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經文：「作餅的糧食是用磨磨碎。」（賽28:28節） 親愛的讀者，當我們還沒有在主的手裡被摔碎以前，主不能使用我們做為世人的糧，因為「作餅的糧食是用磨磨碎」的。雖然主給我們的經歷是痛苦的，但若我們的痛苦能使世人的生命得福，那麼我們所付的代價也就不算太大了。因為世上最可愛的事物，往往是從眼淚和痛苦中得來的。--密勒 J.R.Miller 神既已差遣我做祂選民的糧食，而若這糧食必須經過獅子利齒的磨碎，才能餵養神的兒女，我依然感謝讚美祂。--意內息斯 Ignatius 這世上的英雄與醫學界的偉人，差不多都是由貧乏、患難、不幸促成的。因為藉著苦難，才會生出毅力與忍耐。就像老家的那隻掛鐘能夠擺動，就是因為掛錘有重量；也像帆船可以利用暴風的力量，來加速進港。同樣，神常常利用環境的逼迫，來鼓舞信徒的信心和工作。 --- 聖經上最光榮的人物，都是先被磨碎、壓傷，然後才成為他人的糧食： 亞伯拉罕被稱為「信心之父」，是因為他的苦難最多，順服也最多。 雅各曾遭遇不少難忍的磨練。 約瑟必須做過波提乏的僕役，下過埃及的監獄，才能得到宰相的高位。 大衛躲在山上像鵪鶉一般被人追逐；既疲倦又痛苦，至終卻成了國王。 保羅如果沒有受過鞭打和石擊，就不能做該撒家的糧食，做皇室磨碎的細粉。 如果神命定你接受特別的試煉，那就是神在祂的心底已經為你保留一個特別的地位。--選 新譯｜荒漠甘泉讀書會
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Scripture: "Bread corn is bruised" (Isa. 28:28). Many of us cannot be used to become food for the world's hunger until we are broken in Christ's hands. "Bread corn is bruised." Christ's blessing ofttimes means sorrow, but even sorrow is not too great a price to pay for the privilege of touching other lives with benediction. The sweetest things in this world today have come to us through tears and pain. --J. R. Miller God has made me bread for His elect, and if it be needful that the bread must be ground in the teeth of the lion to feed His children, blessed be the name of the Lord. --Ignatius "We must burn out before we can give out. We cease to bless when we cease to bleed." "Poverty, hardship and misfortune have pressed many a life to moral heroism and spiritual greatness. Difficulty challenges energy and perseverance. It calls into activity the strongest qualities of the soul. It was the weights on father's old clock that kept it going. Many a head wind has been utilized to make port. God has appointed opposition as an incentive to faith and holy activity. "The most illustrious characters of the Bible were bruised and threshed and ground into bread for the hungry. Abraham's diploma styles him as 'the father of the faithful.' That was because he stood at the head of his class in affliction and obedience. "Jacob suffered severe threshings and grindings. Joseph was bruised and beaten and had to go through Potiphar's kitchen and Egypt's prison to get to his throne. "David, hunted like a partridge on the mountain, bruised, weary and footsore, was ground into bread for a kingdom. Paul never could have been bread for Caesar's household if he had not endured the bruising, whippings and stonings. He was ground into fine flour for the royal family." "Like combat, like victory. If for you He has appointed special trials, be assured that in His heart He has kept for you a special place. A soul sorely bruised is a soul elect." ｜ Mrs. Charles Cowman
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