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經文：「其實我不是獨自一人，因為有父與我同在。」（約16:32） 我們都知道：跟從基督，是要付上代價的。也許需要放棄合法的權利；也許需要離開至親的愛人；也許需要嘗到非常的剝奪和孤獨。但若我們像鷲鷹那樣飛上高天，直穿雲霄，我們就能與祂同住；那麼雖然地上的生活孤獨一點，也可以叫我們滿足了。 鷲鷹是鳥類中最喜歡獨棲的，牠們從不集群而飛；每當看見牠們，只能看見一隻或最多兩隻。一個與神同住的人，雖然沒有與人的交往，也總有與神的交通。 主正在尋找像鷲鷹那樣的人，因為凡不與神單獨同行的人，絕不能明白神就是最好；摩西雖然精通埃及一切學問，仍須在曠野與神單獨親近四十年；保羅雖然精通希臘學問，且曾在迦瑪列門下受教，仍須到亞拉伯去學習沙漠的生活。 所以，信徒們，任神隔離我們吧。隔離能使我們有獨立的信心和生活，使我們不再總是依賴他人的幫助、禱告、信心和照顧。 他人的幫助和激勵，對於基督徒的長進，是絕對必須的。但是到了某個階段，就會成為個人信心和幸福的直接妨礙。神知道，甚麼時候我們的環境需要改變，甚麼時候我們需要過隔離的生活。所以請讓我們把一切交給神吧，祂必帶領我們度過。 親愛的讀者，我們敢不敢過孤獨的生活呢？ 主獨自踹酒醡時，我們是預備跟從祂的腳蹤行？還是預備令祂失望？--選 新譯｜荒漠甘泉讀書會
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Scripture: "Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me" (John 16:32). It need not be said that to carry out conviction into action is a costly sacrifice. It may make necessary renunciations and separations which leave one to feel a strange sense both of deprivation and loneliness. But he who will fly, as an eagle does, into the higher levels where cloudless day abides, and live in the sunshine of God, must be content to live a comparatively lonely life. No bird is so solitary as the eagle. Eagles never fly in flocks; one, or at most two, ever being seen at once. But the life that is lived unto God, however it forfeits human companionships, knows Divine fellowship. God seeks eagle-men. No man ever comes into a realization of the best things of God, who does not, upon the Godward side of his life, learn to walk alone with God. We find Abraham alone in Horeb upon the heights, but Lot, dwelling in Sodom. Moses, skilled in all the wisdom of Egypt must go forty years into the desert alone with God. Paul, who was filled with Greek learning and had also sat at the feet of Gamaliel, must go into Arabia and learn the desert life with God. Let God isolate us. I do not mean the isolation of a monastery. In this isolating experience He develops an independence of faith and life so that the soul needs no longer the constant help, prayer, faith or attention of his neighbor. Such assistance and inspiration from the other members are necessary and have their place in the Christian's development, but there comes a time when they act as a direct hindrance to the individual's faith and welfare. God knows how to change the circumstances in order to give us an isolating experience. We yield to God and He takes us through something, and when it is over, those about us, who are no less loved than before, are no longer depended upon. We realize that He has wrought some things in us, and that the wings of our souls have learned to beat the upper air. We must dare to be alone. Jacob must be left alone if the Angel of God is to whisper in his ear the mystic name of Shiloh; Daniel must be left alone if he is to see celestial visions; John must be banished to Patmos if he is deeply to take and firmly to keep "the print of heaven." He trod the wine-press alone. Are we prepared for a "splendid isolation" rather than fail Him? ｜ Mrs. Charles Cowman
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