Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled . . . —John 14:27
Whenever we experience something difficult in our personal life, we are tempted to blame God. But we are the ones in the wrong, not God. Blaming God is evidence that we are refusing to let go of some disobedience somewhere in our lives. But as soon as we let go, everything becomes as clear as daylight to us. As long as we try to serve two masters, ourselves and God, there will be difficulties combined with doubt and confusion. Our attitude must be one of complete reliance on God. Once we get to that point, there is nothing easier than living the life of a saint. We encounter difficulties when we try to usurp the authority of the Holy Spirit for our own purposes.
God’s mark of approval, whenever you obey Him, is peace. He sends an immeasurable, deep peace; not a natural peace, “as the world gives,” but the peace of Jesus. Whenever peace does not come, wait until it does, or seek to find out why it is not coming. If you are acting on your own impulse, or out of a sense of the heroic, to be seen by others, the peace of Jesus will not exhibit itself. This shows no unity with God or confidence in Him. The spirit of simplicity, clarity, and unity is born through the Holy Spirit, not through your decisions. God counters our self-willed decisions with an appeal for simplicity and unity.
My questions arise whenever I cease to obey. When I do obey God, problems come, not between me and God, but as a means to keep my mind examining with amazement the revealed truth of God. But any problem that comes between God and myself is the result of disobedience. Any problem that comes while I obey God (and there will be many), increases my overjoyed delight, because I know that my Father knows and cares, and I can watch and anticipate how He will unravel my problems.
偉大的生命
我留下平安給你們，我將我的平安賜給你們……你們心裡不要憂愁……（約十四27）
個人經歷若有什麼難過的事，我們很容易會怪責神；但出錯的實在不是神，而是我們。我們必定有什麼執著不肯放手，一旦肯放手，一切就必晴朗如白晝。若我們要同時事奉神，又事奉自己，就必產生困惑。我們必須對神抱完全信賴的態度，這樣，過成聖生活就輕而易舉了。有難處是因我們侵奪聖靈的主權，欲達成自己的目的。
你什麼時候順服神，他的印證就是平安。那無比的平安，不是天然的，乃是主耶穌的平安。若平安不來，就要等候直至得著，或找出沒有平安的因由。若你行事是出於衝動，或英雄氣概，主的平安就不會印證；因為其中沒有對神的單純與信心。單純的靈是從聖靈而生的，不是出於你的決定，每一個決定，都帶來反作用，以致失掉單純。
我一不順服，問題就來了。我若順服，問題就不會出於我與神之間，而只會挑旺我的心，叫我稀奇神啟示的奇妙。神與我之間任何的問題，都是出於順服。反之，若許多的問題在我順服神的當兒出現，只會增加我驚喜的欣愉，因為天父是明察的，我將可細察他怎樣解決這些問題。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我投向你。我原本是一個無家可歸的人，直至你以你平安的穩妥、你慈愛的甜蜜感覺感動我，我的生命才產生改變。
December 14, 2014
December 13, 2014
Intercessory Prayer
. . . men always ought to pray and not lose heart —Luke 18:1
You cannot truly intercede through prayer if you do not believe in the reality of redemption. Instead, you will simply be turning intercession into useless sympathy for others, which will serve only to increase the contentment they have for remaining out of touch with God. True intercession involves bringing the person, or the circumstance that seems to be crashing in on you, before God, until you are changed by His attitude toward that person or circumstance. Intercession means to “fill up . . . [with] what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ” (Colossians 1:24), and this is precisely why there are so few intercessors. People describe intercession by saying, “It is putting yourself in someone else’s place.” That is not true! Intercession is putting yourself in God’s place; it is having His mind and His perspective.
As an intercessor, be careful not to seek too much information from God regarding the situation you are praying about, because you may be overwhelmed. If you know too much, more than God has ordained for you to know, you can’t pray; the circumstances of the people become so overpowering that you are no longer able to get to the underlying truth.
Our work is to be in such close contact with God that we may have His mind about everything, but we shirk that responsibility by substituting doing for interceding. And yet intercession is the only thing that has no drawbacks, because it keeps our relationship completely open with God.
What we must avoid in intercession is praying for someone to be simply “patched up.” We must pray that person completely through into contact with the very life of God. Think of the number of people God has brought across our path, only to see us drop them! When we pray on the basis of redemption, God creates something He can create in no other way than through intercessory prayer.
