1月30日 顺服的难关

撒母耳……不敢将默示告诉以利。(撒上三15)

神从来不用惊天动地的方式对我们说话,他说话的方式,往往容易被我们误解。我们会说:“不知这到底是不是神的声音?”以赛亚说神的手在他身上沉重(对他说话),也就是说,神用环境的压力。任何发生在我们身上的事,都是神在说话。我们有没有辨认出他的手,还是只当作偶发的事件?

能养成“主啊,请说”的习惯,这样生命就变得多姿多彩。每一次说:“主啊,请说。”要拨出时间来静听!管教不单只为了操练,也是为了要把我带到一个地步,使我能说:“主啊,请说。”请你追忆一下神对你说过的话,你还记得他说过什么吗?是路加福音十一章13节,还是帖撒罗尼迦前书五章23节?我们多听,耳朵就开通,像耶稣随时都听见神的声音。

我应该把神给我的指示,告诉我的“以利”吗?这样就来到顺服的难关了。我们若以神明自居,说我必须保护“以利”,因他是我熟悉的人中最善良的。这样,我就是违背神了。神没有叫撒母耳去告诉以利,他要自作决定。神对你的呼召可能伤害你的“以利”;但是你若设法护卫另一个人,使其不受伤害,这样你心灵与神之间便有了阻隔。你不肯砍下右手,剜出眼睛,只会自取其咎,招来毁灭。

神要你在他面前决定的事,不要咨询别人的意见。你听取人的意见,就不期然的袒护撒旦了。“我没有与属血气的人商量。”这是保罗的态度。

祈祷◆噢,主啊,愿你成为怀中摇签的定夺者,以致我们为着你所成就的事充满欢笑。

January 30 The Dilemma Of Obedience

“And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision.” 1 Samuel 3:15

God never speaks to us in startling ways, but in ways that are easy to misunderstand, and we say, “I wonder if that is God's voice?” Isaiah said that the Lord spake to him “with a strong hand,” that is, by the pressure of circumstances. Nothing touches our lives but it is God Himself speaking. Do we discern His hand or only mere occurrence?

Get into the habit of saying, “Speak, Lord,” and life will become a romance. Every time circumstances press, say, “Speak, Lord”; make time to listen. Chastening is more than a means of discipline, it is meant to get me to the place of saying, “Speak, Lord.” Recall the time when God did speak to you. Have you forgotten what He said? Was it Luke 11:13, or was it 1 Thess. 5:23? As we listen, our ear gets acute, and, like Jesus, we shall hear God all the time.

Shall I tell my “Eli” what God has shown to me? That is where the dilemma of obedience comes in. We disobey God by becoming amateur providences – I must shield “Eli”, the best people we know. God did not tell Samuel to tell Eli; he had to decide that for himself. God's call to you may hurt your “Eli”; but if you try to prevent the suffering in another life, it will prove an obstruction between your soul and God. It is at your own peril that you prevent the cutting off of the right hand or the plucking out of the eye.

Never ask the advice of another about anything God makes you decide before Him. If you ask advice, you will nearly always side with Satan. “Immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood.”