|
經文：「耶和華的手在那裡降在我身上，祂對我說，你起來往平原去，我要在那裡和你說話。」（結3:22） 凡是被神重用的人，都會先經歷一個特別等候的時期。摩西的四十年，保羅的三年，基督的三十年，都是很好的例子。可是許多時候神為我們安排的等候期或安息所，我們並不能忍耐，只會覺得無聊。常常反而不能理解神的美意，以為自己是被祂厭棄了。 要知道，神有時給我們服事場，有時也給我們安息所；祂給我們出發的日子，也給我們等待的時期。只是無論工作中或休息中，祂的愛毫不改變。雖然看不見也感覺不到，祂的愛依然如故。所以請安息罷，存著感謝的心，接受神所安排的時間和地點罷！--選 至於我等候的經驗，雖遠不及保羅那樣沉重，卻仍有相通的道理；當我以爲文學工作的職業之門已經展開之時，卻又被阻擋了；有一位先進直接了當地表示：「絕對不行，她必須在寫作和謀生之間作一選擇，兩者不能兼得。」當時正是主後一八六零年。直到一八六九年，我的「歌之使命」問世，終於瞭解這九年韜光養晦中的等待，的確有主明智的理由。 神的愛是不會改變的，就算我們看不見或感覺不到，祂還是一樣地愛我們。祂的愛與能力，是同步而互相效力的。祂阻止我們享樂，不要我們自以爲進步。因爲祂得最清楚我們究竟是否真正成熟，也最懂得要如何栽培我們。--Memorials of Frances Ridley Havergal 神為我們預備了工作的界限和休息的所在，因此當我們極其疲乏時，祂帶領我們到大路旁的井水邊；所以你應該休息，並將讚美歸給主。 新譯｜荒漠甘泉讀書會
|
|
◇◇◇
Scripture: "And the hand of the Lord was there upon me; and he said unto me, Arise, go forth unto the plain, and I will there talk with thee" (Ezek. 3:22). Did you ever hear of any one being much used for Christ who did not have some special waiting time, some complete upset of all his or her plans first; from St. Paul's being sent off into the desert of Arabia for three years, when he must have been boiling over with the glad tidings, down to the present day? You were looking forward to telling about trusting Jesus in Syria; now He says, "I want you to show what it is to trust Me, without waiting for Syria." My own case is far less severe, but the same in principle, that when I thought the door was flung open for me to go with a bound into literary work, it is opposed, and doctor steps in and says, simply, "Never! She must choose between writing and living; she can't do both." That was in 1860. Then I came out of the shell with "Ministry of Song" in 1869, and saw the evident wisdom of being kept waiting nine years in the shade. God's love being unchangeable, He is just as loving when we do not see or feel His love. Also His love and His sovereignty are co-equal and universal; so He withholds the enjoyment and conscious progress because He knows best what will really ripen and further His work in us. --Memorials of Frances Ridley Havergal God provides resting places as well as working places. Rest, then, and be thankful when He brings you, wearied to a wayside well. ｜ Mrs. Charles Cowman
|