💜《神的心意-God’s Best Secrets》20220802『親近上帝-CHRIST, The Nearness of GOD』— 慕安德烈 [Andrew Murray]

經文: 「你們親近上帝，上帝就必親近你們。」— [聖經·雅各書 4章8a節]

污穢的罪人原本無法接近聖潔的上帝，但因著祂救贖的恩典，使得人可以接近上帝。憑信進到祂面前的人，必須明白上帝與人之間的鴻溝，以及後來能夠和好接近祂的緣由。

靠著耶穌基督我們得以進到上帝的面前，然而這兒有一個要求：「若要上帝親近你，你必要先親近上帝。」，更何況上帝已應許：「我必與你同在。」(出埃及記 三12)，當我們坐在祂腳前等候祂時，就越發能體會這經文的真實性。

也就是說，在每天的清晨都要來到主的面前，將一切俗物雜事卸下，讓祂的靈更新我們的心，讓整個人浸沐在祂的同在裡，讓上帝對我們的心說話。說得更具體一點，就是要撥時間專心等候耶和華，等候祂在我們心中顯現。除非我們每天有這樣「安靜時間」的操練，單單地要祂、渴慕地愛祂，相信「只要我們親近上帝，上帝必要親近我們。」否則我們很難做到每天時時刻刻都感受到主的同在。

並且，要在日常生活中學習尊主為大，讓祂居首位、凡事求問祂，並以討祂的歡心為首要之務；因為上帝應許：「人若愛我，就必遵守我的道，我父也必愛他，並且我們要到他那裡去，與他同住。」(約翰福音 十四23)

接著就要以信心接受這應許，即使我們感覺不到上帝的同在，我們仍憑信心相信上帝眼目眷顧保守我們，並祝福我們手中所作的事，且剛強我們裡面的人，好讓我們有力量服事祂。

親愛的，讓我們每天早上來到上帝面前，領受上帝的話語 :「你們親近上帝，上帝就必親近你們。」耐心等候上帝，讓這句話賦於新的意義，並經歷上帝以祂信實所保證的應許：「我必與你同在。」(出埃及記 三12)

—《 神 的 心 意 》
[每日靈修 8月2日]
作者：慕安德烈
編輯：榮華興

『 CHRIST, The Nearness of GOD 』

Scripture: “Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.” — [James 4:8a]

It has been said that the holiness of God is the union of God’s infinite distance from sinful man with God’s infinite nearness in His redeeming grace. Faith must ever seek to realize both the distance and the nearness.

In Christ God has come near, so very near to man, and now the command comes: If you would have God come still nearer, you must draw nigh to Him. The promised nearness of Christ Jesus expressed in the promise, “Lo, I am with you alway,” can only be experienced as we draw near to Him.

That means, first of all, at the beginning of each day afresh to yield ourselves for His holy presence to rest upon us. It means a voluntary, intentional, and whole-hearted turning away from the world, to wait on God to make Himself known to our souls. It means giving time, and all our heart and strength, to allow Him to reveal Himself. It is impossible to expect the abiding presence of Christ with us through the day, unless there be the definite daily exercise of strong desire and childlike trust in His word: “Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.”

And that means, further, the simple, childlike offering of ourselves and our lives in everything to do His will alone, and to seek above everything to please Him. His promise is sure: “If a man love Me he will keep My words, and My Father will love him, and we will make our abode in him.”

Then comes the quiet assurance of faith, even if there is not much feeling or sense of His presence, that God is with us, and that as we go out to do His will He will watch over us, and keep us, and, what is more, strengthen us in the inner man with divine strength for the work we have to do for Him.

Child of God, let these words come to you with a new meaning each morning: “Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.” Wait patiently, and He will speak in divine power: “Lo, I am with you alway.”

— God’s Best Secrets by Andrew Murray
「 2 August 」