Category: Daily Devotionals – Smith Wigglesworth

January 7

When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. — Matthew 8:1–3

Scripture reading: Isaiah 53:1–11

When I read these words, my heart is moved, for I realize that Jesus is just as much present with us as He was in Jerusalem when He walked the earth. How it changes our whole nature as we comprehend what Jesus meant when He said, “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me” (John 5:39). This living Word is not given to us just because of the narratives or the wonderful parables that Jesus taught, but so that we, through it, might be changed. Beloved, His presence is so remarkable that if we will but call on Him, believing that He has the power to give eternal life at His command, we will be changed in body, soul, and spirit.

When Jesus was on earth and beheld suffering humanity, He was moved with compassion. He met the most difficult problems; one of the hardest conditions to meet was leprosy. The moment that leprosy was pronounced upon a person, it meant that he was doomed. Just as there was no remedy at that time for a leper, there is no earthly power that can deliver us from sin. Leprosy was the disease that had a death sentence, and sin means death to the spiritual man unless it is cleansed by the blood of Jesus. Here was a leper with the seal of death on him, and there was only one hope. What was it? If he could come to Jesus, he would be healed. But how could a leper come to Jesus? When a leper came near other people, he had to cry out: “Unclean! Unclean!” (Leviticus 13:45)—so how could a leper ever get near to Jesus?

The difficulty was tremendous, but when faith lays hold, impossibilities must yield. When we touch the Divine and believe God, sins will be forgiven; diseases will go; circumstances will change. I can almost read the thoughts of the people as they passed by the leper: “You poor leper! If you had been where we were, you would have seen the most remarkable things happen, for people were delivered from all kinds of diseases today.” The leper might have asked, “Where were you?” They would have answered, “We have been with Jesus!” Oh, the thrill of life when we have been with Jesus.

Let me give you a little picture. Every night when Jesus left the disciples and made His way up the mountainside, they would watch Him as far as the eye could see, until He disappeared. On the next day, the crowds would gather and watch for His appearing. They were so taken up with watching for Jesus that when they saw Him coming down the mountain, they could not keep quiet. Their hearts were full of the thought of seeing Him, but where was the leper? The leper, too, had come, but the eyes of the people were not on the leper now. They were watching for Jesus. The leper kept close to the crowd, and as Jesus drew nearer, he began his chant, “Unclean! Unclean!”

The crowd immediately moved away from him, leaving the path clear for the leper to be the first to get to Jesus. No one could turn him back. No one could stop a man whose heart was set on reaching Jesus. No power on earth can stop a sinner from reaching the side of the Master, if he has faith that will not be denied. Perhaps some have awful diseases in their bodies, or their souls are far away from God. They have been prayed for, and have prayed themselves, but the thing is not removed, and they are in the place where the leper was. He knew that Jesus could heal him. All he had to do was get close enough to Jesus.

Jesus makes one great sweeping statement from that day to this as He says, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately, the man‘s leprosy was cleansed.

Thought for today: When you are in the place God wants you to be, you will be healed.

活的道

1月7日

他从山上下来的时候，有许多群众跟随他。看哪，有一个麻风病人来拜他，说：“主啊，你若愿意，必能使我洁净。”耶稣伸手按他，说：“我愿意，你洁净了吧。”他的麻风立刻得了洁净。——马太福音 8:1-3

圣经朗读：以赛亚书 53:1–11

当我读到这些话时，我的心被感动了，因为我意识到耶稣与我们同在，就像祂在地上行走时在耶路撒冷一样。当我们理解耶稣说的“你们查考圣经，因为你们以为里面有永生；给你们作见证的就是这些”（约翰福音5:39），我们的整个本性都会因此改变。这活的道不是仅仅因为那些叙述或耶稣所教导的奇妙比喻而赐给我们，而是为了让我们藉着它得以改变。亲爱的，祂的同在是如此非凡，如果我们愿意呼求祂，相信祂有能力凭着祂的命赐给我们永生，我们在身体、灵魂和心灵上都会被改变。

当耶稣在世上，看见受苦的人类时，祂充满了怜悯。祂面对最困难的问题；其中最难处理的情况之一是麻风病。当一个人被宣布患有麻风病的那一刻，就意味着他注定要被毁灭。正如当时对麻风病人没有治疗方案一样，也没有世间的力量能使我们脱离罪恶。麻风病是一种带有死亡判决的疾病，而罪意味着属灵的人若不被耶稣的血洁净，就必然死亡。这里有一个盖上死亡印记的麻风病人，而唯一的希望是什么呢？如果他能来找耶稣，他就会得医治。但麻风病人如何能来找耶稣呢？当麻风病人接近其他人时，他必须喊叫：“不洁净！不洁净！”（利未记 13:45）——那么麻风病人怎么可能接近耶稣呢？