求什麼？
常常禱告，不可灰心。 （路十八1）
你若不深信救贖的實在，就無法代求；因為你只會把代求變成對人類無可奈何的同情，徒增人的自滿自足與神隔絕。代求，是把激動你心的那個人或事，帶到神面前，知道你被神對那人那事的態度所推動。代求是[補滿基督患難的缺欠]，無怪乎代求的人那麼少。很多人說代求是[設身處地的為那人著想]，不！代求其實是把自己放在神的位置上，從他的角度看事物。
作為一個神的工人，你所知道的實情是神要你知道的，否則便會重壓難當。知得過多，過於神要你知道的，你就無法禱告；因人的景況把你壓下去，以致你不能進入現實去。
我們的工作是在凡事上與神聯繫，可是我們卻因做個活躍不已的工人，而推卸這個職責。我們拼命做一些可統計的工作，但不做代求的工作。代求是完全沒有纏繞網羅的，因為可使我們與神的關係完全敝開。
代求時要當心的，就是不要草草了事。心靈必須著實地接觸神的生命。試想神在我們生命的路途上，叫我們遇見多少的人，而我們卻輕易的讓他們溜走，若我們踏穩在救贖的根基上禱告，神就會創造除代求以外無法成就的新事。
祈禱◆主啊，願你高舉我，使我靠近你，以致你那完美的閃耀著喜樂的救恩，能為著你的榮耀而臨到我和照亮我。求你保守我，讓我向你的代求通行無阻。
You cannot truly intercede through prayer if you do not believe in the reality of redemption. Instead, you will simply be turning intercession into useless sympathy for others, which will serve only to increase the contentment they have for remaining out of touch with God. True intercession involves bringing the person, or the circumstance that seems to be crashing in on you, before God, until you are changed by His attitude toward that person or circumstance. Intercession means to “fill up . . . [with] what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ” (Colossians 1:24), and this is precisely why there are so few intercessors. People describe intercession by saying, “It is putting yourself in someone else’s place.” That is not true! Intercession is putting yourself in God’s place; it is having His mind and His perspective.
As an intercessor, be careful not to seek too much information from God regarding the situation you are praying about, because you may be overwhelmed. If you know too much, more than God has ordained for you to know, you can’t pray; the circumstances of the people become so overpowering that you are no longer able to get to the underlying truth.
Our work is to be in such close contact with God that we may have His mind about everything, but we shirk that responsibility by substituting doing for interceding. And yet intercession is the only thing that has no drawbacks, because it keeps our relationship completely open with God.
What we must avoid in intercession is praying for someone to be simply “patched up.” We must pray that person completely through into contact with the very life of God. Think of the number of people God has brought across our path, only to see us drop them! When we pray on the basis of redemption, God creates something He can create in no other way than through intercessory prayer.
求什麼？
常常禱告，不可灰心。 （路十八1）
你若不深信救贖的實在，就無法代求；因為你只會把代求變成對人類無可奈何的同情，徒增人的自滿自足與神隔絕。代求，是把激動你心的那個人或事，帶到神面前，知道你被神對那人那事的態度所推動。代求是[補滿基督患難的缺欠]，無怪乎代求的人那麼少。很多人說代求是[設身處地的為那人著想]，不！代求其實是把自己放在神的位置上，從他的角度看事物。
作為一個神的工人，你所知道的實情是神要你知道的，否則便會重壓難當。知得過多，過於神要你知道的，你就無法禱告；因人的景況把你壓下去，以致你不能進入現實去。
我們的工作是在凡事上與神聯繫，可是我們卻因做個活躍不已的工人，而推卸這個職責。我們拼命做一些可統計的工作，但不做代求的工作。代求是完全沒有纏繞網羅的，因為可使我們與神的關係完全敝開。
代求時要當心的，就是不要草草了事。心靈必須著實地接觸神的生命。試想神在我們生命的路途上，叫我們遇見多少的人，而我們卻輕易的讓他們溜走，若我們踏穩在救贖的根基上禱告，神就會創造除代求以外無法成就的新事。
祈禱◆主啊，願你高舉我，使我靠近你，以致你那完美的閃耀著喜樂的救恩，能為著你的榮耀而臨到我和照亮我。求你保守我，讓我向你的代求通行無阻。
December 12, 2014
Personality
. . . that they may be one just as We are one . . . —John 17:22
Personality is the unique, limitless part of our life that makes us distinct from everyone else. It is too vast for us even to comprehend. An island in the sea may be just the top of a large mountain, and our personality is like that island. We don’t know the great depths of our being, therefore we cannot measure ourselves. We start out thinking we can, but soon realize that there is really only one Being who fully understands us, and that is our Creator.
