(轉繁)
February 11		二月十一日
“As soon as the soles of the feet of the priests…shall rest in the water…the waters shall be cut off.” (Joshua 3:13) The people were not to wait in their camps until the way was opened, they were to walk by faith. They were to break camp, pack up their goods, form in line to march, and move down to the very banks before the river would be opened. If they had come down to the edge of the river and then had stopped for the stream to divide before they stepped into it, they would have waited in vain. They must take one step into the water before the river would be cut off. We must learn to take God at His Word, and go straight on in duty, although we see no way in which we can go forward. The reason we are so often balked by difficulties is that we expect to see them removed before we try to pass through them. If we would move straight on in faith, the path would be opened for us. We stand still, waiting for the obstacle to be removed, when we ought to go forward as if there were no obstacles.━Evening Thoughts What a lesson Columbus gave to the world of perseverance in the face of tremendous difficulties! Behind him lay the gray Azores, Behind the gates of Hercules; Before him not the ghost of shores, Before him only shoreless seas. The good Mate said: "Now we must pray, For lo! the very stars are gone. Brave Admiral, speak, what shall I say?" "Why, say, 'Sail on! sail on! and on!'" "My men grow mutinous day by day; My men grow ghastly wan and weak!" The stout Mate thought of home; a spray Of salt wave washed his swarthy cheek. "What shall I say, brave Admiral, say, If we sight naught but seas at dawn?" "Why, you shall say at break of day, 'Sail on! sail on! sail on! and on!'" They sailed. They sailed. Then spake the Mate: "This mad sea shows its teeth tonight. He curls his lip, he lies in wait, With lifted teeth, as if to bite! Brave Admiral, say but one good word; What shall we do when hope is gone?" The words leapt like a leaping sword: "Sail on! sail on! sail on! and on!" Then, pale and worn, he kept his deck And peered through darkness. Ah! that night Of all dark nights! And then a speck— A light! A light! A light! A light! It grew, a starlit flag unfurled! It grew to be Time's burst of dawn. He gained a world; he gave that world Its grandest lesson: "On! sail on!" ━Joaquin Miller Faith that goes forward triumphs.		“等到…祭司把脚站在…水里， …水…必然断绝” （书三：13） 　百姓必须凭信向前进，并不能在营中坐待外面的路开通了之后方纔起行。他们必须拔营开步，整装束荷，排齐队伍，直达河边，虽然河水还没有起变化。 　到了河边，若是他们想停在那里，等河水分开了，然后伸足下水，他们定规空等，定规到今天还在河东。他们在水断绝之前，必须先举足涉水。 　让我们也学习怎样用信心抓住神的话前进，不看前面的道路能否通行。我们常受拦阻和难处的挫折，都是因为我们想等神先替我们开路，挪去了一切的拦阻和难处，然后再试着前行。这是何等的错误。若是神要我们向前冲，我们就凭着信心抓住祂的话语向前冲，好像一无拦阻一般，路自然会为我们一步步地敞开。━译自晚思 哥伦布面临困危时所表现是何等的坚忍,确实堪称为楷模。 他背后躺着灰色的亚速尔岛， 已经远离了直布罗陀海峡， 前面看不见海岸的影子； 茫茫大海，白浪滔天。 船上的大副说：“我们必须祷告， 看哪！星星都已隐湮。 勇敢的船长，我该怎样下令？” 你说：“驶向前去！向前！向前！” “我的船员一天比一天更想叛变， 他们形容憔悴，衰弱可怜，” 大副这样报告，心中思念家乡。 咸涩的浪花溅上他黝黑的脸。 “我该怎样下令，英勇的船长， 假若明早仍只见海水无边？” “哦，破晓的时候你该说： 驶向前去！向前！向前！” 他们继续航行，大副说道： “今夜狂暴的海洋露出了獠牙， 掀开了唇，张开了大嘴， 好像要吞灭我们，咬死我们！ 英勇的船长，只求你说一句话； 希望已渺，无法持守！” 但船长的话如利刃出鞘说： “驶向前去！向前！向前！” 他精疲力竭，苦守甲板， 从黑暗中远远眺望， 有一夜，忽然遥见一点微光， 光明！光明！光明已在望！ 它的发展，就是日后的旗旌， 时代的黎明，展开在黑暗之间， 他达到了那新世界，并且给那世界 一个最伟大的启示，“驶向前去！向前！” ━密勒 凭着信心前进，卽是胜利。
