n*********0
发帖数: 925 | 1 http://www.glorypress.com/devotional/FaithAndLifeOneYearBook.asp?bid=1&rdate=10/17
祂炼净他们
经文: 「但我断不以别的夸口，只夸我们主耶稣基督的十字架。因这十字架，就我而论
，世界已经钉在十字架上。就世界而论，我已经钉在十字上架上。」（加六14）
有一班信徒，他们本来是为自己活着的──他们有自己的盼望，有自己的梦想
；但是他们在祷告中求了一些他们自己所不明白的东西，主就开始成就他们的祷告。他
们求一个痛悔的心，愿意出任何代价去得到它，主就给他们悲哀；他们求圣洁，主就给
他们剧烈的痛苦；他们求谦和，主就打碎他们的心；他们求对着世界「死」，主就消灭
他们一切的盼望；他们求像主，主就放他们在炉中，「坐下如炼净银子的」（玛三3）
，直到他们反照出主的肖像来；他们求主的十字架，主就给他们十字架。
他们所求的，他们自己并不明白，但是主就照他们所求的允准他们。其实他们
未必愿意跟主走得这么远，与主接触得这么近。他们的心充满了惧怕，好像雅各在伯特
利一般，又像门徒看见耶稣在海面上行走，以为是鬼怪一般。他们几乎会求主离开他们
。他们觉得顺服比受苦容易，作比放容易，背十字架比挂十字架容易。但是那时候他们
要想退回去，已经不可能了，因为他们已经走得太近了，十字架的功效在他们里面已经
刺得太深了。主向他们成就了祂的应许：「我若从地上被举起来，就要吸引万人来归我
。」（约十二32）
以前他们只风闻这个奥秘，如今他们亲身尝到了。主已经把祂可爱的面容深深
刻在他们心上，好像刻在马利亚和彼得心上一般；他们现在已经作了爱的奴隶，不能不
拣选跟随祂了。
渐渐地，十字架的奥秘一天一天光照他们。他们看见祂被高举，他们看见祂得
荣耀；他们看见一点，前进一点，最后他们竟变成了祂的肖像，从他们身上世人看见祂
，因为祂住在他们里面。他们与祂发生了难以形容的交情；他们甘心舍弃别人所宝贵的
合法权利，为要见证他们不像别人，只像他们的主。
这就是历代「羔羊无论往那里去，他们都跟随他。」（启十四4）的那一批人。
如果让他们自己选择，或者让他们的朋友替他们选择的话，他们定规不会这样
选择。他们会在这个世界上多得一点荣耀，在上帝国里少得一点荣耀。他们会得到罗得
的命运，不会得到亚伯拉罕的命运。如果他们在半途上停住了──如果主放一放手让他
们退回去的话──他们为什么不会失去呢？在复活的时候要受到何等大的损失呢！
但是主保守他们──甚至违反他们的本心来保守他们。多少时候他们的脚滑跌
了；但是主用祂的慈爱扶他们起来。让他们知道：在这个世界受苦，能叫他们在上帝国
里掌权；在地上背十字架，能叫他们在天上戴冠冕。 ──无名氏
He Refines Them
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. |
|
