十月九日

那能保守你们不失脚……（犹：24）

从某一方面看天路是很平稳的，但从另一方面说没有一条路比这一条更艰险了。其中满了困难。一失足，（若是没有神的恩典，这是多么容易的一件事呀！）就走入歧途。我们当中有一些人所走的路是多么滑呀！我们常用诗人的话说：“我的脚几乎失闪，我的脚险些滑跌。”若我们是一些强壮而健步的爬山的人，这当然不算一回什么事了；但我们是多么地软弱呀！我们在康庄的大道上也会颠踬，在平坦的大路上也易跌倒。我们的双膝无力支持我们摇摇欲坠的身体。一根草能绊跌我们，一块小石子能伤损我们；我们在信心的道路上好像是才学步的小孩子，我们的天父用手扶着我们，不然我们就必跌倒。我们真该赞美神，因为他天天耐心地看顾我们，为的是保守我们不倾跌！你想，我们是多么容易犯罪、选择危险、自甘跌倒呀！但这些更能使我们高唱：“那能保守你们不失脚……愿荣耀……归与他。”魔鬼千方百计地想把我们打倒。路途崎岖，身体疲弱，再加上恶敌四伏，它们就在悬崖绝壁之间乘我们不备的时候，起而攻击我们，打倒我们。只有全能者能救我们脱离要毁坏我们的埋伏着的仇敌。他的膀臂要保护我们。他的应许是信实的，并且他能保守我们不跌倒。我们虽然软弱无力，但我们要快乐，要坚信我们必十分平安。“就是世界和地狱一同来攻击我，只要有耶稣的神能与我同在，就必平安稳妥；因他是我的一切。”

十月九日

经文: 耶稣却一言不答。（马太福音十五：23）

真诚的寻求却尚未得到祝福的人，可以从今晚的经文中获得安慰。虽然这妇人对救主有极大的信心，但是祂并未立即给予祝福。祂要赐福，但却等待片刻。“耶稣一言不答。”在世上没有一个人的祈祷能及得上这位妇人的祈求。她极为迫切，而她的信心如此大，甚至耶稣都说：“妇人，你的信心是大的。”（太十五：28）。信心为祈祷带来应允，这话是确实的，但不一定即时蒙应允。有时对信心加以试验会比对信心的赏赐更为重要。真诚的信心可能像一颗隐藏的种子，尚未萌芽开花成为喜乐与平安。救主的片刻沉默是许多寻求主之心灵的悲伤试验。而像这样严厉、截然的回答：“不好拿儿女的饼丢给狗吃。”（太十五：26）更是教人的心情愈发沉重。许多人在等待主时得到即时的答覆，但并不是所有人都如此。有人瞬间就从黑暗转入了光明，但有时却像生长缓慢的植物慢极了，上帝可能使你对罪有更深的感受而不使你有被饶恕的感觉，在这种情况下，你需要耐性来忍受沉重的打击。虽然你可能被打伤，但你仍要信靠上帝。虽然祂向你说气话，但你乃要相信祂心中对你的爱。不要放弃寻求，也不要放弃对主的信靠，因为你尚未获得你渴望的蒙福之喜乐。投向祂，当你不能有喜乐的盼望时，更要坚定地依靠祂。

Evening, October 9

Scripture: “But he answered her not a word.”(Matthew 15:23)

Genuine seekers who as yet have not obtained the blessing, may take comfort from the story before us. The Saviour did not at once bestow the blessing, even though the woman had great faith in him. He intended to give it, but he waited awhile. “He answered her not a word.” Were not her prayers good? Never better in the world. Was not her case needy? Sorrowfully needy. Did she not feel her need sufficiently? She felt it overwhelmingly. Was she not earnest enough? She was intensely so. Had she no faith? She had such a high degree of it that even Jesus wondered, and said, “O woman, great is thy faith.” See then, although it is true that faith brings peace, yet it does not always bring it instantaneously. There may be certain reasons calling for the trial of faith, rather than the reward of faith. Genuine faith may be in the soul like a hidden seed, but as yet it may not have budded and blossomed into joy and peace. A painful silence from the Saviour is the grievous trial of many a seeking soul, but heavier still is the affliction of a harsh cutting reply such as this, “It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.” Many in waiting upon the Lord find immediate delight, but this is not the case with all. Some, like the jailer, are in a moment turned from darkness to light, but others are plants of slower growth. A deeper sense of sin may be given to you instead of a sense of pardon, and in such a case you will have need of patience to bear the heavy blow. Ah! poor heart, though Christ beat and bruise thee, or even slay thee, trust him; though he should give thee an angry word, believe in the love of his heart. Do not, I beseech thee, give up seeking or trusting my Master, because thou hast not yet obtained the conscious joy which thou longest for. Cast thyself on him, and perseveringly depend even where thou canst not rejoicingly hope.

《竭诚为主》10月9日 振作

将肢体献给义作奴仆，以至于成圣。（罗六19）

我不能救自己，叫自己成圣，也不能赎罪；我不能救赎世界，把歪的弄直，把不纯的变为纯净，把不洁的变为圣洁。这完全是神至高无上的作为。我对主耶稣成就的一切，有没有信心呢？他成就完全的救恩，我有没有时刻谨记？最重要的不是作什么，而是相信。基督的救赎不是一个经验，乃是神透过基督成就的大作为，我要把信心建基其上。若我的信心寄托在自己的经历上，就产生最不合圣经的模式－－一个孤立的生命，因为我只注视自身的洁白。要提防那种不以主的救赎为根基的敬虔，这生命毫无用处，只是避世的退隐，对神无用处，对人也无裨益。要以主耶稣来衡量每一种经历。除非我们把所有事物建基在主的救赎上，否则一切所作的都不能讨神喜悦。

主耶稣的救赎必须在我的生活上产生实际自然的功效。每次我顺服，神就在我这一方，他的恩典与我天性的顺服就契合为一了。顺服就是把一切都投在主的救赎上，于是就立即得着神恩典的悦纳。

提防那些否定天然人性的敬虔自守，因这只是个假壳。要经常去到救赎的案前，问自己：在这件或那件事上，(在我身上的)救赎大工有被显明出来吗？

祈祷◆主啊，我来到你的面前，求你自己像一团火那样四面护卫我，而你的荣耀就在其中。这个祈求听起来全属自私，可是，我却不懂得用别的方法来表达。噢，主啊，你是最清楚知道的。

October 9 Pull Yourself Together

“Yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.” Romans 6:13-22

I cannot save and sanctify myself; I cannot atone for sin; I cannot redeem the world; I can not make right what is wrong, pure what is impure, holy what is unholy. That is all the sovereign work of God. Have I faith in what Jesus Christ has done? He has made a perfect Atonement, am I in the habit of constantly realizing it? The great need is not to do things, but to believe things. The Redemption of Christ is not an experience, it is the great act of God which He has performed through Christ, and I have to build my faith upon it. If I construct my faith on my experience, I produce that most unscriptural type, an isolated life, my eyes fixed on my own whiteness. Beware of the piety that has no pre-supposition in the Atonement of the Lord. It is of no use for anything but a sequestered life; it is useless to God and a nuisance to man. Measure every type of experience by our Lord Himself. We cannot do anything pleasing to God unless we deliberately build on the pre-supposition of the Atonement.

The Atonement of Jesus has to work out in practical, unobtrusive ways in my life. Every time I obey, absolute Deity is on my side, so that the grace of God and natural obedience coincide. Obedience means that I have banked everything on the Atonement, and my obedience is met immediately by the delight of the supernatural grace of God.

Beware of the piety that denies the natural life, it is a fraud. Continually bring yourself to the bar of the Atonement – where is the discernment of the Atonement in this thing, and in that?

十月九日信心的支票簿 Faith's check book

赎罪祭坛

经文:「又要把些血抹在会幕内耶和华面前香坛的四角上」（利未记4︰7）

焚香的祭坛，是圣徒们献上祷告与赞美的地方。那儿也是耶稣宝血倾洒之处，我们的敬拜因此得蒙神的悦纳：因祂看到祂爱子的血，祂就接纳我们的奉献与敬拜。当想到这些，我们应欣喜快乐。

定睛在唯一赎罪祭的宝血上是与我们有益的。罪甚至与我们所行的圣事混杂了，若没有耶稣赎罪祭的功效，即使我们最真心的悔改、信心、祷告、感恩，神也不会接纳。有人轻看耶稣的“宝血”，但对我们而言，这却是我们一切安慰和盼望的基础。宝血抹在香坛的四角，意味着当我们就近神时，那是最抢眼的。这宝血能使我们的祷告得力量，因此它被抹在坛的四角。这宝血是“在主的面前”，因此也应当是在我们面前。在我们奉上香料之前，它就已经在坛的四角之上；它在那，为要叫我们的献祭和礼物成圣。

来吧，让我们满有信心地祷告，因为赎罪羔羊已献上，救赎的大工已成，宝血就在幔子内，信徒的祷告，必能像馨香之气，达到主的面前。

What Sanctifies Our Offerings?

Scripture: "And the priest shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the LORD" (Leviticus 4:7).

The altar of incense is the place where saints present their prayers and praises; and it is delightful to think of it as sprinkled with the blood of the great sacrifice. This it is which makes all our worship acceptable with Jehovah: He sees the blood of His own Son and therefore accepts our homage.

It is well for us to fix our eyes upon the blood of the one offering for sin. Sin mingles even with our holy things, and our best repentance, faith, prayer, and thanksgiving could not be received of God were it not for the merit of the atoning sacrifice. Many sneer at "the blood"; but to us it is the foundation of comfort and hope. That which is on the horns of the altar is meant to be prominently before our eyes when we draw near to God. The blood gives strength to prayer, and hence it is on the altar's horns. It is "before the LORD," and therefore it ought to be before us. It is on the altar before we bring the incense; it is there to sanctify our offerings and gifts.

Come, let us pray with confidence, since the Victim is offered, the merit has been pleaded, the blood is within the veil, and the prayers of believers must be sweet unto the LORD.

十月九日

主耶稣复活升天的时候，吩咐了门徒一句话：「你们往普天下去，传福音给万民听。」（可十六15）门徒从那时起，开始传福音；从那时起一直到今天，不知有多少人都如同负著紧急的使命，不停息的推广福音，传扬主耶稣基督和祂钉十字架；这些传福音的使者，不但甘心费力费财，还有多少使者是撇下家中亲爱的人，走入荒漠海岛，甚至牺牲了自己的生命。世界上有甚么事业比基督教传福音的工作更广泛！世界上有何工作比基督教传福音的工作更久远！它被推动的能力就是在两千年这前的一句话。这话是何等的有权威，谁说话能与主相比呢？

　　亲爱的主！「祢真是万王之王，万主之主。」

　　世上有那一个君王说的话，在他死后还有这么大的权柄？你能找出一个吗？主耶稣自己说：「天地要废去，我的话却不废去。」（太二十四25）把这几句话，和今日的事实来对照，就更加增我们的信心，除去我们不信的恶心。

　　主的话不但这几句有能力，祂的每一句话都带著天地之君王的权柄、能力。

　　主又说：「你们这小群，不要惧怕，因为你们的父，乐意把国赐给你们。」（路十二32）主说：「不要惧怕。」我们就应当从我们心中除掉惧怕。主说：「你们的父，乐意把国赐给你们。」我们就应当欢喜快乐地等候神的国降临，我们要和基督一同在国度里掌权。

　　忧愁惧怕的心哪！为甚么不信主的话呢？

《荒漠甘泉》10月9日

　　“耶和华必然等候，要施恩给你们。”（赛30：18）

　　雨水多的地方，青草最绿。爱尔兰（Ireland）地方素来多雾，结果得到了“翡翠岛。”（Emerald Isle）的尊称。什么时候我们遭到了“苦难的雾”，“悲哀的雾”，什么时候我们定规会有一颗翡翠的心——充满了神的安慰和爱的心。哦，信徒啊，你不要说：“燕子不见了，他们死了”。它们并不是死了；它们掠过大海，飞往远方去了；它们不久还会再回来的。你不要说：“花儿死了，严冬把它们杀死了。太阳熄了，黑云把它扑灭了”。不是的！太阳在黑云后面替你酿造夏天。你也不要说：“我的神忘记了”。你的神并不是忘记，乃是迟延，为要叫你爱他更深。神让我们等候，为要操练我们的忍耐，试验我们的信心；因此，我们应当继续在盼望中等候；应许虽然迟延，决不会延得太迟的。——司布真