Personality is the characteristic mark of the inner, spiritual man, just as individuality is the characteristic of the outer, natural man. Our Lord can never be described in terms of individuality and independence, but only in terms of His total Person— “I and My Father are one” (John 10:30). Personality merges, and you only reach your true identity once you are merged with another person. When love or the Spirit of God come upon a person, he is transformed. He will then no longer insist on maintaining his individuality. Our Lord never referred to a person’s individuality or his isolated position, but spoke in terms of the total person— “. . . that they may be one just as We are one . . . .” Once your rights to yourself are surrendered to God, your true personal nature begins responding to God immediately. Jesus Christ brings freedom to your total person, and even your individuality is transformed. The transformation is brought about by love— personal devotion to Jesus. Love is the overflowing result of one person in true fellowship with another.
性格
使他們合而為一，像我們合而為一。 （約十七22）
性格就是指我們與別人不同的特質，是獨特的，難以估量的，就連我們自己也往往不盡了解。海上的小島，往往是大山頂尖。性格就如小島，至於底下的奧秘，我們一無所知，因此便無法衡量自己。我們自以為自知，但最終才知道只有一位明白我們，就是造我們的神。性格是屬靈生命的特質，正如個性是天然生命的特質。我們只能以性格，而斷不能以個別性和獨立性來說明主的身份。 [我與父原為一。 ]性格是可以融合的，只有當你與別人融合，才顯出你真正身份。當愛或是神的靈激動一個人，他就會改變，不再堅持自己分隔的個別性。主從不按個性，也就是人與人隔離的身份說話，他只提到性格－－[使他們合而為一，像我們合而為一]。你若把自己的主權放棄給神，你性格的真本質就立刻像神呼應。耶穌基督把人的性格釋放了，而人的個性也隨之改變。改變的元素是愛，就是個人對主耶穌的忠誠。愛是人格的傾出，與另一個人格相通契合。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，這是你的日子，我祈求你以你那極大的恩福施恩給我。能夠靠近你是何等的奇妙！
Personality is the unique, limitless part of our life that makes us distinct from everyone else. It is too vast for us even to comprehend. An island in the sea may be just the top of a large mountain, and our personality is like that island. We don’t know the great depths of our being, therefore we cannot measure ourselves. We start out thinking we can, but soon realize that there is really only one Being who fully understands us, and that is our Creator.
Personality is the characteristic mark of the inner, spiritual man, just as individuality is the characteristic of the outer, natural man. Our Lord can never be described in terms of individuality and independence, but only in terms of His total Person— “I and My Father are one” (John 10:30). Personality merges, and you only reach your true identity once you are merged with another person. When love or the Spirit of God come upon a person, he is transformed. He will then no longer insist on maintaining his individuality. Our Lord never referred to a person’s individuality or his isolated position, but spoke in terms of the total person— “. . . that they may be one just as We are one . . . .” Once your rights to yourself are surrendered to God, your true personal nature begins responding to God immediately. Jesus Christ brings freedom to your total person, and even your individuality is transformed. The transformation is brought about by love— personal devotion to Jesus. Love is the overflowing result of one person in true fellowship with another.
性格
使他們合而為一，像我們合而為一。 （約十七22）
性格就是指我們與別人不同的特質，是獨特的，難以估量的，就連我們自己也往往不盡了解。海上的小島，往往是大山頂尖。性格就如小島，至於底下的奧秘，我們一無所知，因此便無法衡量自己。我們自以為自知，但最終才知道只有一位明白我們，就是造我們的神。性格是屬靈生命的特質，正如個性是天然生命的特質。我們只能以性格，而斷不能以個別性和獨立性來說明主的身份。 [我與父原為一。 ]性格是可以融合的，只有當你與別人融合，才顯出你真正身份。當愛或是神的靈激動一個人，他就會改變，不再堅持自己分隔的個別性。主從不按個性，也就是人與人隔離的身份說話，他只提到性格－－[使他們合而為一，像我們合而為一]。你若把自己的主權放棄給神，你性格的真本質就立刻像神呼應。耶穌基督把人的性格釋放了，而人的個性也隨之改變。改變的元素是愛，就是個人對主耶穌的忠誠。愛是人格的傾出，與另一個人格相通契合。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，這是你的日子，我祈求你以你那極大的恩福施恩給我。能夠靠近你是何等的奇妙！
December 11, 2014
Individuality
Jesus said to His disciples, ’If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself . . .’ —Matthew 16:24
Individuality is the hard outer layer surrounding the inner spiritual life. Individuality shoves others aside, separating and isolating people. We see it as the primary characteristic of a child, and rightly so. When we confuse individuality with the spiritual life, we remain isolated. This shell of individuality is God’s created natural covering designed to protect the spiritual life. But our individuality must be yielded to God so that our spiritual life may be brought forth into fellowship with Him. Individuality counterfeits spirituality, just as lust counterfeits love. God designed human nature for Himself, but individuality corrupts that human nature for its own purposes.