困难是巨大的，但当信心抓住时，不可能的事必定会屈服。当我们接触神圣并相信上帝时，罪将得到赦免；疾病将消失；环境将改变。我几乎能读懂人们经过麻风病人时的心思：“可怜的麻风病人！如果你在我们那里，你会看到最奇妙的事情发生，因为今天人们从各种疾病中得到了释放。”麻风病人可能会问：“你们在哪里？”他们会回答：“我们与耶稣在一起！”哦，当我们与耶稣在一起时，生命的激动与欢乐啊。

让我给你描绘一个小画面。每晚当耶稣离开门徒，走上山坡时，他们都会目送祂，直到视线所及之处，直到祂消失。第二天，群众会聚集，等待祂的出现。他们如此专注于等待耶稣，以至于当他们看到祂从山上走下时，无法保持安静。他们的心充满了见到祂的念头，但那麻风病人在哪里呢？麻风病人也来了，但人们的目光现在已不在麻风病人身上，他们在注视耶稣。麻风病人紧贴人群，当耶稣走近时，他开始喊叫：“不洁净！不洁净！”

人群立刻从他身边让开，为麻风病人留下了通向耶稣的道路。没有人能阻拦他。没有人能阻止一个心志坚定要靠近耶稣的人。世上没有任何力量可以阻止一个有信心的人到达主的身边，如果他的信心不会被拒绝。也许有些人体内有严重的疾病，或者他们的灵魂远离上帝。他们已经被祈祷过，也自己祈祷过，但问题并没有被解除，他们仍然处在麻风病人所在的地方。他知道耶稣能够医治他。他所要做的只是靠近耶稣。

从那一天起，耶稣说了一句伟大的概括性话：“我愿意，你洁净了吧。”那人的麻风病立刻就洁净了。

今日思考：当你处在上帝希望你所在的地方时，你将会被治愈。

January 6

Hold fast to the LORD your God. — Joshua 23:8

Scripture reading: Genesis 32:24–33:11

If God is ever disappointed when you wait in His presence, it will be because you are not fervent. If you are not serious and intense, you disappoint God. If God is with you and you know it, be in earnest. Pray and believe: “Hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end” (Hebrews 3:6). If you do not, you disappoint God.

Jacob was that way. God said, “You are not real enough; you are not hot enough; you are too ordinary; you are no good to Me unless you are filled with zeal—white hot!” The Angel of the Lord said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks” (Genesis 32:26). Jacob knew if God went without blessing him, he could not meet Esau. If you are left alone with God and you cannot get to a place of victory, it is a terrible time. You must never let go, whatever you are seeking—fresh revelation, light for your path, some particular need—never let go. Victory is ours if we are earnest enough.

You must always master that with which you are wrestling. If darkness covers you, if a fresh revelation is what you need, or if your mind needs to be relieved, always get the victory. God says you are not earnest enough. You say, “The Word does not say that.” But it was in God‘s mind. In wrestling, the strength is in the neck, chest, and thigh; the thigh is the source of strength. So God touched Jacob‘s thigh. With that strength gone, defeat is sure.

What did Jacob do? He hung on. Jacob said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” (v. 26). And God blessed him: “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel” (v. 28). The change of Jacob to Israel was wonderful! Now Jacob had power.

What happened after that? Read how God blessed and honored him. Esau met him. There was no fighting now. What a blessed state of grace! They kissed each other: “When a man‟s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him” (Proverbs 16:7).

“What about all these cattle, Jacob?”

“Oh, they are a present.”

“I have plenty; I don‘t want your cattle. What a joy it is to see your face again!”

What a wonderful change! Who caused it? God.

Could Jacob hold God? Can you hold God? Yes, you can. Sincerity can hold Him, dependence can hold Him, weakness can hold Him, for “when [you are] weak, then [you are] strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10). I‘ll tell you what cannot hold Him: self-righteousness cannot hold Him; pride cannot hold Him; assumption cannot hold Him; high-mindedness cannot hold Him—thinking you are something when you are nothing, puffed up in your imagination. You can hold Him in your prayer closet, in the prayer meeting, everywhere: “If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20).

