Just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned . . . —Romans 5:12
The Bible does not say that God punished the human race for one man’s sin, but that the nature of sin, namely, my claim to my right to myself, entered into the human race through one man. But it also says that another Man took upon Himself the sin of the human race and put it away— an infinitely more profound revelation (see Hebrews 9:26). The nature of sin is not immorality and wrongdoing, but the nature of self-realization which leads us to say, “I am my own god.” This nature may exhibit itself in proper morality or in improper immorality, but it always has a common basis— my claim to my right to myself. When our Lord faced either people with all the forces of evil in them, or people who were clean-living, moral, and upright, He paid no attention to the moral degradation of one, nor any attention to the moral attainment of the other. He looked at something we do not see, namely, the nature of man (see John 2:25).
Sin is something I am born with and cannot touch— only God touches sin through redemption. It is through the Cross of Christ that God redeemed the entire human race from the possibility of damnation through the heredity of sin. God nowhere holds a person responsible for having the heredity of sin, and does not condemn anyone because of it. Condemnation comes when I realize that Jesus Christ came to deliver me from this heredity of sin, and yet I refuse to let Him do so. From that moment I begin to get the seal of damnation. “This is the condemnation [and the critical moment], that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light . . . ” (John 3:19).
墮落的傾向
這就如罪是從一人入了世界，死又是從罪來的，於是死就臨到眾人，因為眾人都犯了罪。 （羅五12）
聖經不是說神因一人的罪，就刑罰所有的人；聖經乃是說人的罪性－－我對自我主權的把持，是由一人進入人類。然而另一個人擔負了人類的罪，把罪除掉（來九26），這是何其奧秘的啟示哩。罪性並非指錯失或道德的敗落，而是自我實現的傾向－－我是自己的神。這傾向可以表現得很道德，也可以很不道德，但只有一個根基，就是對自我主權的把持。主耶穌不論碰到罪大惡極的人，還是正人君子，他均不理會前者道德的敗落或後者道德的操守；他所注意的，是我們所看不見的－－人的意向。
罪是與生俱來的，是人無能為力的，但神藉著救贖對付了罪。神藉主耶穌的十字架，拯救整個人類，使我們可以脫離那因罪而來的咒詛。神從不因人有遺傳的罪根而定人的罪。定罪不是由於我生來承襲了罪，乃是因知道主耶穌來救贖我，而我仍拒絕他，那是我就要被定罪了。 [光來到世間，世人……不愛光倒愛黑暗，定他們的罪就是在此。 ]
祈禱◆主啊，願你今天將聖靈的直覺力和先天的靈感賜給我，讓我可以在一切事情上識別你。願你恩慈的同在和平安，充滿這一天。
October 05, 2014
October 04, 2014
The Vision and The Reality
. . . to those who are . . . called to be saints . . . —1 Corinthians 1:2
Thank God for being able to see all that you have not yet been. You have had the vision, but you are not yet to the reality of it by any means. It is when we are in the valley, where we prove whether we will be the choice ones, that most of us turn back. We are not quite prepared for the bumps and bruises that must come if we are going to be turned into the shape of the vision. We have seen what we are not, and what God wants us to be, but are we willing to be battered into the shape of the vision to be used by God? The beatings will always come in the most common, everyday ways and through common, everyday people.
There are times when we do know what God’s purpose is; whether we will let the vision be turned into actual character depends on us, not on God. If we prefer to relax on the mountaintop and live in the memory of the vision, then we will be of no real use in the ordinary things of which human life is made. We have to learn to live in reliance upon what we saw in the vision, not simply live in ecstatic delight and conscious reflection upon God. This means living the realities of our lives in the light of the vision until the truth of the vision is actually realized in us. Every bit of our training is in that direction. Learn to thank God for making His demands known.
Our little “I am” always sulks and pouts when God says do. Let your little “I am” be shriveled up in God’s wrath and indignation–”I AM WHO I AM . . . has sent me to you” (Exodus 3:14). He must dominate. Isn’t it piercing to realize that God not only knows where we live, but also knows the gutters into which we crawl! He will hunt us down as fast as a flash of lightning. No human being knows human beings as God does.
