十一月一日
在你家的教会。(腓利门:2)
你的家中也有一个教会吗?父母、儿女、朋友和佣工都是教会成员?或者还有什么人仍未得救吗?让我们就此稍作停顿且依次反省:我是这个家庭教会的成员吗?若是自长至幼都得了救,父亲的心必欢喜踊跃,母亲的眼必热泪盈眶!让我们为这极大的怜悯祷告,直到主应允了我们。或许腓利门的心愿就是切望全家得救,可是起初神并没有把这恩完全赐给他。他有一个恶仆阿尼西母,做了亏负他的事,并且逃跑了。他的祷告一直追随着自己的仆人。至终,正如神所做的那样,阿尼西母被带来聆听保罗的传道;他的心受到触动,于是又回到腓利门的家。此后阿尼西母不单成为一个忠心的仆人,也成了一位亲爱的弟兄,于是腓利门家中的教会又多了一位成员。今晨这家有什么还未得救的仆人或孩子在外面吗?要特别为他们祈求!当他们回家的时候,听见他们述说神的恩典时,全家的心必满了快乐。现在家里有这样的人吗?那么他也当一同热切地呼求神。若我们的家中有这样的一个教会,我们就当好好地管理,愿我们一切的事都好像是行在神的面前一样。让我们日常的生活满了圣洁、殷勤、仁慈和正直。人们对于一个教会比一个普通的家庭所期望的更多;在这种情形之下,家庭礼拜必须热烈而诚恳;内心的爱必须更加温暖、坚强;在外面行事必须更圣洁、更像基督。不要怕因为我们人数太少,就不能列在属基督的教会中,因为圣灵已经将这个家庭教会登记在了神所默示的纪念册上。既是教会,我们现在就当就近普世教会的头,求祂赐恩叫我们照亮在人面前,归荣耀于祂名。
十一月一日
经文: 不知不觉洪水来了,把他们全都冲去。人子降临也要这样。(马太福音二十四:39)
洪水的毁灭是全球性的。或贫或富皆无法逃避。学者或文盲、受尊敬的或被轻视的、信奉宗教或亵渎上帝的、年老的或年幼的,都在同一次的毁灭中淹没了。有人嘲笑先祖挪亚;现在他们的讥笑在何处?有人因他的热诚而恐吓他,以为他是癫狂了;他们的夸大和尖利的言词到何处去了?批评这位老人之工作的人在海中淹没了,与他一起嘲笑的人也灭顶了。那些在言语中同情这位老好人坚定的信念,但却没有参与的人,也被深水淹没不再浮起。甚至帮助建造此奇妙方舟而获得工资的工人也全都丧命了。洪水把他们全都冲去,没有一人例外。不论什么阶级、职业、品德,若不信靠主耶稣,没有一个灵魂能得救。人们共同的冷漠真是何等奇怪啊!他们忙着吃、喝、嫁、娶时,直到可怕的黎明来临了。罪恶欺哄全世界的人类要自卫自保,殊不知那是愚蠢之至。到那时所有人都忽视自己的灵魂,直到恩典给他们合理的理由,他们才离开罪恶,按理性行动。在方舟中一切有生命的皆得救了。从最巨大的象到最幼小的老鼠,都得救了。胆小的兔子和勇敢的狮子都一样安全,无助的羚羊与辛勤的公牛同等稳妥。在耶稣之内所有的都蒙拯救了。今晚你是否也在祂之内?
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Evening, November 1
Scripture: “And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away: so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”(Matthew 24:39)
Universal was the doom, neither rich nor poor escaped: the learned and the illiterate, the admired and the abhorred, the religious and the profane, the old and the young, all sank in one common ruin. Some had doubtless ridiculed the patriarch-where now their merry jests? Others had threatened him for his zeal which they counted madness-where now their boastings and hard speeches? The critic who judged the old man's work is drowned in the same sea which covers his sneering companions. Those who spoke patronizingly of the good man's fidelity to his convictions, but shared not in them, have sunk to rise no more, and the workers who for pay helped to build the wondrous ark, are all lost also. The flood swept them all away, and made no single exception. Even so, out of Christ, final destruction is sure to every man of woman born; no rank, possession, or character, shall suffice to save a single soul who has not believed in the Lord Jesus. My soul, behold this wide-spread judgment and tremble at it.
How marvellous the general apathy! they were all eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, till the awful morning dawned. There was not one wise man upon earth out of the ark. Folly duped the whole race, folly as to self-preservation-the most foolish of all follies. Folly in doubting the most true God-the most malignant of fooleries. Strange, my soul, is it not? All men are negligent of their souls till grace gives them reason, then they leave their madness and act like rational beings, but not till then.
All, blessed be God, were safe in the ark, no ruin entered there. From the huge elephant down to the tiny mouse all were safe. The timid hare was equally secure with the courageous lion, the helpless cony as safe as the laborious ox. All are safe in Jesus. My soul, art thou in him?
《竭诚为主》11月1日 你不属自己
岂不知……你们不是自己的人。(林前六19)
一个在耶稣基督受苦上有份的人,根本就没有所谓的私生活,亦即“世界里的世界”。神把圣徒的私生活打碎了,造成一条通道,是通往他自己的通道。除非人与主耶稣认同,否则没有人能受得住这个。我们成圣,不是为自己,乃是蒙召同得福音的好处;与我们无关的事发生,为要叫我们与神相交。所以,要让神旨意通行,否则你不但在他救赎世界的大工上没有丝毫用处,反成为阻碍。
神首先做的,是使我们面对最粗陋的现实,直至我们对任何发生在个人身上的事不再介怀,只要他救赎的目的达成。我们为何不可以经历一下心痛欲绝呢?通过这些门徒,神开启与他儿子相通的道路。多半人一受痛楚就仆倒;我们坐在神心意的门槛上,死在自怜自悯之中。信徒间所谓同情心,更加速了死亡率。神却不是这样,他拿着他儿子钉痕的手,说:“进来与我相交,起来发光。”若破碎的心灵能使神的旨意在世上成就,那么,要为他破碎你的心而感谢他。
祈祷◆噢,主啊,愿你今天的话带着能力和恩慈。愿你引导我,与你进入内心隐密的相交,以致你可以正确地传达你自己。
November 1 Ye Are Not Your Own
“Know ye not that . . ye are not your own?” 1 Corinthians 6:19
There is no such thing as a private life – “a world within the world” – for a man or woman who is brought into fellowship with Jesus Christ's sufferings. God breaks up the private life of His saints, and makes it a thoroughfare for the world on the one hand and for Himself on the other. No human being can stand that unless he is identified with Jesus Christ. We are not sanctified for ourselves, we are called into the fellowship of the Gospel, and things happen which have nothing to do with us, God is getting us into fellowship with Himself. Let Him have His way, if you do not, instead of being of the slightest use to God in His Redemptive work in the world, you will be a hindrance and a clog.
The first thing God does with us is to get us based on rugged Reality until we do not care what becomes of us individually as long as He gets His way for the purpose of His Redemption. Why shouldn't we go through heartbreaks? Through those doorways God is opening up ways of fellowship with His Son. Most of us fall and collapse at the first grip of pain; we sit down on the threshold of God's purpose and die away of self-pity, and all so called Christian sympathy will aid us to our death bed. But God will not. He comes with the grip of the pierced hand of His Son, and says – “Enter into fellowship with Me; arise and shine.” If through a broken heart God can bring His purposes to pass in the world, then thank Him for breaking your heart.
十一月一日 信心的支票簿 Faith’s check book
保守成圣
经文: 「那召你们的本是信实的,祂必成就这事。」(帖撒罗尼迦前书5︰24)
祂要做什么?祂要洁净我们,全然成圣。再看前一节经文,祂要继续炼净我们,直到我们完美无瑕疵。祂还要让我们的“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”。祂不会允许我们失丧于恩典之外,也不愿见我们受罪恶辖制。这是何等大的福份!我们真当从心底深处称颂这位大有能力的救主!
谁要做这件事? 就是那位亲自召我们出黑暗入光明,出死亡进入永生的主。只有祂可以做成这样的事工:这样的完全与保守只能是出自有着全备恩典的神。
祂为什么要做这件事?因为祂是“信实”的——祂要持守祂的诺言,就是要拯救祂的百姓到底;祂也要对祂的儿子信守承诺,因为耶稣在十字架受死的奖赏就是让祂的子民得以在祂的面前毫无瑕疵;而且祂也忠实于祂的大工,就是藉着大有果效的恩照,在我们身上已经开始的善工。这些保守成圣工夫的做成,并非因着圣徒们自己的信实,而是完全因着他们所仰赖的神自己的信实。
来吧,我的灵魂,就以这属灵的盛宴作为这个天气阴沉的月份的开始吧。纵然外面浓雾密布,但我们内心因有主的同在就阳光普照。
Perfection and Preservation
Scripture: "Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it" (1 Thessalonians 5:24).
What will He do? He will sanctify us wholly. See the previous verse. He will carry on the work of purification till we are perfect in every part. He will preserve our "whole spirit, and soul, and body, blameless unto the coming of our LORD Jesus Christ." He will not allow us to fall from grace, nor come under the dominion of sin. What great favors are these! Well may we adore the giver of such unspeakable gifts.
Who will do this? The LORD who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light, out of death in sin into eternal life in Christ Jesus. Only He can do this: such perfection and preservation can only come from the God of all grace.
Why will He do it? Because He is "faithful"--faithful to His own promise which is pledged to save the believer; faithful to His Son, whose reward it is that His people shall be presented to Him faultless, faithful to the work which He has commenced in us by our effectual calling. It is not their own faithfulness but the LORD's own faithfulness on which the saints rely.
Come, my soul, here is a grand feast to begin a dull month with. There may be fogs without, but there should be sunshine within.
