Eternal Flame

When I was reading the devotion from Ministry in Word yesterday I was reminded of an oil painting that God graced me with the ability to accomplish as a witness to His hearts intent.  I am loading the picture below as well as what God translated through the image and His written word. 

I am also reminded and thankful for the Ministries He has put in place to reach beyond the walls of His body.  Drawing to the Rock and Glimpse of His Glory are just two of such Ministries spilling the creativity of our God out from the hearts and minds of His people to meet unsuspecting individuals right where they are.  I know it is their and the artists hope that the individuals gazing upon these works that Christ will be seen, God will be heard and the Holy Spirit will be received.

It is not the skill of the artist that should be magnified, each work no matter how we deem the skill level is precious in His sight.  He looks at the hearts intent and uses it for His purposes, in His timing, for His will to be done.

Let us remember to encourage those doing the work for Him, not because they are perfect at it....but because they listen and obey for His Name Sake and Glory.

With the Love of our Christ I pray that today each of us take a risk, move out of our comfort zone and believe in the reality of the Lord God Almighty - otherwise the ones along our way might not see Him, turn to Him and be healed for eternity.

Kisses,
Candace

"Eternal Flame"

oil on canvas

2 Peter 3:10 (GWT)

The day of the Lord will come like a thief. On that day heaven will pass away with a roaring sound. Everything that makes up the universe will burn and be destroyed. The earth and everything that people have done on it will be exposed.

The cross is God's salvation plan for the lost.  Noone gets to the Father except through the Son.  It is through our belief in Him and acceptance of His gift that we have eternal life.  When I hear the firehouse alarms, I think about the day of the Lord and wonder if anyone else thinks about when it might be, or if they even know what we as Christians know.  I think about how God provides the perfect situations in our lives to communicate His love and His desire for us to have life in abundance.  We are called to listen, hear, and look deeper than this life and to share with the heart of our Savior. 
How tragic if all that transpires from such a calamity is the replacement of lost earthly possessions.  I pray that we all look deeper, move more swiftly and reach more passionately - all the while thanking Christ for His life.

By Candace Huffmaster ©2006 all rights reserved

A Really Hearty Meal

Good Morning -
The depth of Oswald Chambers wisdom never ceases to amaze me. He articulates spiritual thoughts with such heights of clarity that I can truly say without a doubt, I have heard the truth of God as I read.

May the peace that surpasses all understanding blanket you as you read, comprehend and digest all that is written.
In Christ,
Candace

Identified or Simply Interested?

I have been crucified with Christ . . . —Galatians 2:20

 

The inescapable spiritual need each of us has is the need to sign the death certificate of our sin nature. I must take my emotional opinions and intellectual beliefs and be willing to turn them into a moral verdict against the nature of sin; that is, against any claim I have to my right to myself. Paul said, "I have been crucified with Christ . . . ." He did not say, "I have made a determination to imitate Jesus Christ," or, "I will really make an effort to follow Him"-but-"I have been identified with Him in His death." Once I reach this moral decision and act on it, all that Christ accomplished for me on the Cross is accomplished in me. My unrestrained commitment of myself to God gives the Holy Spirit the opportunity to grant to me the holiness of Jesus Christ.

". . . it is no longer I who live . . . ." My individuality remains, but my primary motivation for living and the nature that rules me are radically changed. I have the same human body, but the old satanic right to myself has been destroyed.

". . . and the life which I now live in the flesh," not the life which I long to live or even pray that I live, but the life I now live in my mortal flesh-the life which others can see, "I live by faith in the Son of God . . . ." This faith was not Paul’s own faith in Jesus Christ, but the faith the Son God had given to him (see Ephesians 2:8 ). It is no longer a faith in faith, but a faith that transcends all imaginable limits-a faith that comes only from the Son of God. By Oswald Chambers

Participants of the Divine Nature – Part 5

Ministry in Word

Participants of the Divine Nature – Part 5

与神的性情有分-第五部

Based on Charles H. Spurgeon’s Morning & Evening devotional

2 Peter 1:3-4

彼得後书1:3-4

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”
「神的神能已将一切关乎生命和虔敬的事赐给我们，皆因我们认识那用自己荣耀和美德召我们的主。因此，他已将又宝贵又极大的应许赐给我们，叫我们既脱离世上从情欲来的败坏，就得与神的性情有分。」