十月十日

无瑕无疵、欢欢喜喜站在他荣耀之前。（犹：24）

你在心中熟思“无瑕无疵”（没有过错）是多么希奇的说法呀！我们现在距此尚远；但耶稣所作的恩工若不完全，是不会中止的，所以有一天我们必能达到那境界。那能保守他民到底的救主，必使他的教会在末时献给自己“作个荣耀的教会、毫无玷污、皱纹等类的病，乃是圣洁没有瑕疵的。”救主冠冕上的宝石每一块都是最光彩无疵的。每一位参加羔羊婚筵的童女都是贞洁无瑕的。但耶稣怎样才能使我们无瑕无疵呢？他要用自己的的血洗净我们的罪，直到我们像神的圣天使那样洁白完美；我们要穿上耶稣的义袍，这义袍使穿着它的人无瑕无疵，在神的面前成为完全的。我们当在神的眼中看为无可指摘、无可斥责的。他的律法不但不攻击我们，而且在我们里面发扬光大起来。并且，圣灵也必在我们里面成全他的工作。他要使我们完全圣洁，使我们没有一点犯罪的倾向、判断、记忆、意志——每一种力量和情感都要释放我们，使我们不再作罪恶的奴仆。我们必像神那样地圣洁，并且永远住在他的面前。圣徒必永远定居于天堂，他们的荣美必充满为他们所预备的地方。永生之门大开之时必充满了欢乐，我们也必承受产业，在光中与众圣一同居住。罪恶没有了，撒但被关在门外，诱惑永远过去了，我们自己必在神的面前“无瑕无疵”，这实在就是天堂！当我们现在高唱永久赞美的歌声时我们要快乐，不久我们就与被血洗净的众圣徒一同唱和；我们要效法大卫在约柜前的踊跃跳舞，当作我们在宝座前狂欢的前奏。

十月十日

经文: 我必搭救你脱离恶人的手，救赎你脱离强暴人的手。（耶利米书十五：21）

主耶和华亲自出马搭救和救赎祂的百姓。祂誓言要亲自拯救他们。祂的膀臂将要施行拯救，祂也将得着荣耀。圣经并没有提到我们要努力来协助耶和华。不必考虑我们的能力，也不必考虑我们的软弱。既然如此，我们为什么还要依靠自己的力量和血气以致悲惨跌倒呢？耶和华有足够的能力，无需要借助我们微不足道的力量。平静吧，不信的头脑！安静并知道主是统管一切的。主没有提及朋友或帮助祂的人。祂单独作工，并不感到需要人的协助。我们惯于依靠亲友。但那是没用的。当我们依靠他们时，他们就像芦苇般折断了──他们有能力时不愿意帮助，没有能力时反倒愿意帮助。因为应许是从上帝而来，最有智慧的行动就是等候祂。我们若如此必永不失望。谁是我当惧怕的恶者？上帝要完全消灭他们，我们应当可怜他们而不是害怕。至于强暴者，对那些没有一位上帝可以投靠的人来说，他们才是恐布分子。上帝既站在我们的一方，我们还要惧怕谁呢？倘若我们犯罪教恶人喜悦，那才真有害怕的理由；但是若我们对上帝笃诚，暴君之怒气将被镇压。在每一个可怕试验中，愿我们都能忍耐持守，全心信靠全能上帝的应许。

Evening, October 10

Scripture: “And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible.”(Jeremiah 15:21)

Note the glorious personality of the promise. I will, I will. The Lord Jehovah himself interposes to deliver and redeem his people. He pledges himself personally to rescue them. His own arm shall do it, that he may have the glory. Here is not a word said of any effort of our own which may be needed to assist the Lord. Neither our strength nor our weakness is taken into the account, but the lone I, like the sun in the heavens, shines out resplendent in all-sufficience. Why then do we calculate our forces, and consult with flesh and blood to our grievous wounding? Jehovah has power enough without borrowing from our puny arm. Peace, ye unbelieving thoughts, be still, and know that the Lord reigneth. Nor is there a hint concerning secondary means and causes. The Lord says nothing of friends and helpers: he undertakes the work alone, and feels no need of human arms to aid him. Vain are all our lookings around to companions and relatives; they are broken reeds if we lean upon them－often unwilling when able, and unable when they are willing. Since the promise comes alone from God, it would be well to wait only upon him; and when we do so, our expectation never fails us. Who are the wicked that we should fear them? The Lord will utterly consume them; they are to be pitied rather than feared. As for terrible ones, they are only terrors to those who have no God to fly to, for when the Lord is on our side, whom shall we fear? If we run into sin to please the wicked, we have cause to be alarmed, but if we hold fast our integrity, the rage of tyrants shall be overruled for our good. When the fish swallowed Jonah, he found him a morsel which he could not digest; and when the world devours the church, it is glad to be rid of it again. In all times of fiery trial, in patience let us possess our souls.

《竭诚为主》10月10日 我怎知道？

父啊，天地的主，我感谢你！因为你将这些事向聪明通达人就藏起来，向婴孩就显出来。（太十一25）

在属灵的关系上，没有渐长这回事；有就有，没有就是没有。神并不是愈来愈洗清我们的罪，而是我们若行在光中，一切罪就除掉了。问题是顺服与否，若顺服，那关系就随即完全了。只要一秒钟不顺服，黑暗与死亡就随即作工。

神所有的启示全都是隐密的，不能靠哲学或思想开启；只有靠顺服，才向我们开启。一顺服，亮光就来。不是牵肠挂肚地要进入真理，乃是要浸在真理中，好叫他能在你里面作工。要认识真理，就只有靠重生，而不是靠追寻。顺服神告诉你的事，下一步他就会向你显明。关于圣灵的工作，我们可以读万卷书，但只要有五分钟的完全顺服，事情就明朗如目光。“我想总有一天会明白的。”其实你如今就可以明白，不是靠研究，乃是靠顺服。一点点的顺服，就能打开天门，神深奥的真理就立即属于你了。你若尚未顺服神向你启示的真理，他不会再向你显示更多真理。要当心变得“聪明通达”。“人若立志遵着他的旨意行，就必晓得...”(约7:17)

祈祷◆噢，主啊，愿我从肉体和心灵的各种污秽中自洁；除去属灵生命中所有的粗糙品质，以致我可以在满足的喜乐中，在你里面居住。

October 10 Whereby Shall I Know?

“I thank Thee, 0 Father . . . because Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.” Matthew 11:25

In spiritual relationship we do not grow step by step; we are either there or we are not. God does not cleanse us more and more from sin, but when we are in the light, walking in the light, we are cleansed from all sin. It is a question of obedience, and instantly the relationship is perfected. Turn away for one second out of obedience, and darkness and death are at work at once.

All God's revelations are sealed until they are opened to us by obedience. You will never get them open by philosophy or thinking. Immediately you obey, a flash of light comes. Let God's truth work in you by soaking in it, not by worrying into it. The only way you can get to know is to stop trying to find out and by being born again. Obey God in the thing He shows you, and instantly the next thing is opened up. One reads tomes on the work of the Holy Spirit, when one five minutes of drastic obedience would make things as clear as a sunbeam. “I suppose I shall understand these things some day!” You can understand them now. It is not study that does it, but obedience. The tiniest fragment of obedience, and heaven opens and the profoundest truths of God are yours straight away. God will never reveal more truth about Himself until you have obeyed what you know already. Beware of becoming “wise and prudent.”

十月十日信心的支票簿 Faith's check book

无人能关的门

经文:「我在你面前给你一个敞开的门，是无人能关的。」（启示录3︰8）

忠于神真理的圣徒，在他们面前，有一扇敞开的门，是无人能关的。我的灵哪，若你在圣经中已找到那颠扑不破的真理，且能为之生为之死，你就找到那扇为你敞开的门。

我要进入那扇门，与神一同坐席，谁能拦阻我呢？耶稣已经担当我的罪债、赐我称义的白袍，使我得以进到祂的施恩宝座前。主啊，这完全是仰赖祢的恩典。

我面前还有一扇门，引我进到神的真理里面，得以知道神国奥秘之事，比如神的拣选，与主的联合，主的再临等。这些对我不再是头脑的知识、陌生的道理，而是了然于心、能完全接受的真理。

我有一扇密室的门，通往天上，人借着祷告与神彼此相通；另一扇门，是开向世界，让我在地上能与圣徒相通，且服务世人。神愿意倾听我的声音，神愿意使用我。有人虽想把这两扇门关掉，却是不可能。

不久我即将回到天家，那儿的珍珠大门，将为我大开，让我进到天堂，与我的主，我的神，万王之王一同坐席，从此永不分离。

Open Door of Communion

Scripture: "I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it" (Revelation 3:8).

Saints who remain faithful to the truth of God have an open door before them. My soul, thou hast resolved to live and die by that which the LORD has revealed in His Word, and therefore before thee stands this open door.

I will enter in by the open door of communion with God. Who shall say me nay? Jesus has removed my sin and given me His righteousness; therefore I may freely enter. LORD, I do so by Thy grace.

I have also before me an open door into the mysteries of the Word. I may enter into the deep things of God. Election, union to Christ, the Second advent- all these are before me, and I may enjoy them. No promise and no doctrine are now locked up against me.

An open door of access is before me in private and an open door of usefulness in public. God will hear me; God will use me. A door is opened for my onward march to the church above, and for my daily fellowship with saints below. Some may try to shut me up or shut me out, but all in vain.

Soon shall I see an open door into heaven: the pearl gate will be my way of entrance, and then I shall go in unto my LORD and King and be with God eternally shut in.

十月十日

「你要尽心、尽性、尽意、尽力，爱主你的神。」（可十二30）

　　你要问：「甚么是尽心、尽性、尽意、尽力」呢？

　　你不懂甚么是「尽心、尽性、尽意、尽力」吗？你可看见慈爱的母亲乳养自己所生的婴孩吗？她的孩子比她的性命还宝贵。她一切的一切都愿意为孩子，若是孩子病了，母亲流著眼泪，昼夜服事，她对孩子真可说是尽心、尽性、尽意、尽力了。我们看见妇人爱小孩子就明白了甚么叫尽心、尽性、尽意、尽力。

　　这不是说神有小孩的需要，要我们来供给祂甚么，这不是说神和小孩子那样软弱，需要母亲的保护。神乃是要我们向祂尽心、尽性、尽意、尽力来爱祂，神缺不少甚么，神不需要甚么，祂将独生爱子和万物一同白白的赐给我们，祂比慈爱的母亲乳养儿女更周全，祂向我们所要的，就是我们专一的爱、完全的爱。就象富有的父母，他们不需要儿女给他们甚么，倒将自己的全部产业给他们的儿女，但他们向儿女所要的，就是儿女们的爱心和顺从。

　　不必用神的爱为尺度量自己，就以慈爱的父母爱儿女的爱为尺度量一量，就可显得我们爱神的心太小了，恐怕连百分之一的也没有。你为儿女花了一百块钱，你为神花了一块钱吗？你为儿女用了一百分的工夫，你为神用了一分吗？为神的太少了！

　　「为义人死，是少有的，为仁人死，或者有敢作的。惟有基督在我们还作罪人的时候为我们死，神的爱就在此向我们显明了。」（罗五7至8）

《荒漠甘泉》10月10日

　　“不要…心怀不平。”（诗37：1）

　　这是神的命令，和“不可偷盗”（出20：15）一样是神的命令。现在让我们替“心怀不平”下一个定义。到底什么叫做“心怀不平”呢？在这里有一个很好的定义：“心怀不平，是平面上起皱纹”。“摩擦或者消磨”；一个乖戾的，无理性的，吹毛求疵的人不但消磨自己，并且消磨别人。“心怀不平”就是心中烦恼。这是有害的，神不要我们自己伤害自己。

　　医生能告诉你：发一次怒，对于身体的损害，比发一次热还要厉害，所以一个常常“心怀不平”的人不能得到康健的身体，因为我们知道“心怀不平”容易叫我们生气，生气容易叫我们发怒。让我们服从神的命令——“不要有心怀不平”！——濮登

十月十一日

我们当诚心向天上的神举手祷告。(哀3：41)

祷告的动作教我们知道自己的不配，对于我们这些骄傲的人这是一个很好的教训。若是神不叫我们祷告就把恩典赐给我们的话，我们永也不会知道我们是怎样地贫穷；而真实的祷告乃是缺乏的清单，需要的表册，隐贫的揭露。当人祈求神的丰富时，就是承认自己的空虚；一个健全的基督徒，常是倒空自己多求神的供给，常在自己里面贫穷，而在耶稣里面丰富；自己要像水一样地软弱，但靠神的大能而作大事。祷告既然是敬拜神，因此祷告便叫人常常五体投地。撇开神的应允不谈，单单祷告本身就是基督徒的大福分。赛跑的人因平日的练习在赛跑时便有力量，我们这从事人生赛跑的人，也当从平时热切的祷告获得能力。祷告能使神的雏鹰展翅高翔，上凌云霄；祷告为神的战士束起腰来，使他们用强劲的筋肉向前奋战；一位恳切祷告的人离开密室时，犹如太阳的出洞房，或是壮士的欢然奔向前程。祷告是摩西高举的手，它击杀亚玛力人，比约书亚的刀剑更为锋利，所杀的更多；它是在先知房中所射的得胜箭，预先战胜了亚兰人。祷告用神的能力为软弱的人束腰，把人的愚妄变成神的智慧，并且把神的平安赐给受苦的人。我们不知道祷告有什么不能成就的事!伟大、全权全能的神啊!我们为你的施恩座感谢你，它是彰显你慈爱的最好的证据。求你帮助我们今天能多多善用你的施恩座!

