我们立了志向，要得主的喜悦。（林后五9）
“立了志向（英文有劳苦作工的意思）……”把最大的愿望摆在首位需要尽心竭力。意即由年首至岁终，需要保持自己一直持守着最高的理想。这种理想，并不是热心去得人灵魂，或者建立教会、举办奋兴会，而是热衷于“得主的喜悦”。我们的失败，并非由于缺乏属灵的经历，而是没有竭力持定那理想的标竿。每一个礼拜，至少要在神面前检视一次，看看你的生命是否达到他所盼望的样子。保罗好像一个音乐家，只要获得主人的青睐，而不管听众赞赏不赞赏。
任何野心只要稍微偏差，不指向“得主喜悦”的目标，就会叫我们成为被弃绝的人。要学习分辨我们野心的方向，你就会明白为什么活在主耶稣面前是如此必要。保罗说：“我怕我的身体会领我走入歧途，因此我不断地提高警觉，攻克己身，叫身服我。”（林前九27）
我必须学习把一切所做的连接在这首要的心志上，同时保守它不间断。在公众面前我在神眼里的价值，在乎我私下里如何。我最高的心志是要讨神喜悦？还是为了次一等看来很高贵的目标？
祈祷◆噢，主啊，为着今早的经文，我感谢你——“所以你当归向你的神，谨守仁爱、公平，常常等候你的神。”愿你荣耀的同在充满这广大的营地；阻止罪恶，激发敬虔。
March 17: The Worker’s Ruling Passion
“Wherefore we labour that . . we may be accepted of Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:9
“Wherefore we labour . . . .” It is arduous work to keep the master ambition in front. It means holding one’s self to the high ideal year in and year out, not being ambitious to win souls or to establish churches or to have revivals, but being ambitious only to be “accepted of Him.” It is not lack of spiritual experience that leads to failure, but lack of labouring to keep the ideal right. Once a week at least take stock before God and see whether you are keeping your life up to the standard He wishes. Paul is like a musician who does not heed the approval of the audience if he can catch the look of approval from his Master.
Any ambition which is in the tiniest degree away from this central one of being “approved unto God” may end in our being castaways. Learn to discern where the ambition leads, and you will see why it is so necessary to live facing the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul says – “Lest my body should make me take another line, I am constantly watching so that I may bring it into subjection and keep it under.” (1 Cor. 9:27.)
I have to learn to relate everything to the master ambition, and to maintain it without any cessation. My worth to God in public is what I am in private. Is my master ambition to please Him and be acceptable to Him, or is it something less, no matter how noble?