主的話在實際生活上結果。一旦我們決志忠於主，我不知道我們會說些什麼。但有一點可以肯定，他絕不會苛責我們。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，為著這些日子以來，你賜給我們的身心健康，我感謝你。噢，主啊，求你繼續賜予我們。我們脫離一切虛假的情緒、感傷和悲哀。願你今天以活力和喜樂來賜福我們各人。
Have you ever heard the Master say something very difficult to you? If you haven’t, I question whether you have ever heard Him say anything at all. Jesus says a tremendous amount to us that we listen to, but do not actually hear. And once we do hear Him, His words are harsh and unyielding.
Jesus did not show the least concern that this rich young ruler should do what He told him, nor did Jesus make any attempt to keep this man with Him. He simply said to him, “Sell all that you have . . . and come, follow Me.” Our Lord never pleaded with him; He never tried to lure him— He simply spoke the strictest words that human ears have ever heard, and then left him alone.
Have I ever heard Jesus say something difficult and unyielding to me? Has He said something personally to me to which I have deliberately listened— not something I can explain for the sake of others, but something I have heard Him say directly to me? This man understood what Jesus said. He heard it clearly, realizing the full impact of its meaning, and it broke his heart. He did not go away as a defiant person, but as one who was sorrowful and discouraged. He had come to Jesus on fire with zeal and determination, but the words of Jesus simply froze him. Instead of producing enthusiastic devotion to Jesus, they produced heartbreaking discouragement. And Jesus did not go after him, but let him go. Our Lord knows perfectly well that once His word is truly heard, it will bear fruit sooner or later. What is so terrible is that some of us prevent His words from bearing fruit in our present life. I wonder what we will say when we finally make up our minds to be devoted to Him on that particular point? One thing is certain— He will never throw our past failures back in our faces.
你在奉獻上灰心嗎？
你還缺少一件，要變賣你一切所有的……你還要來跟從我。 （路十八22）
[他聽見這話……]你聽過主說嚴厲的話麼？若沒有，可能你從未聽見他的話。我們聽了主說許多話，卻沒有聽見。若是真聽見，他的話會顯得出奇的嚴厲。耶穌似乎並不在乎這人是否照他的話去行。他也沒有設法去挽留他。他只說：[變賣你所有的，來跟從我。 ]我們的主從不乞求、不勸誘，也不籠絡。他只用人從未聽過的嚴厲話，然後就順其自然。
我聽過主說嚴厲的話麼？他直接對我說話時，我是否立意恭聽？我是否直截地聽他向我說話，而不是隨意解說？這個人確實明白耶穌的話，他聽見了，又衡量過，然而這些話叫他心碎。他不是侮慢地離開，乃是憂愁地離開，時頹喪極了。他著滿腔熱誠來見耶穌，耶穌的話卻給他一盆冷水。他的話沒有帶來忠誠的奉獻，相反地卻叫人心碎地灰心失意。耶穌沒有去追他，是任他離去。主知道他的話一發出，人聽見了，總有一天會結出果子。可怕的事實卻是我們當中好些人，不讓主的話在實際生活上結果。一旦我們決志忠於主，我不知道我們會說些什麼。但有一點可以肯定，他絕不會苛責我們。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，為著這些日子以來，你賜給我們的身心健康，我感謝你。噢，主啊，求你繼續賜予我們。我們脫離一切虛假的情緒、感傷和悲哀。願你今天以活力和喜樂來賜福我們各人。
August 16, 2014
Does He Know Me . . . ?
He calls his own . . . by name . . . —John 10:3
When I have sadly misunderstood Him? (see John 20:11-18). It is possible to know all about doctrine and still not know Jesus. A person’s soul is in grave danger when the knowledge of doctrine surpasses Jesus, avoiding intimate touch with Him. Why was Mary weeping? Doctrine meant no more to her than the grass under her feet. In fact, any Pharisee could have made a fool of Mary doctrinally, but one thing they could never ridicule was the fact that Jesus had cast seven demons out of her (see Luke 8:2); yet His blessings were nothing to her in comparison with knowing Jesus Himself. “. . . she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. . . . Jesus said to her, ’Mary!’ ” (John 20:14, 16). Once He called Mary by her name, she immediately knew that she had a personal history with the One who spoke. “She turned and said to Him, ’Rabboni!’ ” (John 20:16).