February 12 “Your heavenly Father knoweth. ” (Matt. 6:32) A visitor at a school for the deaf and dumb was writing questions on the blackboard for the children. By and by he wrote this sentence: "Why has God made me to hear and speak, and made you deaf and dumb?" The awful sentence fell upon the little ones like a fierce blow in the face. They sat palsied before that dreadful "Why?" And then a little girl arose. Her lip was trembling. Her eyes were swimming with tears. Straight to the board she walked, and, picking up the crayon, wrote with firm hand these precious words: "Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight!"(Mt.11:26) What a reply! It reaches up and lays hold of an eternal truth upon which the maturest believer as well as the youngest child of God may alike securely rest━the truth that God is your Father. Do you mean that? Do you really and fully believe that? When you do, then your dove of faith will no longer wander in weary unrest, but will settle down forever in its eternal resting place of peace. "Your Father!" I can still believe that a day comes for all of us, however far off it may be, when we shall understand; when these tragedies, that now blacken and darken the very air of heaven for us, will sink into their places in a scheme so august, so magnificent, so joyful, that we shall laugh for wonder and delight. ━Arthur Christopher Bacon No chance hath brought this ill to me; 'Tis God's own hand, so let it be, He seeth what I cannot see. There is a need-be for each pain, And He one day will make it plain That earthly loss is heavenly gain. Like as a piece of tapestry Viewed from the back appears to be Naught but threads tangled hopelessly; But in the front a picture f air Rewards the worker for his care, Proving his skill and patience rare. Thou art the Workman, I the frame. Lord, for the glory of Thy Name, Perfect Thine image on the same. ━Selected		二月十二日 “你们的天父是知道的” （太六：32） 　有一位访客，一次去参观一间聋哑学校。他看见那些聋哑的学生正在圣经班上顶虔诚地读神的话语。他就在他们的黑板上写了一个问题请他们答复：“神旣然爱你们，为甚么使你们聋哑，倒反使我能听能说呢”？ 　全班学生都因这一个苛刻的问题受打击。他们大家坐着相对唏嘘，向着那可怕的“为甚么”发呆。过了一会儿，一位顶小的女孩子站了起来。 　她的嘴唇还在颤动。她的目眶中饱满了眼泪。她走到前面，爬在椅子上，（因为黑板高，她的身体矮小），拿起粉笔，用坚定的手笔写上这几个宝贝的字：“父啊，是的，因为祢的美意本是如此”（太十一：26）。这是何等切实的一个答复呢！这是一个永久的真理，无论大人，无论小孩，都可以安息在其中的━天地之主是我们的父。 　读者，你信不信神是你的父呢？如果你真信，那么你信心的鸽子不会再游荡无依找不着落脚之地了，因为可以永远稳定在安息所━你们的父那里了！ 　我一直相信，总有一天，不管它离开现在还有多久，我们会明白一切；到了那一天，如今使我们觉得遮蔽天空的许多黑暗悲伤，都将消散，由那新的图案来代替黑暗，那新的图案设计得如何庄严华丽和喜悦，我们将在此奇妙的喜乐中了。━培根 并非机遇给我带来的不幸； 这是神的赐予，所以只有听命， 因为祂看见我所见不到的情境。 任何痛苦都有它们的原因， 有一天祂将会给你说明， 地上的损失，换来了天上的欢欣。 像毡毯织满了花， 从背面去看， 只是线乱如麻。 但正面却是一幅美画， 表现了作者的绝妙才华， 丝丝入扣的匠心，有了代价。 主啊，你是艺匠，我是作品， 为了荣耀祢的名， 以祢的形像来塑我的型。 ━选
February 13 “The hill country shall be thine. ” (Josh. 17:18, R.V.) There is always room higher up. When the valleys are full of Canaanites, whose iron chariots withstand your progress, get up into the hills, occupy the upper spaces. If you can no longer work for God, pray for those who can. If you cannot move earth by your speech, you may move Heaven. If the development of life on the lower slopes is impossible, through limitations of service, the necessity of maintaining others, and such-like restrictions, let it break out toward the unseen, the eternal, the Divine. Faith can fell forests. Even if the tribes had realized what treasures lay above them, they would hardly have dared to suppose it possible to rid the hills of their dense forest-growth. But as God indicated their task, He reminded them that they had power enough. The visions of things that seem impossible are presented to us, like these forest-covered steeps, not to mock us, but to incite us to spiritual exploits which would be impossible unless God had stored within us the great strength of His own indwelling. Difficulty is sent to reveal to us what God can do in answer to the faith that prays and works. Are you straitened in the valleys? Get away to the hills, live there; get honey out of the rock, and wealth out of the terraced slopes now hidden by forest. ━Daily Devotional Commentary Got any rivers they say are uncrossable, Got any mountains they say 'can't tunnel through'? We specialize in the wholly impossible, Doing the things they say you can't do. ━Song of the Panama builders		二月十三日 “山地也要归你” （书十七：18） 　山上有宽畅的地盘。