| 今天: | |
| 昨天: | |
| 總計: |
October 25
"Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. (John 16:24)
DURING the Civil War, a man had an only son who enlisted in the armies of the Union. The father was a banker and, although he consented to his son's going, it seemed as if it would break his heart to let him go.
He became deeply interested in the soldier boys, and whenever he saw a uniform, his heart went out as he thought of his own dear boy. He spend his time, neglected his business, gave his money to caring for the soldiers who came home invalid. His friends remonstrated with him, saying he had no right to neglect his business and spend so much thought upon the soldiers, so he fully decided to give it all up.
After he had come to this decision, there stepped into his bank one day a private soldier in a faded, worn uniform, who showed in his face and hands the marks of the hospital.
The poor fellow was fumbling in his pocket to get something or other, when the banker saw him and, perceiving his purpose, said to him:
"My dear fellow, I cannot do anything for you today. I am extremely busy. You will have to go to your headquarters; the officers there will look after you."
Still the poor convalescent stood, not seeming to fully under stand what was said to him. Still he fumbled in his pockets and, by and by, drew out a scrap of dirty paper, on which there were a few lines written with a pencil, and laid this soiled sheet before the banker. On it he found these words:
"Dear Father: "This is one of my comrades who was wounded in the last fight, and has been in the hospital. Please receive him as myself."
-Charlie.
In a moment all the resolutions of indifference which this man made, flew away, He took the boy to his palatial home, put him in Charlie's room, gave him Charlie's seat at the table, kept him until food and rest and love had brought him back to health, and then sent him back again to imperil his life for the flag.
-Selected.
"Now shalt thou SEE what I will do." (Exod. 6:1)
當一個人感到無法勝過剛硬的心,事實上是因為他自己的驕傲,這自然就成為我們獻身置死而生的痛苦重擔。在一個人瞭解並體驗他的本性一無可取,並發自己不能做什麼後,才會有真正實在的悔改。人在此時對自己的生命絕望,而要找尋神所賜的新生命,從這兒產生的信心使我們可找到神;而基督也因此降生,直到我們對自己絕望時,信心和盼望才促使我們想要用禱告的方法。除非我們已經決定不再依靠自己,否則我們無法有新生命的產生。
一個人必須感覺到他仍可觸摸內在神聖的愛,神創造時已在人裏面為自己的生命和聖靈安置一個住處,愛在神所造的心靈中,是我們不可少的本性,能使人知道這神聖的愛是我們唯一的力量。
你要問神是誰?神就是愛,祂有良善,完全的平安、喜樂、榮耀,並賜每個生命。問基督是誰?祂有宇宙醫治之能力,祂醫治破碎心靈;祂對每位軟弱的人有永遠的付出憐憫,長久忍耐、不止息的恩慈。
「讓我向週圍的人展現這些愛的本質,直到他們願意放下自己的努力。一切聖道本於愛的靈,一切恩賜出自愛;除非有愛,否則沒有氣息、沒有生命;愛是屬天對心靈的啟示,也是無限的亮光和真理,愛的神性的基督復活,每種屬靈真謙卑,無隔膜的慈悲,無煩躁的忍耐和發自內心的憐憫。」
當我們回溯上述的每種德性,但願要先相信神是愛,但願神賜福給每一位;當陽光普照大地,供應一切生命所須的光時,請深信神的大愛在一天每個時刻都照耀著我們;假如我們願意耐心等候祂會以愛心默默給予有福的恩賜,但我們必須要繼續地對愛我們的神捨己。
「向甚麼樣的人,我就作甚麼樣的人,無論如何,總要救些人。」哥林多前書九章22節
一個基督工人,必要在叢集的卑劣事情中學做神的尊貴人,切勿這樣說──「倘若我在別的光景裡,就……」神的人都是常人,因祂所給與他們的素質,變成了非常人。除非我們心裡充滿祂的智能和熱情,我們必不能有用於祂。替神作工,不是我們所可自選的,有許多人自願選作工人,他是他們沒有神的大恩和大道在他們裡面。保羅的全心全意全靈都充滿了耶穌基督救人的事業,他也從不忽視這事。我們當向著這個中心事實──十字架上的耶穌基督。
「是我揀選了你。」在你心裡應保守這個偉大的觀念。不是你揀選了神,卻是祂揀選了你。在本大學裡,神的工作是彎曲,破壞,陶鑄祂所揀選的人。祂為甚麼這樣做,我們不知道;祂如此做,只有一個目的──也許祂能這樣說:「這是我的人。」我們必要在神手中,神才能將人栽在磐石上,像栽我們一樣。
切不可選充工人,但當神選召你的時候,你如果往左往右,你就有禍了。祂將選用你,不像未召你以前那樣的;祂將選用你,不像祂選用別人那樣,讓祂自行其是吧!
「再者,你們曉得現今就是該趁早睡醒的時候我們就當脫去暗昧的行為,帶上光明的兵器。」羅馬書十三章11、12節
願我們趁早睡醒、儆醒無比,而且對需要我們關心的事有遠見。
願我們脫去暗昧的行為,以及夜間放縱的種種事情,放棄荒宴醉酒,不再沈迷不醒。因為黑暗中邪惡的事,不是光明的基督徒應該做的。
願我們為現今的世代武裝起來,就像我們得穿衣一樣,讓我們把兵器穿戴好。因為我們處在敵人潛伏的地帶,而且這世界充滿了危險。讓我們戴上救恩的頭盔、拿著信德當作盾牌。在這危險重重的末世,讓我們穿上全副軍裝、儆醒小心地過日子。
願我們披戴主耶穌基督,因為祂才是我們今天的軍袍。我們的好行為、自我的公義都不管用。惟有賜生命的主,能成就我們一切的需要、能使我們稱義、保守著我們。