異象與實在
蒙召作聖徒。 （林前一2）
為你所看見而未達成的一切感謝神。你見到異象，但其實你一點也未達那境地。我們往往在山谷中退後回頭，但山谷卻正是我們是否被選上的考驗。我們未能接受打擊，就是要實現異象必須有的打擊。我們看見自己的缺欠，也看見神心目中要我們達到的，但我們到底願不願意有被神擊打、塑造、使用的異象？神的熬煉，總是從平凡的方法，透過平凡的人而來的。
有時我們不曉得神的用意是什麼；但到底我們的異象能否變作我們的個性，全在乎我們，不在乎神。若我們留戀山頂，活在異象的回憶中，那末，在現實平凡的人生中，我們實一無用處。我們必須學習倚靠異象所見的去活，不是靠當時那種極樂，也不是靠刻意的默想神。要在異象的真光中活，直至把異象完全實現。所有訓練都是朝這個方向走，要學習感謝神讓我們知道他的要求。
在神說[做]的時候，那小小的[我]總是怏怏不樂。要把[我]在神的義怒下萎縮，神說：[我是自有永有的，我差遣你。 ]他必須作主。若知道神透察我們生活的每一洞口，那是何等的啟迪哩！他像電光般把我們搜出來，沒有誰像神那樣認識人。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，為著昨天我能迅速認知你在我裡面，我感謝你；求你幫助我今天在穩定和持續的禱告中，與你心意聯合。
Thank God for being able to see all that you have not yet been. You have had the vision, but you are not yet to the reality of it by any means. It is when we are in the valley, where we prove whether we will be the choice ones, that most of us turn back. We are not quite prepared for the bumps and bruises that must come if we are going to be turned into the shape of the vision. We have seen what we are not, and what God wants us to be, but are we willing to be battered into the shape of the vision to be used by God? The beatings will always come in the most common, everyday ways and through common, everyday people.
There are times when we do know what God’s purpose is; whether we will let the vision be turned into actual character depends on us, not on God. If we prefer to relax on the mountaintop and live in the memory of the vision, then we will be of no real use in the ordinary things of which human life is made. We have to learn to live in reliance upon what we saw in the vision, not simply live in ecstatic delight and conscious reflection upon God. This means living the realities of our lives in the light of the vision until the truth of the vision is actually realized in us. Every bit of our training is in that direction. Learn to thank God for making His demands known.
Our little “I am” always sulks and pouts when God says do. Let your little “I am” be shriveled up in God’s wrath and indignation–”I AM WHO I AM . . . has sent me to you” (Exodus 3:14). He must dominate. Isn’t it piercing to realize that God not only knows where we live, but also knows the gutters into which we crawl! He will hunt us down as fast as a flash of lightning. No human being knows human beings as God does.
異象與實在
蒙召作聖徒。 （林前一2）
為你所看見而未達成的一切感謝神。你見到異象，但其實你一點也未達那境地。我們往往在山谷中退後回頭，但山谷卻正是我們是否被選上的考驗。我們未能接受打擊，就是要實現異象必須有的打擊。我們看見自己的缺欠，也看見神心目中要我們達到的，但我們到底願不願意有被神擊打、塑造、使用的異象？神的熬煉，總是從平凡的方法，透過平凡的人而來的。
有時我們不曉得神的用意是什麼；但到底我們的異象能否變作我們的個性，全在乎我們，不在乎神。若我們留戀山頂，活在異象的回憶中，那末，在現實平凡的人生中，我們實一無用處。我們必須學習倚靠異象所見的去活，不是靠當時那種極樂，也不是靠刻意的默想神。要在異象的真光中活，直至把異象完全實現。所有訓練都是朝這個方向走，要學習感謝神讓我們知道他的要求。
在神說[做]的時候，那小小的[我]總是怏怏不樂。要把[我]在神的義怒下萎縮，神說：[我是自有永有的，我差遣你。 ]他必須作主。若知道神透察我們生活的每一洞口，那是何等的啟迪哩！他像電光般把我們搜出來，沒有誰像神那樣認識人。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，為著昨天我能迅速認知你在我裡面，我感謝你；求你幫助我今天在穩定和持續的禱告中，與你心意聯合。
October 03, 2014
The Place of Ministry
He said to them, ’This kind [of unclean spirit] can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting’ —Mark 9:29
His disciples asked Him privately, ’Why could we not cast it out?’ ” (Mark 9:28). The answer lies in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. “This kind can come out by nothing but” concentrating on Him, and then doubling and redoubling that concentration on Him. We can remain powerless forever, as the disciples were in this situation, by trying to do God’s work without concentrating on His power, and by following instead the ideas that we draw from our own nature. We actually slander and dishonor God by our very eagerness to serve Him without knowing Him.
When you are brought face to face with a difficult situation and nothing happens externally, you can still know that freedom and release will be given because of your continued concentration on Jesus Christ. Your duty in service and ministry is to see that there is nothing between Jesus and yourself. Is there anything between you and Jesus even now? If there is, you must get through it, not by ignoring it as an irritation, or by going up and over it, but by facing it and getting through it into the presence of Jesus Christ. Then that very problem itself, and all that you have been through in connection with it, will glorify Jesus Christ in a way that you will never know until you see Him face to face.