The characteristics of individuality are independence and self-will. We hinder our spiritual growth more than any other way by continually asserting our individuality. If you say, “I can’t believe,” it is because your individuality is blocking the way; individuality can never believe. But our spirit cannot help believing. Watch yourself closely when the Spirit of God is at work in you. He pushes you to the limits of your individuality where a choice must be made. The choice is either to say, “I will not surrender,” or to surrender, breaking the hard shell of individuality, which allows the spiritual life to emerge. The Holy Spirit narrows it down every time to one thing (see Matthew 5:23-24). It is your individuality that refuses to “be reconciled to your brother” (Matthew 5:24). God wants to bring you into union with Himself, but unless you are willing to give up your right to yourself, He cannot. “. . . let him deny himself . . .”— deny his independent right to himself. Then the real life-the spiritual life-is allowed the opportunity to grow.
個性
若有人要跟從我，就當捨己。 （太十六24）
個性是個人生命的外殼，會拒人千里之外，又會把人隔離。不錯，個性是每個人的特質，但若錯把個性當作個人生命的話，我們只會一直與人隔絕。個性是神創造的天然保障，為覆庇生命的外衣。但是若要生命與神相交，則必須放下我們的個性。個性會冒充性格，正如情慾冒充愛情。神造人的天性，是為他自己；而個性卻把人的天性低貶成只為自己。
個性的特徵，就是獨立自主，自我表現。最攔阻屬靈生命的，是個性不斷湧流。你若說[我不相信]，是因為個性的攔阻。個性永不會相信。反之，性格卻不能不信。聖靈在你身上作工時，會把你推到個性的盡頭處，這時你只能說[我不願]；或降服神，打破個性的外殼，讓個人生命流出來。聖靈每次往往集中在一件事上（參太五23-24）。叫你不肯與弟兄和好的，就是你的個性。神要你與他聯合，可是你若不肯放下自己的主權，就無法實現。 [就當捨己]－－捨棄自己獨立的主權，這樣，真正的生命才有生長的機會。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我的主人，願我今天自覺地屬於你，以致我與你在一起。因著你擁有了我而充滿了童真的喜悅。
Individuality is the hard outer layer surrounding the inner spiritual life. Individuality shoves others aside, separating and isolating people. We see it as the primary characteristic of a child, and rightly so. When we confuse individuality with the spiritual life, we remain isolated. This shell of individuality is God’s created natural covering designed to protect the spiritual life. But our individuality must be yielded to God so that our spiritual life may be brought forth into fellowship with Him. Individuality counterfeits spirituality, just as lust counterfeits love. God designed human nature for Himself, but individuality corrupts that human nature for its own purposes.
The characteristics of individuality are independence and self-will. We hinder our spiritual growth more than any other way by continually asserting our individuality. If you say, “I can’t believe,” it is because your individuality is blocking the way; individuality can never believe. But our spirit cannot help believing. Watch yourself closely when the Spirit of God is at work in you. He pushes you to the limits of your individuality where a choice must be made. The choice is either to say, “I will not surrender,” or to surrender, breaking the hard shell of individuality, which allows the spiritual life to emerge. The Holy Spirit narrows it down every time to one thing (see Matthew 5:23-24). It is your individuality that refuses to “be reconciled to your brother” (Matthew 5:24). God wants to bring you into union with Himself, but unless you are willing to give up your right to yourself, He cannot. “. . . let him deny himself . . .”— deny his independent right to himself. Then the real life-the spiritual life-is allowed the opportunity to grow.
個性
若有人要跟從我，就當捨己。 （太十六24）
個性是個人生命的外殼，會拒人千里之外，又會把人隔離。不錯，個性是每個人的特質，但若錯把個性當作個人生命的話，我們只會一直與人隔絕。個性是神創造的天然保障，為覆庇生命的外衣。但是若要生命與神相交，則必須放下我們的個性。個性會冒充性格，正如情慾冒充愛情。神造人的天性，是為他自己；而個性卻把人的天性低貶成只為自己。
個性的特徵，就是獨立自主，自我表現。最攔阻屬靈生命的，是個性不斷湧流。你若說[我不相信]，是因為個性的攔阻。個性永不會相信。反之，性格卻不能不信。聖靈在你身上作工時，會把你推到個性的盡頭處，這時你只能說[我不願]；或降服神，打破個性的外殼，讓個人生命流出來。聖靈每次往往集中在一件事上（參太五23-24）。叫你不肯與弟兄和好的，就是你的個性。神要你與他聯合，可是你若不肯放下自己的主權，就無法實現。 [就當捨己]－－捨棄自己獨立的主權，這樣，真正的生命才有生長的機會。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我的主人，願我今天自覺地屬於你，以致我與你在一起。因著你擁有了我而充滿了童真的喜悅。
December 10, 2014
The Offering of the Natural
It is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman —Galatians 4:22
Paul was not dealing with sin in this chapter of Galatians, but with the relation of the natural to the spiritual. The natural can be turned into the spiritual only through sacrifice. Without this a person will lead a divided life. Why did God demand that the natural must be sacrificed? God did not demand it. It is not God’s perfect will, but His permissive will. God’s perfect will was for the natural to be changed into the spiritual through obedience. Sin is what made it necessary for the natural to be sacrificed.
