|
經文：「耶和華必成全關乎我的事。」（詩138:8） 苦難，有一種神秘、奇妙、超然的能力，那並不是人的智慧所能了解。 那是唯有經過苦難的人，才會懂得。任何身處其中的人，若能鎮靜地笑看自己的苦難，並不再求神救他脫離，那就有福了，到了那個時候；十字架就要成為他的冠冕；聖靈要在他的心裡作許多奇妙的工；他會全人安安靜靜地伏在神的手下；他的心思、意志、情感都會降服；他的全人會感到一種全然的安息；他會變得靜默並且沒有甚麼要說；也不再會再問神許多無謂的問題。 他不會再想像空中的樓閣，也不會再追逐無益的事物；他的性情會變得溫良柔順；他的自由意志會全然降服，除了神的旨意不自我選擇，徹底斷捨對於凡事的依戀，以致；再沒有任何事物能傷害他，再沒有任何事物能絆倒他，再沒有任何事物能妨礙他，再沒有任何事物能阻止他；因為不論環境如何，他所尋求的唯有神和神的旨意；他深信神在宇宙中所做的每一件事，無論是好是壞，是過去是現在，都是互相効力，叫他得著益處。 親愛的讀者，這些絕對的得勝；甘願失去自我的力量、智慧、計劃、欲望，將每一個最微小天然的本性，都恭敬地放在全能者主耶穌的腳前；這真是何等有福！--譯自靈糧 Soul Food 受苦而不氣餒，是一件偉大的能力。--費內倫 Fenelon 新譯｜荒漠甘泉讀書會
|
|
◇◇◇
Scripture: "The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me" (Ps. 138:8). There is a Divine mystery in suffering, a strange and supernatural power in it, which has never been fathomed by the human reason. There never has been known great saintliness of soul which did not pass through great suffering. When the suffering soul reaches a calm sweet carelessness, when it can inwardly smile at its own suffering, and does not even ask God to deliver it from suffering, then it has wrought its blessed ministry; then patience has its perfect work; then the crucifixion begins to weave itself into a crown. It is in this state of the perfection of suffering that the Holy Spirit works many marvelous things in our souls. In such a condition, our whole being lies perfectly still under the hand of God; every faculty of the mind and will and heart are at last subdued; a quietness of eternity settles down into the whole being; the tongue grows still, and has but few words to say; it stops asking God questions; it stops crying, "Why hast thou forsaken me?" The imagination stops building air castles, or running off on foolish lines; the reason is tame and gentle; the choices are annihilated; it has no choice in anything but the purpose of God. The affections are weaned from all creatures and all things; it is so dead that nothing can hurt it, nothing can offend it, nothing can hinder it, nothing can get in its way; for, let the circumstances be what they may, it seeks only for God and His will, and it feels assured that God is making everything in the universe, good or bad, past or present, work together for its good. Oh, the blessedness of being absolutely conquered! of losing our own strength, and wisdom, and plans, and desires, and being where every atom of our nature is like placid Galilee under the omnipotent feet of our Jesus. --Soul Food The great thing is to suffer without being discouraged. --Fenelon ｜ Mrs. Charles Cowman
|