8月8日 為父的榮耀而禱告

所要生的聖者，必稱為神的兒子。（路一35）

神的兒子若住在我這肉身裡，他的神聖、無罪、單純和與父的合一，能藉著我彰顯嗎？神的兒子怎樣歷史性地藉童女馬利亞降生世上，也在每一個聖徒裡面降生。神兒子降生在我裡面，是神自己直接的行動。然後我這作為神兒女的，必須用兒女的權利，也就是時刻與父面對面。我是否常常驚異地對自己說：“你為何總是打岔？豈不知我該以我父的事為念嗎？”不論環境怎樣，那聖潔無暇永恆的兒子，必須與他的父親保持聯繫。

我是否這樣單純地與我的主合一？他奇妙的旨意在我身上得以通行嗎？神能否看見他兒子成形在我裡面？還是我可以地把他放在一旁？啊，這些日子太多擾攘！人人都在喧嚷－－為了什麼？要把神兒子置於死地。此時沒有地方為神的兒子存留，沒有地方與父靜交。神的兒子在我裡面禱告呢？還是聽我支配？他在我裡面的工作，是否與他昔日在肉身時的工作一樣？在我裡面神的兒子，有沒有為了達成他的目標而經受苦難？我們愈認識成熟聖徒的內在生命，就愈明白神的計劃－－“是要補滿基督患難的缺欠。”既是“補滿”，就常有可為之處。

祈禱◆噢，主啊，我何等愛慕你，但我所渴求的，是更加自覺地敬拜你、與你相交和讚美神。求你潔淨我因遠離你而產生的玷污。

August 8 Prayer In The Father's Honour

“That holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” Luke 1:35

If the Son of God is born into my mortal flesh, is His holy innocence and simplicity and oneness with the Father getting a chance to manifest itself in me? What was true of the Virgin Mary in the historic introduction of God's Son into this earth is true in every saint. The Son of God is born into me by the direct act of God; then I as a child of God have to exercise the right of a child, the right of being always face to face with my Father. Am I continually saying with amazement to my common-sense life – why do you want to turn me off here? Don't you know that I must be about my Father's business? Whatever the circumstances may be, that Holy Innocent Eternal Child must be in contact with His Father.

Am I simple enough to identify myself with my Lord in this way? Is He getting his wonderful way in me? Is God realizing that His Son is formed in me, or have I carefully put Him on one side? Oh, the clamour of these days! Everyone is clamouring – for what? For the Son of God to be put to death. There is no room here for the Son of God just now, no room for quiet holy communion with the Father.

Is the Son of God praying in me or am I dictating to Him? Is He ministering in me as He did in the days of His flesh? Is the Son of God in me going through His passion for His own purposes? The more one knows of the inner life of God's ripest saints, the more one sees what God's purpose is – “filling up that which is behind of the affliction of Christ.” There is always something to be done in the sense of “filling up.”