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經文：「所以你們要把下垂的手，發酸的腿，挺起來。也要為自己的腳把道路修直了，使瘸子不至歪腳，反得痊癒。」（來12:12-13） 這真是一段神激勵我們的話：叫我們挺起信心的手和禱告的腿來。因為我們的信心時常會疲憊、軟弱、鬆懈；我們的禱告也常會失去能力與果效。這段有力的經文似乎看出我們已經氣餒與膽怯；一點極小的試煉就會使我們沮喪驚恐；讓我們選擇繞道而行，不敢再面對面地抵抗；最後選擇一條比較容易的路而行。 例如某人身體有了疾病，神原本預備親自醫治他；可是他卻尋找別的救助，選擇的是人的做法，結果病況反倒沒有好轉。 還有就是我們會用很多方法逃避試煉；每當遇到困難的環境，常常會用「還沒有準備好」來推脫閃躲；多少次需要我們犧牲，或順服的時候；多少次需要奪取耶利哥，或鼓起勇氣去帶領失喪的靈魂的時候；多少次需要禱告，或者疾病已經被神醫治一半的時候；我們卻繞道而行，選擇了別條路！ 神說：「你們要把下垂的手…挺起來。」竟直向大水走去。看哪，大水竟然分開，紅海成了乾地，約但河立起成壘。不要懼怕，神一定會帶領你進入勝利。不要任著自己「歪著腳」，快來「得痊癒」。 --- 讓你的信心堅強起來，繼續向前走，不要留下一座耶利哥城沒有攻破！ 不要留一點破口讓撒但向你誇口！如果今天你的靈正在冷落，那麼這正是一堂對你有益且實用的功課。--信宣 A. B. Simpson 不用去注意那些令人氣餒的事，無論你的道路是崎嶇或平坦，總要像一艘輪船；不論是雨天或晴天依然向前行駛。因為你的責任就是當裝載貨物時按時進港。--貝伯考克 Maltbie D. babcock 新譯｜荒漠甘泉讀書會
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Scripture: Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed" (Heb. 12:12-13). This is God's word of encouragement to us to lift up the hands of faith, and confirm the knees of prayer. Often our faith grows tired, languid, and relaxed, and our prayers lose their force and effectiveness. The figure used here is a very striking one. The idea seems to be that we become discouraged and so timid that a little obstacle depresses and frightens us, and we are tempted to walk around it, and not face it: to take the easier way. Perhaps it is some physical trouble that God is ready to heal, but the exertion is hard, or it is easier to secure some human help, or walk around in some other way. There are many ways of walking around emergencies instead of going straight through them. How often we come up against something that appalls us, and we want to evade the issue with the excuse: "I am not quite ready for that now." Some sacrifice is to be made, some obedience demanded, some Jericho to be taken, some soul that we have not the courage to claim and carry through, some prayer that is hanging fire, or perhaps some physical trouble that is half healed and we are walking around it. God says, "Lift up the hands that hang down." March straight through the flood, and lo, the waters will divide, the Red Sea will open, the Jordan will part, and the Lord will lead you through to victory. Don't let your feet "be turned out of the way," but let your body "be healed," your faith strengthened. Go right ahead and leave no Jericho behind you unconquered and no place where Satan can say that he was too much for you. This is a profitable lesson and an intensely practical one. How often have we been in that place. Perhaps you are there today. --A. B. Simpson Pay as little attention to discouragement as possible. Plough ahead as a steamer does, rough or smooth--rain or shine. To carry your cargo and make your port is the point. --Maltbie D. Babcock ｜ Mrs. Charles Cowman
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