Can you hold Him? You may sometimes think that He has left you. Oh, no! He does not leave Jacob, Israel. What changed his name? Jacob obtained the blessing because of the favor of God and his yieldedness to God‘s will. God‘s Spirit was working in him to bring him to a place of helplessness. God worked to bring him to Bethel, the place of victory. Jacob remembered Bethel, and through all the trying circumstances, he had kept his vow. (See Genesis 28:20–22.) When we make vows and keep them, God helps us and
leads us to victory.

Thought for today: Let us in all our seeking see that we have the favor of God. Keep His commandments. Walk in the Spirit. Be tenderhearted and lovable. If we do these things, our ministry will be a blessing to others.

通向胜利之路

1月6日

要紧紧倚靠你们的神耶和华。——约书亚记 23:8

经文阅读：创世纪 32:24–33:11

如果当你在神面前等候时，神感到失望，那是因为你不够热切。如果你不认真、不专注，你就会让神失望。如果神与你同在，而你知道这一点，就当认真。祷告并相信：“要坚持那向终极坚固的盼望的信心和喜乐”（希伯来书 3:6）。如果你不这样做，你就会让神失望。

雅各就是那样的人。上帝说：“你不够真实；你不够热烈；你太普通；除非你充满热心——炽热的热心，否则你对我毫无用处！”耶和华的使者说：“让我去吧，因为天快亮了”（创世记 32:26）。雅各知道，如果上帝在未赐福他之前离开，他就无法去见以扫。如果你独自与上帝相处而无法达到胜利的境地，那将是非常痛苦的时刻。不管你在寻找什么——新的启示、指引你道路的光、或某种特定的需要——都不要放手。如果我们足够虔诚，胜利就是我们的。

你必须始终掌握你所挣扎的对象。如果黑暗笼罩你，如果你需要新的启示，或者你的心智需要得到释放，总是要获得胜利。上帝说你不够真诚。你会说，“圣言没有这样说。”但这在上帝的心意中。在摔跤中，力量在于颈部、胸部和大腿；大腿是力量的源泉。所以上帝触碰了雅各的大腿。力量一旦消失，失败就是必然的。

雅各做了什么？他紧紧抓住。雅各说：“我不让你走，除非你赐福给我！”（第26节）上帝就赐福给他：“你的名字不再叫雅各，要叫以色列”（第28节）。雅各变为以色列真是奇妙！现在雅各有了力量。

那之后发生了什么？阅读上帝如何赐福和尊荣他。以扫遇见了他。现在没有争斗了，多么蒙福的恩典状态啊！他们彼此亲嘴：“人的行为蒙耶和华喜悦，连他的仇敌也与他和好。”（箴言 16:7）

“雅各，这些牛怎么办？”

“哦，他们是礼物。”

“我有很多；我不需要你的牛。再次见到你的面孔真是太高兴了！”

多么美妙的变化啊！是谁造成的？是上帝。

雅各能抓住神吗？你能抓住神吗？是的，你可以。真诚可以抓住祂，依靠可以抓住祂，软弱可以抓住祂，因为“因为我的能力是在人的软弱上显得完全”（哥林多后书12:10）。我来告诉你什么抓不住祂：自以为义抓不住祂；骄傲抓不住祂；假设抓不住祂；自高自大抓不住祂——自以为自己有价值而实际上什么也不是，在自己的想象中自高自大。你可以在你的祷告室里抓住祂，在祷告会上抓住祂，到处都可以抓住祂：“看哪，我站在门外叩门，若有听见我声音就开门的，我要进到他那里去，我与他，他与我一同吃饭”（启示录3:20）。

你能抓住他吗？你有时可能会认为他离开了你。哦，不！他不会离开雅各，也不会离开以色列。是谁改变了他的名字呢？雅各因蒙神的恩宠，以及顺服神的旨意而获得了祝福。神的灵在他里面工作，使他到达无助的地步。神的工作是为了带他到伯特利，那胜利之地。雅各记得伯特利，并且在所有的艰难环境中，他都守住了自己的誓言。（见创世记28:20–22。）当我们立誓并遵守誓言时，神会帮助我们，引领我们走向胜利。

今日的思考：在我们所有的寻求中，让我们看到自己得到上帝的恩宠。遵守祂的诫命。顺着圣灵行事。心存柔情，值得被爱。如果我们做到这些，我们的事工将会成为别人的祝福。

January 5

Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. — Genesis 32:24

Scripture reading: Psalm 62:5–63:4

Jacob was given time to think. Oh, to be left alone with God! In the context of the Scripture, we read that several things had preceded his being alone. His wives and his children had been sent ahead. His sheep, oxen, camels, and donkeys had gone ahead. He was alone.

