January 23
Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world. — Philippians 2:14–15
Scripture reading: James 1:16–27
I see many remarkable things in the life of Stephen. One thing moves me, and that is the truth that I must live by the power of the Spirit at all costs. God wants us to be like Stephen: “full of faith and the Holy Spirit” (Acts 6:5). You can never be the same again after you have received this wonderful baptism in the Holy Spirit. It is important that we should be full of wisdom and faith day by day and full of the Holy Spirit, acting by the power of the Holy Spirit. God has set us here in the last days, these days of apostasy, and wants us to be burning and shining lights in the midst of an indecent generation. God is longing for us to come into such a fruitful position as the children of God, with the marks of heaven upon us and with His divinity bursting through our humanity, that He can express Himself through our lips of clay. He can take clay lips and weak humanity and make an oracle for Himself of such things. He can take frail human nature and by His divine power make our bodies suitable to be His holy temple, washing our hearts whiter than snow.
Our Lord Jesus says, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). He longs that we would be filled with faith and with the Holy Spirit, and He declares to us, “He who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father” (John 14:12). He has gone to the Father. He is in the place of power, and He exercises His power not only in heaven but also on earth, for He has all power on earth as well as in heaven. Hallelujah! What an open door to us if we will only believe Him!
The disciples were men after our standard as far as the flesh goes. God sent them forth, joined to the Lord and identified with Him. How diverse Peter, John, and Thomas were! Impulsive Peter was always ready to go forth without a stop. John, the beloved, leaned on the Master‘s breast (John 21:20). Thomas had a hard nature and defiant spirit: “Unless I…put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe” (John 20:25). What strange flesh! How peculiar they were! But the Master could mold them. There was no touch like His.
Under His touch, even stony-hearted Thomas believed. Oh, my God, how You have had to manage some of us! Have we not been strange and very peculiar? But when God‘s hand comes upon us, He can speak to us in such a way; He can give us a word or a look, and we are broken. Has He spoken to you? I thank God for His speaking. Behind all of His dealings, we see the love of God for us. He sees our bitter tears and our weeping night after night. There is none like Him. He knows; He forgives. We cannot forgive ourselves; we oftentimes would give the world to forget, but we cannot. The Devil won‘t let us forget. But God has forgiven and forgotten. Do you believe self or the Devil or God? Which are you going to believe? Believe God. I know the past is under the blood of Christ and that God has forgiven and forgotten, for when He forgives, He forgets. Praise the Lord! Hallelujah! We are baptized to believe and to receive.
Thought for today: It is not what we are that counts, but what we can be as He disciplines, chastens, and transforms us by His all skillful hands.
大师之手
1月23日
凡事都不要抱怨，也不要争辩，使你们无可指摘，纯洁无瑕，在这弯曲悖谬的世代中作神的儿女，你们在其中要像灯光照耀世界。——腓立比书 2:14–15
经文阅读：雅各书 1:16–27
我在斯蒂芬的生命中看到了许多非凡的事。有一件事感动了我，那就是我必须以圣灵的能力生活，不惜一切代价。上帝希望我们像斯蒂芬一样：“充满信心和圣灵”（使徒行传6:5）。在你接受了这奇妙的圣灵洗礼之后，你再也无法保持以前的样子。重要的是，我们每天都应该充满智慧和信心，充满圣灵，凭圣灵的能力行事。上帝在末世，就是这背道的日子里，把我们安置在这里，并希望我们在这败坏的一代中成为燃烧并发光的灯。上帝渴望我们进入那样丰盛的地位，成为神的儿女，身上带有天国的印记，并让祂的神性突破我们的人性，通过我们这泥土的嘴唇表达祂自己。祂能取泥土的嘴唇和软弱的人性，将其变为自己的神谕。祂能取脆弱的人性，并凭祂的神力，使我们的身体适合作为祂的圣殿，将我们的心洗得比雪还白。
我们的主耶稣说：“天上地下所有的权柄都赐给我了”（马太福音 28:18）。他渴望我们被信心和圣灵充满，他向我们宣告：“信我的人所做的事，他也要做，并且要做比这更大的事，因为我往父那里去！”（约翰福音 14:12）。他已经往父那里去了。他在权力的宝座上，他在天上施展权能，也在地上行使权能，因为他在地上与在天上一样拥有一切权力。哈利路亚！如果我们只要信他，这对我们而言是何等宽广的门啊！
在肉体方面，门徒是按我们的标准来看的人。上帝差遣他们出去，与主联合并与祂认同。彼得、约翰和多马是多么不同啊！冲动的彼得总是随时准备行动而不加停留。那蒙爱的约翰靠在主的胸膛上（约翰福音 21:20）。多马性格刚硬，心志逆反：“除非我…把手指放入钉痕里，把手放入祂的肋旁，我绝不信” （约翰福音 20:25）。多么奇异的肉体啊！他们是多么特殊啊！但主能够塑造他们。没有触摸能比得上祂的触摸。
即使是冷酷无情的托马斯也相信，在祂的触碰下。天哪，你真是得管教我们中的一些人！我们难道不是很奇怪、很奇怪吗？但当神的手降临在我们身上时，祂能这样对我们说话;他只要给我们一个话或一个眼神，我们就崩溃了。祂曾与你说话吗？我感谢上帝赐予祂的言语。在祂所有的作为背后，我们看到神对我们的爱。他夜复一夜地看到我们苦涩的泪水和哭泣。没有人能像他那样。他知道;他原谅了。我们无法原谅自己;我们常常愿意把整个世界都交给遗忘，但我们做不到。魔鬼不会让我们忘记。但上帝已经宽恕并遗忘了。你相信自己、魔鬼还是上帝？你会相信哪一个？相信上帝。我知道过去是在基督的宝血下，上帝已经宽恕并遗忘了，因为当祂宽恕时，他就是遗忘。赞美主！哈利路亚！我们受洗是为了信而受。
今日思考：重要的不是我们是什么，而是我们在祂用全能巧手管教、责罚和改变我们时能够成为什么。
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