十一月一日
不经过严冷的冬天,就没有美丽的春天;不经过苦难和试炼,也不能进入圣洁、完美、喜乐的生活。那么是苦难叫人成圣吗?不是的,苦难不能叫人成圣,叫我们成圣的还是神所赐的生命和圣灵,不过苦难是外来的力量。就好象失掉生命的植物,虽然经过了严冬,也不会有春天的生命,反而因严冬更加枯干。若是没有神生命的人,虽然经过苦难也不会得到益处,苦难不过催促他迅速的枯朽。
信徒的长进多半是藉着苦难的推动。但是长进的快慢,全在乎他里面倾向神的多少,多倾向神的人就多长进,少倾向神的人就少长进;不倾向神的人就不长进。不是苦难叫我们长进,是神叫我们长进;但是苦难最能使我们倾向神,世界上的福气、快乐、反倒时常叫人离开神。
有人在受苦的时候没有长进,就是因为他在受苦的时候没有倾向神。在有福气快乐的时候不倾向神,还看不出这人是否有神的生命;若在苦难中仍不倾向神,这人是否有神的生命,不能不令人怀疑。假信徒在平安的环境中不容易显出他的假冒,但苦难来到了,就考验出来他是否有神的生命。
有生命的信徒!你羡慕春天的美丽可爱吗?你必须不惧怕严冬的来临。其实严冬对你并不可怕,它是为你预备春天,因为你有神无穷之生命的大能----复活的大能。
「神已经叫主复活,也要用自己的能力叫我们复活。」(林前六14)
《荒漠甘泉》11月1日
“教会却为他切切的祷告神。”(徒12:5)
祷告是我们与神交接的连索,是一架跨过深渊的桥梁,是带领我们经过危险,缺乏的。
使徒时代的教会多么美丽:彼得被囚在监里;犹太人洋洋得意,希律执着无上的权力;殉道场期待着使徒的血…每一件事情都和他们作对。可是教会“却…切切地祷告神。”结果怎样呢?“监门开了,使徒自由了,犹太人失败了,恶王被虫咬死了,神的道日见兴旺,越发广传。
祷告是我们属灵的兵器。我们知不知道这兵器的能力呢?我们敢不敢用信心的权柄来使用这兵器——不只求,并且命令——呢?愿神给我们胆量!给我们信心!神现在所要的,并不是一些伟人,乃是一些敢证明神的伟大的人。——信宣
在你祷告的时候,你要小心,不要限制神的能力——不仅不信能限制神的能力,自以为知道神所能作的也能限制神的能力。你当期望那不能期望的——超过我们一切所求所想的。你每一次祷告,当先安静——想一想他所能作的,想一想你在基督里的地位。——慕安得烈
我们的祷告是神的机会。
亲爱的,你悲伤么?祷告能叫你的痛苦变成喜乐。你快乐么?祷告能在你的欢乐神替你加上一阵属天的香味。你被内外的仇敌攻击得非常危险么?祷告能叫你得到天使的帮助——他的一摸能使磨石粉碎,他的一瞥能将全军打倒。祷告究竟能给你一些什么呢?让我回答你,能给你一切神能为你作的。神说:“你愿我赐你什么,你可以求。”(王上3:5)。——法勒尔
十一月二日
我耶和华是不改变的。(玛拉基书3:6)
在变幻无常的人生中,我们有一位永不受变化的影响、心也永不改变、任何变化都不能使其额上产生皱纹的神,对我们来说这是好事。此外,一切东西没有不改变的,并且都时时处在改变的过程中。甚至太阳本身也在随着时间的推移而变得日渐模糊;地球在退化中变老,像一件穿旧的外衣逐渐废坏一样;天地不久都必废去,它们都必消灭,像一件衣服日趋破损一样;但有一位是独一的永生者,祂的年日无穷,祂的本位不变。航海的人经过多日的海浪颠簸,一旦登岸便觉得快乐无比。基督徒在多难人生变革的过程中,当他信心的脚站立在这个真道“我耶和华是不改变的”之上时,也必有同样的满足感。
铁锚最终抛牢以后就能使船稳定下来;同样,基督徒的盼望若是能安定在这个荣耀的真道上,也能使其安稳妥当。在神“并没有改变,也没有转动的影儿”。祂的属性在古时什么样,现在还是什么样;祂的能力、祂的智慧、祂的公义、祂的真理,都一样不改变。祂永远作祂民的避难所,在患难的日子作他们的保障和帮助。祂的爱永无改变,祂以“永远的爱”爱祂的民,祂现在爱他们和过去一样多,当地上的万物都在末日的大火中销融,祂的爱仍然晶莹如初。祂永不改变,这是多么宝贵的确据!神护理的巨轮虽然旋转,但轴心却是祂永远的爱。
“死亡和变化永远都在忙碌,
时光荏苒,人变腐朽;
但祂的怜悯从未消减;
神是智慧,神是爱。“
十一月二日
经文: 我见恶人离弃祢的律法,就怒气发作,犹如火烧。(诗篇一一九:53)
对于世人的罪恶,你是否有这样的圣洁怒气?若无,你就是缺少了内在的圣洁。大卫因为不圣洁之事遍行而泪流如河。耶利米希望眼睛能涌出泉水,好教他能为以色列民之邪恶哀哭。罗得因所多玛居民之堕落生活而伤痛。在以西结的异象中,那些额上画记号的,是因耶路撒冷城行可憎之事而欢息哀哭的人。眼见人带着痛苦走向地狱,仁慈的心灵必然忧伤不已。他们曾经经历罪的邪恶,因此每看到别人如娥扑向火焰,他们都会焦虑不安。罪恶教义人怒气发作,因为罪违背了人人都应严格遵守的圣洁律法。他人身上的罪教信徒惊恐,因为那提醒他自己内心之不洁。当他见到人时,他会警觉地说:“今日是他跌倒了,或许明天就换成我。”罪对信徒来说是可怕的,因罪将救主钉在十字架上,在每项罪之中,他都见到铁钉和长矛。一个得救的灵魂如何能见到可咒诅之罪而不痛恨呢?仁慈的上帝配受更好的礼遇,伟大的上帝当得更好的对待,公义的上帝必得更好的待遇,否则祂要当面与罪人为敌。清醒的心眼见罪的厚颜无耻而战栗,因沉思罪的刑罚而惊慌。悖逆是何等恐怖啊!为不敬虔的人所预备的刑罚是何等可怕啊!切勿嘲笑罪恶的无知,恐怕有朝一日你会对罪微笑。罪是你的仇敌,也是你主的仇敌,以最深的恨意去正视它,惟有如此,你才能圣洁。非有圣洁,人不能见主。
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Evening, November 2
Scripture: “Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law.”(Psalm 119:53)
Prayer is the never-failing resort of the Christian in any case, in every plight. When you cannot use your sword you may take to the weapon of all-prayer. Your powder may be damp, your bow-string may be relaxed, but the weapon of all-prayer need never be out of order. Leviathan laughs at the javelin, but he trembles at prayer. Sword and spear need furbishing, but prayer never rusts, and when we think it most blunt it cuts the best. Prayer is an open door which none can shut. Devils may surround you on all sides, but the way upward is always open, and as long as that road is unobstructed, you will not fall into the enemy's hand. We can never be taken by blockade, escalade, mine, or storm, so long as heavenly succours can come down to us by Jacob's ladder to relieve us in the time of our necessities. Prayer is never out of season: in summer and in winter its merchandise is precious. Prayer gains audience with heaven in the dead of night, in the midst of business, in the heat of noonday, in the shades of evening. In every condition, whether of poverty, or sickness, or obscurity, or slander, or doubt, your covenant God will welcome your prayer and answer it from his holy place. Nor is prayer ever futile. True prayer is evermore true power. You may not always get what you ask, but you shall always have your real wants supplied. When God does not answer his children according to the letter, he does so according to the spirit. If thou askest for coarse meal, wilt thou be angered because he gives thee the finest flour? If thou seekest bodily health, shouldst thou complain if instead thereof he makes thy sickness turn to the healing of spiritual maladies? Is it not better to have the cross sanctified than removed? This evening, my soul, forget not to offer thy petition and request, for the Lord is ready to grant thee thy desires.
《竭诚为主》11月2日 权柄与自主
你们若爱我,就必遵守我的命令。(约十四15)
我们的主从不坚持要人顺服他;他虽然强调什么是当行的,却从不运用手段强逼我们去行。我们顺服他必须出于灵里的合一。因此,主谈到作门徒时,总加上“若”字 – 你要是不想,可以不做。“若有人要跟从我,就当舍己。”你要放弃自己的主权,把它交给主。主并不是论及永世的地位,他乃是说在现今的景况中,怎样才可以成为他合用的器皿。正因如此,主的话听来是这样严厉(比较路十四26)。千万不要撇下说这话的那一位主,去解释经文。
主并没有给我什么规条,他把标准说得很清楚;我若是爱他,会毫不犹豫去遵行他的话。若我犹豫不行,就表明我另有所爱,而这一位与他争竞的,就是我自己。主耶稣不会推我顺服他,我必须自己顺服。一顺服,我就成就了在属灵领域中神所命定的。个人生命中也许充塞了无数琐事,根本无人留意的;可是若在这等无常的际遇中顺服主,这些事就成为我见神面的洞口。
当我与神面对面,会发现千万人因我的顺服而蒙福。人的心一旦顺服,神的救赎就必然产生创造力。我若顺服基督,神的救赎就会透过我涌流到别的生命上,因为在顺服的行动背后,是全能神的实体。
祈祷◆噢,主啊,愿你探测我灵里最深藏的动机 – 圣灵就在此处为我们代求,并且看出我们未能表达的祷文。
November 2 Authority And Independence
“If ye love Me, ye will keep My commandments.” John 14:15 (R.V.)
Our Lord never insists upon obedience; He tells us very emphatically what we ought to do, but He never takes means to make us do it. We have to obey Him out of a oneness of spirit. That is why whenever Our Lord talked about discipleship, He prefaced it with an IF – you do not need to unless you like. “If any man will be My disciple, let him deny himself,” let him give up his right to himself to Me. Our Lord is not talking of eternal positions, but of being of value to Himself in this order of things, that is why He sounds so stern (cf. Luke 14:26). Never interpret these words apart from the One Who uttered them.
The Lord does not give me rules, He makes His standard very clear, and if my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without any hesitation. If I hesitate, it is because I love some one else in competition with Him, viz., myself. Jesus Christ will not help me to obey Him, I must obey Him; and when I do obey Him, I fulfil my spiritual destiny. My personal life may be crowded with small petty incidents, altogether unnoticeable and mean; but if I obey Jesus Christ in the haphazard circumstances, they become pinholes through which I see the face of God, and when I stand face to face with God I will discover that through my obedience thousands were blessed. When once God's Redemption comes to the point of obedience in a human soul, it always creates. If I obey Jesus Christ, the Redemption of God will rush through me to other lives, because behind the deed of obedience is the Reality of Almighty God.
十一月二日 信心的支票簿 Faith’s check book
属天的财富
经文: 「祂未尝留下一样好处不给那些行动正直的人。」(诗篇84︰11)
主会阻挡许多悦人眼目的事情,但却“未尝留下一样好处”。祂能做出最好的判断,知道什么才是对我们有益的。有些事情我们确定是美好的,我们可以借着求告基督耶稣我们的主而获得。
圣洁是一件美好的事情,神极乐意在我们身上成就这善工。祂也乐于施恩,让我们战胜犯罪的意图、坏脾气和恶习,我们不当与这些得胜无份。
祂完全愿意赐予我们与祂亲密的交通、对全备真理的获取,以及常常到施恩宝座前的勇气。若我们还未得到这些恩赐,那是因为我们未凭着信心祈求,而不是因为神不愿意赐予。安稳的属灵状态,极大的耐心、火热的爱心,所有这些若是我们殷勤祈求,祂定会赐予。
但要注意,我们必须“行动正直“,切不可意图不轨,行为悖逆,伪善欺骗。如果我们行动卑劣,神便无法赏赐我们,因为那将成为对罪的奖赏。手洁心清才是通往天国财富的惟一途径,而天国的财富,有着神无限的丰富。
这是多么宝贵、吸引人的应许,且让我们屈膝,切切祈求得着这些财富吧!
Heavenly Wealth
Scripture: "No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly" (Psalm 84:11).
Many pleasing things the LORD may withhold but "no good thing." He is the best judge of what is good for us. Some things are assuredly good, and these we may have for the asking through Jesus Christ our LORD.
Holiness is a good thing, and this He will work in us freely. Victory over evil tendencies, strong tempers, and evil habits He will gladly grant, and we ought not to remain without it.
Full assurance He will bestow, and near communion with Himself, and access into all truth, and boldness with prevalence at the mercy seat. If we have not these, it is from want of faith to receive and not from any unwillingness of God to give. A calm, a heavenly frame, great patience, and fervent love--all these will He give to holy diligence.
But note well that we must "walk uprightly." There must be no cross purposes and crooked dealings; no hypocrisy nor deceit. If we walk foully God cannot give us favors, for that would be a premium upon sin. The way of uprightness is the way of heavenly wealth-wealth so large as to include every good thing.
Whatapromisetopleadinprayer! Letusgettoourknees.
