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(转繁)
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March 21
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三月二十一日
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“According to your faith be
it unto you.” (Matt.
9:29)
"Praying through" might be defined as praying one's way
into full faith, emerging while yet praying into the assurance that one has
been accepted and heard, so that one becomes actually aware of receiving, by
firmest anticipation and in advance of the event, the thing for which he
asks.
Let us remember
that no earthly circumstances can hinder the fulfillment of His Word if we
look steadfastly at the immutability of that Word and not at the uncertainty
of this ever━changing world.
God would have us believe His Word without other confirmation, and then He is ready to give us "according to our faith."
"When once
His Word is past,
When He hath
said , 'I will,' (Heb. 13:5)
The thing shall
come at last;
God keeps His
promise still." (2 Cor. 1:20)
The prayer of the
Pentecostal age was like a cheque to be paid in
coin over the counter. ━Sir R. Anderson.
"And God said…and it was so."
(Gen. 1:9)
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“照着你们的信给你们成全了罢。”
(太九：29)
“祷告透切”的意思就是祷告到完全的信心里去；祷告到还在祷告的时候就已经有了一种把握：觉得我们的祷告已蒙垂听，已蒙悦纳了；祷告到事情还没有实现之先，已经得着了所求的。
让我们记得世上任何环境，都不能拦阻神的话应验，所以让我们坚信祂的话没有改变的可能，虽然世界一直在改变。神要我们单信祂的话，不用别的证实，或凭据，然后祂要照着我们的信给我们成全。
事情终会实现,
祂有过应许在先；
祂说:“不撇下你”，(来十三：5)
神永远信守诺言。(林后一：20)
古代信徒的祷告，像放在银行柜台上的支票一样，立刻可以兑取现金。━安德生
“神说…事就这样成了。”(创一：9)
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March
22
“And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in
the wilderness of Mount Sinai an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a
bush…saying…I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I
have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I
will send thee into Egypt.”
(Acts 7:30, 32, 34)
That was a long wait in preparation for a great mission. When God
delays, He is not inactive. He is getting ready His instruments, He is ripening
our powers; and at the appointed moment we shall arise equal to our task.
Even Jesus of Nazareth was thirty years
in privacy, growing in wisdom before He began His work. ━Dr. Jowett.
God is never in a
hurry but spends years with those He expects to greatly use. He never thinks
the days of preparation too long or too dull.
The hardest
ingredient in suffering is often time. A short, sharp pang is easily borne,
but when a sorrow drags its weary way through long, monotonous years, and day
after day returns with the same dull routine of hopeless agony, the heart
loses its strength, and without the grace of God, is sure to sink into the
very sullenness of despair. Joseph's was a long trial,
and God often has to burn His lessons into the depths of our being by the
fires of protracted pain. "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of
silver," but He knows how long, and like a true goldsmith He stops the
fires the moment He sees His image in the glowing metal. We may not see now
the outcome of the beautiful plan which God is hiding in the shadow of His
hand; it yet may be long concealed; but faith may be sure that He is sitting
on the throne, calmly waiting the hour when, with adoring rapture, we shall
say, "All things have worked together for good." Like Joseph, let
us be more careful to learn all the lessons in the school of sorrow than we
are anxious for the hour of deliverance. There is a "need━be" for every lesson, and when we are ready, our deliverance
will surely come, and we shall find that we could not have stood in our place
of higher service without the very things that were taught us in the ordeal.
God is educating us for the future, for higher service and nobler blessings;
and if we have the qualities that fit us for a throne, nothing can keep us from
it when God's time has come. Don't steal tomorrow out of God's hands. Give
God time to speak to you and reveal His will. He is never too late; learn to
wait. ━Selected。
"He never
comes too late; He knoweth what is best;
Vex not thyself in
vain; until He cometh━REST."
Do not run
impetuously before the Lord; learn to wait His time: the minute━hand as well as the hour━hand must point
the exact moment for action.