Abraham had to offer up Ishmael before he offered up Isaac (see Genesis 21:8-14). Some of us are trying to offer up spiritual sacrifices to God before we have sacrificed the natural. The only way we can offer a spiritual sacrifice to God is to “present [our] bodies a living sacrifice . . .” (Romans 12:1). Sanctification means more than being freed from sin. It means the deliberate commitment of myself to the God of my salvation, and being willing to pay whatever it may cost.
If we do not sacrifice the natural to the spiritual, the natural life will resist and defy the life of the Son of God in us and will produce continual turmoil. This is always the result of an undisciplined spiritual nature. We go wrong because we stubbornly refuse to discipline ourselves physically, morally, or mentally. We excuse ourselves by saying, “Well, I wasn’t taught to be disciplined when I was a child.” Then discipline yourself now! If you don’t, you will ruin your entire personal life for God.
God is not actively involved with our natural life as long as we continue to pamper and gratify it. But once we are willing to put it out in the desert and are determined to keep it under control, God will be with it. He will then provide wells and oases and fulfill all His promises for the natural (see Genesis 21:15-19).
獻上天然生命
亞伯拉罕有兩個兒子，一個是使女生的，一個是自主之婦人生的。 （加四22）
保羅在加拉太書這一章中，不是討論罪的問題，而是討論天然與屬靈二者的關係。天然的必須獻上，成為屬靈，否則在實際生活上，會產生很大的分歧。為什麼神要命定天然生命必須被釘死？神並沒有如此命定。這並不是神的命令，而是他許可的旨意。神的命令是要肉體的生命藉順服成為屬靈；因為罪，肉體的生命才必須成為祭品。
亞伯拉罕必須先獻上以實瑪利，才能獻上以撒。不少人想在未治死肉體之先，就獻屬靈的祭給神。向神獻屬靈的祭唯一的途徑，就是把身體當作活祭獻上。成聖不只是脫離罪惡，乃是立志把神所救贖出來的這個自己交付神，是不惜任何代價的。
若不把天然生命獻給屬靈生命，那肉體生命會嘲弄神兒子在我們裡面的生命，而產生一種延續的拉鋸戰。這是一個不受約束的屬靈品性必然的後果。我們走差路，是因為執意不肯在身體、道德及心誌上操練管治自己[作孩子的時候，不受約束]。如今你必須約束自己。否則，你會毀掉整個為神而活的生命。
我們若放任肉體的生命，神就不與它同在；但當我們肯把它放逐出去，決意制服它，神就與它同在，啟開活井綠洲，成就對肉體生命的一切應許。
祈禱◆願你使這一整天，成為甘甜和喜樂的日子。願你那隨心所欲的大能，恩慈地臨到我的身心靈，讓我們藉此承擔今天的一切事情。
Paul was not dealing with sin in this chapter of Galatians, but with the relation of the natural to the spiritual. The natural can be turned into the spiritual only through sacrifice. Without this a person will lead a divided life. Why did God demand that the natural must be sacrificed? God did not demand it. It is not God’s perfect will, but His permissive will. God’s perfect will was for the natural to be changed into the spiritual through obedience. Sin is what made it necessary for the natural to be sacrificed.
Abraham had to offer up Ishmael before he offered up Isaac (see Genesis 21:8-14). Some of us are trying to offer up spiritual sacrifices to God before we have sacrificed the natural. The only way we can offer a spiritual sacrifice to God is to “present [our] bodies a living sacrifice . . .” (Romans 12:1). Sanctification means more than being freed from sin. It means the deliberate commitment of myself to the God of my salvation, and being willing to pay whatever it may cost.
If we do not sacrifice the natural to the spiritual, the natural life will resist and defy the life of the Son of God in us and will produce continual turmoil. This is always the result of an undisciplined spiritual nature. We go wrong because we stubbornly refuse to discipline ourselves physically, morally, or mentally. We excuse ourselves by saying, “Well, I wasn’t taught to be disciplined when I was a child.” Then discipline yourself now! If you don’t, you will ruin your entire personal life for God.
