0804 神勇敢的友誼
耶穌帶着十二個門徒…《路加福音 18:31》
哦，神在信任我們時，多麼勇敢啊！你是否說：「但祂選擇我是不明智的，因為在我裡頭沒有什麼良善，也沒有價值」？這正是祂選擇你的原因。只要你認為你對祂有價值，祂就不能選擇你，因為你有自己要服事的目的。但如果你允許祂帶你到你自給自足的盡頭，那麼祂就能揀選你和祂一起去上「耶路撒冷」（路加福音18:31），這將意味着實現祂沒有與你討論的目的。
我們傾向於說，因為一個人有天然才幹，他就會成為一個好的基督徒。這不是我們裝備的問題，而是我們貧窮的問題；不在於我們帶來了什麼，乃在於神放入我們裡面什麼；不在於天然的德行、性格的力量、知識或經驗——所有這些在這方面都是無關緊要。唯一有價值的，就是被帶入神令人信服的目的並成為祂的朋友（見哥林多前書 1:26-31）。神與那些知道自己貧窮的人為友，神無法對自以為對神有用的人作什麼。作為基督徒，我們來這裡根本不是為了我們自己的目的——我們在這裡是為了神的目的，而這兩者並不相同。我們不知道神令人信服的目的是什麼，但無論發生什麼，我們都必須保持與祂的關係。我們決不能讓任何事情破壞我們與神的關係，但如果有什麼事情確實破壞了我們與神的關係，我們必須花時間去導正。基督信仰最重要的方面不是我們所做的工作，而是我們所維持的關係，以及這關係所產生的周圍影響力和品質。這就是神要求我們注意的，也是不斷受到攻擊的一件事。
來自章伯斯的智慧
當你快樂時，就快樂吧；當你悲傷時，就悲傷吧。如果神給了你一杯甜酒，不要讓它變苦；如果祂給了你一杯苦酒，不要試圖讓它變甜；當事情臨到時，要順其自然。《神手之陰》
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