0522 對我們困難的解釋
使他們都合而為一。（約翰福音17:21）
如果你正在經歷孤單的時刻，似乎孤身一人，請閱讀約翰福音第 17 章，那將準確地解釋為什麼你會處於現在的位置——因為耶穌已經祈求你與天父「合而為一」如祂所是。你是在幫助神回應那個禱告，還是你對你的人生有其他的目標？自從你成為門徒之後，你就不能再像以前那樣獨立了。
神在約翰福音 17 章中揭示祂的目的不僅是應允我們的禱告，而且是藉着禱告，叫我們能夠辨明祂的心意。然而，有一個禱告是神必須應允的，那就是耶穌的禱告——「使他們合而為一，像我們合而為一。」（約翰福音 17:22）。我們與耶穌基督是否像那樣親密呢？
神並不關心我們的計劃，祂不問：「你想經歷失去所愛的人、這個困難，或這個失敗嗎？」不，祂允許這些事情是為了祂自己的目的。我們正在經歷的事情要麼讓我們變得更甜美、更好、更高尚的男人和女人，要麼讓我們變得更加批評、吹毛求疵，且更加堅持自己的方式。發生的事情要麼讓我們變得邪惡，要麼使我們變得更加聖潔，完全取決於我們與神的關係及其親密的程度。關於我們自己的生活，如果我們禱告是「願禰的旨意成就」（馬太福音 26:42），那麼我們就會受到約翰福音 17 章的鼓勵和安慰，知道我們的天父正在按照祂自己的智慧行事，成就最好的事。 當我們明白神的心意時，我們就不會變得心胸狹隘和憤世嫉俗。耶穌為我們祈求的，就是與祂自己的絕對合一，正如祂與天父合而為一。我們中的一些人離這種合一還很遠；然而神不會撇下我們不管，直到我們與祂合而為一，因為耶穌禱告說：「使他們都合而為一。」
來自章伯斯的智慧
耶穌基督可以承受被誤解；我們不能。我們的弱點在於總是想要為自己辯護。《幫助之地》
0522 The Explanation For Our Difficulties
…that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us… —John 17:21
If you are going through a time of isolation, seemingly all alone, read John 17 . It will explain exactly why you are where you are— because Jesus has prayed that you “may be one” with the Father as He is. Are you helping God to answer that prayer, or do you have some other goal for your life? Since you became a disciple, you cannot be as independent as you used to be.
God reveals in John 17 that His purpose is not just to answer our prayers, but that through prayer we might come to discern His mind. Yet there is one prayer which God must answer, and that is the prayer of Jesus— “…that they may be one just as We are one…” (John 17:22). Are we as close to Jesus Christ as that?
God is not concerned about our plans; He doesn’t ask, “Do you want to go through this loss of a loved one, this difficulty, or this defeat?” No, He allows these things for His own purpose. The things we are going through are either making us sweeter, better, and nobler men and women, or they are making us more critical and fault-finding, and more insistent on our own way. The things that happen either make us evil, or they make us more saintly, depending entirely on our relationship with God and its level of intimacy. If we will pray, regarding our own lives, “Your will be done” (Matthew 26:42), then we will be encouraged and comforted by John 17, knowing that our Father is working according to His own wisdom, accomplishing what is best. When we understand God’s purpose, we will not become small-minded and cynical. Jesus prayed nothing less for us than absolute oneness with Himself, just as He was one with the Father. Some of us are far from this oneness; yet God will not leave us alone until we are one with Him— because Jesus prayed, “…that they all may be one….”
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
Jesus Christ can afford to be misunderstood; we cannot. Our weakness lies in always wanting to vindicate ourselves. —The Place of Help