2月2日 呼召的催逼

若不传福音，我就有祸了。（林前九16）

当心对神的呼召充耳不闻。每一个得救的人，神都呼召他作见证；可是那并不是传道的呼召，那只是传道中的例证。保罗所指的是神催逼他传福音所带来的压力。千万不要把保罗在此所说的，与人来到神面前求拯救一事相提并论。得救是最容易不过的事，因为这是神完成的工作－－“你来就我，我必定拯救。”主并没有把作门徒的条件，作为得救的条件。我们藉耶稣基督的十字架，由定罪而获得拯救。但作门徒却有取舍的余地－－“若有人……”。

保罗是说我们既成为耶稣基督的仆人，无论他要我们做什么或往哪里去，都不必征得我们的同意。我们成为擘开的饼、倒出来的酒，为要叫神喜悦。“为福音分别出来”，就是听见神的呼召。当人听见这个呼召，痛苦随即便来，因为要为这名受苦。所有的生活欲望停止了，所有的期望理想也消失净尽，雄心大志也像花草在萌芽时摘下，如今只剩下一件事——为福音分别出来。一旦呼召临到，却偏行己路、自作抉择，那人便有祸了。

神学院的设立，原是为了你们，要你们看看神在这里是否寻得一个弟兄或一个姊妹，肯摆上自己传福音；也要看看神有没有抓住你。神若真的抓住你，就当留心那些与神为敌的事物。

祈祷◆噢，主啊，吸引我进入与你不可缺少的灵交里。阳光给自然界带来的差别是何等显著：你临到我们时，所带来的差别也是何等的迥异！求你不住的催促，直至我们因你的同在而振奋。

February 2 The Compelling Force of the Call

Woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! —1 Corinthians 9:16

Beware of refusing to hear the call of God. Everyone who is saved is called to testify to the fact of his salvation. That, however, is not the same as the call to preach, but is merely an illustration which can be used in preaching. In this verse, Paul was referring to the stinging pains produced in him by the compelling force of the call to preach the gospel. Never try to apply what Paul said regarding the call to preach to those souls who are being called to God for salvation. There is nothing easier than getting saved, because it is solely God's sovereign work— “Look to Me, and be saved . . .” (Isaiah 45:22). Our Lord never requires the same conditions for discipleship that he requires for salvation. We are condemned to salvation through the Cross of Christ. But discipleship has an option with it-“If anyone . . .” (Luke 14:26).

Paul's words have to do with our being made servants of Jesus Christ, and our permission is never asked as to what we will do or where we will go. God makes us as broken bread and poured-out wine to please Himself. To be “separated to the gospel” means being able to hear the call of God (Romans 1:1). Once someone begins to hear that call, a suffering worthy of the name of Christ is produced. Suddenly, every ambition, every desire of life, and every outlook is completely blotted out and extinguished. Only one thing remains— “. . . separated to the gospel. . . .” Woe be to the soul who tries to head in any other direction once that call has come to him. The Bible Training College exists so that each of you may know whether or not God has a man or woman here who truly cares about proclaiming His gospel and to see if God grips you for this purpose. Beware of competing calls once the call of God grips you.