1220 正確的幫助
我若從地上被舉起來，就要吸引萬人來歸我。《約翰福音12:32》
我們當中很少有人理解耶穌基督為何受死之因。如果同情是人類所需要的一切，那麼基督的十字架就是荒謬的，且絕對沒有必要。世界所需要的，不是「一點點的愛」，而是大手術。
當你發現自己面對一個靈性迷失的人時，提醒你自己：十字架上的耶穌基督。如果那個人能從任何其他道路到神那裡，那麼，基督的十字架就沒有必要了。如果你認為能以你的同情和理解去幫助迷失的人，那麼你就是耶穌基督的叛徒。你自己必須與神有正確的關係，並以祂的方式傾倒你生命去幫助他人——而不是以人的方式，那是忽視神的方式。當今世界宗教的主題是以一種令人愉快、非直面方式來服事。
但我們唯一優先考慮的，必須是呈現耶穌基督釘十字架——始終高舉祂（見哥林多前書 2:2）。任何不牢固紮根在基督十字架的信仰，都會引人誤入歧途。如果工人自己相信耶穌基督，並信靠救贖的真實性，他的話對別人就會有說服力。最重要的是，工人與耶穌基督的單純關係要堅固且不斷的增長；他對神的用處就在於此，也只取決於此。
新約工人蒙召是要暴露罪，並揭示耶穌基督是救世主。因此，他不能總是那麼迷人和友好，而必須願意嚴謹地完成重大手術。我們被神差派要高舉耶穌基督，而不是發表精彩絕倫的講論。我們必須願意深入查驗他人，就像神查驗我們一樣。我們必須敏銳地專註那些能夠深刻傳達真理的經文，然後毫不畏懼地應用它們。
來自章伯斯的智慧
對那些沒有經歷過痛苦的人，耶穌說：「我沒有什麼可以給你的；站穩自己的腳，挺起自己的肩膀（挺身而立）。我是為這樣的人而來：知道自己所面對的遠超出他能應付的，知道有他無法觸碰的勢力；若他放手讓我來，我必為他做一切的事。只要讓一個人承認他有需要，我必出手幫助他。」《痛苦的陰影》
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