十一月二日
某家养了一只狗,天天喂它的是厨子,狗天天和厨子作朋友,见了厨子就摇头摆尾,显出友爱的情谊,但是见了家主它不起敬。家主叹息说:「狗啊!狗啊!你为甚么不知道是我养活你呢?」
很可伤痛叹息的一件事,许多传道人也象这只无灵性的畜类,在教会作工,对于自己的生活,不知道仰望神,反倒专仰望执事会,或是有钱财的信徒;恭维这些人过于惧怕神,因此失掉了传道人的权柄和能力;他不知道他生活的一切需用是神给他的,他衹是认定了教会中管经济的人;因为他仰望错了,因此他的生活就愈发困难;因为他所仰望的是吝啬、刻薄的人,而不是仰望那厚赐百物给人享受的神,他的生活费不够是应当的。
不但传道人是这样,世上一切的人:信主的人,不信主的人,义人和不义的人,好人和歹人,他们生活的供应都是从神来的。不信主的人不知道仰望神,因为他们本来是愚昧的;但许多信主的人也不知道应当在这事上仰望神,就更显出愚昧。
传道人若不在钱财上仰望人,他在教会中作工就不受人的限制,也不在人的制度之下作工,他讲道的时候就有权柄能力,当安慰的他就安慰,当责备的他就责备;他要受神的支配而作工,不瞻徇人的情面,要成为一个有能力的工人。
「他看守的人是瞎眼的,都没有知识,都是哑吧狗,不能叫唤;但知作梦、躺卧、贪睡。这些狗贪食,不知饱足;这些牧人不能明白,各人偏行己路,各从各方求自己的利益。」(赛五十六10至11)
《荒漠甘泉》11月2日
“教会却为他切切的祷告神。”(徒12:5)
祷告是我们与神交接的连索,是一架跨过深渊的桥梁,是带领我们经过危险,缺乏的。
使徒时代的教会多么美丽:彼得被囚在监里;犹太人洋洋得意,希律执着无上的权力;殉道场期待着使徒的血…每一件事情都和他们作对。可是教会“却…切切地祷告神。”结果怎样呢?“监门开了,使徒自由了,犹太人失败了,恶王被虫咬死了,神的道日见兴旺,越发广传。
祷告是我们属灵的兵器。我们知不知道这兵器的能力呢?我们敢不敢用信心的权柄来使用这兵器——不只求,并且命令——呢?愿神给我们胆量!给我们信心!神现在所要的,并不是一些伟人,乃是一些敢证明神的伟大的人。——信宣
在你祷告的时候,你要小心,不要限制神的能力——不仅不信能限制神的能力,自以为知道神所能作的也能限制神的能力。你当期望那不能期望的——超过我们一切所求所想的。你每一次祷告,当先安静——想一想他所能作的,想一想你在基督里的地位。——慕安得烈
我们的祷告是神的机会。
亲爱的,你悲伤么?祷告能叫你的痛苦变成喜乐。你快乐么?祷告能在你的欢乐神替你加上一阵属天的香味。你被内外的仇敌攻击得非常危险么?祷告能叫你得到天使的帮助——他的一摸能使磨石粉碎,他的一瞥能将全军打倒。祷告究竟能给你一些什么呢?让我回答你,能给你一切神能为你作的。神说:“你愿我赐你什么,你可以求。”(王上3:5)。——法勒尔
十一月三日
他正祷告。(使徒行传9:11)
祷告随即就能引起天国的注意。扫罗一开口祷告,神就听见了;对于那些在苦难中祷告的人,这真是莫大的安慰。伤心至极的人常双膝跪地,所能做的只是痛哭流涕,哀声叹气;但他的呻吟却使天上的琴瑟齐鸣,他的眼泪被神珍藏在天上的泪袋之中。“你把我的眼泪装在你的皮袋里。”意思是说当眼泪流下之时,神都收了去。祈求神的人,虽然因为惧怕的缘故不知该说什么,但是至高者都知道。他只能泪眼朦胧地仰望神,但“祷告就是落眼泪”。泪珠是天上的钻石;叹息是耶和华院中的音乐,是“上达至高大君的庄严歌声”。你的祷告虽然微弱而战栗,但是不要以为神会因此不关注。雅各的梯子能上通高天,我们的祷告靠着恩约的使者也可以上达天庭。我们的神不但听我们的祷告,而且也欢喜听祷告,祂“不忘记困苦(谦卑)人的哀求”。祂并不尊待高傲的眼和夸大的话,也不在意君王的豪华和炫耀;祂不倾听夸张的战歌,也不留心人的骄傲和胜利;但是遇到了充满忧伤的心,或是因痛苦、悲哀、悔改的唉哼而战颤的嘴唇,耶和华的心便敞开了。祂把这些都记载在祂的记忆之中;祂把我们的祷告,像玫瑰花瓣一样夹在祂的记念簿里,当祂最终打开书卷时,必将有宝贵的芳香喷发出来。
“信心不会向天空索要凭证,
以显明蒙悦纳的祷告在高升,
我们的祭司就在祂圣洁的居所,
回应之声也从施恩的宝座降临
。”
十一月三日
经文: 他们的祷当,达到天上的圣所。(历代志下三十:27)
祷告是基督永不失败的凭藉。你不能使用剑的时候,可以拿起全心祷告的武器。你的彃药可能潮湿,弓弦可能松弛,但是全心祷告的武器永不会出毛病。仇敌会嘲笑镖枪,却在祷告面前颤惊。剑与矛必须定期检修,祷告却永不会生锈。我们以为它是钝的,却能切割万物。祷告是一扇敞开的门,没有人能关闭。魔鬼可能包围你,但是通天的道路永远畅通。只要天上的援助降在我们身上,在需要之时解救我们,我们就永不被障碍物、埋伏、地雷或风暴掳去。祷告永不会不合时,无论是炎暑是寒冬,结果总是宝贵的。在天上有许多祷告的听众,无论是在深夜、在繁忙的事务中、在正午的艳阳下、或在黄昏的阴凉中。在任何景况里,无论是贫穷、是病痛、是幽暗、是诽谤、或是疑惑,与你立约的上帝欢迎你的祷告,并从祂的圣所应允你。祷告永不落空。真正的祷告是真正的力量。你可能没有得到所求的,却总能获得你真正需要的。当上帝并未丝毫不差地应允祂的儿女时,祂是照圣灵行事。倘若你所求的是粗麦,你会因祂赐你细面而生气吗?今夜勿忘祈求,主随时赏赐你所期望的。
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Evening, November 3
Scripture: “Their prayer came up to His holy dwelling place, even unto heaven.”(2 Chronicles 30:27)
Prayer is the never-failing resort of the Christian in any case, in every plight. When you cannot use your sword you may take to the weapon of all-prayer. Your powder may be damp, your bow-string may be relaxed, but the weapon of all-prayer need never be out of order. Leviathan laughs at the javelin, but he trembles at prayer. Sword and spear need furbishing, but prayer never rusts, and when we think it most blunt it cuts the best. Prayer is an open door which none can shut. Devils may surround you on all sides, but the way upward is always open, and as long as that road is unobstructed, you will not fall into the enemy's hand. We can never be taken by blockade, escalade, mine, or storm, so long as heavenly succours can come down to us by Jacob's ladder to relieve us in the time of our necessities. Prayer is never out of season: in summer and in winter its merchandize is precious. Prayer gains audience with heaven in the dead of night, in the midst of business, in the heat of noonday, in the shades of evening. In every condition, whether of poverty, or sickness, or obscurity, or slander, or doubt, your covenant God will welcome your prayer and answer it from His holy place. Nor is prayer ever futile. True prayer is evermore true power. You may not always get what you ask, but you shall always have your real wants supplied. When God does not answer His children according to the letter, He does so according to the spirit. If thou askest for coarse meal, wilt thou be angered because He gives thee the finest flour? If thou seekest bodily health, shouldst thou complain if instead thereof He makes thy sickness turn to the healing of spiritual maladies? Is it not better to have the cross sanctified than removed? This evening, my soul, forget not to offer thy petition and request, for the Lord is ready to grant thee thy desire
《竭诚为主》11月3日 耶稣的奴隶
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。(加二20)
这句话的意思是我亲手折断自己的主权,完全降服于主耶稣至高的权威。没有人可以替我做,我必须自己去行。神可以在一年有三百六十五次叫我们面临作决定的时刻,可是他不能推我过去。我必须打破脱离神而独立的外壳,释放整个人格,与他合一;不再跟从自己的主意,完全效忠主耶稣。一旦如此,就无可争辩了。很少人真正知道什么叫效忠基督 – 就是“为我(主)的缘故。”有这个才有精忠的圣徒。
这破碎的关键到了没有?其他的事都不过是敬虔的伪壳。决定性的一点是 – 我肯不肯无条件投降,顺服基督?我必须打破实现自我的企图,这样,与主认同的超然事实就随即出现,圣灵的见证就明明可见 – “我已经与基督同钉十字架。”
我对基督教的热诚,就是特意把自己的主权舍弃,作耶稣基督的奴仆。若非如此,我尚未踏上成圣之路。
只要每年有一个学生被神呼召,就是以肯定这间神学院的存在价值。若只作为一间机构,这学院没有什么价值。它不是为学术研究,其最大的用意是让神可以随意得着人的生命。他可以随意使用我们吗?还是我们仍然让自我实现的念头占据?
祈祷◆主啊,因着我肉体的软弱,我与你的相交也显得枯燥乏味,然而我的心却是欣喜的,我的肉体亦将在盼望中安息。
November 3 A Bond-Slave Of Jesus
“I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.” Galatians 2:20
These words mean the breaking of my independence with my own hand and surrendering to the supremacy of the Lord Jesus. No one can do this for me, I must do it myself. God may bring me up to the point three hundred and sixty-five times a year, but He cannot put me through it. It means breaking the husk of my individual independence of God, and the emancipating of my personality into oneness with Himself, not for my own ideas, but for absolute loyalty to Jesus. There is no possibility of dispute when once I am there. Very few of us know anything about loyalty to Christ – “For My sake.” It is that which makes the iron saint.
Has that break come? All the rest is pious fraud. The one point to decide is – Will I give up, will I surrender to Jesus Christ, and make no conditions whatever as to how the break comes? I must be broken from my self-realization, and immediately that point is reached, the reality of the supernatural identification takes place at once, and the witness of the Spirit of God is unmistakable – “I have been crucified with Christ.”
The passion of Christianity is that I deliberately sign away my own rights and become a bond-slave of Jesus Christ. Until I do that, I do not begin to be a saint.
One student a year who hears God's call would be sufficient for God to have called this College into existence. This College as an organization is not worth anything, it is not academic; it is for nothing else but for God to help Himself to lives. Is He going to help Himself to us, or are we taken up with our conception of what we are going to be?
十一月三日 信心的支票簿 Faith’s check book
神的时候
经文: 「因为这默示有一定的日期,快要应验,并不虚谎。虽然迟延,还要等候;因为必然临到,不再迟延。」(哈巴谷书2︰3)
神的恩典怜悯仿佛来得缓慢,但祂的恩言必定应验。大有智慧的神,已经订好一个日期,要施展祂恩典的权能,而且神的时间,是最恰当的时间。人常是迫不及待,恩典的默示激起我们的向往,让我们的急切盼望。但神做事有祂的定期,祂不疾不徐,且总不误事。
这里所提到的神的话语犹如一个会说话、会行动的生命体一般;绝不是我们在长久等待其实现的过程中,受试探而害怕的那样,它不是一纸无生命的文书。这活着的话语已经从永生神那里出发,在来的路上了。虽然仿佛有所耽延,但实际却非如此。神的列车总不误点。我们只需耐心等候,马上就会看到主的信实。祂的应许从不落空,“快要应验”。这对于信的人来说是怎样的安慰啊!祂的应许从来不会像到期未付的账单那样需要延期。祂应许的实现不会延迟。
来吧!我的灵,难道你不能等候你的神吗?且安歇在祂里面,在那溢于言表的平安中静默。
In God's Time
Scripture: "For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry" (Habakkuk 2:3).
Mercy may seem slow, but it is sure. The LORD in unfailing wisdom has appointed a time for the outgoings of His gracious power, and God's time is the best time. We are in a hurry; the vision of the blessings excites our desire and hastens our longings; but the LORD will keep His appointments. He never is before His time; He never is behind.
God's word is here spoken of as a living thing which will speak and will come. It is never a dead letter, as we are tempted to fear when we have long watched for its fulfillment. The living word is on the way from the living God, and though it may seem to linger, it is not in reality doing so. God's train is not behind time. It is only a matter of patience, and we shall soon see for ourselves the faithfulness of the LORD. No promise of His shall fail; "it will not lie." No promise of His will be lost in silence; "it shall speak." What comfort it will speak to the believing ear! No promise of His shall need to be renewed like a bill which could not be paid on the day in which it fell due-"it will not tarry."
Come, my soul, canst thou not wait for thy God? Rest in Him and be still in unutterable peacefulness.