Often, you will find that you are left alone. Whether you like it or not, you will be left alone as Jacob was left alone. His wives could not make atonement for him; his children could not make atonement for him; his money was useless to help him.

What made Jacob come to that place of loneliness, weakness, and knowledge of himself? He recalled the grace with which God had met him twenty-one years before, when he saw the ladder and the angels and heard the voice of God: “Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you” (Genesis 28:15). He remembered God‘s mercy and grace.

He was returning to meet his brother Esau, who had become very rich. Esau had been blessed abundantly in the things of this world. He had authority and power to take all that Jacob had and to take vengeance upon him. Jacob knew this. He also knew that there was only one way of deliverance. What was it? Only God could keep Jacob safe. God had met him twenty-one years before when he had left home empty-handed. Now, he was returning with wives, children, and goods, but he was lean in soul and impoverished in spirit. Jacob said to himself, “If I do not get a blessing from God, I can never meet Esau,” and he made up his mind he would not go on until he knew that he had favor with God. Jacob was left alone. Unless we get alone with God, we will surely perish. God intervenes when conflict exists. The way of revelation is plain. The Holy Spirit‘s plan is so clear that we have to say God was in it after all.

Jacob was left alone. He knelt alone. The picture is so real to me. Alone! He began to think. He thought about the ladder and the angels. I think as he began to pray, his tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth. Jacob had to get rid of a lot of things. It had all been Jacob! As he got alone with God, he knew it. If you get alone with God, you will find it to be a place of revelation. Jacob was left alone, alone with God. We stay too long with our relations, our camels, and our sheep. Jacob was left alone. Hour after hour passed. He began to feel the presence of God, but he still had not received the desired blessing.

Jacob said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” (Genesis 32:26). And God blessed him: “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel” (v. 28). The change of Jacob to Israel was wonderful! Israel! Victory all the time! God is building all the time. God is sufficient all the time. Now Jacob had power over the cattle, power over Esau, power over the world. All was in subjection as he came out of the great night of trial. The sun rose upon him. Oh, that God may take us on in the same way.

Thought for today: God intends for people to be severed by the force of His power, so hold fast; He will never let go. If we let go, we will fall short.

与神独处

1月5日

雅各独自留下来，有一人夜里与他摔跤，直到黎明。——创世记 32:24

经文阅读：诗篇 62:5–63:4

雅各得到了思考的时间。哦，能够独自与上帝相处！在圣经的背景下，我们读到，在他独处之前发生了几件事。他的妻子和孩子们已经先行离开。他的羊、牛、骆驼和驴也都先行离开。他独自一人。

你常常会发现自己被独自留下。无论你喜欢与否，你都会像雅各布那样被独自留下。他的妻子无法为他赎罪；他的孩子无法为他赎罪；他的钱也无济于事，无法帮到他。

是什么让雅各来到那个孤独、软弱并认识自己的地方？他回想起二十一年前上帝以恩典与他相遇的情景，那时他看见了天梯和天使，听见上帝的声音说：“看哪，我与你同在，凡你往哪里去，我必保佑你，领你归回此地；我必不离开你，直到我成全对你所说的一切”（创世记 28:15）。他记起了上帝的怜悯和恩典。

他正要回去见他的兄弟以扫，以扫已经变得非常富有。以扫在世俗的事物上得到了丰富的祝福。他有权力和能力夺走雅各所有的一切，并向他报复。雅各知道这一点。他也知道只有一条出路。那是什么呢？只有神才能保护雅各的安全。二十一年前，当雅各空手离家时，神就与他相遇。现在，他带着妻子、孩子和财物归来，但他的灵魂仍然瘦弱，精神仍然贫乏。雅各对自己说：“如果我不能从神那里得到祝福，我永远无法见以扫，”于是他下定决心，在确认自己蒙神喜悦之前，他绝不前行。雅各独自一人留下。除非我们与神独处，否则我们必定会灭亡。当冲突存在时，神会介入。启示之道是明确的。圣灵的计划如此清晰，以至于我们不得不说，这一切归根结底都是神的作为。

雅各独自留下。他独自跪下。这幅画对我来说如此真实。独自一人！他开始思考。他想到了梯子和天使。我想当他开始祈祷时，他的舌头粘在了口腔的上颚上。雅各必须摆脱许多东西。这一切都是雅各自己！当他与上帝独处时，他明白了。如果你与上帝独处，你会发现那是一个启示的地方。雅各独自留下，独自与上帝同在。我们与亲人、骆驼和羊群相处太久。雅各独自留下。一小时又一小时过去。他开始感受到上帝的存在，但他仍未获得渴望的祝福。

