0804 神勇敢的友谊
耶稣带着十二个门徒…《路加福音 18:31》
哦，神在信任我们时，多么勇敢啊！你是否说：「但祂选择我是不明智的，因为在我里头没有什么良善，也没有价值」？这正是祂选择你的原因。只要你认为你对祂有价值，祂就不能选择你，因为你有自己要服事的目的。但如果你允许祂带你到你自给自足的尽头，那么祂就能拣选你和祂一起去上「耶路撒冷」（路加福音18:31），这将意味着实现祂没有与你讨论的目的。
我们倾向于说，因为一个人有天然才干，他就会成为一个好的基督徒。这不是我们装备的问题，而是我们贫穷的问题；不在于我们带来了什么，乃在于神放入我们里面什么；不在于天然的德行、性格的力量、知识或经验——所有这些在这方面都是无关紧要。唯一有价值的，就是被带入神令人信服的目的并成为祂的朋友（见哥林多前书 1:26-31）。神与那些知道自己贫穷的人为友，神无法对自以为对神有用的人作什么。作为基督徒，我们来这里根本不是为了我们自己的目的——我们在这里是为了神的目的，而这两者并不相同。我们不知道神令人信服的目的是什么，但无论发生什么，我们都必须保持与祂的关系。我们决不能让任何事情破坏我们与神的关系，但如果有什么事情确实破坏了我们与神的关系，我们必须花时间去导正。基督信仰最重要的方面不是我们所做的工作，而是我们所维持的关系，以及这关系所产生的周围影响力和品质。这就是神要求我们注意的，也是不断受到攻击的一件事。
来自章伯斯的智慧
当你快乐时，就快乐吧；当你悲伤时，就悲伤吧。如果神给了你一杯甜酒，不要让它变苦；如果祂给了你一杯苦酒，不要试图让它变甜；当事情临到时，要顺其自然。《神手之阴》
0804 The Brave Friendship of God
He took the twelve aside… —Luke 18:31
Oh, the bravery of God in trusting us! Do you say, “But He has been unwise to choose me, because there is nothing good in me and I have no value”? That is exactly why He chose you. As long as you think that you are of value to Him He cannot choose you, because you have purposes of your own to serve. But if you will allow Him to take you to the end of your own self-sufficiency, then He can choose you to go with Him “to Jerusalem” (Luke 18:31). And that will mean the fulfillment of purposes which He does not discuss with you.
We tend to say that because a person has natural ability, he will make a good Christian. It is not a matter of our equipment, but a matter of our poverty; not of what we bring with us, but of what God puts into us; not a matter of natural virtues, of strength of character, of knowledge, or of experience— all of that is of no avail in this concern. The only thing of value is being taken into the compelling purpose of God and being made His friends (see 1 Corinthians 1:26-31). God’s friendship is with people who know their poverty. He can accomplish nothing with the person who thinks that he is of use to God. As Christians we are not here for our own purpose at all— we are here for the purpose of God, and the two are not the same. We do not know what God’s compelling purpose is, but whatever happens, we must maintain our relationship with Him. We must never allow anything to damage our relationship with God, but if something does damage it, we must take the time to make it right again. The most important aspect of Christianity is not the work we do, but the relationship we maintain and the surrounding influence and qualities produced by that relationship. That is all God asks us to give our attention to, and it is the one thing that is continually under attack.
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
When you are joyful, be joyful; when you are sad, be sad. If God has given you a sweet cup, don’t make it bitter; and if He has given you a bitter cup, don’t try and make it sweet; take things as they come. Shade of His Hand, 1226 L