十一月三日
浑身生了疮,是血中满了毒,不清血,而衹在外面治疮,是不能根本治疗的。聪明的治法是打针清血,杀死血中的病菌,身上的疮就自然好了。
有人在神的面前对付各样的罪也是如此:说了谎言,就为谎言来到神面前认罪;认过之后,又行了诡诈,又为诡诈来到神面前认罪;认过之后,又贪了不义之财,又为这不义之财来到神面前认罪;认过之后,又和别人为小事起了争竞,又为争竞来到神面前认罪;自己不是不想好,但是犯罪的事总是层出不穷,这里的疮还未好,那里的疮又起来了,真是不胜其苦。原因就是没有根本治疗,衹是治疗已经生出来的疮,而不清里面的血。我们常是为已经犯在外面的罪而认罪,却不除去里面隐藏的罪。心中清洁了,外面就不犯罪,即或犯罪,也是偶然被过犯所胜。
罪在人心中衹是一个,但是罪的果子却是花样不一,罪行的复杂是律法所概括不了的,作法官的人,在专门学院里学习几年还学不完全。基督来到世界拯救的工作,就是叫人脱离罪。基督没有为人设立一条律法,祂却用自己的血,「又涂抹了在律例上所写,攻击我们有碍于我们的字据,把它撤去,钉在十字架上。」(西二14)祂衹是救人脱离罪。脱离了罪,就脱离了一切罪行;基督不是在外面著手,乃是从根本治疗。
「何况基督藉着永远的灵,将自己无瑕无疵献给神,祂的血岂不更能洗净你们的心,除去你们的死行,使你们事奉那永生的神么?」(来九14)
「你要给祂起名叫耶稣;因祂要将自己的百姓从罪恶里救出来。」(太一21)
《荒漠甘泉》11月3日
“在一切净光的高处必有他们的牧场。”(赛49:9直译)
小玩意儿很容易到手,但是贵重的东西却须要花费巨大的代价。成功的获得,往往要用血去换来的。假若你准备付出足够的鲜血,你就有希望达到胜利的顶点,若要登上神圣的高峰,也是如此。真正的英雄故事,都是描写流血牺牲的故事。生命和人格的最高价值,不会随风吹来。伟大的灵魂,必又重大的悲哀。
我们若被带到逼使我们锻炼信心的环境中,即能增高认识神的大能,因此,当我们遭遇困难的时候,愿我们感谢神和我们患难相共,紧紧地依靠他。
十一月四日
我的能力是在人的软弱上显得完全。(哥林多后书12:9)
我们要想在服侍神的事上取得任何成功、在做神的工作时打胜仗,一个基本的要素就是感觉到自己的软弱。神的军兵若凭着自己的能力走上前去,夸口说:“我知道我必得胜,我的右手和我得胜的刀剑就能使我得胜”,那么,失败已经离他不远了,因为 神绝不与靠自己能力的人同去。这些自认稳操胜券的人都是打错了算盘,因为“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。”上前争战的人,若夸耀自己的力量,归来时必然旗帜偃倒、甲胄蒙尘。服侍 神的人必须靠祂的方法、祂的力量来服侍祂,不然祂必不接纳他们的服侍。凡人所做的一切事,若无神的帮助,神就绝不认可。祂必丢弃仅仅是从地里结出的果子,祂只收割从那天上所撒的种、受恩典所浇灌、蒙神爱的光照而成熟的庄稼。 神在充满你以前必先倒空你,祂先洁净你的仓房,然后把上好的粮食丰丰满满地倒给你。神的河满了水,但没有一滴是从地上的泉源来的。神在属祂的争战中只用祂所赐的力量,不用其他一切的力量。你为你的软弱悲哀吗?放心吧!因为在神使你得胜之前,必先使你感到自己的软弱。你的空虚,就是为了被充满做准备;你被打倒,就是为被高举做准备。
“何时有软弱,何时当刚强;
基督为诗歌,恩典为保障。”
十一月四日
经文: 在祢的光中,我们必得见光。(诗篇三十六:9)
没有言语能解释基督的爱,除非耶稣亲自在人心中说话。一切描述皆索然寡味、了无生气,除非圣灵以祂的大能充满其中。我们的心灵不能见到“以马内利”,除非祂亲自向我们启示。你若要看太阳,是否需要点燃蜡烛来寻找呢?不,聪明人知道,太阳必会显明自己。也惟有藉太阳的火焰,人才能见到全能的光。基督也是如此。祂对彼得说:“西门巴约拿,你是有福的。因为这不是属血肉的指示你的。”(太十六:17)无论你选择何种教育方式来炼净肉体和血气,或以最高的智慧来提升精神,也没有一样方法能显明基督。唯有上帝的灵带着能力临到人,且以祂的翅膀遮蔽人,然后主耶稣才会向被洁净的眼睛彰显祂自己。这个眼光模糊之世界的群众无法见到“以马内利”的神圣荣耀。祂在世人面前无佳美容貌,像干地冒出的根,被自负的人藐视,被骄傲的人厌弃。惟有圣灵以眼药涂抹过的眼睛,以圣洁生命充满的心,以属天判断力教育过的心灵,才能明白祂。“所以祂在你们信的人就是宝贵。”(彼前二:7)对你而言,祂是房角石,是祢救恩的磐石,是你一切的一切;但是在那些不信的人,却成了“绊脚的石头、跌人的磐石。”(彼前二:8)耶稣,我们的主啊,我们的心已经敞开,请祢进来,永不离开。
Evening, November 4
Scripture: “In thy light shall we see light.”(Psalm 36:9)
No lips can tell the love of Christ to the heart till Jesus himself shall speak within. Descriptions all fall flat and tame unless the Holy Ghost fills them with life and power; till our Immanuel reveals himself within, the soul sees him not. If you would see the sun, would you gather together the common means of illumination, and seek in that way to behold the orb of day? No, the wise man knoweth that the sun must reveal itself, and only by its own blaze can that mighty lamp be seen. It is so with Christ. “Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona:” said he to Peter, “for flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto thee.” Purify flesh and blood by any educational process you may select, elevate mental faculties to the highest degree of intellectual power, yet none of these can reveal Christ. The Spirit of God must come with power, and overshadow the man with his wings, and then in that mystic holy of holies the Lord Jesus must display himself to the sanctified eye, as he doth not unto the purblind sons of men. Christ must be his own mirror. The great mass of this blear-eyed world can see nothing of the ineffable glories of Immanuel. He stands before them without form or comeliness, a root out of a dry ground, rejected by the vain and despised by the proud. Only where the Spirit has touched the eye with eye-salve, quickened the heart with divine life, and educated the soul to a heavenly taste, only there is he understood. “To you that believe he is precious”; to you he is the chief corner-stone, the Rock of your salvation, your all in all; but to others he is “a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence.” Happy are those to whom our Lord manifests himself, for his promise to such is that he will make his abode with them. O Jesus, our Lord, our heart is open, come in, and go out no more for ever. Show thyself to us now! Favour us with a glimpse of thine all-conquering charms.
《竭诚为主》11月4日 真实的权威
你们亲近神,神就必亲近你们。(雅四8)
我们必须让人有机会行神的真理,这责任是个人的,别人无法代行。他必须蓄意去行,但福音的资讯也该引导他的行动。不肯行动叫人瘫痪,使人依然故我;一有行动,就不同了。多少被神的灵感动的人,都因不肯行动而受阻挡。行动的那一刻,我就活了;其余的时候,我不过是存在的个体。以整个意志投入行动,就是我存在的个体。以整个意志投入行动,就是我真正活着的时候。
不要让神放在你心里的某一真理成为过去,无所行动。不单是肉身的行动,更是意志上的。不管用笔墨或用血,要把它记录下来。最柔弱的信徒若与耶稣基督相交,在他行动的那一刻,就得着释放,神的大能就属于他了。我们明白神的真理,承认自己的错,又重蹈覆辙;以后又再达到真理,但不久又故态复萌;这情况要到我们学会不应回头才停止下来。对救主的话要全无保留地接纳,与他来一次交易。他说“来”,就是交易的意思。“到我这里来。”我们往往非到最后也不肯“来”。其实过来人就知道,一“来”,神超然的生命就立刻进到他里面。世界、肉体、魔鬼对他的控制就立刻瘫痪,不是因为你的行动,而是因你的行动把你连接到神救赎的大能去。
祈祷◆主啊,我只有一件事情 – 就是有声和无声的需要你。“灵性贫乏”这词,正描述了我对自己的一点认识。我来到你面前,全然地需要你。
November 4 The Authority Of Reality
“Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.” James 4:8
It is essential to give people a chance of acting on the truth of God. The responsibility must be left with the individual, you cannot act for him, it must be his own deliberate act, but the evangelical message ought always to lead a man to act. The paralysis of refusing to act leaves a man exactly where he was before; when once he acts, he is never the same. It is the foolishness of it that stands in the way of hundreds who have been convicted by the Spirit of God. Immediately I precipitate myself over into an act, that second I live; all the rest is existence. The moments when I truly live are the moments when I act with my whole will.
Never allow a truth of God that is brought home to your soul to pass without acting on it, not necessarily physically, but in will. Record it, with ink or with blood. The feeblest saint who transacts business with Jesus Christ is emancipated the second he acts; all the almighty power of God is on his behalf. We come up to the truth of God, we confess we are wrong, but go back again; then we come up to it again, and go back; until we learn that we have no business to go back. We have to go clean over on some word of our redeeming Lord and transact business with Him. His word “come” means “transact.” “Come unto Me.” The last thing we do is to come; but everyone who does come knows that that second the supernatural rush of the life of God invades him instantly. The dominating power of the world, the flesh and the devil is paralysed, not by your act, but because your act has linked you on to God and His redemptive power.
十一月四日 信心的支票簿 Faith’s check book
遍挖沟渠
经文: 「他便说:“耶和华如此说:‘你们要在这谷中满处挖沟。’因为耶和华如此说:‘你们虽不见风,不见雨,这谷必满了水,使你们和牲畜有水喝。’“」(列王记下3︰16-17)
三王(以色列王、犹大王、以东王)合攻摩押,军队绕行七日却没水喝,几近渴死,主便介入了。虽然祂并未拨云送雨,却使遍地满了水。神不是用普通的方法,而是用满有智慧和权能的新事让祂的百姓惊异不已,也让百姓更看清神的作为。虽然神并不总是按着我们所希望,所祈求,所设想的方式向我们显现,但神会用这样或那样的方式供应我们。我们就因此被提升,不去看各种次要因素,而是定睛在那伟大的首要因素之上。这是何等的祝福啊!
今日我们是否遍挖沟渠,准备承受神丰富的恩典?可惜,我们常常缺乏真实的信心,也太少操练这样的信心。今天,就让我们企盼祷告得蒙应允。曾经有个女孩,带着雨伞去参加求雨祷告会。让我们也这样,用真实和付诸行动的信心,期盼神祝福我们。让我们的山谷遍满沟渠,并引颈等待神奇妙的作为,看祂如何让遍地满了水。
You Make the Trenches
Scripture: "And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches. For thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts" (2 Kings 3:16-17).
Three armies were perishing of thirst, and the LORD interposed. Although He sent neither cloud nor rain, yet He supplied an abundance of water. He is not dependent upon ordinary methods but can surprise His people with novelties of wisdom and power. Thus are we made to see more of God than ordinary processes could have revealed. Although the LORD may not appear for us in the way we expect, or desire, or suppose, yet He will in some way or other provide for us. It is a great blessing for us to be raised above looking to secondary causes so that we may gaze into the face of the great First Cause.
Have we this day grace enough to make trenches into which the divine blessing may flow? Alas! We too often fail in the exhibition of true and practical faith. Let us this day be on the outlook for answers to prayer. As the child who went to a meeting to pray for rain took an umbrella with her, so let us truly and practically expect the LORD to bless us. Let us make the valley full of ditches and expect to see them all filled.