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三月二十二日
“过了四十年，在西乃山的旷野，有一位天使，从荆棘火焰中，向摩西显现…说:我下来要救他们，你来，我要差你往埃及去”
(徒七：30，31，34)
接受一个重大使命之前，需要何等长的等候和预备！神若延迟，并不是遗忘。祂是在预备祂的器皿，给他们相当的训练和教育；到了神所指定的时侯，神要兴起他们来背负他们的工作。就是拿撒勒人耶稣，也必须有三十年的准备，直等祂的智慧和身量，并神和人喜爱祂的心长完全了，才开始祂的工作。━乔怀德
神从不性急，祂肯花长时期去预备祂要重用的器皿。祂从不以为预备的日子太长了，或是太无聊了。
在苦难中最难受的成份常是时间。短而急的痛苦易受，长而慢的痛苦难当。有时侯我们的痛苦缠绵数年；一天一天过去，并没有得着轻减；那时侯我们的力量就会失去；如果没有神的恩典，我们定规会沉入绝境。约瑟的试炼是一个长时期的，到了时侯，他成了何等样人！神常藉着火把祂的功课，煎熬在我们的最深处。“祂必坐下如炼净银子的”(玛三：3)，祂知道该炼多少时侯；像银匠一般，祂一看见银子炼得能照见祂的形像时，便立即把火停止。现在我们虽然看不见神的美意，也看不见将来荣耀的结果；但是信心知道神是不会错误的，祂叫“万事都互相效力，叫爱神的人得益处”(罗八：28)。让我们像约瑟一样，在神苦难的学校中用心学习一切的功课，少盼望立时的拯救。每一课功课都是必需的；我们学会了，拯救自然会来的；那时侯我们就要看见：如果没有在试炼中受过教育，我们决不能站在更大的工场上担任更重要的工作。所以，亲爱的，神现在训练我们，是为着我们的将来━将来更大的事奉和更多的祝福；━如果我们有资格可以坐宝座了，神的拯救就来了，那时侯没有东西再能拦阻我们。但愿我们不去夺神手中的明天。给神充份的时间来栽培我们。祂决不会来得太迟的；学习耐心等候罢。━选
祂决不会来得太迟，祂在作最好的安排；不要空寻烦恼，安心等候祂的来到。
不要很性急地跑在神前面；学习等候祂的时间：钟表上的分针和时针走起来都有一定的规律。
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March
23
“Out of the spoils won in
battle did they dedicate to maintain the house of the Lord.” (1
Chron. 26:27)
Physical force is stored in the bowels of the earth, in the coal mines,
which came from the fiery heat that burned up great forests in ancient ages;
and so spiritual force is stored in the depths of our being, through the very
pain which we cannot understand.
Some day we shall
find that the spoils we have won from our trials were just preparing us to
become true "Great Hearts" in the Pilgrim's Progress, and to lead
our fellow pilgrims triumphantly through trial to the city of the King.
But let us never
forget that the source of helping other people must be victorious suffering.
The whining, murmuring pang never does anybody any good.
Paul did not carry
a cemetery with him, but a chorus of victorious praise; and the harder the
trial, the more he trusted and rejoiced, shouting from the very altar of
sacrifice. He said, "Yea, and if I be offered upon the service and
sacrifice of your faith, I joy and rejoice with you all." Lord, help me
this day to draw strength from all that comes to me! ━Days of Heaven upon Earth.
"He placed
me in a little cage,
Away from
gardens fair;
But I must sing
the sweetest songs
Because He
placed me there.
Not beat my
wings against the cage
If it's my
Maker's will,
But raise my
voice to heaven's gate
And sing the
louder still!"
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三月二十三日
“他们将争战时所夺的财物分别为圣，以备修造耶和华的殿。” (代上二十六：27)
物质的力量是含蓄在地里煤层中的，煤是古代的植物受压，受烧而成的；照样，属灵的力量是含蓄在我们里面灵中的，灵越经过试炼和战争，越加增力量。但是这种试炼和战争的痛苦，是我们现在所不能明白的。
有一天我们要看见：我们在试炼和战争时所夺的财物，能叫我们帮助及引领别人，鼓励他们经过试炼和战争而进入天城。
可是，我们决不能忘记：帮助别人的条件，乃是自己先在苦难中得胜。在苦难中怨天尤人，决不能给别人甚么益处。
保罗带到各处的，并不是他的坟墓，乃是他得胜的赞美；他的试炼越难，他的信靠和欢呼也越多。他说：“我若被浇奠在你们信心的祭物上，也是喜乐，并且与你们众人一同喜乐”(腓二：17直译)。主，求祢帮助我们从一切临到我们的事上得到力量！在试炼和战争中发出赞美来叫祢得着快乐！叫同走天路者得着鼓励！━译自地上的天上生活
祂把我放进笼中，
离开了园中的树木青葱；
但我仍要唱出最美的歌颂，
因为是祂把我放进笼中。
这是造物主的旨意，
我决不挣扎却安定从容，
还要引声高歌，
使歌声直达天城。
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March
24
“And Jacob said, O God of
my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the Lord which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy
kindred, and I will deal well with thee: Deliver me, I pray thee.”
(Gen. 32:9, 11)
There are many healthy symptoms in that prayer. In some respects
it may serve as a mould into which our own spirits may pour themselves, when
melted in the fiery furnace of sorrow.
He began by
quoting God's promise: "Thou saidst." He
did so twice (9 and 12). Ah, he has got God in his power then! God puts
Himself within our reach in His promises; and when we can say to Him,
"Thou saidst," He cannot say nay. He must
do as He has said. If Herod was so particular for his oath's sake, what will
not our God be? Be sure in prayer, to get your feet well on a promise; it
will give you purchase enough to force open the gates of heaven, and to take
it by force. ━Practical Portions
for the Prayer━life.
