"Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow." (Isa. 50:11.)
WHAT a solemn warning to those who walks in darkness and yet who try to help themselves out into the light. They are represented as kindling a fire, and compassing themselves with sparks. What does this mean?
Why, it means that when we are in darkness the temptation is to find a way without trusting in the Lord and relying upon Him. Instead of letting Him help us out, we try to help ourselves out. We seek the light of nature, and get the advice of our friends. We try the conclusions of our reason, and might almost be tempted to accept a way of deliverance which would not be of God at all.
All these are fires of our own kindling; rushlights that will surely lead us onto the shoals. And God will let us walk in he light of those sparks, but the end will be sorrow.
Beloved, do not try to get out of a dark place, except in God's time and in God's way. The time of trouble is meant to teach you lessons that you sorely need.
Premature deliverance may frustrate God's work of grace in your life. Just commit the whole situation to Him. Be willing to abide in darkness so long as you have His presence. Remember that it is better to walk in the dark with God than to walk alone in the light. ─The Still small Voice.
Cease meddling with God's plans and will. You touch anything of His, and you mar the work. You may move the hands of a clock to suit you, but you do not change the time; so you may hurry the unfolding of God's will, but you harm and do not help the work. You can open a rosebud but you spoil the flower. Leave all to Him. Hands down. Thy will, not mine. ─Stephen Merritt.
HIS WAY God bade me go when I would stay ('Twas cool within the wood); I did not know the reason why. I heard a boulder crashing by Across the path where I stood.
He bade me stay when I would go; "Thy will be done," I said. They found one day at early dawn, Across the way I would have gone, A serpent with a mangled head.
No more I ask the reason why, Although I may not see The path ahead, His way I go; For though I know not, He doth Know, safe paths for me. And He will choose
─The Sunday School Times.
什么是重生？一个人必须重生才能成为基督徒吗？
毫无疑问，你必须重生才能得救。你若不得救，就不能算作是一个基督徒，不管你属于哪一教派，也不管你怎样称呼自己。
何为重生呢？圣经告诉我们，有一个名叫尼哥底母的犹太人官长一天晚上来见耶稣，对他说：“拉比，我们知道你是由上帝那里来作师傅的。”尼哥底母实际上是在说：“老师，教我怎样寻找到上帝吧。”耶稣打断他们之间的交谈，单刀直入地对尼哥底母说：“人若不重生，就不能见上帝的国。”尼哥底母弄不清耶稣的话的意思，就诧异地问耶稣：“人已经老了，如何能重生呢？岂能再进母腹生出来吗？”耶稣回答道：“人若不是从水和圣灵生的，就不能进上帝的国。”耶稣又用风打比方说：“风随着意思吹，你听见的响声，却不晓得从哪里来，往哪里去；凡从圣灵生的，也是如此……。你是以色列人的先生，还不明白这事吗？”
耶稣郑重其事地告诉尼哥底母，他必须靠着圣灵和水，从上头得着重生。这里所言的“水”我想是指水的施洗(尽管有人认为这水可能是指婴儿出生时从母体涌流出来的羊水，或是《以弗所书》5章26节所说的“要用水借着道”将基督徒洗净)。重生是指我们的人生受到圣灵的彻底转变，如同获得了第二次生命。
上帝借助先知耶利米说，他要将他的律法放在他的百姓里面，写在他们心上。这是重生的一个果子，就在人获得重生的那一刹那，上帝的律法似乎已不再雕琢于石版上，而铭刻在人的心里。人打内心里感到理应顺从圣灵的带领，虔心遵循上帝的公义。
上帝首先要我们“因信称义”，之后用圣灵浇灌我们，以使我们过一个充满公义的人生。一旦我们重生，就能听凭圣灵的引领，过一个真正符合律法的公义的人生。这是一个叫人洗心革面的重生过程，罪人因此转变为能够承受上帝的国的圣徒，这个事实无可辨驳地印证了耶稣的格言：“人若不重生，就不能见上帝的国。”
郑秀文浸礼见证
我们都习惯迎合这个世界的价值观。大部分人都欠缺活出真正自己的勇气。包括我。
我叫郑秀文，是一位歌手及演员，今年三十五岁。
我略有小成就，但从来没有活出真正的自己。我习惯活在一堆世界的价值观中，我以为成就越大，自我价值就越高昂。
当我拥有很多人人渴求的东西，我最后却发现我的内心原来一无所有。心，是空空的。于是我尝试用更大的成就来补充，但招徕的虚空感就更大，更恐怖。成就、功名、物质并不能够填平内心无边的黑洞。于是，我决定暂停这场用于止境的追求，我放下一手建立十多年的事业，我毅然停止追逐功名，我要看看我的生命还剩下什么？
在接近一千天的时间，上帝让我彻底反省过去的生命。我看清了成功和金钱的真相——这两者或许可以建筑我的生活，但却一点不能完满我的生命。
我发现，生命应该有更崇高的价值，在上帝的话里，我找到更明确的方向和定位。正如圣经说：“人子来，不是要受人服侍，乃是要服侍人。” 这句话，我牢牢地打进内心。在我未来人生的路途上，我觉得有比追逐成就更重要的使命。
我并不能预料上帝会如何安排我生命的剧本，但我深信祂会带领我一步一脚印。
这种内心的平安，是来自我对上帝的笃定。这种内心的真正平安，是再多的金钱也买不到。
回头过去两年多，接近一千日，上帝确实狠狠地修理了我。祂给予我这场漫长的放逐，无非要我找回自己的心。
我的心已跟上帝紧扣，我再也不害怕，再也不胆怯。
我要活出上帝所喜悦的一个自己，活出上帝所看重的生命价值——这是我对上帝的承诺。
人生中，一定有比追逐成就更重要，更可贵的使命。
没有评论:
发表评论