十月十七日

大卫心里说：必有一日我死在扫罗手里。（撒母耳记上27：1）

大卫这时心里的思想乃是错误的，因为他毫无根据地怀疑神藉撒母耳膏他为王的事是一件无意义的、多余的举动。在任何情况下，神都从未丢弃过祂的仆人；他常身历险境，但每一次神都伸出手来搭救了他；他曾受过各样的苦难，并非一种，而是各式各样的苦难都有，可是每一次那降下试炼的神都开恩为他预备了逃路。大卫绝不可能记载说：“这是神丢弃我的证据。”因为他过去生活的证明恰恰与此相反。依据神过去为他所作的的一切，他应当可以申辩说神仍然是自己的护卫者。我们不也像大卫一样疑惑神的帮助吗？我们的不信不是也毫无理由吗？难道我们会有丝毫理由来质疑神的良善吗？难道祂的慈爱不奇妙吗？难道祂曾有任何一次使我们的信靠落空吗？不，我们的神在任何时候都绝不撇弃我们。

我们曾经身处黝黑之夜，但却又慈爱的星在黑暗中放光；我们曾经激烈地争战，但祂却在我们的头上高举着护卫的盾牌；我们经历过许多次的试炼，但却不是叫我们受损，而是常常叫我们从中获益；我们过去的经验证明，在前六次苦难中都曾与我们同在的祂，在第七次患难来到时，也绝不会丢下我们的。我们的神是信实的，我们所知道的一切都证明祂将保守我们到底。那么，让我们不要从肯定的证据推出相反的结论来，我们怎能忘恩负义地疑惑神呢？主啊！求你打倒我们心中不信的耶洗别，叫狗来吞吃了它。

十月十七日

经文: 祂用膀臂聚集羊羔。（以赛亚书40：11）

我们好牧人的羊群中有各种不同的羊，有些在主里刚强，有些却信心软弱，但祂照顾所有的羊，一点也不偏爱，最软弱的羊羔与羊群中最硕壮的羊，于祂都是一般的宝贵。羊羔常常落后、徘徊不前、容易疲倦，但是牧人用祂大能的膀臂保护它们，使它们不至陷于这些软弱的危险里。祂发现初生的灵魂就像幼小的羊羔般容易死亡，祂喂养他们，直至他们的生命变为强盛；祂寻见容易昏睡或死亡的软弱心灵——安慰他们，使他们重新得力。祂聚集所有幼小的羊，因为我们的天父不愿意他们之中任何一个灭亡。祂的目光何等敏锐，能够看透他们！祂的心何等温柔，能够无微不至地照顾他们！祂的膀臂何等坚强，伸到远方，将他们全部聚集！在地居住时，祂是伟大的聚集者，招聚所有软弱的。现在祂虽属于高天，祂充满爱的心仍然怜悯地上谦卑悔罪的、胆怯微小的、恐惧衰弱的人。祂温柔地将我拥抱在祂自己、祂的真理、祂的宝血、祂的大爱和祂的教会之内！祂以何等有效的恩典驱使我来到祂的跟前！自从我悔改以来，祂常将我从徘徊中领回，再次用祂永恒的膀臂环抱我！最美的是祂亲自为我做这些事情，在爱的工作上祂并不派代表，反而亲自降世来拯救保全祂最不配的仆人。我怎样爱祂才够？怎样才能相称地服事祂？我乐意使祂的大名尊大直至地极，但我的软弱又能为祂做什么呢？伟大的牧者，求将你的怜悯不断加添，使我有一颗本该有的更真诚爱祢的心！

Scripture: “He shall gather the lambs with his arm.”(Isaiah 40:11)

Our good Shepherd has in his flock a variety of experiences, some are strong in the Lord, and others are weak in faith, but he is impartial in his care for all his sheep, and the weakest lamb is as dear to him as the most advanced of the flock. Lambs are wont to lag behind, prone to wander, and apt to grow weary, but from all the danger of these infirmities the Shepherd protects them with his arm of power. He finds new-born souls, like young lambs, ready to perish—he nourishes them till life becomes vigorous; he finds weak minds ready to faint and die—he consoles them and renews their strength. All the little ones he gathers, for it is not the will of our heavenly Father that one of them should perish. What a quick eye he must have to see them all! What a tender heart to care for them all! What a far- reaching and potent arm, to gather them all! In his lifetime on earth he was a great gatherer of the weaker sort, and now that he dwells in heaven, his loving heart yearns towards the meek and contrite, the timid and feeble, the fearful and fainting here below. How gently did he gather me to himself, to his truth, to his blood, to his love, to his church! With what effectual grace did he compel me to come to himself! Since my first conversion, how frequently has he restored me from my wanderings, and once again folded me within the circle of his everlasting arm! The best of all is, that he does it all himself personally, not delegating the task of love, but condescending himself to rescue and preserve his most unworthy servant. How shall I love him enough or serve him worthily? I would fain make his name great unto the ends of the earth, but what can my feebleness do for him? Great Shepherd, add to thy mercies this one other, a heart to love thee more truly as I ought.

《竭诚为主》10月17日 更大的事

我实实在在地告诉你们，我所作的事，信我的人也要作；并且要作比这更大的事，因为我往父那里去。（约翰福音14：12）

祷告不是装备我们去做更大的事；祷告本身就是最大的事。我们往往视祷告为超然能力的操练，好预备我们做神的工。但按主的教训，祷告是救赎的神迹在我身上运行，以致神的大能可把这神迹成就在别人身上。果子若要存留，必须藉祷告，但得记着祷告是建基在救赎的苦痛上，而不是自我的痛苦。惟有小孩子的祷告才蒙应允，明哲人反得不着。

不管你在什么地方，祷告就是那要打的仗。不管神安排怎么样的环境，你的责任就是祷告。切勿这样想：“我在这岗位上一无用处。”因为你不守住岗位，那才真是一无用处。神不论加给你怎样的际遇，总要祷告，每时每刻向祂倾吐。“你们若奉我的名求什么，我必成就。”（约翰福音14:14）我们激奋时才肯祷告，这其实是最严重的属灵自私。我们要依着神的方向去做工，而祂说“要祷告”，“所以你们当求庄稼的主，打发工人出去收他的庄稼。”（马太福音9:38）

劳苦的工作，没有刺激兴奋可言；但惟有藉劳苦做工的人，理想才得以实现。同样，做工的信徒能使主的心意实现。你在祷告中劳苦，从神的角度看来，果效是不住实现的。将来当帕子揭开，知道不少灵魂因着你不住的顺服而得救，那是何等的惊喜。

October 17 Greater Works

“And greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father.” John 14:12

Prayer does not fit us for the greater works; prayer is the greater work. We think of prayer as a common-sense exercise of our higher powers in order to prepare us for God's work. In the teaching of Jesus Christ prayer is the working of the miracle of Redemption in me which produces the miracle of Redemption in others by the power of God. The way fruit remains is by prayer, but remember it is prayer based on the agony of Redemption, not on my agony. Only a child gets prayer answered; a wise man does not.

Prayer is the battle; it is a matter of indifference where you are. Whichever way God engineers circumstances, the duty is to pray. Never allow the thought – “I am of no use where I am;” because you certainly can be of no use where you are not. Wherever God has dumped you down in circumstances pray, ejaculate to Him all the time. “Whatsoever ye ask in My name, that will I do.” We won't pray unless we get thrills, that is the intensest form of spiritual selfishness. We have to labour along the line of God's direction, and He says pray. “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest.”

There is nothing thrilling about a labouring man's work, but it is the labouring man who makes the conceptions of the genius possible; and it is the labouring saint who makes the conceptions of his Master possible. You labour at prayer and results happen all the time from His standpoint. What an astonishment it will be to find, when the veil is lifted, the souls that have been reaped by you, simply because you had been in the habit of taking your orders from Jesus Christ.

十月十七日信心的支票簿 Faith's check book

神圣的敬畏

经文: 「敬畏诫命的，必得善报。」（箴言13︰13）

对神话语的敬畏常常被大打折扣。世人以为他们比神的话更有智慧，所以就随意批判圣经。“但我因敬畏神，不这样行。”我们相信这本圣经所记载的内容绝对无误，我们也借着遵行祂的话来证明我们的观点。我们不是害怕这道，而是对它存有儿女般的敬畏。我们不害怕它的刑罚，因为我们对其中的诫命存有敬畏之心。

这种对诫命的神圣敬畏，带来因谦卑而有的安息，要比自我心中的随心所欲来得心安快乐得多！这诫命是我们行动的指引：阻止我们走下坡路，激励我们向上攀登。藉着对诫命的敬畏，我们得保守，远离凶恶，蒙引导，走在义中，并因此，我们得着良心的平安，犹如美酒的泉源；我们得着脱离律法捆绑的自由，犹如生命脱离了死亡；我们得着被神悦纳的确据，在地犹如在天。世人或许会嘲笑我们对主的道有如此之深的敬畏，但那又怎样？神呼召的奖赏，足以安慰我们。顺服的报偿让我们可以嘲笑那蔑视者的嘲讽。

Holy Fear

Scripture: "He that feareth the Commandment shall be rewarded" (Proverbs 13:13).

Holy awe of God's Word is at a great discount. Men think themselves wiser than the Word of the LORD and sit in judgment upon it. "So did not I, because of the fear of God." We accept the inspired Book as infallible and prove our esteem by our obedience. We have no terror of the Word, but we have a filial awe of it. We are not in fear of its penalties because we have a fear of its commands.

This holy fear of the commandment produces the restfulness of humility, which is far sweeter than the recklessness of pride. It becomes a guide to us in our movements: a drag when we are going downhill and a stimulus when we are climbing it. Preserved from evil and led into righteousness by our reverence of the command, we gain a quiet conscience, which is a well of wine; a sense of freedom from responsibility, which is as life from the dead; and a confidence of pleasing God, which is heaven below. The ungodly may ridicule our deep reverence for the Word of the LORD; but what of that? The prize of our high calling is a sufficient consolation for us. The rewards of obedience make us scorn the scorning of the scorner.

十月十七日

「你们要上山取木料，建造这殿；我就因此喜乐，且得荣耀；这是耶和华说的。」（该一8）

　　山常是代表属天的地位，我们今天在地上是要建造神的灵宫，就当到天上去取材料。若不到神那里，到上面取材料，就是枉费工夫；所建筑的就不蒙神喜悦，也不荣耀神。所以作工的当先在神面前求透了，满得天上的丰富和能力，然后再来建造，这样的建造才能得神的欢喜，荣耀神的圣名。

　　摩西建造会幕的时候，他所作的，不论大小物件，会幕的图样，构造的方法，都是在山上神所亲自指示他的；没有一件事是按著私意作的，当制造的时候，一切在工作上有分的，也都是心中有智慧被圣灵充满的。我们现在是建筑神的灵宫，在这灵宫上不衹是传道人才有分，每一个蒙救赎的都在这工作上有分。所以凡在神家中，在一切属灵的圣殿中有分的，不论工作大小难易，都有一个必须的条件，从山上取材，被圣灵充满，然后所作的圣工，才能得神的喜悦，存到永世里。

　　没有圣灵印证的工作，靠著自己的努力所作的一切工，都不能分别为圣归神。若是出于肉体，在亚当里的好，都不能存到永世里面，必须是在基督里的善行，才能蒙纪念。必须有圣灵的印记，神才悦纳。

　　「那在基督里坚固我们和你们，并且膏我们的，就是神；祂又用印印了我们，并赐圣灵在我们心里作凭据。」（林后一21至22）

《荒漠甘泉》10月17日

　　“但我断不以别的夸口，只夸我们主耶稣基督的十字架。因这十字架，就我而论，世界已经钉在十字架上。就世界而论，我已经钉在十字架上。。”（加拉太书第6章第14节）

　　有一些信徒，本来是为自己活着的。他们有自己的盼望，有自己的梦想。但是他们在祷告中求了一些自己不明白的东西，主就开始成就他们的祷告。他们求痛悔的心，愿意出任何代价得到它，主就给他们悲哀。他们求圣洁，主就给他们剧烈的痛苦。他们求谦和，主就打碎他们的心。他们求对着世界的“死”，主就消灭他们一切的盼望。他们求象主，主就放他们在炉中，“坐下如炼净银子的”，直到他们反照出主的肖像。他们求主的十字架，主就给他们十字架。

　　他们所求的，自己并不明白，但是主就照他们所求的允准他们。其实他们未必愿意跟主走得这么远，与主接触得这么近。他们的心充满了惧怕，好象雅各在伯特利一般，又象门徒看见耶稣在海面上行走，以为是鬼怪一样。他们几乎求主离开他们。他们觉得顺服比受苦容易，作比放容易，背十字架比挂十字架容易。但是当他们想退回去，已经不可能了，因为已经走得太近了，十字架的功效在他们里面已经刺得太深了。主向他们成就了他的应许，“我若从地上被举起来，就要吸引万人来归我。”（约翰福音第12章第32节）。主已经把他可爱的面容深深刻在他们心上，好象刻在马利亚和彼得的心上一般。他们现在已经作了爱的奴隶，不能不跟随他了。