We Are Sanctified Through Resisting Sin
我们藉着抵挡罪使我们成圣

We see that we are sanctified by the word of God, and by the work of God and the Holy Spirit. Do we remain passive and have no part in our sanctification? Apostle Paul did not think so. We are also sanctified through resisting sin ourselves. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians and said, “It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.” (1 Th 4:3-7) If it is God’s will for us to avoid sins and have self control, to deal rightly with our brothers, and to live a pure and holy life, it ought to be our will to do so as well. If we are participants of the divine nature, God’s will becomes our will, and we pray that “thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Mt 6:10)

我们了解是神的道、神的工作和圣灵的工作使我们成圣。我们是否完全被动，在我们成圣的功夫上无份呢？使徒保罗认为并非如此。我们也藉着抵挡罪使我们圣。保罗写信对帖撒罗弥迦人说，「神的旨意就是要你们成为圣洁，远避淫行；要你们各人晓得怎样用圣洁、尊贵守着自己的身体。不放纵私欲的邪情，像那不 认识神的外邦人。不要一个人在这事上越分，欺负他的弟兄；因为这一类的事，主必报应，正如我预先对你们说过，又切切嘱咐你们的。神召我们，本不是要我 们沾染污秽，乃是要我们成为圣洁。」〔帖前4:3-7〕如果是神的旨意要我们远避 罪和有自制，公道地对待我们的弟兄，和过一个圣洁的生活，那也该是我们的旨意去如此行。如果我们是与神的性情有分的人，神的旨意就成为我们的旨意，而我们祈祷「愿你的旨意行在地上，如同行在天上。」〔太6:10〕

Conclusion
结语

Let me recall for us Apostle Peter’s words in today’s Scriptures: “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”

让我为大家复述使徒彼得在今天经文中的话：「神的神能已将一切关乎生命和虔敬的事赐给我们，皆因我们认识那用自己荣耀和美德召我们的主。因此，他已将 又宝贵又极大的应许赐给我们，叫我们既脱离世上从情欲来的败坏，就得与神的性情有分。」

All that we need for living a godly life have been given us, we don’t need anything any more. God invites us to be participants of the divine nature through our knowledge of Him, through our personal relationship with Him, and in our alignment of our will with  His will. Through His own glory and goodness He called us into His great and precious promises. The purpose of these promises is to get us to participate in the divine nature
and avoid the corruption in the world.

一切所需来过虔敬生命的事都已赐给我们了，再不需要什麽了。神邀请我们藉着我们对他的认识、藉着我们与他的个人关系，以及藉着我们旨意与他的旨意一致 来成为与神的性情有分的人。他以自己的荣耀和美德召我们进入他宝贵又极大的 应许中。他的应许的目的是要叫我们与神的性情有分和脱离世上的败坏。

The Bible says, "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever" (Ps  107:1). So at times when we are not feeling like it in our own nature, if we will just give praise and worship to God according to the divine nature we are participating in, even the sacrifice of praise, it can be a powerful testimony to a lost and watching world that God is good and His love endures forever!

圣经说，「你们要称谢耶和华，因他本为善；他的慈爱永远长存！」〔詩107:1〕 所以有时当我们在我们的性情中不想称谢和敬拜神，如果我们照着神的性情如此 行，什至献上颂赞的祭，那可以成为对失丧和在观望的世界的一个有力的见证，这见证就是神本为善，他的慈爱永远长存！

May the word of God, the work of God and the Holy Spirit, and our resisting sin sanctify us from the corruption in the world, through our participation of the divine nature.

