0125 為神留出空間
神樂意…的時候。《加拉太書1:15-16》
作為神的僕人，我們必須學會為神騰出空間——給神「肘部活動的空間」。我們計劃、估量和預測這個或那個會發生，但我們忘記要為神留出空間，讓祂以祂選擇的方式臨到。如果神以我們從未預料到的方式來到我們的聚會或講道中，我們會感到驚訝嗎？不要期待神以特定方式臨到，但確實要期待祂來。我們為祂留出空間的方法是期待祂的來臨，但不是以特定的方式。無論我們多麼認識神，要學習的偉大功課就是祂可能在任何時刻闖入。我們往往會忽略這種突如其來的因素，然而神從不以其他方式行事。突然間 —— 「在神悅納的時候…」神與我們的生命相遇。
要保持你的生活持續與神緊密相交，以便祂驚人的能力在任何時刻都可以突破。活在持續期待的狀態中，並留出空間讓神決定何時進入。
來自章伯斯的智慧
我們容易認為發生在我們身上的一切，都要轉化為有益的教訓；它是要成為比教訓更好的東西，即轉化為品格。我們會發現，神帶我們進入的領域並不是要教導我們什麼，而是要陶塑我們。《神的愛——不被注意的事工》
0125 Leave Room for God
When it pleased God… —Galatians 1:15
As servants of God, we must learn to make room for Him— to give God “elbow room.” We plan and figure and predict that this or that will happen, but we forget to make room for God to come in as He chooses. Would we be surprised if God came into our meeting or into our preaching in a way we had never expected Him to come? Do not look for God to come in a particular way, but do look for Him. The way to make room for Him is to expect Him to come, but not in a certain way. No matter how well we may know God, the great lesson to learn is that He may break in at any minute. We tend to overlook this element of surprise, yet God never works in any other way. Suddenly—God meets our life “…when it pleased God….”
Keep your life so constantly in touch with God that His surprising power can break through at any point. Live in a constant state of expectancy, and leave room for God to come in as He decides.
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
We are apt to think that everything that happens to us is to be turned into useful teaching; it is to be turned into something better than teaching, viz. into character. We shall find that the spheres God brings us into are not meant to teach us something but to make us something. –The Love of God—The Ministry of the Unnoticed, 664 L