平原上住满了迦南人，他们都有铁车阻碍你的扩张，所以你该上山去，占据山上的地业。也许今日你受阻不能为神作工，你该求神兴起能作工的。也许你的话语不能感动人，你可以感动天。也许你的工作受经济，人才，恩赐，以及种种难处的限制，你可以在上面看不见的，永活的神那里发展。 　山上有树林的拦阻，然而凭着信心可以砍伐。当初以色列各支派虽然明知山上有宽地和宝藏，他们还不敢自信能砍伐丛密的树林，开路上山。但是神指示他们，提醒他们：他们有足够的力量可以把树木砍去。今天许多的拦阻，许多似乎不可能的事情，摆在我们面前，像山上的树林一般，并不是来嘲笑我们的，乃是来催促我们向神恳求应许和支取力量的。 　每一次难处来到，都是暗示我们神怎样答应我们信心的祷告和工作的。读者，你觉得平原太窄小么？上山去罢，住在那里，在那里发展罢；在那里你可以从盘石中得蜜，从地中得宝藏。━译自日诚报 可曾遇到，被认为跨不过的大江？ 可曾遇到，被认为凿不通的山岗？ 别人说不可能做的事，我们都能， 克服任何不可能，是我们的专长。 ━巴拿马运河工人之歌
February 14 “And again I say, Rejoice. ” (Phil. 4:4) It is a good thing to rejoice in the Lord. Perhaps you have tried this, and the first time seemed to fail. Never mind, keep right on and when you cannot feel any joy, when there is no spring, and no seeming comfort and encouragement, still rejoice, and count it all joy. Even when you fall into divers temptations, reckon it joy and delight and God will make your reckoning good. Do you suppose your Father will let you carry the banner of His victory and His gladness on to the front of the battle, and then coolly stand back and see you captured or beaten back by the enemy? NEVER! The Holy Spirit will sustain you in your bold advance, and fill your heart with gladness and praise, and you will find your heart all exhilarated and refreshed by the fullness within. Lord teach me to rejoice in Thee, and to "rejoice evermore." (1 Thess.5:16)━Selected "The weakest saint may Satan rout, Who meets him with a praiseful shout." "…Be filled with the Spirit,...singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord." (Eph. 5:18, 19) Here the Apostle urges the use of singing as one of the inspiring helps in the spiritual life. He counsels his readers not to seek their stimulus through the body, but through the spirit; not by the quickening of the flesh, but by the exaltation of the soul. "Sometimes a light surprises The Christian while he sings." Let us sing even when we do not feel like it, for thus we may give wings to leaden feet and turn weariness into strength. ━J. H. Jowett "At midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them." (Acts 16:25) Oh, Paul, thou wondrous example to the flock, who could thus glory, bearing in the body as thou didst "…the marks of the Lord Jesus"!(Gal.6:17) Marks from stoning almost to the death, from thrice beating with rods, from those hundred and ninety-five stripes laid on thee by the Jews, and from stripes received in that Philippian jail, which had they not drawn blood would not have called for washing! Surely the grace which enabled thee to sing praises under such suffering is all-sufficient grace. ━J. Roach "Oh, let us rejoice in the Lord, evermore, When darts of the tempter are flying, For Satan still dreads, as he oft did of yore, Our singing much more than our sighing."		二月十四日 “我再说你们要喜乐” （腓四：4） 　在主里喜乐，何其佳美！也许你曾试过要凡事喜乐，可是不久卽告失败。不要紧，仍继续下去，当你不能感觉喜乐，没有可以喜乐的理由，安慰和鼓励时，仍该喜乐，算作喜乐。甚至当你落在百般试炼中的时侯，仍要算作喜乐；这样，神就要证明你的“算”不是徒然的。你想你的父亲会不会让你举着得胜和喜乐的旗号到前线去，然后祂冷冷地向后一退，任凭你被仇敌掳去或击败呢？决不！父的圣灵必定会在你勇敢地前进的时侯支持你，将喜乐和赞美充满你的心，那时侯你就会因着里面的充满感到非常的新鲜和欢乐了。主啊，教导我们怎样在你里面喜乐，“要常常喜乐”（帖前五：16）━选 “向撒但高唱对主的赞美， 最弱的圣徒，也能击败魔鬼。” “…要被圣灵充满…口唱心和赞美主”（弗五：18-19） 　这里使徒保罗劝我们用歌唱赞美来增进我们的灵命。他劝告读者，要从圣灵里寻求激动，而不是外表的兴奋，不是求肉体的刺激，乃是求灵里的欢欣。 “圣徒以歌颂赞美神， 时常会见到光明的骤临。” 　让我们不断地歌唱赞美，甚至不喜欢唱的时侯也得唱。这或许可以使你沉滞的腿上有似添了活泼的翅翼，转变疲乏成为力量。━乔怀得 　“约在半夜，保罗和西拉，祷告﹑唱诗﹑赞美神；众囚犯也侧耳而听”（徒十六：25） 哦！使徒保罗，你真是众圣徒的表率，你能够这样荣耀神，你“…身上带着耶稣的印记。”（加六：17）你有被石掷伤的记号三次棍打的伤疤，犹太人给你的一百九十五鞭的鞭痕，腓立比监狱中无数的血斑！你靠着恩典还能在受苦的牢狱中唱出赞美来。啊，我相信那恩典一定是彀用的恩典！━罗区 魔鬼的飞箭如雨而来， 我们永远在主里欢喜， 从古到今，撒但总有它的戒心， 我们的歌唱，远胜我们的哀叹。