　　渐渐地看见十字架的奥秘一天一天光照他们。他们看见他被高举，他得荣耀。他们看见一点，前进一点，最后他们竟变成了他的肖像。从他们身上世人看见了他，因为他住在他们里面。他们与他发生了难以形容的交情，甘心舍弃别人所宝贵的合法权利，为要见证他们不象别人，只象他们的主。

　　这就是历代“羔羊无论往哪里去，他们都跟随他”的那一批人。

　　如果让他们自己选择，或者让朋友替他们选择的话，他们肯定不会这样选择。他们会在这个世界上多得一点荣耀，在神国里少得一点荣耀。他们会得到罗得的命运，不会得到亚伯拉罕的命运。如果他们在半途上停住了，如果主放手让他们退回去，他们有什么不会失去呢？在复活的时候要受到何等大的损失呢！

　　但是主保守他们，甚至违反他们的本性来保守他们。多少时候他们的脚滑跌了，但是主用他的慈爱扶他们起来。让他们知道：在这个世界受苦，会使他们在神国里掌权，在地上背十字架，会使他们在天上戴冠冕。

十月十八日

你的路径都滴下脂油。（诗篇65：11）

神有许多路径都“滴下脂油”，但最显著的一条乃是祷告的路径。常作私人祷告的信徒必不会说：“我消瘦了，我消瘦了，我有祸了！”饥饿的灵魂隔着施恩座很远，正像田野在大旱之时枯焦一样。在祷告中用力与神摔跤也许不是快乐的事，但却能使信徒强壮起来。离天门最近的地方就是施恩座。你越独自亲近神就越有保证；少亲近耶稣，你的信仰就会变得肤浅，并要受许多疑惧的玷污，从而失去属神之乐的光芒。

既然使灵性丰富的祷告路径已经为最软弱的圣徒打开，又没要求你一定卓有成就，也并非因你是大得长进的圣徒才要你前来，事实上，只要你是一位圣徒就可自由地前来；既然如此，亲爱的读者啊，你就应当常常走上个人独自灵修的路径，要多在你的双膝上用功夫，因为以利亚如此才能使雨降在以色列久旱的地上。

另一条向走在其上的人滴下脂油的路径，乃是密切的交通的路。噢，与耶稣相交真是一件满了欢乐的事！世上没有语言能以形容靠在耶稣胸前之灵魂的圣洁平静。有很少数的基督徒了解这事，他们居于幽谷而不常爬上尼波山顶；他们在外院，而不进入圣所，他们不能享受祭司的权益。他们在远处观看献祭，但不能与祭司一同坐下，享受燔祭的肥甘。但，读者啊！你要永远坐在耶稣的荫下，来到棕树之下，拿着棕枝；愿你所爱的在众树中成为你的苹果树，那么你必饱享肥甘与脂油。耶稣啊，愿你的救恩临到我们。

十月十八日

经文: 听命胜于献祭。（撒母耳记上十五：22）

上帝命令扫罗王要灭尽所有亚玛力人和杀死他们所有的牲畜。他没有服从，留下了亚玛力王和上好的牛羊。等到他受到责问时，却宣称留下上好的牛羊乃是为了献给祂。但是撒母耳明确告诉他不能以献祭作为他公然反抗上帝命令的藉口。今晚放在我们面前的话，应当以金字印刷，并悬挂在现今猖獗拜偶像的世代眼前。他们十分喜欢按自己的意愿去行，却完全忽视上帝的律法。要永远记住，严格地保守自己行在救主的命令中，比任何外在的宗教形式为佳。倘若你已不再遵守基督给祂门徒的命令中最小的一条，请不要再背逆了。你对主所显的一切伪装之爱，你所行的一切表面虔敬之事都无法弥补你的背逆。即使在最微小的事上“听命”，也“胜于献祭”，无论所献的祭是多么铺张。不要被华丽的大教堂、奢侈的外袍、香、和旗吸引而偏离正道。上帝向祂的儿女们要求的首要之事乃是听命。即使你将自己献上像殉道者一样被焚，或将你所有一切赒济穷人，却没有顺从主的教训，你所行出来的仍然与你无益。上帝祝福的是如同孩童般受教的心，更蒙祝福的是将所学到的功课实行出来。有多少人是爱慕自己的殿宇却不遵守主的话！但愿我们没有一人如此。

Evening, October 18

Scripture: “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice.”(1 Samuel 15:22)

Saul had been commanded to slay utterly all the Amalekites and their cattle. Instead of doing so, he preserved the king, and suffered his people to take the best of the oxen and of the sheep. When called to account for this, he declared that he did it with a view of offering sacrifice to God; but Samuel met him at once with the assurance that sacrifices were no excuse for an act of direct rebellion. The sentence before us is worthy to be printed in letters of gold, and to be hung up before the eyes of the present idolatrous generation, who are very fond of the fineries of will-worship, but utterly neglect the laws of God. Be it ever in your remembrance, that to keep strictly in the path of your Saviour's command is better than any outward form of religion; and to hearken to his precept with an attentive ear is better than to bring the fat of rams, or any other precious thing to lay upon his altar. If you are failing to keep the least of Christ's commands to his disciples, I pray you be disobedient no longer. All the pretensions you make of attachment to your Master, and all the devout actions which you may perform, are no recompense for disobedience. “To obey,” even in the slightest and smallest thing, “is better than sacrifice,” however pompous. Talk not of Gregorian chants, sumptuous robes, incense, and banners; the first thing which God requires of his child is obedience; and though you should give your body to be burned, and all your goods to feed the poor, yet if you do not hearken to the Lord's precepts, all your formalities shall profit you nothing. It is a blessed thing to be teachable as a little child, but it is a much more blessed thing when one has been taught the lesson, to carry it out to the letter. How many adorn their temples and decorate their priests, but refuse to obey the word of the Lord! My soul, come not thou into their secret.

《竭诚为主》10月18日 传道者忠贞的要决

因他们是为主的名出外，对于外邦人一无所取。（约翰三书7节）

主曾告诉我们，怎样才是爱祂。“你爱我吗？（约翰福音21：15-17） ”“你喂养我的羊。（约翰福音21：15-17） ”——把你放在我对人的关怀里，而不是把我放在你对人的兴趣里。哥林多前书13：4-8节“爱是恒久忍耐，又有恩慈；爱是不嫉妒；爱是不自夸，不张狂，不作害羞的事，不求自己的益处，不轻易发怒，不计算人的恶，不喜欢不义，只喜欢真理；凡事包容，凡事相信，凡事盼望，凡事忍耐。爱是永不止息。 ”描述这爱的品质，是神自己的爱。我对主耶稣爱的考验，是在实际事情上，其他的不过是空口的卖弄爱情。

我对主耶稣的忠心，是圣灵在我心里做成超自然的救赎圣工，把神的爱浇灌在我心里。这爱在我与人接触时，就产生功效。虽然一切的常理都否定祂，说祂好像晨雾般虚渺，但我仍忠于祂的名。

传道者忠贞的要决，就是单归附主耶稣，不受任何人任何事的缠累，但又不是与外界隔绝。主不断与外界事物接触，祂的分别为圣，是在于内心朝向神。外表的隔绝，往往表示人里面暗暗地恋慕着表面上拒绝的东西。

传道者的忠贞，是要保持心灵单向主耶稣开敞。主所差派出去做工的人，均是平凡人，只是圣灵在他们里面加上专一不移的忠贞。

October 18 The Key To Missionary Devotion

“For His name's sake they went forth.” 3 John 7

Our Lord has told us how love to Him is to manifest itself. “Lovest thou Me?” “Feed My sheep” – identify yourself with My interests in other people, not, identify Me with your interests in other people. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 gives the character of this love, it is the love of God expressing itself. The test of my love for Jesus is the practical one, all the rest is sentimental jargon.

Loyalty to Jesus Christ is the supernatural work of Redemption wrought in me by the Holy Ghost Who sheds abroad the love of God in my heart, and that love works efficaciously through me in contact with everyone I meet. I remain loyal to His Name although every common-sense fact gives the lie to Him, and declares that He has no more power than a morning mist.

The key to missionary devotion means being attached to nothing and no one saving Our Lord Himself, not being detached from things externally. Our Lord was amazingly in and out among ordinary things; His detachment was on the inside towards God. External detachment is often an indication of a secret vital attachment to the things we keep away from externally.

The loyalty of a missionary is to keep his soul concentratedly open to the nature of the Lord Jesus Christ. The men and women Our Lord sends out on His enterprises are the ordinary human stuff, plus dominating devotion to Himself wrought by the Holy Ghost.

十月十八日信心的支票簿 Faith's check book

流泪撒种，欢呼收割

经文:「流泪撒种的，必欢呼收割。」（诗篇126︰5）

撒种时流汗流泪是合宜的，因为太干的土地长不出东西来。那热切祷告的泪水，可以浇灌沃土，使种子快快发芽；泪水中的盐份，也可防止好种子被虫咬：迫切祈求的心，更可加速其生命的成长。切莫因为我们的受伤软弱，停止了殷勤撒种，让我们加倍地努力耕耘，因为这正是播种的时节。

我们天国的种子不宜在嬉笑轻慢中播种。与轻慢相比，对别人灵魂的深痛哀伤和关怀更适合与属神的教导一同播种。我们听说过有人抱着无所谓的态度上战场，因为过于轻敌，而被打败；对那些以此态度播种的，结局也会大抵如此。

来吧，我的心，流泪撒种吧！因为主已应许你要欢呼收割。你将有收获。你，你自己，必要见到你劳苦的果效。这样的收获必然会千仓万箱地临到你，其所带来的喜悦是那贫乏干瘪的收成所无法给予的。当你的双眼噙着银色的泪珠之时，想想那金黄的稻谷。愉快地担负今日的失望和劳苦吧，丰收之日，你会得着完全的补偿。

Tears, Then Joyful Harvest

Scripture: "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy" (Psalm 126:5).

Weeping times are suitable for sowing: we do not want the ground to be too dry. Seed steeped in the tears of earnest anxiety will come up all the sooner. The salt of prayerful tears will give the good seed a flavor which will preserve it from the worm: truth spoken in awful earnestness has a double life about it. Instead of stopping our sowing because of our weeping, let us redouble our efforts because the season is so propitious.

Our heavenly seed could not fitly be sown laughing. Deep sorrow and concern for the souls of others are a far more fit accompaniment of godly teaching than anything like levity. We have heard of men who went to war with a light heart, but they were beaten; and it is mostly so with those who sow in the same style.

Come, then, my heart, sow on in thy weeping, for thou has the promise of a joyful harvest. Thou shalt reap. Thou, thyself, shalt see some results of thy labor. This shall come to thee in so large a measure as to give thee joy, which a poor, withered, and scanty harvest would not do. When thine eyes are dim with silver tears, think of the golden corn. Bear cheerfully the present toil and disappointment; for the harvest day will fully recompense thee.

