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經文：「耶穌就對彼得說，收刀入鞘罷，我父給我的那杯，我豈可不喝呢？」（約18:11） 神為了塑造我們，比藝術家作畫還要辛苦許多倍；要經過許多充滿悲痛的筆法，加上各種色調的背景，才能將我們造成祂心目中最高貴的樣式。對我們來說，只需要以正面的態度接受祂所賜的「沒藥」；但若把那杯推開，看輕或忽視這杯充滿悲痛的用心良苦，對我們的靈魂造成的虧損就會比本來需要修復的更多。 沒有人可以想像神是以何等超越的愛把沒藥賜給我們，所以我們應該接受這件於靈魂有益的恩賜。然而我們卻讓它在不經意的疏忽中錯失，結果從祂那裡什麽也沒有得到。反而滿口抱怨說道：「主啊，我是如何的饑渴，心中是如何地黑暗！」 親愛的孩子，我願你打開心扉接受神所賜的沒藥，這比光只有情感和虔誠對你更有幫助。--陶勒 新譯｜荒漠甘泉讀書會 |
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Scripture: "Shall I refuse to drink the cup of sorrow which the Father has given me to drink?" (John 18:11, Weymouth). God takes a thousand times more pains with us than the artist with his picture, by many touches of sorrow, and by many colors of circumstance, to bring us into the form which is the highest and noblest in His sight, if only we receive His gifts of myrrh in the right spirit. But when the cup is put away, and these feelings are stifled or unheeded, a greater injury is done to the soul that can ever be amended. For no heart can conceive in what surpassing love God giveth us this myrrh; yet this which we ought to receive to our souls' good we suffer to pass by us in our sleepy indifference, and nothing comes of it. Then we come and complain: "Alas, Lord! I am so dry, and it is so dark within me!" I tell thee, dear child, open thy heart to the pain, and it will do thee more good than if thou wert full of feeling and devoutness. --Tauler ｜ Mrs. Charles Cowman
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