1月5日 后来的生命能力

我所去的地方，你现在不能跟我去，后来却要跟我去。（约十三36）

“说了这话，就对他说，你跟从我吧。”三年前，耶稣曾说：“来跟从我”，那时彼得很轻易就跟从了他。彼得是被耶稣所吸引而自动跟随，并不需要圣灵来帮助。然而后来，他却落到否认耶稣的地步，心碎欲绝。不过，他受了圣灵，耶稣又再一次对他说：“来跟从我。”这时除了主耶稣基督以外，再没有别人了。第一次的“跟从”并没有什么可引起惊奇的，那只是外表上的跟从；如今却是殉道者的跟从（约二十一18）在这期间，彼得曾发咒起誓否认耶稣。此时，他已来到自己的尽头，所有的自满自恃不足倚仗。就在这绝境中，他符合了接受复活主赐与的条件。“他向他们吹一口气说：『你们受圣灵』” 因此，无论神在你身上做了什么改变，都切勿倚仗这些改变，只要建立在主耶稣身上和他所赐的圣灵。

我们纵有誓言与决心，到头来还是否认主，因为我们没有能力实行出来。惟有当我们真正来到自己的尽头，这才能领受圣灵不是幻想出来的。“你们受圣灵”意思是受圣灵的征服。如今在你生命中只有一颗北斗星（意即引导方向者），就是主耶稣基督。

祈祷◆噢，主啊，以你伟大的能力来坚立我，印着耶稣的救赎，我相信自己有权利这样祈求。令我的身体尽献己力，以致你的光辉可以在我身上彰显。

January 5 The Life of Power to Follow

Jesus answered him, 'Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward' —John 13:36

"And when He had spoken this, He said to him, 'Follow Me' " (John 21:19). Three years earlier Jesus had said, "Follow Me" (Matthew 4:19), and Peter followed with no hesitation. The irresistible attraction of Jesus was upon him and he did not need the Holy Spirit to help him do it. Later he came to the place where he denied Jesus, and his heart broke. Then he received the Holy Spirit and Jesus said again, "Follow Me" (John 21:19). Now no one is in front of Peter except the Lord Jesus Christ. The first "Follow Me" was nothing mysterious; it was an external following. Jesus is now asking for an internal sacrifice and yielding (see John 21:18).

Between these two times Peter denied Jesus with oaths and curses (see Matthew 26:69-75). But then he came completely to the end of himself and all of his self-sufficiency. There was no part of himself he would ever rely on again. In his state of destitution, he was finally ready to receive all that the risen Lord had for him. ". . . He breathed on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit'" (John 20:22). No matter what changes God has performed in you, never rely on them. Build only on a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ, and on the Spirit He gives.

All our promises and resolutions end in denial because we have no power to accomplish them. When we come to the end of ourselves, not just mentally but completely, we are able to "receive the Holy Spirit." "Receive the Holy Spirit"— the idea is that of invasion. There is now only One who directs the course of your life, the Lord Jesus Christ.