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"In nothing be anxious." (Phil. 4:6.)
NO anxiety ought to be found in a believer. Great, many and varied may be our trials, our afflictions, our difficulties, and yet there should be no anxiety under any circumstances, because we have a Father in Heaven who is almighty, who loves His children as He loves His only-begotten Son, and whose very joy and delight it is to succor and help them at all times and under all circumstances. We should attend to the Word, "In nothing be anxious, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."
"In everything," that is not merely when the house is on fire, not merely when the beloved wife and children are on the brink of the grave, but in the smallest matters of life, bring everyghing before God, the little things, the very little things, what the world calls trifling things- everything-living in holy communion with our Heavenly Father, and with our precious Lord Jesus all day long. And when we awake at night, by a kind of spiritual instinct again turning to Him, and speaking to Him, bringing our various little matters before Him in the sleepless night, the difficulties in connection with the family, our trade, our profession. Whatever tries us in any way, speak to the Lord about it.
"By prayer and supplication," taking the place of beggars, with earnestness, with perseverance, going on and waiting, waiting, waiting on God.
"With thanksgiving." We should at all times lay a good foundation with thanksgiving. If everything else were wanting, this is always present, that, He has saved us from hell. Then, that He has given us His Holy Word-His Son, His choicest gift-and the Holy spirit. Therefore we have abundant reason for thanksgiving. O let us aim at this!
"And the peace of God which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." And this is so great a blessing, so real a blessing, so precious a blessing, that it must be known experimentally to be entered into, for it passeth understanding. O let us lay these things to heart, and the result will be, if we habitually walk in this spirit, we shall far more abundantly glorify God, than as yet we have done.
-George Mueller, in Life of Trust.
Twice or thrice a day, look to see if your heart is not disquieted about something; and if you find that it is, take care forthwith to restore it to calm.
-Francis De Sales.
「稱長久為人代禱的人是宗教狂熱者是何等毫無理由。至少在單單真實的從神獲得啟示的生命,是無法得到良善和喜樂,那就不可能同意此說,因為良善無法與神分離而單獨存在,除非藉祂自己所變成有福而聖潔的人,否則沒人能有此種生命;惟有直接從內住的神得到啟示,否則沒有高級受造之物,可從其他地方找到良善和喜樂。根據永遠的啟示:動物怎樣需要空氣,高級受造物也怎樣需要有良善、聖潔和喜樂的本性。」
「認為啟示和引導止於先知和使徒的時代而不會臨到現在的基督徒,乃是何等錯誤的說法,因為他們雖不是先知或使徒,但亦稱為聖徒。像天父般的完全,有基督的心志,單單遵行神的旨意,彰顯祂的榮耀,棄絕屬世的靈,盡心、盡性、盡意愛神,並愛鄰居如同自己。」
「注意這偉大、神聖和超自然的力量,如何在先知和使徒身上工作,你就會發現聖潔不限於某一場合和時間,而是永遠存在我們的思想、意志、渴望、情感之中,那麼我們可知這內在的聖潔和良善是永遠存在,當我們迫切需要時就會藉神的靈啟示我們;如我們的思想和情感永遠保持聖潔和良善,則聖善神的靈就會永遠住在我們裏面,作啟示的工作。」
賜福的父神,我們求您用天上的啟示,就是有福的真理,我們有信心的祈求您的聖靈直接永遠引導我們,運行在我們身上。
「摩西長大,出去到他弟兄那裡,看他們的重擔。」出埃及記二章11節
摩西看見他百姓受壓迫,自覺是拯救他們的一位,受著義憤的催逼,便開始替他們伸冤,為正義,為神走了第一步以後,神就讓摩西陷於完全失望中,打發他到曠野牧羊四十年。時候到了,神向摩西顯現,吩咐他去領祂的百姓出來。而摩西說:「我是甚麼人,竟能去見法老呢?」開始,摩西以為他是拯救百姓的人,可惜的是他先未受到神的訓練。在個人方面他是對的,但他是不習於與神契合,而作此事的人。
我們也許有神的異象,能瞭解神所要的是甚麼,也像摩西一樣開始工作起來;後來,同樣的在曠野四十年,好像神忽略了所有的事,但在我們完全失望的時候,神轉回頭來,恢復從前的選召,我們反戰慄著說:「啊,我是甚麼!」我們要學知神動腳的那一大步:「我是自有永有的打發你。」我們要曉得我們個人替神努力是不甚適當的;個人只能藉著神的關係白熱化起來(參太三11)。我們只注意事物的一方面,我們也得著了異象──「這是神一要我做的事,」但是沒有與神齊一步伐。如果你經過一種失望,就有一種大的發展在你面前等待你。
「原來體貼肉體的,就是與神為仇……」羅馬書八章7節
我們的肉體可說是無可救藥的敗壞,它「……不服神的律法,也是不能服。」(羅八7)因為肉體永遠也無法變好,所以試著改進肉體是無用的。不管我們受多少教育,用什麼好的方法來制約我們的行為,有最好的模範做我們的例子與否,或是用哀痛、勇氣、嚴肅的態度來對付肉體,但是我們最後會發現:肉體的敗壞依然是積習難改。
一個小孩子所養大的野禿鷹,雖然從雛鳥時就接受家鴿般的訓練,但是長大時仍然會以其尖利的嘴啄痛撫養牠長大的人,可見得教育並不能改變禿鷹的殘暴,而其自然的天性也永遠不會與鴿子一樣。無怪乎保羅會說:「原來體貼肉體的,就是與神為仇;因為不服神的律法,也是不能服。」
惟一能補救人天性的辦法,乃是毀滅老我,接受屬天的性格。神的目的不在改進人,乃是要藉著基督釘死我們的肉體,然後在基督耶穌裡使我們成為新造的人。