0105 跟随的生命大能
耶稣回答说，「我所去的地方，你现在不能跟我去，后来却要跟我去。」《约翰福音 13:36》
耶稣说了这话，就对他说：「你跟从我吧」 （约翰福音 21:19）。三年前，耶稣曾说：「跟从我」（马太福音 4:19），彼得毫不犹豫地跟随了。耶稣不可抗拒的吸引力在他身上，他不需要圣灵的帮助就跟随了。后来他到了否认耶稣的地步，他的心就碎了。然后他领受了圣灵，耶稣再次说：「你跟从我」 （约翰福音 21:19）。现在，只有除了主耶稣基督站在彼得面前，再无他人。最初的「跟从我」并没有什么奥秘，只是外在的跟随；现在耶稣要求的是内在的牺牲和降服（参见约翰福音 21:18）。
在这两次之间，彼得曾以发咒起誓来否认耶稣（参见马太福音 26:69-75）。但随后他彻底走到自我以及他所有自给自足的尽头，他自己再没有什么可依赖的了。在他赤贫的状态中，他终于准备好接受复活的主给他的一切。「就向他们吹一口气，说：『你们受圣灵。』」（约翰福音 20:22）。无论神在你身上做了什么改变，永远不要依赖它们；但要建基于一位，就是主耶稣基督，以及祂所赐的圣灵。
我们所有的承诺和决心都以否认告终，因为我们没有能力去实现它们。当我们完全走到自我的尽头，不仅是心智上，而是完全地，我们才能「领受圣灵」。「领受圣灵」，这个概念是侵入性的；现在只有一位引导你生命路程的，那就是主耶稣基督。
自然地说，没有什么比腐朽让我们更快速灰心丧气了——身体美丽的衰退，天然生命的衰亡，友谊的消逝，以及群体的解体，所有这些事情都能让人灰心丧气；但保罗说，当我们信靠耶稣基督时，这些事情都不会让我们感到沮丧，阳光会穿透它们。《帮助之地》
0105 The Life of Power to Follow
Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward.” —John 13:36
“And when He had spoken this, He said to him, ‘Follow Me’” (John 21:19). Three years earlier Jesus had said, “Follow Me” (Matthew 4:19), and Peter followed with no hesitation. The irresistible attraction of Jesus was upon him and he did not need the Holy Spirit to help him do it. Later he came to the place where he denied Jesus, and his heart broke. Then he received the Holy Spirit and Jesus said again, “Follow Me” (John 21:19). Now no one is in front of Peter except the Lord Jesus Christ. The first “Follow Me” was nothing mysterious; it was an external following. Jesus is now asking for an internal sacrifice and yielding (see John 21:18).
Between these two times Peter denied Jesus with oaths and curses (see Matthew 26:69-75). But then he came completely to the end of himself and all of his self-sufficiency. There was no part of himself he would ever rely on again. In his state of destitution, he was finally ready to receive all that the risen Lord had for him. “…He breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’ ” (John 20:22). No matter what changes God has performed in you, never rely on them. Build only on a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ, and on the Spirit He gives.
All our promises and resolutions end in denial because we have no power to accomplish them. When we come to the end of ourselves, not just mentally but completely, we are able to “receive the Holy Spirit.” “Receive the Holy Spirit” — the idea is that of invasion. There is now only One who directs the course of your life, the Lord Jesus Christ.
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
There is nothing, naturally speaking, that makes us lose heart quicker than decay—the decay of bodily beauty, of natural life, of friendship, of associations, all these things make a man lose heart; but Paul says when we are trusting in Jesus Christ these things do not find us discouraged, light comes through them. –The Place of Help.