神的異象
屬靈的投資
經文
彼得前書一3-25
3 願頌讚歸與我們主耶穌基督的父神！他曾照自己的大憐憫，藉耶穌基督從死裡復活，重生了我們，叫我們有活潑的盼望，
4 可以得著不能朽壞、不能玷污、不能衰殘、為你們存留在天上的基業。
5 你們這因信蒙神能力保守的人，必能得著所預備，到末世要顯現的救恩。
6 因此，你們是大有喜樂；但如今，在百般的試煉中暫時憂愁，
7 叫你們的信心既被試驗，就比那被火試驗仍然能壞的金子更顯寶貴，可以在耶穌基督顯現的時候得著稱讚、榮耀、尊貴。
8 你們雖然沒有見過他，卻是愛他；如今雖不得看見，卻因信他就有說不出來、滿有榮光的大喜樂；
9 並且得著你們信心的果效，就是靈魂的救恩。
10 論到這救恩，那預先說你們要得恩典的眾先知早已詳細的尋求考察，
11 就是考察在他們心裡基督的靈，預先證明基督受苦難，後來得榮耀，是指著甚麼時候，並怎樣的時候。
12 他們得了啟示，知道他們所傳講（原文作服事）的一切事，不是為自己，乃是為你們。那靠著從天上差來的聖靈傳福音給你們的人，現在將這些事報給你們；天使也願意詳細察看這些事。
13 所以要約束你們的心，（原文作束上你們心中的腰）謹慎自守，專心盼望耶穌基督顯現的時候所帶來給你們的恩。
14 你們既作順命的兒女，就不要效法從前蒙昧無知的時候那放縱私慾的樣子。
15 那召你們的既是聖潔，你們在一切所行的事上也要聖潔。
16 因為經上記著說：你們要聖潔，因為我是聖潔的。
17 你們既稱那不偏待人，按各人行為審判人的主為父，就當存敬畏的心度你們在世寄居的日子，
18 知道你們得贖，脫去你們祖宗所傳流虛妄的行為，不是憑著能壞的金銀等物，
19 乃是憑著基督的寶血，如同無瑕疵、無玷污的羔羊之血。
20 基督在創世以前是預先被神知道的，卻在這末世才為你們顯現。
21 你們也因著他，信那叫他從死裡復活、又給他榮耀的神，叫你們的信心和盼望都在於神。
22 你們既因順從真理，潔淨了自己的心，以致愛弟兄沒有虛假，就當從心裡（從心裡：有古卷是從清潔的心）彼此切實相愛。
23 你們蒙了重生，不是由於能壞的種子，乃是由於不能壞的種子，是藉著神活潑常存的道。
24 因為凡有血氣的，盡都如草；他的美榮都像草上的花。草必枯乾，花必凋謝；
25 惟有主的道是永存的。所傳給你們的福音就是這道。
信息分享
昨天我們學習到，最清楚看到神的聖潔的人，最能夠清楚認識自己。神聖潔的光芒好像X光一樣，令他們能夠辨別出深藏於自己本性中的罪。我們都在頭腦上知道，看見神難以言喻的聖潔會令我們意識到自己的罪，但有多少人願意靠近神，而且近得足以讓祂向我們顯示祂的聖潔是怎樣的？設想聖潔與親身經歷聖潔是迥然不同的。韋約翰（John White）博士在《破鏡》（The Shattered Mirror）中有同樣的看法：「我們可以想像自己置身在皇室的花園舞會中，身邊都是皇室那些穿戴整齊的賓客，而我們卻還未梳洗，依舊穿著剛才在園裡工作的殘舊和粗糙的衣物。這種想像的經驗與以賽亞和神相遇之間的差別，不僅是在程度上，我們惟有親身經歷了以後才能夠理解它的特點。」
我們如何能夠有這樣的經歷呢？我們可以先從神的話看祂如何描述自己聖潔的本質，然後以熱誠、相信的禱告等候，並邀請神向你顯明祂自己。當然，這需要時間，但花在與神一起的任何時間都是屬靈的投資。不過，要謹記，神的異象和祂的聖潔在情感上會將人淹沒，會令你不單喊出「聖哉！聖哉！聖哉！」，也會高呼：「禍哉！我滅亡了！」
「與神一起的時間是屬靈的投資」
進深研究
路十八9-14；林前十12；箴二十八26
1. 耶穌在這個比喻中教導甚麼？
2. 保羅警告哥林多人甚麼？
祈禱
天父，我親近您時感到畏懼，然而這畏懼卻驅使我願意更親近您。求您幫助我明白與您在一起，領受超過付出。無論我需要做些甚麼犧牲，求您幫助我能做得到。奉耶穌的名祈求，阿們。
The Vision of God
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Bible reading:
1 Peter 1:3-25
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,
5 who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care,
11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow.
12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
13 Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.
14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.
15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;
16 for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."[a]
17 Since you call on a Father who judges each person's work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.
18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors,
19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.
21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.[b]
23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
24 For, "All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,
25 but the word of the Lord endures forever."[c] And this is the word that was preached to you.
Message
We acknowledged yesterday that those who see the holiness of God most clearly see themselves most clearly. The white light of God's holiness is like an X-ray that enables them to discern the sin that is deeply hidden in their nature. We all know in an intellectual way that to catch sight of God's ineffable holiness would make us conscious of our own sin, but how many of us are willing to draw near enough to God for Him to show us what His holiness is like? It is one thing to imagine what it might be like; it is another thing to experience it. Dr John White, in The Shattered Mirror, puts the same thought in this way: "We can get some idea of the matter by imagining what it would be like to find ourselves, say, at a royal garden party, surrounded by impeccably dressed royal guests, while we were still unwashed and wearing the old, rough clothes in which we had just finished gardening. The difference between that imaginary experience and Isaiah's encounter with God is not merely one of degree, but a quality we could know only by experiencing it ourselves."
How can we experience it ourselves? We can begin by looking at the nature of God's holiness as outlined in His Word. Then continue by waiting before God in fervent, believing prayer and inviting God to reveal Himself to you. This takes time, of course, but any time spent with God is spiritual investment. But remember, a vision of God and His holiness will be emotionally overwhelming. It will cause you not only to cry out "Holy, holy, holy," but also, "Woe to me! I am ruined!"
"Time spent with God is spiritual investment"
Prayer
O Father, I am afraid as I draw near, yet I draw near because I am afraid. Show me even more dearly that the time I spend with You will yield more than it costs. Whatever sacrifice is needed, help me make it. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Further study
Luke 18:9-14
1 Corinthians 10:12
Proverbs 28:26
1. What did Jesus teach in this parable?
2. What did Paul warn the Corinthians?
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