0929 呼召的意識
…我傳福音原沒有可誇的，因為我是不得已的；若不傳福音，我便有禍了。《哥林多前書 9:16》
我們往往傾向於忘記神深刻屬靈和超自然的觸摸；如果你能準確地說出你在何時接受了神的呼召，並能解釋這一切，我懷疑你是否真正蒙召了。神的呼召不是那樣來的；它是更超自然的。在一個人生命中呼召的意識，可能會像一聲驚雷般到來，也可能會逐漸顯現。但無論那種意識來得快或慢，它總是伴隨着超自然的暗流——某種無法表達的東西，產生一種「光芒」；那個無法估量、超自然、令人驚訝，已抓住你生命的呼召的意識，在任何時刻都可能突然臨到——「我揀選了你們…」（約翰福音15:16），神的呼召與救恩和成聖無關。你不是因為你成聖而被呼召去傳福音，傳福音的呼召是完全不同的；保羅將其描述為加在他身上的一種強烈衝動。
如果你忽視因而清除神在你生命中偉大超自然的呼召，請回顧一下你的處境，看看你在哪裡把自己的服事想法或你的特別能力置於神的呼召之上。保羅說：「…如果我不傳福音，我就有禍了！」他已經意識到神的呼召，他「傳福音」的衝動是如此強烈，以至於沒有任何事物可與他的力量競爭。
如果一個男人或女人蒙神呼召，無論環境多麼困難也無所謂。神為了祂最終目的而精心策划了每個力量互相效力。如果你同意神的目的，祂不僅帶領你的意識層面，還會帶領你所有你自己無法觸及更深層次的生活，達到完美和諧。
來自章伯斯的智慧
先知們的信息是：儘管他們已經離棄了神，但那並沒有改變神。使徒保羅強調同樣的真理：我們縱然失信，祂仍是可信的，因為祂不能背乎自己（見提摩太後書 2:13）。 永遠不要將神解釋為隨着我們的變化而改變；祂永遠不會；在祂身上沒有改變。《以西結書注釋》
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