0226 我們對耶穌的疑慮
婦人說：「先生，沒有打水的器具，井又深，禰從哪裡得活水呢？」 《 約翰福音 4:11》
你是否曾對自己說過：「神話語中的奇妙真理給我留下了深刻的印象，但祂不能真正指望我能夠達到這一點，並將所有那些細節融入到我的生活中！」當我們根據耶穌基督的品格和能力來面對祂時，我們的態度反映了宗教上的優越感。我們認為祂的理想很高尚，讓我們印象深刻，但我們相信祂與現實脫節，祂所說的實際上無法實現。我們每個人在生活的某方面都會對耶穌有這樣的想法。當我們考慮那些將我們的注意力從神身上轉移的問題時，這些對耶穌的懷疑或疑慮就開始了。當我們談論我們與祂的互動往來時，其他人問我們：「你從哪裡得到足夠的錢來生活？你將如何生活，誰來照顧你？」或者，當我們告訴耶穌，我們的處境對祂來說有點太困難時，我們內心開始產生疑慮。我們說：「說『要信靠主』很容易，但人必須生活。此外，耶穌沒有任何可用來打水的東西——沒有任何手段能給我們這些東西。」要謹防展現出宗教上的欺騙，說：「哦，我對耶穌沒有疑慮，只有對我自己的疑慮。」如果我們誠實，我們就會承認我們從來沒有對自己有疑慮或懷疑，因為我們確切地知道自己有能力或無能力做什麼。但我們確實對耶穌心存疑慮。即使想到祂能做我們做不到的事，我們的自尊心也會受到傷害。
我的疑慮源於這個事實：我內心搜尋，要找出祂將如何實現祂所說的。我的懷疑源於我深度的自卑。如果我在自己身上發現這些疑慮，我就應該把它們帶到光中，並公開承認它們：「主，我對禰有過疑慮。我不相信禰的能力，只相信我自己的能力。除了我有限的理解之外，我也沒有相信禰的全能。」
來自章伯斯的智慧
隨着年齡的增長，我是否變得更高尚、更好、更有幫助、更謙卑呢？我是否展現出讓人認識到與耶穌同在的生命？或者我是否變得更加自我主張，更加有意地堅持自己的方式？對自己說真話是一件很偉大的事情。《幫助之地》
0226 Our Misgivings About Jesus
The woman said to Him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw [water] with, and the well is deep.” —John 4:11
Have you ever said to yourself, “I am impressed with the wonderful truths of God’s Word, but He can’t really expect me to live up to that and work all those details into my life!” When it comes to confronting Jesus Christ on the basis of His qualities and abilities, our attitudes reflect religious superiority. We think His ideals are lofty and they impress us, but we believe He is not in touch with reality— that what He says cannot actually be done. Each of us thinks this about Jesus in one area of our life or another. These doubts or misgivings about Jesus begin as we consider questions that divert our focus away from God. While we talk of our dealings with Him, others ask us, “Where are you going to get enough money to live? How will you live and who will take care of you?” Or our misgivings begin within ourselves when we tell Jesus that our circumstances are just a little too difficult for Him. We say, “It’s easy to say, ‘Trust in the Lord,’ but a person has to live; and besides, Jesus has nothing with which to draw water— no means to be able to give us these things.” And beware of exhibiting religious deceit by saying, “Oh, I have no misgivings about Jesus, only misgivings about myself.” If we are honest, we will admit that we never have misgivings or doubts about ourselves, because we know exactly what we are capable or incapable of doing. But we do have misgivings about Jesus. And our pride is hurt even at the thought that He can do what we can’t.
My misgivings arise from the fact that I search within to find how He will do what He says. My doubts spring from the depths of my own inferiority. If I detect these misgivings in myself, I should bring them into the light and confess them openly— “Lord, I have had misgivings about You. I have not believed in Your abilities, but only my own. And I have not believed in Your almighty power apart from my finite understanding of it.”
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
Am I getting nobler, better, more helpful, more humble, as I get older? Am I exhibiting the life that men take knowledge of as having been with Jesus, or am I getting more self-assertive, more deliberately determined to have my own way? It is a great thing to tell yourself the truth. -The Place of Help, 1005 R