0509 超越我們力所能及
沒有異象，民就放肆。《箴言29:18》
堅持原則和擁有異象是有區別的。原則並非來自道德的靈感，但異象卻是。那些完全沉浸於理想主義中的人很少去做任何事情。一個人對神及其屬性的看法，實際上可能被用來為他有意忽視自己的責任辯解和合理化。約拿試圖為自己的不服從找借口，他說：「…我知道禰是有恩典、有憐憫的神，不輕易發怒，有豐盛的慈愛，並且後悔不降所說的災…。」（約拿書 4:2）。我也可能對神和祂的屬性有正確的理解，但這可能正是我不履行責任的原因。但只要有異象，就有誠實和正直的生活，因為異象見給了我道德的激勵。
我們自己的理想主義原則，實際上可能會讓我們陷入毀滅。從靈里審視自己，看看你是否有異象，或者只是有原則。
啊，但是一個人所能及的，應該超出他的能力，否則天堂有什麼用？
「沒有啟示[或預言性異象]……」一旦我們看不見神，我們就開始輕率，我們丟棄我們明知是錯誤活動的限制，我們也把禱告放在一邊，停止在生活小事上有神的異象。我們就開始主動的作為，我們只憑自己的手吃飯，只憑自己的主動做事，而不期待神進來，我們就是走在下坡路了；我們已經失去異象了。我們今天的態度是一種源自對神的看見的態度嗎？我們期待神做比祂以往做過的更偉大之情嗎？我們屬靈觀點裡，是否有一種新鮮和活力呢？
來自章伯斯的智慧
沒有任何生活狀態是我們不能住在耶穌里的。無論我們被安置何處，我們都必須學會住在祂裡面。《我們輝煌的遺產》
0509 Reaching Beyond Our Grasp
Where there is no revelation [or prophetic vision], the people cast off restraint… —Proverbs 29:18
There is a difference between holding on to a principle and having a vision. A principle does not come from moral inspiration, but a vision does. People who are totally consumed with idealistic principles rarely do anything. A person’s own idea of God and His attributes may actually be used to justify and rationalize his deliberate neglect of his duty. Jonah tried to excuse his disobedience by saying to God, “…I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm” (Jonah 4:2). I too may have the right idea of God and His attributes, but that may be the very reason why I do not do my duty. But wherever there is vision, there is also a life of honesty and integrity, because the vision gives me the moral incentive.
Our own idealistic principles may actually lull us into ruin. Examine yourself spiritually to see if you have vision, or only principles.
Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp, Or what’s a heaven for?
“Where there is no revelation [or prophetic vision]….” Once we lose sight of God, we begin to be reckless. We cast off certain restraints from activities we know are wrong. We set prayer aside as well and cease having God’s vision in the little things of life. We simply begin to act on our own initiative. If we are eating only out of our own hand, and doing things solely on our own initiative without expecting God to come in, we are on a downward path. We have lost the vision. Is our attitude today an attitude that flows from our vision of God? Are we expecting God to do greater things than He has ever done before? Is there a freshness and a vitality in our spiritual outlook?
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
There is no condition of life in which we cannot abide in Jesus. We have to learn to abide in Him wherever we are placed. — Our Brilliant Heritage, 946 R