When I have stubbornly doubted? (see John 20:24-29). Have I been doubting something about Jesus— maybe an experience to which others testify, but which I have not yet experienced? The other disciples said to Thomas, “We have seen the Lord” (John 20:25). But Thomas doubted, saying, “Unless I see . . . I will not believe” (John 20:25). Thomas needed the personal touch of Jesus. When His touches will come we never know, but when they do come they are indescribably precious. “Thomas . . . said to Him, ’My Lord and my God!’ ” (John 20:28).
When I have selfishly denied Him? (see John 21:15-17). Peter denied Jesus Christ with oaths and curses (see Matthew 26:69-75), and yet after His resurrection Jesus appeared to Peter alone. Jesus restored Peter in private, and then He restored him publicly before the others. And Peter said to Him, “Lord . . . You know that I love You” (John 21:17).
Do I have a personal history with Jesus Christ? The one true sign of discipleship is intimate oneness with Him— a knowledge of Jesus that nothing can shake.
認識我麼？
他按著名叫自己的羊。 （約十3）
當我誤會他時，他認識我麼？ （約二十17）人可以認識所有教義，卻不一定認識耶穌。若教義的只是霸占了與主的相親，那人就陷入危機裡。馬利亞為什麼哭？教義對馬利亞來說，無重於腳下的草。任何法利賽人都可以在教義上愚弄馬利亞，可是有一件事實卻是他們無法抹煞的；耶穌曾從她身上趕出七個鬼。不過他的賜福，絕對比不上他自己。馬利亞[看見耶穌站在那裡，卻不知道是耶穌。 ]但當她一聽見祂的聲音，便立刻知道說話的那一位原與她有關係。 [夫子！ ]
在我固執地懷疑時，他認識我麼？ （約二十27）我有沒有對主某一方面存疑－－懷疑人家的見證，因為我沒有那樣的經歷？門徒告訴多馬看見了主，多馬卻懷疑－－[我非看見……我總不信。 ]多馬需要主耶穌個人的接觸。他什麼時候觸摸，怎樣觸摸，我們不曉得，但當這臨到，是何等的寶貴哩。 [我的主，我的神！ ]
我自私地不認他時，他認識我麼？ （約二十一15-17）彼得曾發咒起誓不認耶穌，但主復活以後，卻單獨向他顯現。祂扶起他，然後又在別人面前復興他。 [主啊，你知道我愛你！ ]（約二十15-17）我與耶穌基督有沒有一段個人的歷史？門徒的標記之一，就是與主緊密的聯繫，深切的認識祂，以致任何東西也不能搖動對祂的信心。
祈禱◆我們所需要的就只有你！願今天我們與你的親密關係，成為永遠難忘的日子！
When I have sadly misunderstood Him? (see John 20:11-18). It is possible to know all about doctrine and still not know Jesus. A person’s soul is in grave danger when the knowledge of doctrine surpasses Jesus, avoiding intimate touch with Him. Why was Mary weeping? Doctrine meant no more to her than the grass under her feet. In fact, any Pharisee could have made a fool of Mary doctrinally, but one thing they could never ridicule was the fact that Jesus had cast seven demons out of her (see Luke 8:2); yet His blessings were nothing to her in comparison with knowing Jesus Himself. “. . . she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. . . . Jesus said to her, ’Mary!’ ” (John 20:14, 16). Once He called Mary by her name, she immediately knew that she had a personal history with the One who spoke. “She turned and said to Him, ’Rabboni!’ ” (John 20:16).
When I have stubbornly doubted? (see John 20:24-29). Have I been doubting something about Jesus— maybe an experience to which others testify, but which I have not yet experienced? The other disciples said to Thomas, “We have seen the Lord” (John 20:25). But Thomas doubted, saying, “Unless I see . . . I will not believe” (John 20:25). Thomas needed the personal touch of Jesus. When His touches will come we never know, but when they do come they are indescribably precious. “Thomas . . . said to Him, ’My Lord and my God!’ ” (John 20:28).