十月十一日

经文: 豫先所定下的人又召他们来。（罗马书八：30）

使徒保罗写给摩太的信中说：“上帝救了我们，以圣灵召我们。”（提后一：9）这是一个可以用来试验我们的呼召的标准。这是圣召，不是按我们的行为，乃是照祂自己的旨意和恩典的呼召。这一呼召让我们不能有一丝依靠自己的行为，使我们只靠基督得救。接着，这呼召又将我们取死的行为炼净，得以事奉又真又活的上帝。因为呼召你的是圣洁的上帝，故此你也必须圣洁。你若真属于基督，你就能说：“教我最痛苦的是罪，我极愿除去。主啊，助我成圣。”这是你心的愿望吗？这是你靠近上帝、靠近祂圣洁旨意的实质生命吗？腓立比书第三章第十三至十四节告诉我们关于“上帝在基督耶稣里从上面而来的呼召”。你的蒙召是否教你心尊贵，定意在属天的事物上？你的蒙召是否提升你的盼望、你的爱好、你的愿望？是否提高了你的生活目的，以至你与上帝同活、为上帝而活？另一处经文是希伯来书第三章第一节：“同蒙天召的”。天召意思是从天而来的呼召。如果只有人呼召你，你是未蒙呼召的。你的呼召是从上帝而来的吗？不仅是从天而来，也是往天而去的吗？除非天堂是你的家园，你在世上只是过路客，否则你尚未得着从天而来的呼召。已经蒙召的人会宣称他们所寻求的是有根基的城，是上帝所经营、所建造的（来十一：10）。他们看自己在地上不过是异乡人和过路客。你的蒙召是否像他们一般，是圣洁的、向上的、属天的？若然，亲爱的，你己蒙上帝呼召了。

Evening, October 11

Scripture: “Whom he did predestinate, them he also called.”(Romans 8:30)

In the second epistle to Timothy, first chapter, and ninth verse, are these words－“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling.” Now, here is a touchstone by which we may try our calling. It is “an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace.” This calling forbids all trust in our own doings, and conducts us to Christ alone for salvation, but it afterwards purges us from dead works to serve the living and true God. As he that hath called you is holy, so must you be holy. If you are living in sin, you are not called, but if you are truly Christ's, you can say, “Nothing pains me so much as sin; I desire to be rid of it; Lord, help me to be holy.” Is this the panting of thy heart? Is this the tenor of thy life towards God, and his divine will? Again, in Philippians, 3:13, 14, we are told of “The high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Is then your calling a high calling? Has it ennobled your heart, and set it upon heavenly things? Has it elevated your hopes, your tastes, your desires? Has it upraised the constant tenor of your life, so that you spend it with God and for God? Another test we find in Hebrews 3:1－“Partakers of the heavenly calling.” Heavenly calling means a call from heaven. If man alone call thee, thou art uncalled. Is thy calling of God? Is it a call to heaven as well as from heaven? Unless thou art a stranger here, and heaven thy home, thou hast not been called with a heavenly calling; for those who have been so called, declare that they look for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God, and they themselves are strangers and pilgrims upon the earth. Is thy calling thus holy, high, heavenly? Then, beloved, thou hast been called of God, for such is the calling wherewith God doth call his people.

《竭诚为主》10月11日 神沉默之后－－怎样？

听见拉撒路病了，就在所居之地，仍住了两天。（约十一6）

神有没有因为信任你，对你默不作声－－一个满有意义的沉默？神的沉默就是他的回答。试想在伯大尼那几天的死寂！在你生命中，有类似的日子吗？神能否这样信任你？还是你仍不断求取眼见的答复？要是你得不着那祝福就不肯前行，神也会赐下；但他若沉默，是表示要使你对他有更深切的认识。你是否因为神未明明地回答你而忧愁？你会发现神最亲密待你，就是完全的沉默，不是绝望的死寂，而是愉快对你，因为他看到你可以承受一个更大的启示。如果神对你沉默，要赞美他，他正带你进入他伟大的计划中。神何时彰显他的答复，在乎他的主权。时间对神不是什么一回事。你曾说：“我求饼，他却给石头。”其实他没有这样作，今日你要发现神赐给你的是生命的饼。

神的沉默有一奇妙之处，就是把他的安静传给你，使你变得完全的坚信－－“我知道神听了我。”他的沉默表示他听见了。若你一意要神答允赐福你的祷告，他是会成就的；可是他不会赐你沉默的恩典。若耶稣基督引导你明白祷告是为荣耀父神，那么，他就会给你一个先兆，表示他与你的亲密关系－－沉默。

祈祷◆噢，主啊，愿这刻你以同在的光辉和你靠近的感觉来施福予我。虽然我惟独信靠你，但仍渴求自觉地以你的同在为乐，愿你将它赐给我。

October 11 After God's Silence – What?

“When He had heard therefore that he was sick, He abode two days in the same place where he was.” John 11:6

Has God trusted you with a silence – a silence that is big with meaning? God's silences are His answers. Think of those days of absolute silence in the home at Bethany! Is there anything analogous to those days in your life? Can God trust you like that, or are you still asking for a visible answer? God will give you the blessings you ask if you will not go any further without them; but His silence is the sign that He is bringing you into a marvellous understanding of Himself. Are you mourning before God because you have not had an audible response? You will find that God has trusted you in the most intimate way possible, with an absolute silence, not of despair, but of pleasure, because He saw that you could stand a bigger revelation. If God has given you a silence, praise Him, He is bringing you into the great run of His purposes. The manifestation of the answer in time is a matter of God's sovereignty. Time is nothing to God. For a while you said – “I asked God to give me bread, and He gave me a stone.” He did not, and to-day you find He gave you the bread of life.

A wonderful thing about God's silence is that the contagion of His stillness gets into you and you become perfectly confident – “I know God has heard me.” His silence is the proof that He has. As long as you have the idea that God will bless you in answer to prayer, He will do it, but He will never give you the grace of silence. If Jesus Christ is bringing you into the understanding that prayer is for the glorifying of His Father, He will give you the first sign of His intimacy – silence.

十月十一日信心的支票簿 Faith's check book

行动自如

经文:「我必使他们倚靠我，得以坚固；一举一动必奉我的名。这是耶和华说的。」（撒迦利亚书10︰12）

这经文是病痛中信徒的一帖安慰剂。他们已经灰心，担心自己再也不能从疑惑和恐惧的病榻上起来，但那位全能的大医生能将病痛和与之相伴的虚弱一并拿走。祂让软弱者得刚强。祂会以最好的方式成就这事，因这是“奉耶和华的名”成就。依靠神远比依靠自己更得力量。若靠着自己，力量不但有限，且容易自义；若靠着神，则源头不竭，且带来与神的团契。

得着力量的信徒要使用它。他要奉主的名自由走动。大病初愈，能够自由行动，是多么喜悦的事！经历一段时间的虚脱之后，在主里得以强健，更是令人快慰的事！主给祂的百姓有这样的自由，能到处走动，也给我们内心的平安闲适，来行使这自由。祂让我们不再做工作或金钱的奴仆。让我们得以在以马内利的领地上自由安逸地穿行。

来吧，我的心，勿再受伤软弱；耶稣命令你要坚强，并按神的旨意与祂同行。听从祂慈爱的吩咐！

Free to Travel

Scripture: "And I will strengthen them in the LORD: and they shall walk up and down in His Name, saith the LORD" (Zechariah 10:12).

A solace for sick saints. They have grown faint, and they fear that they shall never rise from the bed of doubt and fear; but the Great Physician can both remove the disease and take away the weakness which has come of it. He will strengthen the feeble. This He will do in the best possible way, for it shall be "in Jehovah." Our strength is far better in God than in self. In the LORD it causes fellowship, in ourselves it would create pride. In ourselves it would be sadly limited, but in God it knows no bound.

When strength is given, the believer uses it. He walks up and down in the name of the LORD. What an enjoyment it is to walk abroad after illness, and what a delight to be strong in the LORD after a season of prostration! The LORD gives His people liberty to walk up and down and an inward leisure to exercise that liberty. He makes gentlemen of us: we are not slaves who know no rest and see no sights, but we are free to travel at our ease throughout Immanuel's land.

Come, my heart, be thou no more sick and sorry; Jesus bids thee be strong and walk with God in holy contemplation. Obey His word of love.

十月十一日

圣徒在肉身之内，仍有犯罪的可能，但他的犯罪，并不是有计画的犯罪，是偶然被过犯所胜；到他一发觉之后，他不掩饰过失，他不容让罪恶，就马上到神面前懊悔，信实的神就洗净他的罪过。

　　为甚么一个有丰盛生命的圣徒仍能犯罪呢？这好比一棵结坏果子的树被砍断，接上结好果子的枝条，这枝条所长出的果子，都是好的，但看守修理的人不注意，在树的本干上又生了一根枝子，是原来结坏果子的枝子，所以它所结的果子仍旧是坏的。

　　我们在亚当的生命之外，又承受了基督的生命，凡从新生命中出发的，都是良善的，若再从亚当的生命中出发甚么，仍旧是犯罪的。所以我们各人当修理看守自己的园子。

　　从前在亚当里那些犯罪的本能，那些就是我们在地上犯罪的肢体，都当把它治死，使我们的肉体和基督一同钉在十字架上；现在活著的不再是我，乃是基督在我里面活著。律法衹能治服已犯的罪，律法不能治死犯罪的肢体。但十字架的功效能治死犯罪的肢体，消除犯罪的本能，使圣徒在地上成圣。

　　「所以要治死你们在地上的肢体；就如淫乱、污秽、邪情、恶欲和贪婪。」（西三5）

　　「你们在祂里面，也受了不是人手所行的割礼，乃是基督使你们脱去肉体情欲的割礼；你们既受洗与祂一同埋葬，也就在此与祂一同复活；都因信那叫祂从死里复活神的功用。」（西二11至12）

《荒漠甘泉》10月11日

　　“似乎要死，却是活着。”（林后6：9）

　　有一年夏天，我在乡间园子里修了一个长方形的花圃，种着紫菀花，花开茂盛。但它们下种是很晚，当枝顶结子的时候，两侧还在萌出鲜花。初霜降临后，我发现那些艳丽的花朵枯萎了，我叹道：“唉，它们受不住这里的气候，都完了。”我象它们告别。

　　我不愿再去看那花圃，它的样子落到好象一个花的坟场。但到了翌年春天，有一位园丁请我注意那块花圃，已长满了极其茂盛的紫菀；我去一看，只见那我认为在去年冬季枯萎而死的每一株紫菀，却已经繁殖了五十株新苗。去冬的冰霜和寒风，完成了繁殖紫菀的任务，我问自己：是破坏呢，是建设呢！

　　当那去年冬季的寒风将紫菀花横施摧折，吹掷满地，用沾雪的脚任意践踏，并且说：“这是你们的末日。”到了第二年的春天，每一枝残花的所在却长出了根来，说道：“我们因死得生。”

　　在植物界如此，在天国也是如此。从死亡里茁出了不朽的生命。永生真神的宝座和宫殿，得自十字架和坟墓。胜利得自失败。

　　不要怕受苦，不要怕失败。

　　凡是伟人常被打倒而未被消灭，先被折磨得片片粉碎，然后才能变成伟人，才能力敌千军；而那些只顾眼前的人，随俗浮沉，必然昙花一现，在短暂的兴旺之后，随即消逝，而永劫不复。——皮邱

十月十二日

我要默想你的训词。（诗119：15）

沉静比交际更好，缄默比说话更智慧。我们若是常独自在一处，等候神，因默想他的话得到属灵的力量，好服侍他，那麼我们必然会成为更好的基督徒。我们应当以神的话为乐，因为我们因此可以从它们得到真实的营养。真道像一挂葡萄一样；若我们要得到葡萄汁，就必须多踹；我们必须再三地压榨、挤拧。踹酒酢之人的脚必须使劲地踹，不然汁水是不会流出来的；并且也须把葡萄踹透，不然仍有许多宝贵的汁液消耗了；因此我们要想得到安慰的葡萄汁就得用默想，来踹真道的葡萄。我们的身体得以存活并非单把食物吃进口里就算完了，真正供应肌肉、神经、筋腱和骨骼的乃是消化作用。因着消化作用，内脏才能吸收外面来的食物。我们灵性的营养也是一样，我们听神的真道，不能在这里听一会，在那里听一会，或在别处又听一会就算够了。听、念、记、学，都需要里面加以消化直到完全能使用才行，真道的消化多赖默想真道的意义。为什么有一些基督徒，虽然常听道，而他们属神的生命长进得非常缓慢呢？因为他们忽略了私祷，也没有透彻地默想神的话。他们喜欢麦粉，但他们并不去磨；他们愿意有麦穗，但是不愿到地里去拾；树上的果子累累，但他们却不采摘；水就流在他们的脚下，但他们却不弯腰去喝。