February 15 “Fret not thyself……” (Psalm 37:1) Do not get into a perilous heat about things. If ever heat were justified, it was surely justified in the circumstances outlined in the Psalm. Evil-doers were moving about clothed in purple and fine linen, and faring sumptuously every day. "…Workers of iniquity…" (Ps.92:7) were climbing into the supreme places of power, and were tyrannizing their less fortunate brethren. Sinful men and women were stalking through the land in the pride of life and basking in the light and comfort of great prosperity, and good men were becoming heated and fretful. "Fret not thyself." Do not get unduly heated! Keep cool! Even in a good cause, fretfulness is not a wise help-meet. Fretting only heats the bearings; it does not generate the steam. It is no help to a train for the axles to get hot; their heat is only a hindrance. When the axles get heated, it is because of unnecessary friction; dry surfaces are grinding together, which ought to be kept in smooth co-operation by a delicate cushion of oil. And is it not a suggestive fact that this word "fret" is closely akin to the word "friction," and is an indication of absence of the anointing oil of the grace of God? In fretfulness, a little bit of grit gets into the bearings━some slight disappointment, some ingratitude, some discourtesy━and the smooth working of the life is checked. Friction begets heat; and with the heat, most dangerous conditions are created. Do not let thy bearings get hot. Let the oil of the Lord keep thee cool, lest by reason of an unholy heat thou be reckoned among the evil-doers. ━The Silver Lining. Dear restless heart, be still; don't fret and worry so; God has a thousand ways His love and help to show; Just trust, and trust, and trust, until His will you know. Dear restless heart, be still, for peace is God's own smile, His love can every wrong and sorrow reconcile; Just love, and love, and love, and calmly wait awhile. Dear restless heart, be brave; don't moan and sorrow so, He hath a meaning kind in chilly winds that blow; Just hope, and hope, and hope, until you braver grow. Dear restless heart, repose upon His breast this hour, His grace is strength and life, His love is bloom and flower; Just rest, and rest, and rest, within His tender power. Dear restless heart, be still! Don't struggle to be free; God's life is in your life, from Him you may not flee; Just pray, and pray, and pray, till you have faith to see. ━Edith Willis Linn		二月十五日 　“不要…心怀不平…” （诗三十七：1） 　不要冒火，抱不平。我们常见作恶者穿了紫色细麻布的长袍，终日宴乐，凡事顺利。“恶人…”（诗九十二：7）执掌大权，欺压不幸的人们。犯罪的男女享受安逸骄奢的生活，因此好人常会冒火，抱不平。 　可是经上说：“不要…心怀不平”。不要冒火！把火气冷下去！卽使你的冒火是很有理由的，但是也不是一个聪明的办法。不平只会起摩擦，（一种冲突）；不平不能变成和平。一部火车的车轴如果发热了，并不能帮助火车前进；它们的发热只能产生障碍。车轴发热的缘故，乃是为了不必需的摩擦；我们应该让神用祂的恩膏涂在我们不平的地方，以免生出轧轹来。 　心中怀了不平，就会有许多尖锐锋利的砂粒━急躁，恼恨，嫉妒，无礼等—嵌进来，叫你失去生活中谦和的香气。摩擦生热，热后就会发生最危险的破坏。所以不要怀抱不平。让神的圣膏油使你平滑罢；否则，恐怕因着冒火的缘故，你自己就会列在做恶者之中了。━银衬 不安的心，要宁静；莫烦恼，莫忿怒； 神有无数方法，来显示祂的爱与帮助， 只有深信祂，直到你明白祂的旨意和嘱咐。 不安的心，要宁静，安详表示神的欢颜， 祂的爱能消除一切的乖戾和悲哀； 只要爱主，深爱祂，暂且安详的等待。 不安的心，要勇敢，不要悲伤惆怅， 在那刺骨的寒风中，神送来了慈爱恩惠； 只要盼望，要盼望，直到你的胆大气壮。 不安的心，这时候该在怀里憩息， 祂的慈爱是花，祂的恩典是生命活力， 只管安息，需安息，安息在祂温柔的怀中。 不安的心，要宁静，不必自我挣扎， 神与你的生命已成一片，不可分离， 只管祈祷，多祈祷，使你的信心不移。 ━李因译自银衬
