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(转繁)
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April 11
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四月十一日
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“What I tell you in the
darkness, speak ye in the light. ”
(Matt. 10:27)
Our Lord is constantly taking us into the dark, that He may tell
us things. Into the dark of the shadowed home, where bereavement has drawn the
blinds; into the dark of the lonely, desolate life, where some infirmity
closes us in from the light and stir of life; into the dark of some crushing
sorrow and disappointment.
Then He tells us
His secrets, great and wonderful, eternal and infinite; He causes the eye
which has become dazzled by the glare of earth to behold the heavenly
constellations; and the car to detect the undertones of His voice, which is
often drowned amid the tumult of earth's strident cries.
But such
revelations always imply a corresponding responsibility—"that speak ye
in the light━that proclaim upon the housetops."
We are not meant
to always linger in the dark, or stay in the closet; presently we shall be
summoned to take our place in the rush and storm of life; and when that
moment comes, we are to speak and proclaim what we have learned.
This gives a new
meaning to suffering, the saddest element in which is often its apparent
aimlessness. "How useless I am!" "What am I doing for the
betterment of men?" "Wherefore this waste of the precious spikenard
of my soul?"
Such are the
desperate laments of the sufferer. But God has a purpose in it all. He has
withdrawn His child to the higher altitudes of fellowship, that he may hear
God speaking face to face, and bear the message to his fellows at the
mountain foot.
Were the forty
days wasted that Moses spent on the Mount, or the period spent at Horeb by Elijah, or the years spent in Arabia by Paul?
There is no short
cut to the life of faith, which is the all-vital condition of a holy and
victorious life. We must have periods of lonely meditation and fellowship
with God. That our souls should have their mountains of fellowship, their
valley of quiet rest beneath the shadow of a great rock, their nights beneath
the stars, when darkness has veiled the material and silenced the stir of
human life, and has opened the view of the infinite and eternal, is as
indispensable as that our bodies should have food.
Thus alone can the
sense of God's presence become the fixed possession of the soul, enabling it
to say repeatedly, with the Psalmist, "Thou art near, O God." ━F. B. Meyer.
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“我在暗中告诉你们的，你们要在明处说出来。” （太十：27）
我们的主常带我们到黑暗中去，为着要和我们说话。有时祂带我们进入孤单的黑暗，有时祂带我们进入忧伤的黑暗，有时祂带我们进入失望的黑暗，有时祂带我们进入疾病的黑暗。
然后祂告诉我们祂伟大的，神奇的，永远的，无限的奥秘；祂开启我们迷糊的眼睛，叫我们看见属天的荣耀；祂开通我们聋聩的耳朵，叫我们听见祂的声音。在黑暗里我们能学到以前从来没有学到的功课。
可是我们得到了启示以后，就有一个责任━“你们要在明处说出来━要在屋顶上宣扬出来。”
我们并不会一直沉在黑暗中的；不久我们就要出来的；那时候我们就当把我们所学到的说出来，宣扬出来。
这样看来，我们受苦，并非是毫无意义，毫无目的的。许多时候，我们在受苦的时候会悲叹说：“我还有甚么用处呢？我于人类有甚么益处呢？我宝贵的一生就这样浪费了么
”？我告诉你：神是有目的的。神要我们和祂有最高的交通，神要我们能面对面听祂说话，将信息带给在山脚下的人们。
摩西在西乃山，伊莱贾在何烈山，保罗在亚拉伯，岂都是白费时日呢？信心圣洁与得胜生活的必要条件，别无快捷方式可循，所以基督徒必须有单独默想，与神交通的时间。我们的灵，需要与至高者交通，也需要在岩石的阴影和夜晚的星光之下，静静安息。当黑暗遮蔽了尘世的烦嚣，也就展开了永恒与不朽的景象，这对于灵魂的需要，好像肉体之需要粮食毫无两样。
这样，我们才会时时觉得神的同在，能和戴维一同说：“耶和华啊，祢与我相近。”（诗一一九：151）━梅尔
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April 12
“And Jesus being full of
the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was
led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being forty days tempted of the devil. ” (Luke 4:1, 2)
Jesus was full of the Holy Ghost, and yet He was tempted.
Temptation often comes upon a man with its strongest power when he is nearest
to God. As someone has said, "The devil aims high." He got one
apostle to say he did not even know Christ.
Very few men have
such conflicts with the devil as Martin Luther had. Why? Because Martin
Luther was going to shake the very kingdom of hell. Oh, what conflicts John
Bunyan had!
If a man has much of
the Spirit of God, he will have great conflicts with the tempter. God permits
temptation because it does for us what the storms do for the oaks━it roots us; and
what the fire does for the paintings on the porcelain━it makes them
permanent.
You never know
that you have a grip on Christ, or that He has a grip on you, as well as when
the devil is using all his force to attract you from Him; then you feel the
pull of Christ's right hand. ━Selected.