Jesus desires that
we shall be definite in our requests, and that we
shall ask for some special thing. "What will ye that I shall do unto
you?" is the question that He asks of every one who in affliction and
trial comes to Him. Make your requests with definite earnestness if you would
have definite answers. Aimlessness in prayer accounts for so many seemingly
unanswered prayers. Be definite in your petition. Fill out your check for
something definite, and it will be cashed at the bank of Heaven when
presented in Jesus' Name. Dare to be definite with God. ━Selected.
Miss Havergal has said: "Every year, I might almost say
every day, that I live, I seem to see more clearly how all the rest and
gladness and power of our Christian life hinges on one thing; and that is,
taking God at His word, believing that He really means exactly what He says,
and accepting the very words in which He reveals His goodness and grace,
without substituting others or altering the precise modes and tenses which He
has seen fit to use."
Bring Christ's
Word━Christ's promise, and Christ's sacrifice━His blood, with thee, and not one of Heaven's blessings can be
denied thee. ━Adam Clarke.
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三月二十四日
“雅各说，耶和华，我祖亚伯拉罕的神，我父亲以撒的神啊，祢曾对我说，回你本地本族去，我要厚待你…求祢救我。” (创三十二：9，12)
在这个祷告中有好几点可以做我们的帮助，使我们在忧伤的火窑中知道如何向神倾心吐意。
雅各开场就把神的应许拿出来提醒神：“祢…曾说”。他这样说了两次(九节，十二节)。啊，他抓住了神！原来神的应许就是神给我们的把柄，我们能藉着这个去抓住祂；甚么时侯我们能对祂说：“祢曾说”，祂决不能说不。祂必须照祂所说的去做。希律王尚且能守信，何况我们的神呢？所以我们祷告的时侯，应当把我们的脚站稳在祂的应许上；这样，天上的门也只得为你敞开了，那时你可以奋力去取你所求的。━译自实用祷告生活
主耶稣要我们有专一的祷告。每一个因痛苦，试炼，而来就祂的人，祂都问他们说：“要我为你作甚么”？(可十：51)如果你盼望有清楚的答应，就得有清楚的祷告。没有目的的祷告，是没有答应的。所以你的祷告应当专一。在你祷告的支票上写明指定的数目，天上的银行看见了主耶稣的名字，就要付你指定的现款。━选
海弗格尔(Havergal)女士说：“每年，每天，我活着，真看见基督徒所有的安息，喜乐，能力，都因着一件事情：就是以神的话为算数━相信祂怎样说，就必怎样做。我们该照祂所用的字眼去接受，切勿更改或变换祂所用的语气和时候”。
只要把基督的话语━基督的应许，和基督的宝血拿出来，天上的祝福就没有一样能不给你了。━莫拉克
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March
25
“But
without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must
believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of
them that diligently seek him. ” (Heb.
11:6)
The faith for desperate days.
The Bible is full
of such days. Its record is made up of them, its songs are inspired by them,
its prophecy is concerned with them, and its revelation has come through
them.
The desperate days
are the stepping━stones in the path
of light. They seem to have been God's opportunity and man's school of
wisdom.
There is a story
of an Old Testament love feast in Psalm 107, and in every story of
deliverance the point of desperation gave God His chance. The "wit's
end" of desperation was the beginning of God's power. Recall the promise
of seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sands of the sea, to a couple as
good as dead. Read again the story of the Red Sea and its
deliverance, and of Jordan with its ark
standing mid━stream. Study once
more the prayers of Asa, Jehoshaphat,
and Hezekiah, when they were sore pressed and knew not what to do. Go over
the history of Nehemiah, Daniel, Hosea, and Habakkuk. Stand with awe in the
darkness of Gethsemane, and linger by the grave in Joseph's garden
through those terrible days. Call the witnesses of the early Church, and ask
the apostles the story of their desperate days.
Desperation is better than despair.
Faith did not make
our desperate days. Its work is to sustain and solve them. The only
alternative to a desperate faith is despair, and faith holds on and prevails.
There is no more
heroic example of desperate faith than that of the three Hebrew children. The
situation was desperate, but they answered bravely, "Our God whom we
serve is able to deliver us from the burning, fiery furnace; and he will
deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not,
be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship
the golden image which thou hast set up." I like that, "but if
not!"
I have only space
to mention Gethsemane. Ponder deeply its "Nevertheless."
"If it is possible…evertheless!" Deep
darkness had settled upon the soul of our Lord. Trust meant anguish unto
blood and darkness to the descent of hell━Nevertheless!
Nevertheless!!
Now get your hymn
book and sing your favorite hymn of desperate faith. ━Rev. S. Chadwick.
"When
obstacles and trials seem
Like prison
walls to be,
I do the little
I can do
And leave the
rest to Thee.
