|
經文：「心裏慌亂，便都昏迷。」（伯41:25） 神所重用的人與物，都是先被擊打得粉碎的，因為神所悅納的祭，乃是憂傷痛悔的心。正如雅各屬人的大腿窩在毘努伊勒瘸了，神才給他屬天的能力；何烈的磐石被摩西用杖擊打後，才能出水給口渴的百姓喝。 基甸和他的三百精兵要先打破老我的瓶子，他們的火把才能使仇敵驚亂；王后以斯帖必須冒死違例進宮見王，才能拯救她的本族脫離滅亡。主耶穌必須將五個餅與兩條魚擘成零碎，才能讓五千名會眾都得飽足。馬利亞必須打破極昂貴的真哪噠香膏瓶，才能使主的的身體充滿香氣。主耶穌必須被荊棘、釘子、槍矛等刺透，祂內在的生命才能像活水流出，讓飢渴慕義的人飽足。 一粒麥子必須落在地裡死了，才能結出許多的子粒來。所以，無論是在歷史上、傳記上、植物上、屬靈的生命上，神必須擘開打碎一切的人與物，然後才能重用他們。 親愛的讀者，如果你正受到擊打，無論是：財物、老我、美好的理想、地上的名譽、愛情、健康等；你雖然被人輕視或棄絕，聖靈卻抓住你，好使用你叫神得著榮耀，你願不願意呢？以賽亞書三十三章二十三節中說：「瘸腿的把掠物奪去了。」，那麼你是否甘心願意做一個瘸腿的來得勝並奪取所有掠物呢？--選 新譯｜荒漠甘泉讀書會
|
|
◇◇◇
Scripture: "By reason of breakings they purify themselves" (Job 41:25). God uses most for His glory those people and things which are most perfectly broken. The sacrifices He accepts are broken and contrite hearts. It was the breaking down of Jacob's natural strength at Peniel that got him where God could clothe him with spiritual power. It was breaking the surface of the rock at Horeb, by the stroke of Moses' rod that let out the cool waters to thirsty people. It was when the 300 elect soldiers under Gideon broke their pitchers, a type of breaking themselves, that the hidden lights shone forth to the consternation of their adversaries. It was when the poor widow broke the seal of the little pot of oil, and poured it forth, that God multiplied it to pay her debts and supply means of support. It was when Esther risked her life and broke through the rigid etiquette of a heathen court, that she obtained favor to rescue her people from death. It was when Jesus took the five loaves and broke them, that the bread was multiplied in the very act of breaking, sufficient to feed five thousand. It was when Mary broke her beautiful alabaster box, rendering it henceforth useless, that the pent-up perfume filled the house. It was when Jesus allowed His precious body to be broken to pieces by thorns and nails and spear, that His inner life was poured out, like a crystal ocean, for thirsty sinners to drink and live. It is when a beautiful grain of corn is broken up in the earth by DEATH, that its inner heart sprouts forth and bears hundreds of other grains. And thus, on and on, through all history, and all biography, and all vegetation, and all spiritual life, God must have BROKEN THINGS. Those who are broken in wealth, and broken in self-will, and broken in their ambitions, and broken in their beautiful ideals, and broken in worldly reputation, and broken in their affections, and broken ofttimes in health; those who are despised and seem utterly forlorn and helpless, the Holy Ghost is seizing upon, and using for God's glory. "The lame take the prey," Isaiah tells us. ｜ Mrs. Charles Cowman
|