Extraordinary
afflictions are not always the punishment of extraordinary sins, but
sometimes the trial of extraordinary graces. God hath many sharp-cutting instruments, and rough files for the polishing of His
jewels; and those He especially loves, and means to make the most
resplendent, He hath oftenest His tools upon. ━Archbishop Leighton.
I bear my willing
witness that I owe more to the fire, and the hammer, and the file, than to
anything else in my Lord's workshop. I sometimes question whether I have ever
learned anything except through the rod. When my schoolroom is darkened, I
see most. ━C. H. Spurgeon.
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四月十二日
“耶稣被圣灵充满，从约但河回来，圣灵将祂引到旷野，四十天受魔鬼的试探。”（路四：1）
耶稣被圣灵充满，但是也被魔鬼试探。魔鬼的试探常带着牠全副力量去寻找一个最近神的人。有人说：“魔鬼有大志”，这句话实在不错。牠曾抓住一个使徒，叫他说他不认得主。
马丁路得（Martin Luther）所受的撒但的攻击比任何人更多。因为马丁路得把地狱的根基摇动。约翰本仁（John Bunyan）也如此。
越被圣灵充满的人，越多受到撒但的攻击。神许可试探临到我们，因为试探能叫我们得到益处。正如暴风使橡树扎根更深，烈火使瓷上的油彩更为耐久。
你从来不知道主怎样护庇你，用手抓住你；直到撒但尽力引诱你离开主的时侯，你才会觉得主全能的手紧紧牵着你。━选
特别的苦难不一定是特别的罪恶的刑罚，有时候反是特别的祝福。神有许多锐利的器具，是用以琢磨祂心爱的宝石的；凡是祂所特别心爱的，祂就常常加以琢磨。━雷登
我今天愿意在这里作一个见证：我一生的转变，全靠我主工厂里的烈火，钉锤，锉刀，棒杖。━司布真
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April 13
“And the hand of the Lord was there upon me; and he said unto me, Arise,
go forth unto the plain, and I will there talk with thee.”
(Ezek. 3:22)
Did you ever hear of any one being much used for Christ who did
not have some special waiting time, some complete upset of all his or her
plans first; from St. Paul's being sent off into the desert of Arabia for
three years, when he must have been boiling over with the glad tidings, down
to the present day?
You were looking
forward to telling about trusting Jesus in Syria; now He says,
"I want you to show what it is to trust Me, without waiting for Syria."
My own case is far
less severe, but the same in principle, that when I thought the door was
flung open for me to go with a bound into literary work, it is opposed, and
doctor steps in and says, simply, "Never! She must choose between
writing and living; she can't do both."
That was in 1860.
Then I came out of the shell with "Ministry of Song" in 1869, and
saw the evident wisdom of being kept waiting nine years in the shade. God's
love being unchangeable, He is just as loving when we do not see or feel His
love. Also His love and His sovereignty are co-equal and universal; so He
withholds the enjoyment and conscious progress because He knows best what
will really ripen and further His work in us. ━Memorials of Frances Ridley Havergal.
I laid it down
in silence,
This work of mine,
And took what
had been sent me━
A resting time.
The Master's
voice had called me
To rest apart;
"Apart
with Jesus only,"
Echoed my
heart.
I took the rest
and stillness
From His own
Hand,
And felt this
present illness
Was what He
planned.
How often we
choose labor,
When He says
"Rest"━
Our ways are
blind and crooked;
His way is
best.
The work
Himself has given,
He will
complete.
There may be
other errands
For tired feet;
There may be
other duties
For tired
hands,
The present, is
obedience
To His commands.
There is a
blessed resting
In lying still,
In letting His
hand mould us,
Just as He
will.
His work must
be completed.
His lesson set;
He is the
higher Workman:
Do not forget !
It is not only
"working."
We must be
trained;
And Jesus
"learnt" obedience,
Through
suffering gained.
For us, His
yoke is easy,
His burden
light.
His discipline
most needful,
And all is
right.
We are but
under-workmen;
They never
choose
If this tool or
if that one
Their hands
shall use.
In working or
in waiting
May we fulfill
Not ours at
all, but only
The Master's will !
━Selected.
God provides
resting places as well as working places. Rest, then, and be thankful when He
brings you, wearied to a wayside well.