February 16 “Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more. ” (Nah. 1:12) There is a limit to affliction. God sends it, and removes it. Do you sigh and say, "When will the end be?" Let us quietly wait and patiently endure the will of the Lord till He cometh. Our Father takes away the rod when His design in using it is fully served. If the affliction is sent for testing us, that our graces may glorify God, it will end when the Lord has made us bear witness to His praise. We would not wish the affliction to depart until God has gotten out of us all the honor which we can possibly yield Him. There may be today "a great calm." Who knows how soon those raging billows will give place to a sea of glass, and the sea birds sit on the gentle waves? After long tribulation, the flail is hung up, and the wheat rests in the garner. We may, before many hours are past, be just as happy as now we are sorrowful. It is not hard for the Lord to turn night into day. He that sends the clouds can as easily clear the skies. Let us be of good cheer. It is better farther on. Let us sing Hallelujah by anticipation. ━C. H. Spurgeon. The great Husbandman is not always threshing. Trial is only for a season. The showers soon pass. Weeping may tarry only for the few hours of the short summer night; it must be gone at daybreak. Our light affliction is but for a moment. Trial is for a purpose, "If needs be." The very fact of trial proves that there is something in us very precious to our Lord; else He would not spend so much pains and time on us. Christ would not test us if He did not see the precious ore of faith mingled in the rocky matrix of our nature; and it is to bring this out into purity and beauty that He forces us through the fiery ordeal. Be patient, O sufferer! The result will more than compensate for all our trials, when we see how they wrought out the far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. To have one word of God's commendation; to be honored before the holy angels; to be glorified in Christ, so as to be better able to flash His glory on Himself━ah! that will more than repay for all. ━Tried by Fire. As the weights of the clock, or the ballast in the vessel, are necessary for their right ordering, so is trouble in the soul-life. The sweetest scents are only obtained by tremendous pressure; the fairest flowers grow amid Alpine snow-solitudes; the fairest gems have suffered longest from the lapidary's wheel; the noblest statues have borne most blows of the chisel. All, however, are under law. Nothing happens that has not been appointed with consummate care and foresight. ━Daily Devotional Commentary		二月十六日 “我虽然使你受苦，却不再使你受苦” （鸿一：12） 　受苦是有限制的。神能使你受苦，也能免去你受苦。读者啊，你岂不是在叹息说：“要受苦到几时方纔停止呢？”哦，让我们耐心等待，直到神的旨意成功。当父用杖的目的完成以后，我们的父自然会把杖挪去的。 　神使我们受苦，若是目的为要试验我们，要我们在受苦中靠恩典荣耀祂，那么，必须等到我们在人前有了明显的见证之后，苦难纔会停止。 　我们不该盼望苦难早些离去，除非神已经从我们得到了我们该给祂的一切荣耀和尊贵。也许今天就会有平安。谁知道波浪翻腾的海顷刻之间就会变成平静如镜，让海鸟在波上滑翔呢？ 　农夫经历了许多艰难之后，犁和镰可以藏起来了，禾可以扎成捆收在仓里了。那时我们都要欢喜快乐了。 　在神不难将黑夜变成白昼。祂能将黑云密布天空，祂也能很容易地使天气清朗。所以让我们放心罢。苦难终究是要过去的。让我们预先唱哈利路亚罢。━司布真 　农夫不会一直打谷的，神也不会一直用杖的。试炼不过是暂时的。目前虽然有暴雨，不久却要停止的。一宿虽然有哭泣，早晨便必欢呼。因为祂的怒气不过是转眼之间，祂的恩典乃是一生之久。我们这至轻的苦楚，乃是至暂的。并且这至暂的苦楚也是有目标的━为要完成我们永远的荣耀。 　信徒受试炼，就是证明我们在主面前的宝贵；不然主不会花这许多时间，力气和心机在我们身上的。主决不会来试炼我们，除非祂发现我们有顶宝贵的信心的矿苗，混在我们肉体的砂石中，祂要把我们纯粹的信心提出来，就必须放我们在试炼的炉火中。 　哦，受苦的信徒们阿，耐着罢！将来我们所得的酬报，将远超过现在所出的代价。在万王之王的面前得称赞；在千万圣天使面前受尊敬；在基督里得荣耀；在国度和永世里戴冠冕，操铁杖，坐宝座━坐王，直到永远。阿，这是何等的赏赐呢！━译自火的试炼 　时鸣钟上的钟锤，是使时鸣钟走得准确的必需品；照样，患难也是属灵生命的必需品。香料越压得紧，香气越是浓郁；最美丽的花卉，是生长在荒僻的雪地里的；最精美的宝石，受匠人琢磨的时间最长；最贵重的雕刻，受凿子的击打最多。这是一个定律。任何事物的完成，都要经过远见高大而无微不至的磨炼。━日诚报