"And when
there seems no chance, no change,
From grief can
set me free,
Hope finds its
strength in helplessness,
And calmly
waits for Thee."
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三月二十五日
“人非有信，不能的神的喜悦，因为到神面前来的人,必须信有神，且信祂赏赐那寻求祂的人。” (来十一：6)
信心在危急中更能发挥它的力量。
圣经中充满着危难的日子。它的故事由危难的日子所构成的，它的诗篇,是在危难日子中获得的灵感，它的预言也与此有关，它的启示也以此为透露的媒介。
危难的日子是通往光明之路的踏脚石；是神的机会，也是人类智慧的训练所。诗篇第一百零七篇歌颂耶和华的慈爱，此外在每个救赎的故事中，危急存亡之秋，往往是神的好机会。人的才智穷竭，绝望无援的时候，是神的能力开始发挥。记得吗?神曾应许━对从未生过孩子而老得形同朽木的夫妇，将可获有后裔，并且多如天上的星，又如海边的沙。你可翻开圣经再读一读以色列人在红海得救的故事，还有以色列人抬着约柜，从约但河中涉水而过的故事。还有，亚撒，约沙法和希西家被苦难逼迫，不知如何是好的时候，他们是怎样祈祷的。再温习一下尼希米，但以理，何西阿和哈巴谷的历史。再以敬畏的心默默立于“客西马尼”的幽暗中，到约瑟家的坟墓旁，回想那些可怕的日子，去拜访最初创立教会的见证人，去探问使徒在危难日子中所经历的故事。
危急胜于灰心。
信心不会使危急变成绝望。信心的任务是支持你去解决危难，在危难之际，信心的反面就是灰心，信心维持不变,就能得胜。
在危难恐怕没有比那三个希伯来子民所表现更伟大。他们的处境虽然危急万分，但他们仍能勇敢地回答道:“我们事奉的神，必能把我们救出这烈焰的火窑；祂更能把我们从暴君的手中救出来，但即使不是如此，暴君你也该知道，我们决不事奉你的神，也不敬拜你所立的偶像”。(参阅但以理书第三章)
“但即使不是如此”，这句话何等令人钦佩。
我想把余剩的篇幅，来说起耶稣在客西马尼园中的祷告。请深切地体味其中“然而”二字，“倘若可行，求祢叫这杯离开我，然而不要照我的意思，只要照祢的意思! ”深沉的黑暗已笼罩着主的灵魂。信靠神，就要受流血的痛苦，沦入死亡的深渊，━然而!
现在拿起你们的歌本子，唱你们所最喜爱的，那些赞美危急中信心的诗吧：━蔡特威克
障碍与苦难，
像囹圄与牢狱，
我只尽我的本分，
其余让神去完成。
脱离悲痛的机会与变化，
久待不来，似已消失，
危急中终有希望的力量，
静静等待神赐恩泽。
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March 26
“Look
from the place where thou art, northward, and southward, and eastward, and
westward: for all the land which thou seest, to
thee will I give it.
” (Gen. 13:14,15)
No instinct can be put in you by the Holy Ghost but He purposes
to fulfill. Let your faith then rise and soar away and claim all the land you
can discover. ━S. A. Keen.
All you can
apprehend in the vision of faith is your own. Look as far as you can, for it
is all yours. All that you long to be as a Christian, all that you long to do
for God, are within the possibilities of faith. Then come, still closer, and
with your Bible before you, and your soul open to all the influences of the
Spirit, let your whole being receive the baptism of His presence; and as He
opens your understanding to see all His fulness,
believe He has it all for you. Accept for yourself all the promises of His
word, all the desires He awakens within you, all the possibilities of what
you may be as a follower of Jesus. All the land you see is given to you.
The actual
provisions of His grace come from the inner vision. He who puts the instinct
in the bosom of yonder bird to cross the continent in search of summer
sunshine in the Southern clime is too good to deceive it, and just as surely
as He has put the instinct in its breast, so has He also put the balmy
breezes and the vernal sunshine yonder to meet it when it arrives.
He who breathes into
our hearts the heavenly hope, will not deceive or fail us when we press
forward to its realization. ━Selected.