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四月十三日
“耶和华的手在那里降在我身上，祂对我说，你起来往平原去，我要在那里和你说话。”
（结三：22）
使徒保罗在亚拉伯的沙漠中，历时三年，在那时期中，他心中为主传福音的火充溢。故自古以来，我们常常可以从任何一位被基督所重用的仆人看见，他们自己的计划往往整个地推翻，且经过了一段特殊的等待时间。
你瞻望着到了叙利亚之后，再懂得信靠耶稣，现在祂说：“我要你无需等到叙利亚，就表示信靠我是甚么意思。”
我的等待情形，远不及保罗那样严重，原则却有相通的道理，当我以为职业之门已给我打开，欢迎我投入文学工作时，却被阻挡了，有一位先进直截了当地表示：“绝对不行，她必须在写作和谋生之间作一选择，两者不能兼得。”
那是主历一八六〇年，到了一八六九年，我的“歌之使命”问世，了解了在韬光隐晦中，等待了九年，确有主明智的道理。神的爱是不变的，当我们看不见或觉不到祂的爱时，祂还是一样的爱我们。祂的爱和祂的能力，是对等而交相为用的，祂阻止我们享乐，不要我们自以为进步，因为我们究竟是否真正成熟，以及如何策励我们，祂知道得最清楚。━海弗格
我默默搁下自己的事务，
接受祂给我暂作休息的吩咐，
主亲口唤我单独默想，
我心中应着说，愿与主单独相处。
我从祂手中取得休息与宁静，
才知祂为何给我安排目前的不幸，
我们常在祂吩咐休息时偏要劳动，
何等盲目迂回，祂所指示的才是最佳路径。
祂安排的工作，祂会完成，
也许有别的任务，
要劳累你疲倦的手足，
现在只要你遵从祂的吩咐。
宁静地躺着，享受祂慈爱的眷顾，
让祂的手塑造我们的模样，
祂的工作和教训终必完成，
别忘记祂是最高明的艺匠。
我们不仅要作工，还要受训练；
救主耶稣之顺从，出自痛苦经历中，
祂给我们的负的轭何等轻省，
祂的教导如此切实，一切都成全。
我们仅是做助手的小工人，
不可去挑剔工具之良窳，
无论在工作或等待之时，
要让主的旨意来显明。
━选
神给我们准备了工作的界限，和休息的所在，因此我们在极其疲乏时，祂带领我们到路旁的井边，你当该歇息，并将赞美感谢归给主。
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April
14
“For the
Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the
archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise
first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with
them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: so shall we ever be with the
Lord. ”
(1 Thess.
4:16, 17)
It was "very early in the morning" while "it was
yet dark," that Jesus rose from the dead. Not the sun, but only the morning-star
shone upon His opening tomb. The shadows had not fled,
the citizens of Jerusalem had not awaked.
It was still night━the hour of sleep and darkness, when He arose.
Nor did his rising break the slumbers of the city. So shall it be "very early
in the morning while it is yet dark," and when nought
but the morning-star is shining, that Christ's body, the Church, shall arise.
Like Him, His saints shall awake when the children of the night and darkness
are still sleeping their sleep of death. In their arising they disturb no
one. The world hears not the voice that summons them. As Jesus laid them
quietly to rest, each in his own still tomb, like children in the arms of
their mother; so, as quietly, as gently, shall He awake them when the hour arrives. To them come the quickening words, "Awake
and sing, ye that dwell in dust" (Isa. 26:19).
Into their tomb the earliest ray of glory finds its way. They drink in the
first gleams of morning, while as yet the eastern clouds give but the
faintest signs of the uprising. Its genial fragrance, its soothing stillness,
its bracing freshness, its sweet loneliness, its quiet purity, all so solemn
and yet so full of hope, these are theirs.
Oh, the contrast
between these things and the dark night through which they have passed! Oh,
the contrast between these things and the grave from which they have sprung!
And as they shake off the encumbering turf, flinging mortality aside, and
rising, in glorified bodies, to meet their Lord in the air, they are lighted
and guided upward, along the untrodden pathway, by
the beams of that Star of the morning, which, like the Star of Bethlehem,
conducts them to the presence of the King. "Weeping may endure for a
night, but joy cometh in the morning." ━Horatius Bonar.
"While the
hosts cry Hosanna, from heaven descending,
With glorified
saints and the angels attending,
With grace on
His brow, like, a halo of glory,
Will Jesus
receive His own."
"Even so,
come quickly."
A soldier said,
"When I die do not sound taps over my grave, but reveillé,
the morning call, the summons to rise."