雅各说：“我不让你走，除非你赐福给我！”（创世记 32:26）。上帝于是赐福给他：“你的名字不再叫雅各，要叫以色列”（28节）。雅各改名为以色列，这是多么奇妙啊！以色列！永远胜利！上帝一直在建造。上帝一直是足够的。现在雅各掌管牲畜，掌管以扫，掌管世界。当他走出那黑暗的试炼之夜时，一切都归于顺服。太阳照在他身上。哦，愿上帝以同样的方式引导我们。

今日的思考：上帝意图用祂的力量将人分开，所以要紧紧抓住；祂永远不会放手。如果我们松手，我们将会失败。

January 4

Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. — 1 Corinthians 10:31

Scripture reading: Proverbs 15:28–16:9

On a ship one day, some people said to me, “We are going to have a program. Would you be a participant in the entertainment?”

I replied, “Come in a quarter of an hour, and I will tell you.”

They came round again and said, “Are you ready?”

“Yes,” I told them, “I have got a clear witness that I have to be in the entertainment.”

So they said to me, “What can you do?”

“I can sing,” I offered.

They said, “Where would you like to be scheduled in the entertainment? We are going to have a dance.”

I said, “Put me down just before the dance.”

I went to the entertainment, and when I saw the clergymen trying to please the people, it turned me to prayer. My turn came, and I went up to the piano with my “Redemption Songs.” When the lady saw the music, she said, “I cannot play this kind of music.”

I said, “Be at peace, young lady. I have music and words inside.” So I sang:

If I could only tell Him as I know Him.
My Redeemer who has brightened all my way;
If I could tell how precious is His presence,
I am sure that you would make Him yours today.
Could I tell it, Could I tell it,
How the sunshine of His presence lights my way.
I would tell it, I would tell it,
And I‘m sure that you would make Him yours today.

I sang the song, and when I finished, the people said, “You have spoiled the dance.” Well, I was there for that purpose, to spoil the dance. From the least to the greatest, they were weeping. They never had a dance, but they had a prayer meeting. Six young men were saved by the power of God in my cabin.

A preacher came to me afterwards and said, “How dare you sing that?” “Why,” I said, “how dare I not sing it?” It was my opportunity. He was going to India, and when he got there, he wrote in his periodical and mailed it to England. He said, “I did not seem to have any chance to preach the Gospel, but there was a plumber on board who seemed to have plenty of opportunities to preach to everybody. He said things that continue to stick with me. He told me that the book of Acts was written only because the apostles acted.”

You see, I was in the drama of acting in the name of Jesus. And so that opened the door and provided me a place that I could speak all the time. The door was open in every way. Glory to God!

Thought for today: You are in the right position when you allow the glory of the new life to cause you to act. Live in the Acts of the Apostles, and every day you will see some miracle worked by the power of the living God.

行动的机会

1月4日

无论做什么，都要为上帝的荣耀而做。——哥林多前书 10:31

经文阅读：箴言 15:28–16:9

有一天在船上，有些人对我说：“我们要举办一个节目。你愿意参加娱乐活动吗？”

我回答道：“过一刻钟再来，我会告诉你。”

他们又过来了，说：“你准备好了吗？”

“是的，”我告诉他们，“我有一个明确的证据表明我必须参与娱乐。”

所以他们对我说：“你能做什么？”

“我会唱歌，”我说。

他们说：“你想在娱乐节目中安排在哪个环节？我们将举办一场舞会。”

我说，‘就在舞会前放我下去。’

我去参加娱乐活动，当我看到神职人员试图取悦人们时，我转向了祈祷。轮到我时，我带着我的《救赎之歌》走上了钢琴。当那位女士看到这本乐谱时，她说：“我不会弹这种音乐。”

我说，”安心吧，小姐。我内心有音乐和文字。”于是我唱了：

如果我能够按照我所认识的去告诉他。
我的救赎主，他照亮了我所有的道路；
如果我能够讲述他的同在是多么珍贵，
我相信你今天就会把他归为己有。
我能说吗，我能说吗，
他同在的阳光如何照亮我的道路。
我会说，我会说，
我相信你今天就会把他归为己有。

我唱了这首歌，当我唱完时，人们说：“你破坏了舞蹈。”好吧，我来的目的就是为了破坏舞蹈。从最小到最大的，他们都在哭泣。他们从未有过舞会，但他们举行了祈祷会。六个年轻人在我的小屋里被神的力量拯救了。

