Daily Devotion - Nov 14 - ¥q¥¬¯u¨C¤éÆF­×(©]) Evening by Evening

司布真每日靈修(夜) Evening by Evening

十一月十四日

經文: 拉班說：「大女兒還沒有給人，先把小女兒給人，在我們這地方沒有這規矩。」（創世記二十九：26）

我們並非要原諒拉班的不誠實，但是我們可以從他用來作為藉口的習俗學到功課。有一些事情是必須有先後順序的。小女兒可能看起來比較可愛。但長女必須先成婚，天國之原則是必須持守的。例如，許多人希望能娶美麗的拉結以獲得喜樂與平安，但是他們必須先娶眼睛沒有神氣代表悔改的利亞。每個人都喜歡快樂，甘願為了得到它而工作多年，但是按照上帝國度的原則，我們的心靈在獲得喜樂以前，必須愛真正的聖潔。必須先背負十字架，然後才可能戴上冠冕。我們必須在主的謙卑中跟隨祂，不然就永不可能與祂在榮耀中得安息。對這一點你的看法如何呢？你是否妄想破除天國的原則？你是否希望不以勞苦來獲得賞賜，不以辛勤來獲得榮譽？除去懶惰的期望吧！為了耶穌的甘美之愛，滿足於擔負艱辛的工作，你就可以因此得到賞賜。有了辛勞和受苦的心志，你將發現辛澀變為甜美，艱難變為輕省，因為你對耶穌的愛，會像雅各那樣，視漫長歲月之服事如同幾天而已。當婚筵來臨時，一切的勞苦似乎都已忘記，與耶穌同在片刻就能補償你數年的痛苦和辛勞。

Evening, November 14

Scripture: "And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn."(Genesis 29:26)

We do not excuse Laban for his dishonesty, but we scruple not to learn from the custom which he quoted as his excuse. There are some things which must be taken in order, and if we would win the second we must secure the first. The second may be the more lovely in our eyes, but the rule of the heavenly country must stand, and the elder must be married first. For instance, many men desire the beautiful and well-favoured Rachel of joy and peace in believing, but they must first be wedded to the tender-eyed Leah of repentance. Every one falls in love with happiness, and many would cheerfully serve twice seven years to enjoy it, but according to the rule of the Lord's kingdom, the Leah of real holiness must be beloved of our soul before the Rachel of true happiness can be attained. Heaven stands not first but second, and only by persevering to the end can we win a portion in it. The cross must be carried before the crown can be worn. We must follow our Lord in his humiliation, or we shall never rest with him in glory.

My soul, what sayest thou, art thou so vain as to hope to break through the heavenly rule? Dost thou hope for reward without labour, or honour without toil? Dismiss the idle expectation, and be content to take the ill-favoured things for the sake of the sweet love of Jesus, which will recompense thee for all. In such a spirit, labouring and suffering, thou wilt find bitters grow sweet, and hard things easy. Like Jacob, thy years of service will seem unto thee but a few days for the love thou hast to Jesus; and when the dear hour of the wedding feast shall come, all thy toils shall be as though they had never been—an hour with Jesus will make up for ages of pain and labour.

Jesus, to win thyself so fair,

Thy cross I will with gladness bear:

Since so the rules of heaven ordain,

The first I'll wed the next to gain.


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