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四月十四日
“因为主必亲自从天降临，有呼叫的声音，和天使长的声音，又有神的号吹响；那在基督里死了的人必先复活。以后我们这活着还存留的人，必和他们一同被提到云里，在空中与主相遇；这样，我们就要和主永远同在。”
（帖前四：16-17）
“清早，还黑的时候”（约二十：1），主耶稣从死里复活了。没有太阳，只有晨星发光照在那挪开的坟墓上。黑夜还没有退去，耶路撒冷的市民还没有睡醒。因此，教会的复兴，也要在天尚未亮的凌晨只有晨星在照耀的时候。门徒们也跟祂一样，也要趁云夜的子民们仍在沉睡的时候醒来。门徒们起身，不惊动任何人。世间也听不见他们被呼召的声音，主耶稣悄悄地使他们各自安息，好像孩子躺在母亲的怀中一样；当时候来到，祂也要悄悄地用温柔的声音叫醒他们。因为苏醒的人，才能听到了呼召的声音说：“睡在尘埃的呀，要醒来歌唱”。（赛二十六：19）破晓的阳光射入在门徒们中间，他们沐浴着晨曦，其时东方的云彩淡淡一抹，只露出极微薄的日出迹象。那轻轻的芳香，平和的宁静，振奋的清新，甜蜜的沉静，朴素的纯净；一切庄严肃穆，同时又充满了希望，这一切都是他们的了。
哦，这一切和他们所经过的黑夜，是如何鲜明的对照；这一切和他们刚才脱离的坟墓，又是如何鲜明的对照！他们抖掉盖在身上的尘土撇开死神，以蒙受尊荣的形体上升，去和主在空中相会，其时，他们由晨星的光所烛照和引导，沿着无人踏过的路径上升，那颗晨星就像耶稣降生时的伯利恒之星，带领他们到万王之王的面前。“你可能整夜哭泣，欢乐却在早晨来临”。━布纳
天使天军高喊“和散那”，耶稣从天下降
圣徒和天使随侍在旁，
额上显现着一圈神圣荣光，
祂是来接祂的子民，
仍愿祂快来，这是我们的希望。
一位兵士说：“当我死在我坟墓上不要吹熄灯，和就寝的号角，要催促我起床的晨号。”
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April 15
“I trust in thy word. ” (Psa.
119:42)
Just in proportion in which we believe that God will do just what
He has said, is our faith strong or weak. Faith has nothing to do with
feelings, or with impressions, with improbabilities, or with outward
appearances. If we desire to couple them with faith, then we are no longer
resting on the Word of God because faith needs nothing of the kind. Faith
rests on the naked Word of God. When we take Him at His Word, the heart is at
peace.
God delights to
exercise faith, first for blessing in our own souls, then for blessing in the
Church at large, and also for those without. But this exercise we shrink from
instead of welcoming. When trials come, we should say: "My Heavenly
Father puts this cup of trial into my hands, that I may have something sweet
afterwards."
Trials are the
food of faith. Oh, let us leave ourselves in the hands of our Heavenly
Father! It is the joy of His heart to do good to all His children.
But trials and
difficulties are not the only means by which faith is exercised and thereby
increased. There is the reading of the Scriptures, that we may by them
acquaint ourselves with God as He has revealed Himself in His Word.
Are you able to
say, from the acquaintance you have made with God, that He is a lovely Being?
If not, let me affectionately entreat you to ask God to bring you to this,
that you may admire His gentleness and kindness, that you may be able to say
how good He is, and what a delight it is to the heart of God to do good to
His children.
Now the nearer we
come to this in our inmost souls, the more ready we are to leave ourselves in
His hands, satisfied with all His dealings with us. And when trial comes, we
shall say:
"I will wait
and see what good God will do to me by it, assured He will do it." Thus
we shall bear an honorable testimony before the world, and thus we shall
strengthen the hands of others. ━George Mueller.
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四月十五日
“我信靠祢的话。” （诗一百十九：42）
我们信神的话有多少，就是我们的信心有多少。信心与感觉，影像，可能性，眼见，和外面的表征都无关。如果我们把它们与信心并列，我们就是不信神的话；因为信心用不着这种东西。信心单信神的话。当我们凭祂的话抓住祂的时候我们的心就得到了安息。
神乐意锻炼我们的信心，为着我们个人的益处，教会的益处，世人的益处。但是这种锻炼，我们非但不欢迎，反常躲避。当试炼临到我们的时候，我们应当这样说：“我的天父把这试炼的杯放在我手中，为要叫我将来享受甘甜”。
试炼是信心的粮食。让我们把我们自己交在我们天父的手中吧！因为祂乐意赐好处给祂的孩子。
不只试炼和困难能锻炼，加增我们的信心；读经亦然。读经使我们熟识神，与神成为至交，因为神在圣经中显露，启示祂的自己。
你能否说，神是可爱的神呢？如果你还不能，让我用挚诚的心来劝你赶快求神给你养成读经的嗜好来，好使你知道祂的温柔，仁爱；好使你能说：神是多好！神的心何等欢喜善待祂的儿女！
我们越进入这种地步，我们越愿意把我们自己交托在神手中，越满意祂对于我们的一切处置。这样，当试炼来到的时候，我们就会这样说：
“我要等待看神这一次将要给我甚么好处。无论如何，祂必定叫我得益。”如此，我们就能在世人面前作美好的见证，同时也能坚固别的信徒的信心。━莫勒
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April 16
“By faith Abraham, when
he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an
inheritance, obeyed.
”
(Heb.
