Daily Devotion - Nov 18 - ¯îºz¥Ì¬u Streams in the Desert

荒漠甘泉 Streams in the Desert

不因主跌倒

經文: 「凡不因我跌倒的，就有福了。」（路七23）

有時候，「不因主跌倒」，的確是一件很難做到的事情。

叫我們跌倒的也許是環境方面的事情──當我們渴望為主作工的時候，卻被囚在一個極狹窄的地方、一間病室裡、一個不順遂的地位上。但是，無論如何，主知道我們的需要。我們所在的環境，都是主親手替我們安排的。祂放我們在現在的地位上，是要加增我們的信心，牽引我們更近主。

叫我們跌倒的也許是思想方面的事情──思想一直縈繞著許多我們所不能解決的疑問、難題。我們原希望：當我們把自己交給主的時候，天色就會變藍的；可是交託了以後，天空仍滿佈著烟霧、黑雲。讓我們在這裡相信：如果我們把自己交給主以後，困難仍在的話，這定規是因為主要我們學習更深信祂的緣故。

叫我跌倒的也許是屬靈方面的事情──我們曾以為在主的懷抱中，不再受到試探的狂風了；可是，不料試探的狂風卻比以前來得更猛。試探越加猛，主的恩典越加大。我們如果回過頭去看看我們一路所遭遇的試煉，我們就會大聲歌詠讚美我們的嚮導了。所以，不論前面將遭遇的是甚麼，只要是主的旨意，我們都該歡迎。

但願我們不再因我們的愛主跌倒！──司買莉（Alexander Smellie）


Don't Be Offended

Scripture: "Blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me" (Luke 7:23).

It is sometimes very difficult not to be offended in Jesus Christ. The offenses may be circumstantial. I find myself in a prison-house--a narrow sphere, a sick chamber, an unpopular position--when I had hoped for wide opportunities. Yes, but He knows what is best for me. My environment is of His determining. He means it to intensify my faith, to draw me into nearer communion with Himself, to ripen my power. In the dungeon my soul should prosper.

The offense may be mental. I am haunted by perplexities, questions, which I cannot solve. I had hoped that, when I gave myself to Him, my sky would always be clear; but often it is overspread by mist and cloud. Yet let me believe that, if difficulties remain, it is that I may learn to trust Him all the more implicitly--to trust and not be afraid. Yes, and by my intellectual conflicts, I am trained to be a tutor to other storm-driven men.

The offense may be spiritual. I had fancied that within His fold I should never feel the biting winds of temptation; but it is best as it is. His grace is magnified. My own character is matured. His Heaven is sweeter at the close of the day. There I shall look back on the turnings and trials of the way, and shall sing the praises of my Guide. So, let come what will come, His will is welcome; and I shall refuse to be offended in my loving Lord. --Alexander Smellie


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