有一次，一个传教士后来来到我面前，说：“你怎么敢唱那首歌？”我说：“为什么，我怎么敢不唱呢？”这是我的机会。他要去印度，当他到那里时，他在他的期刊中写道，并寄往英国。他说：“我似乎没有机会传讲福音，但船上有一个水管工似乎有很多机会向每个人传讲福音。他说的话一直让我记住。他告诉我，《使徒行传》之所以被写成，只是因为使徒们采取了行动。”

你看，我是在以耶稣的名义表演戏剧。所以那为我打开了门，并为我提供了一个可以随时说话的地方。门在各方面都打开了。荣耀归于上帝！

今日思考：当你让新生命的荣耀促使你行动时，你就是处在正确的位置。活在《使徒行传》中，每天你都会看到活神的力量行一些奇迹。

January 3

They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit. — Acts 6:5

Scripture reading: Acts 6:8–15; 7:55–60

God has privileged us in Christ Jesus to live above the ordinary human plane of life. Those who want to be ordinary and live on a lower plane can do so, but as for me, I will not. The same anointing, the same zeal, the same Holy Spirit power is at our command as it was at the command of Stephen and the apostles. We have the same God that Abraham and Elijah had, and we do not need to lag behind in receiving any gift or grace. We may not possess all the gifts as abiding gifts, but as we are full of the Holy Spirit and divine anointing, it is possible, when there is a need, for God to make evident every gift of the Spirit through us as He may choose.

Stephen, an ordinary man, became extraordinary under the Holy Spirit‘s anointing until, in many ways, he stands supreme among the apostles. “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people” (Acts 6:8). As we go deeper in God, He enlarges our capacity for understanding and places before us a wide-open door. It is not surprising that this man chosen to serve tables was later called to a higher plane. You may ask, “What do you mean? Did he stop taking care of his responsibilities?” No, but he was lost in the power of God. He lost sight of everything in the natural and steadfastly fixed his gaze on Jesus, “the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2), until he was transformed into a shining light in the kingdom of God. May we be awakened to believe His Word and to understand the mind of the Spirit, for there is an inner place of purity where we can see God. Stephen was an ordinary person, but he was in the place where God could move him so that he, in turn, could affect those around him. He began in a humble place and ended in a blaze of glory. Dare to believe Christ.

Thought for today: Chosen for menial service, Stephen became mighty for God.

超凡

1月3日

他们选了司提反，就是一个满有信心和圣灵的人。——使徒行传 6:5

经文阅读：使徒行传 6:8–15；7:55–60

神在基督耶稣里特别赐福给我们，使我们能够超越普通人的生活层次。那些希望平凡、过低层次生活的人可以这样做，但就我而言，我不会这样做。我们掌握的膏油、热情和圣灵的能力，与司提反和使徒们掌握的完全一样。我们有与亚伯拉罕和以利亚相同的神，我们在接受任何恩赐或恩典上不必落后。我们可能不会拥有所有恩赐作为持续的恩赐，但当我们充满圣灵和神圣膏抹时，在有需要的时候，神可以凭祂的选择，通过我们显明圣灵的每一种恩赐。

司提反，一个普通人，在圣灵的恩膏下变得非凡，以至于在许多方面，他在使徒中居于至高地位。“司提反充满信心和能力，在百姓中行了大奇事奇迹。”（使徒行传 6:8）当我们在神里更深时，祂会扩大我们理解的容量，并为我们摆开一扇敞开的门。不足为奇的是，这位被选来侍奉桌上事务的人，后来被呼召到更高的境界。你可能会问：“你是什么意思？他不再照顾自己的职责了吗？”不，他没有，而是沉浸在神的能力中。他在属世的事物上失去了视线，坚持不移地将目光固定在耶稣身上，“那位信心的创始成终者”（希伯来书 12:2），直到他变成神国中的光明之子。愿我们醒悟去信靠祂的话语，并去理解圣灵的心意，因为有一个内在的纯净之地，我们可以在其中看见神。司提反是一个普通人，但他处在神可以动他的地方，以便他反过来影响周围的人。他从卑微之地开始，最终在荣耀中燃烧。敢于相信基督。

今日的思考：被选来从事卑微的服侍，司提反为神变得强大。

January 2

Seek out from among you seven men of good reputation,full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. — Acts 6:3

Scripture reading: Acts 6:1–10

During the time of the inauguration of the church, the disciples were pressured by many responsibilities. The practical things of life could not be attended to, and many were complaining concerning the neglect of their widows. Therefore, the disciples decided to choose seven men to do the work of caring for the needs of these widows—men who were “full of the Holy Spirit.” What a divine thought. No matter what kind of work was to be done, however menial it may have been, the person chosen had to be “full of the Holy Spirit.” The plan of the church was that everything, even everyday routines, must be sanctified to God, for the church had to be a Holy Spirit church. Beloved, God has never ordained anything less.