十月十八日

初信主的热心，或是初得奋兴的，常是在情绪上爱主，是感情被激动而爱主；那时心中是何等的火热、殷勤、甜蜜、愿意唱诗、愿意读经、愿意祷告、愿意聚会、愿意与弟兄姊妹有交通。这虽然好，但在主面前仍然需要继续长进，也当用心爱主，用意志爱主；要长大成人，明白神的旨意，直接与神相交；象久居家中的儿子，不象初来的客人；在事奉的事上要老练，因为初信主的热情是很容易失掉的，必须追求进一步的长进。

　　小孩子在家中十分可爱，父母非常宝贝，但父母的心意却不愿意他永久是一个小孩子，而身体不长、知识不长，衹有年龄一年一年地增长。父母愿意可爱的孩子各方面一齐发育，智慧、身量随著年龄一齐增长，神和人喜爱他的心也一齐增长。有许多信徒实在是衹在年龄上增长了，初信主时灵性是幼稚的，过了一年还是幼稚，再过几年，仍是幼稚，过十年幼稚，过二十年还是幼稚，这样的信徒是危险的。

　　神看见你一直不长进，神的心中就难过，祂要给你开刀，拿去那妨碍你长进的病症，除去连累你的罪，使你长进。多少圣徒是为了在神面前不长进而受苦，为了贪爱世界而受苦，为洗除罪孽而受苦，等到受了神的管教以后，就回头爱神了。还有一直不悔改，直到病在床上临死的时候才追求长进，这样的长进实在太晚了。

　　「愿你们在一切属灵的智慧悟性上，满心知道神的旨意；好叫你们行事为人对得起主，凡事蒙祂喜悦，在一切善事上结果子，渐渐的多知道神。」（西一9至10）

《荒漠甘泉》10月18日

　　“你要的确知道，你的后裔必寄居别人的地…那地的人要苦待他们四百年……后来他们必带着许多财物，从那里出来。”（创15：13-14）

　　神给我们的祝福中间，有两个是我们所最不欢迎的：一个是迟延，一个是苦难。神给亚伯兰本身的一个誓约尚未实现，现在又给他的后裔一个同样仿佛不可忍耐的誓约。但是无论如何，这些誓约虽然迟延，至终都得到了实现：以色列人出埃及的时候，果然“把埃及人的财物夺去了。”（出12：36）。

　　神常用迟延和苦难来试验我们；但是在这一切中间却站着神的誓约——他在基督里与我们所立的新约。所以让我们为着迟延和苦难来赞美他罢，因为这是他给我们的祝福。——崔伦保

十月十九日

在基督里为婴孩的。（哥林多前书3：1）

信徒啊，你因自己属灵生命软弱可怜、信心渺小、爱心微少而感到难过吗？尽管振作起来吧，因为你有很多理由来感恩。要知道你在某些事上与最伟大、最成熟的基督徒是相同的。你跟他一样，也是用血买来的。你和别的信徒一样，也被纳为神的后嗣。婴孩和成人一样都是他们父母的孩子。你也完全被称为义，称义的程度并无差别；凭借一点点的信心你就能全然洁净。如同最有长进信徒，你也有权得约中的一切宝物，因为你得约中的恩典并不在于你长大与否，而是在于这约本身；你对耶稣的信心无分大小，都能证明你在祂里面承受了产业。你和最富有的人一样富庶，如果你不能享受，但那丰富却实在属你。

天上最小的星也放光，它的微弱的光线与太阳的明光是一样的。在天家荣耀的生命册上无分大小都是用同样一支笔记录的。你在父的心中和家中最伟大的成员一样宝贵。耶稣对你非常柔和。你好像冒烟的灯火；粗暴的灵必说：“把冒烟的灯火吹灭吧，因为屋中满了难闻的气味！”但是冒烟的灯火祂不吹灭。你是压伤的芦苇；除了大乐师温柔的手，谁都会把你折断或抛弃，但祂却永不折断压伤的芦苇。你非但不当因你的现状而灰心丧胆，更应当在基督里夸胜。我岂不是以色列中最小的吗？但在基督里我却得以坐在天国里。我的信心渺小可怜吗？但在耶稣里我仍然可以承受万有。虽然“除了承认自己的虚妄，我毫无可夸”，但若事情的根由在我，那么我将在主里快乐，且在救恩里荣耀神。

十月十九日

经文: 造我的上帝……使人夜间歌唱。（约伯记三十五：10）

任何人都会在日间歌唱。当财富滚滚而来，任何人都会赞美上帝，因祂使人丰收，使人满载而归。微风吹来，铃铛就能轻而易举地发出美妙的乐音，但是一旦风停止就难发出声响了。白昼我们能看清乐谱所以容易发出歌声；但是有技巧的人是从心中发出歌唱。无人会在他心灵幽黯之时歌唱。他可能会试看看，但是他将会发现夜晚若能歌唱，必定是上帝所赐的灵感。人处于顺境时，无论往何处去，都能唱出美丽的歌声，在所行经的路途中为花香常漫而欢欣。但是在没有绿色的沙漠中，我还能向上帝高唱赞美的诗歌吗？我的声音若嘹亮，身体若健康，我定会高歌称颂上帝。但是当我的舌头无力，当我躺卧在病塌上时，除非祂赐我诗歌，否则我如何能发出颂扬祂的旋律呢？不，当人处于逆境时，除非从天而来的音乐充满他的心灵，否则是不可能有力量歌唱的。哈巴谷所唱的是一首从上帝而来的歌，他唱：“虽然无花果树不发旺、葡萄树不结果、橄榄树也不效力，田地不出粮食，圈中绝了羊，棚内也没有牛，然而我要因耶和华欢欣，因救我的上帝喜乐。”（哈三：17～18）是造我们的主能使人夜间歌唱，所以让我们静候祂的音乐吧！音乐之主啊，不要教我们因环境而沉默，调整我们的嘴唇，让我们发出感恩的旋律吧！

Evening, October 19

Scripture: “God, my maker, who giveth songs in the night.”(Job 35:10)

Any man can sing in the day. When the cup is full, man draws inspiration from it. When wealth rolls in abundance around him, any man can praise the God who gives a plenteous harvest or sends home a loaded argosy. It is easy enough for an Aeolian harp to whisper music when the winds blow－the difficulty is for music to swell forth when no wind is stirring. It is easy to sing when we can read the notes by daylight; but he is skilful who sings when there is not a ray of light to read by－who sings from his heart. No man can make a song in the night of himself; he may attempt it, but he will find that a song in the night must be divinely inspired. Let all things go well, I can weave songs, fashioning them wherever I go out of the flowers that grow upon my path; but put me in a desert, where no green thing grows, and wherewith shall I frame a hymn of praise to God? How shall a mortal man make a crown for the Lord where no jewels are? Let but this voice be clear, and this body full of health, and I can sing God's praise: silence my tongue, lay me upon the bed of languishing, and how shall I then chant God's high praises, unless he himself give me the song? No, it is not in man's power to sing when all is adverse, unless an altar-coal shall touch his lip. It was a divine song, which Habakkuk sang, when in the night he said, “Although the fig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” Then, since our Maker gives songs in the night, let us wait upon him for the music. O thou chief musician, let us not remain songless because affliction is upon us, but tune thou our lips to the melody of thanksgiving.

《竭诚为主》10月19日 被忽视的秘密

我的国不属这世界。 (约18:36)

如今主耶穌基督很大的敌人，是我们对实际事工的观念，它不从新约圣经而来，而是从这世界的系统而来，在支持各种活动上付出了无穷的精力，几乎没有了与神同在的个人关系。把重点放在了错误的事情上。耶穌说：“ 神的国来到不是眼所能见的。因为 神的国就在你们心里。”（路17:20-21）它是一个隐藏的、不明显的事物。一个活跃的基督徒工人经常活在商店的橱窗里。其实，只有内心的最深处才展现出生命的力量。

我们必须除去现在所处的宗教时代的精神灾祸，在主的生命里，并没有那种我们热崇的事工活动所出现的拥挤和匆促，作主门徒的要象他的主一样。耶穌基督的国度里最中心的事，是与他的个人关系，而不是对人的外在贡献。

这所圣经训练学院的力量，不在于实际的活动。它全部的力量在于这个事实：将你浸透在神的里面。你根本不知道神要如何安排你的环境，也不知道你要在国内或者国外遭遇怎样的压力，如果你浪费你的时间、精力在过于活跃的活动上，而不是沉浸在关于神的救赎的伟大基要真理上，当压力来时你就会被折断。但是，如果花时间沉浸在神的里面，切实地在神里面扎根，那么无论发生什么，你都将保持对他的忠诚。

October 19 The Unheeded Secret

“My kingdom is not of this world.” John 18:36

The great enemy to the Lord Jesus Christ in the present day is the conception of practical work that has not come from the New Testament, but from the systems of the world in which endless energy and activities are insisted upon, but no private life with God. The emphasis is put on the wrong thing. Jesus said, “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation, for lo the kingdom of God is within you,” a hidden, obscure thing. An active Christian worker too often lives in the shop window. It is the innermost of the innermost that reveals the power of the life.

We have to get rid of the plague of the spirit of the religious age in which we live. In Our Lord's life there was none of the press and rush of tremendous activity that we regard so highly, and the disciple is to be as His Master. The central thing about the kingdom of Jesus Christ is a personal relationship to Himself, not public usefulness to men.

It is not its practical activities that are the strength of this Bible Training College, its whole strength lies in the fact that here you are put into soak before God. You have no idea of where God is going to engineer your circumstances, no knowledge of what strain is going to be put on you either at home or abroad, and if you waste your time in over-active energies instead of getting into soak on the great fundamental truths of God's Redemption, you will snap when the strain comes; but if this time of soaking before God is being spent in getting rooted and grounded in God on the unpractical line, you will remain true to Him what ever happens.

十月十九日信心的支票簿 Faith's check book

主的管教

经文:「倒要从宽惩治你，万不能不罚你。」（耶利米书30︰11）

若神不管教我们，那将是一个严重的信号：这可能说明神已经发话：“因他不听管教，选择归向偶像，就任凭他去吧！”神应许我们永远不至如此！因此，若一路都是康庄大道，毫无波折，也让人忧心、战栗。有多少人蒙神温柔疼爱，就有多少人得祂责备惩戒：对那些祂毫无期望之人，祂任凭他们全无敬畏，喂肥自己，犹如待宰杀的牛犊。

我们天上的父是在爱里将祂的杖施在祂孩子身上。不过，你看，神给我们的管教，是经祂量过的。祂的爱是无限的，但祂对我们的管教督正，却是有限度的。旧约律法要求以色列人被鞭苔，不得超过四十下，从而确保做到行刑小心，责罚有度；对于我们这个信仰大家庭中每一位受苦的成员也是这样——每一鞭都被数算。神对我们的管教是按照智慧的尺度、怜悯的尺度、爱的尺度来施行的。我们切不可反抗如此神圣的管教。主啊，若是祢就站在我身旁，把我该喝的苦杯量给我，那我就当柔顺喜乐地从祢手中接过此杯，按着祢的指示饮尽，并说：“主啊，愿主的旨意成就。”

Regulated Chastisement

Scripture: "I will correct thee in measure" (Jeremiah 30:11).

To be left uncorrected would be a fatal sign: it would prove that the LORD had said, "He is given unto idols, let him alone." God grant that such may never be our portion! Uninterrupted prosperity is a thing to cause fear and trembling. As many as God tenderly loves He rebukes and chastens: those for whom He has no esteem He allows to fatten themselves without fear, like bullocks for the slaughter. It is in love that our heavenly Father uses the rod upon His children.

Yet see, the correction is "in measure": He gives us love without measure but chastisement "in measure." As under the old law no Israelite could receive more than the "forty stripes save one," which ensured careful counting and limited suffering; so is it with each afflicted member of the household of faith- every stroke is counted. It is the measure of wisdom, the measure of sympathy, the measure of love, by which our chastisement is regulated. Far be it from us to rebel against appointments so divine. LORD, if Thou standest by to measure the bitter drops into my cup, it is for me cheerfully to take that cup from Thy hand and drink according to Thy directions, saying, "Thy will be done."

十月十九日

在唱诗的时候爱主，在读圣经的时候爱主，在祷告的时候爱主，在聚会的时候爱主，在数算主恩典的时候爱主，在事奉的事上爱主，这一切的爱主，都是因著甚么激动而爱主。

　　有一种爱是默默的爱。不在唱诗、读经的时候，不在祷告、聚会的时候，不在数算恩典的时候，不在事奉的事上，衹是在心灵的深处爱主；虽然别人都不知道你爱主，主却知道你是在爱祂，在人看来你没有爱主，主却看你是最爱祂的。

　　若不是主自己给马利亚作了见证，不但马大说马利亚不好，恐怕连门徒也看马利亚不知道爱主。但马利亚是默然爱主，她爱主是在心中，等到主将要钉十字架的时候，她为主安葬献上香膏，她的爱心显出来了。众人都比不上她的爱心，不但比不上而且够不上，领会不了。

　　在教会中常看到有弟兄或是姊妹，平常在爱主上、在事奉上并不积极，也不开口多说话；别人看他们不象是热心爱主的人，但他们的心中是默然爱主；一旦环境改变，试验来到，许多人跌倒了，许多人退后了，许多人软弱了，他们就在众人面前显露出来，敢为主作见证，敢在逼迫中承认主的名。原来他是在心中默然爱主。

　　「有亚利马太人约瑟，是耶稣的门徒，衹因怕犹太人，就暗暗的作门徒，他来求彼拉多，要把耶稣的身体领去；彼拉多允准，他就把耶稣的身体领去了。又有尼哥底母，就是先前夜里去见耶稣的，带著没药，和沉香，约有一百斤前来。他们就照犹太人殡葬的规矩，把耶稣身体，用细麻布加上香料裹好了。」（约十九38至40）

《荒漠甘泉》10月19日

　　“耶和华的约柜在前头行。”（民10：33）

　　许多时候，我们里面起了一个声音，自己不知道这声音究竟是出乎神的呢还是出乎自己的。在这种情形之下，我们还是不动的好。如果这是出乎神的，神必给我们充足的证据来证实这是出乎他的，叫我们丝毫没有疑惑的可能。

　　耶利米的故事多么美丽：耶利米对于购买亚拿突那块地的事，已经知道是出乎耶和华的，但是他不去作，直到他叔叔的儿子果然到他那里去求他买回——给了他证据。于是耶利米说：“我…就知道这是耶和华的话。”（耶32：8）。

