Author: Billy Conrad

February 17

I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men. — Acts 24:16

Scripture reading: 1 Corinthians 2

One thing that can hinder our faith is a conscience that is seared. In contrast, there is a conscience that is so open to the presence of God that the smallest thing in the world will drive it to God. When we can come into the presence of God with clear consciences and genuine faith, our hearts not condemning us, then we have confidence toward God (1 John 3:21), “and whatever we ask we receive from Him” (v. 22).

Sugarcoating won‘t do. We must have reality, the real working of our God. We must know God. We must be able to go in and converse with God. We must also know the mind of God toward us, so that all our petitions are always in line with His will.

As this “like precious faith” (2 Peter 1:1) becomes a part of you, it will make you so that you will dare to do anything. And remember, God wants daring followers: people who will risk all, who will be strong in Him and willing to do exploits. How will we reach this place of faith? Give up your own mind. Let go of your own thoughts, and take the thoughts of God, the Word of God. If you build yourself on imaginations, you will go wrong. You have the Word of God, and it is enough.

A man gave this remarkable testimony concerning the Word: “Never compare this Book with other books. Comparisons are dangerous. Never think or say that this Book contains the Word of God. It is the Word of God. It is supernatural in origin, eternal in duration, inexpressible in value, infinite in scope, regenerative in power, infallible in authority, universal in interest, personal in application, inspired in totality. Read it through. Write it down. Pray it in. Work it out. Then pass it on.”

Thought for today: We need a conscience that does not allow one thing to come into and stay in our lives to break up our fellowship with God and shatter our faith in Him.

2月17日

我自己常常努力保持一颗向神和人无愧的良心。——使徒行传 24:16

经文阅读：哥林多前书 2章

有一件事可能会阻碍我们的信心，那就是麻木的良心。相反，也有一种良心对上帝的存在如此开放，以至于世界上最微小的事物都能引导它走向上帝。当我们能够以清洁的良心和真实的信心来到上帝面前时，我们的心不责备我们，那么我们就可以向上帝充满信心（约翰一书 3:21），“无论我们向他求什么，都必从他得着”（22节）。

粉饰是行不通的。我们必须面对现实，了解我们神的真正作为。我们必须认识神。我们必须能够亲近神，与神对话。我们还必须了解神对我们的心意，这样我们所有的祈求才能始终与祂的旨意一致。

当这种“宝贵的信心”（彼得后书 1:1）成为你的一部分时，它会让你勇于做任何事情。记住，上帝希望有勇敢的追随者：愿意冒一切风险、在祂里面坚定并愿意行大事的人。我们如何才能达到这种信心的境地呢？放弃自己的想法。舍弃你自己的思绪，接受上帝的思想，上帝的话语。如果你建基于幻想上，你就会走错路。你拥有上帝的话语，这就足够了。

一位男士就圣言作了如下非凡的见证：‘永远不要将这本书与其他书籍比较。比较是危险的。永远不要认为或说这本书“包含”神的话语。它就是神的话语。它具有超自然的起源，永恒的持续，无法言喻的价值，无限的广度，再生的力量，绝对可靠的权威，普遍的关切，个人的应用，整体的启示。通读它。记下来。以祷告接受它。实践它。然后传递下去。’

今日思考：我们需要一个良知，不允许任何事物进入并停留在我们的生活中，从而破坏我们与上帝的交往，并动摇我们对祂的信仰。

February 16

To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. — 2 Peter 1:1–2

Scripture reading: 2 Peter 1:1–11

We are often so dull of comprehension because we let the cares of this world blind our eyes, but if we can be open to God, we will see that He has a greater plan for us in the future than we have ever seen or dreamed of in the past. It is God‘s delight to make possible to us what seems impossible, and when we reach a place where He alone has the right-of-way, then all the things that have been obscured and misunderstood are clarified.

