0119 異象與黑暗
日頭正落的時候，亞伯蘭沉沉地睡了；忽然有驚人的大黑暗落在他身上。《創世紀 15:12》
每當神給基督徒異象時，就好像祂把他放在「祂手的蔭下」（以賽亞書49:2）； 聖徒的職責是要安靜並傾聽。 有一種「黑暗」是來自過多的光明——那是傾聽的時候。 創世記16章中亞伯蘭和夏甲的故事就是一個在黑暗時期聽從所謂好建議，而不是等待神賜下光明的絕佳例子。當神給你異象，黑暗隨之而來時，要等待。神將會在你生命中實現祂給予你的異象，只要你願意等待祂的時機；永遠不要試圖幫助神實現祂的話語。亞伯蘭經歷了十三年的沉默，但在那些年裡，他所有的自給自足都被摧毀了。他成長到不再僅僅依賴自己的常識；那些沉默的歲月是一段管教的時期，而不是神不喜悅的時期。永遠不必假裝你的生活充滿喜樂和信心，只需等候神，並在祂裡面紮根（見以賽亞書50:10-11）。
我是否完全信任肉體？還是我已經學會超越對自己和其他神的子民的所有信心？我相信書籍、禱告或生活中的其他樂趣嗎？ 或者我是否把信心放在神自己身上，而不是祂的祝福上？ 「我是全能的神…」——El-Shaddai，全能的神（創世記 17:1）。 我們都受到管教的原因，為了讓我們知道神是真實的。 一旦神對我們來說變得真實，人類就變得蒼白無力，成為現實的影子。其他聖徒所做或所說的，都無法擾亂建立在神基礎上的人。
來自章伯斯的智慧
聖經是唯一一本向我們指明罪的真實本質以及來源的書籍。《罪的哲學》
0119 Vision and Darkness
When the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him. —Genesis 15:12
Whenever God gives a vision to a Christian, it is as if He puts him in “the shadow of His hand” (Isaiah 49:2). The saint’s duty is to be still and listen. There is a “darkness” that comes from too much light— that is the time to listen. The story of Abram and Hagar in Genesis 16 is an excellent example of listening to so-called good advice during a time of darkness, rather than waiting for God to send the light. When God gives you a vision and darkness follows, wait. God will bring the vision He has given you to reality in your life if you will wait on His timing. Never try to help God fulfill His word. Abram went through thirteen years of silence, but in those years all of his self-sufficiency was destroyed. He grew past the point of relying on his own common sense. Those years of silence were a time of discipline, not a period of God’s displeasure. There is never any need to pretend that your life is filled with joy and confidence; just wait upon God and be grounded in Him (see Isaiah 50:10-11).
Do I trust at all in the flesh? Or have I learned to go beyond all confidence in myself and other people of God? Do I trust in books and prayers or other joys in my life? Or have I placed my confidence in God Himself, not in His blessings? “I am Almighty God…”— El-Shaddai, the All-Powerful God (Genesis 17:1). The reason we are all being disciplined is that we will know God is real. As soon as God becomes real to us, people pale by comparison, becoming shadows of reality. Nothing that other saints do or say can ever upset the one who is built on God.
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
The Bible is the only Book that gives us any indication of the true nature of sin, and where it came from. –The Philosophy of Sin, 1107 R