神的异象
属灵的投资
经文
彼得前书一3-25
3 愿颂赞归与我们主耶稣基督的父神！他曾照自己的大怜悯，藉耶稣基督从死里复活，重生了我们，叫我们有活泼的盼望，
4 可以得着不能朽坏、不能玷污、不能衰残、为你们存留在天上的基业。
5 你们这因信蒙神能力保守的人，必能得着所预备，到末世要显现的救恩。
6 因此，你们是大有喜乐；但如今，在百般的试炼中暂时忧愁，
7 叫你们的信心既被试验，就比那被火试验仍然能坏的金子更显宝贵，可以在耶稣基督显现的时候得著称赞、荣耀、尊贵。
8 你们虽然没有见过他，却是爱他；如今虽不得看见，却因信他就有说不出来、满有荣光的大喜乐；
9 并且得着你们信心的果效，就是灵魂的救恩。
10 论到这救恩，那预先说你们要得恩典的众先知早已详细的寻求考察，
11 就是考察在他们心里基督的灵，预先证明基督受苦难，后来得荣耀，是指着甚么时候，并怎样的时候。
12 他们得了启示，知道他们所传讲（原文作服事）的一切事，不是为自己，乃是为你们。那靠着从天上差来的圣灵传福音给你们的人，现在将这些事报给你们；天使也愿意详细察看这些事。
13 所以要约束你们的心，（原文作束上你们心中的腰）谨慎自守，专心盼望耶稣基督显现的时候所带来给你们的恩。
14 你们既作顺命的儿女，就不要效法从前蒙昧无知的时候那放纵私欲的样子。
15 那召你们的既是圣洁，你们在一切所行的事上也要圣洁。
16 因为经上记着说：你们要圣洁，因为我是圣洁的。
17 你们既称那不偏待人，按各人行为审判人的主为父，就当存敬畏的心度你们在世寄居的日子，
18 知道你们得赎，脱去你们祖宗所传流虚妄的行为，不是凭着能坏的金银等物，
19 乃是凭着基督的宝血，如同无瑕疵、无玷污的羔羊之血。
20 基督在创世以前是预先被神知道的，却在这末世才为你们显现。
21 你们也因着他，信那叫他从死里复活、又给他荣耀的神，叫你们的信心和盼望都在于神。
22 你们既因顺从真理，洁净了自己的心，以致爱弟兄没有虚假，就当从心里（从心里：有古卷是从清洁的心）彼此切实相爱。
23 你们蒙了重生，不是由于能坏的种子，乃是由于不能坏的种子，是借着神活泼常存的道。
24 因为凡有血气的，尽都如草；他的美荣都像草上的花。草必枯干，花必凋谢；
25 惟有主的道是永存的。所传给你们的福音就是这道。
信息分享
昨天我们学习到，最清楚看到神的圣洁的人，最能够清楚认识自己。神圣洁的光芒好像X光一样，令他们能够辨别出深藏于自己本性中的罪。我们都在头脑上知道，看见神难以言喻的圣洁会令我们意识到自己的罪，但有多少人愿意靠近神，而且近得足以让祂向我们显示祂的圣洁是怎样的？设想圣洁与亲身经历圣洁是迥然不同的。韦约翰（John White）博士在《破镜》（The Shattered Mirror）中有同样的看法：「我们可以想像自己置身在皇室的花园舞会中，身边都是皇室那些穿戴整齐的宾客，而我们却还未梳洗，依旧穿着刚才在园里工作的残旧和粗糙的衣物。这种想像的经验与以赛亚和神相遇之间的差别，不仅是在程度上，我们惟有亲身经历了以后才能够理解它的特点。」
我们如何能够有这样的经历呢？我们可以先从神的话看祂如何描述自己圣洁的本质，然后以热诚、相信的祷告等候，并邀请神向你显明祂自己。当然，这需要时间，但花在与神一起的任何时间都是属灵的投资。不过，要谨记，神的异象和祂的圣洁在情感上会将人淹没，会令你不单喊出「圣哉！圣哉！圣哉！」，也会高呼：「祸哉！我灭亡了！」
「与神一起的时间是属灵的投资」
进深研究
路十八9-14；林前十12；箴二十八26
1. 耶稣在这个比喻中教导甚么？
2. 保罗警告哥林多人甚么？
祈祷
天父，我亲近您时感到畏惧，然而这畏惧却驱使我愿意更亲近您。求您帮助我明白与您在一起，领受超过付出。无论我需要做些甚么牺牲，求您帮助我能做得到。奉耶稣的名祈求，阿们。
The Vision of God
Invest now!
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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