愿神的道、神与圣灵的工作，和我们抵挡罪，藉着我们与神的性情有分，使我们 从世上的败坏分别为圣。

Tom and Tehwan Tso
仲谋与德菀


“The outcome of your faith is the salvation of your souls.” 1Peter 1:9
“信心的果效， 就是灵魂的救恩” 彼得前书1：9

Participants of the Divine Nature - Part 4

Ministry in Word

Participants of the Divine Nature – Part 4

与神的性情有分-第四部

Based on Charles H. Spurgeon’s Morning & Evening devotional

2 Peter 1:3-4

彼得後书1:3-4

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”

神的神能已将一切关乎生命和虔敬的事赐给我们，皆因我们认识那用自己荣耀和美德召我们的主。因此，他已将又宝贵又极大的应许赐给我们，叫我们既脱离世上从情欲来的败坏，就得与神的性情有分。」

How are we set apart from the corruption in the world? The Bible tells us it is accomplished through the word of God, the work of God, the work of the Holy Spirit, and our resisting sin.

我们如何从世上的败坏被分别为圣呢？圣经告诉我们那是靠着神的道、神的工作、圣灵的工作和我们抵挡罪得以成就。

We Are Sanctified Through the Word of God

神的道使我们成圣

First, we are sanctified through the word of God. John 17:17-19 records these words of Jesus in His final prayer on earth for His followers: “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.” Jesus prayed that we may be sanctified by God’s word which is the truth. Participating in the divine nature means that we are sent into the world yet we are set apart from the world as Jesus were, escaping from the corruption in the world.

首先，神的道使我们成圣。約翰福音17:17-19记载了耶稣在世上为他的跟随者最後祈祷的话：「求你用真理使他们成圣；你的道就是真理。你怎样差我到世上，我也照样差他们到世上。我为他们的缘故，自己分别为圣，叫他们也因真理成圣。」耶稣祈求神用他的道，就是真理，使我们成圣。与神的性情有分表示我们像耶稣一样被差到世上但从世上分别为圣，脱离世上的败坏。

We Are Sanctified Through the Work of God

神的工作使我们成圣

Secondly, we are sanctified through the work of God. Apostle Paul told the believers in Thessalonica these words: “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Th 5:23) So it is the work of God that sanctifies us completely, for it is the divine nature, not our human nature, in which we participate to escape the corruption in the world, to be preserved blameless body, soul and spirit when we will see Christ again.

其次，神的工作使我们成圣。使徒保罗告诉帖撒罗弥迦的信徒这些话：「愿赐平 安的神亲自使你们全然成圣！又愿你们的灵与魂与身子得蒙保守，在我主耶稣基督降临的时候，完全无可指摘！」〔帖前5:23〕所以是神的工作使我们全然成圣，因为是我们有分的神的性情，不是我们人的性情，让我们脱离世上的败坏，我们的灵与魂与身子得蒙保守，当我们再见到基督之时，可以完全无可指摘。

We Are Sanctified Through the Work of the Holy Spirit

圣灵的工作使我们成圣

Thirdly, we are also sanctified through the work of the Holy Spirit. Apostle Paul also told the Thessalonica Christians that God chose them to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth (2 Th 2:13). So it is through our saving faith in the truth, which is Jesus, resulting in the Spirit living in us and our participation in the divine nature, sanctifying us from the corruption in the world.

其三，圣灵的工作使我们成圣。使徒保罗也告诉帖撒罗弥迦的信徒，神从起初拣选了他们，叫他们因信真道，又被圣灵感动，成为圣洁，能以得救〔帖後2:13〕。所以是藉着我们对真理，也就是耶稣，的救赎的信心引至圣灵住在我们之中和使我们与神的性情有分，使我们从世上的败坏分别为圣。

To be continued next week.

下周待续。

May the word of God, the work of God and the Holy Spirit, sanctify us from the corruption in the world, through our participation of the divine nature.

愿神的道、神与圣灵的工作，藉着我们与神的性情有分，使我们从世上的败坏分别为圣。

Tom and Tehwan Tso

仲谋与德菀

“The outcome of your faith is the salvation of your souls.” 1Peter 1:9

“信心的果效， 就是灵魂的救恩” 彼得前书1：9

Participants of the Divine Nature - Part 3

Ministry in Words

Participants of the Divine Nature – Part 3

与神的性情有分-第三部

Based on Charles H. Spurgeon’s Morning & Evening devotional

2 Peter 1:3-4
彼得後书1:3-4

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our
knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has
given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate
in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”
「神的神能已将一切关乎生命和虔敬的事赐给我们，皆因我们认识那用自己荣耀
和美德召我们的主。因此，他已将又宝贵又极大的应许赐给我们，叫我们既脱离
世上从情欲来的败坏，就得与神的性情有分。」

