0708 定意忠诚
….. 今日就可以选择所要事奉的…《约书亚记 24:15》
一个人的意志体现在整个人的行动中，我不能放弃我的意志——我必须行使它，把它付诸行动。我必须定意顺服，我也必须定意接受神的灵。当神给我真理的异象时，从来不是祂要做什么的问题，而是我要做什么的问题。主一直把一些重大的提议和计划摆在我们每个人的面前；最好的作法就是记住从前你被神感动时所做的事情，回想你得救的时刻，或者第一次认出耶稣，或者认识到某些真理的时刻，那时你很容易向神屈服效忠。每当神的灵在你面前带来新的提议时，要立即回忆起那些时刻。
「今日就可以选择所要事奉的…」你的选择必须是有意地深思熟虑的决定——而不是你自动漂流进去的；在你做出决定之前，你生活中其它一切都将被暂时搁置。这个提议是你和神之间的事——不要「与属血气的人商量」（加拉太书 1:16）。随着每一个新的提议，我们周围的人似乎变得越来越孤立，这就是张力发展的来源。神允许其他圣徒的意见影响到你，但你却越来越不确定别人是否真正理解你正在走的路。你没有必要试图去找出神的引导方向——神唯一会向你解释的就是祂自己。
向祂公开宣告：「我会忠诚的。」但要记住，一旦你选择忠于耶稣基督，「你们自己作见证。」（约书亚记24:22）。不要与其它基督徒商量，而是在神面前简单自由地宣告：「我要事奉你」定意忠诚——并赞扬其他人的忠诚。
来自章伯斯的智慧
读书永远不可能读得太多，但要始终记住你为什么要读。要记住，最重要的是「需要接受、认识和依靠圣灵。」《蒙神悦纳》
0708 Will To Be Faithful
…choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve… —Joshua 24:15
A person’s will is embodied in the actions of the whole person. I cannot give up my will— I must exercise it, putting it into action. I must will to obey, and I must will to receive God’s Spirit. When God gives me a vision of truth, there is never a question of what He will do, but only of what I will do. The Lord has been placing in front of each of us some big proposals and plans. The best thing to do is to remember what you did before when you were touched by God. Recall the moment when you were saved, or first recognized Jesus, or realized some truth. It was easy then to yield your allegiance to God. Immediately recall those moments each time the Spirit of God brings some new proposal before you.
“…choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve….” Your choice must be a deliberate determination— it is not something into which you will automatically drift. And everything else in your life will be held in temporary suspension until you make a decision. The proposal is between you and God— do not “confer with flesh and blood” about it (Galatians 1:16). With every new proposal, the people around us seem to become more and more isolated, and that is where the tension develops. God allows the opinion of His other saints to matter to you, and yet you become less and less certain that others really understand the step you are taking. You have no business trying to find out where God is leading— the only thing God will explain to you is Himself.
Openly declare to Him, “I will be faithful.” But remember that as soon as you choose to be faithful to Jesus Christ, “You are witnesses against yourselves…” (Joshua 24:22). Don’t consult with other Christians, but simply and freely declare before Him, “I will serve You.” Will to be faithful— and give other people credit for being faithful too.
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
It is impossible to read too much, but always keep before you why you read. Remember that “the need to receive, recognize, and rely on the Holy Spirit” is before all else. Approved Unto God, 11