"Thou shalt remember all the way which Jehovah thy God hath led thee these forty years in the wilderness, that He might humble thee, to prove thee, to know what was in thy heart." - Deuteronomy 8:2
Let us understand that God has no need for our defeats and failures - only we do. For while we experience smooth sailing, being often victorious and full of joy, we may regard ourselves as being fairly good and having possession of something that other people do not have. Though we may not dare to boast openly of anything, nevertheless, when we make some progress in spiritual life or have some success in spiritual work we cannot help but conceive the thought that now we are truly holy and powerful and excelling quite well. In such a state as this, it is easy to become careless and to lose the attitude of depending on God.
Accordingly, the Lord permits us to fall from glory to dust. We learn we are no different from the world's greatest and worst sinners. With the result that we dare not be self-reliant anymore but will in all things cast ourselves upon God with fear and trembling.
The Lord My Portion (Watchman Nee 主僕倪柝聲弟兄)
Read the Scriptures: Deuteronomy 8
Monday, July 30, 2007
Monday, July 23, 2007
First Fruits
"These were purchased from among men, to be the first fruits unto God and unto the Lamb." - Revelation 14:4
My home province of Fukien is famous for its oranges. I would say (though doubtless I am prejudiced) that there are none like them anywhere in this world. As you look out on the hills at the beginning of the orange season, all the groves are green. But if you observe more carefully you will see, scattered here and there on the trees, golden oranges already showing up. It is a beautiful sight to see the flecks of gold dotted among the dark green trees. Later the whole crop will ripen and the groves will turn to gold, but now it is these firstfruits that are gathered. They are carefully hand-picked, and it is they that fetch the top market-prices, often as much as three times the price of the harvest.
All Christians will reach ripeness somehow, we are assured. But the Lamb seeks firstfruits for His hour of supreme demand.
A Table In The Wilderness (Watchman Nee 主僕倪柝聲弟兄)
Read the Scriptures: Revelation 14
My home province of Fukien is famous for its oranges. I would say (though doubtless I am prejudiced) that there are none like them anywhere in this world. As you look out on the hills at the beginning of the orange season, all the groves are green. But if you observe more carefully you will see, scattered here and there on the trees, golden oranges already showing up. It is a beautiful sight to see the flecks of gold dotted among the dark green trees. Later the whole crop will ripen and the groves will turn to gold, but now it is these firstfruits that are gathered. They are carefully hand-picked, and it is they that fetch the top market-prices, often as much as three times the price of the harvest.
All Christians will reach ripeness somehow, we are assured. But the Lamb seeks firstfruits for His hour of supreme demand.
A Table In The Wilderness (Watchman Nee 主僕倪柝聲弟兄)
Read the Scriptures: Revelation 14
Monday, July 16, 2007
The Hand of God
"With what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you again." - Luke 6:38
I knew a dear brother who was intensely critical. His favorite observation was: 'It was the hand of God.' Was someone sick? 'It is the hand of God on him,' he would say. Sometimes maybe he was right. But one day another brother, of whom he disapproved, lost his son, and, believe it or not, received a letter from this man saying, 'It is the hand of God on you!' I saw the letter and felt highly indignant that he should thus judge another. What was my horror, then, when within two weeks his own son was taken ill and died.
Then it was that temptation came to me. I took up my pen and wrote, 'My dear brother, I grieve with you in your bereavement, but if that man lost his child because the hand of God was on him in judgement, then what about yourself? Are you willing to admit that God's hand is on you?' It seemed about time this was said! I finished the letter - and then God rebuked me. Was not I doing the very thing I had disapproved of? His mercy had restrained me just in time. I tore up the letter. If I too would not reap, I must not sow!
A Table In The Wilderness (Watchman Nee 主僕倪柝聲弟兄)
Read the Scriptures: Luke 6
I knew a dear brother who was intensely critical. His favorite observation was: 'It was the hand of God.' Was someone sick? 'It is the hand of God on him,' he would say. Sometimes maybe he was right. But one day another brother, of whom he disapproved, lost his son, and, believe it or not, received a letter from this man saying, 'It is the hand of God on you!' I saw the letter and felt highly indignant that he should thus judge another. What was my horror, then, when within two weeks his own son was taken ill and died.