十一月四日
基督的教会没有患难的时候,传播的力量或许小些,若是有了逼迫,每个信徒就好象从睡梦中被叫醒了一样,传播的力量就大起来了。又象大风吹散了树上的种子,落在各处都是。又象落在地里的种子,见了雨露和日光,要更迅速地发展,因教会里面有生命、有神。
世界上人的建造、人的组织,不管他团体是多大,即便充满了全世界,总归是要破坏倒塌的,因为是无生命的组织。神的教会,看来力量是很薄弱,经不起摧残,比不上世界的大组织,但神无穷之生命的大能,支持著她向前推进,不但不能朽坏,不能摧残,不能消灭,要愈久愈有荣耀,愈久愈坚牢。若有人想要从地上除灭神的教会,就等于他能除灭神。没有神,根本没有神的教会;没有神,神根本不用除灭;有神,才有神的教会;有神,神就无法可以除灭。
真的!有人想除灭神,那实在太笑话了,也实在太可怜了。
那些想要除去神的,就象小孩把自己的眼睛封起来,说:太阳没有了。他们根本不能除灭神,终有一日他们要知道有神。我们岂不是看到使徒时代教会所遭遇的逼迫吗?犹太人用最惨酷的手段要除灭教会,结果是谁被除灭了呢?犹太人到如今在世界中漂流无定,神的教会直到今日仍是兴旺的。亲爱的弟兄姊妹!衹管放胆,为神活著。
「这犹太人杀了主耶稣和先知,又把我们赶出去,他们不得神的喜悦,且与众人为敌;不许我们传道给外邦人使外邦人得救,常常充满自己的罪恶;神的忿怒临在他们身上已经到了极处。」(帖前二15至16)
《荒漠甘泉》11月4日
“以西结在迦巴鲁河边,被掳的人中,天就开了,得见神的异象…耶和华的话特别临到。”(结一:1/3)
“被掳”有它的崇高价值。当我们坐在“巴别”溪畔,古克的诗篇,为我们唱出了新的感人的调子,给我们带来新的喜悦,其时我们发觉囚禁我们的地方,变成了南方的溪流。
饱受苦难的人,不肯轻易离开他那讲论神之道的圣经,虽然别的书籍与圣经在人的目光中看来没有什么不同,但是饱受苦难的人看来却大大的不同。因为在他那本沾有泪痕的老经卷上,曾写下唯有他认得出的字迹,记录他的经验,时时遇见“伯特利”的柱子,(创28:19)或“以琳”的棕树(出15:27),对他说来,这些是他生命史中几章重要关键的回忆。
假若我们要从“被掳”之中得益,我们必须接受所处的环境,尽可能的加以改善。为已往的或失去的环境烦恼,不会把事情弄好,反而会阻挡我们改善现有的情况。如果我们竭力挣扎,我们的桎梏就会越挣越紧。
不肯耐心忍受羁络的马,结果只是使自己被拴在马厩里。不安于轭的驴,只是使自己的肩膀多吃苦头;英国作家史滕描写过一只不定的掠鸟,它用翅膀撞击笼栅,喊道:“我出不去,我出不去”,另有一只温柔的金丝雀,安坐在栖木上歌唱,胜似飞向天空之云雀,这两只鸟的区别,人人都看得明白。
没有一件灾祸能伤害我们,如果我们立刻用虔诚的祷告,把它带到神面前去。即使是一个在树荫下避雨的人,也可能发现树上结有并非他存心要找的果子;同样的道理,我们托庇于神的翅翼下,也常常会在神里面发现许多我们以前所未曾看见,未曾知道的事物。
这样,神籍着我们的试炼,患难,给了我们新的启示。“雅博”渡口变成了“呲奴伊勒”,摔跤变成了“面对面见了神”(创32:30)。受苦的信徒,你还有什么可伤心?神将使你 “夜间歌唱”,“使死阴变为晨光”(摩5:8)。——戴威廉
信服神的旨意,是最柔软和最安全的靠枕。
步惠廉
William B. Burke
美国基督教监理会(美以美会)宣教士,在上海松江地区从事宣教、赈济和慈善事业达56年之久。
十一月五日
凡为攻击你造成的器械,必不利用(或译:凡为攻击你而造成的武器,必不能成功)。(以赛亚书54:17)
今天在英国历史上是一个重要的日子,因为神为我们施行了两次大拯救。
第一,1605年教皇党徒企图推翻国会、控制英国、建立教权,幸及时发现,不然基督教必受大难。
“他们正在为王子登基做准备时,
洞穴深处有燃烧的网罗,
祂从天上射出刺目的光芒,
驱散黑暗的背叛带来了白昼。“
第二,1688年的今天,英王威廉三世(荷兰大统领威廉第二子,与英王詹姆士第二女玛利结婚,1688年被迎立为王。预誓不损民权、不蹂躏国会,此即所谓名誉革命。1691年他曾为美洲马萨诸塞签署一个新宪章,内云:“除了教皇党徒外,一切基督徒皆可享受良心自由。”)登陆英伦,天主教的威权从此被镇压下去,人们才获得宗教自由。
我们也应当用圣徒的诗歌来纪念这一天。清教徒的先祖们在这一天举行特别的感恩礼拜,有明确的记载表明,马太亨利在这一天会有一年一度的讲道。清教徒的先祖们在这一天举行特别的感恩礼拜,我们这些爱好自由的信徒也当在这一天感谢神。我们的心和嘴唇一起赞美:“ 神啊!你在古时----我们列祖的日子----所行的事,我们亲耳听见了,我们的列祖也给我们述说过。”你让这个民族成为福音之家;当仇敌起来敌对她的时候,你就成为了她的屏障和盾牌。为了 神一再拯救我们,我们要再三地歌唱;求你使我们越来越仇视敌基督的人,速速将其完全消灭。直到那时和永远,我们都信靠这应许:“凡为攻击你而造成的武器,必不能成功。”愿这话铭刻在一切喜爱耶稣福音的人心上,靠此把异端邪说推翻,好广传神的真道。愿我们省察自己的心,从中剔除所有天主教自义的刺,免得它们潜伏暗藏在我们里面。
十一月五日
经文: 当感谢祂,称颂祂的名。(诗篇一○○:4)
耶稣并不喜欢祂的弟兄们将祂看低。祂喜悦祂所珍爱的人能欣赏祂的美丽。我们不应当认为祂只是我们所需,如同粮食和水一样,却当视祂为佳肴美味和罕见之珍奇。祂向我们启示祂自己如同重价的珍珠,且有绝世的美丽,如同整袋没药,发出怡神的香气,如同沙仑的玫瑰,持久芬芳,又如同谷中的百合,纯洁无瑕疵。试想上帝对祂独生子──祂所赐不可言喻之恩典──的珍重。当天使在祂脚前掩蔽自己的脸,以此做为他们最高的尊崇,请思想天使对祂的想法。当蒙救赎之人在无尽的岁月中向祂唱出祂配受的颂赞,请思想他们对祂的看法。对基督存崇高之思想能帮助我们在与祂的关系中有一贯的行动。我们看到基督超过一切高坐在宝座上,就越发能谦卑地俯伏在祂宝座的脚前,并能真诚地准备向祂尽自己本份。我们的主耶稣期盼我们重视祂,如此我们就能喜乐地顺服在祂的权柄之下。对祂存高贵的思想会增加我们的爱。爱与珍视是紧密相连的。所以,信徒啊,多多思想你主的卓越伟大。认识祂道成肉身取了人的本性以前在天上所得之荣耀。思想祂大能的爱,这大爱让祂从宝座上下来并死在十字架上。尊崇祂因祂战胜地狱的一切权势。请看祂的复活,得冠冕,得荣耀。俯伏在祂脚前,因祂是奇妙、策士、全能的父,唯有这样,你才会向祂发出应有的爱。
Evening, November 5
Scripture: “Be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”(Psalm 100:4)
Our Lord would have all his people rich in high and happy thoughts concerning his blessed person. Jesus is not content that his brethren should think meanly of him; it is his pleasure that his espoused ones should be delighted with his beauty. We are not to regard him as a bare necessary, like to bread and water, but as a luxurious delicacy, as a rare and ravishing delight. To this end he has revealed himself as the “pearl of great price” in its peerless beauty, as the “bundle of myrrh” in its refreshing fragrance, as the “rose of Sharon” in its lasting perfume, as the “lily” in its spotless purity.
As a help to high thoughts of Christ, remember the estimation that Christ is had in beyond the skies, where things are measured by the right standard. Think how God esteems the Only Begotten, his unspeakable gift to us. Consider what the angels think of him, as they count it their highest honour to veil their faces at his feet. Consider what the blood-washed think of him, as day without night they sing his well deserved praises. High thoughts of Christ will enable us to act consistently with our relations towards him. The more loftily we see Christ enthroned, and the more lowly we are when bowing before the foot of the throne, the more truly shall we be prepared to act our part towards him. Our Lord Jesus desires us to think well of him, that we may submit cheerfully to his authority. High thoughts of him increase our love. Love and esteem go together. Therefore, believer, think much of your Master's excellencies. Study him in his primeval glory, before he took upon himself your nature! Think of the mighty love which drew him from his throne to die upon the cross! Admire him as he conquers all the powers of hell! See him risen, crowned, glorified! Bow before him as the Wonderful, the Counsellor, the mighty God, for only thus will your love to him be what it should.
《竭诚为主》11月5日 与基督一同受苦
倒要欢喜,因为你们是与基督一同受苦。(彼前四13)
如果你要蒙神使用,你便要经历许多事;不是为你本身而遭遇,乃是要把你造成神手中合用的器皿,使你明白别人心里的景况,以致不会因所遇见的感到诧异。“唉,我不能应付那个人。”为什么不能?神让你有足够的机会在他面前学习这功课,只是你故意避开,认为这样花时间太愚蠢了。
基督受的苦不是普通人的苦,他乃是按神的旨意受苦,不是照人的看法受苦。只有当我们与基督联合,才会明白神的用意。基督教文化的一部分,就是要明白神的目的。在教会历史中,可以见到人逃避与主一同受苦的倾向;人总是想用自己的捷径,以求完成神的使命。可是,神的道路却必定是那漫长受苦的路。
我们有分于基督的受苦吗?我们肯不肯让神把个人的野心除掉?肯不肯藉生命的改变,把个人的志向毁掉?这不是说可以完全明白为何神领我们这样走:这样会叫我们成为属灵的自大者。当时我们无法知道神的心意,我们会或多或少有点误解;过后却全恍然大悟,说:“看,神把我装备了,我竟然不察觉!”
祈祷◆主啊,愿那些在肉身上担负重压的人,能藉着你的支持来继续承担。愿你使他们能避免敌人的严苛对待,愿主的喜乐能奇妙地成为他们的力量。
November 5 Partakers Of His Sufferings
“Rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings.” 1 Peter 4:13
If you are going to be used by God, He will take you through a multitude of experiences that are not meant for you at all, they are meant to make you useful in His hands, and to enable you to understand what transpires in other souls so that you will never be surprised at what you come across. Oh, I can't deal with that person. Why not? God gave you ample opportunity to soak before Him on that line, and you barged off because it seemed stupid to spend time in that way.
The sufferings of Christ are not those of ordinary men. He suffered “according to the will of God,” not from the point of view we suffer from as individuals. It is only when we are related to Jesus Christ that we can understand what God is after in His dealings with us. It is part of Christian culture to know what God's aim is. In the history of the Christian Church the tendency has been to evade being identified with the sufferings of Jesus Christ; men have sought to procure the carrying out of God's order by a short cut of their own. God's way is always the way of suffering, the way of the “long, long trail.”
Are we partakers of Christ's sufferings? Are we prepared for God to stamp our personal ambitions right out? Are we prepared for God to destroy by transfiguration our individual determinations? It will not mean that we know exactly why God is taking us that way, that would make us spiritual prigs. We never realize at the time what God is putting us through; we go through it more or less misunderstandingly; then we come to a luminous place, and say – “Why, God has girded me, though I did not know it!”
十一月五日 信心的支票簿 Faith’s check book
结束痛苦
经文: 「我必不永远相争,也不长久发怒,恐怕我所造的人与灵性都必发昏。」(以赛亚书57︰16)
我们的天父,凡事为我们的利益着想,一点儿也不会加害我们。祂所存的是良善的意念,祂必不总是与我们相争。我们常以为神为洁净我们,总是长期的熬炼我们,其实那是因为我们耐性不够,才会觉得历炼的时间很长。神对我们的爱恒久不变,祂必不永久发怒。长夜漫漫似无尽期,但黎明的曙光终必到来。神并不长久对人发怒,那只不过是转瞬之间,神对祂的选民,存着无比的爱心,祂的怒气必不长久。
祂若是一位长期与人相争的神,恐怕祂所造的人都必站立不住,也要发昏,落入地狱之门。亲爱的朋友,鼓起勇气吧!神不会长期责罚我们。提起精神吧!在苦难中神会扶持你过去。那造你的,知道你的脆弱和有限。祂会温柔地待你,因你是祂精心创造的。因此,别为目前的痛苦而愁烦,快乐的未来即将来到。那击打你的,也必替你包扎裹伤;神短暂的怒气过后,随之而来的是莫大的恩典与慈爱。
What Is Painful Will End
Scripture: "I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before Me, and the souls; which I have made" (Isaiah 57:16).
Our heavenly Father seeks our instruction, not our destruction. His contention with us has a kind intention toward us. He will not be always in arms against us. We think the LORD is long in His chastisements, but that is because we are short in our patience. His compassion endureth forever, but not His contention. The night may drag its weary length along, but it must in the end give place to cheerful day. As contention is only for a season, so the wrath which leads to it is only for a small moment. The LORD loves His chosen too well to be always angry with them.
If He were to deal with us always as He does sometimes, we should faint outright and go down hopelessly to the gates of death. Courage, dear heart! The LORD will soon end His chiding. Bear up, for the LORD will bear you up and bear you through. He who made you knows how frail you are and how little you can bear. He will handle tenderly that which He has fashioned so delicately. Therefore, be not afraid because of the painful present, for it hastens to a happy future. He that smote you will heal you; His little wrath shall be followed by great mercies.
