7月11日 屬靈的聖徒

 “使人認識基督。”（腓三10）

聖徒的積極性並非朝著自我實現的方向，而是朝著認識基督進發。屬靈的信徒絕不相信際遇出於偶然，也不會認為他的人生又屬世又屬神，他會視一切環境和際遇，領他更認識基督；也會不顧一切的棄絕。聖靈定意要使我們生命的每一方面都彰顯基督。他曾一次又一次地把我們帶到同一點，直至我們在那一點上彰顯基督。自我實現叫人高舉工作；聖徒卻在工作上高舉基督。或吃或喝或洗門徒的腳，不論是作什麼，總要積極地在其中彰顯基督。我們生命的每一階段，都可在主耶穌的生命中找出互相對照之處。主就是在最低賤的工作上，也彰顯與父神的關係。“耶穌知道自己是從神出來，又要歸到神那裡去，就……拿一條毛巾……洗門徒的腳。”

屬靈聖徒的目標是要“認識基督”。我在今天的環境中認識基督嗎？若不，就是叫他失望了。我不是要自我實現，乃是要認識基督。在屬靈的工作中，原動力往往出於看見事工的需要，於是就去做。屬靈的信徒卻永不抱這種態度，他的目標是要在一切所處的環境中活出基督。

祈禱◆噢，主啊，憑著我單純信靠那居住在我裡面、又使我與你的屬靈連結起來的聖靈，我仰望你；幫助我完全屬你。

July 11 The Spiritual Saint

“That I may know Him.” Philippians 3:10

The initiative of the saint is not towards self-realization, but towards knowing Jesus Christ. The spiritual saint never believes circumstances to be haphazard, or thinks of his life as secular and sacred; he sees everything he is dumped down in as the means of securing the knowledge of Jesus Christ. There is a reckless abandonment about him. The Holy Spirit is determined that we shall realize Jesus Christ in every domain of life, and He will bring us back to the same point again and again until we do. Self-realization leads to the enthronement of work; whereas the saint enthrones Jesus Christ in his work. Whether it be eating or drinking or washing disciples feet, whatever it is, we have to take the initiative of realizing Jesus Christ in it. Every phase of our actual life has its counterpart in the life of Jesus. Our Lord realized His relationship to the Father even in the most menial work. “Jesus knowing . . . that He was come from God, and went to God . . . took a towel . . . and began to wash the disciples' feet.”

The aim of the spiritual saint is “that I may know Him.” Do I know Him where I am to-day? If not, I am failing Him. I am here not to realize myself, but to know Jesus. In Christian work the initiative is too often the realization that something has to be done and I must do it. That is never the attitude of the spiritual saint, his aim is to secure the realization of Jesus Christ in every set of circumstances he is in.