Daily Devotion - Feb 18 - ¥q¥¬¯u¨C¤éÆF­×(¤é) Morning by Morning

司布真每日靈修(日) Morning by Morning

二月十八日

經文: 「要指示我，您為何與我爭辯？」(約伯記十：2)

沒有暗礁就激不起美麗的浪花，同樣若沒有考驗，就顯不出上帝的恩典。「愛」像是閃爍的螢光，只有在清幽的夏夜，才顯出亮光。「希望」也像極星光，在大白天是感覺不到它的存在，但在逆境中、暗夜裡，卻灼灼發光。「苦難常像是珠寶盒裡的黑絨布，能夠襯託出珠寶的燦爛奪目。我們不幸的遭遇，也是凸顯天父對祂兒女格外的看顧。」
<BR> 「信心」若沒有經過考驗，怎能看出真正有信心？若沒有試煉磨難，又怎能體會到上帝的恩典？此外，溫室的花朵禁不起風霜的侵凌；沒有鋼鐵般的淬鍊，靈命又如何能成長？是故，上帝常把我們安逸順適的環境挪開，把我們依賴的支柱移走，為要訓練我們成為一個更好的基督徒。所謂橄欖不經磨碎，就流露不出芳香，葡萄不經壓榨，就不能釀成美酒。上帝訓練神國的精兵，不是讓他們待在奢侈豪華的營帳裡，而是要他們出到營外，扛起背包，跋山涉水，行軍千里，甚至訓練他們水陸兩棲，夜間疾行，為要鍛鍊其體魄，砥礪其心志，使他們靈命茁壯、進深。
<BR> 這樣的體認與看見，是否讓你心情較寬慰？是否是讓你較能坦然接受你目前的逆境霉運？上帝豈不是正藉這環境磨鍊你，為使你成長？這正是上帝的美意與恩典！


Morning, February 18

Scripture: "Shew me wherefore thou contendest with me."(Job 10:2)

Perhaps, O tried soul, the Lord is doing this to develop thy graces. There are some of thy graces which would never be discovered if it were not for thy trials. Dost thou not know that thy faith never looks so grand in summer weather as it does in winter? Love is too often like a glow-worm, showing but little light except it be in the midst of surrounding darkness. Hope itself is like a star—not to be seen in the sunshine of prosperity, and only to be discovered in the night of adversity. Afflictions are often the black foils in which God doth set the jewels of his children's graces, to make them shine the better. It was but a little while ago that on thy knees thou wast saying, "Lord, I fear I have no faith: let me know that I have faith." Was not this really, though perhaps unconsciously, praying for trials?—for how canst thou know that thou hast faith until thy faith is exercised? Depend upon it, God often sends us trials that our graces may be discovered, and that we may be certified of their existence. Besides, it is not merely discovery, real growth in grace is the result of sanctified trials. God often takes away our comforts and our privileges in order to make us better Christians. He trains his soldiers, not in tents of ease and luxury, but by turning them out and using them to forced marches and hard service. He makes them ford through streams, and swim through rivers, and climb mountains, and walk many a long mile with heavy knapsacks of sorrow on their backs. Well, Christian, may not this account for the troubles through which thou art passing? Is not the Lord bringing out your graces, and making them grow? Is not this the reason why he is contending with you?

"Trials make the promise sweet;
Trials give new life to prayer;
Trials bring me to his feet,
Lay me low, and keep me there."


取消訂閱 Unsubscribe at http://www.glorypress.com/Devotional/unsubscribe.asp?email=okfloors.zxcv@blogger.com&code=2551&ddb=4