敬畏神,得以成圣。(林后七1)
“我们既有这等应许。”宣告神的应许原是对的,不过只是人的方面;在神的方面来说,透过这些应许,我也要承认神的主权。比方,我把身体看为是圣灵的殿呢,还是让我的一个习惯继续在我身上,使我不能反照神的光?藉着成圣称义,神的儿子在我身上成形,因此我必须借着顺服他,叫我天然的生命改变成为属灵的生命。
神的教导,是一丝不苟的;他查究你的时候,不要与血肉之人商议,而要立即自洁。在每日的生活行事上,保守自己圣洁无污。
我要除掉肉体及心灵中一切的污秽,使与神的性情一致。我心里的意念与神儿子在我里头的生命,是否吻合?还是说我心志上不顺服?我是否在心里形成基督的意念,如同耶稣从不声称自己的权利却内心常常警醒且顺服天父?我有责任持守与主的灵合一,耶稣就会逐渐把我抬举,到他当日的光景里去——完全贴合父神的旨意,至于其他的事就一概不理。我有没有敬畏神,追求这一种圣洁,且力臻完善?神在我身上能实行其愿吗?其他人能从我身上愈来愈多看见神吗?
对神认真,其他的一切则欢快地抛下。要切切实实地把神放在首位。
祈祷◆“我是那样愚顽和无知:我在你面前好像畜类。”噢,主啊,这句话将我在你面前的光景表达出来。当我从那纯洁、神圣的神的形象,查看我们的主的要求时,我为着本身的愚顽、如畜类的思想,深感羞愧。
March 18 Shall I Rouse Myself Up To This?
“Perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1
“Having therefore these promises.” I claim the fulfilment of God’s promises, and rightly, but that is only the human side; the Divine side is that through the promises I recognize God’s claim on me. For instance, am I realizing that my body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, or have I a habit of body that plainly will not bear the light of God on it? By sanctification the Son of God is formed in me, then I have to transform my natural life into a spiritual life by obedience to Him. God educates us down to the scruple. When He begins to check, do not confer with flesh and blood, cleanse yourself at once. Keep yourself cleansed in your daily walk.
I have to cleanse myself from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit until both are in accord with the nature of God. Is the mind of my spirit in perfect agreement with the life of the Son of God in me, or am I insubordinate in intellect? Am I forming the mind of Christ, Who never spoke from His right to Himself, but maintained an inner watchfulness whereby He continually submitted His spirit to His Father? I have the responsibility of keeping my spirit in agreement with His Spirit, and by degrees Jesus lifts me up to where He lived – in perfect consecration to His Father’s will, paying no attention to any other thing. Am I perfecting this type of holiness in the fear of God? Is God getting His way with me, and are other people beginning to see God in my life more and more?
Be serious with God and leave the rest gaily alone. Put God first literally.