This “like precious faith” that Peter was writing about is a gift that God is willing to give to all of us, and I believe God wants us to receive it so that we may subdue kingdoms, work righteousness, and, if need be, stop the mouths of lions (Hebrews 11:33). We should be able to triumph under all circumstances, not because we have confidence in ourselves, but because our confidence is only in God. It is always those people who are full of faith who have a good report, who never murmur, who are in the place of victory, who are not in the place of human order but of divine order, since God has come to dwell in them.

The Lord Jesus is the Divine Author and brings into our minds the “Thus says the Lord” every time. We cannot have anything in our lives, except when we have a “Thus says the Lord” for it. We must see to it that the Word of God is always the standard of everything.

This “like precious faith” is for us all, but there may be some hindrances in your life that God will have to deal with. At one point in my life, it seemed as if I had had so much pressure come into my life that I would break like a potter‘s vessel. There is no other way into the deep things of God except through a broken spirit (Psalm 51:17). There is no other way into the power of God. God will do for us exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20) when He can bring us to the place where we can say with Paul, “I live no longer” (see Galatians 2:20), and Another, even Christ, has taken the reins and the rule.

We are no better than our faith. He who believes that Jesus is the Son of God overcomes the world (1 John 5:5). How? This Jesus, upon whom your faith is placed—the power of His name, His personality, His life, His righteousness—is made yours through faith. As you believe in Him and set your hope only on Him, you are purified even as He is pure. You are strengthened because He in whom you trust is strong. You are made whole because He who is all your confidence is whole. You may receive of His fullness, all the untold fullness of Christ, as your faith rests wholly in Him.

I understand God by His Word. I cannot understand God by impressions or feelings. I cannot get to know God by sentiments. If I am going to know God, I am going to know Him by His Word. I know I will be in heaven, but I cannot determine from my feelings that I am going to heaven. I am going to heaven because God‘s Word says it, and I believe God‘s Word. And “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).

Thought for today: Whatever your estimation is of your ability, or your righteousness, you are no better than your faith.

2月16日

写给那些凭着我们神和救主耶稣基督的义，与我们同得宝贵信心的人：愿你们在认识上帝和我们的主耶稣的知识中，恩惠、平安多多加给你们。——彼得后书 1:1-2

经文阅读：彼得后书 1:1–11

我们常常理解力迟钝，因为我们让世俗的烦恼蒙蔽了双眼，但如果我们能向上帝敞开心扉，就会看到他对我们的未来有比我们过去所见或梦想的更宏伟的计划。使看似不可能的事情成为可能是上帝的喜悦，当我们到达一个只有他拥有优先权的境地时，所有被遮蔽和误解的事物都会得到澄清。

彼得所写的这种“如同宝贵的信心”，是上帝愿意赐予我们所有人的礼物。我相信，上帝希望我们接受它，以便我们能够征服王国，行公义，如果有需要，还能堵住狮子的口（希伯来书 11:33）。我们应当在各种环境下都能得胜，这不是因为我们对自己有信心，而是因为我们的信心完全在上帝身上。总是充满信心的人才会有美好的见证，他们从不抱怨，常处于胜利的位置，不处于人的秩序，而是处于神的秩序，因为上帝已经住在他们里面。

主耶稣是神圣的作者，每一次都会将“主如此说”带入我们的心思中。除非我们为某件事有“主如此说”，否则我们生命中什么都不能拥有。我们必须确保神的话语始终是万事的标准。

这种“如同宝贵的信心”是给我们所有人的，但你生命中可能会有一些阻碍，需要神来处理。在我生命中的某个时刻，似乎有太多的压力涌入我的生命，以至于我会像陶器一样破碎。进入神深奥事物的唯一途径就是通过破碎的心灵（诗篇 51:17）。进入神的能力也别无他途。当神能将我们带到一个我们可以像保罗一样说“我已经与基督同钉十字架”（见加拉太书 2:20）的位置时，另一位，即基督，已经掌管了方向和规则，神就会超乎我们所求所想地大大地为我们成就（以弗所书 3:20）。