The heritage of the church is to be so equipped with power that God can lay His hand upon any member at any time to do His perfect will. There is no stopping point in the Spirit-filled life. We begin at the Cross, the place of disgrace, shame, and death, and that very death brings the power of resurrection life. Then, being filled with the Holy Spirit, we go on “from glory to glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18). Let us not forget that possessing the baptism in the Holy Spirit means that there must be an ever increasing holiness. People know when the tide is flowing; they also know when it is ebbing. How the church needs divine anointing. It needs to see God‘s presence and power so evidenced that the world will recognize it.

Thought for today: When we please God in our daily service, we will always find that everyone who is faithful in the little things, God will make ruler over much (Matthew 25:21).

配备动力

1月2日

你们中间要挑出七个有好名声、充满圣灵和智慧的人，我们可以派他们管理这事。——使徒行传 6:3

圣经阅读：使徒行传 6:1–10

在教会成立的时候，门徒们承受着许多责任的压力。生活中的实际事务无法顾及，许多人抱怨他们的寡妇被忽视。因此，门徒们决定选出七个人来处理这些寡妇的需求——这些人“充满了圣灵”。这是多么神圣的思想啊。无论要做什么样的工作，无论多么卑微，被选中的人都必须是“充满圣灵”的。教会的计划是，一切事情，甚至日常事务，都必须奉献给神，因为教会必须是一所圣灵的教会。亲爱的，神从未吩咐过低于这个标准的任何事情。

教会的遗产是要被装备得如此充满能力，以至于上帝可以随时在任何一个肢体身上施手，成就祂完美的旨意。充满圣灵的生命没有终点。我们从十字架开始，从耻辱、羞愧和死亡的地方开始，而正是这种死亡带来了复活生命的能力。然后，充满圣灵的我们，就“从荣耀到荣耀”前行（哥林多后书 3:18）。让我们不要忘记，拥有圣灵的洗意味着必须有不断增长的圣洁。人们知道潮水什么时候涨，也知道潮水什么时候退。教会是多么需要神的恩膏。它需要看到神的同在和能力显明到世人都能认识。

今日的思考：当我们在日常服侍中取悦神时，我们将总会发现，每个在小事上忠心的人，神必使他管理许多（马太福音 25:21）。

January 1

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. — Isaiah 55:9

Scripture reading: Genesis 28:10–22

Looking back on our spiritual journeys, we will see that we have held on to our own way too much of the time. When we come to the end of ourselves, God can begin to take control. The Scripture asks, “Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?” (Amos 3:3). We cannot enter into the profound truths of God until we relinquish control, for “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption” (1 Corinthians 15:50).

Jacob‘s name means “supplanter.” When Jacob came to the end of his plans, God had a better plan. How slow we are to see that there is a better way.

The glory is never so wonderful as when we realize our helplessness, throw down our sword, and surrender our authority to God. Jacob was a diligent worker, and he would go through any hardship if he could have his own way. In numerous situations, he had his way; all the while, he was ignorant of how gloriously God had preserved him from calamity.

God has a plan beyond anything that we have ever known. He has a plan for every individual life, and if we have any other plan in view, we miss the grandest plan of all. Nothing in the past is equal to the present, and nothing in the present can equal the things of tomorrow. Tomorrow should be so filled with holy expectations that we will be living flames for Him. God never intended His people to be ordinary or commonplace. His intentions were that they should be on fire for Him, conscious of His divine power, realizing the glory of the Cross that foreshadows the crown.

Jacob and his mother had a plan to secure the birthright and the blessing, but God planned the ladder and the angels. Isaac, Jacob‘s father, agreed that Jacob should go “to Padan Aram, to the house of Bethuel [his] mother‟s father” (Genesis 28:2). On his way there, Jacob rested his head on a stone. In his dream, he saw a “ladder…and its top reached to heaven” (v. 12). Above the ladder, Jacob saw God and heard Him say, “The land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants” (v. 13). He also heard God tell him, “I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you” (v. 15). What a good thing for Jacob that in the middle of carrying out his own plan, God found him at the right place. The trickery to obtain the birthright had not been the honorable thing to do, but here at Bethel, he found that God was with him.