神啊！愿你救我们脱离这种愚妄行事，今晨愿我们以“我要默想你训词”作我们的誓词。

十月十二日

经文: 保惠师，就是……圣灵。（约翰福音十四：26）

我们活在能经历圣灵浇灌的世代。虽然在那荣耀的日子祂将显现；但耶稣没有以祂的肉身显现来安慰我们，祂以教会的保惠师，圣灵的内住和不断的同在来安慰我。安慰上帝百姓的心是圣灵的工作。祂使人知罪，照亮人心并指示人当行的。祂主要的工作还包括使更新的心喜乐、教软弱的获力、高举所有谦卑的。祂的方法是向他们启示耶稣。圣灵作安慰人的工作，但基督才是那安慰。可以这样解释，圣灵是医生，而耶稣是良药。祂藉着基督之名并用恩典的圣膏来治愈创伤。如果我们称圣灵为保惠师或中保，那么我们会从心中将赐福的主耶稣冠以安慰和劝导者的头衔。基督徒既有如此丰富的供应，为何还要忧伤胆怯呢？圣灵已经恩降作你的安慰者。软弱颤惊的信徒啊，你以为祂会忽略祂的神圣使命吗？祂所担负的是祂不能或不愿作的吗？倘若祂的工作是为了坚固你、安慰你，你以为祂会忘记祂的工作，或认为祂无法完成这爱的使命吗？不要小看赐福的圣灵和祂的温柔，祂名为保惠师！祂乐意将喜乐之油给忧伤者，将赞美之外袍给心灵沉重的人。信靠祂，祂必会安慰你，直至悲哀之门永远关闭，婚宴开始的时候。

Evening, October 12

Scripture: “The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost.”(John 14:26)

This age is peculiarly the dispensation of the Holy Spirit, in which Jesus cheers us, not by his personal presence, as he shall do by-and-by, but by the indwelling and constant abiding of the Holy Ghost, who is evermore the Comforter of the church. It is his office to console the hearts of God's people. He convinces of sin; he illuminates and instructs; but still the main part of his work lies in making glad the hearts of the renewed, in confirming the weak, and lifting up all those that be bowed down. He does this by revealing Jesus to them. The Holy Spirit consoles, but Christ is the consolation. If we may use the figure, the Holy Spirit is the Physician, but Jesus is the medicine. He heals the wound, but it is by applying the holy ointment of Christ's name and grace. He takes not of his own things, but of the things of Christ. So if we give to the Holy Spirit the Greek name of Paraclete, as we sometimes do, then our heart confers on our blessed Lord Jesus the title of Paraclesis. If the one be the Comforter, the other is the Comfort. Now, with such rich provision for his need, why should the Christian be sad and desponding? The Holy Spirit has graciously engaged to be thy Comforter: dost thou imagine, O thou weak and trembling believer, that he will be negligent of his sacred trust? Canst thou suppose that he has undertaken what he cannot or will not perform? If it be his especial work to strengthen thee, and to comfort thee, dost thou suppose he has forgotten his business, or that he will fail in the loving office which he sustains towards thee? Nay, think not so hardly of the tender and blessed Spirit whose name is “the Comforter.” He delights to give the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Trust thou in him, and he will surely comfort thee till the house of mourning is closed for ever, and the marriage feast has begun.

《竭诚为主》10月12日 与神同步

以诺与神同行。（创五24）

一个人属灵生命与个性的考验，不是在特殊情况下的表现，乃在平凡无奇的时日中所行所作。人的价值视乎他在隐藏时对普通事物所抱的态度（比较约一36）。要达致与神同步的境地，是一件痛苦的事，那是属灵上“第二阵风”的经历。学习与神同行，总有跟不上他步伐的困难；但一旦跟上了，所表现的唯一特质，就是神的生命。个人的生命在与神结合中隐藏了，所表现的只有神的步伐与能力。

与神步伐一致是不容易的，因为一开始与神同行，就会发现我们才走了三步，他已在老远了。他有他作事的方法，我们必须学习并接受操练，才能以他的方法作事。耶稣“不灰心，也不丧胆”，因为他从不以他个人的观点去行事，乃是以他父的观点，我们也要如此。属灵真理是在熏陶下学习的，而不是靠头脑的推理。神的灵改变我们看事物的态度，于是从来不可能的事，也变得可能了。与神同行，就是与神联合。要做到这个，需时甚久，但要持之以恒。不要因现在的痛苦而放弃，不久，你会得着新的异象与目标。

祈祷◆主啊，如此众多的活动，如此众多的事情，如此众多的人！愿你因你的荣耀，以宽大的心胸和美善的属性来赐福今天。

October 12 Getting Into God's Stride

“Enoch walked with God.” Genesis 5:24

The test of a man's religious life and character is not what he does in the exceptional moments of life, but what he does in the ordinary times, when there is nothing tremendous or exciting on. The worth of a man is revealed in his attitude to ordinary things when he is not before the footlights (cf. John 1:36). It is a painful business to get through into the stride of God, it means getting your second wind spiritually. In learning to walk with God there is always the difficulty of getting into His stride; but when we have got into it, the only characteristic that manifests itself is the life of God. The individual man is lost sight of in his personal union with God, and the stride and the power of God alone are manifested.

It is difficult to get into stride with God, because when we start walking with Him we find He has outstripped us before we have taken three steps. He has different ways of doing things, and we have to be trained and disciplined into His ways. It was said of Jesus – “He shall not fail nor be discouraged,” because He never worked from His own individual standpoint but always from the standpoint of His Father, and we have to learn to do the same. Spiritual truth is learned by atmosphere, not by intellectual reasoning. God's Spirit alters the atmosphere of our way of looking at things, and things begin to be possible which never were possible before. Getting into the stride of God means nothing less than union with Himself. It takes a long time to get there, but keep at it. Don't give in because the pain is bad just now, get on with it, and before long you will find you have a new vision and a new purpose.

十月十二日信心的支票簿 Faith's check book

恩典与记号

经文: 「耶和华你神必将你心里和你后裔心里的污秽除掉，好叫你尽心、尽性爱耶和华你的神，使你可以存活。」（申命记30︰6）

这里我们看到真正的割礼。注意，施行这事的是谁——“主，你的神“。只有主自己能够在我们的心中做这满有功效的工作，除去我们心中的肉欲和污秽，好叫我们尽心尽性爱主我们的神。这件事本身就是一个恩典的奇迹，若非圣灵动工，就无法做到这地步。我们必须单单地仰望主，求祂做工，断不以缺乏为满足。

注意，这割礼是行在哪里的：它是行在人心里，而非肉体之上。这是恩典之约最基本的标记。对神的爱慕是被拣选的族类永久的记号；有了这印记，信徒就是得着了拣选之恩。我们要留意，我们并不是依靠外在的仪式，却是依靠圣灵在心里的工作而得着这印记。

注意，这样的工作带来的结果是什么？——“使你可以存活“。若我们体贴肉体，我们就死亡；若我们攻克己身，叫身服我，我们就得着生命与平安。若我们关心属灵的事，就得以存活。喔，耶和华，我们的神，愿祢浩大的恩典，在我们里面的本性上动工，好叫我们在最完满最高尚的程度上，向我们的主而活。

Mark of Covenant Grace

Scripture: "And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul that thou mayest live" (Deuteronomy 30:6).

Here we read of the true circumcision. Note the author of it: "The LORD thy God." He alone can deal effectually with our heart and take away its carnality and pollution. To make us love God with all our heart and soul is a miracle of grace which only the Holy Ghost can work. We must look to the LORD alone for this and never be satisfied with anything short of it.

Note where this circumcision is wrought. It is not of the flesh but of the Spirit. It is the essential mark of the covenant of grace. Love to God is the indelible token of the chosen seed; by this secret seal the election of grace is certified to the believer. We must see to it that we trust in no outward ritual but are sealed in heart by the operation of the Holy Ghost.

Note what the result is-"that thou mayest live." To be carnally minded is death. In the overcoming of the flesh, we find life and peace. If we mind the things of the Spirit, we shall live. Oh, that Jehovah, our God, may complete His gracious work upon our inner natures, that in the fullest and highest sense we may live unto the LORD.

十月十二日

在快乐的时候，思想不正常；在悲伤的时候，思想也不正常；在发怒的时候，思想更不正常；在一切不正常的情绪中，思想都是不正常的。若在这些不正常的情绪中，考虑甚么事情，决定甚么事情，是最容易有错误的。

　　但人在情绪不正常的时候，也是最愿意说话、决定事的时候；等到冷静下来，就发觉自己是冒失开口、心急发言了。所以我们当情绪被激动的时候，不管是喜乐的，是悲伤的，是生气的，是忧虑的，当快到主的面前祷告，求神安静我们的心，使我们要办的事，合乎神的旨意。

　　主耶稣在钉十字架之前，心里也不平息，甚是忧伤，所以祂来到客西马尼园中，祷告之祷告，再三祷告，求神不要照祂自己的心愿成全甚么，乃是照神的旨意成全一切；祂大声祷告，流泪祷告，不住祷告，直到天使来加添祂的力量，祂的情绪平伏了，祂象平日一样，这才停止祷告。祂很从容地去应付那极大的争战，在灵界中所未曾有过的争战，与撒但决死的争战，在极紧张的情形中，主没说错一句话；没有因情绪被激动而说出一句不合神旨意的话来，主管制自己的心情如平常一样。不但没有一句话不合宜，也没有不适当的态度。

　　主耶稣是神降世为人，尚且藉着祷告而得著力量，我们岂不更要在一切不正常的情绪中儆醒祷告吗？

　　「你们不能同我儆醒片时么？总要儆醒祷告，免得入了迷惑。」（太二十六40至41）

《荒漠甘泉》10月12日

　　“把约瑟下在监里…但耶和华与约瑟同在…耶和华使他所作的尽都顺利。”（创39：20-23）

　　如果神应许我们因为事奉他的缘故被下在监里的话，他必与我们同在；这样，监狱反成了世上最幸福的地方。约瑟知道这个。所以他在监狱里并不愤懑，并不沮丧，也并不反叛。如果他有一点点不甘心的表示，司狱也决不会这样信任他了。约瑟连自怜的心也没有一点。

　　让我们记住：什么时候我们容让自怜的心进来，什么时候我们就完了。约瑟把所有的事情欢欢喜喜地交托神，所以司狱把所有的事情交托约瑟。主耶稣啊，当我被囚在监里的时候，求你叫我能信靠，能喜乐。求里籍着我在监狱里完成你的工作。——选

　　我已经学会了喜爱黑暗，因为处境越黑暗，主的脸越光明。——盖恩夫人

十月十三日

依着神的意思忧愁，就生出没有后悔的懊悔来，以致得救。（林后7：10）

为罪忧伤是神灵的工作，。悔改是自然的园中所开的一朵美丽之花，珍珠自然地在蛤蛎肌肉中生长出来，但悔罪的心若无神的恩工，在罪人身上是不会自己生出来的。若你有一颗恨恶罪的心，那是神所给你的，因为人本性的荆棘是不会生出无花果来的。“从肉身生的，就是肉身。“真正的悔改须仰望救主。当我们为罪悔改时，我们必须一只眼看罪，一只眼看十字架；但最好莫如我们的双眼完全定睛看基督，并在他的慈爱的光中看我们的过犯。为罪痛悔是实践的经验。若人仍在罪中生活，他就不能说他恨恶罪。悔改使我们看到罪的可恶，并非理论，而是实际——像一个被烧伤的孩子怕火一样；一个被抢劫过的人怎样怕拦路的强盗，我们怕罪也是那样。我们要逃避罪，逃避一切的罪，无分大小。一个人逃避小蛇，和逃避大蛇一样。我们若真实地为罪忧伤必然恨恶我们的舌头，免得它说一句错话；我们必须留心我们日常的行动，免得我们干犯神；并且每晚我们必须因亏欠神的荣耀向他痛悔，每晨我们必须切心祷告，求神在一天当中扶持我们，免得我们犯罪得罪他。真诚的悔改是继续不断的，信徒的悔改一直继续到死时；这一个滴漏是不会间断的。其他忧伤到时便终止，但这种忧伤是与我们一同增长的，这是一种很甜蜜的苦味。感谢神，因为他允准我们享受它、忍受它，直到我们进入永久的安息。

