0130 顺服的困境
撒母耳睡到天亮，就开了耶和华的殿门，不敢将默示告诉以利。《撒母耳上3:15》
神从不以戏剧性的方式与我们交谈，而是以容易被误解的方式；然后我们说：「我猜那是否是神的声音？」 以赛亚说，主是「以大能的手」对他说话，也就是透过他处境的压力（以赛亚书8:11）。若非神自己至高无上主权的手，就没有什么能触摸我们的生命。我们是否能辨别祂做工的手，还是把事情视为只是出现的事件？
要养成说「主啊，请说」的习惯，生活将变得如一场浪漫（撒母耳记上3:9）。每当环境压力逼近你时，说「主啊，请说」，并腾出时间倾听。管教不仅是一种纪律手段 —— 它是要带我到我说「主啊，请说」的地步。回想一下神曾经对你说话的时刻。你还记得祂说了什么吗？是路加福音11:13？还是帖撒罗尼迦前书5:23？当我们倾听时，我们的耳朵变得更加敏感，就像耶稣一样，我们将会一直听到神的声音。
我应该告诉我的「以利」神向我显明的事吗？这就是顺服的进退两难击中我们的所在。我们违背神，透过成为业余的护佑者，认为「我必须保护『以利』」，以利代表我们所认识最好的人。神没有告诉撒母耳去告诉以利，这是撒母耳他自己必须做的决定。神给你的信息可能会伤害你的「以利」，但试图阻止别人生命中的苦难将证明是你灵魂与神之间的障碍。阻止别人的右手被砍掉或右眼被挖掉（见马太福音5:29-30），那是你自己的风险了。
关于神要你在祂面前作决定的事情，永远不要寻求别人的意见。如果你寻求建议，你几乎总是会站在撒但那一边。「我没有与属血气的商量…」（加拉太书1:16）。
来自章伯斯的智慧
亚伯拉罕信神的重要之处，乃在于他预备好为神做任何事。《不知往何处去》
0130 The Dilemma of Obedience
Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the vision. —1 Samuel 3:15
God never speaks to us in dramatic ways, but in ways that are easy to misunderstand. Then we say, “I wonder if that is God’s voice?” Isaiah said that the Lord spoke to him “with a strong hand,” that is, by the pressure of his circumstances (Isaiah 8:11). Without the sovereign hand of God Himself, nothing touches our lives. Do we discern His hand at work, or do we see things as mere occurrences?
Get into the habit of saying, “Speak, Lord,” and life will become a romance (1 Samuel 3:9). Every time circumstances press in on you, say, “Speak, Lord,” and make time to listen. Chastening is more than a means of discipline— it is meant to bring me to the point of saying, “Speak, Lord.” Think back to a time when God spoke to you. Do you remember what He said? Was it Luke 11:13, or was it 1 Thessalonians 5:23? As we listen, our ears become more sensitive, and like Jesus, we will hear God all the time.
Should I tell my “Eli” what God has shown to me? This is where the dilemma of obedience hits us. We disobey God by becoming amateur providences and thinking, “I must shield ‘Eli,’” who represents the best people we know. God did not tell Samuel to tell Eli— he had to decide that for himself. God’s message to you may hurt your “Eli,” but trying to prevent suffering in another’s life will prove to be an obstruction between your soul and God. It is at your own risk that you prevent someone’s right hand being cut off or right eye being plucked out (see Matthew 5:29-30).
Never ask another person’s advice about anything God makes you decide before Him. If you ask advice, you will almost always side with Satan. “…I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood…” (Galatians 1:16).
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
The great point of Abraham’s faith in God was that he was prepared to do anything for God. Not Knowing Whither, 903 R