0929 呼召的意识
…我传福音原没有可夸的，因为我是不得已的；若不传福音，我便有祸了。《哥林多前书 9:16》
我们往往倾向于忘记神深刻属灵和超自然的触摸；如果你能准确地说出你在何时接受了神的呼召，并能解释这一切，我怀疑你是否真正蒙召了。神的呼召不是那样来的；它是更超自然的。在一个人生命中呼召的意识，可能会像一声惊雷般到来，也可能会逐渐显现。但无论那种意识来得快或慢，它总是伴随着超自然的暗流——某种无法表达的东西，产生一种「光芒」；那个无法估量、超自然、令人惊讶，已抓住你生命的呼召的意识，在任何时刻都可能突然临到——「我拣选了你们…」（约翰福音15:16），神的呼召与救恩和成圣无关。你不是因为你成圣而被呼召去传福音，传福音的呼召是完全不同的；保罗将其描述为加在他身上的一种强烈冲动。
如果你忽视因而清除神在你生命中伟大超自然的呼召，请回顾一下你的处境，看看你在哪里把自己的服事想法或你的特别能力置于神的呼召之上。保罗说：「…如果我不传福音，我就有祸了！」他已经意识到神的呼召，他「传福音」的冲动是如此强烈，以至于没有任何事物可与他的力量竞争。
如果一个男人或女人蒙神呼召，无论环境多么困难也无所谓。神为了祂最终目的而精心策划了每个力量互相效力。如果你同意神的目的，祂不仅带领你的意识层面，还会带领你所有你自己无法触及更深层次的生活，达到完美和谐。
来自章伯斯的智慧
先知们的信息是：尽管他们已经离弃了神，但那并没有改变神。使徒保罗强调同样的真理：我们纵然失信，祂仍是可信的，因为祂不能背乎自己（见提摩太后书 2:13）。 永远不要将神解释为随着我们的变化而改变；祂永远不会；在祂身上没有改变。《以西结书注释》
0929 The Awareness of the Call
…for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! —1 Corinthians 9:16
We are inclined to forget the deeply spiritual and supernatural touch of God. If you are able to tell exactly where you were when you received the call of God and can explain all about it, I question whether you have truly been called. The call of God does not come like that; it is much more supernatural. The realization of the call in a person’s life may come like a clap of thunder or it may dawn gradually. But however quickly or slowly this awareness comes, it is always accompanied with an undercurrent of the supernatural— something that is inexpressible and produces a “glow.” At any moment the sudden awareness of this incalculable, supernatural, surprising call that has taken hold of your life may break through— “I chose you…” (John 15:16). The call of God has nothing to do with salvation and sanctification. You are not called to preach the gospel because you are sanctified; the call to preach the gospel is infinitely different. Paul describes it as a compulsion that was placed upon him.
If you have ignored, and thereby removed, the great supernatural call of God in your life, take a review of your circumstances. See where you have put your own ideas of service or your particular abilities ahead of the call of God. Paul said, “…woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!” He had become aware of the call of God, and his compulsion to “preach the gospel” was so strong that nothing else was any longer even a competitor for his strength.
If a man or woman is called of God, it doesn’t matter how difficult the circumstances may be. God orchestrates every force at work for His purpose in the end. If you will agree with God’s purpose, He will bring not only your conscious level but also all the deeper levels of your life, which you yourself cannot reach, into perfect harmony.
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
The message of the prophets is that although they have forsaken God, it has not altered God. The Apostle Paul emphasizes the same truth, that God remains God even when we are unfaithful (see 2 Timothy 2:13). Never interpret God as changing with our changes. He never does; there is no variableness in Him.– Notes on Ezekiel, 1477 L