我们的境况与我们的信心一样。信耶稣是神的儿子的人，就胜过了世界（约翰一书 5:5）。如何胜过？你所信靠的这位耶稣——祂的名的能力、祂的性格、祂的生命、祂的公义——通过信心归你所有。当你信靠祂，并且唯独把希望放在祂身上时，你就会像祂一样被洁净。你会得到力量，因为你所信靠的祂是刚强的。你会被完全医治，因为你所有的信心都在的祂是完全的。当你的信心完全倚靠祂时，你可以领受祂的丰盛——基督那数不尽的丰盛。

我通过神的话语来理解神。我不能凭直觉或感受来理解神。我不能通过情感来认识神。如果我要认识神，我就必须通过祂的话语来认识祂。我知道我会在天堂，但我不能凭我的感受来断定我会去天堂。我之所以会去天堂，是因为神的话语如此说，我相信神的话语。“信心是从听道来的，听道是从神的话来的”（罗马书 10:17）。

今日思考：无论你对自己的能力或正义的估计有多高，你都不比你的信仰更重要。

February 15

Do not be afraid; only believe. — Mark 5:36

Scripture reading: Galatians 5:16–6:10

I want you to be full of enough joy to fill a deep well. If you have to make it happen, there is something wrong. If God makes it happen, there is always something right.

I have thought a great deal about momentum. When a train has arrived at a certain place, some people get out, but some go on to the end of the line. Let us go far enough. There is only one thing to do: stay fully aware and always be pressing on. It will not do to trust in the past. Let us go forward. When it comes to the power of momentum, the past will not do. We must have an inflow of the life of God manifested.

Only believe, only believe,
All things are possible, only believe.

The importance of that chorus is found in the word only. When you can get rid of yourself and everything else you rely on and have only God behind you, then you have reached a place of great reinforcement. If you help yourself—in the measure you help yourself—you will find that the life of God and the power of God are diminished.

Many people try to help themselves. What God wants is for us to cling to Him absolutely and entirely. This is the grand plan that God has for us: “Only believe.” If we believe, we will have absolute rest and perfect submission.

Conditions on God‘s side are always beyond your asking or thinking. The conditions on your side cannot reach the other side unless you come into a place where you can rest on the omnipotent plan of God; then His plan cannot fail to be successful. “Only believe” and you will have absolute rest and perfect tranquillity. You can then say, “God has said it, and it cannot fail.” All His promises are “Yes” and “Amen” to those who believe (2 Corinthians 1:20).

Thought for today: Allow God to take absolute charge of the whole situation.

2月15日

不要害怕，只要信。——马可福音 5:36

经文阅读：加拉太书 5:16–6:10

我希望你充满足够的喜悦，能填满一口深井。如果你必须自己去实现它，那就有问题。如果是上帝让它发生，那总是有对的地方。

我一直在深入思考动力。当一列火车到达某个地方时，有些人下车，但有些人会一直乘到终点站。让我们走得够远。唯一要做的事情就是保持完全清醒，并且不断前进。依赖过去是行不通的。让我们向前走。谈到动力的力量时，过去是无用的。我们必须有神生命的流入展现出来。

只要相信，只要相信，
切皆有可能，只要相信。

那个合唱的重要性在于“仅仅”这个词。当你能够摆脱自我和依赖的一切，只剩下神在你身后支持你时，你就达到了一个极大的强化境界。如果你帮助自己——在你帮助自己的程度上——你会发现神的生命和神的力量都会被削弱。

许多人试图自助。上帝希望的是我们完全、彻底地依靠祂。这是上帝为我们制定的宏伟计划：“只要相信。”如果我们相信，我们将获得绝对的安宁和完美的顺服。

神方面的条件总是超出你的请求或想象。你这边的条件，除非你进入一个可以依靠神全能计划的状态，否则无法达到对方；一旦如此，他的计划必然会成功。“只要相信”，你就会获得绝对的安息和完美的宁静。那时你可以说：“神已经说了，这不可能失败。”对信的人而言，他所有的应许都是“是的”和“阿们”（哥林多后书 1:20）。

今日的思考：让上帝完全掌控整个局面.