11:8)
Whither he went, he knew not; it was enough for him to know that
he went with God. He leant not so much upon the promises as upon the Promiser. He looked not on the difficulties of his lot,
but on the King, eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, who had
deigned to appoint his course, and would certainly vindicate Himself. O
glorious faith! This is thy work, these are thy possibilities; contentment to
sail with sealed orders, because of unwavering confidence in the wisdom of
the Lord High Admiral; willinghood to rise up,
leave all, and follow Christ, because of the glad assurance that earth's best
cannot bear comparison with Heaven's least. ━F. B. M.
It is by no means
enough to set out cheerfully with your God on any venture of faith. Tear into
smallest pieces any itinerary for the journey which your imagination may have
drawn up.
Nothing will fall out as you expect.
Your guide will keep
to no beaten path. He will lead you by a way such as you never dreamed your
eyes would look upon. He knows no fear, and He expects you to fear nothing
while He is with you.
The day had
gone; alone and weak
I groped my way
within a bleak
And sunless land.
The path that
led into the light
I could not
find! In that dark night
God took my
hand.
He led me that
I might not stray,
And brought me
by a new, safe way
I had not
known.
By waters
still, through pastures green
I followed Him━the path was clean
Of briar and
stone.
The heavy
darkness lost its strength,
My waiting eyes
beheld at length
The streaking
dawn.
On, safely on,
through sunrise glow
I walked, my
hand in His, and lo,
The night had
gone.
━Annie Porter Johnson.
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四月十六日
“亚伯拉罕因着信，蒙召的时候，就遵命出去往将来要得为业的地方去。” （来十一：8）
他往哪里去，他不知道；他只知道神和他同去，这就够他放心了。他对于所得的应许，虽然不顶清楚，但是他对于赐应许的应许者，已够清楚了。他不看前面的难处，只看那全能，全智，公义，信实，永远活着的神。这样的一位神既安排了他的路程，当然不会和他儿戏的。哦，这是荣耀的信心！你也可以作得到的。当祂打发你出去的时候，虽然路线还未显明，但是你尽可信任那打发者━天地之主，宇宙之神。起来吧，放下自己的一切，跟从主，因为地上顶好的还不堪与天上顶坏的一比。━梅尔
光是欢欢喜喜地和主一同出发冒信心的险，还不足够；还当把你自己所计划的路程表撕得粉碎。
没有一件事会照你所意料的实现。
你的向导知道怎样引领你前进。祂将领你走一条你所梦想不到的路径。祂不知道惧怕，祂也希望你因着祂的同在不知惧怕。
白天已去，我孤单困疲，
在阴暗中摸索路径，
我问：何处是光明？
神握着我的手前进。
祂引导我，免我走入歧途，
这是陌生安全的新路，
经过了幽静的溪流与绿野，
没有石砾和荆棘阻我脚步。
黑暗失去了原有的力量，
终于盼望到一线曙光，
祂握着我平安前进，
朝晖渐现，黑夜已遁。
━庄逊
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April 17
“The hand of the Lord
hath wrought this.
” (Job 12:9)
Several years ago there was found in an African mine the most
magnificent diamond in the world's history. It was presented to the King of England to blaze in his crown
of state. The King sent it to Amsterdam to be cut. It was
put into the hands of an expert lapidary. And what do you suppose he did with
it?
He took the gem of
priceless value, and cut a notch in it. Then he struck it a hard blow with
his instrument, and lo! the superb jewel lay in his
hand cleft in twain. What recklessness I what wastefulness! what criminal carelessness!
Not so. For days
and weeks that blow had been studied and planned. Drawings and models had
been made of the gem. Its quality, its defects, its lines of cleavage had all
been studied with minutest care. The man to whom it was committed was one of
the most skillful lapidaries in the world.
Do you say that
blow was a mistake? Nay. It was the climax of the lapidary's skill. When he
struck that blow, he did the one thing which would bring that gem to its most
perfect shapeliness, radiance, and jewelled
splendor. That blow which seemed to ruin the superb precious stone was, in
fact, its perfect redemption. For, from those two halves were wrought the two
magnificent gems which the skilled eye of the lapidary saw hidden in the
rough, uncut stone as it came from the mine.
So, sometimes, God
lets a stinging blow fall upon your life. The blood spurts. The nerves wince.
The soul cries out in agony. The blow seems to you an apalling
mistake. But it is not, for you are the most priceless jewel in the world to
God. And He is the most skilled lapidary in the universe.
Some day you are
to blaze in the diadem of the King. As you lie in His hand now He knows just
how to deal with you. Not a blow will be permitted to fall upon your
shrinking soul but that the love of God permits it, and works out from its
depths, blessing and spiritual enrichment unseen, and unthought
of by you. ━J. H. McC.
In one of George
MacDonald's books occurs this fragment of conversation: "I wonder why
God made me," said Mrs. Faber bitterly. "I'm sure I don't know what
was the use of making me!"
"Perhaps not
much yet," said Dorothy, "but then He hasn't done with you yet. He
is making you now, and you are quarrelling with the process."