We must be able to “mount up with wings like eagles” (Isaiah 40:31), but we must also know how to come down. The power of the saint lies in the coming down and in the living that is done in the valley. Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13) and what he was referring to were mostly humiliating things. And yet it is in our power to refuse to be humiliated and to say, “No, thank you, I much prefer to be on the mountaintop with God.” Can I face things as they actually are in the light of the reality of Jesus Christ, or do things as they really are destroy my faith in Him, and put me into a panic?
事奉的領域
非用禱告禁食，這一類的鬼，不能出來。 （可九29）
[我們為什麼不能趕他出去呢？ ]這問題的答案在於人與主耶穌的關係。只有集中在主身上，加倍的仰望主，才能把這類鬼趕出去。若不集中靠神的能力去作神的工，只靠自己的主意，就變得無能，像昔日門徒一樣。我們熱心為他作工，卻又不認識他，只會給神帶來羞辱。
當你面臨一件困難的事，外表看來好像沒有什麼改變，可是你卻曉得事情必得以解決，因為你專注在主耶穌身上。這就是你事奉的途徑－－與主之間毫無阻隔。若有任何阻隔的話，就必須挪開，不是因惱怒而置之不理，也不是越過它，而是面對它，把它直接帶到主耶穌面前。那樣，這件事和所有與此相關的，都會榮耀神；你甚至詫異莫名，知道面對面見主那一天才會完全明白。
我們要像鷹一般展翅上騰，但必須知道如何降落。聖徒的能力，就是能降落，能在平地上生活。保羅說：[我靠著那加給我力量的，凡事都能作。 ]他所指的事，多半是低賤的事，我們大可拒絕降卑，說：[謝了，我還是喜歡與神在山頂上。 ]主耶穌是真實的，我能否在這亮光中，面對現實？還是讓事情完全抹煞了我對他的信心，以致陷在恐慌中？
祈禱◆主啊，將我高舉至你那裡，以致你救恩那豐富和充滿光輝的喜樂，能為著你的榮耀而面臨我和照亮我。願你使我與你之間的祈禱保持暢通。
His disciples asked Him privately, ’Why could we not cast it out?’ ” (Mark 9:28). The answer lies in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. “This kind can come out by nothing but” concentrating on Him, and then doubling and redoubling that concentration on Him. We can remain powerless forever, as the disciples were in this situation, by trying to do God’s work without concentrating on His power, and by following instead the ideas that we draw from our own nature. We actually slander and dishonor God by our very eagerness to serve Him without knowing Him.
When you are brought face to face with a difficult situation and nothing happens externally, you can still know that freedom and release will be given because of your continued concentration on Jesus Christ. Your duty in service and ministry is to see that there is nothing between Jesus and yourself. Is there anything between you and Jesus even now? If there is, you must get through it, not by ignoring it as an irritation, or by going up and over it, but by facing it and getting through it into the presence of Jesus Christ. Then that very problem itself, and all that you have been through in connection with it, will glorify Jesus Christ in a way that you will never know until you see Him face to face.
We must be able to “mount up with wings like eagles” (Isaiah 40:31), but we must also know how to come down. The power of the saint lies in the coming down and in the living that is done in the valley. Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13) and what he was referring to were mostly humiliating things. And yet it is in our power to refuse to be humiliated and to say, “No, thank you, I much prefer to be on the mountaintop with God.” Can I face things as they actually are in the light of the reality of Jesus Christ, or do things as they really are destroy my faith in Him, and put me into a panic?
事奉的領域
非用禱告禁食，這一類的鬼，不能出來。 （可九29）
[我們為什麼不能趕他出去呢？ ]這問題的答案在於人與主耶穌的關係。只有集中在主身上，加倍的仰望主，才能把這類鬼趕出去。若不集中靠神的能力去作神的工，只靠自己的主意，就變得無能，像昔日門徒一樣。我們熱心為他作工，卻又不認識他，只會給神帶來羞辱。
當你面臨一件困難的事，外表看來好像沒有什麼改變，可是你卻曉得事情必得以解決，因為你專注在主耶穌身上。這就是你事奉的途徑－－與主之間毫無阻隔。若有任何阻隔的話，就必須挪開，不是因惱怒而置之不理，也不是越過它，而是面對它，把它直接帶到主耶穌面前。那樣，這件事和所有與此相關的，都會榮耀神；你甚至詫異莫名，知道面對面見主那一天才會完全明白。
我們要像鷹一般展翅上騰，但必須知道如何降落。聖徒的能力，就是能降落，能在平地上生活。保羅說：[我靠著那加給我力量的，凡事都能作。 ]他所指的事，多半是低賤的事，我們大可拒絕降卑，說：[謝了，我還是喜歡與神在山頂上。 ]主耶穌是真實的，我能否在這亮光中，面對現實？還是讓事情完全抹煞了我對他的信心，以致陷在恐慌中？
祈禱◆主啊，將我高舉至你那裡，以致你救恩那豐富和充滿光輝的喜樂，能為著你的榮耀而面臨我和照亮我。願你使我與你之間的祈禱保持暢通。
October 02, 2014
The Place of Humiliation
If You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us —Mark 9:22
After every time of exaltation, we are brought down with a sudden rush into things as they really are, where it is neither beautiful, poetic, nor thrilling. The height of the mountaintop is measured by the dismal drudgery of the valley, but it is in the valley that we have to live for the glory of God. We see His glory on the mountain, but we never live for His glory there. It is in the place of humiliation that we find our true worth to God— that is where our faithfulness is revealed. Most of us can do things if we are always at some heroic level of intensity, simply because of the natural selfishness of our own hearts. But God wants us to be at the drab everyday level, where we live in the valley according to our personal relationship with Him. Peter thought it would be a wonderful thing for them to remain on the mountain, but Jesus Christ took the disciples down from the mountain and into the valley, where the true meaning of the vision was explained (see Mark 9:5-6 , Mark 14-23).
