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經文：「到了每西亞的邊界，他們想要往庇推尼去，耶穌的靈卻不許。」（徒16:7） 這是一個多麼奇怪的禁止！門徒想要前往庇推尼，目的是為作主的工，但是主反而把工作的門關了起來？其實，我自己也曾有過這樣的經歷；曾經，有幾次我自以為可以成功的路徑，反而受到許多攔阻。會有反對的力量逼我回去，也會有疾病將我退到曠野。 有時工作尚未完成聖靈卻要我把它放下，這實在是一件非常困難的事。但是神讓我看見：工作是事奉祂，等候也是事奉祂；要我活動的是神，禁止我活動的也是神。感謝主，我終於知道，許多時候曠野才是最有益的地方。因此我為那許多想去卻沒有去成的庇推尼而感謝神！ 聖靈阿，雖然我的前途常遭挫折，我仍然願意揀選祢的引導。無論今天工作的門似乎打開，然而明天當我想要進去的時候又忽然關上，這些也都是祢的權柄。 求祢教導我在等候中看見前面的路徑；求祢教導我在禁止中尋見事奉祢的新路；求祢教導我在不工作的時候盡忠；使我用安靜來作工，用等候來事奉。--馬德勝 Geo. Matheson |
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Scripture: "After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithyma: but the Spirit suffered them not" (Acts 16:7). What a strange prohibition! These men were going into Bithynia just to do Christ's work, and the door is shut against them by Christ's own Spirit. I, too, have experienced this in certain moments. I have sometimes found myself interrupted in what seemed to me a career of usefulness. Opposition came and forced me to go back, or sickness came and compelled me to retire into a desert apart. It was hard at such times to leave my work undone when I believed that work to be the service of the Spirit. But I came to remember that the Spirit has not only a service of work, but a service of waiting. I came to see that in the Kingdom of Christ there are not only times for action, but times in which to forbear acting. I came to learn that the desert place apart is often the most useful spot in the varied life of man--more rich in harvest than the seasons in which the corn and wine abounded. I have been taught to thank the blessed Spirit that many a darling Bithynia had to be left unvisited by me. And so, Thou Divine Spirit, would I still be led by Thee. Still there come to me disappointed prospects of usefulness. Today the door seems to open into life and work for Thee; tomorrow it closes before me just as I am about to enter. Teach me to see another door in the very inaction of the hour. Help me to find in the very prohibition thus to serve Thee, a new opening into Thy service. Inspire me with the knowledge that a man may at times be called to do his duty by doing nothing, to work by keeping still, to serve by waiting. When I remember the power of the "still small voice," I shall not murmur that sometimes the Spirit suffers me not to go. --George Matheson ｜ Mrs. Charles Cowman
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