　　他等着，直到神叫他明白——叫别人和自己都相信——以后，他才照着事实去作。神喜欢我们照着他的心意行事。所以我们不可轻举妄动，以致违反了他的心意。——宣信　　神的手所点的道路，神的手必去预备。

　　信徒啊，你不要说你要作什么，你不要作什么；你只要求神叫你看他所为你选择的是那一条路。如果道路还未显明，这就是说：现在还没有行动的需要；你站在你现在所站的地位上，神是负全责的。——选

十月二十日

惟 用 爱 心 说 诚 实 话 ， 凡 事 长 进 ， 连 于 元 首 基 督 。（弗4：15）

有许多基督徒在属灵的事上总是那样瘦削、弱小，年复一年，依然故我。他们一点也没有上进和增长的表现。他们是活的，但是却不“凡事在他里面有长进”。（改译）当我们到了能“吐穗”，甚至能长成“子粒饱满的麦穗”时，我们会以仅仅有了“绿叶”而感到满足吗？我们信了基督，并且说“我平安了”，而不愿在我们的经验上多认识他里面的丰盛，就算够了吗？我们不当如此；我们应当在天堂的商场上作一个殷勤的商人，致力使我们在耶稣的知识上丰富起来。留心别人的葡萄园是很好的事，但同时也不要忘了自己的长进和成熟。为什么让我们的心永远过着严冬呢？到了春天我们必须要有播种的时候，不错，但到了夏天也要及时成熟。若我们要在恩典上有长进，就必须亲近耶稣——在他面前——藉他慈面的照射使我们成熟。我们必须与他有密切的交通。我们必须就近前来看他的面，正像约翰枕首在他的胸怀一般；那麼我们就觉得自己在圣洁、爱心、信心和盼望上并在一切宝贵的恩赐上有了长进。正像日出时，金光映照着山顶，把一幅悦人的美景呈现在游客的眼前一样；照样世人看到一位灵性长成的圣徒头上发射出圣灵的光来，也感到极大的欢欣。好像保罗在同侪中像一座终年积雪的雄伟大山，他把公义太阳的光线先映给选民看，然后把他的光耀辉煌高高地映给众人看，既然看到就将荣耀归于在天上的父。

十月二十日

经文: 不要拘留。（以赛亚书四十三：6）

虽然这一信息是对以色列百姓说的，不过对我们亦是一种劝诫。我们天性会敌对一些美善的事物，需要靠恩典来学习在上帝的道路中前进。你尚未信主，却愿意信靠主耶稣吗？那么，不要停留。主的大爱邀请你前来，祂宝贝的血已为你预备了道路。不要让罪或恐惧阻挡你，就带着你原本的样子来到耶稣跟前。你渴望祷告吗？你愿意将心倾倒在主前吗？不要停留。施恩宝座乃为那些需要怜悯的人而预候备的。罪人的呼求在上帝面前是有效的。主邀请你来，祂命令你向祂祷告。勇敢地到施恩宝座前来吧！你已经求救了吗？那么不要停止与主的百姓相交。不要忽视浸礼，也不要忽视主餐。你可能个性胆怯，但你必须竭力与这胆怯的心对抗，否则你将会被导入不顺从。你若有才能，不要拘留不用。切勿聚藏财富或浪费光阴。不要让你的才能长诱，也不要隐藏不用你的影响力。耶稣没有留一样好处不给我们，我们要效法祂的舍已与牺牲。不要停止与上帝的亲密交通，不要停止发现基督之爱的宝贵奥秘。更不要因你的冷淡、无情或疑惑犯下阻止别人前来的罪。为耶稣的缘故，你要前进并且鼓励其他人也前进。地狱和其不信的或迷信的军队已全力赴战。十字架的士兵啊，不要再裹足不前了！

Evening, October 20

Scripture: “Keep not back.”(Isaiah 43:6)

Although this message was sent to the south, and referred to the seed of Israel, it may profitably be a summons to ourselves. Backward we are naturally to all good things, and it is a lesson of grace to learn to go forward in the ways of God. Reader, are you unconverted, but do you desire to trust in the Lord Jesus? Then keep not back. Love invites you, the promises secure you success, the precious blood prepares the way. Let not sins or fears hinder you, but come to Jesus just as you are. Do you long to pray? Would you pour out your heart before the Lord? Keep not back. The mercy-seat is prepared for such as need mercy; a sinner's cries will prevail with God. You are invited, nay, you are commanded to pray, come therefore with boldness to the throne of grace.Dear friend, are you already saved? Then keep not back from union with the Lord's people. Neglect not the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper. You may be of a timid disposition, but you must strive against it, lest it lead you into disobedience. There is a sweet promise made to those who confess Christ－by no means miss it, lest you come under the condemnation of those who deny him. If you have talents keep not back from using them. Hoard not your wealth, waste not your time; let not your abilities rust or your influence be unused. Jesus kept not back, imitate him by being foremost in self-denials and self-sacrifices. Keep not back from close communion with God, from boldly appropriating covenant blessings, from advancing in the divine life, from prying into the precious mysteries of the love of Christ. Neither, beloved friend, be guilty of keeping others back by your coldness, harshness, or suspicions. For Jesus’ sake go forward yourself, and encourage others to do the like. Hell and the leaguered bands of superstition and infidelity are forward to the fight. O soldiers of the cross, keep not back.

《竭诚为主》10月20日 上帝的旨意是我的心愿吗？

“ 神的旨意就是要你们成为圣洁。”帖前4：3

神是否愿意使我成圣并不是一个问题，而是这是我的心愿吗？我是否愿意让神将所有赎罪已经成功的事做在我的里面？我是否愿意让耶穌成为我的圣洁，让耶穌的生命在我的肉身里彰显？当心你会说：“噢，我渴望成圣。”其实，你并非如此，你要停止渴望，付出实际行动达到预定目标。“我两手空空。”要以绝对的信心接受耶稣基督成为你的圣洁，耶稣救赎的伟大奇跡将在你里面成为真实。耶穌所成就的一切,因着神充满爱的礼物白白的给了你。作为一个得救和得以成圣的灵魂，我的态度是完全谦卑的圣洁（并没有骄傲的圣洁这件事），这圣洁是基于痛苦难忍的悔改，及无法言说的羞愧和降卑；同时令人惊异地认识到，当我根本对他毫不在意时，神的爱将自己托付给我，他为我的得救和成圣完成了一切（参看罗5:8）。保罗说没有一件事“能叫我们与 神的爱隔绝；这爱是在我们的主基督耶穌里的。”（罗8:39）

成圣使我与耶穌基督合一，并在他里面与神合一，这只能藉由基督的赎罪才能做到。不要把效果当成原因。在我里面的效果是顺服、事奉和祷告，这是出于无法用言语表达的感谢和崇拜，为着因赎罪而在我里面做出的非凡的成圣。

October 20 Is God's Will My Will?

“This is the will of God, even your sanctification.” 1 Thessalonians 4:3

It is not a question of whether God is willing to sanctify me; is it my will? Am I willing to let God do in me all that has been made possible by the Atonement? Am I willing to let Jesus be made sanctification to me, and to let the life of Jesus be manifested in my mortal flesh? Beware of saying – Oh, I am longing to be sanctified. You are not, stop longing and make it a matter of transaction – “Nothing in my hands I bring.” Receive Jesus Christ to be made sanctification to you in implicit faith, and the great marvel of the Atonement of Jesus will be made real in you. All that Jesus made possible is made mine by the free loving gift of God on the ground of what He performed, my attitude as a saved and sanctified soul is that of profound humble holiness (there is no such thing as proud holiness), a holiness based on agonizing repentance and a sense of unspeakable shame and degradation; and also on the amazing realization that the love of God commended itself to me in that while I cared nothing about Him, He completed everything for my salvation and sanctification (see Rom. 5:8. R.V.). No wonder Paul says nothing is “able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Sanctification makes me one with Jesus Christ, and in Him one with God, and it is done only through the superb Atonement of Christ. Never put the effect as the cause. The effect in me is obedience and service and prayer, and is the out come of speechless thanks and adoration for the marvellous sanctification wrought out in me because of the Atonement.

十月二十日信心的支票簿 Faith's check book

从罪恶中拯救

经文:「因祂要将自己的百姓从罪恶里救出来。」（马太福音1︰21）

主啊，救我脱离罪恶。因着耶稣的名，我胆敢如此祷告。救我脱离以前的罪，使我不受犯罪恶习的掌控。（救我脱离那常常困扰我的罪，好叫我不至于玷污祢的圣名。救我脱离对罪和犯罪行为那不应有的熟稔，好叫我保留痛恨它们的心。）救我脱离那突如其来、令人震惊的罪愆，保守我的脚踪不跟随那突然而至的试探。主啊，搭救我脱离一切的罪。不要让任何罪辖制我。

只有祢能做成这事，我自己无法打败敌人，也无法断开罪恶的锁链。祢知道何为试探，因祢自己也曾被试探。祢也知道何为罪恶，因祢曾背负我们的罪债。当我与罪争战之时，祢知道如何拯救我；我在罪犯中，祢能搭救我，我已犯了罪，祢愿拯救我。祢以自己的名应许我们所要成就的事；我向祢祈求，让我今日就看到这预言成就。不要让我向怒气、骄傲、沮丧或任何形式的罪妥协；而是祈求祢帮助我过圣洁的生活，好使耶稣的名，在我身上得着大大的荣耀。

From Every Sin

Scripture: "He shall save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21).

LORD, save me from my sins. By the name of Jesus I am encouraged thus to pray. Save me from my past sins, that the habit of them may not hold me captive. [Save me from the sin which doth so easily beset me, that I may not become a reproach to Thy Holy Name. Save me from an undue familiarity with sin and sinning, that I may not lose my horror of them.] Save me from sudden and surprising sins: let me not be carried off my feet by a rush of temptation. Save me, LORD, from every sin. Let not any iniquity have dominion over me.

Thou alone canst do this. I cannot snap my own chains or slay my own enemies. Thou knowest temptation, for Thou wast tempted. Thou knowest sin, for Thou didst bear the weight of it. Thou knowest how to succor me in my hour of conflict; Thou canst save me from sinning and save me when I have sinned. It is promised in Thy very name that Thou wilt do this, and I pray Thee let me this day verify the prophecy. Let me not give way to temper, or pride, or despondency, or any form of evil; but do Thou save me unto holiness of life, that the name of Jesus may be glorified in me abundantly.

十月二十日

大卫打死歌利亚，以色列全国的百姓都向非利士人夸胜；大卫一人得胜，就是全以色列人得胜。主耻稣打败了撒但，全教会都向撒但夸胜；主耶稣一人的得胜，就是会教会的得胜。

　　当大卫下去与非利士人的勇士决斗的时候，非利士人站在这面的山上，以色列人站在那面的山上。以色列人远远地望著大卫，等候着他们的拯救者从谷中上去。若是大卫下去了而不再上去，若是大卫被非利士人打死了，以色列全家得救的指望就没有了；他们都要给非利士人作奴仆，受非利士人的欺压和虐待。

　　主耶稣离开了高天到世界上来，也是与这世界的王撒但决斗，从祂下来之后，天上的众天使、诸圣者，以及历代盼望得拯救的百姓，都等候主得胜回来，若是主死了而没有复活，救恩的指望就没有了，那些等候祂的人也都灭亡了。感谢神！我们所等候的救主，祂来到世上完成祂的使命，又复活升上了高天，祂的上升，就是祂得胜的凭据。　　大卫从山上下来之先，知道自己是必胜的；他下到谷中的时候，毫无恐惧、战惊，他的面色光红，容貌俊美，和他在他的弟兄中受膏的时候一样。他心中确有得胜的把握。　　主耶稣来到世界，更是知道自己必定得胜，所以在先知的预言中说：「大能者阿！愿祢腰间佩刀，大有荣耀和威严。为真理、谦卑、公义、赫然坐车前往，无不得胜；祢的右手必显明可畏的事。祢的箭锋快，射中王敌之心，万民仆倒在祢以下。」（诗四十五3至5）

　　「耶稣被交给人，是为我们的过犯；复活，是为叫我们称义。」（罗四25）

荒漠甘泉》10月20日

　　“神的出人意外的平安，必在基督耶稣里，保守你们的心怀意念。”（腓4：7直译）

　　洋海深处有一个最镇定的中心，人们称它为“海垫褥。”无论海面波浪多大，狂风多猛，“海垫褥”决不会受到丝毫搅动。从海底里捞起来的动植物的遗迹，能对我们证明：它们在海底里数百年数千年之久，从来没有受到丝毫扰动过。神的平安是永久的平安，象“海垫褥”一样，是在人的最深处的——是外面的困难和骚动所不能摸到的：凡进到神前的人，都能享受这样的平安。——斐尔逊

