十二月二十七日

蒲草沒有泥豈能發長？（伯8：11）

蒲草是中空的，好像海綿一樣，可說是假冒爲善的人，裏面幷沒有實在而堅固的東西。蒲草臨風搖來擺去，正像形式主義者受每一種影響的左右一樣；爲此蒲草不被風暴所吹折，假冒爲善的人也不受逼迫的磨難。我不願欺騙人也不願被欺騙，或許今天所念的經節能使我知道我是不是一個假冒爲善的人。蒲草的天性是生長在水中的，它的根就扎在泥和水裏；泥水若乾涸了，蒲草很快地就枯萎了。它青葱的顔色完全在于環境，有水就茂盛，乾旱就枯焦。我是這種情形嗎？環境順利，或信主有益處、被尊敬的時候，我才服侍神嗎？當我從他的手得到眼前的苟安和今世的福樂時，我才愛主嗎？若果是這樣，我就是一個卑鄙的僞善者，和枯萎的蒲草一樣，當死亡奪去我外面的歡樂時，我就滅亡了。

但我能誠實地說，當我失去肉體的福樂、環境不順的時候，我仍能持守恩典幷堅信如恒嗎？那末我就可以說我已完全屬神了。蒲草沒有泥就不能生長，但神的右手所種植的植物就是當乾旱之時也必興旺如常。屬神的人當屬世的環境最惡劣的時候，生長得最好。爲錢袋而跟隨基督的乃是猶大，爲餅和魚跟從他的乃是魔鬼的兒女；但那爲愛他而跟從他的人才是他所愛的。主啊！願我在你裏面而活，幷不倚靠這世界的順適或興盛的泥。

“處世莫作臨風草，愛主當同向日葵。”

December 27

"Can the rush grow up without mire?"—Job 8:1

The rush is spongy and hollow, and even so is a hypocrite; there is no substance or stability in him. It is shaken to and fro in every wind just as formalists yield to every influence; for this reason the rush is not broken by the tempest, neither are hypocrites troubled with persecution. I would not willingly be a deceiver or be deceived; perhaps the text for this day may help me to try myself whether I be a hypocrite or no. The rush by nature lives in water, and owes its very existence to the mire and moisture wherein it has taken root; let the mire become dry, and the rush withers very quickly. Its greenness is absolutely dependent upon circumstances, a present abundance of water makes it flourish, and a drought destroys it at once. Is this my case? Do I only serve God when I am in good company, or when religion is profitable and respectable? Do I love the Lord only when temporal comforts are received from his hands? If so I am a base hypocrite, and like the withering rush, I shall perish when death deprives me of outward joys. But can I honestly assert that when bodily comforts have been few, and my surroundings have been rather adverse to grace than at all helpful to it, I have still held fast my integrity? then have I hope that there is genuine vital godliness in me. The rush cannot grow without mire, but plants of the Lord's right hand planting can and do flourish even in the year of drought. A godly man often grows best when his worldly circumstances decay. He who follows Christ for his bag is a Judas; they who follow for loaves and fishes are children of the devil; but they who attend him out of love to himself are his own beloved ones. Lord, let me find my life in thee, and not in the mire of this world's favour or gain.