十一月五日
天气温暖时,各样的植物都欣欣向荣。天气忽然降到零下七、八度,许多植物都凋落了;但有几种树木依然如旧,在大风雪中若无其事。
在平安的时候,你也爱主,我也爱主,他也爱主;你若说我不爱主,我就生气,我若说他不爱主,他就发脾气,个个都说自己爱主。但大考验的时候一到,有的退后了,有的隐藏了,有的跌倒了,有的离道叛教了;但那有丰盛生命的圣徒,仍是忍耐到底,没有改变,有的为主受苦,有的为主下监,有的为主舍命。神用考试分别了教会中的一切信徒,真的放在一边,假的放在一边;得胜的放在一处,失败的放在一处;叫人在神公义的审判之下,都无话可说。各人都把自己的成绩摆在神的面前,也摆在人的面前。神用患难揭穿了许多的假冒为善。
从前所说的名望人,大家都瞻仰崇拜他,有一天显了原形,从前工作轰轰烈烈的,有一天成了凋谢的花;从前人所看不起的,人所不注意的,不在繁荣的人世中争名夺权的,有一天倒反仍然如故地站在那里,不怕风雪,不怕严霜。这实在是随己意行作万事的神的工作,叫人在神面前没有能自夸的,夸口的都当指著主夸口。
「义人要发旺如棕树,生长如利巴嫩的香柏树。他们栽于耶和华的殿中,发旺在我们神的院里。他们年老的时候,仍要结果子;要满了汁浆而常发青;好显明耶和华是正直的,祂是我的磐石,在祂毫无不义。」(诗九十二12至15)
《荒漠甘泉》11月5日
“耶和华岂有难成的事么?”(创18:14)
这是神今天给你我的一个责问。也许我们心中曾经有过一个最深,最高,最大的愿望——或者是关于我们自己的,或者是关于我们所爱的人的——经过了好久,还没有成就;我们就以为以前还有成功的可能,现在是决不能成功的了,于是就把今生能成为事实的希望完全放弃了。
那一个愿望,如果是合乎神旨的,神必替我们成就;虽然照我们看来,也许是完全不可能的一回事了——也许我们一听见人说起,还会笑为荒谬。那一个愿望,神必替我们成就,如果我们肯让他成就。
“耶和华岂有难成的事么?”没有;如果我们相信他,按照他的旨意前行,让他独自去替我们作那不可能的,耶和华就没有难成的事了。不然的话,连亚伯拉罕和撒拉也有拦阻神旨的可能。
那惟一能拦阻神的,就是继续不信他的慈爱与能力;和一直拒绝神在我们身上的计划。对于那些信靠他的人,耶和华是没有一件难成的事的。——译自晨更信息
十一月六日
我要将水浇灌口渴的人。(以赛亚书44:3)
当一个信徒感觉陷入低迷、悲苦的境地中时,他常常带着黑暗沉郁的恐惧进行自责,试图借此方式把自己救拔出来。但这样的方法并不能把他从尘埃中高举起来,反而只能使其继续陷溺其中。这样做就好像绑住鹰的翅膀却想让其高飞,人抱着怀疑的态度却想加倍得享神的恩典。最初拯救那寻求之灵魂的,并非律法,而是福音;并且在以后真正鼓舞灰心丧胆之信徒的,也非律法的捆绑,而是福音的释放。为奴的惧怕之心并不能把背道的人带回到神的面前,只有爱的甜美呼求能吸引他到耶稣的怀中。今晨你渴慕永生的神吗?你因为没有找到祂而得享心中的喜乐就感到难过吗?你已经失去了信仰所带来的喜乐吗?所以你会为此这样祷告“求你使我仍得救恩之乐” 吗?你也会感到自己的贫乏,像一片干旱之地;以致你结不出 神有权利向你要的果子,在教会中、在世界上,也没有如自己所愿的那样成为有用之人吗?那么这里正是你所需要的应许:“我要将水浇灌口渴的人。”你必得到你所急切需求求的恩典,并从中得到极大的满足。水能消除人的干渴,你也必然得到滋润,你的心愿必被满足;水能滋润枯萎的枝叶,你的生命也必因新蒙的恩典而振奋起来;水能使花开放,使果成熟,你必得到结果子的恩典,你必按照 神的方式结出果子来。 神恩典中所有的好处你都能丰享;你必大得 神恩典的丰富,你必被恩典漫过,正像草场被奔流的河水灌满,使田地也成为水池,你也是这样,干旱之地必将成为涌流的泉源。
十一月六日
经文: 说,这血就是上帝与你们立约的凭据。(希伯来书九:20)
血这个名词有一股奇异的能力,每看到血时也总会叫人动容。仁慈的心不忍看到麻雀流血,至于动物被杀,是更觉惨不忍睹。人的血是神圣之物。在暴怒中流人的血是谋杀,在战争中白流人血是可怕的罪行。每当我们思想上帝儿子的宝血时,我们的敬畏就更加深。当我们想到罪的邪恶,以及背负世人罪孽者所忍受之可怕刑罚时,我们就战栗不已。血是珍贵的,而当血从“以马内利”的肋旁汨汨流出时,那更是无价的。耶稣的血是恩典之约的保证,教这约永远确立。旧的约是藉献祭而立的,这永恒的约也是以相同方法确立。在上帝公义的稳固基础上得蒙拯救是何等欣慰啊!上帝的公义是不容羞辱的!靠律法之功获救是不牢固的,像遭海难的破船一般;然而依靠恩约之船却不畏风暴,因为宝血教它全然坚固。耶稣的宝血使祂的圣约变为有效。立遗嘱的人若不死,他的遗嘱便不生效。就此而言,兵丁以枪扎主的肋旁证明主已死去,于信心是一恩助。藉救主之死而明白自己能确获属天祝福的人是快乐的。这宝血岂不也呼召我们要为主而洁净自己,因祂已救赎了我们?这宝血岂不也呼召我们的生命要有新的样式,并且激励我们要像主那样完全圣洁?但愿今晚我们都能明白并感受宝血的大能!
Evening, November 6
Scripture: “Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.”(Hebrews 9:20)
There is a strange power about the very name of blood, and the sight of it is always affecting. A kind heart cannot bear to see a sparrow bleed, and unless familiarized by use, turns away with horror at the slaughter of a beast. As to the blood of men, it is a consecrated thing: it is murder to shed it in wrath, it is a dreadful crime to squander it in war. Is this solemnity occasioned by the fact that the blood is the life, and the pouring of it forth the token of death? We think so. When we rise to contemplate the blood of the Son of God, our awe is yet more increased, and we shudder as we think of the guilt of sin, and the terrible penalty which the Sin-bearer endured. Blood, always precious, is priceless when it streams from Immanuel's side. The blood of Jesus seals the covenant of grace, and makes it for ever sure. Covenants of old were made by sacrifice, and the everlasting covenant was ratified in the same manner. Oh, the delight of being saved upon the sure foundation of divine engagements which cannot be dishonoured! Salvation by the works of the law is a frail and broken vessel whose shipwreck is sure; but the covenant vessel fears no storms, for the blood ensures the whole. The blood of Jesus made his testament valid. Wills are of no power unless the testators die. In this light the soldier's spear is a blessed aid to faith, since it proved our Lord to be really dead. Doubts upon that matter there can be none, and we may boldly appropriate the legacies which he has left for his people. Happy they who see their title to heavenly blessings assured to them by a dying Saviour. But has this blood no voice to us? Does it not bid us sanctify ourselves unto him by whom we have been redeemed? Does it not call us to newness of life, and incite us to entire consecration to the Lord? O that the power of the blood might be known, and felt in us this night!
《竭诚为主》11月6日 信心历程
你信这话吗?(约十一26)
马大相信耶稣有能力行事;她相信他若在场,就可以医治她的弟弟。她也相信耶稣与神有特别的关系,他求神什么,神都成就。可是,她需要与耶稣有更亲密的个人关系。马大的信心是在未来才实现的;耶稣领她体验,直至信心成为她个人的财富,然后形成一个特有的产业 – “主啊,是的,我信你是基督……”
主对你是否也一样?主是否教导你,使你进入与他个人亲密的关系里?让神的问题追逼你 – “你信这话吗?”你怀疑的是什么?你所遭遇的,有否像马大的一样,把你带到一处,叫你的信仰快要变成个人的信仰?这个地步,非透过难处而产生个人问题,不能达致。
相信就是完全委身。在心智上委身,就是把一切与这委身无关的事摈弃;在信仰上委身,在道德上就绝不与其他信仰妥协;在特殊信仰上委身,就把灵交给耶稣基督,决志只让主居首位。当我面对主耶稣,他对我说:“你信这话吗?”我会发现信心像呼吸一样自然,而诧异以往为何愚昧地不信靠。
祈祷◆主啊,并非基于任何不配的感觉,或自觉不足,或是任何关乎自己的思想;我来,只因你是你。
November 6 Programme Of Belief
“Believest thou this?” John 11:26
Martha believed in the power at the disposal of Jesus Christ, she believed that if He had been present He could have healed her brother; she also believed that Jesus had a peculiar intimacy with God and that whatever He asked of God, God would do; but she needed a closer personal intimacy with Jesus. Martha's programme of belief had its fulfilment in the future; Jesus led her on until her belief became a personal possession, and then slowly emerged into a particular inheritance – “Yea, Lord, I believe that Thou art the Christ. . . ”
Is there something like that in the Lord's dealings with you? Is Jesus educating you into a personal intimacy with Himself? Let Him press home His question to you – “Believest thou this?” What is your ordeal of doubt? Have you come, like Martha, to some overwhelming passage in your circumstances where your programme of belief is about to emerge into a personal belief? This can never be until a personal need arises out of a personal problem.
To believe is to commit. In the programme of mental belief I commit myself, and abandon all that is not related to that commitment. In personal belief I commit myself morally to this way of confidence and refuse to compromise with any other; and in particular belief I commit myself spiritually to Jesus Christ, and determine in that thing to be dominated by the Lord alone.
When I stand face to face with Jesus Christ and He says to me – “Believest thou this?” I find that faith is as natural as breathing, and I am staggered that I was so stupid as not to trust Him before.
當轉眼仰望耶穌
用於 《竭诚为主》11月6日
用於 《竭诚为主》11月6日
十一月六日 信心的支票簿 Faith’s check book
以神为乐
经文:「又要以耶和华为乐,祂就将你心里所求的赐给你。」(诗篇37︰4)
以神为乐,有奇妙转化的能力,能让人脱离堕落天性所产生的低俗欲望。以耶和华为乐,不仅其本身是一件甜美的事,而且也能润泽你整个灵魂,直到你心所盼望的,变成神可以放心应许成全的。这喜乐可以塑造我们的盼望,直到它们与神之所望相同,这是何其伟大!
人的愚蠢,就是按着自己的心意,追求私欲的满足。而神的方法是要我们先寻求祂,而后便可指望所有的事都会加给我们;但我们却未遵循此道。我们若让神充满我们的心,直到喜乐满溢,那么,主祂自己自然会照料一切,让我们所需无虞。同时,我们也不用去外面的世界寻求快乐满足,只要我们回到主面前,饮祂泉源的活水,祂所赐给我们的喜乐平安,会远超过我们朋友所能给我们的。单单满足于和主独处,要远胜过将时间和感情消磨在无价值的琐事上。短时间内,我们可能会觉得失落,但如果这样行,能够让我们更加亲近神,那就值得我们格外看重这些事,因为它们才能确保神终将使我们心里所愿的得偿。
Delight and Desires
Scripture: "Delight thyself also in the LORD; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart" (Psalm 37:4).
Delight in God has a transforming power and lifts a man above the gross desire of our [formerly] fallen nature. Delight in Jehovah is not only sweet in itself, but it sweetens the whole soul, till the longings of the heart become such that the LORD can safely promise to fulfill them. Is not that a grand delight which molds our desires till they are like the desires of God?
Our foolish way is to desire and then set to work to compass what we desire. We do not go to work in God's way, which is to seek Him first and then expect all things to be added unto us. If we will let our heart be filled with God till it runs over with delight, then the LORD Himself will take care that we shall not want any good thing. Instead of going abroad for joys let us stay at home with God and drink waters out of our own fountain. He can do for us far more than all our friends. It is better to be content with God alone than to go about fretting and pining for the paltry trifles of time and sense. For a while we may have disappointments; but if these bring us nearer to the LORD, they are things to be prized exceedingly, for they will in the end secure to us the fulfillment of all our right desires.
十一月六日
力量的大小是在乎平日有无锻炼。平日有了受苦的心志,才能遇患难有得胜的见证。盼望灾前被提的人,天天心中想逃避苦难,在他们心中没有为基督受苦的准备,苦难来到如何能站立得住呢?这错误的讲解,实在是被撒但所利用了,使信徒失去了刚强的意志,和为主受苦的心意。
世代末了的信徒,当时时有所准备,不但准备等候主从天降临,也要准备为主受苦。这是最后胜负的决战时期,是撒但将要被捉拿的时候,撒但要作垂死的决斗,它要用尽了自己的能力、座位和大权柄与神争战;撒但不甘心被扔在无底坑中,它不甘心放弃掌管这幽暗世界的大权柄,它虽然知道自己的结局,它却不甘心进入它的结局。神将这一段时期的争战,托付了我们这生在末后世代的信徒,我们不能在这属灵的战争中逃阵,我们必须持守神所托付我们的圣道,忠心到底。
感谢神!有许多人的祷告是这样说:「我不求神将苦难从我前面挪了去,衹求神叫我在苦难中站立得住。」这样的祷告真是合神心意的祷告,你想这样的祷告神能不垂听,能不将力量和胆量赐给求祂的人?神一定要将加倍得胜的能力赐给他们,叫他们胜而又胜。
「他们与羔羊争战,羔羊必胜过他们,因为羔羊是万主之主、万王之王,同著羔羊的,就是蒙召被选有忠心的,也必得胜。」(启十七14)
「在祂衣服和大腿上,有名写著说:万王这王、万主之主。」(启十九16)
《荒漠甘泉》11月6日
“凡我所疼爱的,我就责备管教他。”(启3:19)
受到最剧烈的痛苦的,常是最属灵的信徒。恩典受得最多的人,也是受苦受得最多的人。苦难临到信徒,没有一次是偶然的,每一次都是受着父神的指挥的。父神决不会随意冒险张弓发矢。他的每一枝箭都是带着一个特别的使命出去的。也不会错射到不是他所拣选的对象。一个信徒能不动声色地承受苦痛,不仅是恩典,也是荣耀。——卡莱尔
最属灵的基督徒都是曾经过烈火的。如果你要更认识基督,你不要惊异,他必须带你从你现在的环境中出来。引你经过荒野,炉火的试炼。
主啊,别的刑罚我都愿意受,只求你不要拿去我的十字架;求你叫我能服从你的旨意,求你叫我能爱你所给我的十字架。求你给我那最能叫你满足的恩赐,好叫你在我身上按照你自己的旨意荣耀你名。——一个俘虏的祷告
十一月七日
看哪,我将你铭刻在我掌上。(以赛亚书49:16)
这句话的前面是不信之人的哀叹,锡安说:“耶和华离弃了我,主忘记了我。”毫无疑问,这里的“看哪”二字,正是要引起他们的好奇和关注。 神对于这种邪恶的不信感到怎样的震惊啊!有什么比 神所恩待之人毫无根据的疑惑和惧怕更令人惊异呢? 神责备我们的慈爱之语真使我们面红耳赤;祂哭喊说:“我既把你铭刻在我的掌上,我怎能忘记你呢?你既在我的身上为记念,你怎敢怀疑我恒久的顾念呢?”不信的人哪,你竟然会感到惊异,这是多么奇怪的事呀!我们不知道什么是最希奇的事,是 神的信实呢?还是祂民的不信呢?祂虽已数千次地成就了祂的应许,但试验再一次临到时我们又开始疑惑祂了。祂永不失败,祂并不是一口涸井,也永远不像落日、流星或是蒸气;然而我们却常常受到各种顾虑的烦恼、因为猜疑而困惑,因为惧怕而受到搅扰,就好像神是荒漠中的海市蜃楼一样。“看哪!”这个词正是为了激发我们的羡慕之心。事实上,这里是一个奇妙的话题。天地都必因此震惊,因为悖逆的人仍然能够如此就近那充满无限慈爱的心,以至被刻在祂的掌上。“我将你铭刻”,这里并不是说“你的名”;名字已在那里,可是还不够,祂还要说“我将你铭刻。”且看这其中的意义是多么丰满!我将整个的你,包括你的形象、你的情况、你的环境、你的罪、你的试探、你的软弱、你的需要、你的工作;我将有关你的一切都铭刻下来;我把你完完全全铭刻在那里。祂既把你铭刻在祂自己的掌上,你还会再说祂离弃了你吗?