“If you can do anything . . . .” It takes the valley of humiliation to remove the skepticism from us. Look back at your own experience and you will find that until you learned who Jesus really was, you were a skillful skeptic about His power. When you were on the mountaintop you could believe anything, but what about when you were faced with the facts of the valley? You may be able to give a testimony regarding your sanctification, but what about the thing that is a humiliation to you right now? The last time you were on the mountain with God, you saw that all the power in heaven and on earth belonged to Jesus— will you be skeptical now, simply because you are in the valley of humiliation?
謙卑的領域
你若能作什麼，求你憐憫我們，幫助我們。 （可九22）
每次高峰經歷之後，神會突然把我們帶下山去，面對既不美麗，也不詩意，更無興奮可言的現實。山峰的高度是以山谷中單調的生活來量度的，但正是這山谷的生活，才是榮耀神的生活。我們在山頂上看見神的榮耀，但卻永不會在那里為榮耀他而活。在謙卑低微的境地中，才真正顯露我們對神的價值，顯出我們的忠貞。在英雄的高台上，多半人都可以大顯身手，因為我們心中有自私的天性；但神卻要我們處身在枯燥平凡的境地，要我們在山谷中，單憑與他的關係而活。彼得以為留在山上最好不過，可是主耶穌卻把門徒從山上帶下山谷，在那裡，山上的異象才得以啟露。
[你若能作什麼……]在山谷的卑微中，才能把我們多疑的根拔掉。試回想你的經歷，在你認識主耶穌是誰以前，你是一個奸狡的不信者。在山上的時候，你什麼都相信，可是在山谷中面對現實時又如何呢？你大可以作見證，說成聖之道，可是對那如今令你屈辱的事，你如何處理？上一次你與神在山上，看見天上地下權柄都在耶穌手中；如今在卑下的山谷中，你有沒有疑惑？
祈禱◆主啊，昔日我在你面前的生活，彷如四處漂流、黯淡無光，直至你在我裡面出現。因著我相信你大能的救贖，我稱頌你，可是，噢，能察覺你的感動竟然會帶來如此的分別！
After every time of exaltation, we are brought down with a sudden rush into things as they really are, where it is neither beautiful, poetic, nor thrilling. The height of the mountaintop is measured by the dismal drudgery of the valley, but it is in the valley that we have to live for the glory of God. We see His glory on the mountain, but we never live for His glory there. It is in the place of humiliation that we find our true worth to God— that is where our faithfulness is revealed. Most of us can do things if we are always at some heroic level of intensity, simply because of the natural selfishness of our own hearts. But God wants us to be at the drab everyday level, where we live in the valley according to our personal relationship with Him. Peter thought it would be a wonderful thing for them to remain on the mountain, but Jesus Christ took the disciples down from the mountain and into the valley, where the true meaning of the vision was explained (see Mark 9:5-6 , Mark 14-23).
“If you can do anything . . . .” It takes the valley of humiliation to remove the skepticism from us. Look back at your own experience and you will find that until you learned who Jesus really was, you were a skillful skeptic about His power. When you were on the mountaintop you could believe anything, but what about when you were faced with the facts of the valley? You may be able to give a testimony regarding your sanctification, but what about the thing that is a humiliation to you right now? The last time you were on the mountain with God, you saw that all the power in heaven and on earth belonged to Jesus— will you be skeptical now, simply because you are in the valley of humiliation?