If men would but
believe that they are in process of creation, and consent to be made━let the Maker
handle them as the potter the clay, yielding themselves in resplendent motion
and submissive, hopeful action with the turning of His wheel━they would ere
long find themselves able to welcome every pressure of that hand on them,
even when it was felt in pain; and sometimes not only to believe but to
recognize the Divine end in view, the bringing of a son unto glory.
"Not a single shaft can hit,
Till the God of love sees fit."
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四月十七日
“…是耶和华的手作成的…。” （伯十二：9）
几年前，在非洲矿中，发现了一颗有史以来从未有过的大钻石。人把它进贡给英皇，做他冠冕上的饰物。英皇就把它送到荷京阿姆斯坦，交给一个世上最著名的宝石匠，请他切磋。你想他怎样作？
他拿起这无价之宝来，先刻了一个深痕。然后拿起铁锤来把它狠命一击。看哪！一块世上仅有的宝石顿时一裂为二。啊，荒谬！该死的宝石匠，闯了弥天大祸！
事实并不是这样。那一击是曾经过好几星期的考虑和计划。绘图，打样，曾花了许多功夫。它的性质，硬度，和里面的裂纹，都曾经过详细的研究。英皇所委托的这人，是世上宝石匠中第一名手。
你说那一击是击错了么？不。这是宝石匠技术最高的表演。那一击使那块宝石成了世上最玲珑，最炫耀的两颗金刚钻。那一击实在是它的拯救。匠人在这块钻石未经琢凿之前，早经胸有成竹，一劈两半，方能显明它是无上的价值。
有时，在你的生活中，神也把你猛击一下。挂泪，流血，丧志，灰心。你说那一击是击错了。可是并没有，你是神的无价之宝。神是你的宝石匠。
有一天，你将作神冠冕上发光的宝石。现在你既在祂手中，祂知道怎样对付你。若不是神的爱所许可的，没有一击能临到你。━马克康该
在乔治·麦唐纳的著作为里，录有二位女士的对话，一是费柏太太，一是桃乐赛女士。
费柏太太恼恨地说：“我不知道神为何要造我，造我有甚么用处”？
桃乐赛告诉她道：“也许目前还没有显明用处，神尚未将你造得完全，但是在神制造你的过程中，而你就对制造者有所抱怨了！”
人们只要相信自己尚在被制造的过程中，并且愿意让造物主随意处理，像陶人处理泥土一样，顺服于神的一切工作，不久人们就会欢迎那双加在他们身上压力的手，虽然有时压得痛苦，但是他们深信，而且认识了神制造的目的，是要把人引导进入光荣之境。
除非神认为适合，
否则这支箭决不会射中你。
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April
18
“And he shall bring it to pass. ” (Psa. 37:5)
I once thought that after I prayed that it was my duty to do
everything that I could do to bring the answer to pass. He taught me a better
way, and showed that my self-effort always hindered His working, and that
when I prayed and definitely believed Him for anything, He wanted me to wait
in the spirit of praise, and only do what He bade me. It seems so unsafe to
just sit still, and do nothing but trust the Lord; and the temptation to take
the battle into our own hands is often tremendous.
We all know how
impossible it is to rescue a drowning man who tries to help his rescuer, and it is equally impossible for the Lord to
fight our battles for us when we insist upon trying to fight them ourselves.
It is not that He will not, but He cannot. Our interference hinders His
working. ━C.H.P.
Spiritual forces
cannot work while earthly forces are active.
It takes God time
to answer prayer. We often fail to give God a chance in this respect. It
takes time for God to paint a rose. It takes time for God to grow an oak. It
takes time for God to make bread from wheat fields. He takes the earth. He
pulverizes. He softens. He enriches. He wets with showers and dews. He warms
with life. He gives the blade, the stock, the amber grain, and then at last
the bread for the hungry.
All this takes
time. Therefore we sow, and till, and wait, and trust, until all God's
purpose has been wrought out. We give God a chance in this matter of time. We
need to learn this same lesson in our prayer life. It takes God time to
answer prayer. ━J. H. M.
