0107 与耶稣亲密
耶稣对他说:「腓力,我与你们同在这样长久 ,你还不认识我么 ?」《约翰福音14:9》
这些话不是责备的口吻,甚至也无惊讶之意,耶稣是鼓励腓力更加靠近祂;然而我们最后一个亲密接触的人才是耶稣。在五旬节之前,门徒认识的耶稣是那位赐给他们权能,战胜魔鬼并带来复兴的那一位(参见路加福音10:18-20)。那是美好的亲密,但还有更加的亲密即将到来:「…我乃称你们为朋友…」(约翰福音15:15)。地上真正的友谊是罕见的,它意味着在思想、心灵和精神上与某人认同的。整个生命的经历旨在使我们能够进入与耶稣基督这种最亲密的关系中;我们领受祂的祝福并明白祂的道,但我们真的认识祂吗?
耶稣说:「…我去是与你们有益的」(约翰福音16:7)。耶稣离开了那种关系,以便引导他们与祂更加的亲近。当门徒花时间与耶稣更加亲近同行时,那会让耶稣感到欢喜。圣经中总是显示:结果子的生命是与耶稣基督建立亲密关系的可见结果(参见约翰福音15:1-4)。
一旦我们与耶稣亲密,我们绝不感到孤单,也绝不缺乏理解或怜悯;我们可以不断向祂倾心吐意,而不会被视为过度情绪化或自怜。真正与耶稣亲密的基督徒绝非吸引别人注意到他自己,而只展现出耶稣完全掌权的生活证据;这是容让耶稣满足生活各个领域深度的结果。如此生命所产生的画面,就是我们的主赐给那些与祂亲密之人的强大、镇静的平稳。
神不是不顾我们的环境来促进我们的灵性生活,而是在我们环境中并透过我们的环境来促进我们的灵性生活。《不知去往何处》
0107 Intimate With Jesus
Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip?” —John 14:9
These words were not spoken as a rebuke, nor even with surprise; Jesus was encouraging Philip to draw closer. Yet the last person we get intimate with is Jesus. Before Pentecost the disciples knew Jesus as the One who gave them power to conquer demons and to bring about a revival (see Luke 10:18-20). It was a wonderful intimacy, but there was a much closer intimacy to come: “…I have called you friends…” (John 15:15). True friendship is rare on earth. It means identifying with someone in thought, heart, and spirit. The whole experience of life is designed to enable us to enter into this closest relationship with Jesus Christ. We receive His blessings and know His Word, but do we really know Him?
Jesus said, “It is to your advantage that I go away…” (John 16:7). He left that relationship to lead them even closer. It is a joy to Jesus when a disciple takes time to walk more intimately with Him. The bearing of fruit is always shown in Scripture to be the visible result of an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ (see John 15:1-4).
Once we get intimate with Jesus, we are never lonely and we never lack for understanding or compassion. We can continually pour out our hearts to Him without being perceived as overly emotional or pitiful. The Christian who is truly intimate with Jesus will never draw attention to himself but will only show the evidence of a life where Jesus is completely in control. This is the outcome of allowing Jesus to satisfy every area of life to its depth. The picture resulting from such a life is that of the strong, calm balance that our Lord gives to those who are intimate with Him.
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
God does not further our spiritual life in spite of our circumstances, but in and by our circumstances. 《Not Knowing Whither》900 L