1220 正确的帮助
我若从地上被举起来，就要吸引万人来归我。《约翰福音12:32》
我们当中很少有人理解耶稣基督为何受死之因。如果同情是人类所需要的一切，那么基督的十字架就是荒谬的，且绝对没有必要。世界所需要的，不是「一点点的爱」，而是大手术。
当你发现自己面对一个灵性迷失的人时，提醒你自己：十字架上的耶稣基督。如果那个人能从任何其他道路到神那里，那么，基督的十字架就没有必要了。如果你认为能以你的同情和理解去帮助迷失的人，那么你就是耶稣基督的叛徒。你自己必须与神有正确的关系，并以祂的方式倾倒你生命去帮助他人——而不是以人的方式，那是忽视神的方式。当今世界宗教的主题是以一种令人愉快、非直面方式来服事。
但我们唯一优先考虑的，必须是呈现耶稣基督钉十字架——始终高举祂（见哥林多前书 2:2）。任何不牢固扎根在基督十字架的信仰，都会引人误入歧途。如果工人自己相信耶稣基督，并信靠救赎的真实性，他的话对别人就会有说服力。最重要的是，工人与耶稣基督的单纯关系要坚固且不断的增长；他对神的用处就在于此，也只取决于此。
新约工人蒙召是要暴露罪，并揭示耶稣基督是救世主。因此，他不能总是那么迷人和友好，而必须愿意严谨地完成重大手术。我们被神差派要高举耶稣基督，而不是发表精彩绝伦的讲论。我们必须愿意深入查验他人，就像神查验我们一样。我们必须敏锐地专注那些能够深刻传达真理的经文，然后毫不畏惧地应用它们。
来自章伯斯的智慧
对那些没有经历过痛苦的人，耶稣说：「我没有什么可以给你的；站稳自己的脚，挺起自己的肩膀（挺身而立）。我是为这样的人而来：知道自己所面对的远超出他能应付的，知道有他无法触碰的势力；若他放手让我来，我必为他做一切的事。只要让一个人承认他有需要，我必出手帮助他。」《痛苦的阴影》
1220 The Right Kind of Help
And I, if I am lifted up…will draw all peoples to Myself. —John 12:32
Very few of us have any understanding of the reason why Jesus Christ died. If sympathy is all that human beings need, then the Cross of Christ is an absurdity and there is absolutely no need for it. What the world needs is not “a little bit of love,” but major surgery.
When you find yourself face to face with a person who is spiritually lost, remind yourself of Jesus Christ on the cross. If that person can get to God in any other way, then the Cross of Christ is unnecessary. If you think you are helping lost people with your sympathy and understanding, you are a traitor to Jesus Christ. You must have a right-standing relationship with Him yourself, and pour your life out in helping others in His way— not in a human way that ignores God. The theme of the world’s religion today is to serve in a pleasant, non-confrontational manner.
But our only priority must be to present Jesus Christ crucified— to lift Him up all the time (see 1 Corinthians 2:2). Every belief that is not firmly rooted in the Cross of Christ will lead people astray. If the worker himself believes in Jesus Christ and is trusting in the reality of redemption, his words will be compelling to others. What is extremely important is for the worker’s simple relationship with Jesus Christ to be strong and growing. His usefulness to God depends on that, and that alone.
The calling of a New Testament worker is to expose sin and to reveal Jesus Christ as Savior. Consequently, he cannot always be charming and friendly, but must be willing to be stern to accomplish major surgery. We are sent by God to lift up Jesus Christ, not to give wonderfully beautiful speeches. We must be willing to examine others as deeply as God has examined us. We must also be sharply intent on sensing those Scripture passages that will drive the truth home, and then not be afraid to apply them.
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
To those who have had no agony Jesus says, “I have nothing for you; stand on your own feet, square your own shoulders. I have come for the man who knows he has a bigger handful than he can cope with, who knows there are forces he cannot touch; I will do everything for him if he will let Me. Only let a man grant he needs it, and I will do it for him.” —The Shadow of an Agony