Daily Devotion - Feb 23 - ¥q¥¬¯u¨C¤éÆF­×(©]) Evening by Evening

司布真每日靈修(夜) Evening by Evening

二月二十三日

經文: 背起十字架來跟從我。（註：中文和合譯本沒有「背起十字架」五字，是：「你還要來跟從我」，英文KSV有take up the cross……）（馬可福音十：21）

雖然「不信」是製造十字架的木匠專家，但上帝沒有吩咐你去製造自己的十字架。人的意志十分希望成為自己的主和指揮者，然而上帝不允許你去選擇自己的十字架。上帝的愛已備妥了指定給你的十字架，你唯有喜樂地接受。你必須背起十字架視它為為你指定的記號和負擔，不要有所抱怨。耶穌要你將肩膀放在祂輕省的軛下。切勿因激怒而踢它、勿因驕傲而踐踏它、勿因失望而在它下面跌倒、更勿因害怕而逃避它。像耶穌的真實跟隨者一樣背起它來！耶穌曾經背負十字架，祂在憂傷之徑上領路，沒有人能成為比祂更佳的嚮導！十字架的道路是安全的道路。不必為了行走在荊棘路上而膽怯。十字架並非用羽毛製成，也沒有襯以絲絨。對於不順服之肩頭，它是沈重且令人激憤的。但是十字架不是以鐵製成的，雖然恐懼使它染上了鐵的色調。那只是一個木頭的十字架。人的能力足以背負它。憂傷之子是背負它的第一人。藉著聖靈的能力，你很快就會愛上這十字架，你將會像摩西那樣，不願意以全埃及的財富來換取基督的羞辱。請記住，不久以後，十字架就可換取冠冕。思想到將來極重之榮耀，必會大大減輕目前困難之沈重。主將助你使你的心屈伏於上帝的旨意之下，然後你將帶著屬於被釘之主的跟隨者所具有的聖潔和順服勇往前進！

Evening, February 23

Scripture: "Take up the cross, and follow me."(Mark 10:21)

You have not the making of your own cross, although unbelief is a master carpenter at cross-making; neither are you permitted to choose your own cross, although self-will would fain be lord and master; but your cross is prepared and appointed for you by divine love, and you are cheerfully to accept it; you are to take up the cross as your chosen badge and burden, and not to stand cavilling at it. This night Jesus bids you submit your shoulder to his easy yoke. Do not kick at it in petulance, or trample on it in vain-glory, or fall under it in despair, or run away from it in fear, but take it up like a true follower of Jesus. Jesus was a cross-bearer; he leads the way in the path of sorrow. Surely you could not desire a better guide! And if he carried a cross, what nobler burden would you desire? The Via Crucis is the way of safety; fear not to tread its thorny paths.
Beloved, the cross is not made of feathers, or lined with velvet, it is heavy and galling to disobedient shoulders; but it is not an iron cross, though your fears have painted it with iron colours, it is a wooden cross, and a man can carry it, for the Man of sorrows tried the load. Take up your cross, and by the power of the Spirit of God you will soon be so in love with it, that like Moses, you would not exchange the reproach of Christ for all the treasures of Egypt. Remember that Jesus carried it, and it will smell sweetly; remember that it will soon be followed by the crown, and the thought of the coming weight of glory will greatly lighten the present heaviness of trouble. The Lord help you to bow your spirit in submission to the divine will ere you fall asleep this night, that waking with to-morrow's sun, you may go forth to the day's cross with the holy and submissive spirit which becomes a follower of the Crucified.


取消訂閱 Unsubscribe at http://www.glorypress.com/Devotional/unsubscribe.asp?email=okfloors.zxcv@blogger.com&code=2551&ddb=5