謙卑的領域
你若能作什麼，求你憐憫我們，幫助我們。 （可九22）
每次高峰經歷之後，神會突然把我們帶下山去，面對既不美麗，也不詩意，更無興奮可言的現實。山峰的高度是以山谷中單調的生活來量度的，但正是這山谷的生活，才是榮耀神的生活。我們在山頂上看見神的榮耀，但卻永不會在那里為榮耀他而活。在謙卑低微的境地中，才真正顯露我們對神的價值，顯出我們的忠貞。在英雄的高台上，多半人都可以大顯身手，因為我們心中有自私的天性；但神卻要我們處身在枯燥平凡的境地，要我們在山谷中，單憑與他的關係而活。彼得以為留在山上最好不過，可是主耶穌卻把門徒從山上帶下山谷，在那裡，山上的異象才得以啟露。
[你若能作什麼……]在山谷的卑微中，才能把我們多疑的根拔掉。試回想你的經歷，在你認識主耶穌是誰以前，你是一個奸狡的不信者。在山上的時候，你什麼都相信，可是在山谷中面對現實時又如何呢？你大可以作見證，說成聖之道，可是對那如今令你屈辱的事，你如何處理？上一次你與神在山上，看見天上地下權柄都在耶穌手中；如今在卑下的山谷中，你有沒有疑惑？
祈禱◆主啊，昔日我在你面前的生活，彷如四處漂流、黯淡無光，直至你在我裡面出現。因著我相信你大能的救贖，我稱頌你，可是，噢，能察覺你的感動竟然會帶來如此的分別！
October 01, 2014
The Place of Exaltation
. . . Jesus took . . . them up on a high mountain apart by themselves . . . —Mark 9:2
We have all experienced times of exaltation on the mountain, when we have seen things from God’s perspective and have wanted to stay there. But God will never allow us to stay there. The true test of our spiritual life is in exhibiting the power to descend from the mountain. If we only have the power to go up, something is wrong. It is a wonderful thing to be on the mountain with God, but a person only gets there so that he may later go down and lift up the demon-possessed people in the valley (see Mark 9:14-18). We are not made for the mountains, for sunrises, or for the other beautiful attractions in life— those are simply intended to be moments of inspiration. We are made for the valley and the ordinary things of life, and that is where we have to prove our stamina and strength. Yet our spiritual selfishness always wants repeated moments on the mountain. We feel that we could talk and live like perfect angels, if we could only stay on the mountaintop. Those times of exaltation are exceptional and they have their meaning in our life with God, but we must beware to prevent our spiritual selfishness from wanting to make them the only time.
We are inclined to think that everything that happens is to be turned into useful teaching. In actual fact, it is to be turned into something even better than teaching, namely, character. The mountaintop is not meant to teach us anything, it is meant to make us something. There is a terrible trap in always asking, “What’s the use of this experience?” We can never measure spiritual matters in that way. The moments on the mountaintop are rare moments, and they are meant for something in God’s purpose.
超升的領域
耶穌帶著彼得、雅各、約翰，暗暗的上了高山……(可九2)
我們都有過山上的經歷－－從神的觀點看事物，於是就想留在那裡不再下來。可是，神絕不容許我們留在那裡。屬靈生命的考驗，是看你下山以後的能力。若只有上山才有能力，那就有點不對勁了。在神的山上，固然好極了，但上山的目的，是叫人以後下來到被魔鬼轄制的人中間，把他們向上推。我們不是為山峰、晨曦、美景而造，那些只是感性的時刻。我們乃是為山谷而造，為那日常平凡的事而造，為要考驗我們的能力。屬靈的自私總是盼望可以重演山上的經歷，以為只要留在山上，就可以說話生活如天使一般。其實，高峰的生活是例外的，在與神的相交忠，有它的作用；但必須當心，別讓屬靈的自私把高山的經歷，視作唯一去追求的東西。
我們常以為凡事都是為教導我們，但其實比教導更好的，就是使凡遭遇的變成我們的個性。山頂的經歷不是要教導我們，乃是要塑造我們。 [這事有什麼用處？ ]這樣問有很大的危險。屬靈的事不是這樣計算的。山頂上的經歷是罕有的，是神為特別的目的而設的。
祈禱◆主啊，我最渴望的，是在你裡面生根建造－－以神為中心，專注於神，熱心於神和愛神。我的靈魂何等渴望認識你，並且得著平靜。
We have all experienced times of exaltation on the mountain, when we have seen things from God’s perspective and have wanted to stay there. But God will never allow us to stay there. The true test of our spiritual life is in exhibiting the power to descend from the mountain. If we only have the power to go up, something is wrong. It is a wonderful thing to be on the mountain with God, but a person only gets there so that he may later go down and lift up the demon-possessed people in the valley (see Mark 9:14-18). We are not made for the mountains, for sunrises, or for the other beautiful attractions in life— those are simply intended to be moments of inspiration. We are made for the valley and the ordinary things of life, and that is where we have to prove our stamina and strength. Yet our spiritual selfishness always wants repeated moments on the mountain. We feel that we could talk and live like perfect angels, if we could only stay on the mountaintop. Those times of exaltation are exceptional and they have their meaning in our life with God, but we must beware to prevent our spiritual selfishness from wanting to make them the only time.