Members of the Body of Christ

基督身上的肢体

By “participating in the divine nature” do we become members of the body of the divine
person of Christ? Yes. Apostle Paul says in many of his letters that “we are members of
his (Christ’s) body” (Eph 5:30). Yes, we have the blood of Christ, for the same blood
that flows in the head flows in the hand. Jesus Christ is the head of the body and we are
the members. The same life that raises Christ from the dead raises His people. “For you
died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Col 3:3). Since our life is hidden with
Christ in God, when God raises Christ to overcome death, He also raises us to walk in the
newness of life.
我们是否因为「与神的性情有分」而成为基督这位神身子的肢体呢？是的，使徒
保罗在他许多的书信中说「我们是他〔基督〕身上的肢体」〔弗5:30〕。是的，
我们有基督的血，因为在头循环的血也就是在手循环的血。耶稣基督是身子的
头，我们是肢体。那使基督从死里复活的生命同样地使他的子民复活。「因为你
们已经死了，你们的生命与基督一同藏在神里面。」〔西3:3〕既然我们的生命与
基督一同藏在神里面，当神使基督复活来克服死亡时，他也使我们复活来过新的
生活。

Furthermore, we participate in the divine nature through our marriage to Christ.
Revelations 19:7 mentions the wedding of the Lamb, which is Jesus Christ, and His bride,
which is us. We are married to Christ. He has betrothed us in righteousness and
faithfulness, and we are joined to the Lord in one spirit.
再者我们藉着我们与基督的婚姻与神的性情有分。启示录19:7提到羔羊的婚宴，
羔羊就是耶稣基督，新妇就是我们。我们与基督成婚了。他以公义和信实娶了我
们，我们就与主联合在一个灵中。

What a marvelous mystery! It is beyond anyone’s understanding! One with Jesus! We
are one with Him as the branch is one with the vine. We are a part of the Lord, our
Savior and Redeemer! We are participants of the divine nature, drawing on the same
blood and life of Jesus.
何等奇妙的奥秘！超过任何人的了解！与耶稣合而为一！我们与他合一就像枝子
与葡萄树合一一样。我们是主我们的救主和救赎者的一部份！我们是与神的性情
有分的人，吸收耶稣同样的血和生命。

Purpose of His Promises

他的应许的用意

While we rejoice in this, remember that the purpose of God’s calling us into his great and
precious promises is not for us just to participate in the divine nature, but to escape from
the corruption in the world. Early in our human history it was the corruption in the world
that made God angry and brought down His judgment of the world through the Great
Flood, destroying everyone except Noah and his family. Escaping from the corruption in
the world means those who are made participants “of the divine nature” will manifest
their high and holy relationship in their association with others. It will be evident from
their daily walk and conversation that they have escaped the corruption in the world
caused by evil desires (2 Pe 1:4). So we must pray for more divine holiness of life. We
must pray for our sanctification through our continual participation of the divine nature.
当我们为此欢欣的时候，要记得神呼召我们进入他又宝贵又极大的应许的目的并
非只是让我们得与神的性情有分，而是脱离世上的败坏。早在人类历史中世上的
败坏惹起神的怒气而引至他以洪水审判世界，毁灭了挪亚一家以外的世人。脱离
世上的败坏的意思是指那些得与「神的性情有分」之人在与其他人交往时会表现
出他们崇高和圣洁的关系。从他们的日常生活言谈中可以看见他们脱离了世上从
情欲来的败坏〔彼後1:4〕。所以我们必须祈求更多生活上神之圣洁。我们必须祈
求藉着不断地与神的性情有分而得成圣。

To be continued next week.
下周待续。

May we be resurrected to live the newness of life in Christ Jesus, be in one spirit with
Him, be given more divine holiness in life, and be sanctified through our participation of
the divine nature.
愿我们被复活在基督耶稣里来过生命的新意，与他的灵相符，得赐更多生活上神
之圣洁，藉着与神的性情有分而得成圣。

Tom and Tehwan Tso
仲谋与德菀

“The outcome of your faith is the salvation of your souls.” 1Peter 1:9
“信心的果效， 就是灵魂的救恩” 彼得前书1：9

I CAN do all things....but what if I don't want to?

