1101 「你不是自己的人」
豈不知…你們不是自己的人？《哥林多前書6:19》
對於一個深知並有份於耶穌基督受苦的人來說，在這個世上沒有所謂私人生活或藏身之處。神將聖徒的私生活一分為二，一條是通往世界的道路，另一條是通往祂自己的道路。沒有人能忍受這一點，除非他認同耶穌基督。我們不是為自己而成聖，我們蒙召進入與福音的親密，發生的事情似乎與我們無關，但神要使我們與祂自己相交。讓祂照祂的方式行事，如果你拒絕，你對神在世上的救贖工作就毫無價值，你將會是個阻礙和絆腳石。
神所做的第一件事就是讓我們立足在堅固的現實和真理中。祂這樣做，直到我們對自我的個人專註都順服祂的道路，為了祂救贖的目的。我們為什麼不應該經歷破碎呢？通過這些門道，神正在打開與祂兒子相通的道路。我們大多數人在一受痛苦的衝擊就崩潰了，我們坐在神心意的門口，通過自憐而進入緩慢的死亡。所有所謂其他基督徒的同情心都幫助我們走向死亡，但神不會；祂帶着祂兒子釘痕的手而來，彷彿在說：「進入與我的相交，興起發光。」如果神可以通過一顆破碎的心來實現祂在這個世界的目的，那為什麼不為祂破碎你的心而感謝祂呢？
來自章伯斯的智慧
隨着年齡的增長，我是否變得更高尚、更好、更有幫助、更謙卑呢？我是否展現出讓人認識到與耶穌同在的生命？或者我是否變得更加自我主張，更加有意地堅持自己的方式？對自己說真話是一件很偉大的事情。《幫助之地》
1101 “You Are Not Your Own”
Do you not know that…you are not your own? —1 Corinthians 6:19
There is no such thing as a private life, or a place to hide in this world, for a man or woman who is intimately aware of and shares in the sufferings of Jesus Christ. God divides the private life of His saints and makes it a highway for the world on one hand and for Himself on the other. No human being can stand that unless he is identified with Jesus Christ. We are not sanctified for ourselves. We are called into intimacy with the gospel, and things happen that appear to have nothing to do with us. But God is getting us into fellowship with Himself. Let Him have His way. If you refuse, you will be of no value to God in His redemptive work in the world, but will be a hindrance and a stumbling block.
The first thing God does is get us grounded on strong reality and truth. He does this until our cares for ourselves individually have been brought into submission to His way for the purpose of His redemption. Why shouldn’t we experience heartbreak? Through those doorways God is opening up ways of fellowship with His Son. Most of us collapse at the first grip of pain. We sit down at the door of God’s purpose and enter a slow death through self-pity. And all the so-called Christian sympathy of others helps us to our deathbed. But God will not. He comes with the grip of the pierced hand of His Son, as if to say, “Enter into fellowship with Me; arise and shine.” If God can accomplish His purposes in this world through a broken heart, then why not thank Him for breaking yours?
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
Am I getting nobler, better, more helpful, more humble, as I get older? Am I exhibiting the life that men take knowledge of as having been with Jesus, or am I getting more self-assertive, more deliberately determined to have my own way? It is a great thing to tell yourself the truth.—The Place of Help