0104 為什麼我現在不能跟隨你？
彼得說， 主啊，我為什麼現在不能跟你去，我願意為你捨命。」《約翰福音13:37》
有時候你不明白為什麼不能做你想要做的事情。當神帶來等候時期，並且看起來似乎沒有回應時，不要用忙碌來填滿這段時間，只要等候。等候的時光或許是來教導你成聖的意義 ，就是從罪中分別出來，成為聖潔；或許在成聖過程開始之後，它開始教導你服事的意義。不要在神給你指示之前就開跑。如果你有絲毫疑慮，那祂就不是在引導。每當疑惑時，要等侯。
起初你可能清楚明白神的旨意，斷絕某段友誼、終止某個商務關係、或者某些你感到明顯是神的旨意要你去做之事。但絕不可憑感覺衝動行事；如果你如此行，就會引發艱難的情況，那需要多年時間才能解開。等候神的時間，祂會在沒有任何傷心或失望下作成一切。當對神護佑的旨意有疑問時，要等候神，再採取行動。
彼得沒有等候神，他在心裡預測試煉將會在哪裡臨到，但那卻在他意想不到的時候來到。「我會為你捨命。」彼得的宣告是真誠但愚昧的。「耶穌回答說：『 …雞叫以先，你要三次不認我。』」 （約翰福音13:38）。神對彼得的認識，比彼得對自己的認識更深，所以才如此說。他不能跟隨耶穌，因為他還不夠認識自己和自己的能力。天然的熱愛或許足以吸引我們跟隨耶穌，讓我們感受到祂不可抗拒的魅力，但那永遠不會使我們成為門徒。天然的熱愛會否認耶穌，始終達不到真正跟隨祂的意義。
當一個人的心與神是正確的時候，聖經中神秘的言語對他來說就是靈和生命。屬靈的真理對純凈的心靈是可辨識的，而非對敏銳的智力。這不是智力深度的問題，而是心靈的純潔。《引領兒子進入榮耀》
0104 Why Can I Not Follow You Now?
Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You now?” —John 13:37
There are times when you can’t understand why you cannot do what you want to do. When God brings a time of waiting, and appears to be unresponsive, don’t fill it with busyness, just wait. The time of waiting may come to teach you the meaning of sanctification— to be set apart from sin and made holy— or it may come after the process of sanctification has begun to teach you what service means. Never run before God gives you His direction. If you have the slightest doubt, then He is not guiding. Whenever there is doubt— wait.
At first you may see clearly what God’s will is— the severance of a friendship, the breaking off of a business relationship, or something else you feel is distinctly God’s will for you to do. But never act on the impulse of that feeling. If you do, you will cause difficult situations to arise which will take years to untangle. Wait for God’s timing and He will do it without any heartache or disappointment. When it is a question of the providential will of God, wait for God to move.
Peter did not wait for God. He predicted in his own mind where the test would come, and it came where he did not expect it. “I will lay down my life for Your sake.” Peter’s statement was honest but ignorant. “Jesus answered him, ‘…the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times’ ” (John 13:38). This was said with a deeper knowledge of Peter than Peter had of himself. He could not follow Jesus because he did not know himself or his own capabilities well enough. Natural devotion may be enough to attract us to Jesus, to make us feel His irresistible charm, but it will never make us disciples. Natural devotion will deny Jesus, always falling short of what it means to truly follow Him.
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
When a man’s heart is right with God the mysterious utterances of the Bible are spirit and life to him. Spiritual truth is discernible only to a pure heart, not to a keen intellect. It is not a question of profundity of intellect, but of purity of heart. Bringing Sons Unto Glory, 231 L