Mason gave me his reading this morning and suggested that I pass it on, He was inspired by it and wanted to share it with everyone in hopes we too would glean from TD Jakes. It is from Strength for Every Moment.

I Can Do All Things

I can do all things through Christ who strenthens me (Philippians 4:13)

Deception is a trap and stronghold that ensnares many, especially those who are not content with their present state in life. The bible instructs us to learn to be content in whatever state we find ourselves. The apostle Paul learned that lesson well......"for I have learned in whatever state I am, therewith to be content (KJV Phil 4:11)

This is not to imply that we should be satisfied with being bound by the devil or be content with complacency and mediocrity, thus not fulfilling the call of God on our lives. Not at all. We are to work to improve ourselves while at the same time remaining totally dependent on God.
             _____________________________________________________________

Called By God

I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ’Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ’Here am I! Send me’ —Isaiah 6:8

God did not direct His call to Isaiah— Isaiah overheard God saying, ". . . who will go for Us?" The call of God is not just for a select few but for everyone. Whether I hear God’s call or not depends on the condition of my ears, and exactly what I hear depends upon my spiritual attitude. "Many are called, but few are chosen" (Matthew 22:14). That is, few prove that they are the chosen ones. The chosen ones are those who have come into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ and have had their spiritual condition changed and their ears opened. Then they hear "the voice of the Lord" continually asking, ". . . who will go for Us?" However, God doesn’t single out someone and say, "Now, you go." He did not force His will on Isaiah. Isaiah was in the presence of God, and he overheard the call. His response, performed in complete freedom, could only be to say, "Here am I! Send me."

Remove the thought from your mind of expecting God to come to force you or to plead with you. When our Lord called His disciples, He did it without irresistible pressure from the outside. The quiet, yet passionate, insistence of His "Follow Me" was spoken to men whose every sense was receptive (Matthew 4:19). If we will allow the Holy Spirit to bring us face to face with God, we too will hear what Isaiah heard-"the voice of the Lord." In perfect freedom we too will say, "Here am I! Send me." - By Oswald Chamber



----I do not think it was any coincidence that God put these two voices together to speak this subject into our lives. They both were addressing God calling us to do His will. He created us, He has a plan for what He created. I hope the poem below help us reflect on this subject and see ourselves through His eyes, with His heart.
I pray that we wait patiently for God to prepare us and the path. I pray we remember it is His HIGH calling. we simply participate as He needs.

In Christ name, with love,

Candace



Connective Cog

We are but a part, a connective cog,
Positive energy or broken and exposed.
Our eyes connect, though infused by our hearts,
With goodness to help or darkness shall fall.

To look in the face of those who we meet,
The circular pathways stare back in our face.

Each person, a universe…we all exist in our own,
Created no different than the world that we know.
Who rules the planet? Your pathways meet…
The rotation and pull…does it collide or make way?
Is there lift off or desolation? Could anything exist?

One God and one vision, there’s no room for more,
Our Creator, divine, who cannot be improved.
We take our blessings then think we know more
Move out of His energy, our natural pull
Negative energy, like opposite poles,
Has to connect with the positive to realign,
Ending the force which repels, and throws down,

The universe you travel, but do you realize your path?
Is it synergy in motion or out of control?

God in His provision, made perfect your path.
Study and ask Him, He will positively pull
Your desire to travel in His universe alone.

By Candace Huffmaster ©

Participants of the Divine Nature - Part 2

Ministry in Word

Participants of the Divine Nature – Part 2

与神的性情有分-第二部

Based on Charles H. Spurgeon’s Morning & Evening devotional
2 Peter 1:3-4
彼得後书1:3-4

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”
「神的神能已将一切关乎生命和虔敬的事赐给我们，皆因我们认识那用自己荣耀 和美德召我们的主。因此，他已将又宝贵又极大的应许赐给我们，叫我们既脱离 世上从情欲来的败坏，就得与神的性情有分。」

We Are the Participants of the Divine Nature
我们与神的性情有分

The first man, Adam, was made in the image of God, for Genesis 1:26 tells us that theLord said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness”. Adam, with the divine nature, was originally sinless. When he disobeyed God’s order and ate the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, he sinned and lost the divine nature. We, by the renewal of the Holy Spirit, are in a spiritual sense made in the image of the Most High,and we “participate in the divine nature.”

