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荒漠甘泉 2/9

一言不答

「耶穌一言不答。」(太十五23)

        一個受苦上帝的孩子讀到這兩句話,或許會希奇。你正在渴望主安慰的聲音,「你們可以放心」(約十六33),或者「不要怕!因為我與你同在」,可是等了許久,一點得不著甚麼──「耶穌卻一言不答」。
        當上帝聽見我們哀聲哭泣的時候,祂的心常頂難受。因為祂看見我們還是這樣軟弱,這樣急躁,還不能懂祂不答的美意,我們的目光還是這樣短視。
        主的不答並非拒絕,乃是表示祂的默許和頂深的同情。
        失望的基督徒阿,「你為何憂悶?」(詩四十三5)即使祂靜默不答,你「還要稱讚祂」。讓我們聽一個故事,並細細領會裡面的教訓。一個基督徒夢見三個同作肢體的姊妹跪著禱告。她看見主漸漸走近她們。
        當祂走到第一個姊妹面前,祂臉上帶著榮光和愛,俯下身去用頂溫柔甜蜜的聲音安慰她、勉勵她。
        隨後祂走近第二個姊妹身邊,只伸出祂的手來在她的額上一按,點點頭走了。
        最末後,當祂走過第三個姊妹那裡,祂一聲不響,連看都不看就去了。那個作夢的基督徒,自言自語地說道:「第一個姊妹,一定靈命頂深,所以主頂愛她;第二個姊妹也不錯,可是不及第一個;第三個姊妹,一定在甚麼事情上得罪了主,深深地傷了主的心,所以主不屑睬她。
        我不知道她究竟作錯了甚麼?為甚麼主對待她們有這麼大的不同呢?」當她正在猜疑之間,主站在她旁邊說:「無知的婦人,妳完全誤會我。那第一個跪著禱告的女人最軟弱、最幼稚,她時刻需要我的扶持與眷顧,否則她在我的窄路上,簡直一步都不能行。她時刻需要我的愛和幫助,否則她就會失敗跌倒。
        「那第二個跪著禱告的女人較好得多。她有較強的信心和較深的愛,我能夠信任她無論在甚麼環境中,因我而站住。
        「那第三個跪著禱告的女人(就是我似乎不去注意把她略過的那一個),她的靈命頂高、頂深,她的信心和愛心頂大、頂強。我正用一種猛烈的方法訓練她,為著她將來最高、最聖潔的事奉。
        「她已經完全認識我,完全信任我。她不需要能聽、能見、能摸、能覺的幫助,她不因我所安排給她的環境而喪志、灰心、跌倒。雖然理由不能通過、天性不能佩服,她還是絕對順從我──因為她知道我的用意,是為她將來永遠的榮耀。我所作的,她如今雖然不知道,後來必明白。
        「我默然愛她,因為我愛她的心不是言語所能表達的,也不是人心所能領會的」。
        如果你知道祂默然的奧秘,讚美祂,祂就會「行奇妙的事」(出卅四10),因為每一次祂收回恩典,就是要你更認識、更愛那賜恩者。──選


My Utmost for His Highest (2/9)

Are You Exhausted Spiritually?
The everlasting God . . . neither faints nor is weary (Isaiah 40:28)

Exhaustion means that our vital energies are completely worn out and spent. Spiritual exhaustion is never the result of sin, but of service. Whether or not you experience exhaustion will depend on where you get your supplies. Jesus said to Peter, "Feed My sheep," but He gave him nothing with which to feed them (John 21:17). The process of being made broken bread and poured-out wine means that you have to be the nourishment for other people?s souls until they learn to feed on God. They must drain you completely? to the very last drop. But be careful to replenish your supply, or you will quickly be utterly exhausted. Until others learn to draw on the life of the Lord Jesus directly, they will have to draw on His life through you. You must literally be their source of supply, until they learn to take their nourishment from God. We owe it to God to be our best for His lambs and sheep, as well as for Him.

Have you delivered yourself over to exhaustion because of the way you have been serving God? If so, then renew and rekindle your desires and affections. Examine your reasons for service. Is your source based on your own understanding or is it grounded on the redemption of Jesus Christ? Continually look back to the foundation of your love and affection and remember where your Source of power lies. You have no right to complain, "O Lord, I am so exhausted." He saved and sanctified you to exhaust you. Be exhausted for God, but remember that He is your supply. "All my springs are in you" (Psalm 87:7).

 
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