February 17 “The land which I do give them, even the children of Israel. ” (Joshua 1:2) God here speaks in the immediate present. It is not something He is going to do, but something He does do, this moment. So faith ever speaks. So God ever gives. So He is meeting you today, in the present moment. This is the test of faith. So long as you are waiting for a thing, hoping for it, looking for it, you are not believing. It may be hope, it may be earnest desire, but it is not faith; for "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Heb.11:1)The command in regard to believing prayer is the present tense. "…When ye pray, believe that ye receive the things that ye desire, and ye shall have them." (Mk.11:24) Have we come to that moment? Have we met God in His everlasting NOW? ━Joshua, by Simpson True faith counts on God, and believes before it sees. Naturally, we want some evidence that our petition is granted before we believe; but when we walk by faith we need no other evidence than God's Word. He has spoken, and according to our faith it shall be done unto us. We shall see because we have believed, and this faith sustains us in the most trying places, when everything around us seems to contradict God's Word. The Psalmist says, "I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of living" (Ps.27:13). He did not see as yet the Lord's answer to his prayers, but he believed to see; and this kept him from fainting. If we have the faith that believes to see, it will keep us from growing discouraged. We shall "laugh at impossibilities," we shall watch with delight to see how God is going to open up a path through the Red Sea when there is no human way out of our difficulty. It is just in such places of severe testing that our faith grows and strengthens. Have you been waiting upon God, dear troubled one, during long nights and weary days, and have feared that you were forgotten? Nay, lift up your head, and begin to praise Him even now for the deliverance which is on its way to you. ━Life of Praise		二月十七日 “我……赐给以色列人的地” （书一：2直译） 　这里神所说的“赐给”是现在式。并不是神将要作的事，乃是神就在此刻要作的。信心求神现在，神就现在赐给。神今天就要工作。许多时侯我们在神面前等候一件东西，盼望一件东西，寻求一件东西，却并没有相信。这不过是我们的盼望，这不过是我们的需要，并不是我们的信心；因为“信就是所望之事的实底，是未见之事的确据”（来十一：1）。「…凡你们祷告祈求的,无论是甚么,只要信是得着的,就必得着。」(可11:24)这里说到信心的祷告，所用的动词都是现在式的。我们有没有这现在的信心呢？━宣信,(约书亚记) 　真实的信心，就是以神的话为算数，在未见应验之前，就已经深信了。顶自然地，我们常要先有眼见，或是凭据，证明我们所求的已经蒙神应许，然后纔肯相信；但是如果我们走信心的道路，除了神的话以外，我们不需要别的凭据，虽然四周的环境仅可和祂的话相反。祂已经说了，必定会按照我们的信心，给我们成全的。我们将要看见祂话语的应验，因为我们已经信了。 　写诗篇的人说：“我若不信在活人之地得见耶和华的恩惠，就早已丧胆了”（诗二十七：13）。他虽然还没有看见神对他祷告的答应，但是他已经相信得见；这就能保守他不丧胆。 　若是我们也有“信得见”的信心，我们就不会灰心了。我们要笑“不可能”，我们要顶高兴地看神怎样在红海━人没有方法可以脱离艰难的时侯━开路。在这种试验中，我们的信心最会长发。 　亲爱的受苦的信徒阿，你是不是日夜在等待神，深怕神已经把你忘了呢？决不会的，你当举起你的头来，为着那已经在半路上的拯救开始赞美祂。━译自赞美的生命
February 18 “Have faith that whatever you ask for in prayer is already granted you, and you will find that it will be. ” (Mark 11:24) When my little son was about ten years of age, his grandmother promised him a stamp album for Christmas. Christmas came, but no stamp album, and no word from grandmother. The matter, however, was not mentioned; but when his playmates came to see his Christmas presents, I was astonished, after he had named over this and that as gifts received, to hear him add, "And a stamp album from grandmother." I had heard it several times, when I called him to me, and said, "But, Georgie, you did not get an album from your grandmother. Why do you say so?" There was a wondering look on his face, as if he thought it strange that I should ask such a question, and he replied, "Well, mamma, grandma said, so it is the same as." I could not say a word to check his faith. A month went by, and nothing was heard from the