God is not actively involved with our natural life as long as we continue to pamper and gratify it. But once we are willing to put it out in the desert and are determined to keep it under control, God will be with it. He will then provide wells and oases and fulfill all His promises for the natural (see Genesis 21:15-19).
獻上天然生命
亞伯拉罕有兩個兒子，一個是使女生的，一個是自主之婦人生的。 （加四22）
保羅在加拉太書這一章中，不是討論罪的問題，而是討論天然與屬靈二者的關係。天然的必須獻上，成為屬靈，否則在實際生活上，會產生很大的分歧。為什麼神要命定天然生命必須被釘死？神並沒有如此命定。這並不是神的命令，而是他許可的旨意。神的命令是要肉體的生命藉順服成為屬靈；因為罪，肉體的生命才必須成為祭品。
亞伯拉罕必須先獻上以實瑪利，才能獻上以撒。不少人想在未治死肉體之先，就獻屬靈的祭給神。向神獻屬靈的祭唯一的途徑，就是把身體當作活祭獻上。成聖不只是脫離罪惡，乃是立志把神所救贖出來的這個自己交付神，是不惜任何代價的。
若不把天然生命獻給屬靈生命，那肉體生命會嘲弄神兒子在我們裡面的生命，而產生一種延續的拉鋸戰。這是一個不受約束的屬靈品性必然的後果。我們走差路，是因為執意不肯在身體、道德及心誌上操練管治自己[作孩子的時候，不受約束]。如今你必須約束自己。否則，你會毀掉整個為神而活的生命。
我們若放任肉體的生命，神就不與它同在；但當我們肯把它放逐出去，決意制服它，神就與它同在，啟開活井綠洲，成就對肉體生命的一切應許。
祈禱◆願你使這一整天，成為甘甜和喜樂的日子。願你那隨心所欲的大能，恩慈地臨到我的身心靈，讓我們藉此承擔今天的一切事情。
December 09, 2014
The Opposition of the Natural
Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires —Galatians 5:24
The natural life itself is not sinful. But we must abandon sin, having nothing to do with it in any way whatsoever. Sin belongs to hell and to the devil. I, as a child of God, belong to heaven and to God. It is not a question of giving up sin, but of giving up my right to myself, my natural independence, and my self-will. This is where the battle has to be fought. The things that are right, noble, and good from the natural standpoint are the very things that keep us from being God’s best. Once we come to understand that natural moral excellence opposes or counteracts surrender to God, we bring our soul into the center of its greatest battle. Very few of us would debate over what is filthy, evil, and wrong, but we do debate over what is good. It is the good that opposes the best. The higher up the scale of moral excellence a person goes, the more intense the opposition to Jesus Christ. “Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh . . . .” The cost to your natural life is not just one or two things, but everything. Jesus said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself. . .” (Matthew 16:24). That is, he must deny his right to himself, and he must realize who Jesus Christ is before he will bring himself to do it. Beware of refusing to go to the funeral of your own independence.
The natural life is not spiritual, and it can be made spiritual only through sacrifice. If we do not purposely sacrifice the natural, the supernatural can never become natural to us. There is no high or easy road. Each of us has the means to accomplish it entirely in his own hands. It is not a question of praying, but of sacrificing, and thereby performing His will.
天然生命的叛逆
凡屬基督耶穌的人，是已經把肉體，連肉體的邪情私慾，同釘在十字架上了。 （加五24）
天然生命不是罪惡的，我們必須脫離罪，不再與罪有任何膠葛。罪屬於地獄和魔鬼；我，神的兒女，屬於天堂和神。問題不是要放棄罪，而是放棄自己的主權，我天然的獨斷與自恃，是爭戰之所在地。天然觀點看來善美正確的東西，往往使我們得不著神最好的。天然善行往往是降服神的攔阻。洞悉這一點，就到了心靈大戰的核心。少有人為錯失、卑污、邪惡爭辯，但卻會為善德爭辯。善事是至善的對頭，天然善行愈高，與耶穌基督的敵對就愈勁。 [在基督裡的人是把肉體釘在十字架上了。 ]你要付出天然生命的一切，不是一部分。耶穌說：[人若要作我的門徒，就當捨己。 ]就是放下自己的主權；人先要認識耶穌基督是誰，才能這樣放下。當心，不要拒絕參加你自主權的喪禮。
天然生命不是屬靈的，只有獻上，才成為屬靈。若不徹底把天然生命當祭物獻上，超然的生命就無法在我們裡面成為天然的。這條不是康莊大道，各人必須下定決心。這也不是祈禱的問題，而是行動的問題。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我何等肯定自己需要對你有一個更崇高的觀念。在這個祈求中，我願放下所有次要的東西，為了叫自己配去榮耀你。
The natural life itself is not sinful. But we must abandon sin, having nothing to do with it in any way whatsoever. Sin belongs to hell and to the devil. I, as a child of God, belong to heaven and to God. It is not a question of giving up sin, but of giving up my right to myself, my natural independence, and my self-will. This is where the battle has to be fought. The things that are right, noble, and good from the natural standpoint are the very things that keep us from being God’s best. Once we come to understand that natural moral excellence opposes or counteracts surrender to God, we bring our soul into the center of its greatest battle. Very few of us would debate over what is filthy, evil, and wrong, but we do debate over what is good. It is the good that opposes the best. The higher up the scale of moral excellence a person goes, the more intense the opposition to Jesus Christ. “Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh . . . .” The cost to your natural life is not just one or two things, but everything. Jesus said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself. . .” (Matthew 16:24). That is, he must deny his right to himself, and he must realize who Jesus Christ is before he will bring himself to do it. Beware of refusing to go to the funeral of your own independence.