We are inclined to think that everything that happens is to be turned into useful teaching. In actual fact, it is to be turned into something even better than teaching, namely, character. The mountaintop is not meant to teach us anything, it is meant to make us something. There is a terrible trap in always asking, “What’s the use of this experience?” We can never measure spiritual matters in that way. The moments on the mountaintop are rare moments, and they are meant for something in God’s purpose.
超升的領域
耶穌帶著彼得、雅各、約翰，暗暗的上了高山……(可九2)
我們都有過山上的經歷－－從神的觀點看事物，於是就想留在那裡不再下來。可是，神絕不容許我們留在那裡。屬靈生命的考驗，是看你下山以後的能力。若只有上山才有能力，那就有點不對勁了。在神的山上，固然好極了，但上山的目的，是叫人以後下來到被魔鬼轄制的人中間，把他們向上推。我們不是為山峰、晨曦、美景而造，那些只是感性的時刻。我們乃是為山谷而造，為那日常平凡的事而造，為要考驗我們的能力。屬靈的自私總是盼望可以重演山上的經歷，以為只要留在山上，就可以說話生活如天使一般。其實，高峰的生活是例外的，在與神的相交忠，有它的作用；但必須當心，別讓屬靈的自私把高山的經歷，視作唯一去追求的東西。
我們常以為凡事都是為教導我們，但其實比教導更好的，就是使凡遭遇的變成我們的個性。山頂的經歷不是要教導我們，乃是要塑造我們。 [這事有什麼用處？ ]這樣問有很大的危險。屬靈的事不是這樣計算的。山頂上的經歷是罕有的，是神為特別的目的而設的。
祈禱◆主啊，我最渴望的，是在你裡面生根建造－－以神為中心，專注於神，熱心於神和愛神。我的靈魂何等渴望認識你，並且得著平靜。
September 30, 2014
The Assigning of the Call
I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church . . . —Colossians 1:24
We take our own spiritual consecration and try to make it into a call of God, but when we get right with Him He brushes all this aside. Then He gives us a tremendous, riveting pain to fasten our attention on something that we never even dreamed could be His call for us. And for one radiant, flashing moment we see His purpose, and we say, “Here am I! Send me” (Isaiah 6:8).
This call has nothing to do with personal sanctification, but with being made broken bread and poured-out wine. Yet God can never make us into wine if we object to the fingers He chooses to use to crush us. We say, “If God would only use His own fingers, and make me broken bread and poured-out wine in a special way, then I wouldn’t object!” But when He uses someone we dislike, or some set of circumstances to which we said we would never submit, to crush us, then we object. Yet we must never try to choose the place of our own martyrdom. If we are ever going to be made into wine, we will have to be crushed—you cannot drink grapes. Grapes become wine only when they have been squeezed.
I wonder what finger and thumb God has been using to squeeze you? Have you been as hard as a marble and escaped? If you are not ripe yet, and if God had squeezed you anyway, the wine produced would have been remarkably bitter. To be a holy person means that the elements of our natural life experience the very presence of God as they are providentially broken in His service. We have to be placed into God and brought into agreement with Him before we can be broken bread in His hands. Stay right with God and let Him do as He likes, and you will find that He is producing the kind of bread and wine that will benefit His other children.
呼召的使命
現在我為你們受苦，倒覺快樂，並且為基督的身體，就是為教會，要在我肉身上補滿基督患難的缺欠。 （西一24）
我們在自以為是的分別為聖上，自己製造出呼召來；但當我們與神的關係和諧無間，他就把一切挪開，把我們接駁到我們從未夢想過的東西。這過程痛苦得可怖，但就在金光閃耀得一瞬，卻看出神得心意。就說：[我在這裡，請差遣我。 ]
這呼召與個人成聖無關，乃是要我們成為破碎得餅，澆奠的酒。若拒絕神的擠壓，酒永遠不會成酒。但願神用自己的指頭，用特別的方法來是我成劈開的餅澆奠的酒就好了！但他往往用我們不喜歡的人，或用我們曾說死也不依順的環境來做壓器，於是，我們就抗拒了。我們千萬不可自己挑選殉道的場景。若要成酒，就必須被壓榨；葡萄是不能喝的，必須被擠壓才能成酒。我不知道神用什麼樣的指頭來擠壓，而你就像彈子一般滾避開去。若神在你尚未成熟時壓榨你，那酒就會苦澀得可怕。分別為聖的意思，就是天然生命的每一部分，被神破碎。在事奉中，有神自己的臨在。我們若要在他手中成為劈開的餅，就要先與他配合。要與神有正確的關係，讓他可以隨意而行。這樣你會發現，他要用你做出對其他兒女有益的餅和酒來。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，願你今天是我脫離慌張忙亂讓我保持平靜和單純屬你。願你使這個地方成為神的居所，以及人靈魂進入天堂的門檻。
We take our own spiritual consecration and try to make it into a call of God, but when we get right with Him He brushes all this aside. Then He gives us a tremendous, riveting pain to fasten our attention on something that we never even dreamed could be His call for us. And for one radiant, flashing moment we see His purpose, and we say, “Here am I! Send me” (Isaiah 6:8).