"And they
found as he had said unto them." (Luke 22:13)
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三月二十六日
“罗得离别亚伯兰以后，耶和华对亚伯兰说，从你所有的地方，你举目向东西南北观看，凡你所看见的一切，我都要赐给你和你的后裔，直到永远。” (创十三：14-15)
除非圣灵有成全的目的，否则不会给你任何启示。得到启示以后，你要让信心高飞远扬，凡你所能发现的一切土地，都可归属于你。━凯恩
在信心的祝福中所能领会的一切，都是为你所有。你要尽可能的往远看，因为你所看见的一切，都是你的。你以基督徒身份所盼望的一切，以及你希望为神效劳的一切，都包括在信心的可能范围之内。来吧，靠近一点，捧着你的圣经，为圣灵的一切感召，开启你的心扉，让你全身全灵，接受祂降临的洗礼，当祂启发你的智慧，使你看到祂的丰足时，你要相信，祂所有的一切都是为了你。你当接受祂所应许的一切诺言，接受祂提醒你的一切愿望，接受耶稣信徒所能成就的一切机会。凡你目光所及的一切土地，都是赐给你的。
祂以恩宠所赐的真正粮食，来自内心的领悟。祂给远方的鸟一个启示，要牠飞过大陆到南方去寻见夏季的阳光，决不会欺骗牠，祂一方面使鸟领悟这个启示，祂还给芳香的微风，与和暖的阳光同样确切的启示，要它们在遥远的南方迎接那鸟的飞临。
祂在我们心中注入天国的希望，当我们向目标奋勇前进的时候，祂决不会欺骗我们或使我们失望。━选
“他们去了，所遇见的，正如耶稣所说的。”(路二十二：13)
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March
27
“I do not count the
sufferings of our present life worthy of mention when compared with the glory
that is to be revealed and bestowed upon us. ” (Rom. 8:18) (20th Century Trans.)
A remarkable incident occurred recently at a wedding in England. A young man of
large wealth and high social position, who had been blinded by an accident
when he was ten years old, and who won University honors in spite of his
blindness, had won a beautiful bride, though he had never looked upon her
face. A little while before his marriage, he submitted to a course of
treatment by experts, and the climax came on the day of his wedding.
The day came, and
the presents, and guests. There were present cabinet ministers and generals
arid bishops and learned men and women. The bridegroom, dressed for the
wedding, his eyes still shrouded in linen, drove to the church with his
father, and the famous oculist met them in the vestry.
The bride, entered
the church on the arm of her white━haired father. So
moved was she that she could hardly speak. Was her lover at last to see her
face that others admired, but which he knew only through his delicate finger
tips?
As she neared the
altar, while the soft strains of the wedding march floated through the
church, her eyes fell on a strange group.
The father stood
there with his son. Before the latter was the great oculist in the act of
cutting away the last bandage. The bridegroom took a step forward, with the
spasmodic uncertainty of one who cannot believe that he is awake. A beam of
rose━colored light from a pane in the chancel window
fell across his face, but he did not seem to see it.
Did he see anything?
Yes! Recovering in an instant his steadiness of mien, and with a dignity and
joy never before seen in his face, he went forward to meet his bride. They
looked into each other's eyes, and one would have thought that his eyes would
never wander from her face.
"At
last!" she said. "At last!" he echoed solemnly, bowing his
head. That was a scene of great dramatic power, and no doubt of great joy,
and is but a mere suggestion of what will actually take place in Heaven when
the Christian who has been walking through this world of trial and sorrow,
shall see Him face to face. ━Selceted.
"Just a━wearying for you,
Jesus, Lord,
beloved and true;
Wishing for
you, wondering when
You'll be
coming back again,
Under all I say
and do,
Just a━wearying for you.
"Some glad
day, all watching past,
You will come
for me at last;
Then I'll see
you, hear your voice,
Be with you,
with you rejoice;
How the sweet
hope thrills me through,
Sets me
wearying for you."
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三月二十七日
“我想现在的苦楚，若比起将来要显于我们的荣耀，就不足介意了。” （罗八：18）
最近在英国举行的一次婚礼中，发生了奇迹。新郎是富有的青年，社会地位很高，不幸在十岁的时候，因遇意外而双目失明，他虽然瞎了眼，仍能读得大学的学位，并且得到一个美丽的新娘，虽然从未看见过她的面容。结婚前不久，他由眼科专家施行手术。故事的最高峰，就发生在举行婚礼的那天。
那天，宾客和礼物纷纷而到。有内阁大臣、将军、主教和学术界的仕女们。新郎穿了礼服，眼睛上仍蒙着纱布和他父亲一同乘车来到教堂，那位有名的眼科专家也早等在牧师的法衣室里了。
新娘挽着白发苍苍的老父的手臂，进入教堂。她的情绪激动万分，不能开口。在今天她的爱人究竟能否恢复视觉，终将看见她的容貌？她的美丽素为别人所艳羡，而他在过去，只能以敏锐的指尖去摸索的。当她走近圣坛的时候，婚礼进行曲的柔和音调，弥漫了整个教堂，她的目光注视着新郎和伴着他的眼科医生。
