0111 我對神的順服，別人付什麼代價
當他們帶耶穌去的時候，有一個古利奈人西門，從鄉下來；他們就抓住他，把十字架擱在他身上，叫他背着跟隨耶穌 。《路加福音23:26》
如果我們順服神，其他人付上的代價，將比我們付的更大，這就是痛苦的開始。如果我們愛主，順服不會使我們付出任何代價，反而是一種喜悅。但對於那些不愛祂的人來說，我們的順服的確要付出很多的代價；如果我們順服神，那就意味着其他人的計劃會被干擾。他們會嘲笑我們說：「你稱這為基督教嗎？」我們可以避免這痛苦，但若要順服神，就不能這樣做；我們必須容讓代價付出。
當我們的順服開始讓別人付出代價時，我們人類根深蒂固的驕傲，就會說：「我絕不接受任何人的東西。」 但我們必須接受，否則就不順服神。我們無權認為我們與他人的關係應該與主自己的關係有何不同（參見路加福音8:1-3）。
當我們試圖自己承擔所有的代價，結果就是我們靈命沒有長進。實際上，我們不能；因為我們是如此參與上帝的普世心意，其他人會立即受到我們順服神的影響。我們會繼續忠心地順服神，並願意忍受拒絕獨立自主而有的羞辱嗎？還是會做相反的選擇，說：「我不要讓別人受苦」？如果我們選擇，我們能不順服神，那處境會立即得到緩解，但也會使我們的主憂傷。然而，若我們順服神，祂會看顧那些因我們順服的後果而受苦的人。我們只需順服，並將所有的後果交託給祂。
不要強求神你願承受什麼後果，作為你順服祂的條件，要謹防這個傾向。
來自章伯斯的智慧
如果我們想在人們中間熟練地使用神的話語，我們就必須保持與人而非於理論的接觸，並且永不脫離與人的接觸。《上帝的工人》
0111 What My Obedience to God Costs Other People
As they led Him away, they laid hold of a certain man, Simon…, and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus. —Luke 23:26
If we obey God, it is going to cost other people more than it costs us, and that is where the pain begins. If we are in love with our Lord, obedience does not cost us anything— it is a delight. But to those who do not love Him, our obedience does cost a great deal. If we obey God, it will mean that other people’s plans are upset. They will ridicule us as if to say, “You call this Christianity?” We could prevent the suffering, but not if we are obedient to God. We must let the cost be paid.
When our obedience begins to cost others, our human pride entrenches itself and we say, “I will never accept anything from anyone.” But we must, or disobey God. We have no right to think that the type of relationships we have with others should be any different from those the Lord Himself had (see Luke 8:1-3).
A lack of progress in our spiritual life results when we try to bear all the costs ourselves. And actually, we cannot. Because we are so involved in the universal purposes of God, others are immediately affected by our obedience to Him. Will we remain faithful in our obedience to God and be willing to suffer the humiliation of refusing to be independent? Or will we do just the opposite and say, “I will not cause other people to suffer”? We can disobey God if we choose, and it will bring immediate relief to the situation, but it will grieve our Lord. If, however, we obey God, He will care for those who have suffered the consequences of our obedience. We must simply obey and leave all the consequences with Him.
Beware of the inclination to dictate to God what consequences you would allow as a condition of your obedience to Him.
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
We must keep ourselves in touch, not with theories, but with people, and never get out of touch with human beings, if we are going to use the word of God skillfully amongst them. Workmen of God, 1341 L