世上的第一个人亚当是照神的形像造的，因为创世記1:26告诉我们神说，「我们 要照着我们的形像、按着我们的样式造人」。带着神的性情的亚当原来是无罪 的。当他违背神的命令而吃了分辨善恶树上的果子时，他犯罪了并且失去了神的 性情。我们被圣灵更新，在属灵的意识上是照最高神的形像被再造了，并且我们 「得与神的性情有分。」

We, the redeemed, are the forgiven repentant sinners. We were regenerated when Christ saved us and we became participants of the divine nature.
我们这些被救赎的人是已悔改蒙赦免的罪人。当基督拯救我们之时我们得重生，我们就成为与神的性情有分的人。

We Are Made to Be Like God
我们被造成像神

We are, by grace, made to be like God. We take on God’s nature when we yield to His Spirit. 1 John 4:8 says that “God is love”. We become love for “everyone who loves is born of God and knows God” (1 Jn 4:7). Before we were born of God, we didn’t know what love was, and how to love. We might try our best to love with our own strength and understanding, but the results were not satisfactory. However when we were born of God we participated in the divine nature of love, so that it becomes our nature to love like God
loves.
我们蒙恩被造成像神。当我们向神的灵降服的时候我们就得到神的性情。約翰一書4:8说「神就是爱」。我们成为爱因为「凡有爱心的，都是由神而生，并且认 识神。」〔約一4:7〕在我们由神而生之前我们不知何为爱，也不知如何爱。我 们尽我们所能，以自己的力量和了解去爱，但是结果并不理想。但是我们一旦由 神而生，我们就与神的性情有分，我们就自然如神一般地爱了。

King David wrote in Psalm 31:5 these words, he said, “redeem me, O Lord, the God of truth.” So God is truth. As participants of the divine nature we become truth, and we love what is true. We became truth when “the Spirit of truth” came into us when we accepted the Lord as our Savior, for just as apostle Paul said, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” (Gal 2:20) Christ Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life” (Jn 14:6). When Christ lives in us, truth lives in us, and we become truth by participating in the divine nature.
大卫王在詩篇31:5写了这些话，他说「耶和华诚实的 神啊，你救赎了我。」因 为耶和华是诚实的神，所以神是真理。作为与神的性情有分的人我们也成为真理，喜爱诚实之事。当我们接受主为我们的救主之时，「真理的灵」进入我们，我们成为真理，因为就如使徒保罗说，「我已经与基督同钉十字架，现在活着的 不再是我，乃是基督在我里面活着；」〔加2:20〕而基督耶稣说，「我就是道 路、真理、生命」〔約14:6〕当基督活在我们里面，真理就活在我们里面，我们 就因与神的性情有分而成为真理了。

Psalm 100:5 declares that “The Lord is good”. When the rich ruler greeted Jesus, calling him “Good teacher”, Jesus answered, “No one is good-except God alone.” (Lk 18:18-19) So in our human nature we are not good. Even when we do our good deeds we cannot do them with a pure, untainted motive. Sometimes we do them because it makes us feel good about ourselves, or we think we would gain favor with God. God makes us good by His grace, and we become the pure in heart who shall see God (Mt 5:8).
詩篇100:5宣称「耶和华本为善」。当那富有的官跟耶稣打照呼，称他为「良善的 夫子」，耶稣对他说：「除了神一位之外，再没有良善的。」〔路18:18-19〕所以 我们在我们的人的性情中我们并不良善。甚至当我们行善的时候我们不能以一个 纯洁清白的动机而行。有时我们行善因为它让我们好过一点，或者我们认为可以 取得神的欢心。神以他的恩典使我们成为良善，我们就成为清心的可以见神的人 〔太5:8〕。

To be continued next week.
下周待续。

May we be remade into God’s image, be loving, truthful, and good, living victoriously as participants in the divine nature.
愿我们被重造为神的形像，爱人、诚实和良善，得与神的性情有分，过一个得胜
的生活。

