|
經文：「他們就把石頭挪開。耶穌擧目說，父阿，我感謝祢，因為祢已經聽我。」（約11:41） 這眞是一個奇怪又反常的次序；拉撒路明明還在墳墓，就為他的復活而感謝？我們總以為感謝的時刻，應該在神蹟發生；拉撒路復活以後。但是主耶穌卻為著尚未成就的事感謝；在恩典降臨之前，就深信恩典已經在路上。這就是：戰爭之前先唱得勝的凱歌，神蹟之前先要獻上感謝！ 十字軍正啟程遠征的時候，是誰肯先唱得勝的凱歌？禱告的應允尚未來到之前，是誰肯先唱感恩的詩歌？主耶穌為我們所做的示範，並不是奇怪、勉強、沒有理由的。讚美在行神蹟的工作上真的是非常重要；因為神蹟來自靈裡的能力，而能力的大小和信心是成正比的。--喬懷德 Dr. Jowett 禱告的時候，沒有一件事比讚美更能得到神的喜悅，也沒有一件事比讚美更能祝福禱告的人。在中國期間，我曾經藉著讚美得到一個很大的祝福；當時我收到很多來自家鄉的壞消息，使我整個心思充滿了焦慮。我雖然禱告，但是焦慮卻並未減輕，我竭力忍住，結果焦慮得更加嚴重。 --- 就在那個時期我前往一處地區，看見在一戶傳道人的自家牆上寫著「要感謝」三個大字。於是我立即開口感謝，不一會，我的焦慮全部消散，一點也沒有留下。是呀，詩篇的作者說得真好：「稱謝耶和華….這本為美事。」（詩92:1-3）--富勒斯 Rev. Henry W. Frost 新譯｜荒漠甘泉讀書會
|
|
◇◇◇
Scripture: "And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me" (John 11:41). This is a very strange and unusual order. Lazarus is still in the grave, and the thanksgiving precedes the miracle of resurrection. I thought that the thanksgiving would have risen when the great deed had been wrought, and Lazarus was restored to life again. But Jesus gives thanks for what He is about to receive. The gratitude breaks forth before the bounty has arrived, in the assurance that it is certainly on the way. The song of victory is sung before the battle has been fought. It is the sower who is singing the song of the harvest home. It is thanksgiving before the miracle! Who thinks of announcing a victory-psalm when the crusaders are just starting out for the field? Where can we hear the grateful song for the answer which has not yet been received? And after all, there is nothing strange or forced, or unreasonable in the Master's order. Praise is really the most vital preparatory ministry to the working of the miracles. Miracles are wrought by spiritual power. Spiritual power is always proportioned to our faith.--Dr. Jowett PRAISE CHANGES THINGS Nothing so pleases God in connection with our prayer as our praise, and nothing so blesses the man who prays as the praise which he offers. I got a great blessing once in China in this connection. I had received bad and sad news from home, and deep shadows had covered my soul. I prayed, but the darkness did not vanish. I summoned myself to endure, but the darkness only deepened. Just then I went to an inland station and saw on the wall of the mission home these words: "Try Thanksgiving." I did, and in a moment every shadow was gone, not to return. Yes, the Psalmist was right, "It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord."--Rev. Henry W. Frost ｜ Mrs. Charles Cowman
|