　　那些天路历程中的旅客，都安置在面向日出的高楼里。这楼名曰平安阁。——天路历程

十月廿一日

原来基督的爱激励我们。（林后5：14）

你亏欠我主有多少呢？他不曾为你作过什么吗？他曾赦免你的罪吗？他曾把义袍披在你的身上吗？他曾安排你的路吗？他曾为你在天堂上预备了地方吗？他曾把你的名写在生命册上吗？他曾赐你无数的福分吗？他曾为你存留你了你眼所末见、耳所未闻的丰盛的恩典吗？那麼你当怎样报答耶稣的爱呢？不要空口白话地用言语来报答为你钉死的救主。当主来时，你不能不承认你什么也没有为他作过，而是把你的爱封闭起来，像一个死水池子一样，绝不向属他的穷人、或是他的工作流露出来，你会作何感想呢？人们对于从未付诸行动的爱有何看法呢？他们说：“当面的责备，强如背地的爱情。”谁肯接受你没有一点舍己、宽宏、好义或热诚的表现的爱呢！你想想看，他怎样爱你、为你舍己呢？你知道那种爱的力量吗？要叫它在你的心灵中成为大风吹去你世俗的乌云，廓清你罪恶的迷雾。甚愿”为基督的缘故“成为火舌落在你的头上；也愿“为基督的缘故”成为属神的快乐；成为灵风把你从地上吹起来；成为神的灵使你在服侍主的事上勇敢像狮子、快速像鹰。爱必为服侍主的脚添上双翼，并加力量给为主劳苦的双臂。使我们爱神的心永远坚定不移，使我们尊崇他永不偏离、奋勇向前永不疲倦。让我们永远表现我们爱耶稣的心。愿神的磁石吸引我们向天就他！

十月二十一日

经文: 你们为什么愁烦？为什么心里起疑念呢？（路加福音二十四：38）

主关心一切事物，更关心祂的圣徒。“耶和华的使者，在敬畏祂的人四围安营，搭救他们。”（诗三十四：7）“在耶和华眼中看圣民之死，极为宝贵。”（诗一一六：15）“我们晓得万事都互相效力，叫爱上帝的人得益处，就是按祂旨被召的人。”（罗八：28）。祂是全人类的救主，更是相信祂的人之救主。但愿此保证能令你喜乐并得安慰。你是祂的特殊杰作；作是祂的珍宝，祂保护你像保护眼中的瞳人；你是祂的葡萄园，祂昼夜守护着。“就是你们的头发，也都被数过了。”（太十：30）愿你在思念他的大爱时痛苦能消除，忧患能平息：“我总不撇下你，也不丢弃你。”（来十三：5）上帝向你应许的与祂向古代圣徒所应许的是同样多。“不要惧怕，我是你的盾牌，必大大的赏赐你。”（创十五：1）我们常常以为祂的应许只是针对全教会的，不认为是属于我们自己的，是可以带回家的，以致失去了许许多多的安慰。信徒啊，以你个人的、适当的信心去紧抓住上帝的话。请听耶稣说：“我已经为你祈求，叫你不至于失了信心。”（路二十二：32）你是否看到祂正行走在令你困扰的水面上？祂在那里，并且说过：“你们放心。是我，不要怕。”（太十四：27）请接受耶稣向你说的话，并回应道：“耶稣微声安慰，我不能拒绝。我要以大喜乐坐在祂的荫下。”

Evening, October 21

Scripture: “Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?”(Luke 24:38)

 “Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest O Israel, my way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over from my God?” The Lord cares for all things, and the meanest creatures share in his universal providence, but his particular providence is over his saints. “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him.” “Precious shall their blood be in his sight.” “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” “We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to his purpose.” Let the fact that, while he is the Saviour of all men, he is specially the Saviour of them that believe, cheer and comfort you. You are his peculiar care; his regal treasure which he guards as the apple of his eye; his vineyard over which he watches day and night. “The very hairs of your head are all numbered.” Let the thought of his special love to you be a spiritual pain-killer, a dear quietus to your woe: “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” God says that as much to you as to any saint of old. “Fear not, I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.” We lose much consolation by the habit of reading his promises for the whole church, instead of taking them directly home to ourselves. Believer, grasp the divine word with a personal, appropriating faith. Think that you hear Jesus say, “I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not.” Think you see him walking on the waters of thy trouble, for he is there, and he is saying, “Fear not, it is I; be not afraid.” Oh, those sweet words of Christ! May the Holy Ghost make you feel them as spoken to you; forget others for awhile－accept the voice of Jesus as addressed to you, and say, “Jesus whispers consolation; I cannot refuse it; I will sit under his shadow with great delight.”

《竭诚为主》10月21日 被冲动引导

“你们却要在至圣的真道上造就自己。”犹 20

我们的主既没有冲动的本性，也不是冷血无情，他有一种镇定的力量永远不会陷入恐慌。我们大多数人是按着自己性情的方式来过基督徒的生活，而不是按着神的方式。冲动是天然生命的特性，但我们的主却总是不顾它，因为冲动会阻碍门徒生命的成长。留意神的灵如何阻止我们的冲动，他的阻止带来一种自觉愚蠢仓促，使我们立刻想要为自己辩护。对于一个孩子，冲动还可以接受，但对于一个大人，冲动就是灾难性的了。一个冲动的人常是一个耍小孩子脾气的人。冲动必须要藉着管教训练成为直觉。

作门徒完全建造在神超自然的恩典上。行走在水面对于凭着一股冲动的勇气是容易的，但行走在干地上作耶稣基督的门徒却是一件不同的事情。彼得在水面上向耶稣走去，但在地上却远远地跟着他。我们不需要神的恩典去面对危机，人的本性和骄傲已经足够了。我们可以高贵地面对压力，但每天二十四小时活出圣徒的生活，像一个门徒一样经受劳苦，过一个平凡、没人留意、被人忽视的生活，就一定需要神超自然的恩典。我们的天性想要为神做一件特别的事，但不需要这样。我们应当在平凡事上成为不平凡，在简陋的街道中，在卑劣的人群中成为圣洁，这不是五分钟学得会的功课。

October 21 Direction By Impulse

“Building up yourselves on your most holy faith.” Jude 20

There was nothing either of the nature of impulse or of cold-bloodedness about Our Lord, but only a calm strength that never got into panic. Most of us develop our Christianity along the line of our temperament, not along the line of God. Impulse is a trait in natural life, but Our Lord always ignores it, because it hinders the development of the life of a disciple. Watch how the Spirit of God checks impulse, His checks bring a rush of self-conscious foolishness which makes us instantly want to vindicate ourselves. Impulse is all right in a child, but it is disastrous in a man or woman; an impulsive man is always a petted man. Impulse has to be trained into intuition by discipline.

Discipleship is built entirely on the supernatural grace of God. Walking on the water is easy to impulsive pluck, but walking on dry land as a disciple of Jesus Christ is a different thing. Peter walked on the water to go to Jesus, but he followed Him afar off on the land. We do not need the grace of God to stand crises, human nature and pride are sufficient, we can face the strain magnificently; but it does require the supernatural grace of God to live twenty-four hours in every day as a saint, to go through drudgery as a disciple, to live an ordinary, unobserved, ignored existence as a disciple of Jesus. It is inbred in us that we have to do exceptional things for God; but we have not. We have to be exceptional in the ordinary things, to be holy in mean streets, among mean people, and this is not learned in five minutes.

十月二十一日信心的支票簿 Faith's check book

神的乘法表

经文: 「至小的族要加增千倍，微弱的国必成为强盛；我耶和华要按定期速成这事。」（以赛亚书60︰22）

神的工作刚开始时，常是微不足道，但这并没什么不好。软弱使我们亲近神，得着信心，使神的名大得荣耀。应当宝贵神要让我们繁荣倍增的应许。芥菜种子在所有种子当中是最小的，却可长成像一颗树那样大，让飞鸟来栖息。我们可能只是从一个人开始，然而，“至小的族”将要“加增千倍“。主最擅长乘法。祂不是常对祂孤单的仆人说：”我必叫你的子孙多起来。“信靠神，你们那些只有一个或两个人的；因为只要奉祂的名聚集在一起，神必会在你们当中。

“微弱的国“；在那些数算人头和衡量势力的人眼里，还有什么比这更受鄙视的呢。然而这就是一个伟大民族的开始。夜里只要第一颗星开始亮，转瞬间，繁星就将陆续出现，布满夜空。我们也不要臆测这样的应许，只不过是个远景，并非指日可待。看神接下去怎么说？“我耶和华要按定期速成这事。“这不是我们在奋兴会上所看到的虚假繁荣；而是神按着定期成就的，但绝不会有任何耽延。当主要速速成就，祂所成就的，乃是荣耀。

God's Multiplication Table

Scripture: "A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in his time" (Isaiah 60:22).

Works for the LORD often begin on a small scale, and they are none the worse for this. Feebleness educates faith, brings God near, and wins glory for His name. Prize promises of increase! Mustard seed is the smallest among seeds, and yet it becomes a treelike plant, with branches which lodge the birds of heaven. We may begin with one, and that "a little one," and yet it will "become a thousand." The LORD is great at the multiplication table. How often did He say to His lone servant, "I will multiply thee!" Trust in the LORD, ye ones and twos; for He will be in the midst of you if you are gathered in His name.

"A small one." What can be more despicable in the eyes of those who count heads and weigh forces! Yet this is the nucleus of a great nation. Only one star shines out at first in the evening, but soon the sky is crowded with countless lights. Nor need we think the prospect of increase to be remote, for the promise is, "I Jehovah will hasten it in his time." There will be no premature haste, like that which we see at excited meetings; it will be all in due time, but yet there will be no delay. When the LORD hastens, His speed is glorious.

十月二十一日

圣经中记载神向人吹了两口气：第一次是在旧创造的起头，「耶和华神用地上的尘土造人，将生气吹在他鼻孔里，他就成了有灵的活人。」（创二7）第二次是在新创造起头，「说了这话，就向他们吹一口气，说：你们受圣灵。」（约二十22）

　　第一次的气是吹在泥人的里面，就成了今日活在地上的人。第二次的气是吹给门徒的，门徒就得了基督的复活之灵。虽然亚当也是用尘土造的，与一切的动物一样，但亚当所得的气就使亚当与万物有了很大的分别，使他成了万物之灵，高居万物之上，治理大地，管理海里的鱼、空中的鸟和地上各样行动的活物。

　　我们信主的人和世人是一样的。但因复活的基督向我们吹了一口气，就使我们与世人不同了，世人走向灭亡，我们进入永生。我们是有了儿子的灵，因此我们呼叫神为父，我们因著儿子的灵就成了儿子，要和基督同作后嗣，一同承受产业；如果我们和基督一同受苦，也必和祂一同得荣耀，一同作王；不但管理大地，还要审判天使。这一切的成就，就是因为主复活以后所吹的一口气。这口气是何等的奥秘，何等的宝贝。这气就是基督的灵，是重生的灵。

　　「人若没有基督的灵，就不是属基督的。基督若在你们心里，身体就因罪而死，心灵却因义而活。」（罗八9至10）　　「耶稣说：我实实在在的告诉你，人若不是从水和圣灵生的，就不能进神的国。从肉身生的，就是肉身；从灵生的，就是灵。」（约三5至6）

《荒漠甘泉》10月21日

　　“我们原知道：我们这地上的帐篷若拆毁了，必得神所造，不是人手所造，在天上永存的房屋。”（林后5：1）。

　　我居住了多年的屋子已经破旧不堪了，屋主通知我他不愿意在花钱去修理了。他劝我还是预备迁居罢。

　　我听了这个消息，起初很不乐意。这屋子四周的环境太有趣了，如果不是因为太破旧的缘故。我简直不想迁居。但是如今一阵微风就够叫它摇动震颤，所以我不能不预备迁居了。

　　真奇怪，我的兴趣很快地就转移到未来的新屋上面去了。我参考地图，调查居民；遣人到那边去观察。视察的人回来告诉我那边的情形非常美好。他说他因为要在那边投资的缘故，情愿变卖他在这边一切所有的；虽然别人说他牺牲太大，他还是乐意去作。还有一个我所最爱的朋友，现在也在那边。他托人带了些最美味的水果来给我。我尝了以后再吃这边的水果，简直无味极了。

　　到那新居所，有一条河相隔为界，我两三次走到河边，我真渴望立刻到那边去——和那些人站在一起唱诗赞美被杀的羔羊。我有许多朋友已经已经搬到那边去了。他们去的时候，他们的脸上都带着微笑。多少时候，有人劝我在这边投资，我总回答说：“我已在预备迁居了。”——选　　主耶稣在世上末了几天所说的，都说到“往父那里去。”（约16：17）。我们今天也该在今生的困难，失望之外，看见将来的“往父那里去。”虽然我们将来的家到底怎样我们现在看不清楚；但是有两点是顶清楚的：这是家——“父的家”（约14：2）。这是我们的主所在的地方。就这两点，已经够叫我们渴慕了。