十月十三日

经文: 爱情如死之坚强。（雅歌八：6）

倘若将这个描述加在我对耶稣我主那薄弱、微小，几乎无生气的爱上面，是否太夸张了呢？我真的爱祂。或许，靠祂的恩典，我甚至愿意为祂而死。但是在我的爱几乎不能忍受一点嘲笑，更毋庸说是残酷的死亡了。当然我在此所要说的是爱我们的主之大爱──耶稣之爱，对人灵魂无比的大爱。祂的爱当然比最可怕的死亡更坚强，因为它胜过了十字架的试炼。十字架是折磨人的死刑，但是爱超越了折磨；十字架是羞辱的死，但是爱轻看羞辱；十字架是一种不义的死，但是爱承担了我们的罪恶；十字架是被弃、孤独的死，永在的父向它掩面，但是爱忍受了咒诅并且全然得胜。从来没有这样的爱，也从来没有这样死。那是一场绝望的决斗，在争战中爱坚定不移。当我沉思这属天的爱时，我的心情是否被扰动？主啊，我渴望感觉到祢的大爱就在我里面如炉火般燃烧。为什么我不能以如死亡坚强般的爱来爱我的耶稣，以致祂失望呢？祂配受我的爱，我也极愿爱祂。殉道者感受这种爱，而他们也是有血有肉的人，为什么我不能？他们为自己的软弱哀伤，然而从软弱中他们得到刚强。上帝的恩典使他们坚持不畏缩。这相同的恩典也能加在我身上。耶稣，愿祢今晚将祢的大爱倾注在我心中。

Evening, October 13

Scripture: “Love is strong as death.”(Song of Solomon 8:6)

Whose love can this be which is as mighty as the conqueror of monarchs, the destroyer of the human race? Would it not sound like satire if it were applied to my poor, weak, and scarcely living love to Jesus my Lord? I do love him, and perhaps by his grace, I could even die for him, but as for my love in itself, it can scarcely endure a scoffing jest, much less a cruel death. Surely it is my Beloved's love which is here spoken of－the love of Jesus, the matchless lover of souls. His love was indeed stronger than the most terrible death, for it endured the trial of the cross triumphantly. It was a lingering death, but love survived the torment; a shameful death, but love despised the shame; a penal death, but love bore our iniquities; a forsaken, lonely death, from which the eternal Father hid his face, but love endured the curse, and gloried over all. Never such love, never such death. It was a desperate duel, but love bore the palm. What then, my heart? Hast thou no emotions excited within thee at the contemplation of such heavenly affection? Yes, my Lord, I long, I pant to feel thy love flaming like a furnace within me. Come thou thyself and excite the ardour of my spirit.

“For every drop of crimson blood

Thus shed to make me live,O wherefore, wherefore have not I

A thousand lives to give?”

Why should I despair of loving Jesus with a love as strong as death? He deserves it: I desire it. The martyrs felt such love, and they were but flesh and blood, then why not I? They mourned their weakness, and yet out of weakness were made strong. Grace gave them all their unflinching constancy－there is the same grace for me. Jesus, lover of my soul, shed abroad such love, even thy love in my heart, this evening.

《竭诚为主》10月13日 沮丧与拓展

他出去到他弟兄那里，看他们的重担。（出二11）

摩西看见自己的同胞受欺压，深觉自己是他们的救星；于是按自己的义愤，伸手为他们伸冤。他为神的正义出手，神却容许人把他赶逐到绝境里去，要他在旷野牧羊四十年。时候满足，神显现告诉他去领百姓出来；摩西那时说：“我是什么人，竟能去？”摩西起初就知道自己是拯救百姓的那一位，但却先要经过神的训练。他的观点是没有错的，但在没有学会与神联合以前，他仍是未合用的工人。

我们看见神的异象，又清楚神的心意，于是着手去做；然后，是类似那四十年旷野的经历，似乎神完全不理这回事了。正当我们完全绝望，神的呼召又重新临到，我们就颤抖地说：“我是谁？”我们必须学习跨出第一大步－－“那自有永有的差遣你！”我们必须认识到凭个人的血气为神工作，是狂妄的表现；我们个人的特质，必须与神相交才能炽热起来（太三11）。我们往往着重个人对事物的看法，有异象就说：“这就是神要我做的。”但我们的步伐还未与神一致。若你正陷入失望的阶段，等着吧，辽远的拓展就在前头。

祈祷◆主啊，为着昨晚的睡眠，我感谢你；为着你既不打盹，也不睡眠，不论日夜都保护我们，我称颂你。

October 13 Individual Discouragement And Personal Enlargement

“Moses went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens.” Exodus 2:11

Moses saw the oppression of his people and felt certain that he was the one to deliver them, and in the righteous indignation of his own spirit he started to right their wrongs. After the first strike for God and for the right, God allowed Moses to be driven into blank discouragement, He sent him into the desert to feed sheep for forty years. At the end of that time, God appeared and told Moses to go and bring forth His people, and Moses said – “Who am I, that I should go?” In the beginning Moses realized that he was the man to deliver the people, but he had to be trained and disciplined by God first. He was right in the individual aspect, but he was not the man for the work until he had learned communion with God.

We may have the vision of God and a very clear understanding of what God wants, and we start to do the thing, then comes something equivalent to the forty years in the wilderness, as if God had ignored the whole thing, and when we are thoroughly discouraged God comes back and revives the call, and we get the quaver in and say – “Oh, who am I?” We have to learn the first great stride of God – “I AM THAT I AM hath sent thee.” We have to learn that our individual effort for God is an impertinence; our individuality is to be rendered incandescent by a personal relationship to God (see Matthew 3:17). We fix on the individual aspect of things; we have the vision – “This is what God wants me to do;” but we have not got into God's stride. If you are going through a time of discouragement, there is a big personal enlargement ahead.

十月十三日信心的支票簿 Faith's check book

三重应许

经文:「这称为我名下的子民，若是自卑、祷告，寻求我的面，转离他们的恶行，我必从天上垂听，赦免他们的罪，医治他们的地。」（历代志下7︰14）

我们虽然蒙主恩召，但我们仍是常会犯错的凡人；感谢神，祂是怜悯恩慈的神，祂愿意随时赦免我们。所以，我们一旦犯罪，让我们赶紧来到施恩宝座前，求祂的饶恕。

首先，我们得谦卑自己。想一想，我们蒙受了这么大的恩典，却仍偏行己路，岂不该谦卑反省？喔，主啊，我们要披麻蒙灰俯伏在祢面前，为我们如此地忘恩负义而痛哭忏悔，这是何等大的罪！尤其是我们在得着恩典之后仍旧犯罪，这岂不更是罪上加罪！

其次，我们要祈求神的恩典，求祂来洁净我们，将我们从罪恶的捆绑中释放出来。喔，主啊，请现在就垂听我们的祷告，不要掩耳不听我们的哭求。

在这个祷告中，我们要寻求主的面。因着我们的过犯，神已离我们远去，因此在祈祷中，我们必须恳求祂再次转回。哦，主啊，因着祢儿子耶稣，请将眼光转向我们，并将祢的笑颜再次向祢的仆人展现。

与此同时，我们自己必须离弃罪恶；若非如此，神就无法转向我们，因为祂是圣洁的神。

在这之后，三重应许就接踵而来︰垂听、饶恕、医治。天父，因着主耶稣基督的缘故，恳求祢的三重应许赶快临到。

If, and a Triple Promise

Scripture: "If My people, which are called by My Name, shall humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Called by the name of the LORD, we are nevertheless erring men and women. What a mercy it is that our God is ready to forgive! Whenever we sin let us hasten to the mercy seat of our God, seeking pardon.

We are to humble ourselves. Should we not be humbled by the fact that after receiving so much love we yet transgress? O LORD, we bow before Thee in the dust and own our grievous ingratitude. Oh, the infamy of sin! Oh, the sevenfold infamy of it in persons so favored as we have been!

Next, we are to pray for mercy, for cleansing, for deliverance from the power of sin. O LORD, hear us even now, and shut not out our cry.

In this prayer we are to seek the LORD's face. He has left us because of our faults, and we must entreat Him to return. O LORD, look on us in Thy Son Jesus, and smile upon Thy servants.

With this must go our own turning from evil; God cannot turn to us unless we turn from sin.

Then comes the triple promise of hearing, pardon, and healing. Our Father, grant us these at once, for our LORD Jesus Christ's sake. (Bold emphasis by WStS)

十月十三日

神所赐给我们的安慰是各样的安慰。神是赐各样安慰的神，我们需要甚么安慰，祂就赐给我们甚么安慰，好象医生用各样的药品，应付各样的病症：病人疼痛的时候，医生就给止痛药吃，病人不能睡觉的时候，医生就给安眠药吃；病人发高热的时候，医生就给退热的药吃；医生总是看病症的需要给病人药吃。但医生的本领有限，仍有许多的病是医生所不能医治的，我们的神却没有一样痛苦不能止息，没有一个悲痛的心灵祂不能安慰，在我们的神那里有各样的安慰。

　　你贫穷吗？祂能补足你；你软弱吗？祂能赐力量给你；你被围困吗？祂能开出路；你惧怕吗？祂能保护你；你孤单吗？祂能和你作伴；你有重担吗？祂能替你担当；你有疾病吗？祂能医治你；你觉有罪吗？祂能洗净你。没有一样事情，是神作不来的；没有一样好处，是神不肯赐给你的；你有甚么需要，祂就有甚么供应。

　　为甚么不到祂面前来得呢？为甚么仍在世界上寻找好处呢？为甚么到没有水的地方寻找水呢？为甚么到不卖粮的地方去买粮呢？

　　回来吧！回来吧！神在基督耶稣里要赐福给你。筵席已经为你预备好了，就等候你回来享受。听啊！祂在你的心外叩门，祂慈爱的声音在呼唤你。

　　「在耶路撒冷有一个人名叫西面；这人又公义又虔诚，素常盼望以色列的安慰者来到。」（路二25）　　「我要求父，父就另外赐给你们一位保惠师，（或作训慰师）叫祂永远与你们同在。」（约十四16）

《荒漠甘泉》10月13日

　　“应当一无挂虑。只要凡事籍着祷告、祈求、和感谢，将你们所要的告诉神。神所赐出人意外的平安，必在基督耶稣里，保守你们的心怀意念。”（腓4：6-7）

　　一个信徒不该有丝毫挂虑。无论我们的试炼多大，痛苦多深，困难多杂，总不能叫我们有挂虑的理由，因为我们有一位父在天上，他是全能的，他爱我们，正如爱他的独生子一般，他乐意随时随地救济我们，帮助我们。所以让我们听他对我们所说的话，“应当一无挂虑，只要凡事籍着祷告、祈求、和感谢，将你们所要的告诉神。神所赐出人意外的平安，必在基督耶稣里，保守你们的心怀意念。”

　　“凡事”，不只是房屋着火，不只是所爱的病危，“凡事”包括日常生活中一切大大小小的事情；我们应当将“凡事”带到神面前去！当我们夜半醒来，辗转不能成眠的时候，就该顶自然地倾向神去，与他谈话，将我们种种琐碎的事情带到他面前去——将一切家庭方面，职业方面的困难全告诉他。

　　“籍着祷告祈求”，站在乞丐的地位上，用诚恳和坚韧来等候他。

　　“和感谢”，我们应当随时存感谢的心。如果我们以为没有什么可叫我们感谢的话，至少有一件事是值得我们感谢的——他救我们脱离死亡。他给我们他的道——他的儿子——和圣灵。哦，这就够叫我们大声感谢赞美了。

　　“神所赐出人意外的平安，必在基督耶稣里，保守你们的心怀意念。”这是一个何等大的，何等真，何等宝贵的祝福！但是这个祝福必须亲身经历过才会知道，因为这是出人意外的。哦，让我们把这些话放在心上，如果我们能一直照着行的话，结果定会叫神得到更大的荣耀。——莫勒

　　我们应当时时查看自己有没有什么叫我的心得不到安息？如果有的话，就当立刻到神面前去对付直到恢复了内心的镇静。——赛尔斯

十月十四日

我也将万事当作有损的，因我以认识我主基督耶稣为至宝。(腓立比书3：8)

在属灵上认识基督乃要亲身来经历，我不能藉着别人认识耶稣的经验来认识祂，不，我必须亲自认识祂，我必须为自己的缘故认识祂。这样的知识乃出于理智——我必须认识祂，并非幻梦中所见，而是照神话语所启示祂的样子；我必须认识到祂兼具神、人两种特性，我必须知道祂的职分——属性、作为、所蒙受的耻辱和所得享的荣耀；我必须对祂沉思默想，直到我“能以和众圣徒一同明白基督的爱是何等长阔高深；并知道这爱是过于人所能测度的”。

