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經文：「被壓太重，力不能勝。」（林後1:8）「好叫基督的能力覆庇我。」（林後12:9） 雅各在毘努依勒初次體會了一個從未經歷過的秘訣，那就是：抓住神；自從那次以後，雅各的信心大大長進，他對神有了更深的認識，他的生活也有了新的得勝能力。 關於大衛，神必須讓他經過長時間的痛苦訓練；教他知道神的全能與信實；好使他的信心和敬畏的心得以增長，因為這些美德對於他將來作王是極為重要的。 還有保囉，唯有不斷經歷困難、痛苦、危險，才能使他，甚至全教會都學會「我的恩典是夠你用的」（林後12:9）這偉大應許的完全意義。 今天能夠帶領我們認識與信靠主，並向祂支取無限恩典的，不是別的，正是我們的試煉和急難。祂給我們的困難和障礙，為的就是對付我們的信心。我們在日常的道路上，如果遭遇甚麼阻礙，應該知道它們是用來承裝信心的器皿；就要立刻拿主的豐富和「夠用」去裝滿它們。 當我們決定使用單純與完全信靠的態度前進時，或許還是會受到試驗，也還是需要忍耐等候；但是無論如何，到了最後，我們一定會看見石頭輥開，主耶穌等著賜恩給我們的。--信宣 A. B. Simpson 新譯｜荒漠甘泉讀書會
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Scripture: "Pressed out of measure" (2 Cor. 1:8)."That the power of Christ may rest upon me" (2 Cor. 12:9). God allowed the crisis to close around Jacob on the night when he bowed at Peniel in supplication, to bring him to the place where he could take hold of God as he never would have done; and from that narrow pass of peril, Jacob became enlarged in his faith and knowledge of God, and in the power of a new and victorious life. God had to compel David, by a long and painful discipline of years, to learn the almighty power and faithfulness of his God, and grow up into the established principles of faith and godliness, which were indispensable for his glorious career as the king of Israel. Nothing but the extremities in which Paul was constantly placed could ever have taught him, and taught the Church through him, the full meaning of the great promise he so learned to claim, "My grace is sufficient for thee." And nothing but our trials and perils would ever have led some of us to know Him as we do, to trust Him as we have, and to draw from Him the measures of grace which our very extremities made indispensable. Difficulties and obstacles are God's challenges to faith. When hindrances confront us in the path of duty, we are to recognize them as vessels for faith to fill with the fullness and all-sufficiency of Jesus; and as we go forward, simply and fully trusting Him, we may be tested, we may have to wait and let patience have her perfect work; but we shall surely find at last the stone rolled away, and the Lord waiting to render unto us double for our time of testing. --A. B. Simpson ｜ Mrs. Charles Cowman
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