十月二十二日

我必……甘心爱他们。（何14：4）

这一句话是神本体的缩影。能明了其涵意的就是一位神学家，能投身其丰盛的更可以称得上是以色列人真师傅。这一句话是荣耀的救恩信息的结晶，是在基督耶稣我们的救赎主里面所传于我们的。这话的枢纽在于“甘心“。这是天上的爱流通到地上的最荣耀、适宜而神圣的方法，这爱乃是自动地临到那不当得、未曾买、未曾求的人。实在的，这是神爱我们的惟一方法。

这一节圣经“我必甘心爱他们” 对一切条件是一种致命的打击。现在，若我们还凭借什么条件或资格，那么祂就不是白白地爱我们了；至少，这是一种拦阻，使神不能甘心爱我们。但经上的话乃是“我必……甘心爱他们”。我们自怨说：“主啊！我的心太硬了。”——“我必……甘心爱你。”“但我没有感觉到自己需要基督。”——“我爱你，不是因为你感觉到了自己的需要；是我要甘心爱你。”“但我没有感觉到自己的灵按着我的心愿软化。”要记得，灵的软化并不是一种条件，因为没有条件可言；恩约里面没有规定任何条件；因此当我们毫无资格的时候才会完全投靠神在基督耶稣里面所给我们的应许。神随时甘愿白白地把祂的恩典赐给我们，不用预备，没有条件，无需银钱和价值；得知这事的人是有福的！“我必……甘心爱他们。”这话乃是邀请背道的人回转，其实，这话就是为这种人写的——“我必医治他们背道的病，甘心爱他们。”背道者啊，这一条宽宏的应许必定立时破碎你的心，你必归回，寻求为你忧伤的天父的慈面。

十月二十二日

经文: 祂要将受于我的，告诉你们。（约翰福音十六：15）

有时候，除非恩典之手将圣经上所有的应许和教义加在我们身上，否则这些都会变为无效。我们口渴，却无力气爬到溪边。在战场上受了伤的士兵，即使知道医院中有人能为他裹伤也是没有用的。必须有人将他抬到医院，他才能获得医治。我们的心灵也是如此的。为了我们的需要，真理之灵将受于耶稣身上的涂抹在我们身上。基督与我们亲近，将祂的平安注入我们心中。今晚你若忧伤，天父不是只赐下应许，然后要你自己从祂的话中去汲取，好像从井中用水桶去汲取水一样。祂要从新将应许写在你的心版上。祂要向你彰显祂的爱，藉祂赐福之灵，除去你的忧虑烦恼。忧伤的人啊，上帝要拭去祂百姓眼中的泪。好撒玛利亚人没有说：“这里有酒，这里有油给你使用”；他乃将油和酒倒在受伤之人的伤口上。耶稣不仅给你应许的美酒，祂乃将黄金的酒杯举到你的唇旁，将生命之血倒入你的口中。可怜的、生病的、疲惫的天路客不仅获力行走，更能如鹰展翅上腾。荣耀的福音为无助者提供各样东西，在我们无力去寻求时亲近我们，在我们寻求恩典之前把恩典赐给我们！有圣灵可以将耶稣带给他的人是有福的！

Evening, October 22

Scripture: “He shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you.”(John 16:15)

There are times when all the promises and doctrines of the Bible are of no avail, unless a gracious hand shall apply them to us. We are thirsty, but too faint to crawl to the water- brook. When a soldier is wounded in battle it is of little use for him to know that there are those at the hospital who can bind up his wounds, and medicines there to ease all the pains which he now suffers: what he needs is to be carried thither, and to have the remedies applied. It is thus with our souls, and to meet this need there is one, even the Spirit of truth, who takes of the things of Jesus, and applies them to us. Think not that Christ hath placed his joys on heavenly shelves that we may climb up to them for ourselves, but he draws near, and sheds his peace abroad in our hearts. O Christian, if thou art to-night labouring under deep distresses, thy Father does not give thee promises and then leave thee to draw them up from the Word like buckets from a well, but the promises he has written in the Word he will write anew on your heart. He will manifest his love to you, and by his blessed Spirit, dispel your cares and troubles. Be it known unto thee, O mourner, that it is God's prerogative to wipe every tear from the eye of his people. The good Samaritan did not say, “Here is the wine, and here is the oil for you”; he actually poured in the oil and the wine. So Jesus not only gives you the sweet wine of the promise, but holds the golden chalice to your lips, and pours the life-blood into your mouth. The poor, sick, way-worn pilgrim is not merely strengthened to walk, but he is borne on eagles’ wings. Glorious gospel! which provides everything for the helpless, which draws nigh to us when we cannot reach after it－brings us grace before we seek for grace! Here is as much glory in the giving as in the gift. Happy people who have the Holy Ghost to bring Jesus to them.

《竭诚为主》10月22日 圣灵的见证

圣灵与我们的心同证……（罗八16）

我们常存交易的心到神面前。我们顺服神吩咐之前，先要求印证。“为什么神不向我显示他自己？”他不能。不是他不肯，而是不能，因为你若不完全降服于神，你就成为神向你显示的拦阻。你一降服，他就即时为自己作见证；他不能向你见证，乃是向他在你里面的本性见证。若你先得着见证，那不过是情感作用。在你不再理论争辩的那一刻，神便见证他的作为，你会因自己的悖逆而诧异，因为你竟让神苦等。若你仍为神是否能救人脱罪的问题争辩的话，最好是让他去做，或干脆对他说：“你无此能力”。不要引用这人或那人的话，试试马太福音十一章28节的话－－“到我这里来。”你若劳苦担重担，来吧；你若自知有罪，求吧（路十一13）。

我们天然常理的抉择，往往来得很简单，很容易误认作圣灵的见证；可是，圣灵只对他的本性和救赎的工作见证，而不能向我们的推理见证。若一味要圣灵向我们的理性见证，难怪我们总在黑暗疑云中。把这些一概抛开，信靠神，他自然给我们见证。

祈祷◆主啊，我无助地来到你面前，却盼望因着你的灵的内住，我可以被你的爱、你神性无私的属性、你慈怜的忍耐所充满，不再被个人的因素所伤害。

October 22 The Witness Of The Spirit

“The Spirit Himself beareth witness with our spirit. . .” Romans 8:16 (R.V.)

We are in danger of getting the barter spirit when we come to God, we want the witness before we have done what God tells us to do. “Why does not God reveal Himself to me?” He cannot, it is not that He will not, but He cannot, because you are in the road as long as you won't abandon absolutely to Him. Immediately you do, God witnesses to Himself, He cannot witness to you, but He witnesses instantly to His own nature in you. If you had the witness before the reality, it would end in sentimental emotion. Immediately you transact on the Redemption, and stop the impertinence of debate, God gives on the witness. As soon as you abandon reasoning and argument, God witnesses to what He has done, and we are amazed at our impertinence in having kept Him waiting. If you are in debate as to whether God can deliver from sin, either let Him do it, or tell Him He cannot. Do not quote this and that person, try Matthew 11:28 – “Come unto Me.” Come, if you are weary and heavy laden; ask, if you know you are evil (Luke 11:13).

The Spirit of God witnesses to the Redemption of Our Lord, He does not witness to anything else; He cannot witness to our reason. The simplicity that comes from our natural common-sense decisions is apt to be mistaken for the witness of the Spirit, but the Spirit witnesses only to His own nature, and to the work of Redemption, never to our reason. If we try to make Him witness to our reason, it is no wonder we are in darkness and perplexity. Fling it all overboard, trust in Him, and He will give the witness.

十月二十二日信心的支票簿 Faith's check book

按祂的应许祷告

经文：「主耶和华啊！因为祢曾经这样应许，愿祢仆人的家因祢的赐福永远蒙福。」（撒母耳记下7：29，改译自新译本）

这是一个按应许而做的祷告，教导我们两件事：其一，神所说的任何话，我们必须笃定不疑地接受；其二，把神的应许带到宝座前，如同可以兑现的支票。哦，引用我们自己的神所说的话语是多么地甜蜜！可以像大卫在这节经文中这样，在祷告中用“因为“来求神实践祂的诺言，这是何等宝贵啊！

我们祈求不是因为疑惑，乃是出于相信。神的儿女祷告，不该半信半疑。不，主啊，我们不当怀疑祢：我们信服祢所说的每一个字都可作为最大胆之期盼的牢固基石。我们到祢的面前，说：“照祢所说的而行。”赐福祢仆人的家，医治我们中有疾病的，拯救我们中尚在犹豫的，寻回那走迷的，坚固那敬畏祢的。主啊，按祢信实的话语，供应我们粮食及一切所需，祝福我们手中所做的一切工作，特别是在邻里间让福音得以广传。让我们的工人成为祢的工人，让我们的儿女成为祢的儿女。让救恩的福份流传久远，直到万代，只要我们的后裔在地上尚有存留，就愿他们对祢忠心到底，守约不渝。喔，主啊，”愿祢赐福与仆人的家!“

Plead His Own Promise

Scripture: "Thou, O LORD God, hast spoken it: and with Thy blessing let the house of Thy servant be blessed for ever" (2 Samuel 7:29)

This is a promise pleaded, and so it yields double instruction to us. Anything which the LORD God has spoken we should receive as surely true and then plead it at the throne.Oh, how sweet to quote what our own God has spoken! How precious to use a "therefore," which the promise suggests, as David does in this verse!

We do not pray because we doubt but because we believe. To pray unbelievingly is unbecoming in the LORD's children. No, LORD, we cannot doubt Thee: we are persuaded that every word of Thine is a sure foundation for the boldest expectation. We come to Thee and say, "Do as Thou hast said." Bless Thy servant's house. Heal our sick; save our hesitating ones; restore those who wander; confirm those who live in Thy fear. LORD, give us food and raiment according to Thy Word. Prosper our undertakings; especially succeed our endeavors to make known Thy gospel in our neighborhood. Make our servants Thy servants, our children Thy children. Let the blessing flow on to future generations, and as long as any of our race remains on earth may they remain true to Thee. O LORD God, "let the house of thy servant be blessed."

十月二十二日

　最宝贝的东西，就是儿子的灵。为甚么那个不务正业、违背父母、浪费赀财、任意放荡、给人放猪、将要饿死的人，得以回到一个极富有的家中，穿上好的袍子，戴上戒指，穿上鞋，坐在丰盛的筵席中大得享受呢？这是甚么功劳换来的？没有别的，就是因为在他里面有儿子的灵。浪子在父亲的筵席中，一点别的理由没有，就因为他是儿子，就因为他是父亲所生，有了父亲的生命。

　　神爱世人，将自己的独生儿子赐给了世人，不衹是替人死、替人赎罪，并且复活，而后升天。神的儿子在天上，我们在地上，最宝贝的就是将祂的儿子永远赐给我们，叫我们里面有儿子的灵，有儿子的生命。神的儿子虽然在天上，神儿子的灵却在我们心中。若不是神将儿子赐给我们，我们得救了，可能不至灭亡，可是得不著永生。

　　无怪老使徒约翰说：「你看！父赐给我们是何等的慈爱，使我们得称为神的儿女！我们也真是祂的儿女。」（约壹三1）约翰所宝贝的真理就是神的儿子，在他写的书中多论到神的儿子，他写约翰福音的总目的，就是叫人认识神的儿子，认识了神的儿子就可以得生命。这不但是约翰所宝贝的，也是一切相信的人所宝贝的。

　　「这见证，就是神赐给我们永生，这永生也是在祂儿子里面。人有了神的儿子就有生命；没有神的儿子就没有生命。」（约壹五11至12）

《荒漠甘泉》10月22日

　　“摩西牧养他岳父米甸祭司叶忒罗的羊群。一日领羊群往野外去，到了神的山，就是何烈山。耶和华的使者从荆棘里火焰中向摩西显现。”（出3：1-2）

　　我们普通总以为异象必须在特别环境中才能看见，在这里我们看见我们的理想错了：异象是在日常生活中看见的，神喜欢在我们日常生活中启示他自己。他常到顶普通的路上去寻找一个人，忽然向他显现。

　　我的父神啊，求你教导我怎样在日常生活中等待你。我并不求什么超然的感觉。我只求你在日常生活中与我交通。求你在我日常的道路上作我的伴侣。让这卑贱的人生因着你的同在得着变化。

　　有些基督徒喜欢常有特别的喜乐和启示；但是这并不是神的方法。那些魂游象外，与看不见的世界有奇异的接触，并不是神所给我们的应许；神所给我们的应许乃是日常生活上的交通。其实这也已经够了。