父与子都站在那里，新郎面前，站着那位眼科专家，正在割断最后一条绷带。新郎向前跨了一步，好像大梦初醒，仍有些迷茫不知所措的样子。一道玫瑰色的光线穿过教堂的有色玻璃，照到他脸上，他好像仍旧不敢相信已经看见了这道亮光。
究竟看见了没有呢？看见了！瞬刻间恢复了稳定的姿态，带着空前的庄严和喜悦，走向前去会见他的新娘。他们眼对眼彼此凝视，旁观者不禁觉得，他的目光似乎永不会移开她的脸了。
女的说：“终于看见了！”男的低下头去庄重地应声道：“终于看见了！”这是十分感人的一幕，也是极大的喜悦。它暗示我们，这将是发生于天堂的实际情景，当基督徒经历了人世的苦难和悲哀，终将同样地和神面对着面彼此相见。━选
亲爱的真主耶稣，
我永远渴念祢，
不知何年何日，祢再临人世，
我是一心在翘企。
我所言所行，
都是为了渴望着祢。
那欢乐的日子到来的时候，
使望待成为过去，
我会看见祢，听到祢的声音，
分享祢的欢欣，
这希望给我多少鼓励，
我正企盼殷勤。
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March
28
“And it shall come to
pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of
the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that
the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from
above; and they shall stand upon a heap. ”
(Joshua 3:13)
Brave Levites! Who can help admiring them, to carry the Ark right into the
stream; for the waters were not divided till their feet dipped in the water (ver. 15). God had not promised aught else. God honors
faith. "Obstinate faith," that the PROMISE sees and "looks to
that alone." You can fancy how the people would watch these holy men march
on, and some of the bystanders would be saying, "You would not catch me
running that risk! Why, man, the ark will be carried away!" Not so;
"the priests stood firm on dry ground." We must not overlook the
fact that faith on our part helps God to carry out His plans. "Come up
to the help of the Lord."
The Ark had staves for
the shoulders. Even the Ark did not move of
itself; it was carried. When God is the architect, men are the masons and
laborers. Faith assists God. It can stop the mouth of lions and quench the
violence of fire. It yet honors God, and God honors it. Oh, for this faith
that will go on, leaving God to fulfill His promise when He sees fit! Fellow
Levites, let us shoulder our load, and do not let us look as if we were
carrying God's coffin. It is the Ark of the living
God! Sing as you march towards the flood! ━Thomas Champness.
One of the special
marks of the Holy Ghost in the Apostolic Church was the spirit of
boldness. One of the most essential qualities of the faith that is to attempt
great things for God, and expect great things from God, is holy audacity.
Where we are dealing with a supernatural Being, and taking from Him things
that are humanly impossible, it is easier to take much than little; it is
easier to stand in a place of audacious trust than in a place of cautious,
timid clinging to the shore.
Like wise seamen
in the life of faith, let us launch out into the deep, and find that all
things are possible with God, and all things are possible unto him that
believeth.
Let us, today,
attempt great things for God; take His faith and believe for them and His
strength to accomplish them. ━Days of Heaven
upon Earth.
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三月二十八日
“等到抬普天下主耶和华约柜的祭司把脚站在约但河水里，约但河的水就是从上往下流的水，必然断绝立起成垒。” (书三：13)
勇敢的利未人！谁能不佩服他们的胆量，抬了约柜伸脚到还未分开的水中去。神也一无其他的勉励和应许，只等待看他们的信心。神重视信心，尤其是不凭理由的信心，你可以推想当初许多百姓看见这些利未人抬了约柜下水，他们一定发急地说：“要是我，决不这样作无谓的牺牲！冒这样大的险！可惜，他们和约柜就要被约但河的急流冲去了！”可是，并不这样；“抬耶和华约柜的祭司在约但河中的干地上站定”(十七节)。我们不要小看信心，我们的信心能帮助神成功他的计划。“……来帮助耶和华”(士五：23)。
约柜有四根长杠，以便放到肩上扛抬，它本身不必行动，要有人去抬它。神有如建筑师，而人只是承造的匠人。信心能协助神，信心能叫神命令封住狮子的口，能叫神使火失其威势。信心尊重神，神也尊重信心。信心是永续的，让神认为适当的时候，实现神的应许。
今天在恩典下同作利未人的哪，让我们凭着无理由的信心，抬起神的应许来，不要想我们抬的是神的棺材。这是永活之神的约柜呀！让我们一面唱歌，一面下水罢！━强卜奈斯
勇敢的精神是使徒时代教会的特点。如果我们想为神做大事业，想从神得到大使命，我们必须有勇敢的信心。如果我们与超然的神接触，向祂要人力所不能得到的东西，我告诉你：拿得多比拿得少还容易；大胆地站在应许上比胆怯地攀住海岸来得容易。
在信心的生活中，让我们像聪明的水手一样，把船向深海驶去，你会发现在神凡事都能；在信的人也凡事都能。
让我们今天来替神作大事业；相信祂的能力是能完成一切的。━译自在地上的天上生活
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March 29
“Consider
the lilies, how they grow. ” (Matt. 6:28)
I need oil," said an ancient monk; so he planted an olive
sapling. "Lord," he prayed, "it needs rain that its tender
roots may drink and swell. Send gentle showers." And the Lord sent
gentle showers. "Lord," prayed the monk, "my tree needs sun.
