0708 定意忠誠
….. 今日就可以選擇所要事奉的…《約書亞記 24:15》
一個人的意志體現在整個人的行動中，我不能放棄我的意志——我必須行使它，把它付諸行動。我必須定意順服，我也必須定意接受神的靈。當神給我真理的異象時，從來不是祂要做什麼的問題，而是我要做什麼的問題。主一直把一些重大的提議和計劃擺在我們每個人的面前；最好的作法就是記住從前你被神感動時所做的事情，回想你得救的時刻，或者第一次認出耶穌，或者認識到某些真理的時刻，那時你很容易向神屈服效忠。每當神的靈在你面前帶來新的提議時，要立即回憶起那些時刻。
「今日就可以選擇所要事奉的…」你的選擇必須是有意地深思熟慮的決定——而不是你自動漂流進去的；在你做出決定之前，你生活中其它一切都將被暫時擱置。這個提議是你和神之間的事——不要「與屬血氣的人商量」（加拉太書 1:16）。隨着每一個新的提議，我們周圍的人似乎變得越來越孤立，這就是張力發展的來源。神允許其他聖徒的意見影響到你，但你卻越來越不確定別人是否真正理解你正在走的路。你沒有必要試圖去找出神的引導方向——神唯一會向你解釋的就是祂自己。
向祂公開宣告：「我會忠誠的。」但要記住，一旦你選擇忠於耶穌基督，「你們自己作見證。」（約書亞記24:22）。不要與其它基督徒商量，而是在神面前簡單自由地宣告：「我要事奉你」定意忠誠——並讚揚其他人的忠誠。
來自章伯斯的智慧
讀書永遠不可能讀得太多，但要始終記住你為什麼要讀。要記住，最重要的是「需要接受、認識和依靠聖靈。」《蒙神悅納》
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