　　门徒中间，看见耶稣在高山上变形的只有三个人；这三个人也就是同尝客西马尼苦味的。没有一个人能一直留在山上，因为山下还有许多工作等待我们去作。——选

十月二十三日

你们也要去吗？（约翰福音6：67）

有很多人离弃了基督，不再与祂同行；但使你变心的理由是什么呢？在过去难道有什么原因吗？难道耶稣不曾彰显祂是充足的吗？今晨祂追诉你说：“我岂向你作旷野呢？”（参耶利米书2：31）当你的灵魂单纯地信靠耶稣的时候，你曾为此感到过迷惑吗？你到现在还没有发现你的主是最慈惠、最宽大的朋友吗？难道祂所赐予你的单纯信心还没有带来你所期望的平安吗？你能梦想有比祂更好的一位朋友吗？那么，你切莫厌故喜新，追求虚妄。至于现在，有什么能迫使你离弃基督呢？当世界百般围攻我们的时候，或是在教会中受到大试炼的时候，我们会发现最蒙福的事莫过于能枕首在救主的怀中。对我们这些在祂里面得了救的人，这是今天我们所得享的快乐；若这快乐是令人满足的，我们怎还能想到变节的事呢？谁肯以精金换渣滓呢？在发现更好的光以前，我们不会丢弃太阳；同样，在没有一位更光明的爱人出现以前，我们也不会离弃我们的主；这既是一件绝不可能的事，我们就当永远抓住祂，使祂的名永远在我们的膀臂上作为印记。至于将来，你能想到有什么事会使你必须叛变，或使你背弃旧的旗帜而投效新的元帅吗？我们认为事情不会这样。若我们能享长寿——就能证明祂是不改变的。若我们贫穷，有什么能比有那使我们丰富的基督呢？当我们患病之时，耶稣为我们铺床；除此，我们还有什么期望呢？当我们死的时候，经上不是说：“无论是死，是生，是天使，是掌权的，是有能的，是现在的事，是将来的事，是高处的，是低处的，是别的受造之物，都不能叫我们与神的爱隔绝；这爱是在我们的主基督耶稣里的。”愿我们与彼得一同说：“主啊，我们还归从谁呢？”

十月二十三日

经文: 你们为什么睡觉呢？起来祷告，免得入了迷惑。（路加福音二十二：46）

基督徒最容易沉睡的时间是什么时候？岂不是当他周围环境昌盛之时？当你忙于将每日的困难带到施恩座前，你在灵性上不是更为儆醒吗？平顺大道使旅客易于瞌睡。基督徒在路途中遇见狮子或心灵之仇敌交战时，是不会沉睡的；可是，当他攀登困难山，中途来到一可爱的凉亭，他坐下来休息一会儿，不久就沉睡了，以后遭受了大忧伤、大损失。你记得本仁约翰的描述吗？（注）他说：“他们来到一凉亭，温暖舒适，尤其是对于疲惫的朝圣者；因为它的顶部经过细心加工，以绿枝美化，并有长椅卧榻，疲惫者可以倚靠憩息……。凉亭之名为懒惰人之友，建造之目的是倘若有疲惫的朝圣者经过者，诱惑他们停下休息。”在舒适之处人会闭上双目，随即堕入遗忘之梦乡。老轭尔斯金智慧之言说：“我宁愿遇见吼叫的魔鬼，而不愿遇见使人贪睡的魔鬼。”不被试探与遭受试探是同样的危险。痛苦困扰的心灵不会沉睡，但当我们进入平安稳妥之境地时，就面临沉睡的危险了。门徒在山上见到耶稣改变形像后，他们沉睡了。留意啊，快乐的基督徒！愉快的环境是试探的近邻。你可以如愿地喜乐，但是必须儆醒！（注：本仁约翰着──“天路历程”大光出版）

Evening, October 23

Scripture: “Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.”(Luke 22:46)

When is the Christian most liable to sleep? Is it not when his temporal circumstances are prosperous? Have you not found it so? When you had daily troubles to take to the throne of grace, were you not more wakeful than you are now? Easy roads make sleepy travellers. Another dangerous time is when all goes pleasantly in spiritual matters. Christian went not to sleep when lions were in the way, or when he was wading through the river, or when fighting with Apollyon, but when he had climbed half way up the Hill Difficulty, and came to a delightful arbour, he sat down, and forthwith fell asleep, to his great sorrow and loss. The enchanted ground is a place of balmy breezes, laden with fragrant odours and soft influences, all tending to lull pilgrims to sleep. Remember Bunyan's description: “Then they came to an arbour, warm, and promising much refreshing to the weary pilgrims; for it was finely wrought above head, beautified with greens, and furnished with benches and settles. It had also in it a soft couch, where the weary might lean.” “The arbour was called the Slothful's Friend, and was made on purpose to allure, if it might be, some of the pilgrims to take up their rest there when weary.” Depend upon it, it is in easy places that men shut their eyes and wander into the dreamy land of forgetfulness. Old Erskine wisely remarked, “I like a roaring devil better than a sleeping devil.” There is no temptation half so dangerous as not being tempted. The distressed soul does not sleep; it is after we enter into peaceful confidence and full assurance that we are in danger of slumbering. The disciples fell asleep after they had seen Jesus transfigured on the mountain top. Take heed, joyous Christian, good frames are near neighbours to temptations: be as happy as you will, only be watchful.

《竭诚为主》10月23日 一点也不

“若有人在基督里，他就是新造的人，旧事已过，都变成新的了。”林后5:17

我们的主从不看护我们的成见，他只克服它们，清理它们。我们想像神对我们的特别成见有着特别的兴趣；我们很肯定神不会像对付其他人那样对付我们。“神一定会非常严厉的对付其他人，他当然知道我的成见是对的。”可是我们必须认识到神不但不站在我们的成见这边，反而有意地要将它们清扫出去。我们所受的道德教育的一部分是，让神的旨意除去我们的成见，并看看他怎么做。神毫不在意我们带给他什么。神只想要我们做一件事，就是无条件的降服。

当我们重生的时候，圣灵开始将他的新创造做在我们里面，必有一天旧秩序所遗留的会荡然无存，离开旧的仪式，离开旧的态度，“所有的都是属神的。”我们如何得到那没有情欲、没有自我利益、对别人的刺痛不敏感、有不轻易发怒的爱、不思想罪恶、常待人有恩慈的生命呢？唯一的办法是不让一点点旧生命留下来，而只单单完全地信靠神，以致我们不再想要神的祝福，只想要他自己。我们是否到达一个地步，神可以撤回他的祝福而不会影响我们对他的信靠？当一旦我们看到神在做工，我们就不会为所发生的事烦扰，因为我们正实际的信靠我们在天上的父，他是这世界无法看到的。

October 23 Not A Bit Of It!

“If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

Our Lord never nurses our prejudices, He mortifies them, runs clean athwart them. We imagine that God has a special interest in our particular prejudices; we are quite sure that God will never deal with us as He has to deal with other people. “God must deal with other people in a very stern way, but of course He knows that my prejudices are all right.” We have to learn – “Not a bit of it!” Instead of God being on the side of our prejudices, He is deliberately wiping them out. It is part of our moral education to have our prejudices run straight across by His providence, and to watch how He does it. God pays no respect to anything we bring to Him. There is only one thing God wants of us, and that is our unconditional surrender.

When we are born again, the Holy Spirit begins to work His new creation in us, and there will come a time when there is not a bit of the old order left, the old solemnity goes, the old attitude to things goes, and “all things are of God.” How are we going to get the life that has no lust, no self-interest, no sensitiveness to pokes, the love that is not provoked, that thinketh no evil, that is always kind? The only way is by allowing not a bit of the old life to be left; but only simple perfect trust in God, such trust that we no longer want God's blessings, but only want Himself. Have we come to the place where God can withdraw His blessings and it does not affect our trust in Him? When once we see God at work, we will never bother our heads about things that happen, because we are actually trusting in our Father in Heaven Whom the world cannot see.

十月二十三日信心的支票簿 Faith's check book

喜乐与亮光

经文:「散布亮光是为义人；预备喜乐是为正直人。」（诗篇97︰11，和合本）

在艰难困阨的环境中持守公义正直，需要付出昂贵的代价，但最终却有丰富的报偿与收获。圣洁的生命有如一个人在撒种：撒出去一大把，却都埋在土里，看不见也收不回来。如果我们期待很快会有收成，那我们就错了；但这种误解也很正常，因为貌似光是不可以被播撒掩埋的。然而经文上说光被“播撒”。它被掩埋了：没有人可以看见，它被播种在地里了。我们可以非常确信，有一天它必将彰显自己。

我们敢确定神已为那些播撒亮光的人，预备了丰收，他们必要有收成，各人收获自己的。到那时，他们必然喜乐，光的种子要收获整捆整捆的喜乐。虽然世人对他们毫无赞许，甚至斥责他们，但他们在主面前心存正直：虽然他们周围的人都公开指责他们苛刻，神必算他们为义。他们必须要等待，如同农夫等候地里出产宝贵的收成：因为亮光已经为他们播撒，掌管丰收的主正在为他们预备喜乐。

弟兄姊妹们，鼓起勇气！我们无需急躁。让我们在忍耐中保守我们的灵魂，因为不久我们的灵魂就会拥有亮光和喜乐。

Harvest of Light, Gladness

Scripture: "Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart" (Psalm 97:11).

Righteousness is often costly to the man who keeps to it at all hazards, but in the end it will bear its own expenses and return an infinite profit. A holy life is like sowing seed: much is going out, and apparently it is buried in the soil, never to be gathered up again. We are mistaken when we look for an immediate harvest; but the error is very natural, for it seems impossible to bury light. Yet light is "sown," says the text. It lies latent: none can see it; it is sown. We are quite sure that it must one day manifest itself.

Full sure are we that the LORD has set a harvest for the sower of light, and they shall reap it, each man for himself. Then shall come their gladness. Sheaves of joy for seeds of light. Their heart was upright before the LORD, though men gave them no credit for it, but even censured them: they were righteous, though those about them denounced them as censorious. They had to wait, as husbandmen wait for the precious fruits of the earth: but the light was sown for them, and gladness was being prepared on their behalf by the LORD of the harvest.

Courage, brothers! We need not be in a hurry. Let us in patience possess our souls, for soon shall our souls possess light and gladness.

十月二十三日

「耶和华神用土所造成的野地各样走兽，和空中各样飞鸟，都带到那人面前看他叫甚么？那人怎样叫各样的活物，那就是它的名字。那人便给一切牲畜，和空中飞鸟，野地走兽都起了名；衹是那人没有遇见配偶帮助他。」（创二19至20）

　　亚当看遍了神所有创造地上的活物，其中有极美丽的，有极玲珑的，但亚当找不到一个作自己的配偶；虽有许多美丽可爱的动物在他眼前，他仍是孤单。就是因为这许多的活物和亚当不同灵、不同生命，所以彼此不能相交，彼此不能相通，彼此不能相合，彼此不能相爱。

　　今天我们得与神的儿子相交，作了神儿子的配偶，不是因为别的，就是因为在我们里面，有了儿子的灵，儿子的生命；所以我们原来虽然是人，却成了神儿子的配偶。我们与基督所发生的关系，不再是神与人的关系，不再是造物的主与被造之物的关系，乃是有非常的关系，极宝贝的关系，是在生命中有关系，在灵里有关系。我们能与神的儿子彼此相交，彼此相通，彼此相合，彼此相爱，成为一体，成为一灵。这是何等宝贝的救恩！神把我们救到了何等的地步！有一天基督在祂荣耀中降临，就要把我们接进荣耀中和祂一同显现，永远和祂同住。

　　「我的良人哪！求你快来，如羚羊或小鹿在香草山上。」（歌八14）

　　「哈利路亚！因为主我们的神、全能者，作王了。我们要欢喜快乐，将荣耀归给祂。因为羔羊婚娶的时候到了，新妇也自己预备好了。」（启十九6至7）

《荒漠甘泉》10月23日

　　“…应许赐福的话，一句都没有落空。”（王上8：56）

　　有一天，我们会明白：神每一个“不”，都是有理由的；他每一次总用一些别的方法来补救他的“不”。多少时候，他的子民在担忧在烦恼说为什么他们的祷告还没有得着答应，那知神正在用一个更丰富的方法答应他们。这种光景我们是常看见的，但是完全的启示尚须留待将来才能显明。

　　哦，信心是不会着急的，信心只知道忍耐等候主——等候末日的解释，就是耶稣基督的启示。信徒啊，什么时候神曾拿去你的，而不加倍还给你呢？假使神不立刻归还你，怎么样呢？莫非今天是神的末了一天么？难道在这个小小的世界以外，他就没有别的领土了么？难道复活者的墓门，只对着无穷的黑暗与永恒的沉默而开启吗？