Tom and Tehwan Tso
仲谋与德菀


“The outcome of your faith is the salvation of your souls.” 1Peter 1:9
“信心的果效， 就是灵魂的救恩” 彼得前书1：9

Participants of the Divine Nature

Ministry in Word

Participants of the Divine Nature – Part 1

与神的性情有分-第一部

Based on Charles H. Spurgeon’s Morning & Evening devotional
2 Peter 1:3-4
彼得後书1:3-4

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”
「神的神能已将一切关乎生命和虔敬的事赐给我们，皆因我们认识那用自己荣耀
和美德召我们的主。因此，他已将又宝贵又极大的应许赐给我们，叫我们既脱离
世上从情欲来的败坏，就得与神的性情有分。」

Great and Precious Promises
又宝贵又极大的应许

Apostle Peter writes in these Scriptures that God has given us everything we need for life and godliness. All that we need for living a godly life have been given us, we don’t need anything any more. How did it happen? God did so through our knowledge of Him, through our getting to know Him more in our daily reading and meditation of His Word, the Bible, in our daily prayer to Him, and in our daily walk with Him validating what we know with what we experience and vice versa. Through His own glory and goodness He called us into His great and precious promises. What do His promises aim at? Their purpose is to get us to participate in the divine nature and avoid the corruption in the world.
使徒彼得在这段经文中写道，神已赐给我们一切所需关乎生命和虔敬的事。一切
所需来过虔敬生命的事都已赐给我们了，再不需要什麽了。这是如何发生的呢？
神藉着我们对他的认识、藉着我们每天阅读和默想神的话与祷告来更认识他，以
及藉着我们每天与他同行以我们知道的和我们经历的彼比印证来
成就这事。他以自己的荣耀和美德召我们进入他宝贵又极大的应
许中。他的应许的目标何在呢？它们的目的是要叫我们与神的性
情有分和脱离世上从情欲来的败坏。

Christ’s Divine Nature Is Our Power to Live Victoriously
基督之神的性情是我们过得胜生活的力量

We cannot rely on our own strength to escape the corruption in the world, we must depend on Christ. Not only that, we must acquire the divine nature of Christ in order to succeed in living a godly life. As Jesus had said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (Jn 15:5) The branch must be a part of the vine to be able to bear fruit, for it is the nature of the vine to bear fruit. A man must be a part of Christ to be able to live a godly life, for it is Christ’s divine nature to be godly. A man must participate in Christ’s divine nature to live a godly life. Christ’s divine nature is our power to live victoriously.
我们不能靠自己的力量来脱离世上的败坏，一定要倚靠基督。不单如此，我们得
与神的性情有分才能过敬虔的生活。正如耶稣曾说，「我是葡萄树，你们是枝
子。常在我里面的，我也常在他里面，这人就多结果
子；因为离了我，你们就不能做甚麽。」〔约15:5〕枝
子必须是葡萄树的一部分才能结果子，因为结果子就是
葡萄树的性情。一个人必须是基督的一部分才能过敬虔
的生活，因为敬虔就是基督之神的性情。基督之神的性
情是我们过得胜生活的力量。

You may ask, “Do the participants of the divine nature become God?” No, they do not become God. They do not participate in the essence of Deity but only the nature. God is the Creator and they remain the creatures. There is a great divide between the intrinsic nature of the creature and the Creator.
你可能会问，「与神的性情有分的人会变成神吗？」不会的，他们不会变成神
的。他们并非与神的本质有分，而只是与神的性情有分。神是创造者而他们仍是
受造物。在创造者与受造物的实质之间有一极大的区分。

To be continued next week.
下周待续。

May we escape the corruption in this world and to participate in the divine nature, so that
our life may bring glory to God and blessings to man.

愿我们脱离世上的败坏，得与神的性情有分，好让我们的生命可以给神带来荣
耀，给人带来祝福。

Tom and Tehwan Tso
仲谋与德菀

“The outcome of your faith is the salvation of your souls.” 1Peter 1:9

“信心的果效， 就是灵魂的救恩” 彼得前书1：9