經文:「我離世的時候到了。那美好的仗我已經打過了,當跑的路我已經跑盡了,所信的道我已經守住了。」(提後4:6-7) 軍人到了年老退休在家的時候,最喜歡談講戰場上的經歷,也最喜歡把身上的傷痕指給人看。我們也是這樣,當我們到了天家以後,也一定最喜歡述說神的良善與信實,並祂怎樣帶領我們經過地上的所有試煉。 我們難道會希望,在天上站在眾聖徒之間,聽見說:「這些人中;除了一位;其他都是從大患難中出來的」呢?又或者那就是指著你說的呢?一定不願意吧!所以到如今能有分於患難,已經可以叫我們心滿意足;因為不久我們就要頭戴冠冕並手拿棕樹枝了。--司布眞 C. H. Spurgeon 神不會要你的獎章、學位、文憑;祂卻會去找你身上的傷痕。 一個屬神的人所能獲得的最光榮的勳章,乃是因事奉而受到的傷痕、因冠冕而受到的損失、因基督而受到的恥辱、因工作而受到的虧損。--選 新譯|荒漠甘泉讀書會
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Scripture: "The last drops of my sacrifice are falling; my time to go has come. I have fought in the good fight; I have kept the faith" (2 Tim. 4:6, 7). As soldiers show their scars and talk of battles when they come at last to spend their old age in the country at home, so shall we in the dear land to which we are hastening, speak of the goodness and faithfulness of God who brought us through all the trials of the way. I would not like to stand in the white-robed host and hear it said, "These are they that came out of great tribulation, all except one." Would you like to be there and see yourself pointed at as the one saint who never knew a sorrow? Oh, no! for you would be an alien in the midst of the sacred brotherhood. We will be content to share the battle, for we shall soon wear the crown and wave the palm. --C. H. Spurgeon "Where were you wounded?" asked the surgeon of a soldier at Lookout Mountain. "Almost at the top," he answered. He forgot even his gaping wound--he only remembered that he had won the heights. So let us go forth to higher endeavors for Christ and never rest till we can shout from the very top, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." "God will not look you over for medals, degrees or diplomas but for scars." What nobler decoration of honor can any godly man seek after than his scars of service, his losses for the crown, his reproaches for Christ's sake, his being worn out in his Master's service! | Mrs. Charles Cowman
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