Send sun, I pray Thee." And the sun shone, gilding the dripping clouds.
"Now frost, my Lord, to brace its tissues," cried the monk. And
behold, the little tree stood sparkling with frost, but at evening it died.
Then the monk
sought the cell of a brother monk, and told his strange experience. "I,
too, planted a little tree," he said, "and see! it
thrives well. But I entrust my tree to its God. He who made it knows better
what it needs than a man like me. I laid no condition. I fixed not ways or
means. 'Lord, send what it needs,' I prayed, 'storm or sunshine, wind, rain,
or frost. Thou hast made it and Thou dost know.'"
Yes, leave it
with Him,
The lilies all
do,
And they grow━
They grow in
the rain,
And they grow
in the dew━
Yes, they grow:
They grow in
the darkness, all hid in the night━
They grow in
the sunshine, revealed by the light━
Still they
grow.
Yes, leave it
with Him
'Tis more dear to His heart,
You will know,
Than the lilies
that bloom,
Or the flowers
that start
'Neath the snow:
Whatever you
need, if you seek it in prayer,
You can leave
it with Him━for you are His
care.
You, you know.
━Selected.
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三月二十九日
“你想野地里的百合花，怎么长起来。”
(太六：28)
古时有一个修道士，种了一棵橄榄树。他祷告说：“神啊，它需要水分，好叫它柔嫩的根得吸收而长发。求祢降下滋润的甘霖来。”神就降雨下来。他又祷告说：“神啊，我的树需要日光，我求祢给它日光”。于是云散雨止，神就给它日光。他再祷告说：“神啊，现在它需要霜来坚固它的组织。”看哪，那株幼小的植物上果然罩上了一层薄霜。但是到了傍晚，树却死了。
于是他就去见另一个修道士，告诉他自己奇异的经历。那修道士回答说：“我也种了一棵小树。看哪！现在长得多么茂盛。我没有为我的树操一点心，只把它交给它的神。造它的神知道它的需要，远胜过像我这样无知的人。所以我并不向神提出条件，建议，方法。我祷告说：‘神啊，祢把它所需要的给它，无论是风，是雨，是霜，是雪，是日光，是甚么…祢既造它，你一定知道它，也一定会供给它。’”
是的，像百合花那样，
一切让神去安排，
它们自然生长成材，
在雨露阴晴之中，
照常发育，叶茂花盛，
无庸你顾虑喋喋。
是的，一切让神去安排，
祂爱你，为你的设想周全，
更甚于百合花花落花开；
在祷告中表示了愿望，
一切让神去安排，
靠祂为你栽培。
━选
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March 30
“Behold, all ye that
kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light
of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of
mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow. ” (Isa. 50:11)
What a solemn warning to those who walk in darkness and yet who
try to help themselves out into the light. They are represented as kindling a
fire, and compassing themselves with sparks. What does this mean?
Why, it means that
when we are in darkness the temptation is to find a way without trusting in
the Lord and relying upon Him. Instead of letting Him help us out, we try to
help ourselves out. We seek the light of nature, and get the advice of our
friends. We try the conclusions of our reason, and might almost be tempted to
accept a way of deliverance which would not be of God at all.
All these are
fires of our own kindling; rushlights that will
surely lead us onto the shoals. And God will let us walk in the light of
those sparks, but the end will be sorrow.
Beloved, do not
try to get out of a dark place, except, in God's time and in God's way. The
time of trouble is meant to teach you lessons that you sorely need.
Premature
deliverance may frustrate God's work of grace in your life. Just commit the
whole situation to Him. Be willing to abide in darkness so long as you have
His presence. Remember that it is better to walk in the dark with God than to
walk alone in the light. ━The Still Small
Voice.
Cease meddling
with God's plans and will. You touch anything of His, and you mar the work.
You may move the hands of a clock to suit you, but you do not change the
time; so you may hurry the unfolding of God's will, but you harm and do not
help the work. You can open a rosebud but you spoil the flower. Leave all to
Him. Hands down. Thy will, not mine. ━Stephen Merritt.
HIS WAY
God bade me go
when I would stay
('Twas cool within the wood);
I did not know
the reason why.
I heard a
boulder crashing by
Across the path
where I stood.
He bade me stay
when I would go;
"Thy will
be done," I said.
They found one
day at early dawn,
Across the way
I would have gone,
A serpent with
a mangled head.
No more I ask
the reason why,
Although I may
not see
The path ahead,
His way I go;
For though I
know not, He doth know,
And He will
choose safe paths for me.
━The Sunday
School Times.