十一月七日
经文: 你们……作我的见证。(使徒行传一:8)
为了学习如何尽你的本份作基督的见证人,请看主自己所立的榜样。祂常常作见证-─在撒玛利亚的井旁或在耶路撒冷的殿中;在革尼撒勒的湖边或在山上。无论白天或黑夜,祂都作见证。祂带能力的祈祷是祂声音的事奉,如同祂惯常的事奉一样。在任何环境下,祂都作见证。文士和法利赛人无法禁止祂不说话;即使在彼拉多面前,祂也见证真理。祂的见证是清楚、明白的,在祂绝无错误。基督徒啊,愿你的生命成为清楚的见证。让你心中对上帝对人的爱能让所有人看到。你若是真实就不必说:“我说的是真的”。不必以正直夸口,却要是正直的。你的见证必须是教人不得不看见的。勿因害怕无效而抑制你的见证。你的嘴唇已被祭坛的炭火暖和了。让你的嘴唇像被天抚摸过一样地说话。“早晨要撒你的种,晚上也不要歇你的手。”(传十一:6)无论得时与不得时,总要为救主作见证。倘若为了基督或为福音之故,你遭遇患难,不要灰心,反而要因临到你的感到荣幸、欢欣,因为你是为了主配受患难。你的患难、损失和逼迫将作你的高台,你要在那里为基督耶稣作更多、更强有力的见证。愿你能明白伟大的主所立的榜样,并被祂的灵充满。请记住,倘若你的见证是为了主的荣耀,你需要学习、更多祈祷、更多恩典和更多谦卑。
Evening, November 7
Scripture: “And ye shall be witnesses unto me.”(Acts 1:8)
In order to learn how to discharge your duty as a witness for Christ, look at his example. He is always witnessing: by the well of Samaria, or in the Temple of Jerusalem: by the lake of Gennesaret, or on the mountain's brow. He is witnessing night and day; his mighty prayers are as vocal to God as his daily services. He witnesses under all circumstances; Scribes and Pharisees cannot shut his mouth; even before Pilate he witnesses a good confession. He witnesses so clearly, and distinctly that there is no mistake in him. Christian, make your life a clear testimony. Be you as the brook wherein you may see every stone at the bottom-not as the muddy creek, of which you only see the surface-but clear and transparent, so that your heart's love to God and man may be visible to all. You need not say, “I am true:” be true. Boast not of integrity, but be upright. So shall your testimony be such that men cannot help seeing it. Never, for fear of feeble man, restrain your witness. Your lips have been warmed with a coal from off the altar; let them speak as like heaven-touched lips should do. “In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand.” Watch not the clouds, consult not the wind-in season and out of season witness for the Saviour, and if it shall come to pass that for Christ's sake and the gospel's you shall endure suffering in any shape, shrink not, but rejoice in the honour thus conferred upon you, that you are counted worthy to suffer with your Lord; and joy also in this-that your sufferings, your losses, and persecutions shall make you a platform, from which the more vigorously and with greater power you shall witness for Christ Jesus. Study your great Exemplar, and be filled with his Spirit. Remember that you need much teaching, much upholding, much grace, and much humility, if your witnessing is to be to your Master's glory.
《竭诚为主》11月7日 环境是不知不觉中的圣地
万事都互相效力,叫爱神的人得益处。(罗八28)
信徒的际遇是神所命定的,信徒生命中没有偶然那一回事。神在他的旨意中,预备一些你不明白的环境,但神的灵却明白。他把你带到某些地方,叫你遇到某些人,遭遇某些事,为使圣灵的代求透过你,行在某一道路上。切勿在环境中说:“我要自己作主;我要当心这个,小心那个。”一切环境都在神手中,所以不必为所处的环境满腹狐疑。你代求的责任,不是要千辛万苦,乃是用神给你日常的生活际遇,把神安排给你碰到的人带到他座前,让你里面的圣灵有机会为他们代求。这样,神就能透过圣徒得着整个世界。
我是否无目的,叫圣灵难以工作?我是否要代替圣灵来工作?在代求的事上,我要尽上人的本分,这是指我所处的环境,和我接触的人。我得把这有知觉的生命作圣灵的圣地,把不同的人带到神面前,让圣灵为他们代求。你的代求不能代替我的,我的代求也不能代替你的,只有圣灵在我们个别生命中代求。没有这代求,人的生命就必受到亏损。
祈祷◆主啊,我投向你,因着你大能的救赎,我以那伟大的胜利祷文来作祈祷:“我们若照他的旨意求什么,他就听我们,这是我们向他所存坦然无惧的心。”
November 7 The Undetected Sacredness Of Circumstances
“All things work together for good to them that love God.” Romans 8:28
The circumstances of a saint's life are ordained of God. In the life of a saint there is no such thing as chance. God by His providence brings you into circumstances that you cannot understand at all, but the Spirit of God understands. God is bringing you into places and among people and into conditions in order that the intercession of the Spirit in you may take a particular line. Never put your hand in front of the circumstances and say – I am going to be my own providence here, I must watch this, and guard that. All your circumstances are in the hand of God, therefore never think it strange concerning the circumstances you are in. Your part in intercessory prayer is not to enter into the agony of intercession, but to utilize the common-sense circumstances God puts you in, and the common-sense people He puts you amongst by His providence, to bring them before God's throne and give the Spirit in you a chance to intercede for them. In this way God is going to sweep the whole world with His saints.
Am I making the Holy Spirit's work difficult by being indefinite, or by trying to do His work for Him? I must do the human side of intercession, and the human side is the circumstances I am in and the people I am in contact with. I have to keep my conscious life as a shrine of the Holy Ghost, then as I bring the different ones before God, the Holy Spirit makes intercession for them.
Your intercessions can never be mine, and my intercessions can never be yours, but the Holy Ghost makes intercession in our particular lives, without which intercession someone will be impoverished.
用於 《竭诚为主》11月7日
十一月七日 信心的支票簿 Faith’s check book
真正的谦卑
经文: 「自卑的,必升为高。」(路加福音18︰14)
照理说,谦卑对我们而言,应该不是很难,因为我们没有什么可夸的!不用人家讲,我们都应该采取最卑微的姿态;我们若理性、诚实地面对自己,我们也应认清自己渺小的本相。特别是在祷告中面对神时,我们就更清楚,自己渺小得连尘土都不如。因为在我们身上,毫无良善可言,惟一能求告的,就是︰“主啊,愿我在祢面前蒙恩,赦免我这不义的罪人。”
这节经文是从宝座而来的恩言。若我们心存谦卑,神就要高举我们;惟有先自我降卑,才能被升高。只有脱下我们的罪衣,神才能为我们披上义袍,那是最美的装饰。神会提升我们,使我们满有平安喜乐;神会提升我们,用祂的话充实我们的心智,使我们有祂的同在;神会提升我们,要赐下赦罪的确据,使我们有称义的喜乐。神要赐尊荣给那肯荣耀祂名的人。神也要向那些虚心受教、愿承担重任的人,赋与才干,使之能影响更多的人;反之,那些自我吹嘘、过度膨胀的人,神和人都不愿抬举他;但那些虚怀若谷的人,神与人都愿接近他,授之以尊荣。
喔,主啊,愿我更渺小,使祢更得彰显;我必衰微,主必兴旺。
True Humility Rewarded
Scripture: "He that humbleth himself shall be exalted" (Luke 18:14).
It ought not to be difficult for us to humble ourselves, for what have we to be proud of? We ought to take the lowest place without being told to do so. If we are sensible and honest, we shall be little in our own eyes. Especially before the LORD in prayer we shall shrink to nothing. There we cannot speak of merit, for we have none; our one and only appeal must be to mercy: "God be merciful to me a sinner."
Here is a cheering word from the throne. We shall be exalted by the LORD if we humble ourselves. For us the way upward is downhill. When we are stripped of self we are clothed with humility, and this is the best of wear. The LORD will exalt us in peace and happiness of mind; He will exalt us into knowledge of His Word and fellowship with Himself; He will exalt us in the enjoyment of sure pardon and justification. The LORD puts His honors upon those who can wear them to the honor of the Giver. He gives usefulness, acceptance, and influence to those who will not be puffed up by them but will be abased by a sense of greater responsibility. Neither God nor man will care to lift up a man who lifts up himself; but both God and good men unite to honor modest worth.
O LORD, sink me in self that I may rise in Thee.
