7月12日 屬靈的團體

直等到我們眾人……長大成人，滿有基督長成的身量。（弗四13）

整個人類要重新恢復與神的關係，這正是主耶穌的救贖所成就的。教會什麼時候只顧發展本身的組織，就不再是一個屬靈的團體了。主耶穌使人類恢復原位的計劃，是要人不單個別地，也要在整體上彰顯基督。主耶穌差遣使徒和教師，就是為此目的——叫神在教會整體中彰顯。我們不是為發展自己屬靈的生命，也不是為享受屬靈的安靜；我們乃是要活出基督，好叫基督的身體得以建立。我是在建立基督的身體嗎？還是只求個人的發展？最重要的是我個人與耶穌的關係——“使我認識基督”。要完成神的計劃就要完全把自己交付他。每當我要為自己求什麼，與神的關係就有所偏差。我們若發現自己並不在乎彰顯基督，而只追求彰顯他為我所做的事，會為此感動極大羞愧。“我的目標是神自己，而不是喜樂，不是平安，也不是祝福。單是神自己，我的神。”我是否以此衡量自己的生命？還是以次一等的標準來衡量？

祈禱◆噢，主啊，我讚美你。因為當我想到你那奧妙的身體中的肢體，腦海中浮現那偉大的思想。我何等渴望迅速地更多認識到它的奧秘。

July 12 The Spiritual Society

“Till we all come . . unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:13

Rehabilitation means the putting back of the whole human race into the relationship God designed it to be in, and this is what Jesus Christ did in Redemption. The Church ceases to be a spiritual society when it is on the look-out for the development of its own organization. The rehabilitation of the human race on Jesus Christ's plan means the realization of Jesus Christ in corporate life as well as in individual life. Jesus Christ sent apostles and teachers for this purpose – that the corporate Personality might be realized. We are not here to develop a spiritual life of our own, or to enjoy spiritual retirement; we are here so to realize Jesus Christ that the Body of Christ may be built up.

Am I building up the Body of Christ, or am I looking for my own personal development only? The essential thing is my personal relationship to Jesus Christ – “That I may know Him.” To fulfil God's design means entire abandonment to Him. Whenever I want things for myself, the relationship is distorted. It will be a big humiliation to realize that I have not been concerned about realizing Jesus Christ, but only about realizing what He has done for me.

“My goal is God Himself, not joy nor peace,

Nor even blessing, but Himself, my God.”

Am I measuring my life by this standard or by anything less?