4月29日

章伯斯原著 | 听见录制 | 主播:胡正军


将来如何,还未显明。(约一3:2)

我们本性喜欢一五一十地计算得清清楚楚,于是视未确定的事为坏事。我们总爱假设一个可达的目标;其实,属灵生命的本质不是这样的。


属灵生命的本质是在未确定的时候便心里坚定;因此,我们不必到处筑巢,安身立命。理智会说:“唔,假如我在那情况之下……” 但我们根本不能置身于自己尚未经历过的情况。


安稳不移是属世生活的表记,而在游移不定中靠主恩安详,是属灵生命的标志。对神确信,就意味着我们在生活各方面并不安定,因为我们不晓得一天将会发生什么事。


这句话一般都是存着愁叹来说;其实,这应该是一句满有希望的说话才对。我们虽不知下一步如何,但我们对神确信。那只要将自己一切交给神,并尽上本分,神就会使我们每时每刻充满惊喜。


可是,我们若只高举一些教条,死就进来了;我们不是相信神,而是相信我们对神的信念而已。耶稣说:“你们若不……变成小孩子的样式……。” 


属灵生命是赤子的生命。我们对神并非不肯定,乃是不肯定祂下一步怎样做。若我们只对信仰肯定,就是把自己抬高,变得严厉自尊,只对自己的见解下结论;但我们若与神有正常的关系,生命就充满了自然的、欢乐的期望,因为对未来的事并没有把握。


耶稣说:“你们也当信我。” 祂不是说:“你们要信某些关于我的事。” 完全交托祂吧!祂怎样行是荣耀的未知数,虽然不知道祂何时临到,但祂必然会临到。持守对祂的忠贞吧。

祈祷


主啊,为着过去的那段时间,我敬拜祢。祢让我看见那许多的人,荣耀地与祢进入正常的关系!那是多么奇妙,使我难有足够的言词去赞美祢。

图片来源:网络

Gracious Uncertainty


…it has not yet been revealed what we shall be… —1 John 3:2


Our natural inclination is to be so precise– trying always to forecast accurately what will happen next– that we look upon uncertainty as a bad thing. We think that we must reach some predetermined goal, but that is not the nature of the spiritual life. The nature of the spiritual life is that we are certain in our uncertainty. Consequently, we do not put down roots. Our common sense says, “Well, what if I were in that circumstance?” We cannot presume to see ourselves in any circumstance in which we have never been.


Certainty is the mark of the commonsense life– gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life. To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, not knowing what tomorrow may bring. This is generally expressed with a sigh of sadness, but it should be an expression of breathless expectation. We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God. As soon as we abandon ourselves to God and do the task He has placed closest to us, He begins to fill our lives with surprises. When we become simply a promoter or a defender of a particular belief, something within us dies. That is not believing God– it is only believing our belief about Him. Jesus said, “…unless you…become as little children…” (Matthew 18:3). The spiritual life is the life of a child. We are not uncertain of God, just uncertain of what He is going to do next. If our certainty is only in our beliefs, we develop a sense of self-righteousness, become overly critical, and are limited by the view that our beliefs are complete and settled. But when we have the right relationship with God, life is full of spontaneous, joyful uncertainty and expectancy. Jesus said, “…believe also in Me” (John 14:1), not, “Believe certain things about Me”. 


Leave everything to Him and it will be gloriously and graciously uncertain how He will come in– but you can be certain that He will come. Remain faithful to Him.