Have Root

"When the sun was risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away." - Matthew 13:6

The real trouble was not the sun, but the lack of roots. In the spiritual life roots represent that part of the life which has a secret history with the Lord. Those who live their lives only before men lack that secret history. May I ask you a straight question? What proportion of your life is lived in secret? Is any of it hidden from the eyes of man? Is your prayer-life limited to the prayers you utter in prayer meetings? Is your knowledge of the Word of God limited to what you preach? Are all your intimate spiritual experiences shared with other people? If so, then you lack roots.

It is those Christians who have a history with God in the secret place who triumphantly survive the fiery trials of the way. If one day we are faced with the option of renouncing our faith or losing our lives, which will we choose? It is not in that day that the issue will be settled; it is now. If in that day we fail him, it will be because we have not sent down our roots deep enough today.

The Joyful Heart (Watchman Nee 主僕倪柝聲弟兄)

Read the Scriptures: Matthew 13

Who Will Gain and Lose

"And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly." - Romans 16:20

We believers who have been chosen by the Lord should never forget this purpose of our being involved in destroying the works and power of the devil. Whatever we do, we should not ask if this matter is good or bad, but ask instead if it is profitable to God and destructive to Satan. We will not do anything if it has no power to affect the kingdom of darkness and to cause damage to the devil.

In all our works we are to judge them not by the apparent result but by the effect they shall have in the spiritual realm as to who will gain and who will lose. This is spiritual warfare that is not to be waged by the efforts of flesh and blood. This is also to be the criterion at the judgement seat on that day: whether a work is to be burned or to stand shall be based on how effective it was in effecting the will of God.

The Lord My Portion (Watchman Nee 主僕倪柝聲弟兄)

Read the Scriptures: Romans 14

Judging and Setting at Nought

"Thou, why dost thou judge thy brother? Or thou again, why dost thou set at nought thy brother? For we shall all stand before the judgement seat of God." - Romans 14:10

Two things are here forbidden to us: 'judging' and 'setting at nought', an outward act and an inner attitude. I may not yet have gone so far as openly to express a judgement on my brother. Very good, but am I summing him up to myself unfavourably? Do I secretly pity him because he does not see as I see? Do I despise him in my heart as weak or eccentric? If so I am in rare peril, for my next step is to assume I am therefore better than he. If I despise him, then it is quite certain I think over much of myself. Let me beware of classing myself as spiritually strong, for that is only to betray to God my own carnality. Of course He would have me discern clearly between right and wrong, but I must never make others the victims of my discernment. The judgment seat is Christ's, and is still future. Who of us dare usurp its function now?

A Table In The Wilderness (Watchman Nee 主僕倪柝聲弟兄)

Read the Scriptures: Romans 14

Minister Before the Lord

"But the priests the Levites... shall come near to me to minister unto me." - Ezekiel 44:15

One condition basic to all that can truly be called ministry to the Lord is that we draw near to Him. He desires our worship; yet how hard we find it to drag ourselves into His presence! We shrink from the solitude, and even when we do detach ourselves physically from outside things, we find our thoughts wandering back to them. Many of us can enjoy working among people in the outer court, but how many of us give time to draw near to God in the Holy Place?

To come into His presence and wait upon Him demands all the determination we possess, and even means that we may have to be violent with ourselves. But let me be frank with you; it is impossible to stand afar and yet minister to Him. You cannot serve God from a distance. In the outer court, quite rightly, you approach people; in the Holy Place you approach the Lord. Come nearer, It is your priviledge.

The Joyful Heart (Watchman Nee 主僕倪柝聲弟兄)

Read the Scriptures: Ezekiel 44