在爱里认识基督；若我全然认识祂，我就必爱祂。发自内心的点滴认知胜过头脑里的学富五车。认识祂使我们得到了满足；当我认识救主时，我的心将被充满，我必将感到已得着了我灵所渴慕的；因为“这就是生命的粮，到我这里来的，必定不饿。”同时对基督的认识也是激励人的知识；认识我的爱主越多，就越渴慕认识祂；当我爬越高山时，越靠近绝顶，脚步就越起劲；我得的越多，要的也越多，真是得陇望蜀，好像守财奴一样贪多，已经手握黄金还渴慕更多。

最后，对基督耶稣的认识乃是叫人最快乐的知识；事实上，它能使我提升，甚至有时能使我完全胜过一切苦难、疑惑和忧伤；当我享受在其中的时候，我若有这知识就不会像约伯所说的：“人为妇人所生，日子短少，多有患难。”因为永活的救主必赐我永恒生命，并用祂永恒喜乐的腰带为我束腰。我的灵魂哪，来吧，今天你要坐在耶稣的脚前，听祂的教导认识祂吧！

十月十四日

经文: 不要效法这个世界。（罗马书十二：2）

基督徒若效法世界而仍然得救，必定是要经过火炼。你若想得到如此片面的救恩，亦当存同样恐惧的心。你希望在痛苦温床的黑暗中离开这个世界进入天堂，如同遭海难的船员攀上自己家园的岩石吗？那么效法这个世界吧！与黑暗的世界为一体，也可拒绝带着基督的谴责离开你的基督徒同伴。还是你宁愿享有在地如在天的生活？你想要荣耀地进入主的喜乐吗？那么，“你们务要从他们中间出来，与他们分别，不要沾不洁净的物，我就收纳你们。”（林后六：17）你的灵是否渴望信心的完全确据？你若与罪人相交就不能得到。你的心是否希望被爱的火焰燃烧？你的爱会被不敬虔社会所浸透而潮湿熄灭。现在你可能只是恩典的婴儿，倘若你向世人的价值和哲理让步，你就永不可能在基督耶稣里成为完全的人。天国的继承者与地狱的承受人为友实在是极大的危险。二者即使只有些微不调和也是危险的。一根小刺能导致大脓泡、一只小飞蛾能咬坏美好衣裳、些微的轻妄或戏谑会夺去信心中的千种喜乐。信徒啊，你不能明白因为效法世界而失去的福乐。你本应奔跑，它却割断你的肌腱，以致你只能爬行。为了你自己的安舒，也为了你能在恩典中成长，倘若你是一位基督徒，就作一个特殊的、分别出来的基督徒吧！

Evening, October 14

Scripture: “And be not conformed to this world.”(Romans 12:2)

If a Christian can by possibility be saved while he conforms to this world, at any rate it must be so as by fire. Such a bare salvation is almost as much to be dreaded as desired. Reader, would you wish to leave this world in the darkness of a desponding death bed, and enter heaven as a shipwrecked mariner climbs the rocks of his native country? then be worldly; be mixed up with Mammonites, and refuse to go without the camp bearing Christ's reproach. But would you have a heaven below as well as a heaven above? Would you comprehend with all saints what are the heights and depths, and know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge? Would you receive an abundant entrance into the joy of your Lord? Then come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, and touch not the unclean thing. Would you attain the full assurance of faith? you cannot gain it while you commune with sinners. Would you flame with vehement love? Your love will be damped by the drenchings of godless society. You cannot become a great Christian－you may be a babe in grace, but you never can be a perfect man in Christ Jesus while you yield yourself to the worldly maxims and modes of business of men of the world. It is ill for an heir of heaven to be a great friend with the heirs of hell. It has a bad look when a courtier is too intimate with his king's enemies. Even small inconsistencies are dangerous. Little thorns make great blisters, little moths destroy fine garments, and little frivolities and little rogueries will rob religion of a thousand joys. O professor, too little separated from sinners, you know not what you lose by your conformity to the world. It cuts the tendons of your strength, and makes you creep where you ought to run. Then, for your own comfort's sake, and for the sake of your growth in grace, if you be a Christian, be a Christian, and be a marked and distinct one.

《竭诚为主》10月14日 宣教士之钥

耶稣进前来，对他们说：“天上地下所有的权柄都赐给我了。所以你们要去使万民作我的门徒，……。”（马太福音28：18-19）

差传的基础是主耶稣的主权，而不是外邦人的需要。我们很容易视主耶稣为我们事奉神的助手，而主其实是门徒绝对、至高无上的主人。祂不是说，我们若不去，外邦人就失丧了。祂只是说：“所以你们要去，使万民作我的门徒。 ”依从我至高的权柄，去吧；因着在我里面活生生的经历，去教导并传扬。

“十一个门徒往加利利去，到了耶稣约定的山上。（马太福音28:16）”我若要认识基督普世的主权，就必须亲自认识祂，知道怎样独自与祂相处。我必须用时间去敬拜我所佩戴的名，就是基督。“到我这里来。（马太福音11：28）”——那就是见主耶稣的地方。你劳苦担重担吗？多少传道人正是如此。主宣告祂对整个世界的主权，我们却看为次要，但这是主对门徒亲口说的话。

“所以你们要去…… ”“去”的意思是“活出来”。使徒行传1：8“但圣灵降临在你们身上，你们就必得着能力，并要在耶路撒冷，犹太全地，和撒玛利亚，直到地极，作我的见证。”是描写怎样去。耶稣没有说去耶路撒冷、犹太、撒马利亚；但祂说：“作我的见证。”至于“去”的地方，祂会负责安排。

“你们若常在我里面，我的话也常在你们里面，……（约翰福音15:7）”这是保持我们个人生命活泼的途径。神放我们在什么地方都无关重要，因为祂自会安排。

“我却不以性命为念，也不看为宝贵，只要行完我的路程，成就我从主耶稣所领受的职事，证明　神恩惠的福音。(使徒行传20：24)”这就是我们工作的态度，直到死那一天。

October 14 The Key To The Missionary

“All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations.” Matthew 28:18-20

The basis of missionary appeals is the authority of Jesus Christ, not the needs of the heathen. We are apt to look upon Our Lord as One Who assists us in our enterprises for God. Our Lord puts Himself as the absolute sovereign supreme Lord over His disciples. He does not say the heathen will be lost if we do not go; He simply says – “Go ye therefore and teach all nations.” Go on the revelation of My sovereignty; teach and preach out of a living experience of Me.

“Then the eleven disciples went . . unto a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.” v. 16. If I want to know the universal sovereignty of Christ, I must know Him for myself, and how to get alone with Him; I must take time to worship the Being Whose Name I bear. “Come unto Me” – that is the place to meet Jesus. Are you weary and heavy laden? How many missionaries are! We banish those marvellous words of the universal Sovereign of the world to the threshold of an after-meeting; they are the words of Jesus to His disciples.

“Go ye therefore. . . .” Go simply means live. Acts 1:8 is the description of how to go. Jesus did not say – Go into Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria, but, “Ye shall be witnesses unto Me” in all these places. He undertakes to establish the goings.

“If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you. . . ” – that is the way to keep going in our personal lives. Where we are placed is a matter of indifference; God engineers the goings.

“None of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself . . .” That is how to keep going till we're gone.

十月十四日信心的支票簿 Faith's check book

不以主名为耻

经文:「凡在人面前认我的，我在我天上的父面前也必认他」（马太福音10︰32）

何等宝贵的应许！承认主名是何等喜悦的事。无论我是如何地不完全，但我绝不以承认耶稣为羞耻，或是不敢宣告祂在十字架上所成就的大工。喔，主啊，我愿把我心中对祢公义的认知表彰出来。

这应许呈现在我面前的画面是何等甜美！仇敌或许会打击我，朋友或许会遗弃我，但是主永远不会离弃祂的仆人。无疑地，即使在这里，主愿意承认我是属祂的人，为我标上蒙祂悦纳的新记号；但更宝贵的是，将来有一天，我要站在天父的宝座前，到那时，耶稣要在神面前称许我︰“这人是真正信靠我的人，为我名的缘故他甘愿受逼迫，所以我要认他是属我的人。”前几天，一个了不起的人授勋为爵士，荣膺女王所赐镶宝石的勋章；但这又怎样？在诸天之上，得蒙主耶稣在神圣大君王面前承认我们，这才是冠乎所有荣耀之上的荣耀。主啊，切莫让我懦弱，在人面前沉默，不敢认祢；也不要让我有任何怯懦的折中行为。想想祢都乐意认我是属祢的羊，我难道不该更以夸祢的名为荣？

Never Ashamed

Scripture: "Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in Heaven" (Matthew 10:32).

Gracious promise! It is a great joy to me to confess my LORD. Whatever my faults may be, I am not ashamed of Jesus, nor do I fear to declare the doctrines of His cross. O LORD, I have not hid Thy righteousness within my heart.

Sweet is the prospect which the text sets before me! Friends forsake and enemies exult, but the LORD does not disown His servant. Doubtless my LORD will own me even here and give me new tokens of His favorable regard. But there comes a day when I must stand before the great Father. What bliss to think that Jesus will confess me then! He will say, "This man truly trusted Me and was willing to be reproached for My name's sake; and therefore I acknowledge him as Mine." The other day a great man was made a knight, and the Queen handed him a jeweled garter; but what of that? It will be an honor beyond all honors for the LORD Jesus to confess us in the presence of the divine Majesty in the heavens. Never let me be ashamed to own my LORD. Never let me indulge a cowardly silence or allow a fainthearted compromise. Shall I blush to own Him who promises to own me?

十月十四日

「永生的神是你的居所；祂永久的膀臂在你以下。」（申三十三27）

　　「住在至高者隐密处的，必住在全能者的荫下。」（诗九十一1）

　　神喜欢我们住在祂里面，象儿子住在家中一样，可以尽情地享受神里面的一切福气，享受儿子的权利，凡在神权下的都是属我们的，我们是承受全业的主人。但我们在神面前常是象客人一样，时来时往。又象古时的臣子朝见君王，每日按时上朝，其余的时间都住在自己的地方。还有人象浪子一样，久不回家，在外飘流，任意放荡。

　　没有家的人，是世上最痛苦的人。家不是房屋，家是父母、兄弟、姊妹、妻子、儿女团聚在一起的地方，家是相爱的地方，家是彼此服事的地方，家是彼此体贴的地方，家是得安慰的地方，家是得温暖的地方，家是快乐的地方，世上的家虽然因人的罪恶而常有不安，但地上仍是以家为最好，没有甚么地方能与家比较。

　　神愿意作我们的居住，神愿意作为我们安息的家。神不愿意我们象客一样，更不愿意我们作浪子，也不喜欢我们每日来到祂面前朝拜几分钟就走了。我们应当每时每刻住在神的里面，在祂温暖的怀抱中，祂永久的膀臂在我们以下，真是万无一失。在神里居住，不但得著美好的享受和神性的一切丰富，并且可以免去各样的灾祸；不但撒但、罪恶不能害我们，就是属地的一切灾祸也不能临到我们。

　　「你已将至高者当你的居所；祸患必不临到你，灾害也不挨近你的帐棚。」（诗九十一9至10）

《荒漠甘泉》10月14日

　　“主的一个使者，站在旁边，屋里有光照耀。天使拍彼得的肋旁，拍醒了他，说：‘快快起来。’那铁链就从他手上脱落下来。。”（使徒行传第12章）

　　“约在半夜，保罗和西拉，祷告唱诗赞美神…忽然地大震动，甚至监牢的地基都动摇了。监门立刻全开，众囚犯的锁链也都松开了。”（使徒行传第16章第25-26节）

　　这是神的方法。神的脚步常要等到深夜最黑暗的时候，才渐临近。我们知道，直到希律要把彼得带出来处决的前一夜，天使才来救彼得出狱。

　　啊，我的魂，也许在拯救临到你以前，你还须经过最黑暗的时期。但是不要怕，神必拯救你！神也许喜欢让你多等一回，但是他不会忘记他的誓约，他定会实践他那不可更改的应许。

　　神有智慧的策略对付任何困难，有坚定的信实对待信靠他的人，有不变的公义坚持他的旨意，我们还怕什么呢？借着一个同坐监牢的囚犯，借着一个梦，神就把约瑟从监狱里提到王宫里。

