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經文：「...是耶和華的手作成的...」（伯12:9） 幾年前在非洲的石礦中發現了一顆有史以來最大的金剛石，它被進貢給英皇用來裝飾他的皇冠。英皇就把它交給荷蘭阿姆斯特丹的一位世上最著名的寶石匠加以琢磨。你想，這位寶石匠會怎樣進行？ 他拿起這塊無價之寶先刻了一道深痕，然後再拿起鐵鎚用力一擊。看哪，一塊世上僅有的寶石頓時一分為二，這位荒謬又罪大惡極的寶石匠，絕對是闖了滔天大禍！ 然而事實並非如此，那一擊是經過好幾個星期的深思、計劃、繪圖、打樣等許多過程。它的性質、硬度和其中的裂紋，也都經過詳細的研究。而英皇所委託的這位匠人，乃是當時世上最一流的寶石匠。 你說那一擊是錯了麼？不，這是寶石匠最高技術的展現；那一擊使那塊寶石成為世上最玲瓏、最炫耀的兩顆金剛鑽；那一擊實在是它的拯救。 有時在你的生活中，神也將你猛擊一下；或許流淚、流血、喪志、灰心，然後你說那一擊是擊錯了。其實並非擊錯，只因你是神的無價之寶，而祂也正是你的寶石匠。有一天，你將成為神冠冕上發光的寶石。如今你既在神的手中，祂絕對知道怎樣對付你。而若非神的愛所許可，絕沒有一擊能臨到你。--馬克康該 J. H. Mc C. 在喬治麥唐納的著作裏，有二位女士的對話；一位是費柏太太，另一是桃樂賽女士。費柏太太惱恨地說：「我不知道神爲何造我，造我又有什麽用處？」桃樂賽回應說：「也許妳認為自己目前還沒有明顯的用處，那是神尚未完成對妳的塑造。但是還在神塑造妳的過程中，妳就對創造者開始抱怨了！」 人們只要相信自己尚在被塑造的過程中，並且願意讓造物主像陶匠處理泥土那樣全權處置，順服於神的一切工作，不久人們就會歡迎那雙加壓力在他們身上的手。雖然有時受壓得痛苦，但是他們深信且認識神創造的美意，是要把人引導進入光榮的境界。 新譯｜荒漠甘泉讀書會
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Scripture: "The hand of the Lord hath wrought this" (Job 12:9). Several years ago there was found in an African mine the most magnificent diamond in the world's history. It was presented to the King of England to blaze in his crown of state. The King sent it to Amsterdam to be cut. It was put into the hands of an expert lapidary. And what do you suppose he did with it? He took the gem of priceless value, and cut a notch in it. Then he struck it a hard blow with his instrument, and lo! the superb jewel lay in his hand cleft in twain. What recklessness I what wastefulness! what criminal carelessness! Not so. For days and weeks that blow had been studied and planned. Drawings and models had been made of the gem. Its quality, its defects, its lines of cleavage had all been studied with minutest care. The man to whom it was committed was one of the most skillful lapidaries in the world. Do you say that blow was a mistake? Nay. It was the climax of the lapidary's skill. When he struck that blow, he did the one thing which would bring that gem to its most perfect shapeliness, radiance, and jewelled splendor. That blow which seemed to ruin the superb precious stone was, in fact, its perfect redemption. For, from those two halves were wrought the two magnificent gems which the skilled eye of the lapidary saw hidden in the rough, uncut stone as it came from the mine. So, sometimes, God lets a stinging blow fall upon your life. The blood spurts. The nerves wince. The soul cries out in agony. The blow seems to you an apalling mistake. But it is not, for you are the most priceless jewel in the world to God. And He is the most skilled lapidary in the universe. Some day you are to blaze in the diadem of the King. As you lie in His hand now He knows just how to deal with you. Not a blow will be permitted to fall upon your shrinking soul but that the love of God permits it, and works out from its depths, blessing and spiritual enrichment unseen, and unthought of by you. --J. H. McC. In one of George MacDonald's books occurs this fragment of conversation: "I wonder why God made me," said Mrs. Faber bitterly. "I'm sure I don't know what was the use of making me!" "Perhaps not much yet," said Dorothy, "but then He hasn't done with you yet. He is making you now, and you are quarrelling with the process." If men would but believe that they are in process of creation, and consent to be made--let the Maker handle them as the potter the clay, yielding themselves in resplendent motion and submissive, hopeful action with the turning of His wheel--they would ere long find themselves able to welcome every pressure of that hand on them, even when it was felt in pain; and sometimes not only to believe but to recognize the Divine end in view, the bringing of a son unto glory. ｜ Mrs. Charles Cowman
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