1219 我們信息的焦點
我來並不是叫地上太平，乃是叫地上動刀兵。《馬太福音10:34》
千萬不要同情一個人，只因為他的處境令你認定神正在嚴厲對待他。神可能比我們能想象的還要溫柔，而且祂偶爾會給我們機會堅決地對待某人，以至於祂就可被視為溫柔的神。如果一個人不能來到神面前，那是因為他有某些秘密，他不打算放棄；他可能會承認自己的罪，但他不會放棄那事，就像他不會靠自己的力量輕鬆飛翔一樣；要同情這樣的人是不可能的。我們必須深入他們的生命，直到問題的根源，那將導致對信息的敵意和怨恨。人們想要神的祝福，但他們無法忍受命中要害的事物。
如果你對神的道路很敏感，作為祂的僕人，你的信息將是無情的、堅持的，直擊問題的根本。否則，就沒有醫治。我們必須以極大力度傳遞信息，以至於人沒有可能隱藏，而必須應用其中的真理。要在人們的實況下與他們打交道，直到他們開始意識到他們真正的需要。然後高高持守耶穌對他們生活的標準。他們的反應可能是：「我們永遠不可能做到。」然後要強有力以「耶穌基督說你必須」來增加力度。「但我們怎麼能做到呢？」「你不能，除非你有一個新的靈。」（見路加福音 11:13）。
在你的信息有任何用處之前，必須先創造出一種需要感。這個世界成千上萬的人沒有神也聲稱快樂，但如果沒有耶穌我們也能真正快樂和有道德，那麼祂為什麼要來呢？祂來，是因為那種快樂和平安只是表面的。耶穌基督來，是要「動刀兵…」，刺透每一種不是建立在與他自己有個人關係上的平安。
來自章伯斯的智慧
眼見不等於相信；我們根據我們所信的來解釋我們所看見的。信仰是在你看到神出現之前對神的信任；因此，信仰的本質是它必須經受考驗。《他必榮耀我》
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