　　神有一千把钥匙，可以开一千种不同的门户，来拯救他的孩子。所以让我们忠心地去尽我们自己那一份，为他受苦！基督自然会去尽他那一份的。

　　困难是神迹的第一阶段。如果是大神迹的话，情形不仅“困难”，而且似乎“不可能”。

　　神最喜欢他的孩子用小手紧紧抱住他，因此神常常给他的孩子一些绝望。

十月十五日

祂来的日子，谁能当得起呢？（玛拉基书3：2）

虽然祂头一次来时并未彰显祂的尊荣和威权，但事实上有谁能当得起祂大能的检验，站立得住。当祂奇妙降生的消息传开时，希律和耶路撒冷合城的人都受了震惊。那些自以为等候祂的人，却在祂来临时拒绝祂，显明了他们的谬误。祂在世的生活好像是扬场的簸箕，声称信的人虽然比比皆是，但只有少数能当得起祂的簸扬；当祂第二次再来时将会怎样呢？罪人能料想那可怕的情形吗？祂要“以口中的杖击打世界，以嘴里的气杀戮恶人”。祂在卑微之时时不过对兵丁说“我就是”，他们就退后仆倒在地；那么当祂更全面地彰显出祂的本体时，祂的仇敌又会落到怎样可怕的境地呢？祂的死，地为之震动，天为之变黑；当鲜活的救主荣耀显现的日子把活人死人都召聚在祂面前又是怎样地可怕呢？到那时，主必会叫人信服地丢弃罪恶，并以嘴亲子（基督耶稣），免得祂发怒！虽然祂是羔羊，但祂也是犹大的狮子，必将掠物撕得粉碎；虽然祂不将压伤的芦苇折断，但祂也是击打仇敌的铁杖，祂必把他们打得粉碎像窑匠的瓦器一样；祂一切的仇敌都当不起祂忿怒的暴风，也逃不了祂烈怒的冰雹；但祂所爱的，用血所洗净的民都欢喜快乐地渴望祂的来临，并盼望着毫无惧怕地与祂同住。即使现在，主对于他们好像是一位炼金的人，在经过祂的试炼之后，他们将成为精金。今晨让我们省察自己，要确实知道我们已经蒙召被选，以便当主来的时候我们的心可以坦然无惧。求神施恩，除去我们一切的假冒伪善，好在祂显现的日子诚实无过、不受责备。

十月十五日

经文: 头生的驴，要用羊羔代赎，若不代赎，就要打折它的颈项。（出埃及记三十四：20）

每一个头生的生物都是主的，但是因为驴是不洁净的，不能献在祭坛上。怎么办呢？它能因而脱离这宇宙的律法吗？绝对不行。上帝在祂的规定中没有例外。这牲畜是祂应得的，只是祂不能接受。别无它法，只有救赎──此牲畜必须以一只羊羔来代赎。若不代赎，它就必死。我的心啊，这是给你的一个功课。那不洁净的动物就像你。你是主的产业，祂创造了你也教你能够存活。但是你的罪恶深重，上帝不愿也不接受你。上帝的羔羊必取代你的地位，不然你将永远死亡。让全世界的人看到你是如何感激那毫无玷污的羔羊吧！祂为你流血，将你从律法的致命咒诅中救赎出来。这个问题不就是以色列人长久以来的问题吗？哪一个必须死，驴子或羔羊？好人不该停下来作估量和比较吗？人的心灵与主耶稣的生命，两者价值肯定是无法比较的；然而羔羊死了，人才得以存活。我的心啊，因上帝对你和其他人类的无边大爱，献上敬拜，虫是用至高者儿子的血买赎来的！尘埃是以远超过金银的价值拯救来的！若没有救赎，我将毁灭了。荣耀的羔羊是无价之宝，祂将我们从死亡中拯救出来。

Evening, October 15

Scripture: “But the firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb: and if thou redeem him not, then shalt thou break his neck.”(Exodus 34:20)

Every firstborn creature must be the Lord's, but since the ass was unclean, it could not be presented in sacrifice. What then? Should it be allowed to go free from the universal law? By no means. God admits of no exceptions. The ass is his due, but he will not accept it; he will not abate the claim, but yet he cannot be pleased with the victim. No way of escape remained but redemption－the creature must be saved by the substitution of a lamb in its place; or if not redeemed, it must die. My soul, here is a lesson for thee. That unclean animal is thyself; thou art justly the property of the Lord who made thee and preserves thee, but thou art so sinful that God will not, cannot, accept thee; and it has come to this, the Lamb of God must stand in thy stead, or thou must die eternally. Let all the world know of thy gratitude to that spotless Lamb who has already bled for thee, and so redeemed thee from the fatal curse of the law. Must it not sometimes have been a question with the Israelite which should die, the ass or the lamb? Would not the good man pause to estimate and compare? Assuredly there was no comparison between the value of the soul of man and the life of the Lord Jesus, and yet the Lamb dies, and man the ass is spared. My soul, admire the boundless love of God to thee and others of the human race. Worms are bought with the blood of the Son of the Highest! Dust and ashes redeemed with a price far above silver and gold! What a doom had been mine had not plenteous redemption been found! The breaking of the neck of the ass was but a momentary penalty, but who shall measure the wrath to come to which no limit can be imagined? Inestimably dear is the glorious Lamb who has redeemed us from such a doom.

《竭诚为主》10月15日 宣教信息之钥

祂为我们的罪作了挽回祭，不是单为我们的罪，也是为普天下人的罪。（约翰一书2：2）

宣道信息的中心，就是耶稣基督作了挽回祭。试拿基督任何其他方面的工作看——医治、拯救、成圣；这些都不是无限的。“神的羔羊，除去世人罪孽的。（约翰福音1：29）”才是无限的。宣道的信息就是耶稣基督为普天下人的罪作了挽回祭，宣道士也就是被这一个启示充满的。

宣道信心的中心，不是耶稣基督的仁慈和良善，也不是祂彰显了父神；而是基督把我们从罪中释放，那是最无限的重点，就是祂为我们的罪作了挽回祭。宣道信息不是爱国主义，不是单为某国或某人，乃是为整个世界的。圣灵进到我里面，并不投我的喜好，祂来是要带我与主耶稣联合。

宣道士是与他的主联合，他传扬的不是自己的观点，而是神的羔羊。要归属于一个宣传“主为我们作过什么”的集团、要成为一个热衷于神迹治病或成圣或灵洗的份子较容易。可是，保罗并不是说：“我若不传主为我所作的，我就有祸了。”他乃是说：“若不传福音，我便有祸了。（哥林多前书9：16）”，“神的羔羊，除去世人罪孽的。（约翰福音1：29）”这就是福音。

October 15 The Key To The Missionary Message

“And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 2:2

The key to the missionary message is the propitiation of Christ Jesus. Take any phase of Christ's work – the healing phase, the saving and sanctifying phase; there is nothing limitless about those. “The Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world! ” – that is limitless. The missionary message is the limitless significance of Jesus Christ as the propitiation for our sins, and a missionary is one who is soaked in that revelation.

The key to the missionary message is the remissionary aspect of Christ's life, not His kindness and His goodness, and His revealing of the Fatherhood of God; the great limitless significance is that He is the propitiation for our sins. The missionary message is not patriotic, it is irrespective of nations and of individuals, it is for the whole world. When the Holy Ghost comes in He does not consider my predilections, He brings me into union with the Lord Jesus.

A missionary is one who is wedded to the charter of his Lord and Master, he has not to proclaim his own point of view, but to proclaim the Lamb of God. It is easier to belong to a coterie which tells what Jesus Christ has done for me, easier to become a devotee to Divine healing, or to a special type of sanctification, or to the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Paul did not say – “Woe is unto me, if I do not preach what Christ has done for me,” but – “Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel.” This is the Gospel – “The Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world!”

十月十五日信心的支票簿 Faith's check book

主是灵粮

经文:「永活的父怎样差我来，我又因父活着；照样，吃我肉的人也要因我活着。」（约翰福音6︰57）

我们借着与神的儿子联合而活。作为神和人之间的中保，主耶稣靠着那差祂来的、自有永有的父而活；同样，我们是靠着苏醒我们灵魂的耶稣而活。祂是我们生命的源头，也是我们生命的补给。生命因着饮食得以延续。我们属灵的生命，需要属灵粮食的供养，而这灵粮就是耶稣自己。不是祂的生命、祂的死亡、祂的职分、祂的工作、或单单祂的话，而是祂自己，因为祂就包括了所有这一切。在耶稣里我们得喂养。

这事藉着主的晚餐向我们表明出来；事实上，当我们默想我们的主、凭着得来的信心相信祂、借着爱接纳祂进入我们的心里、藉着内在生命的力量消化吸收祂时，就是在享受主自己。我们体会到在耶稣里得喂养的感受，但我们说不出来，也写不出来。我们最明智的做法就是实践它，并越来越多地操练它。当耶稣就是我们的饼、我们的杯时，我们恳求多多地汲取，这会带给我们无尽的益处。

主啊，我感谢祢，祢不但是我新生命的必需品，更是这新生命中最大的喜乐。因此，让我现在就在默想主名，享受祢。

Sustained by Feeding

Scripture: "As the living Father hath sent Me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth Me, even he shall live by Me" (John 6:57).

We live by virtue of our union with the Son of God. As God-man Mediator, the LORD Jesus lives by the self-existent Father who has sent Him, and in the same manner we live by the Savior who has quickened us. He who is the source of our life is also the sustenance of it. Living is sustained by feeding. We must support the spiritual life by spiritual food, and that spiritual food is the LORD Jesus. Not His life, or death, or offices, or work, or word alone, but Himself, as including all these. On Jesus Himself we feed.

This is set forth to us in the LORD's Supper, but it is actually enjoyed by us when we meditate upon our LORD, believe in Him with appropriating faith, take Him into ourselves by love, and assimilate Him by the power of the inner life. We know what it is to feed on Jesus, but we cannot speak it or write it. Our wisest course is to practice it and to do so more and more. We are entreated to eat abundantly, and it will be to our infinite profit to do so when Jesus is our meat and our drink. LORD, I thank Thee that this, which is a necessity of my new life, is also its greatest delight. So, I do at this hour feed on Thee.

十月十五日

当学习在忙碌中与神同在。不但在无事的时候当退回住在神的里面与神联合，即便在忙碌的时候，也当不受阻碍地住在神里面，与神合一。当然，放下一切停息在神的里面是好得无比的，但有时环境不许可；虽然工作太忙乱放不下来，也要与神同在。工人在神面前失掉力量，常是因这种缘故；工作太忙，没有时间与主相交。在起初的时候，还会因失去与主相交的时间，而心中感到不安，等到日久，就习以为常。长时期得不著与神安静的相交，就不知不觉地渐渐从恩典中堕落了。

　　所以我们当学习在工作中与主联合，这样与主联合不会影响工作或减少工作的效率，相反地更能加强工作的力量。我们不衹是在神的工作中当不断地与神联合，在一切工作上，都当如此与神联合；在工厂中作工可以与主联合，在学校中上课可以与主联合，在医院中医病可以与主联合，在一切的地位中都可以随时与主联合。

　　与主联合不会使思想不集中，在一切的工作中与主联合，更能使思想集中，因为与主联合的时候，急躁的心就安静了；神的灵也在心中帮助我们，就更容易把工作做好。这就是所谓不住的祷告。若是我们的心爱神，有神同在是很自然的。当我们以神为居所的时候，神也以我们为圣殿，我住在神里面，神也住在我里面。真是「神的帐幕在人间；祂要与人同住。」（启二十一3）

　　「我心紧紧的跟随祢；祢的右手扶持我。」（诗六十三8）

《荒漠甘泉》10月15日

你要击打磐石，从磐石里必有水流出来，使百姓可以喝。（出埃及记第17章第6节）

　　神所重用的人物，都是饱经折磨和击打的。因为神所喜悦的祭品，是忧伤痛悔的心。雅各的大腿在毗努伊勒扭了，神才给他属超然的能力。摩西用杖击打何烈的磐石，才有水流出来给口渴的百姓喝。基甸和跟随他的三百精兵打破瓶子，他们的火把才能使仇敌惊乱。以斯贴在一个异邦宫中冒死进去见王，才拯救了她的本族脱离灭亡。主耶稣拿着五个饼，两条鱼，必须把它们掰开，然后才使五千人吃饱。马利亚打破她珍贵的玉瓶，才使屋里充满香气。主耶稣宝贵的身体，必须被荆棘、钉子、枪矛刺穿，他里面的生命才象活水一般倾倒出来给口渴的人喝。

　　一粒麦子必须落在地里死了，才能结出无数的子粒来。所以，神必须掰开打碎一切，然后才重用他们。

　　朋友，你虽然被人轻视被人弃绝，圣灵却正抓住你，要用你使神得着荣耀。你愿不愿意呢？以赛亚书第33章第23节说：“瘸腿的把掠物夺去了。”你愿不愿意作一个瘸腿的人来夺取掠物呢？

