但忍耐也当成功,使你们成全完备,毫无缺欠。(雅一4)
大部分人在生活上大体没有问题,可是在某些事上却很马虎。这不是罪的问题,而是属肉体的生命,叫我们马虎。得过且过是对圣灵的一种侮辱。我们不应在任何事上懒散马虎,不管是饮食,或是敬拜神。
我们与神不仅要有良好的关系,而这关系的外在表现也要正确。神不会容许任何事逃过他,每一细节他都鉴察。他会用无数的方法,把我们一次又一次地带到同一问题上。他会不厌其烦地重复又重复地,直到我们学好了那功课,因为他是要成全完备的产品。也许是冲动,也许是心不在焉,又或许是惟我独尊的个人主义,他会一而再、再而三、恒切忍耐地带我们回到同一的功课上。神总要我们觉醒,知道这件事不妥当。
对神救赎的启示,我们有美好的学习,对他我们是全心全意的;他在我们身上作成的奇妙大工,叫我们知道在大体上与他的关系是正常的;但如今圣灵却藉雅各说:“忍耐也当成功(让你们的忍耐成为一件制成品——英译)”当心苟且马虎的态度——“不管它,暂且算了吧。”不论是什么,神一定会坚持地指出,直至我们完全。
祈祷◆噢,主啊,愿你的脸光临到我们,让你伟大而荣耀的声音和同在,覆遍这地。
July 31 Till You Are Entirely His
“Let your endurance be a finished product, so that you may be finished and complete, with never a defect.” James 1:4 (MOFFATT)
Many of us are all right in the main, but there are some domains in which we are slovenly. It is not a question of sin, but of the remnants of the carnal life which are apt to make us slovenly. Slovenliness is an insult to the Holy Ghost. There should be nothing slovenly, whether it be in the way we eat and drink, or in the way we worship God.
Not only must our relationship to God be right, but the external expression of that relationship must be right. Ultimately God will let nothing escape, every detail is under His scrutiny. In numberless ways God will bring us back to the same point over and over again. He never tires of bringing us to the one point until we learn the lesson, because He is producing the finished product. It may be a question of impulse, and again and again, with the most persistent patience, God has brought us back to the one particular point; or it may be mental wool-gathering, or independent individuality. God is trying to impress upon us the one thing that is not entirely right.
We have been having a wonderful time this Session over the revelation of God's Redemption, our hearts are perfect towards Him; His wonderful work in us makes us know that in the main we are right with Him. “Now,” says the Spirit, through St. James, “let your endurance be a finished product.” Watch the slipshod bits – “Oh, that will have to do for now.” Whatever it is, God will point it out with persistence until we are entirely His.