This call has nothing to do with personal sanctification, but with being made broken bread and poured-out wine. Yet God can never make us into wine if we object to the fingers He chooses to use to crush us. We say, “If God would only use His own fingers, and make me broken bread and poured-out wine in a special way, then I wouldn’t object!” But when He uses someone we dislike, or some set of circumstances to which we said we would never submit, to crush us, then we object. Yet we must never try to choose the place of our own martyrdom. If we are ever going to be made into wine, we will have to be crushed—you cannot drink grapes. Grapes become wine only when they have been squeezed.
I wonder what finger and thumb God has been using to squeeze you? Have you been as hard as a marble and escaped? If you are not ripe yet, and if God had squeezed you anyway, the wine produced would have been remarkably bitter. To be a holy person means that the elements of our natural life experience the very presence of God as they are providentially broken in His service. We have to be placed into God and brought into agreement with Him before we can be broken bread in His hands. Stay right with God and let Him do as He likes, and you will find that He is producing the kind of bread and wine that will benefit His other children.
呼召的使命
現在我為你們受苦，倒覺快樂，並且為基督的身體，就是為教會，要在我肉身上補滿基督患難的缺欠。 （西一24）
我們在自以為是的分別為聖上，自己製造出呼召來；但當我們與神的關係和諧無間，他就把一切挪開，把我們接駁到我們從未夢想過的東西。這過程痛苦得可怖，但就在金光閃耀得一瞬，卻看出神得心意。就說：[我在這裡，請差遣我。 ]
這呼召與個人成聖無關，乃是要我們成為破碎得餅，澆奠的酒。若拒絕神的擠壓，酒永遠不會成酒。但願神用自己的指頭，用特別的方法來是我成劈開的餅澆奠的酒就好了！但他往往用我們不喜歡的人，或用我們曾說死也不依順的環境來做壓器，於是，我們就抗拒了。我們千萬不可自己挑選殉道的場景。若要成酒，就必須被壓榨；葡萄是不能喝的，必須被擠壓才能成酒。我不知道神用什麼樣的指頭來擠壓，而你就像彈子一般滾避開去。若神在你尚未成熟時壓榨你，那酒就會苦澀得可怕。分別為聖的意思，就是天然生命的每一部分，被神破碎。在事奉中，有神自己的臨在。我們若要在他手中成為劈開的餅，就要先與他配合。要與神有正確的關係，讓他可以隨意而行。這樣你會發現，他要用你做出對其他兒女有益的餅和酒來。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，願你今天是我脫離慌張忙亂讓我保持平靜和單純屬你。願你使這個地方成為神的居所，以及人靈魂進入天堂的門檻。
September 29, 2014
The Awareness of the Call
. . . for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! —1 Corinthians 9:16
We are inclined to forget the deeply spiritual and supernatural touch of God. If you are able to tell exactly where you were when you received the call of God and can explain all about it, I question whether you have truly been called. The call of God does not come like that; it is much more supernatural. The realization of the call in a person’s life may come like a clap of thunder or it may dawn gradually. But however quickly or slowly this awareness comes, it is always accompanied with an undercurrent of the supernatural—something that is inexpressible and produces a “glow.” At any moment the sudden awareness of this incalculable, supernatural, surprising call that has taken hold of your life may break through—”I chose you . . .” (John 15:16). The call of God has nothing to do with salvation and sanctification. You are not called to preach the gospel because you are sanctified; the call to preach the gospel is infinitely different. Paul describes it as a compulsion that was placed upon him.
If you have ignored, and thereby removed, the great supernatural call of God in your life, take a review of your circumstances. See where you have put your own ideas of service or your particular abilities ahead of the call of God. Paul said, “. . . woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!” He had become aware of the call of God, and his compulsion to “preach the gospel” was so strong that nothing else was any longer even a competitor for his strength.