十一月七日
行在神旨意中的人,处处都要看见神施恩的手。这并不是说在他们的工作中没有难处,正因为有无数的困难,才能不断地看见神的恩典;若是没有难处,就不需要求神的帮助。在我们的生活中,若没有难处,就没有神迹奇事。
我们常羡慕以色列人在埃及地、在旷野中看见那么多的神迹奇事,就是因为在他们的经历中有极艰难的环境,才能看见那么多的神迹奇事。
神降十大灾难,是因为以色列人受埃及人的欺压已到极处;红海为他们开了,是因为他们眼看都要死在刀下;磐石为他们流出水来,是因为他们就要渴死了;天上降下吗哪,是因为他们就要饿死了。
今天我们所处的环境,根本用不著神在神迹中赐给我们甚么。如果我们今天象以色列人所面临的大患难,你看神是否为你行神迹奇事?不是神不再行神迹,是我们不需神迹奇事。
看神迹也实在不容易,我们真没有胆量看神迹。你敢进入沙漠无人之地而不带食粮和水吗?你敢在后边有追兵而向著前面无船可渡的大海走去吗?你敢受以色列人所受的无理欺压吗?如果真的叫你看以色列人所看的神迹,恐怕你会对神说:神啊!我不要看啦!或者你就要为你没看见神迹而感谢神了。有人想要看神迹奇事,就要准备受苦。
「我们若照祂的旨意求甚么,祂就听我们;这是我们向祂所存坦然无惧的心。既然知道祂听我们一切所求的,就知道我们所求于祂的,无不得著。」(约壹五14至15)
《荒漠甘泉》11月7日
“只是我先前以为与我有益的,我现在都当作有损的。”(腓3:7)
盲人传道家乔治·马得胜(George Matheson)去世安葬的时候,人们以红玫瑰遍布他坟地四周,以纪念这舍己为人的热情牧师。他深得大众的敬爱,下面这首诗是他的作品:
你的爱,不放我走开,
我疲倦的灵魂因你而得安息,
我把你所赐的生命还给你。
在你的深海中,让源流更为丰溢。
你的光一路照耀着我,
我把摇曳的火把交给你,
心中重新亮起你赐的光,
在你的天空中,风光更显旖旎。
你的欢欣透过痛苦来找我,
我无法对你关闭心门,
我透过雨丝去追寻彩虹,
感知诺言非虚,明日必是良辰。
你的十字架举起我的头,
我不敢要求逃避离弃,
我把已逝的光荣埋于尘土,
鲜红的花朵冒出无尽的生气。
传说有位艺术家,曾调制一种不同凡俗的红色,为别的艺术家所不能模仿。他调制的秘密,一直保守到他逝世。死后人们发现他心口有个老伤痕,泄露了作画是所用的那种颜色的来源。这个故事告诉我们,任何伟大的成就,任何崇高的造诣,任何对世界有重大价值的贡献,都要花费心血。
十一月八日
你们既然接受了主基督耶稣。(歌罗西书2:6)
信心的生命在于领受,这种动作与功劳之类的事完全相反,简直就是在接受一件礼物。地怎样吸收雨水,海怎样容纳江河,夜怎样从星星得到光照,我们也是一样,什么都没有付出,只是白白地获取神的恩典。从本质上讲,圣徒并非泉源或溪流,他们乃是活水所灌注的水池,也是神向其中倾倒救恩的空空器皿。接受的概念具有实现的意味,就是说已经使某一件事变为现实。一个人不能完全接受一个影子,我们所接受的乃是实体;信主的生命也是这样,基督对于我们是实在的。我们若没有信心,耶稣对于我们就只是一个名子而已——是活在很久以前的一个人,是那么久以前,就好像祂的生命对现今的我们只是一段历史而已!因着信这样的行为,耶稣在我们心底的良知上变成了一个真实的人。接受也意味着抓住或拥有。我所接受的变成了我自己的,我感恩所蒙赐的东西很适合自己。当我接受耶稣的时候,祂就成为了我的救主,祂真是属于我的,以致无论生、死都不能从祂那里把我夺去。接受基督就是把祂当作是神白赐的恩典,在我的心里认识祂,并感恩祂是属于我的。
救恩好像瞎子得见、聋子得听、死人得生一样,然而我们不但得了这一切的祝福,而且我们还接受了基督耶稣自己。祂让我们死而复活,这是真的。祂赦免我们的罪,祂赐义给我们,这一切都很宝贵,但我们并不因得到它们就感觉知足;我们已经接受了基督自己。神的儿子已经被倾倒在我们里面,我们已经接受了祂,并因此拥有了祂。耶稣是多么真诚美善啊,因为天堂也不能容下祂。
十一月八日
经文: 夫子说,客房在那里,我与门徒好在那里吃逾越节的筵席。(马可福音十四:14)
逾越节期间,许多人聚集在耶路撒冷。每一个家庭都邀请客人共度节期,却没有人邀请救主。祂的超自然能力使祂找到一所楼房,让祂与门徒庆祝节日。即使在今日,情况依旧,人们并不接待祂,除非祂以超自然的能力和恩典预备人心。所有门户都为黑暗之子敞开,主必须为祂自己开出一条路,否则祂只能露宿街头。我们并不知道这栋楼房主人的身分,可是我们知道他立即接受这位救赎主要赐给他的荣幸。我们很容易就可分辨谁是主所拣选的,谁不是。当福音临到一些人时,他们抵挡,不愿意与福音发生关连。可是另一些人却欢喜领受了,那就是证明在他们心中早已有隐藏的工作,上帝已经拣选了他们并赐予永生。你愿意接受基督吗?若然,没有困难能拦阻,基督要作你的客人,祂亲自以能力在你身上作工,使你愿意。能教上帝的儿子在你家中作客是何等光荣!诸天不能容纳祂,然而,祂却屈尊,在我们心中找到了居所。祂来到我们的寒舍,我们本是不配,但祂却进入了,那是何等奇妙的恩宠啊!祂让我们与祂一同享受筵席,祂所赐的食物让凡吃的人永不死亡。凡接待主的人有福了。
Evening, November 8
Scripture: “The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?”(Mark 14:14)
Jerusalem at the time of the passover was one great inn; each householder had invited his own friends, but no one had invited the Saviour, and he had no dwelling of his own. It was by his own supernatural power that he found himself an upper room in which to keep the feast. It is so even to this day-Jesus is not received among the sons of men save only where by his supernatural power and grace he makes the heart anew. All doors are open enough to the prince of darkness, but Jesus must clear a way for himself or lodge in the streets. It was through the mysterious power exerted by our Lord that the householder raised no question, but at once cheerfully and joyfully opened his guestchamber. Who he was, and what he was, we do not know, but he readily accepted the honour which the Redeemer proposed to confer upon him. In like manner it is still discovered who are the Lord's chosen, and who are not; for when the gospel comes to some, they fight against it, and will not have it, but where men receive it, welcoming it, this is a sure indication that there is a secret work going on in the soul, and that God has chosen them unto eternal life. Are you willing, dear reader, to receive Christ? then there is no difficulty in the way; Christ will be your guest; his own power is working with you, making you willing. What an honour to entertain the Son of God! The heaven of heavens cannot contain him, and yet he condescends to find a house within our hearts! We are not worthy that he should come under our roof, but what an unutterable privilege when he condescends to enter! for then he makes a feast, and causes us to feast with him upon royal dainties, we sit at a banquet where the viands are immortal, and give immortality to those who feed thereon. Blessed among the sons of Adam is he who entertains the angels’ Lord.
《竭诚为主》11月8日 祷告无比的能力
我们本不晓得当怎样祷告,只是圣灵亲自用说不出来的叹息,替我们祷告。(罗八26)
我们都知道圣灵是祷告的能源,我们也知道什么叫做在圣灵里祷告;但我们不大领会圣灵在我们里面,说出我们所说不出来的祷告。当我们在神里面重生,圣灵就住进我们里面,为我们表达那些说不出来的话。圣灵在你里面,“照着神的旨意替圣徒祈求”。神鉴察你的心,不是要知道你表面的祷告是什么,乃是要知道圣灵的祷告。
神的灵需要信徒献上自己,作为代祷的圣地。“你们的身体是圣灵的殿。”耶稣基督洁净圣殿时,“不许人拿着器具从殿里经过”。神的灵不容你为自己的目的而使用身体。主耶稣毫不留情地赶出殿里作买卖的人,说:“我的殿必称为万国祷告的殿,你们倒使它成为贼窝了。”我们真体会身体是圣灵的殿吗?若然,就要小心为主保持不玷污。记得要把我们的生命,即使只是人格中的一小部分,看作圣灵的圣地。他会管理我们所不知的部分,至于可知觉的部分,就得当心,因为我们负责任。
祈祷◆噢,主啊,愿你赐下圣灵的能力,让我更完全地敬拜你。让我的灵被你的圣灵耀目地贯注,因而满有能力,以致主耶稣和他的完全,可以在我这必死的身体得以彰显。
November 8 The Unrivalled Power Of Prayer
“We know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” Romans 8:26
We realize that we are energized by the Holy Spirit for prayer; we know what it is to pray in the Spirit; but we do not so often realize that the Holy Spirit Himself prays in us prayers which we cannot utter. When we are born again of God and are indwelt by the Spirit of God, He expresses for us the unutterable.
“He,” the Spirit in you, “maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God,” and God searches your heart not to know what your conscious prayers are, but to find out what is the prayer of the Holy Spirit.
The Spirit of God needs the nature of the believer as a shrine in which to offer His intercession. “Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost.” When Jesus Christ cleansed the temple, He “would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.” The Spirit of God will not allow you to use your body for your own convenience. Jesus ruthlessly cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and said – “My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.”
Have we recognized that our body is the temple of the Holy Ghost? If so, we must be careful to keep it undefiled for Him. We have to remember that our conscious life, though it is only a tiny bit of our personality, is to be regarded by us as a shrine of the Holy Ghost. He will look after the unconscious part that we know nothing of; but we must see that we guard the conscious part for which we are responsible.
十一月八日 信心的支票簿 Faith’s check book
恩典广大
经文: 「我的恩典够你用的,因为我的能力是在人的软弱上显得完全。」(哥林多后书12︰9)
我们的软弱应当被视作神施展大能的空房。若不是我们感到自身的软弱,我们可能永远都不会知晓恩典的力量。我们真要为我们身上的刺、撒但的使者而感谢神,因为籍着这些,我们才被逼着依靠神。
这节经文实在是神口中所出的恩言,让作者不禁喜极而笑。神的恩典够我用的!真的是这样!天高任鸟飞,海阔凭鱼跃,即使我有再大的需要,全能者都能一无所缺地供应,因为祂是让天上地下都一无所缺的神,祂当然能够满足像虫一样卑微的我的需求。
让我们坚心仰赖神和祂的恩典,假若祂没有挪开我们的重担,祂必要赐我们力量背负这重担。祂的能力要沛然降在渺小如虫的我们身上,使我们得以翻身,震动群山,祂会让无名小辈战胜高大勇猛者。我们当依靠神的能力,胜过依靠自己的能力,因为我们即使有比现在强一千倍的力量,在仇敌面前仍算不得什么;即使我们比现在还要软弱,我们却能籍着依靠基督,完成一切的事。
The Magnitude of Grace
Scripture: "My grace is sufficient for thee; for My strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Our weakness should be prized as making room for divine strength. We might never have known the power of grace if we had not felt the weakness of nature. Blessed be the LORD for the thorn in the flesh, and the messenger of Satan, when they drive us to the strength of God.
This is a precious word from our LORD's own lip. It has made the writer laugh for joy. God's grace enough for me! I should think it is. Is not the sky enough for the bird and the ocean enough for the fish? The All-Sufficient is sufficient for my largest want. He who is sufficient for earth and heaven is certainly able to meet the case of one poor worm like me.
Let us, then, fall back upon our God and His grace. If He does not remove our grief, He will enable us to bear it. His strength shall be poured into us till the worm shall thresh the mountains, and a nothing shall be victor over all the high and mighty ones. It is better for us to have God's strength than our own; for if we were a thousand times as strong as we are, it would amount to nothing in the face of the enemy; and if we could be weaker than we are, which is scarcely possible, yet we could do all things through Christ.
十一月八日
你远远地看见高山,你心里想,这座高山如何能过去呢?山无论如何高,山上总能找到可以去的路。有时我们的难处真象大山挡在前面,怎么过去呢?衹要我们不畏难,往前走,总有一天要过去的。
外面的障碍不能拦住我们的去路,惟有里面的灰心、软弱,能使我们半途而废。有许多事,不是难得过不去,却是我们自己画地自限,畏难不前。主耶稣已经在我们前面打通一切的障碍,衹要我们肯往前走,一定会过去的。
有时候是前面有大山挡住去路,实在有难处;有的时候根本没有难处,是我们思想里面东西太多,以为在所去的路上有这样难处,那样难处,等到走上路去,一件难处也未遇到。
我们无论是看见难处惧怕,或是惧怕看见难处,都不是从神来的意念,都是出自肉体的体贴,出自仇敌的恐吓。仇敌常用恐吓的手段想把我们吓倒了,恐吓就是仇敌的战术之一。我们当认识清楚,从神来的意念勇敢的,是刚强的,是有盼望的,是必胜的,是有信心的,是不畏难的,是坚持的。虽然撒但在人作恶的时候也能给人这些意志,但我们行在神的旨意中所有的这一切,却都是从神来的,圣徒除了怕犯罪以外,应当一无所惧。
「因为神赐给我们,不是胆怯的心,乃是刚强、仁爱、谨守的心。你不要以给我们的主作见证为耻,也不要以我这为主被囚的为耻;总要按神的能力,与我为福音同受苦难。」(提后一7至8)
《荒漠甘泉》11月8日
“耶稣带着彼得、约翰、雅各,上山去祷告。正祷告的时候,他的面貌就改变了,衣服洁白放光…他们看见耶稣的荣光。”(路9:28-29,32直译)
“我如今在你眼前蒙恩,求你将你的道指示我。”(出33:30)
耶稣带着这三个门徒,暗暗地上了高山,和他们在那里有一个极亲密的交通。他们不见一人。只见耶稣在那里:啊!他们在那里真好!
凡与主同在山上的人,天离他们不远了。
有多少人在默想祷告的时候,看见天开了。有多少人,在密室里与神交通的时候,感觉一阵汹涌的波涛突卫进来。这些都是在预尝天上的快乐。
主耶稣在世的时候,常和他的门徒到安静的山上去谈话。今天我们呢?我们的生活多么急促——从早到晚过着极其纷乱的生活。在这恶势力之下,安静默想,读经祈祷,与主交通的机会多么少啊!
但以理在巴比伦的怒吼、迷信之下,仍不忽略他的密室生活。彼得在密室是在约伯的一个房顶上;马丁路得的密室是在韦登伯(Wittenburg)的一间上房里。——译自己失去的默想艺术
信徒啊,来亲近主!也许主今天要带你上山顶去;不要想只有彼得、约翰、雅各,是配去的;彼得是一个最会闯祸的人,雅各和约翰是火气最大的人,他们曾一再误会他们的主和主的使命;所以没有理由可以叫主不带你去。你不要自暴自弃地说:“啊,这些奇异的经历是只有最少数的属灵人能得到的!”也许你今天就能得到呢!——马克乃尔