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三月三十日
“凡你们点火用火把围绕自己的，可以行在你们的火焰里，并你们所点的火把中。这是我手所定的；你们必躺在悲惨之中。” (赛五十：11)
这是一个严重的警告，对付那行在黑暗中而想设法自救的人们的。神说他们好象自己点火，用火把围绕自己。这是甚么意思呢？
这意思说：当我们在黑暗中遭遇试炼的时侯，我们总想自谋出路，不肯信神靠神。我们本该让祂施行拯救，可是我们顶喜欢自己筹划。我们寻求理由的结论，亲友的劝告。结果，就会采纳一个不出于神的方法。这些都是我们自己点的火焰和火把，凡匆促的引导，必定会把我们引导错误入了歧途，若想这种光亮前进，结果却是悲惨。
所以，亲爱的，不要想用自己的谋算逃出黑暗，我们该等候神的时间和神的方法。受试炼，试炼是学习我们所需要的功课。
不成熟的拯救会阻挠神在我们身上的工作。我们应该把一切的难处交给神。只要有祂的同在，就该甘心等在黑暗中。请记得在黑暗中与神同在，强如在光明中单独行走。━译自微小的声音
我们不该干预神的计划和旨意。甚么时候我们摸一摸祂的事情，我们立刻会弄坏祂的工作。我们尽可以把钟拨到我们所要的时间，但是我们不能改变实在的时间；我们尽可以擘开玫瑰的花蕾，可是我们擘坏了那花。照样，我们尽可以自己谋算来躲避神所要我们经过的遭遇，但是于事无补。所以我们该将一切完全交给祂。让我们住手罢。让我们对神说：“只要照祢的旨意，不要照我的旨意。”━麦力德
祂的道路
山林里寒冷阴冥，
我想停步，神却要我前行，
我不明白为了甚么原因。
忽在意欲停步的地方，
传出了岩石崩塌的巨声。
我要前进，神吩咐我停止，
我说：“遵照祢的意旨”。
一大清晨有人发现，
在我要去的路上，
躺着斫死的毒蟒。
我或许不明究竟，
但我不再计问，甚么缘故，
祂指点我的路径，我就走去，
我虽无知，却有数，
总为我…选择全安道路。
━主日學報
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March 31
“The wind was contrary.” (Matt.
14:24)
Rude and blustering the winds of March often are. Do they not typify
the tempestuous seasons of my life? But, indeed, I ought to be glad that I
make acquaintance with these seasons. Better it is that the rains descend and
the floods come than that I should stay perpetually in the Lotus Land where
it seems always afternoon, or in that deep meadowed
Valley of Avilion where never wind blows loudly.
Storms of temptation appear cruel, but do they not give intenser
earnestness to prayer? Do they not compel me to seize the promises with a
tighter hand grip? Do they not leave me with a character refined?
Storms of
bereavement are keen; but, then, they are one of the Father's ways of driving
me to Himself, that in the secret of His presence His voice may speak to my
heart, soft and low. There is a glory of the Master which can be seen only
when the wind is contrary and the ship tossed with waves.
"Jesus Christ
is no security against storms, but He is perfect security in storms. He has
never promised you an easy passage, only a safe landing."
Oh, set your
sail to the heavenly gale,
And then, no
matter what winds prevail,
No reef can
wreck you, no calm delay;
No mist shall
hinder, no storm shall stay;
Though far you
wander and long you roam
Through salt
sea sprays and o'er white sea foam,
No wind that can
blow but shall speed you Home.
━Annie Johnson
Flint.
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三月三十一日
“那时船在水中，因风不顺，被浪摇撼。”
（太十四：24）
有的季节，往往刮着狂风。岂不象征着人生的坎坷？但能体验这种季节，我应该觉得欣幸。如果永远留在希腊神话中的百合花乡，那里的气候终年如一日，或永远留在绿草如茵的极乐岛，那里总是吹着和煦的轻风，与其如此，我宁愿有大雨的倾注，风潮的来临。试炼的风雨虽是狂暴，但我因此而有了更虔诚的祈祷，不仅使我把神的应许抓得更紧，而且使我的人格能提炼得更为纯洁。
风雨的磨难是尖锐的，但这是神驱驰我们接近祂的方法之一，在祂冥冥存在之中，用轻柔低沉的声音，向我们说话，透入我们心之深处。主的荣耀，也只有在逆风及船舶为巨浪所抛掷的时候，才能显现。
基督不能保证暴风雨之不来，但祂能保证你在暴雨中的绝对安全。祂没有应许你旅程的平静无事，祂只应许你能安全到达目的地。
趁着天赐的风，扬帆出航，
然后不管它的顺逆强弱，
只向前进，不怕任何阻挠，
没有暗礁或雾能使你遭殃。
风雨不会如此永远猖狂，
也许要漂荡较长的时间，
绕道较远，终必送你回家，
结束碧白浪间的彷徨。
━富林德
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