| 今天: | |
| 昨天: | |
| 總計: |
"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ...and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus."(Eph.2:4-6)
THIS is our rightful place, to be "seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus," and to "sit still" there. But how few there are who make it their actual experience! How few, indeed think even that it is possible for them to "sit still" in these "heavenly places" in the every day life of a world so full of turmoil as this.
We may believe perhaps that to pay a little visit to these heavenly places on Sundays, or now and then in times of spiritual exaltation, may be within the range of possibility; but to be actually "seated" there every day and all day long is altogether another matter; and yet it is very plain that it is for Sundays and week-days as well.
A quiet spirit is of inestimable value in carrying on outward activities; and nothing so hinders the working of the hidden spiritual forces, upon which, after all, our success in everything really depends, as a spirit of unrest and anxiety.
There is immense power in stillness. A great saint once said, "All things come to him who knows how to trust and be silent." the words are pregnant with meaning. A knowledge of this fact would immensely change our ways of working. Instead of restless struggles, we would "sit down" inwardly before the Lord, and would let the Diving forces of His Spirit work out in silence the ends to which we aspire. You may not see or feel the operations of this silent force, but be assured it is always working mightily, and will work for you, if you only get your spirit still enough to be carried along by the currents of its power.
-Hannah Whitall Smith.
"There is a point of rest
At the great center of the cyclone's force,
A silence at its secret sourse;
A little child might slumber undisturbed,
Without the ruffle of one fair curl,
In that strange, central calm, amid the mighty whirl."
It is your business to learn to be peaceful and safe in God in every situation.
「我要給你一個不變的試金石以試驗所有的真理,那就是從一切世上的事退縮,停止一切談話,並心思所發生的工作和一切內心所產生的力量,去從事禱告;無論是坐、站或行,都屢次屈膝禱告:「因祂極大的良善,使你知道祂能除去你內心各種驕傲、敗壞的靈和敗壞的本性,使你深知那最深的真理,就是你可因祂的亮光和靈讓你謙卑。」
要因每個思想而喜樂,同時將一切事從內心深處向神求告,藉著真理和熱忱,人們把痛苦向神陳述。痛苦的環境和感覺使神的光得以在你裏面燃燒,做感動的工作;這種光和熱能使你有禱告的靈。起初只是感到痛苦、憤怒、和黑暗,使你裏面有一股熱量,然後你要求忍耐、自責、承認、謙卑,即使是痛苦也以謙卑為念。
人類的禱告接觸了神聖的愛,並為神的慈憐所環繞;禱告也是包含讚美和感謝,只要內心以神為樂,就不會受世俗引誘及影響,而禱告是有此改變的因素。現在即使沒有太多禱告的樣子,但也因與神合一而離祂相當地近。禱告不在乎外表的樣子、時間、地點和字句,而是以完全的信心、清潔的愛心,完全順服並樂於這樣做,這是禱告的靈最深的境界,也是與神合一最高的生命。」
禱告不僅是向神的祈求,而是在神的啟示下與祂相交;開始是謙卑的屈膝,不在乎祈求什麼,而在神的愛裏與祂相交,然後活出完全順服的樣式。這是何等可喜的!
「因為我們作仇敵的時候,且藉著神兒子的死,得與神和好,……就更因祂的生得救了。」羅馬書五章10節
我不是因信得救;而是因信感覺得了救,救我的不是悔改,悔改是種標記,表示我覺得神藉著基督耶穌所作的。危險的所在是反果為因──把我的服從和我的成聖歸主。叫我與神和好的是我的服從和我的成聖歸主嗎?絕不是的啊!我與神和好以先,還有基督為我們死的一步。當我歸向神,因著信接受我所能接受的神啟示,耶穌基督所付的贖價,立刻使我與神發生正當的關係,藉著神恩典的超然神蹟,我就稱義了,絕不是因為我感覺罪的譴責,也不是因為我的悔改,卻因為耶穌之所作所為。神的靈忽然將這贖價呈露出來,我就知道我得了救,不過不知其所以然罷了。
神的救恩,不是以人的邏輯為根據,卻是以耶穌犧牲的死為根據。我們能重生,是因為我們主的贖價。罪人能變成新人,不是因為他們悔改,或因為他們相信,卻因為神藉著基督耶穌的奇妙工作,這是在一切經驗以先的事,不是經驗的事。稱義和成聖的堅固保障是神本身。這些事不是我們自己作出來的;是因贖價作出來的。超然因神的奇蹟變成自然;認定這些事都是耶穌基督作成的──「成了」。
「……好!良善的僕人,你既在最小的事上有忠心,可以有權柄管十座城。」路加福音十九章17節
對神而言,真正算數的不是我們所謂的成功事奉,乃是我們的忠心態度。因迦勒及約書亞的忠誠,所以在他們去窺探耶利哥城時,神紀念他們的忠誠。對他們而言,那是一樁既困難且不受歡迎的職責,對我們來說亦然;因為神呼召我們在生命的危機當中,要不怕孤單地站穩腳步。無論是在相信神能戰勝罪惡這方面,或是相信我們在耶穌裡擁有產業的這方面,我們都要像迦勒及約書亞一樣接受考驗。
很多基督徒會承認耶穌基督有愛心,能賜給人新的生命,但同時難免會告訴別人,要單單完全靠主是不實際且不可能的事。我們當中有很多人,這些年來為了要見證基督的能力,使神的子民得到祂最豐富的祝福,不得不孤單地事奉神。正如約書亞和迦勒所經歷的,我們也一樣必須專心一意地跟隨神。這正是信心真正的勝利,以及證實我們忠誠的見證。
所以當我們因為見證神受到迫害,或是為神堅守原則而受責難時,我們不應該抱怨。相反的,讓我們感謝神,祂將因著我們忍受考驗而得著榮耀,更能在他人樂意跟隨主時,以我們為模範。