A Living Epistle

January 31

You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; clearly you are an epistle of Christ. — 2 Corinthians 3:2–3

Scripture reading: Matthew 8:14–27

Every believer should be a living epistle of the Word, one who is read and known by all. Your very presence should bring such a witness of the Spirit that everyone with whom you come in contact will know that you are a sent one, a light in the world, a manifestation of Christ, a biblical Christian. Jesus‘ disciples had to learn that whatever He said must come to pass. Jesus said—very slowly and thoughtfully, I believe—the following:

Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters. Then you shall say to the master of the house, “The Teacher says to you, ‘Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?’” (Luke 22:10–11)

Beloved, let me say this, there was no person in Palestine who had ever seen a man bearing a pitcher of water. It is an unknown thing. Therefore, we find Jesus beginning with a prophecy that brought that inward knowledge to them that what He said must come to pass. This is the secret of the Master‘s life: prophecy that never failed. There is no power that can change the Word of God. Jesus was working out this great thought in the hearts of His disciples so that they might know that what He said would come to pass. After Jesus had given that wonderful command to Peter and John, those disciples were walking into the city, no doubt in deep meditation, when suddenly they cried out in amazement, “Look! There he is! Just as the Master has said.”

When I was in Jerusalem, I was preaching on Mount Olivet, and as I looked down to my right I saw where the two ways met, where the donkey was tied. I could see the Dead Sea, and while I was preaching, I saw at least 150 women going down with pitchers and then carrying them back on their heads, full of water. But I did not see one man. However, Jesus said that it had to be a man, and so it was, for no one could change His word.

Some have said to me that He had it all arranged for a man to carry a pitcher of water. I want to tell you that God does not have to arrange with mortals to carry out His plans. God has the power to hear the cry of some poor needy child of His who may be suffering in England, Africa, China, or anywhere else, saying, “O God, You know my need.” And in New York, Germany, California, or some other place, there is a disciple of His on his knees, and the Lord will say to him, “Send help to that brother or sister, and do not delay.” And the help comes. He did not need to arrange for a man to help Him out by carrying a pitcher of water. He works according to His Word, and Jesus said a man would carry water.

What did those disciples do as they saw the man? Did they go forward to meet him? No, they waited for the man, and when he came up, they probably walked alongside of him without a word until he was about to enter the house. Then I can hear one saying to him, “Please, sir, the Master wants the guest chamber!” “The guest chamber? Why, I was preparing it all day yesterday but did not know whom it was for.” With man things are impossible, but God is the unfolder of the mysteries of life and holds the universe in the hollow of His hand. What we need to know now is that “the LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty” (Zephaniah 3:17 KJV), and
He works according to His Word.

Thought for today: We need a faith that leaps into the will of God and says, “Amen!”

活生生的书信

1月31日

你们是我们心里所写的信，被众人所知道、所认读；清楚地说，你们是基督的信。——哥林多后书 3:2–3

圣经阅读：马太福音 8:14–27

每一个信徒都应该成为活的书信，是人人都能读懂和认识的那种人。你的存在本身就应该带来圣灵的见证，使你接触的每一个人都能知道你是被差遣的，是世界的光，是基督的显现，是圣经上的基督徒。耶稣的门徒必须学习，无论祂说什么，必将成就。我相信，耶稣非常缓慢而深思熟虑地说了以下的话：

看哪，你们进了城，就必有人拿着水罐迎接你们，你们要跟从他进入他所进入的屋子；然后你们要对那屋子的主人说：‘夫子说：我在哪里预备吃逾越节与我的门徒呢？’（路加福音 22:10-11）

亲爱的，让我这么说，在巴勒斯坦，没有人曾经见过一个人提着水壶行走。这是一个未知的事。因此，我们发现耶稣从一个预言开始，这预言将那内在的知识带给他们，让他们知道他所说的必定会成就。这是大师生命的秘密：永不失败的预言。没有任何力量可以改变上帝的话语。耶稣正在弟子们心中实现这个伟大的思想，使他们知道他所说的定将成就。当耶稣将那奇妙的命令交给彼得和约翰后，那些门徒正走进城里，毫无疑问地在深深沉思中，突然他们惊奇地喊道：“看！他在那儿！正如大师所说。”

当我在耶路撒冷时，我正在橄榄山讲道，当我向右下方望去时，我看到了两条路交汇的地方，那裡驴子被拴着。我可以看到死海，而当我讲道时，我看到至少有150个妇女提着水罐下去，然后把装满水的罐子顶在头上带回来。但我没有看到一个男人。然而，耶稣说必须是一个男人，事实也是如此，因为没有人能改变祂的话。有些人对我说，祂早就安排好由一个男人来提水罐。我想告诉你，上帝不需要与凡人安排以实现祂的计划。上帝有能力听到祂那或许正在英格兰、非洲、中国或其他任何地方受苦的可怜需要祂的孩子的呼求，说：“上帝啊，祢知道我的需要。”而在纽约、德国、加利福尼亚或其他地方，祂有一个门徒跪下祷告，主会对他说：“去帮助那位弟兄或姐妹，不要拖延。”然后帮助就来了。祂不需要安排一个男人通过提水罐来帮助祂。祂按照祂的话语工作，耶稣说过会有一个男人来提水。

那些门徒看到那个人时做了什么？他们上前去迎接他了吗？没有，他们等着那个人，当他走近时，他们可能默默地与他并肩而行，直到他准备进屋。然后我能听见有人对他说：“请，先生，主人想要客房！”“客房？为什么，我昨天整天都在准备，但不知道这是为谁准备的。”在人看来事情是不可能的，但神是生命奥秘的显现者，掌管宇宙在他手掌之中。我们现在需要知道的是，“耶和华你的神在你中间，是大能者”（西番雅书 3:17 KJV），并且他按照他的话语工作。

今日思考：我们需要一种信心，能够跳入上帝的旨意中，并说：“阿门！”