我是不得已的,若不传福音,我就有祸了。(林前九16)
我们很容易忘记神那神秘超自然的触摸。你若能清楚说明在哪里得到神怎样的呼召,我就怀疑你是否真有神的呼召。神的呼召不是这样来的,它比这更超自然。一个人在一生中对这呼召的意识,可能是像霹雳雷响般骤至,也可以像黎明般逐渐破晓。但无论它怎样来,总随着超自然的暗涌而来,不能以言辞来说明,而且总带着火光。这无法测度、超然、叫人惊愕、抓住你整个生命的呼召,随时都会突然临到--“我拣选了你。”神的呼召与得救成圣没有关系。不是因为你成圣了,所以召你去传福音;传福音的呼召与此全然不同,保罗形容这是一件不得已的必然任务。
若你阻挡了神在你生命中超然的呼召,试察看一下,看看你哪一方面没有把神放在首位,只以自己事奉的见解,或性格的专长为首。保罗说:“若不传福音,我就有祸了。”他既已意识到神的呼召,就专为此努力,心无旁骛。
无论是谁被神呼召,环境怎样不利都没关系,万事都要互相效力至终指向神的目的。你若顺服神的计划,他不但把你意识可及的生命,就是生命中你无法探测的深邃,都调协和谐起来。
祈祷◆愿今天充满了神的能力、声音和平安。我何其渴望在一切事物中认知到你那宽大的心!愿你保守我里面那种被呼召的感觉,历久弥新和充满活力。
September 29: The Consciousness Of The Call
“For necessity is laid upon me: yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” 1 Corinthians 9:16
We are apt to forget the mystical, supernatural touch of God. If you can tell where you got the call of God and all about it, I question whether you have ever had a call. The call of God does not come like that, it is much more supernatural. The realization of it in a man’s life may come with a sudden thunder-clap or with a gradual dawning, but in whatever way it comes, it comes with the undercurrent of the supernatural, something that cannot be put into words, it is always accompanied with a glow. At any moment there may break the sudden consciousness of this incalculable, supernatural, surprising call that has taken hold of your life – “I have chosen you.” The call of God has nothing to do with salvation and sanctification. It is not because you are sanctified that you are therefore called to preach the gospel; the call to preach the gospel is infinitely different. Paul describes it as a necessity laid upon him.
If you have been obliterating the great supernatural call of God in your life, take a review of your circumstances and see where God has not been first, but your ideas of service, or your temperamental abilities. Paul said – “Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” He had realized the call of God, and there was no competitor for his strength.
If a man or woman is called of God, it does not matter how untoward circumstances are, every force that has been at work will tell for God’s purpose in the end. If you agree with God’s purpose He will bring not only your conscious life, but all the deeper regions of your life which you cannot get at, into harmony.