When I have selfishly denied Him? (see John 21:15-17). Peter denied Jesus Christ with oaths and curses (see Matthew 26:69-75), and yet after His resurrection Jesus appeared to Peter alone. Jesus restored Peter in private, and then He restored him publicly before the others. And Peter said to Him, “Lord . . . You know that I love You” (John 21:17).
Do I have a personal history with Jesus Christ? The one true sign of discipleship is intimate oneness with Him— a knowledge of Jesus that nothing can shake.
認識我麼？
他按著名叫自己的羊。 （約十3）
當我誤會他時，他認識我麼？ （約二十17）人可以認識所有教義，卻不一定認識耶穌。若教義的只是霸占了與主的相親，那人就陷入危機裡。馬利亞為什麼哭？教義對馬利亞來說，無重於腳下的草。任何法利賽人都可以在教義上愚弄馬利亞，可是有一件事實卻是他們無法抹煞的；耶穌曾從她身上趕出七個鬼。不過他的賜福，絕對比不上他自己。馬利亞[看見耶穌站在那裡，卻不知道是耶穌。 ]但當她一聽見祂的聲音，便立刻知道說話的那一位原與她有關係。 [夫子！ ]
在我固執地懷疑時，他認識我麼？ （約二十27）我有沒有對主某一方面存疑－－懷疑人家的見證，因為我沒有那樣的經歷？門徒告訴多馬看見了主，多馬卻懷疑－－[我非看見……我總不信。 ]多馬需要主耶穌個人的接觸。他什麼時候觸摸，怎樣觸摸，我們不曉得，但當這臨到，是何等的寶貴哩。 [我的主，我的神！ ]
我自私地不認他時，他認識我麼？ （約二十一15-17）彼得曾發咒起誓不認耶穌，但主復活以後，卻單獨向他顯現。祂扶起他，然後又在別人面前復興他。 [主啊，你知道我愛你！ ]（約二十15-17）我與耶穌基督有沒有一段個人的歷史？門徒的標記之一，就是與主緊密的聯繫，深切的認識祂，以致任何東西也不能搖動對祂的信心。
祈禱◆我們所需要的就只有你！願今天我們與你的親密關係，成為永遠難忘的日子！
August 15, 2014
The Evidence of the New Birth
You must be born again —John 3:7
The answer to Nicodemus’ question, “How can a man be born when he is old?” is: Only when he is willing to die to everything in his life, including his rights, his virtues, and his religion, and becomes willing to receive into himself a new life that he has never before experienced (John 3:4). This new life exhibits itself in our conscious repentance and through our unconscious holiness.
“But as many as received Him. . .” (John 1:12). Is my knowledge of Jesus the result of my own internal spiritual perception, or is it only what I have learned through listening to others? Is there something in my life that unites me with the Lord Jesus as my personal Savior? My spiritual history must have as its underlying foundation a personal knowledge of Jesus Christ. To be born again means that I see Jesus.
“. . . unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God ” (John 3:3). Am I seeking only for the evidence of God’s kingdom, or am I actually recognizing His absolute sovereign control? The new birth gives me a new power of vision by which I begin to discern God’s control. His sovereignty was there all the time, but with God being true to His nature, I could not see it until I received His very nature myself.
“Whoever has been born of God does not sin. . .” (1 John 3:9). Am I seeking to stop sinning or have I actually stopped? To be born of God means that I have His supernatural power to stop sinning. The Bible never asks, “Should a Christian sin?” The Bible emphatically states that a Christian must not sin. The work of the new birth is being effective in us when we do not commit sin. It is not merely that we have the power not to sin, but that we have actually stopped sinning. Yet 1 John 3:9 does not mean that we cannot sin— it simply means that if we will obey the life of God in us, that we do not have to sin.
