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August 25
"Shut up to faith." (Gal. 3:23.)
ＧOD in olden time suffered man to be kept in ward by the law that he might learn the more excellent way of faith. For by the law he would see God's holy standard and by the law he would see his own utter helplessness; then he would be glad to learn God's way of faith.
God still shuts us up to faith. Our natures, our circumstances, trials, disappointments, all serve to shut us up and keep us in ward till we see that the only way out is God's way of faith. Moses tried by self-effort, by personal influence, even by violence, to bring about the deliverance of his people. God had to shut him up forty years in the wilderness before he was prepared for God's work.
Paul and Silas were bidden of God to preach the Gospel in Europe. They landed and proceeded to Philippi. They were flogged, they were shut up in prison, their feet were put fast in the stocks. They were shut up to faith. They trusted God. They sang praises to Him in the darkest hour, and God wrought deliverance and salvation.
John was banished to the Isle of Patmos. He was shut up to faith. Had he not been so shut up, he would never have seen such glorious visions of God.
Dear reader, are you in some great trouble? Have you had some great disappointment, have you met some sorrow, some unspeakable loss? Are you in a hard place? Cheer up! You are shut up to faith. Take your trouble the right way. Commit it to God. Praise Him that He maketh "all things work together for good," and that "God worken for him that waiteth of him." There will be blessings, help and revelations of God that will come to you that never could otherwise have come; and many besides yourself will receive great light and blessing because you were shut up to faith.
─C. H. P.
「弟兄們！我們既因耶穌的血得以坦然進入至聖所，是藉著祂給我們開了一條又新又活的路，從幔子經過，這幔子就是祂的身體。」希伯來書十章19、20節
在聖殿裏有幔子，用以分開聖所和至聖所，在院子祭壇上灑下犧牲的血，罪孽得以赦免就可使祭司進入聖所以馨香聖潔的祭來敬拜事奉神，但只有大祭司一年一次可以通過幔子進人至聖所。幔子代表罪人的本性，即使罪得赦免也無法完全親近神，與祂交通。
當基督死的時候幔子裂開，藉著基督身體所裂開的幔子為我們開了一條又新又活通到神那兒的路，通過幔子為身子裂開的新路，我們得以進入至聖所，所有信徒是將「肉體連肉體的邪情私慾同釘在十字架上」，在這又新又活的路上，每一步與神聖潔的同在，都與基督的十字架有關；裂開幔子的身體不僅代表基督及其受苦，而且也說我們傚法祂受苦。
這裏豈不是有了我們為何一直無法親近神與祂交通的理由？因為他們從未降服下來，治死可咒詛的肉體於十字架的所釘罪愆上；他們渴望進入至聖所，但卻許可肉體的喜好在他們身上。神讓我們在聖靈的能力下對基督的呼召有正確的認識：凡恨自己生命的，失去生命；與主一同向罪死的人，就必與祂一同向神而活。除非藉著裂開幔子的身體，也就是在基督裏治死肉體的，才能與神交通，為聖靈所讚美而內住我們裏面的神，要定肉體的罪將它治死，使我們的內涵，勝過一切試探的力量。
「我乃稱你們為朋友。」約翰福音十五章15節
非到我們捨棄一切的時候，我們絕不知道自我犧牲的快樂。自我順服是最難的事──「我肯如果……」，「啊，我只有勉強將我的生命獻給神」。在這種情形之下決沒有自我犧牲的快樂。
我們一旦忠忠實實的順服，聖靈就將耶穌的快樂給與我們。自我犧牲最後的目的，是為朋友捨命。當聖靈到來的時候，最大的願望是為耶穌犧牲；而且犧牲之時是不覺得犧牲的，因為犧牲是出於聖靈的愛心。
我們的主是自我犧牲生命的模範──「我的神啊，我願遵行您的旨意」。祂滿心快樂，走上祂犧牲的路。我曾絕對的順服耶穌基督麼？如果耶穌基督不是你的北極星，犧牲是沒有益的；倘若仰望祂而去犧牲，就可以談得上鑄造的勢力。
勿讓你的關係人阻止你踏上愛的大道。人類互相關係的愛，常為輕視所毀滅。聖徒的關係人是主耶穌。愛神的愛，不是情緒的；愛如神之所愛，是聖徒最實際的事。
「我乃稱你們為朋友」。這是一種友誼，是以我們裡面所造成的新生命為基礎，與我們舊生命無牽連的關係，僅與神的生命發生關係。就是不可言諭的謙卑，無玷污的純潔和絕對順服神。
「我必將我的靈，放在你們裡面，使你們順服我的律例，謹守遵行我的典章。」以西結書卅六章27節
先知以西結說神要賜給我們一顆新心，事實上祂所賜的遠勝於一顆新心。祂所給的乃是充滿神聖靈的心，又使我們遵行祂的典章。
當一個人在悔改時，神會賜給他一個新靈，住在他裡面，而且藉著祂的大能力，使這個人保持聖潔、擁有祂的義。
也許我們會認為我們有了一個新靈之後，會在靈裡更有希望、活力，但是以西結的描述卻不然。他說我們會因自己的「罪孽和可憎的事厭惡自己。」(結卅六18)
由此可見，當神向我們顯現時，我們會深深地感到自己的價值相等於零，或是毫無益處。祂甚至令我們覺得必須完全犧牲自己。因為當神的靈來到我們心中，祂轉變我們，並且使我們恥於自己的過犯。讓我們牢記最高的聖潔，乃是犧牲自己，與主同行。