0808 為父的榮耀禱告
……所要生的聖者必稱為神的兒子。 《路加福音 1:35》
如果神的兒子已經降生進入我的肉身，那麼我是否讓祂聖潔、無罪、單純，並與天父的合一有機會在我身上展現出來呢？神子透過童貞女瑪利亞降生到地球的歷史為真，這個歷史經驗對每個聖徒也是為真。神的兒子通過神直接的作為降生在我裡面；那麼，作為祂的孩子，我必須行使孩子的權利——通過禱告始終與我的父面對面的權利。我是否發現自己不斷對我生活中常識的一部分驚訝地說：「…為什麼你要我轉到這或去那裡呢？ 『豈不知我應當以我父的事為念嗎？』」（路加福音 2:49）。無論我們的情況如何，那位聖潔、無罪和永恆的兒子必須與祂的天父保持聯繫。
我是否夠單純到能以這種方式與我的主認同？祂是否得以奇妙方式待我？神的旨意是否在祂兒子已成形在我裡面而得以實現（見加拉太書4:19），還是我小心翼翼地將祂推到了一邊？哦，今天的喧鬧聲啊！為什麼每個人似乎都如此大聲喧嚷？今天，人們呼叫要處死神的兒子。現在這裡沒有神兒子的空間——沒有與父安靜、聖潔的團契以及與父合一的空間。
是神的兒子在我裡面禱告，帶給父榮耀呢？還是我正以我的強求向祂發號施令？祂是否像祂在地上為人時那樣在我裡面服事？神的兒子在我裡面是否正在經歷祂的受難和痛苦，以便祂自己的目的得以實現？一個人越了解神的最成熟聖徒的內在生活，就越能明白神的真正目的是「…要在我肉身上補滿基督患難的缺欠…」（歌羅西書1:24）。當我們想到「補滿」所需代價時，總會有一些事情需要完成。
來自章伯斯的智慧
我們的危險在於淡化神的話來迎合自己。神從不調整祂的話來迎合我；祂調整我來符合祂的話。 《不知往何處去》
0808 Prayer in the Father’s Honor
…that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. —Luke 1:35
If the Son of God has been born into my human flesh, then am I allowing His holy innocence, simplicity, and oneness with the Father the opportunity to exhibit itself in me? What was true of the Virgin Mary in the history of the Son of God’s birth on earth is true of every saint. God’s Son is born into me through the direct act of God; then I as His child must exercise the right of a child— the right of always being face to face with my Father through prayer. Do I find myself continually saying in amazement to the commonsense part of my life, “Why did you want me to turn here or to go over there? ‘Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?’ ” (Luke 2:49). Whatever our circumstances may be, that holy, innocent, and eternal Child must be in contact with His Father.
Am I simple enough to identify myself with my Lord in this way? Is He having His wonderful way with me? Is God’s will being fulfilled in that His Son has been formed in me (see Galatians 4:19), or have I carefully pushed Him to one side? Oh, the noisy outcry of today! Why does everyone seem to be crying out so loudly? People today are crying out for the Son of God to be put to death. There is no room here for God’s Son right now— no room for quiet, holy fellowship and oneness with the Father.
Is the Son of God praying in me, bringing honor to the Father, or am I dictating my demands to Him? Is He ministering in me as He did in the time of His manhood here on earth? Is God’s Son in me going through His passion, suffering so that His own purposes might be fulfilled? The more a person knows of the inner life of God’s most mature saints, the more he sees what God’s purpose really is: to “…fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ…” (Colossians 1:24). And when we think of what it takes to “fill up,” there is always something yet to be done.
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
Our danger is to water down God’s word to suit ourselves. God never fits His word to suit me; He fits me to suit His word. Not Knowing Whither, 901 R