If a man or woman is called of God, it doesn’t matter how difficult the circumstances may be. God orchestrates every force at work for His purpose in the end. If you will agree with God’s purpose, He will bring not only your conscious level but also all the deeper levels of your life, which you yourself cannot reach, into perfect harmony.
對神呼召的體認
我是不得已的，若不傳福音，我就有禍了。 （林前九16）
我們很容易忘記神那神秘超然的觸摸。你若能清楚說明在那裡得到神怎麼樣的呼召，我就懷疑你是否真有神的呼召。神的呼召不是這樣來的，它比這更超然。一個人在一生中對這呼召的體認，可能是像霹靂雷想般驟至，也可以像黎明般逐漸破曉，但無論它怎樣來，總隨著超然的暗湧而來，不能以言辭來說明，而且總帶著火光。這無法測度、超然、叫人驚愕、抓住你整個生命的呼召，隨時都會突然臨到－－[我揀選了你。 ]神的呼召與扽就成聖沒有關係。不是因為你成聖了，所以召你去傳福音；傳福音的呼召與此全然不同。保羅形容這是一件不得已的必然任務。
若你阻擋了神在你生命中超然的呼召，試查察一下，看看你哪一方面沒有把神放在首位，只以自己事奉的見解，或性格的專長為首。保羅說：[若不傳福音，我就有禍了。 ]他既已體認神的呼召，就專為此努力，心無旁騖。
人被神呼召，不必管環境怎樣不利，萬事都要互相效力至終指向神的目標。你若順服神的計劃，他不但把你意識可及的生命，就是生命中你無法探測的深邃，都調協和諧起來。
祈禱◆願今天充滿了神的能力，聲音和平安。我何其渴望在一切事物中認知到你那寬大的心！願你保守我裡面那種被呼召的感覺，歷久彌新和充滿活力。
We are inclined to forget the deeply spiritual and supernatural touch of God. If you are able to tell exactly where you were when you received the call of God and can explain all about it, I question whether you have truly been called. The call of God does not come like that; it is much more supernatural. The realization of the call in a person’s life may come like a clap of thunder or it may dawn gradually. But however quickly or slowly this awareness comes, it is always accompanied with an undercurrent of the supernatural—something that is inexpressible and produces a “glow.” At any moment the sudden awareness of this incalculable, supernatural, surprising call that has taken hold of your life may break through—”I chose you . . .” (John 15:16). The call of God has nothing to do with salvation and sanctification. You are not called to preach the gospel because you are sanctified; the call to preach the gospel is infinitely different. Paul describes it as a compulsion that was placed upon him.
If you have ignored, and thereby removed, the great supernatural call of God in your life, take a review of your circumstances. See where you have put your own ideas of service or your particular abilities ahead of the call of God. Paul said, “. . . woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!” He had become aware of the call of God, and his compulsion to “preach the gospel” was so strong that nothing else was any longer even a competitor for his strength.
If a man or woman is called of God, it doesn’t matter how difficult the circumstances may be. God orchestrates every force at work for His purpose in the end. If you will agree with God’s purpose, He will bring not only your conscious level but also all the deeper levels of your life, which you yourself cannot reach, into perfect harmony.
對神呼召的體認
我是不得已的，若不傳福音，我就有禍了。 （林前九16）
我們很容易忘記神那神秘超然的觸摸。你若能清楚說明在那裡得到神怎麼樣的呼召，我就懷疑你是否真有神的呼召。神的呼召不是這樣來的，它比這更超然。一個人在一生中對這呼召的體認，可能是像霹靂雷想般驟至，也可以像黎明般逐漸破曉，但無論它怎樣來，總隨著超然的暗湧而來，不能以言辭來說明，而且總帶著火光。這無法測度、超然、叫人驚愕、抓住你整個生命的呼召，隨時都會突然臨到－－[我揀選了你。 ]神的呼召與扽就成聖沒有關係。不是因為你成聖了，所以召你去傳福音；傳福音的呼召與此全然不同。保羅形容這是一件不得已的必然任務。
若你阻擋了神在你生命中超然的呼召，試查察一下，看看你哪一方面沒有把神放在首位，只以自己事奉的見解，或性格的專長為首。保羅說：[若不傳福音，我就有禍了。 ]他既已體認神的呼召，就專為此努力，心無旁騖。
人被神呼召，不必管環境怎樣不利，萬事都要互相效力至終指向神的目標。你若順服神的計劃，他不但把你意識可及的生命，就是生命中你無法探測的深邃，都調協和諧起來。
祈禱◆願今天充滿了神的能力，聲音和平安。我何其渴望在一切事物中認知到你那寬大的心！願你保守我裡面那種被呼召的感覺，歷久彌新和充滿活力。
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