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四月十八日
“祂就必成全。” （诗三十七：5）
我以前以为我祷告了之后，该负一个责任：按我所能作的尽力去作，来帮助神成全。后来，神亲自教导我，指示我，这是绝对的错误，这反能阻拦祂的工作。他要我祷告了之后，完全相信，用赞美和感谢去等待祂的答应。坐着不动，单信靠神，未免太不稳妥吧；我们常会有极大的试探想去自己活动。
我们都知道一个善于游泳者不能拯救一个溺者，如果后者不肯停止他自己的挣扎。神也照样不能替我们做甚么，如果我们不肯停止我们自己的活动。并不是神不肯，乃是神不能。我们的干涉反拦阻祂的工作。
属地的力在活动的时侯，属天的力不能工作。
神答应祷告是需要时间的。我们常不肯给神相当的时间。神需要时间去画一朵玫瑰。神需要时间去长一棵橡树。神也需要时间来供给我们面包：神先预备一块麦田，耕松，撒种，加肥料，降雨露，降日光，长嫩叶，生穗，结实，磨粉，烘烤，然后制成面包，使饥饿的人得着饱足。
每一部手续都需要时间。所以我们今天耕了地，撒了种，就应当等待，信靠，直到神的日期来到。我们应该给神相当的时间。让我们在祷告的生活中也学习同样的功课━神答应祷告是需要时间的。
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April 19
“Stand
still, and see the salvation of the Lord. ” (Exod. 14:13)
These words contain God's command to the believer when he is reduced
to great straits and brought into extraordinary difficulties. He cannot
retreat; he cannot go forward; he is shut upon the right hand and on the
left. What is he now to do?
The Master's word to him is "stand still." It will be well
for him if, at such times, he listens only to his Master's word, for other
and evil advisers come with their suggestions. Despair whispers, "Lie
down and die; give it all up." But God would have us put on a cheerful
courage, and even in our worst times, rejoice in His love and faithfulness.
Cowardice says, "Retreat; go back to the worldling's
way of action; you cannot play the Christian's part; it is too difficult.
Relinquish your principles."
But, however much Satan may urge this course upon you, you cannot follow it, if you are a child of God. His
Divine fiat has bid thee go from strength to strength, and so thou shalt, and neither death nor hell shall turn thee from
thy course. What if for a while thou art called to stand still; yet this is
but to renew thy strength for some greater advance in due time.
Precipitancy cries, "Do something; stir yourself; to stand
still and wait is sheer idleness." We must be doing something at once━we must do it, so
we think━instead of looking to the Lord, who will not only do something,
but will do everything.
Presumption boasts, "If the sea be before you, march into
it, and expect a miracle." But faith listens neither to Presumption, nor
to Despair, nor to Cowardice, nor to Precipitancy, but it hears God say,
"Stand still," and immovable as a rock it stands.
"Stand still"━keep the posture of an upright man, ready for
action, expecting further orders, cheerfully and patiently awaiting the
directing voice; and it will not be long ere God shall say to you, as
distinctly as Moses said it to the people of Israel, "Go forward. "
━Spurgeon.
"Be quiet! why this anxious heed
About thy tangled ways?
God knows them all. He giveth speed
And He allows delays.
'Tis good for thee to walk by faith
And not by sight.
Take it on trust a little while.
Soon shalt thou read the mystery
aright
In the full sunshine of His smile."
In times of uncertainty, wait. Always, if you have any doubt,
wait. Do not force yourself to any action. If you have a restraint in your
spirit, wait until all is clear, and do not go against it.
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四月十九日
“只管站住，看耶和华今天向你们所要施行的救恩。” （出十四：13）
这节经文对那些遭遇大患难，沦入四面楚歌的圣徒们，正当他左右为难，进退维谷，不知怎样办的时候，就是神给他一个明确的指示。
神所给的指示是“只管站住”。在这种情形之下，只有听神的话才能得救，否则魔鬼及其它的建议，将纷至沓来。“绝望”小声对你说：“放弃一切，躺下来等死吧！”但神要我们鼓起勇气，满了乐观与希望，即使在最患难的时候，也要因祂的仁慈和信实而欢欣。
“懦弱”对你说：“向后退却，退回到你原来的世俗办法中去，你不配做基督徒，这正是太难做了，放弃你的信仰吧！”
假若你真是神的子民，无论魔鬼如何催促你采取世俗的途径，你决不会信从。神命令你努力再努力向前进，你就该遵行，前途无论是死亡或地狱，都不能更变你前进的方向。神吩咐你站立一会儿，只是要你添增新的力量，以备在适当的时候奔向更远的前程。
“急躁”也向你诱惑，它说：“行动要积极，方称有所作为，站住等待全是无聊与浪费”。我们在肉身头脑的领悟中很能受它的话影响，心中就想必须立刻有所作为，我们必须下手行动，于是不再去仰望神了。殊不知祂要你站住，不但有所作为，而且还作一切胜利临到的准备。
“傲慢”对你夸口说：“假若海洋挡在你面前，冲过去，要求奇迹的出现！”但是信心对于傲慢，绝望，懦弱，和急躁等等的话，一概不听，只听神的吩咐，“只管站住”屹立不动，有如盘石。
“只管站住”，以昂然直立的姿态，准备行动，期待以后的吩咐，愉快而谨慎地等候神的指引。不久神就会对你说，像摩西对以色列人民那样清晰地说：“往前走”。━司布真
你要宁静！不必为了路径的纷绕，
心中就如此不安与焦躁，
神催促你加速，也让你绥慢。
祂一切都成竹在胸，清楚知道，
走路要凭信心，不是单凭感觉，
愿你对此指示完全信靠，
不久你会在祂笑容的光照下，
了解这神秘的真理和奥妙。
在没有把握的时候，你要等待。心中任何疑惑的时候，也要等待。不要勉强作任何行动。假若你的心灵如受约束，就该等待到一切澄清，不要故意违抗。
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April
20
“Not by
might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith
Jehovah of hosts.”
