1219 我们信息的焦点
我来并不是叫地上太平，乃是叫地上动刀兵。《马太福音10:34》
千万不要同情一个人，只因为他的处境令你认定神正在严厉对待他。神可能比我们能想象的还要温柔，而且祂偶尔会给我们机会坚决地对待某人，以至于祂就可被视为温柔的神。如果一个人不能来到神面前，那是因为他有某些秘密，他不打算放弃；他可能会承认自己的罪，但他不会放弃那事，就像他不会靠自己的力量轻松飞翔一样；要同情这样的人是不可能的。我们必须深入他们的生命，直到问题的根源，那将导致对信息的敌意和怨恨。人们想要神的祝福，但他们无法忍受命中要害的事物。
如果你对神的道路很敏感，作为祂的仆人，你的信息将是无情的、坚持的，直击问题的根本。否则，就没有医治。我们必须以极大力度传递信息，以至于人没有可能隐藏，而必须应用其中的真理。要在人们的实况下与他们打交道，直到他们开始意识到他们真正的需要。然后高高持守耶稣对他们生活的标准。他们的反应可能是：「我们永远不可能做到。」然后要强有力以「耶稣基督说你必须」来增加力度。「但我们怎么能做到呢？」「你不能，除非你有一个新的灵。」（见路加福音 11:13）。
在你的信息有任何用处之前，必须先创造出一种需要感。这个世界成千上万的人没有神也声称快乐，但如果没有耶稣我们也能真正快乐和有道德，那么祂为什么要来呢？祂来，是因为那种快乐和平安只是表面的。耶稣基督来，是要「动刀兵…」，刺透每一种不是建立在与他自己有个人关系上的平安。
来自章伯斯的智慧
眼见不等于相信；我们根据我们所信的来解释我们所看见的。信仰是在你看到神出现之前对神的信任；因此，信仰的本质是它必须经受考验。《他必荣耀我》
1219 The Focus Of Our Message
I did not come to bring peace but a sword. —Matthew 10:34
Never be sympathetic with a person whose situation causes you to conclude that God is dealing harshly with him. God can be more tender than we can conceive, and every once in a while, He gives us the opportunity to deal firmly with someone so that He may be viewed as the tender One. If a person cannot go to God, it is because he has something secret which he does not intend to give up— he may admit his sin, but would no more give up that thing than he could fly under his own power. It is impossible to deal sympathetically with people like that. We must reach down deep in their lives to the root of the problem, which will cause hostility and resentment toward the message. People want the blessing of God, but they can’t stand something that pierces right through to the heart of the matter.
If you are sensitive to God’s way, your message as His servant will be merciless and insistent, cutting to the very root. Otherwise, there will be no healing. We must drive the message home so forcefully that a person cannot possibly hide, but must apply its truth. Deal with people where they are, until they begin to realize their true need. Then hold high the standard of Jesus for their lives. Their response may be, “We can never be that.” Then drive it home with, “Jesus Christ says you must.” “But how can we be?” “You can’t, unless you have a new Spirit” (see Luke 11:13).
There must be a sense of need created before your message is of any use. Thousands of people in this world profess to be happy without God. But if we could be truly happy and moral without Jesus, then why did He come? He came because that kind of happiness and peace is only superficial. Jesus Christ came to “bring…a sword” through every kind of peace that is not based on a personal relationship with Himself.
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
Seeing is never believing: we interpret what we see in the light of what we believe. Faith is confidence in God before you see God emerging; therefore the nature of faith is that it must be tried. He Shall Glorify Me, 494 R