The natural life is not spiritual, and it can be made spiritual only through sacrifice. If we do not purposely sacrifice the natural, the supernatural can never become natural to us. There is no high or easy road. Each of us has the means to accomplish it entirely in his own hands. It is not a question of praying, but of sacrificing, and thereby performing His will.
天然生命的叛逆
凡屬基督耶穌的人，是已經把肉體，連肉體的邪情私慾，同釘在十字架上了。 （加五24）
天然生命不是罪惡的，我們必須脫離罪，不再與罪有任何膠葛。罪屬於地獄和魔鬼；我，神的兒女，屬於天堂和神。問題不是要放棄罪，而是放棄自己的主權，我天然的獨斷與自恃，是爭戰之所在地。天然觀點看來善美正確的東西，往往使我們得不著神最好的。天然善行往往是降服神的攔阻。洞悉這一點，就到了心靈大戰的核心。少有人為錯失、卑污、邪惡爭辯，但卻會為善德爭辯。善事是至善的對頭，天然善行愈高，與耶穌基督的敵對就愈勁。 [在基督裡的人是把肉體釘在十字架上了。 ]你要付出天然生命的一切，不是一部分。耶穌說：[人若要作我的門徒，就當捨己。 ]就是放下自己的主權；人先要認識耶穌基督是誰，才能這樣放下。當心，不要拒絕參加你自主權的喪禮。
天然生命不是屬靈的，只有獻上，才成為屬靈。若不徹底把天然生命當祭物獻上，超然的生命就無法在我們裡面成為天然的。這條不是康莊大道，各人必須下定決心。這也不是祈禱的問題，而是行動的問題。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我何等肯定自己需要對你有一個更崇高的觀念。在這個祈求中，我願放下所有次要的東西，為了叫自己配去榮耀你。
December 08, 2014
The Impartial Power of God
By one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified —Hebrews 10:14
We trample the blood of the Son of God underfoot if we think we are forgiven because we are sorry for our sins. The only reason for the forgiveness of our sins by God, and the infinite depth of His promise to forget them, is the death of Jesus Christ. Our repentance is merely the result of our personal realization of the atonement by the Cross of Christ, which He has provided for us. “. . . Christ Jesus . . . became for us wisdom from God–and righteousness and sanctification and redemption . . .” (1 Corinthians 1:30). Once we realize that Christ has become all this for us, the limitless joy of God begins in us. And wherever the joy of God is not present, the death sentence is still in effect.
No matter who or what we are, God restores us to right standing with Himself only by means of the death of Jesus Christ. God does this, not because Jesus pleads with Him to do so but because He died. It cannot be earned, just accepted. All the pleading for salvation which deliberately ignores the Cross of Christ is useless. It is knocking at a door other than the one which Jesus has already opened. We protest by saying, “But I don’t want to come that way. It is too humiliating to be received as a sinner.” God’s response, through Peter, is, “. . . there is no other name . . . by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). What at first appears to be heartlessness on God’s part is actually the true expression of His heart. There is unlimited entrance His way. “In Him we have redemption through His blood . . .” (Ephesians 1:7). To identify with the death of Jesus Christ means that we must die to everything that was never a part of Him.
God is just in saving bad people only as He makes them good. Our Lord does not pretend we are all right when we are all wrong. The atonement by the Cross of Christ is the propitiation God uses to make unholy people holy.
