0831 我的喜樂…你的喜樂
這些事我已經對你們說了，是要叫我的喜樂，存在你們心裡，並叫你們的喜樂可以滿足。《約翰福音15:11》
耶穌有的喜樂是什麼呢？喜樂不應該與快樂混淆。事實上，將快樂這個詞與耶穌基督聯繫在一起，是對祂的侮辱。耶穌的喜樂是祂對天父絕對的自我降服和自我犧牲——做天父差祂去做的事的喜樂——「…他因那擺在前面的喜樂，就輕看羞辱，忍受了十字架的苦難…」（希伯來書12:2）。 「我的神啊，我樂意照你的旨意行…」（詩篇 40:8）。耶穌禱告我們的喜樂能夠日趨完備，直到它成為與祂相同的喜樂。我是否允許耶穌基督將祂的喜樂介紹給我？
活出豐滿而涌流的生命，並不在於身體的健康、環境，甚至也不在於看到神的工作成就，而是在於完全理解神，以及與神的相交和合一，如耶穌自己所享受的一樣。但阻礙這種喜樂的第一件事，是過多思慮我們的處境而引起細微不易察覺的煩躁。耶穌說：「…世上的思慮…把道擠住了，就不能結實。」（馬可福音 4:19）。甚至在我們意識到發生了什麼事之前，我們就已被憂慮纏繞。神為我們所做的一切都只是門檻——祂希望我們到達一個地方，是我們成為祂的見證人並傳揚耶穌是誰。
與神保持正確的關係，在那裡找到你的喜樂，那麼從你就「要流出活水的江河」（約翰福音7:38）。要成為泉源，是耶穌可以傾倒祂的「活水」的泉源。不要再假冒偽善和驕傲，只注意自己，要活出「你們的生命，那是與基督一同藏在神裡面」（歌羅西書 3:3）。一個與神有正確關係的人，無論走到哪裡，都會過着像呼吸一樣自然的生活。那些曾是你最大祝福的生命，就是那些沒有意識到自己是個祝福的人的生命。
來自章伯斯的智慧
亞伯拉罕信神的偉大之處，乃在於他預備好為神做任何事。《不知往何處去》
0831 My Joy…Your Joy
These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. —John 15:11
What was the joy that Jesus had? Joy should not be confused with happiness. In fact, it is an insult to Jesus Christ to use the word happiness in connection with Him. The joy of Jesus was His absolute self-surrender and self-sacrifice to His Father— the joy of doing that which the Father sent Him to do— “…who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross…” (Hebrews 12:2). “I delight to do Your will, O my God…” (Psalm 40:8). Jesus prayed that our joy might continue fulfilling itself until it becomes the same joy as His. Have I allowed Jesus Christ to introduce His joy to me?
Living a full and overflowing life does not rest in bodily health, in circumstances, nor even in seeing God’s work succeed, but in the perfect understanding of God, and in the same fellowship and oneness with Him that Jesus Himself enjoyed. But the first thing that will hinder this joy is the subtle irritability caused by giving too much thought to our circumstances. Jesus said, “…the cares of this world,…choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful” (Mark 4:19). And before we even realize what has happened, we are caught up in our cares. All that God has done for us is merely the threshold— He wants us to come to the place where we will be His witnesses and proclaim who Jesus is.
Have the right relationship with God, finding your joy there, and out of you “will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38). Be a fountain through which Jesus can pour His “living water.” Stop being hypocritical and proud, aware only of yourself, and live “your life…hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). A person who has the right relationship with God lives a life as natural as breathing wherever he goes. The lives that have been the greatest blessing to you are the lives of those people who themselves were unaware of having been a blessing.
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
The great point of Abraham’s faith in God was that he was prepared to do anything for God.
—Not Knowing Whither