album. Finally, one day, I said, to test his faith, and really wondering in my heart why the album had not been sent, "Well, Georgie, I think grandma has forgotten her promise." "Oh, no, mamma," he quickly and firmly said, "she hasn't." I watched the dear, trusting face, which, for a while, looked very sober, as if debating the possibilities I had suggested. Finally a bright light passed over it, and he said, "Mamma, do you think it would do any good if I should write to her thanking her for the album?" "I do not know," I said, "but you might try it." A rich spiritual truth began to dawn upon me. In a few minutes a letter was prepared and committed to the mail, and he went off whistling his confidence in his grandma. In just a short time a letter came, saying: "My dear Georgie: I have not forgotten my promise to you, of an album. I tried to get such a book as you desired, but could not get the sort you wanted; so I sent on to New York. It did not get here till after Christmas, and it was still not right, so I sent for another, and as it has not come as yet, I send you three dollars to get one in Chicago. Your loving grandma." As he read the letter, his face was the face of a victor. "Now, mamma, didn't I tell you?" came from the depths of a heart that never doubted, that, "…against hope, believed in hope…"(Rom.4:18) that the stamp album would come. While he was trusting, grandma was working, and in due season faith became sight. It is so human to want sight when we step out on the promises of God, but our Savior said to Thomas, and to the long roll of doubters who have ever since followed him: "…Blessed are they who have not seen, and yet have believed."(Jn.20:29) ━Mrs. Rounds		二月十八日 “凡你们祷告祈求的，无论是甚么，只要信是得着的，就必得着” （可十一：24） 　我有一个十岁的孩子，他的祖母应许给他一本邮票簿，作为圣诞礼物。可是过了许久，她并没有给他，也不再提起。这孩子也并不放在心上；可是，当他的同伴来看他的礼物时，他一件一件把收到的礼物拿出来给他们看了之后，总加上一句： “祖母给我一本邮票簿。” 　我听他说了好几次，很是希奇，所以我特地叫他到我面前来，问他说：“孩子，你并没有从你祖母那里得到一本邮票簿。你为甚么常对你的同伴这样说呢？” 　他脸上起了诧异之色，似乎希奇我会发这样一个问题。他回答说：“妈妈，祖母旣应许了，这就等于我已经得着了。“我就不能再说甚么，免得伤他的信心。 　一个月过去了，邮票簿仍是无着。一天，我要试试他的信心，就对他说：“孩子，我想祖母已经忘记了她的应许了”。 　他很快，很坚持地说：“不，妈妈，她决不会忘记的”。 　我望着那亲爱的，深信的小脸，看见他现在很正经的样子，好似要辩服我方纔所说的话一般。过了一会儿，他脸上现出了喜悦的光彩，说道： 　“妈妈，你想我好不好现在写一封信去谢谢她的礼物呢？” 　我说：“我不替你规定；可是，你可以试一试”。 　（这时侯神用光照亮我，给我看见了一段丰富属灵的真理）。几分钟之内，他已把谢信写好寄出了，回来的时侯，嘴里还唱着欢乐的歌儿，证明他对祖母的信任。不久回信来了，里面写着： 　“我所亲爱的乔琪：我并没有忘记我对你的应许━一本邮票簿。我想照你合意的样式去买，可是在本城买不到；所以我就到纽约城去函购。寄到了以后，一看，仍旧不对，所以我又到芝加哥去函购了。你所爱的祖母”。 　他读完了信，脸上带着胜利的气概，对我说：“妈妈，我不是告述过你么？祖母旣应许了，这就等于我已经得着了”。他的心里，从来没有疑惑过，这就是“…在无可指望的时侯，因信仍有指望…”（罗四：18）。他深信邮票簿一定会来的。他信他的祖母进行，不久信心就变成了事实。 　人们常要在神的应许上先有眼见，但是我们的主对多马说，也对那些跟从他而怀疑的人说：“…那没有看见就信的，有福了”（约二十：29）━朗滋夫人
February 19 “And every branch that beareth fruit he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. ” (John 15:2) A child of God was dazed by the variety of afflictions which seemed to make her their target. Walking past a vineyard in the rich autumnal glow she noticed the untrimmed appearance and the luxuriant wealth of leaves on the vines, that the ground was given over to a tangle of weeds and grass, and that the whole place looked utterly uncared for; and as she pondered, the Heavenly Gardener whispered so precious a message that she would fain pass it on: "My dear child, are you wondering at the sequence of trials in your life? Behold that vineyard and learn of it. The gardener ceases to prune, to trim, to harrow, or to pluck the ripe fruit only when he expects nothing more from the vine during that season. It is left to itself, because the season of fruit is past and further effort for the present would yield no profit. Comparative uselessness is the condition of freedom from suffering. Do you then wish me to cease pruning your life? Shall I leave you alone?" And the comforted heart cried, "No!"