神公平的能力
因為他一次獻祭，便叫那得以成聖的人永遠完全。 （來十14）
若以為得赦免是因為自己的悔罪，實在是踐踏神兒子的血。神赦免我們，對我們無比的寬恕，是因為耶穌基督的死。我們的悔改，只是我們對他成就了的救贖工作，有個人體認而產生的後果。 [基督耶穌成了我們智慧、公義、聖潔與救贖。 ]一旦知道基督成為我們這一切時，神無比的喜樂就開始了；神的喜樂何時止住，死亡的定案就仍然作祟。
不管我們是什麼人，是怎麼樣的人，耶穌基督的死，都可以使我們與神重新建立關係。不是因為耶穌基督苦苦哀求，乃是因著他的死，我們才得拯救，此外別無他途。這不是賺回來的，而是白白領受。若一味苦求，故意拒絕十字架，那是絕無功效的。這樣做，是叩錯了主並未開啟的門。我不想走那條路，把我當作罪人般看待，太屈辱了。 [除他以外，別無拯救……]表面看來無情，其實是神真正的用心，開放無阻的通道，讓人到他那裡去。 [我們在寶血中得蒙赦罪。 ]與基督耶穌同釘十字架，就是向一切不在他裡面的東西死去。
神有理由拯救壞人，倘若他能改變他們。我們的主不會把我們的錯事，一概當作對的。救贖就是神藉耶穌的死所成就的和解，叫不潔的人成為聖潔。
祈禱◆[求你使我專心敬畏你的名！ ]我的心衝塞著自私、自覺和次好的東西，它們在我腦中盤旋，妨礙我的祈禱。主啊，願你全能的手幫助我！
We trample the blood of the Son of God underfoot if we think we are forgiven because we are sorry for our sins. The only reason for the forgiveness of our sins by God, and the infinite depth of His promise to forget them, is the death of Jesus Christ. Our repentance is merely the result of our personal realization of the atonement by the Cross of Christ, which He has provided for us. “. . . Christ Jesus . . . became for us wisdom from God–and righteousness and sanctification and redemption . . .” (1 Corinthians 1:30). Once we realize that Christ has become all this for us, the limitless joy of God begins in us. And wherever the joy of God is not present, the death sentence is still in effect.
No matter who or what we are, God restores us to right standing with Himself only by means of the death of Jesus Christ. God does this, not because Jesus pleads with Him to do so but because He died. It cannot be earned, just accepted. All the pleading for salvation which deliberately ignores the Cross of Christ is useless. It is knocking at a door other than the one which Jesus has already opened. We protest by saying, “But I don’t want to come that way. It is too humiliating to be received as a sinner.” God’s response, through Peter, is, “. . . there is no other name . . . by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). What at first appears to be heartlessness on God’s part is actually the true expression of His heart. There is unlimited entrance His way. “In Him we have redemption through His blood . . .” (Ephesians 1:7). To identify with the death of Jesus Christ means that we must die to everything that was never a part of Him.
God is just in saving bad people only as He makes them good. Our Lord does not pretend we are all right when we are all wrong. The atonement by the Cross of Christ is the propitiation God uses to make unholy people holy.
神公平的能力
因為他一次獻祭，便叫那得以成聖的人永遠完全。 （來十14）
若以為得赦免是因為自己的悔罪，實在是踐踏神兒子的血。神赦免我們，對我們無比的寬恕，是因為耶穌基督的死。我們的悔改，只是我們對他成就了的救贖工作，有個人體認而產生的後果。 [基督耶穌成了我們智慧、公義、聖潔與救贖。 ]一旦知道基督成為我們這一切時，神無比的喜樂就開始了；神的喜樂何時止住，死亡的定案就仍然作祟。
不管我們是什麼人，是怎麼樣的人，耶穌基督的死，都可以使我們與神重新建立關係。不是因為耶穌基督苦苦哀求，乃是因著他的死，我們才得拯救，此外別無他途。這不是賺回來的，而是白白領受。若一味苦求，故意拒絕十字架，那是絕無功效的。這樣做，是叩錯了主並未開啟的門。我不想走那條路，把我當作罪人般看待，太屈辱了。 [除他以外，別無拯救……]表面看來無情，其實是神真正的用心，開放無阻的通道，讓人到他那裡去。 [我們在寶血中得蒙赦罪。 ]與基督耶穌同釘十字架，就是向一切不在他裡面的東西死去。
神有理由拯救壞人，倘若他能改變他們。我們的主不會把我們的錯事，一概當作對的。救贖就是神藉耶穌的死所成就的和解，叫不潔的人成為聖潔。
祈禱◆[求你使我專心敬畏你的名！ ]我的心衝塞著自私、自覺和次好的東西，它們在我腦中盤旋，妨礙我的祈禱。主啊，願你全能的手幫助我！
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