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經文：「但我斷不以別的誇口，只誇我們主耶穌基督的十字架。因這十字架，就我而論，世界已經釘在十字架上。就世界而論，我已經釘在十字上架上。」（加6:14） 有一群基督徒，他們本來是為自己而活；自己的盼望，自己的夢想；但是他們在禱告中求了一些自己並不明白的心志，於是主就開始成全他們所求的。他們求一顆痛悔的心，願意以任何代價去得著，主就給他們悲哀；他們求聖潔，主就給他們劇烈的痛苦；他們求謙和，主就打碎他們的心；他們求對著世界「死」，主就消滅他們一切的盼望；他們求像主，主就放他們在爐中，「坐下如煉淨銀子的」（瑪3:3），直到他們反映出主的容光來；他們求主的十字架，主就給他們十字架。 他們並不明白自己所求的意義重大，但是主就照他們所求的應允他們。其實他們未必願意跟主走得這麼遠，又與主靠得這麼近。所以他們的心開始懼怕；就像當初雅各在伯特利；又像門徒看見耶穌在海面上行走，如同畏懼鬼魅一般。他們幾乎要求主離開，他們以為順服比受苦容易，作比放容易，背十字架比掛十字架容易。等到那時他們再想要退回去，已不可能，因為他們已經走得太近，十字架的能力在他們的裡面已經刺得太深入。主已經成就了祂的應許：「我若從地上被舉起來，就要吸引萬人來歸我。」（約12:32） 過去他們曾經風聞這個奧秘，如今他們親自經歷了。主已經把祂可愛的面容深深地刻在他們心上，好像刻在馬利亞和彼得的心上一般；他們如今已經作了基督愛的奴隸，不能不繼續跟隨祂了。 漸漸地，十字架的奧秘一天又一天地光照他們。他們看見基督被高舉，得榮耀；他們看見一點，前進一點，最後竟然愈來愈像基督；世人彷彿從他們的身上看見主，因為主就住在他們裡面，與他們建立了極深的交情。門徒甘心捨棄常人所愛惜的合法權利，只為了見證他們不像別的，只像他們的主。這就是歷代「羔羊無論往那裡去，他們都跟隨他。」（啟14:4）的那一批人。 如果讓他們或他們的朋友代為重新選擇的話，他們肯定不會這樣選擇；他們會在世界上多得一點榮耀，在神國裡少得一點榮耀；他們會得到羅得的命運，不會得到亞伯拉罕的命運。如果他們在半路上停下來，如果主也放手讓他們退回去的話，他們怎麼能不失去？然而等到復活的時候要遭受多大的損失！ 但是主保守了他們，甚至違背他們的本意如此行；多少時候他們跌倒，主仍然以慈愛攙扶他們。好讓他們知道：在這個世界受苦，能叫他們在神國裡掌權；在地上背十字架，能叫他們在天上得冠冕。--選 新譯｜荒漠甘泉讀書會
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Scripture: "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world" (Gal. 6:14). They were living to themselves; self with its hopes, and promises and dreams, still had hold of them; but the Lord began to fulfill their prayers. They had asked for contrition, and had surrendered for it to be given them at any cost, and He sent them sorrow; they had asked for purity, and He sent them thrilling anguish; they had asked to be meek, and He had broken their hearts; they had asked to be dead to the world, and He slew all their living hopes; they had asked to be made like unto Him, and He placed them in the furnace, sitting by "as a refiner and purifier of silver," until they should reflect His image; they had asked to lay hold of His cross, and when He had reached it to them it lacerated their hands. They had asked they knew not what, nor how, but He had taken them at their word, and granted them all their petitions. They were hardly willing to follow Him so far, or to draw so nigh to Him. They had upon them an awe and fear, as Jacob at Bethel, or Eliphaz in the night visions, or as the apostles when they thought that they had seen a spirit, and knew not that it was Jesus. They could almost pray Him to depart from them, or to hide His awfulness. They found it easier to obey than to suffer, to do than to give up, to bear the cross than to hang upon it. But they cannot go back, for they have come too near the unseen cross, and its virtues have pierced too deeply within them. He is fulfilling to them His promise, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me" (John 12:32). But now at last their turn has come. Before, they had only heard of the mystery, but now they feel it. He has fastened on them His look of love, as He did on Mary and Peter, and they can but choose to follow. Little by little, from time to time, by flitting gleams, the mystery of His cross shines out upon them. They behold Him lifted up, they gaze on the glory which rays from the wounds of His holy passion; and as they gaze they advance, and are changed into His likeness, and His name shines out through them, for He dwells in them. They live alone with Him above, in unspeakable fellowship; willing to lack what others own (and what they might have had), and to be unlike all, so that they are only like Him. Such, are they in all ages, "who follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth." Had they chosen for themselves, or their friends chosen for them, they would have chosen otherwise. They would have been brighter here, but less glorious in His Kingdom. They would have had Lot's portion, not Abraham's. If they had halted anywhere--if God had taken off His hand and let them stray back--what would they not have lost? What forfeits in the resurrection? But He stayed them up, even against themselves. Many a time their foot had well nigh slipped; but He in mercy held them up. Now, even in this life, they know that all He did was done well. It was good to suffer here, that they might reign hereafter; to bear the cross below, for they shall wear the crown above; and that not their will but His was done on them and in them.--Anonymous. ｜ Mrs. Charles Cowman
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