Then it was that temptation came to me. I took up my pen and wrote, 'My dear brother, I grieve with you in your bereavement, but if that man lost his child because the hand of God was on him in judgement, then what about yourself? Are you willing to admit that God's hand is on you?' It seemed about time this was said! I finished the letter - and then God rebuked me. Was not I doing the very thing I had disapproved of? His mercy had restrained me just in time. I tore up the letter. If I too would not reap, I must not sow!
A Table In The Wilderness (Watchman Nee 主僕倪柝聲弟兄)
Read the Scriptures: Luke 6
Monday, July 09, 2007
Butter and Honey
"Butter and honey shall He eat, that He may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good." - Isaiah 7:15
Our Lord had butter and honey; therefore, He could choose the good and refuse the evil. It requires great power to be obedient! If God does not fill your heart first, you will not succeed, no matter how you try externally. We need to learn to draw near to God daily and receive from heaven both butter and honey (the grace and love of God), so that day by day we may live on earth choosing the good and refusing the evil.
I speak to you today in this manner because I have a deep sense within me that the return of the Lord is imminent and that the kingdom is at hand. Henceforth, temptations will be greater, dangers will be multiplied, and deceptions will be deepened. Oh do let us notice one thing: that no matter what is placed before us, we shall be able to choose with singleness of heart only because we have received the heavenly butter and honey.
The Lord My Portion (Watchman Nee 主僕倪柝聲弟兄)
Read the Scriptures: Isaiah 7
Our Lord had butter and honey; therefore, He could choose the good and refuse the evil. It requires great power to be obedient! If God does not fill your heart first, you will not succeed, no matter how you try externally. We need to learn to draw near to God daily and receive from heaven both butter and honey (the grace and love of God), so that day by day we may live on earth choosing the good and refusing the evil.
I speak to you today in this manner because I have a deep sense within me that the return of the Lord is imminent and that the kingdom is at hand. Henceforth, temptations will be greater, dangers will be multiplied, and deceptions will be deepened. Oh do let us notice one thing: that no matter what is placed before us, we shall be able to choose with singleness of heart only because we have received the heavenly butter and honey.
The Lord My Portion (Watchman Nee 主僕倪柝聲弟兄)
Read the Scriptures: Isaiah 7
Monday, July 02, 2007
Altering God's mind
"Go not up, for the Lord is not among you; that ye be not smitten down before your enemies." - Numbers 14:42
There is always the serious possibility that God will change His mind. This fact should keep us in humble fear before Him. For if there is something in us which resists His will, God may be compelled to modify His orders to us, as He did to Israel. It is true they acknowledged they had sinned, but they were wrong in thinking they could then proceed as though nothing had altered. It had. In such a situation it is folly to hold blindly on to something the Lord gave us twenty years ago - or even last year. We must live in today, and hold on to God. It is the present relationship that is vital. Why, even Moses found his course redirected when he failed God. But bowing to God's present will he was blessed, whereas the Israelites who tried to ignore it met only disaster. Has something in me altered God's mind? Let me then be open to His adjustment. One day He will restore.
A Table In The Wilderness (Watchman Nee 主僕倪柝聲弟兄)
Read the Scriptures: Numbers 14
There is always the serious possibility that God will change His mind. This fact should keep us in humble fear before Him. For if there is something in us which resists His will, God may be compelled to modify His orders to us, as He did to Israel. It is true they acknowledged they had sinned, but they were wrong in thinking they could then proceed as though nothing had altered. It had. In such a situation it is folly to hold blindly on to something the Lord gave us twenty years ago - or even last year. We must live in today, and hold on to God. It is the present relationship that is vital. Why, even Moses found his course redirected when he failed God. But bowing to God's present will he was blessed, whereas the Israelites who tried to ignore it met only disaster. Has something in me altered God's mind? Let me then be open to His adjustment. One day He will restore.
A Table In The Wilderness (Watchman Nee 主僕倪柝聲弟兄)
Read the Scriptures: Numbers 14
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