十月十六日

耶稣说：“你们来吃早饭。”（约翰福音21：12）

这话乃是邀请信徒以圣洁的方式亲近耶稣。“来吃饭”表明是同一张桌子，同一样的食物；有时也表示挨着坐的意思，这样我们的头便得以靠在救主的怀里；这话把我们带到筵宴所，那里飘扬着救赎的爱旗。“来吃饭”叫我们想到与耶稣的联合，因为我们与耶稣在一起时所吃的食物乃是祂自己。噢，这是怎样的联合啊！我们这样吃耶稣，其深奥的程度乃是理智所不能测度的。“吃我肉喝我血的人常在我里面，我也常在他里面”。

这话也是邀请我们与众圣徒一同相交。基督徒虽然有一些地方彼此不一样，但他们属灵的食欲却是一样的；我们的感觉虽然不同，但我们所吃的食物却是一样的，那是从天上降下来的生命粮；在与耶稣相交的桌上我们乃是一饼一杯，当爱杯轮流传到我们各人的时候，我们从心里宣誓彼此相爱。我们越亲近耶稣，在灵里也越能与那和我们一样同吃天上吗哪的人联结起来；我们越亲近耶稣，也就越能彼此亲近。我们从这句话里也可以看出每一位基督徒力量的来源；仰望基督就得存活，但若要得着服侍祂的力量就必须“来吃”。我们常在不必要的软弱下辛苦工作，都因我们忽略了耶稣的这一教训。我们都勿须吃低脂的食物，相反地，我们当多吸收福音的精髓与肥甘作为我们的力量，并将其效用发挥到极致以服侍主。因此，若我们要真地亲近耶稣、与耶稣联合、爱属祂的人，并且从耶稣得到力量，就当凭信心“来吃”。

十月十六日

经文: 在祢那里有生命的源头。（诗篇三十六：9）

在我们的属灵经历中曾经有过这样的情况：人的忠告、同情或宗教都不能安慰或帮助我们。为什么施恩的上帝容许这些情形发生呢？恐怕是因为我们常常不活在祂里面，因此，祂容许挪去我们赖以为生的各样事物，好吸引我们到祂自己跟前。能活在水源是蒙福的。我们若获得充足供应，得到了满足，就会像夏甲和以实玛利一样进入旷野；但是当一切都涸竭，没有任何事物能帮助我们时，我们就知道“上帝看顾我”（创十六：13）。我们都像浪子，渴望得到猪食的豆荚而忘记了父家的充裕。记住，我们甚至能从宗教的形式中得到豆荚。那些都是蒙福的东西，但是若取代了上帝的地位，便毫无价值。任何能使我们远离上帝的事物都是偶像。饥荒可以使我们更努力去寻求主。基督徒最佳的光景就是完全并且直接地依赖上帝的恩典：“似乎一无所有，却是样样都有”（林后六：10）。不要以为我们能有这样的地位乃是因为我们的成圣、我们的谦卑、或我们的感情，切勿存这样的思想。我们得救完全只因基督为我们付出完全的赎价，我们在祂里面得以完全。我们无法依靠自己，只有在耶稣的救赎功迹之内安息，才能充满信心，站在稳固的根基上。亲爱的，我们若被带至干渴之地，就必定会迫切地转向生命的源头。

Evening, October 16

Scripture: “With thee is the fountain of life.”(Psalm 36:9)

There are times in our spiritual experience when human counsel or sympathy, or religious ordinances, fail to comfort or help us. Why does our gracious God permit this? Perhaps it is because we have been living too much without him, and he therefore takes away everything upon which we have been in the habit of depending, that he may drive us to himself. It is a blessed thing to live at the fountain head. While our skin- bottles are full, we are content, like Hagar and Ishmael, to go into the wilderness; but when those are dry, nothing will serve us but “Thou God seest me.” We are like the prodigal, we love the swine-troughs and forget our Father's house. Remember, we can make swine-troughs and husks even out of the forms of religion; they are blessed things, but we may put them in God's place, and then they are of no value. Anything becomes an idol when it keeps us away from God: even the brazen serpent is to be despised as “Nehushtan,” if we worship it instead of God. The prodigal was never safer than when he was driven to his father's bosom, because he could find sustenance nowhere else. Our Lord favours us with a famine in the land that it may make us seek after himself the more. The best position for a Christian is living wholly and directly on God's grace－still abiding where he stood at first－“Having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” Let us never for a moment think that our standing is in our sanctification, our mortification, our graces, or our feelings, but know that because Christ offered a full atonement, therefore we are saved; for we are complete in him. Having nothing of our own to trust to, but resting upon the merits of Jesus－his passion and holy life furnish us with the only sure ground of confidence. Beloved, when we are brought to a thirsting condition, we are sure to turn to the fountain of life with eagerness.

《竭诚为主》10月16日 主命令之钥

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）

宣道的钥匙在神手中，这钥匙是祷告，不是工作，更不是今天一般人以为的“工作”，因为这些可能叫人逃避，不以神为中心。宣道的钥匙不是一般常理、医疗、文化、教育，甚至不是布道工作。钥匙乃是祷告。“你们当求庄稼的主”依人来看，祷告是不切实际的，是无稽的；从常理角度来看，祷告是愚蠢的。

在主耶稣眼中，没有国族，只有全世界。我们有多少人祷告时，没有理会人，只专注于耶稣基督？因苦知罪而生的庄稼属于祂，这庄稼正是我们要求工人去收割的。四周熟透的庄稼等着收割，我们却只顾从事许多忙碌的活动，一个也不收割，在虚耗精力的事工上浪费了主的时间。假如危难临到你父亲或兄弟，你会不会为主耶稣作收庄稼的人？“啊，我另有特别的事工要做！”没有一个信徒有特别的事工要作，信徒被召归于主，他不能高于主人，也不能指挥主人，自作主张。主并没有召我们做什么特别的工作，祂只召我们归祂。“求庄稼的主”这样，祂预备环境，打发你出去。

October 16 The Key To The Master's Orders

“Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest.” Matthew 9:38

The key to the missionary problem is in the hand of God, and that key is prayer not work, that is, not work as the word is popularly understood to-day because that may mean the evasion of concentration on God. The key to the missionary problem is not the key of common sense, nor the medical key, nor the key of civilization or education or even evangelization. The key is prayer. “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest.” Naturally, prayer is not practical, it is absurd; we have to realize that prayer is stupid from the ordinary common-sense point of view.

There are no nations in Jesus Christ's outlook, but the world. How many of us pray with out respect of persons, and with respect to only one Person, Jesus Christ? He owns the harvest that is produced by distress and conviction of sin, and this is the harvest we have to pray that labourers may be thrust out to reap. We are taken up with active work while people all round are ripe to harvest, and we do not reap one of them, but waste our Lord's time in over-energized activities. Suppose the crisis comes in your father's life, in your brother’s life, are you there as a labourer to reap the harvest for Jesus Christ? “Oh, but I have a special work to do!” No Christian has a special work to do. A Christian is called to be Jesus Christ's own, one who is not above his Master, one who does not dictate to Jesus Christ what he intends to do. Our Lord calls to no special work: He calls to Himself. “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest,” and He will engineer circumstances and thrust you out.

十月十六日信心的支票簿 Faith's check book

与基督耶稣合一

经文:「因为我活着，你们也要活着。」（约翰福音14︰19）

耶稣已经让信徒在祂里面的生命安然无虞了，一如祂自己的生命，因为头活着，肢体也必定活着。若耶稣没有从死里复活，那么我们就会死在罪犯过错中；但是因着耶稣已从死里复活，所有活在基督里的信徒，也就跟着一起复活。耶稣的死为我们还清罪债，并把我们从永死刑罚的捆绑中释放了出来。祂的复活让我们称义：我们的罪已蒙赦免，并且有怜悯的声音说：“耶和华已经除掉你的罪，你必不至于死。”

耶稣已经让祂的子民在祂里面有永生，一如祂自己的永生。信徒与祂是一体的，若祂活着，信徒又怎么会死？因为耶稣已经死过一次，祂不会再死第二次，死亡的权势无法辖制祂；所以与耶稣合一的信徒，不会再回到旧罪所带来的死亡中去了，而是在新生命中向着主而活。哦，信徒啊，在面对极大的试探之时，你是否担心有一天会落入撒但的手中？让这经文坚固你的心，你永远不会失去你属灵的生命，因为它是与基督一同藏在神的里面。既然你不怀疑你主的永生，那么就不要认为祂会让你失去生命，因为你与祂乃是一体的，祂的生命就是你生命的确据，对此你无需有任何担心，尽管安歇在你永生主的怀里。

One with Christ Jesus

Scripture: "Because I live, ye shall live also" (John 14:19).

Jesus has made the life of believers in Him as certain as His own. As sure as the Head lives the members live also. If Jesus has not risen from the dead, then are we dead in our sins; but since He has risen, all believers are risen in Him. His death has put away our transgressions and loosed the bonds which held us under the death sentence. His resurrection proves our justification: we are absolved, and mercy saith, "The LORD hath put away thy sin, thou shalt not die."

Jesus has made the life of His people as eternal as His own. How can they die as long as He lives, seeing they are one with Him? Because He dieth no more, and death hath no more dominion over Him, so they shall no more return to the graves of their old sins but shall live unto the LORD in newness of life. O believer, when, under great temptation, thou fearest that thou shalt one day fall by the hand of the enemy, let this reassure thee. Thou shalt never lose thy spiritual life, for it is hid with Christ in God. Thou dost not doubt the immortality of thy LORD; therefore, do not think that He will let thee die, since thou art one with Him. The argument for thy life is His life, and of that thou canst have no fear; wherefore rest in thy living LORD.

十月十六日

「他们的神就是自己的肚腹，他们以自己的羞辱为荣耀，专以地上的事为念。」（腓三19）

　　「为甚么找我呢？岂不知我应当以我父的事为念么？」（路二49）

　　世人专以地上的事为念，终日筹画、打算的都是地上的事，他们没有神：「他们的神就是自己的肚腹。」主耶稣在世的时候，专以神的事为念，这两个思念形成了两条道路。也是两等结局。

　　本来我们也是专以地上的事为念，活在地上没有指望、没有神，从主耶稣救赎了我们，我们一有了神的生命和圣灵，也就以神的事为念。我们虽然以神的事为念，但仍未能完全放下地上的事，以致把天上的事和地上的事搀杂在一起，盛在一个器皿中，好象在一块田地种上了麦子，同时又长著刑棘和野草。

　　我们既然接受了属天的，就当丢弃属地的；既然以神的事为念，就不当以地上的事为念；虽然我们是在地上生活，却不以地上的事为念。主耶稣十二岁的时候，在马利亚家中也作属地的事，祂的心却是以祂父的事为念。

　　人的思念就给人开辟道路，道路不同就是因为思念不同；思念不同，所寻求的就不同，所寻求的不同，所得著的也就不同。我们当有单纯的心向著神，我们不能事奉两个主。「不能又事奉神，又事奉玛门。」为甚么我们在神面前不长进，就是因为我们多以地上的事为念。不以天上的事为念。

　　「你们要先求神的国，和祂的义；这些东西都要加给你们了。」（太六33）

《荒漠甘泉》10月16日

我们…就当放下各样的重担，脱去容易缠累我们的罪，存心忍耐，奔那摆在我们前头的路程。（希伯来书第12章第1节）

　　有许多重担本身并不是罪，但是会叫基督徒分心，成为他们长进的障碍。其中最有害的是灰心。灰心实在是一个拽我们往下的重担。

　　以色列人不得进入应许之地的原因就是发怨言。民数记第14章第29-30节告诉我们：“凡向我发怨言的，必不得进我起誓应许叫你们住的那地。”鸣不平的欲望，不知足的欲望，常会造成叛逆大罪。所以我们永远不要疑惑神在凡事上对我们的慈爱和信实。我们要努力抵挡疑惑。当我们坚拒疑惑的时候，圣灵就会来帮助我们，赐给我们得胜的信心。

　　我们常常会陷入疑惑，怀抱不平，以为神已经弃绝我们，我们的盼望行将破产。让我们拒绝这一切思想，因为它们的目的是要叫我们失望。让我们拒绝一切不快乐的思想，凭信心来喜乐。这样，神必使我们的“以为”变成事实。

　　魔鬼有两个最大的诡计。一个就是叫我们失望，一个就是叫我们疑惑，从而斩断我们与父神之间的信心联系。当心啊！不要被他的诡计欺骗了。

　　一个喜乐的灵能使我们的心弦协调，使撒旦不敢前来弹奏。因为心弦太热，充满属天的电力的时候，会使撒旦的手指烫痛。

　　忧郁会使万物变色，使一切东西变得“不可爱”，使未来的希望沦入黑暗，会剥夺人们的一切热望，锁住人们的一切能力，使人陷入精神上的麻痹。

　　一个经历丰富的信徒告诉我们：喜乐能使工作顺利。当我们插上喜乐的翅膀，我们的工作也会做得迅速了。忧郁却剪去这翅膀，使我们的车轮象埃及人的车轮一样，脱落难行。