9月21日 传道者的预选

耶和华从我出胎造就我作他的仆人。（赛四十九5）

我们一清楚在耶稣基督里被神选召，第一件发生的事就是偏见、狭隘的思想、爱国主义的破灭，变成神的仆人，为完成他的计划。整个人类原是为荣耀神、永远享受神而被造的。罪恶把人类带入歧途，但却不能改变神原意的一丝一毫。我们重生得救时，就立时进入神对人类伟大的用心里去；我是为神而被造的，神创造了我。明白神的选召，是世上最快乐不过的体会，我们必须信赖神伟大的创造计划。神要作在我们身上的第一件事，就是要把对世界的关注，灌注到一颗心的通道里去。他把爱，就是自己的本性，引进我们里面，而全能神的本性，就集中在约翰福音三章16节：“神爱世人……”。

我们要保持心灵向神创造的本意敞开，不要把自己的意念搀杂在里面。若非如此，不管我们多痛苦，神也要把我们的意图压碎。传道者的任务就是作神的仆人，让神得着荣耀。若我们明白在主的救恩里成为完全适合神用的人，就明白主耶稣的要求何以这样决绝。他要求他的仆人绝对的正直，因为他已把神的本性放在他们里面。

祈祷◆噢，主啊，为着我所负责的这些人，我恳求你带领我与你的计划活泼相连。为着今天所拥有的一切机会，求你重新膏立我。让我看见你救恩的作为。

September 21 Missionary Predestinations

“And now, saith the Lord, that formed me from the womb to be His servant.” Isaiah 49:5

The first thing that happens after we have realized our election to God in Christ Jesus is the destruction of our prejudices and our parochial notions and our patriotisms; we are turned into servants of God's own purpose. The whole human race was created to glorify God and enjoy Him for ever. Sin has switched the human race on to another tack, but it has not altered God's purpose in the tiniest degree; and when we are born again we are brought into the realization of God's great purpose for the human race, viz., I am created for God, He made me. This realization of the election of God is the most joyful realization on earth, and we have to learn to rely on the tremendous creative purpose of God. The first thing God will do with us is to “force through the channels of a single heart” the interests of the whole world. The love of God, the very nature of God, is introduced into us, and the nature of Almighty God is focused in John 3:16 – “God so loved the world. . .”

We have to maintain our soul open to the fact of God's creative purpose, and not muddle it with our own intentions. If we do, God will have to crush our intentions on one side however much it may hurt. The purpose for which the missionary is created is that he may be God's servant, one in whom God is glorified. When once we realize that through the salvation of Jesus Christ we are made perfectly fit for God, we shall understand why Jesus Christ is so ruthless in His demands. He demands absolute rectitude from His servants, because He has put into them the very nature of God.

Beware lest you forget God’s purpose for your life.