第七十九天:禱告求主使用美國,好成全一個新人

禱告求主使用祂在美國的恢復,好成全一個新人,就是神在祂經綸裏的心意(弗四22~24,西三10~11)。

弗四22-24 - 在從前的生活樣式上,脫去了舊人,這舊人是照著那迷惑的情慾敗壞的;而在你們心思的靈裡得以更新,並且穿上了新人,這新人是照著神,在那實際的義和聖中所創造的。

西三10-11 - 並且穿上了新人;這新人照著創造他者的形像漸漸更新,以致有充足的知識;在此並沒有希利尼人和猶太人、受割禮的和未受割禮的、化外人、西古提人、為奴的、自主的,惟有基督是一切,又在一切之內。

二十世紀開始以前,福音已經擴展到地上的每個角落。然而,神的定旨不僅是要傳福音,更是要成全一個新人。英國不太適用於這個目的,所以神借著兩次世界大戰,多少抑制了英國,興起了美國。這兩次大戰都是借著美國而結束。第一次世界大戰結束,是因美國介入;在第二次世界大戰中,美國是擊敗歐洲和亞洲軸心國勢力的重要力量。這一切都在神的主宰下發生。借著這兩次大戰,美國被興起,為著新人的成全。今天美國是全地的地理中樞,十字路口;又像大鷹,有兩大洋作兩個翅膀。

Geographically speaking, the Lord has raised up a country for His purpose in the very center of the inhabited earth. As an American citizen holding an American passport, you may travel throughout the whole world, in the same way that Paul, as a Jew with Roman citizenship, could travel throughout the Roman Empire (cf. Acts 22:25-29). When mainland China was lost to the Communists in 1949, I could not sleep or eat well. I was very sorrowful over the loss of that country and hundreds of churches. But now, since I have realized the situation today, I am happy that I am here in the United States. To be here is much better than to be in my hometown in mainland China. We all have to give thanks to the Lord that we are in the United States, in the center of the inhabited earth for the perfection of the new man that God intends to have in His economy. (李常受文集,一九七七一個新人 第三章)

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