(Zech. 4:6)
My way led up a hill, and right at the foot I saw a boy on a
bicycle. He was pedalling up hill against the wind,
and evidently found it a tremendously hard work. Just as he was working most
strenuously and doing his best painfully, there came a trolley car going in
the same direction━up the hill.
It was not going
too fast for the boy to get behind it, and with one hand to lay hold of the
bar at the back. Then you know what happened. He went up that hill like a
bird. Then it flashed upon me:
"Why, I am
like that boy on the bicycle in my weariness and weakness. I am pedalling up hill against all kinds of opposition, and am
almost worn out with the task. But here at hand is a great available power,
the strength of the Lord Jesus.
"I have only
to get in touch with Him and to maintain communication with Him, though it
may be only one little finger of faith, and that will be enough to make His
power mine for the doing of this bit of service that just now seems too much
for me." And I was helped to dismiss my weariness and to realize this
truth. ━The Life of Fuller Purpose.
ABANDONED
Utterly
abandoned to the Holy Ghost!
Seeking all His
fulness at whatever cost;
Cutting all the
shore-lines, launching in the deep
Of His mighty
power━strong to save and keep.
Utterly
abandoned to the Holy Ghost!
Oh! the sinking, sinking, until self is lost!
Until the
emptied vessel lies broken at His feet;
Waiting till
His filling shall make the work complete.
Utterly
abandoned to the will of God;
Seeking for no
other path than my Master trod;
Leaving ease
and pleasure, making Him my choice,
Waiting for His
guidance, listening for His voice.
Utterly
abandoned! no will of my own;
For time and
for eternity, His, and His alone;
All my plans and
purposes lost in His sweet will,
Having nothing,
yet in Him all things possessing still.
Utterly
abandoned! 'tis so sweet to be
Captive in His
bonds of love, yet so wondrous free;
Free from sin's
entanglements, free from doubt and fear,
Free from every
worry, burden, grief or care.
Utterly
abandoned! oh, the rest is sweet,
As I tarry,
waiting, at His blessed feet;
Waiting for the
coming of the Guest divine,
Who my inmost
being shall perfectly refine.
Lo! He comes
and fills me, Holy Spirit sweet!
I, in Him, am
satisfied! I, in Him, complete!
And the light
within my soul shall nevermore grow dim
While I keep my
covenant━abandoned unto Him!
━Author Unknown.
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四月二十日
“万军之耶和华说，不是倚靠势力，不是倚靠才能，乃是倚靠我的灵，方能成事。”（亚四：6）
有一次我在山脚下散步，看见一个小孩骑着自行车上山去。路又斜，风又紧，那孩子用尽了力气，却仍向前不得。他正感力竭的时侯，恰巧一辆无轨电车经过，向着山顶驶去。
那孩子赶紧伸手抓住车后的一根横梗。他一点力气都不用花，似飞一般地上了山顶。此时我就发生了一个感想：
“我现在这样疲乏，软弱，正像自行车上的孩子一般。我尽力向上而行，可是多少困难，拦阻，接踵而来，使我筋疲力尽。但是在这里有一个力量━主耶稣无限的力量━可以给我使用。
我只需与祂接触，与祂交通，虽然仅有信心的一个小指头钩住祂，也已经足够叫祂的力量给我使用，来应付一切我所不能胜任的事情了”。
这一次，我不只得了一个属灵的教训，也把我一身的重压抛去了。━译自更完美的生命
降服
放弃一切，依靠圣灵！
求其成全，不惜任何牺牲；
舍弃海岸，投入祂全能无边的大洋，
祂是指引你得救和生存的明灯。
放弃一切，依靠圣灵！
深深地浸润，直到无我之境；
躺在祂脚下承受祂来充满，
像一只空虚的器皿。
放弃一切，尊从神的意旨，
以祂的路径为路径，专志一心；
放弃安乐，以祂为我的选择，
听祂命令，等待祂的指正。
放弃一切，不再有自己的主张，
从今而后永远照祂旨意；
打消一切计划，自己一无所有，
却从神那里获得一切富足。
放弃一切，受祂爱的束缚，
这是多么自由而舒服；
解脱罪恶怀疑和恐惧的纠缠，
释放一切忧虑悲痛的桎梏。
放弃一切，滞留在祂的脚下等待，
何等的气爽神清；
等待神给我锻炼，
净化我的心灵。
看哪！圣灵充满我的内心，
我感到丰满和全备，
只要坚守誓约，放弃一切依靠主！
我的心哪！光明永放，不绝绵绵。
━佚名
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