0711 靈性活潑強健的聖徒
…使我可以認識基督，曉得他復活的大能…《腓立比書 3:10》
聖徒不是採取主動去實現自我，而是去認識耶穌基督。一個靈性活潑強健的聖徒從來不相信他的境遇只是隨機發生的，也不會認為他的生活有俗聖之分；他視自己所處每一種境遇為獲得更深認識耶穌基督的方法，並對祂有一種無拘無束的聽任和完全降服的態度。聖靈定意我們要在生活的各個方面實現耶穌基督，祂會一次又一次地帶我們回到同一個點，直到我們實現基督為止。自我實現只會導致榮耀善行，然而神的聖徒卻通過他的善行來榮耀耶穌基督。無論我們在做什麼——甚至吃喝或給門徒洗腳——我們都必須採取主動地在其中實現和認定耶穌基督。
生命的每個階段都在耶穌的生命中有相對應。我們的主即使在最卑微的任務中也意識到祂與父的關係。「耶穌知道…自己是從神出來的，又要歸到神那裡去…拿一條毛巾束腰…就洗門徒的腳…」（約翰福音 13:3-5）。
靈性活潑強健的聖徒的目標是「使我可以認識基督…」我今天在所處環境中認識祂嗎？若不，我就辜負祂了。我在這裡不是為了自我實現，而是為了認識耶穌基督。在基督徒的事工中，我們的主動性和動機常常只是意識到有工作要做且我們必須去做的結果。然而，那絕不是靈性活潑強健的聖徒的態度；他的目標是在各種情況下達到實現耶穌基督。
來自章伯斯的智慧
祂將要擅自使用你的生命呢？還是你醉心於你對自己未來的構想？神對我們的生命負責，一個偉大的主旨就是不計後果地信賴祂。《蒙神悅納》
0711 The Spiritually Vigorous Saint
…that I may know Him… —Philippians 3:10
A saint is not to take the initiative toward self-realization, but toward knowing Jesus Christ. A spiritually vigorous saint never believes that his circumstances simply happen at random, nor does he ever think of his life as being divided into the secular and the sacred. He sees every situation in which he finds himself as the means of obtaining a greater knowledge of Jesus Christ, and he has an attitude of unrestrained abandon and total surrender about him. The Holy Spirit is determined that we will have the realization of Jesus Christ in every area of our lives, and He will bring us back to the same point over and over again until we do. Self-realization only leads to the glorification of good works, whereas a saint of God glorifies Jesus Christ through his good works. Whatever we may be doing— even eating, drinking, or washing disciples’ feet— we have to take the initiative of realizing and recognizing Jesus Christ in it.
Every phase of our life has its counterpart in the life of Jesus. Our Lord realized His relationship to the Father even in the most menial task. “Jesus, knowing…that He had come from God and was going to God…took a towel…and began to wash the disciples’ feet…” (John 13:3-5).
The aim of a spiritually vigorous saint is “that I may know Him…” Do I know Him where I am today? If not, I am failing Him. I am not here for self-realization, but to know Jesus Christ. In Christian work our initiative and motivation are too often simply the result of realizing that there is work to be done and that we must do it. Yet that is never the attitude of a spiritually vigorous saint. His aim is to achieve the realization of Jesus Christ in every set of circumstances.
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
Is He going to help Himself to your life, or are you taken up with your conception of what you are going to do ? God is responsible for our lives, and the one great keynote is reckless reliance upon Him. Approved Unto God, 10 R