　　我们就是只说今生，也知道神从来不单给我们一个试炼，而不带一些更大的恩赐，更大的祝福，来给我们的。所以知道怎样等候神乃是基督徒最高的祝福。——选

十月二十四日

耶和华所栽种的，都满了汁浆。（诗篇104：16）

没有汁浆，树就不能茂盛，甚至也不能存活。活力对于基督徒是很重要的。必须有生命——这一至关重要的原则乃是靠着圣灵——神灌输给我们的，不然我们就不能成为神的树。徒有基督徒的名字是死的，我们必须充满神生命的灵。这生命是奥秘的。我们不懂汁浆怎样流通，是什么力量使它升上，又是什么能力使它降下。同样，我们里面的生命也是一个神圣的奥秘。重生乃是藉着圣灵进入到人里面而成为人的生命；其后，这个属神的生命在信徒里面也必须吃喝基督的血肉，乃是靠着神圣的食物来养育；但论到它怎样来，又怎样去，谁能给我们解说呢？汁浆真是一个秘密！根在土壤中用许多小孔寻索食物，但我们却看不到它们怎样吸取各种气体，或是怎样把矿物质变成绿叶；这种工作是在暗中作的。我们的根就是基督耶稣，我们的生命就藏在祂里面；这是主的奥秘。基督徒生命的根如同生命本身的奥秘。汁浆在香柏树中的流动是永不停止的！

在基督徒里面，属神的生命也是满有活力的——并不总是在于所结的果子，而是在于内在的作为。信徒的各样

德行，都在永远不间断地活跃着吗？然而他的生命却从未停止内在的跃动。他并不总是为神作工，但他的心却总是靠祂活着。汁浆通过滋生树木的果叶而自我展现，同样，一个真正健全的基督徒，也必在言行方面表现出他的美德来。如果你和他说话，他是不能不谈说耶稣的。若你看他的行为，你必看出他是跟过耶稣的。他里面有如此之多的汁浆，以致他的言行必充满了生命

十月二十四日

经文: 祂……就洗门徒的脚。（约翰福音十三：5）

主耶稣是如此爱祂的儿女，祂每日为他们作许多事，例如洗他们沾满泥污的脚。祂接纳他们最软弱的行为；祂感受他们最深沉的忧伤；祂聆听他们最微小的愿望；祂饶恕他们每一过犯。祂是他们的仆人，也是他们的朋友和主人。当祂站立为他们恳求时，祂是伟大的；但是，祂也谦卑忍耐地拿着水盆和毛巾穿梭在祂的百姓之间。祂每日如此行，为了除去我们经常软弱和罪恶。昨晚，你祷告时，忧伤地承认自己有许多行为与基督徒这个名号不相称。甚至在今晚，你也为落入同样的罪恶而悲哀，而这罪在很久以前已经蒙恩得救了。然而，耶稣对你百般忍耐。祂听你认罪的祷告，祂说：“我肯，你洁净了吧。”（路五：13）祂将再次以宝血救赎，并使你心得平安。这是永恒之爱的伟大表现，基督接纳罪人，并使他们在上帝的家中有份。当救主忍受任性的门徒一再犯错时，那是多么大的忍耐啊！日复一日，每时每刻，祂洗净罪人的众多过犯，然而他们仍是祂所爱的人。使背逆的浪潮干涸是一件奇妙的事，但是要忍受重覆的冒犯，并忍受对耐心永不止息的试验，这实在是上帝的作为！藉着主每日的洁净，我们寻求安慰和平安，祂对我们的影响会叫我们更儆醒，并加强我们追求圣洁愿望。

Evening, October 24

Scripture: “He began to wash the disciples’ feet.”(John 13:5)

The Lord Jesus loves his people so much, that every day he is still doing for them much that is analogous to washing their soiled feet. Their poorest actions he accepts; their deepest sorrow he feels; their slenderest wish he hears, and their every transgression he forgives. He is still their servant as well as their Friend and Master. He not only performs majestic deeds for them, as wearing the mitre on his brow, and the precious jewels glittering on his breastplate, and standing up to plead for them, but humbly, patiently, he yet goes about among his people with the basin and the towel. He does this when he puts away from us day by day our constant infirmities and sins. Last night, when you bowed the knee, you mournfully confessed that much of your conduct was not worthy of your profession; and even tonight, you must mourn afresh that you have fallen again into the selfsame folly and sin from which special grace delivered you long ago; and yet Jesus will have great patience with you; he will hear your confession of sin; he will say, “I will, be thou clean”; he will again apply the blood of sprinkling, and speak peace to your conscience, and remove every spot. It is a great act of eternal love when Christ once for all absolves the sinner, and puts him into the family of God; but what condescending patience there is when the Saviour with much long-suffering bears the oft recurring follies of his wayward disciple; day by day, and hour by hour, washing away the multiplied transgressions of his erring but yet beloved child! To dry up a flood of rebellion is something marvellous, but to endure the constant dropping of repeated offences－to bear with a perpetual trying of patience, this is divine indeed! While we find comfort and peace in our Lord's daily cleansing, its legitimate influence upon us will be to increase our watchfulness, and quicken our desire for holiness. Is it so?

《竭诚为主》10月24日 观点

“感谢 神！常率领我们在基督里夸胜。”林后2：14

对于一个为神工作的工人，他的观点不能是接近他所能达到的最高，而必须是最高。要当心只是费力地维持神的观点，要每天这样做，一点点地，不要考虑期限。没有任何外在的力量可以触到神的观点。

我们要维持的观点乃是，我们在这世上单单是为一个目的，即成为基督得胜的军队中的俘虏。我们不是在神的陈列室里，我们在世是要展示一件事－－我们的生命被耶稣基督绝对的俘虏。其他的观点是何等渺小－－“我在独自为耶稣争战，我要维持基督的事业，为他坚守岗位”。保罗说，我在胜利者的队伍里，无论遇到什么困难，我总是在得胜中。这个观念是否实际在我们里面运行呢？保罗喜乐的秘诀是神带领他，一个双手沾染了鲜血的反叛耶稣基督的人，成为了耶稣基督的俘虏，现在这就是他在世的全部目的。保罗的喜乐就是成为主的俘虏，对天地里的一切再没有其他的兴趣。对于一个基督徒来说，谈论如何得到胜利是一件羞耻的事。得胜者应当完全的得着我们，以致始终都是他的得胜，我们也藉着他成为了得胜者。

“因为我们在 神面前，无论在得救的人身上，或灭亡的人身上，都有基督馨香之气。”（15节）我们被耶稣的香气包围，无论我们走到哪里，都叫神舒畅，使人奇妙的恢复与神的关系。

October 24 The Viewpoint

“Now thanks be to God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ.” 2 Corinthians 2:14

The viewpoint of a worker for God must not be as near the highest as he can get, it must be the highest. Be careful to maintain strenuously God's point of view, it has to be done every day, bit by bit; don't think on the finite. No outside power can touch the viewpoint.

The viewpoint to maintain is that we are here for one purpose only, viz., to be captives in the train of Christ's triumphs. We are not in God's showroom, we are here to exhibit one thing – the absolute captivity of our lives to Jesus Christ. How small the other points of view are – I am standing alone battling for Jesus; I have to maintain the cause of Christ and hold this fort for Him. Paul says – I am in the train of a conqueror, and it does not matter what the difficulties are, I am always led in triumph. Is this idea being worked out practically in us? Paul's secret joy was that God took him, a red-handed rebel against Jesus Christ, and made him a captive, and now that is all he is here for. Paul's joy was to be a captive of the Lord, he had no other interest in heaven or in earth. It is a shameful thing for a Christian to talk about getting the victory. The Victor ought to have got us so completely that it is His victory all the time, and we are more than conquerors through Him.

“For we are unto God a sweet saviour of Christ.” We are enwheeled with the odour of Jesus, and wherever we go we are a wonderful refreshment to God.

十月二十四日信心的支票簿 Faith's check book

神是坚固台

经文:「我必使你向这百姓成为坚固的铜墙，他们必攻击你，却不能胜你，因我与你同在，要拯救你、搭救你。这是耶和华说的。」（耶利米书15︰20）

人若坚定地敬畏和信靠神，这坚定之心能让人坚固如铜墙，没有人能够击倒或打破。唯有神能使人如此坚固；我们的教会需要这样的人，我们的世界需要这样的人，尤其我们的讲坛，更需要这样的人。

在这弯曲悖谬的世代，撒但总是无所不用其极，攻击那些持守真理、不向罪恶妥协的人。最令撒但头痛、愤怒的，莫过于坚守真理的决心，牠们攻击卫道之士，有如亚述人攻击坚城一般，一波接一波毫不留情地摧毁。幸好，那些靠神的力量，得以坚强站立得稳的人，不会被他们打败。那些酷爱恩典之教义的人，因为他们拥有教义之恩典，就必像波涛汹涌海洋中的坚石，作中流砥柱，屹立不摇；反之，那些没有定见，三心二意的人，却要随波逐流，摇摆不定，只需别人吹一口气，他们就消失了。

我们从哪可以得到这样的坚固之心呢？答案就是——主说︰“我必与你同在。”耶和华要拯救忠诚的灵魂，把我们从横逆的困境中提拔上来。尽管仇敌打击我们，但万军之主与我们同在；因为主祂自己会在我们的疆界中保守我们，我们定会寸步不让，在那里持守，直到世界未了。

Godly Stability

Scripture: "And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brazen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith the LORD" (Jeremiah 15:20).

Stability in the fear and faith of God will make a man like a wall of brass, which no one can batter down or break. Only the LORD can make such; but we need such men in the church, and in the world, but specially in the pulpit.

Against uncompromising men of truth this age of shams will fight tooth and nail. Nothing seems to offend Satan and his seed like decision. They attack holy firmness even as the Assyrians besieged fenced cities. The joy is that they cannot prevail against those whom God has made strong in His strength. Carried about with every wind of doctrine, others only need to be blown upon and away they go; but those who love the doctrines of grace, because they possess the grace of the doctrines, stand like rocks in the midst of raging seas.

Whence this stability? "I am with thee, saith the LORD": that is the true answer. Jehovah will save and deliver faithful souls from all the assaults of the adversary. Hosts are against us, but the LORD of hosts is with us. We dare not budge an inch; for the LORD Himself holds us in our place, and there we will abide forever.

十月二十四日

你的儿子比别人的儿子有甚么长处，你为甚么爱自己的儿子而不爱别人的儿子？你的儿子既不比别人的儿子聪明，又不比别人的的儿子俊美，为甚么你爱这不聪明、不俊美的，而不爱那聪明俊美的呢？就是因为你的儿子有了你的生命；这微小的生命，就使你多多爱他；别人的儿子也有生命，但不是你的生命，所以你不爱他。

　　我们这信奉神儿子的人，得著儿子之灵的人，按肉体说，我们比世上的人并没有长进，我们不比别人有智慧，不比别人有才干，不比别人有道德，不比别人更强壮，因为我们接受了儿子的灵，所以神就特别爱我们。

　　我们接受儿子之灵以先，我们站在罪人的地位，站在神的震怒之下。即使象亚当犯罪以先，是无罪的，也不过是站在受造的地位上事奉神，仍是仆人的地位和天使一样。但我们今日有儿子的权柄，有儿子的自由，有儿子的地位；又有耶稣基督在许多儿子中作长子；神要将许多儿子领进荣耀里去，和耶稣基督一同得荣耀。

　　神将儿子的灵赐给我们，比一切的恩赐都大，为此，我们宁可不要全世界，要作神的儿子；宁可不作君王，要作神的儿子；因为儿子在家庭中是居有最蒙爱的地位。神将祂最宝贝的给了我们，就是祂的儿子；神又将最宝贝的地位给我们，就是作祂的儿子；我们因著祂的儿子而成了儿子，成了永生神的儿子。真是满心感谢神。

　　「亲爱的阿！我们现在是神的儿女，将来如何，还未显明；但我们知道主若显现了，我们必要象祂；因为必得见祂的真体。」（约壹三2）

《荒漠甘泉》10月24日

　　“我已使你成为快齿打粮的新器具。”（赛41：15）

　　一条值五快钱的钢铁，如果作成蹄铁，可以卖十块钱；如果作成细针，可以卖三百五十块钱；如果作成小刀，可以卖三万二千块钱；如果作成钟表上的发条，可以卖二十五万块钱。但是一根钢条，要值到这许多钱，必须经过多少锻炼啊！钢铁越经锻炼，锤打，火烧，琢磨，越是值钱，这是人所共知的。

　　但愿这个比喻能帮助我们缄默，安静，坚韧。受苦受得最多的人，常是结果结得最多的人，因为我们的苦难能叫神得到荣耀，叫人得到祝福。——选　

　人生是一个谜，除非我们相信，在这个世界之外，神给我们准备了另一个服务的处所，那里需要经过高度锻炼的灵魂，作特殊的工作，否则就无法索解这个谜。

　　刀锋最锐利的车床，才能完成最精致的产品。