Many things may happen in our lives, but when the veil is lifted and we see the glory of God, His tender compassion covers us all the time. How wonderful to be where God is. Jacob experienced twenty-one years of wandering, fighting, and struggling. Listen to his conversation with his wives: “Your father has deceived me and changed my wages ten times, but God did not allow him to hurt me” (Genesis 31:7). To his father-in-law, Jacob said,

Unless the God of my father…had been with me, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands. (Genesis 31:42)

There is a way that God establishes. In our human planning, we may experience blessings of a kind, but we also undergo trials, hardships, and barrenness that God would have kept from us if we had followed His way. I realize through the anointing of the Holy Spirit that there is a freshness, a glow, a security in God where you can know that God is with you all the time. There is a place to reach where all that God has for us can flow through us to a needy world all the time.

Thought for today: There is a good; there is a better; but God has a best, a higher standard for us than we have yet attained. It is a better thing if it is God‘s plan and not ours.

上帝的计划是最好的

1月1日

因为天怎样高过地，照样，我的道路高过你们的道路，我的意念高过你们的意念。——以赛亚书 55:9

圣经阅读：创世记 28:10–22

回顾我们的属灵旅程，我们会发现自己很多时候过于坚持自己的方式。当我们走到自我尽头时，神才能开始掌控。圣经问道：“二人若不同心，岂能同行呢？”（阿摩司书 3:3）。在我们放手掌控之前，我们无法进入神深奥的真理，因为“血气不能承受神的国，腐朽的也不能承受不朽的”（哥林多前书 15:50）。

雅各的名字意思是“取代者”。当雅各的计划走到尽头时，神有了更好的计划。我们看到有更好的方法总是如此迟钝。

荣耀从未如此美妙，直到我们意识到自己的无助，放下我们的剑，并将我们的权柄交给上帝。雅各是一个勤奋的工人，如果能够随心所欲，他愿意经历任何困难。在许多情况下，他如愿以偿；然而，他却没有意识到上帝是多么荣耀地保护他免遭灾难。

上帝有一个超越我们所知的一切的计划。他为每个人的生命都有一个计划，如果我们心中有其他计划，我们就会错过最伟大的计划。过去的任何事物都无法与现在相比，而现在的任何事物也无法与明天的事物相比。明天应该充满圣洁的期待，以至于我们会成为为祂燃烧的火焰。上帝从未打算让祂的子民平凡或普通。祂的意图是让他们为祂燃烧，意识到祂的神圣力量，领会预示王冠的十字架的荣耀。

雅各和他的母亲有一个计划来获得长子名分和祝福，但神安排了梯子和天使。雅各的父亲以撒同意雅各去“巴旦亚兰，去他母亲父亲比土利的家”（创世记 28:2）。在去那里的路上，雅各用一块石头枕头休息。在梦中，他看见一“梯子……顶通天”（12节）。在梯子上，雅各看见神，并听到他说：“你所躺卧之地，我要赐给你和你的后裔”（13节）。他还听到神对他说：“我必与你同在，保护你，无论你往哪里去，并要领你回到这地；我必不离弃你”（15节）。对于雅各来说，真是幸运，在执行自己计划的过程中，神在适当的地方发现了他。通过诡计来获取长子名分并不是光荣的行为，但在伯特利，他发现神与他同在。

我们生活中可能会发生许多事情，但当面纱被揭开，我们看到神的荣耀时，祂温柔的怜悯会一直覆盖着我们。能够在神所在的地方是多么美好啊。雅各经历了二十一年的漂泊、争斗和挣扎。听听他与妻子的对话：“你们的父亲欺骗了我，改变了我的工价十次，但神没有让他伤害我”（创世记 31:7）。雅各对岳父说，

若不是我父的神与我同在，恐怕现在你已经空手打发我走了。神看见了我的艰难和我手中的劳苦。（创世纪 31:42）

神设立了一条道路。在我们的人类计划中，我们可能会经历某种祝福，但我们也会遭遇试炼、艰难和荒凉，这些本是如果我们遵循神的道路，神本可以使我们免于经历的。我通过圣灵的恩膏意识到，在神里面有一种新鲜感、一种光彩、一种安全感，在那里你可以知道神时时刻刻与你同在。存在一个境地，在那里神为我们准备的一切可以持续不断地通过我们流向有需要的世界。

今日思考：有好的；有更好的；但上帝有最好的，对我们的标准比我们目前达到的更高。如果是上帝的计划而不是我们的，那将是更好的事情。