━Homera Homer-Dixon It is the branch that bears the fruit, That feels the knife, To prune it for a larger growth, A fuller life. Though every budding twig be lopped, And every grace Of swaying tendril, springing leaf, Be lost a space. O thou whose life of joy seems reft, Of beauty shorn; Whose aspirations lie in dust, All bruised and torn, Rejoice, tho' each desire, each dream, Each hope of thine Shall fall and fade; it is the hand Of Love Divine That holds the knife, that cuts and breaks With tenderest touch, That thou, whose life has borne some fruit May'st now bear much. ━Annie Johnson Flint		二月十九日 “凡结果子的，他就修理干净，使枝子结果子更多” (约十五：2） 　有一个神的孩子正希奇像她这样爱主的信徒，为甚么神还要使她落在百般的试炼中呢？有一次，她走过一个葡萄园，看见里边有许多的葡萄藤，未经修剪枝子繁多，叶子茂盛，四周长了无数的杂草，地上堆了许多的枯叶；显然是一个完全没有人经营的荒园；当她站着沉思的时侯，神就光照她给她看见一段顶宝贝的信息。 　“我所爱的孩子阿，你是不是在希奇你一生的遭遇呢？你看这个葡萄园，从其中学习一个功课吧。园丁不替它修剪不结果的枝子，不摘去不需要的叶子，不除去害虫和杂草，要不要我把你放在一边呢”？她的心受了安慰大声说道：“不！不！”━狄克生 结果子的枝干， 才会受到剪栽， 为了帮助它的生长， 结出更多的果子来。 摇曳生姿的细枝， 含苞欲放的蓓蕾， 青葱可爱的嫩芽， ━都会摧残。 欢乐的生命， 摧残得黯淡无光， 抱负化为尘土， 磨折得遍体鳞伤。 你一切欲望， 一切希求和幻梦， 都将化为泡影， 你要欢喜，你要庆幸。 那是神执着刀， 细心在给你修剪， 使你结果子的生命， 更为丰富繁衍。 ━富林德
February 20 “Nothing shall be impossible unto you. ” (Matt. 17:20) It is possible, for those who really are willing to reckon on the power of the Lord for keeping and victory, to lead a life in which His promises are taken as they stand and are found to be true. It is possible to cast all our care upon Him daily and to enjoy deep peace in doing it. It is possible to have the thoughts and imaginations of our hearts purified, in the deepest meaning of the word. It is possible to see the will of God in everything, and to receive it, not with sighing, but with singing. It is possible by taking complete refuge in Divine power to become strong through and through; and, where previously our greatest weakness lay, to find that things which formerly upset all our resolves to be patient, or pure, or humble, furnish today an opportunity━through Him who loved us, and works in us an agreement with His will and a blessed sense of His presence and His power━to make sin powerless over us. These things are DIVINE POSSIBILITIES, and because they are His work, the true experience of them will always cause us to bow lower at His feet and to learn to thirst and long for more. We cannot possibly be satisfied with anything less━each day, each hour, each moment, in Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit━than to WALK WITH GOD. ━H. C. G. Moule. We may have as much of God as we will. Christ puts the key of the treasure-chamber into our hand, and bids us take all that we want. If a man is admitted into the bullion vault of a bank, and told to help himself, and comes out with one cent, whose fault is it that he is poor? Whose fault is it that Christian people generally have such scanty portions of the free riches of God? ━McLaren		二月二十日 “你们没有一件不能作的事了”（太十七：20） 　有了信心，我们就没有一件不能的事了。只要我们真相信神有保守和得胜的能力，我们就能看见祂所说的话语和应许，都是实在的。 　我们能天天把我们一切的罣虑和重担卸给神，享受平安和喜乐。 　我们能管辖头脑中的思想，昼夜系念神的话语。 　我们能在每一件事情上清楚神的旨意；不是用叹息，乃是用赞美去接受。 　我们能靠神的恩典刚强；我们以前的软弱，以前叫我们不能忍耐，圣洁与谦卑的罪，今天都能靠着爱我们的主胜过了，使罪完全失去它在我们身上的权势。 　这些都是神恩典中可能的事，如果我们有了这些经历，就会更愿意俯伏在神脚前，也就会更渴慕最高的灵命。 　我们如果不能每天，每小时，每分钟，在基督里，藉着圣灵的能力与神同行，我们就不会得到满足。━慕尔 在基督里，我们能有神一切的丰富。主已经把神宝库的钥匙放在我们手中了，祂吩咐我们去无限制地领取一切我们所要的。若是一个银行的行长，准许一个穷人到银行库中去任意取他所要的；假定那个穷人出来的时侯，只带了一文钱，这是谁的过失呢？基督徒能得到神完全的丰富，而仍过着极穷的生活，这是谁的过失呢？━马克拉伦

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