二月十八日

要指示我，你為何與我爭辯。（伯10:2）

受試煉的人哪！或許神這樣作為的是要加增你的美德（grace）。若你不經過試煉，恐怕有許多美德是你永遠所不能發現的。你知道你的信心在冬天的時候比夏天要好得多嗎？愛心像一個螢火蟲一樣，但只有在團團的黑暗中才能發出它的光來。盼望像一顆星一樣，在鼎盛的日光中是看不到的，只能在災禍的深夜中發現。災害是神琢磨他孩子們的美德的方法，叫他們像珠玉一樣晶瑩明亮。适才你還雙膝跪地禱告說：“主啊！我怕我沒有信心，求你使我知道我有信心。”雖然是無意，但這不是祈求試煉嗎？——因為你還沒有使用你的信心，你怎麼知道你沒有信心呢？神常差試煉臨到我們，好叫我們靠著信心發現我們的美德，並且使它們發展起來。同時，除了發現之外，還能因試煉，叫我們真真在恩典中有長進。神常取去我們的安逸和權益，為的是叫我們成為更好的基督徒。他並不在安舒和奢靡的帳篷中訓練他的精兵，而是使他們離開那裡，在艱難的進軍和勞苦的服役中得到訓練。他使他們跋山涉水，背著笨重、苦痛的行囊，艱步前行。基督徒呀！這不足以解釋你所經過的苦難嗎？神不曾使你的美德發揮出來，使他們發出亮光來嗎？這不是他與你爭辯的理由嗎？

“試煉使應許更美甜，試煉使祈禱有新生；試煉使我，謙恭俯伏在他腳前。”

February 18

"Shew me wherefore thou contendest with me." --Job 10:2

Perhaps, O tried soul, the Lord is doing this to develop thy graces. There are some of thy graces which would never be discovered if it were not for thy trials. Dost thou not know that thy faith never looks so grand in summer weather as it does in winter? Love is too often like a glow-worm, showing but little light except it be in the midst of surrounding darkness. Hope itself is like a star--not to be seen in the sunshine of prosperity, and only to be discovered in the night of adversity. Afflictions are often the black foils in which God doth set the jewels of His children's graces, to make them shine the better. It was but a little while ago that on thy knees thou wast saying, "Lord, I fear I have no faith: let me know that I have faith." Was not this really, though perhaps unconsciously, praying for trials?--for how canst thou know that thou hast faith until thy faith is exercised? Depend upon it, God often sends us trials that our graces may be discovered, and that we may be certified of their existence. Besides, it is not merely discovery, real growth in grace is the result of sanctified trials. God often takes away our comforts and our privileges in order to make us better Christians. He trains His soldiers, not in tents of ease and luxury, but by turning them out and using them to forced marches and hard service. He makes them ford through streams, and swim through rivers, and climb mountains, and walk many a long mile with heavy knapsacks of sorrow on their backs. Well, Christian, may not this account for the troubles through which thou art passing? Is not the Lord bringing out your graces, and making them grow? Is not this the reason why He is contending with you?

"Trials make the promise sweet;

Trials give new life to prayer;

Trials bring me to His feet,

Lay me low, and keep me there."