新生的跡象
你們必須重生。 （約三7）
[人老了，如何能重生呢？ ]答案是在於人肯死去－－對自己的權利、德行、宗教，以及其他一切全然死去，然後接受一個他從來沒有的生命。這新生命是從有意識的悔改，及不自覺的成聖中孕育出來。
[凡接待他的。 ]（約一12）我對耶穌的認識，是因內在屬靈生命的體會，還是從聽人家講論而來？我生命中有沒有什麼使我與主耶穌相連，使我以他為個人救主？一切的靈性歷史，都必須以個人認識作為基石。重生的意思，就是我看見了主耶穌。
[人若不重生，就不能見神的國。 ]（約三3）我是否再尋找天國？還是看到神的統治？重生使我有了新的異象，叫我能夠體察神的統治。他的統治其實一直存在，是與他的本性相符的；如今我既接受了他，就看得見他的統治。 [凡從神生的，就不犯罪。 ]（約壹三9）我是設法不犯罪？還是已經停止犯罪？從神生的，就有神超然的能力，可以停止犯罪。聖經從沒有問：基督徒應否犯罪？聖經強調基督徒必不可犯罪。新生命的效能就是使我們不犯罪，不單是有能力不犯罪，而是根本停止去犯。約翰一書三章9節不是說我們沒有犯罪的可能；乃是說我們若順服神的我們裡面的生命，就不會犯罪。
祈禱◆主啊，我似乎令你憂心－－那將會帶來什麼後果呢？讓我在你的門口守候和等待。
The answer to Nicodemus’ question, “How can a man be born when he is old?” is: Only when he is willing to die to everything in his life, including his rights, his virtues, and his religion, and becomes willing to receive into himself a new life that he has never before experienced (John 3:4). This new life exhibits itself in our conscious repentance and through our unconscious holiness.
“But as many as received Him. . .” (John 1:12). Is my knowledge of Jesus the result of my own internal spiritual perception, or is it only what I have learned through listening to others? Is there something in my life that unites me with the Lord Jesus as my personal Savior? My spiritual history must have as its underlying foundation a personal knowledge of Jesus Christ. To be born again means that I see Jesus.
“. . . unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God ” (John 3:3). Am I seeking only for the evidence of God’s kingdom, or am I actually recognizing His absolute sovereign control? The new birth gives me a new power of vision by which I begin to discern God’s control. His sovereignty was there all the time, but with God being true to His nature, I could not see it until I received His very nature myself.
“Whoever has been born of God does not sin. . .” (1 John 3:9). Am I seeking to stop sinning or have I actually stopped? To be born of God means that I have His supernatural power to stop sinning. The Bible never asks, “Should a Christian sin?” The Bible emphatically states that a Christian must not sin. The work of the new birth is being effective in us when we do not commit sin. It is not merely that we have the power not to sin, but that we have actually stopped sinning. Yet 1 John 3:9 does not mean that we cannot sin— it simply means that if we will obey the life of God in us, that we do not have to sin.
新生的跡象
你們必須重生。 （約三7）
[人老了，如何能重生呢？ ]答案是在於人肯死去－－對自己的權利、德行、宗教，以及其他一切全然死去，然後接受一個他從來沒有的生命。這新生命是從有意識的悔改，及不自覺的成聖中孕育出來。
[凡接待他的。 ]（約一12）我對耶穌的認識，是因內在屬靈生命的體會，還是從聽人家講論而來？我生命中有沒有什麼使我與主耶穌相連，使我以他為個人救主？一切的靈性歷史，都必須以個人認識作為基石。重生的意思，就是我看見了主耶穌。
[人若不重生，就不能見神的國。 ]（約三3）我是否再尋找天國？還是看到神的統治？重生使我有了新的異象，叫我能夠體察神的統治。他的統治其實一直存在，是與他的本性相符的；如今我既接受了他，就看得見他的統治。 [凡從神生的，就不犯罪。 ]（約壹三9）我是設法不犯罪？還是已經停止犯罪？從神生的，就有神超然的能力，可以停止犯罪。聖經從沒有問：基督徒應否犯罪？聖經強調基督徒必不可犯罪。新生命的效能就是使我們不犯罪，不單是有能力不犯罪，而是根本停止去犯。約翰一書三章9節不是說我們沒有犯罪的可能；乃是說我們若順服神的我們裡面的生命，就不會犯罪。
祈禱◆主啊，我似乎令你憂心－－那將會帶來什麼後果呢？讓我在你的門口守候和等待。
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)