八月一日
容我往田间去，我蒙谁的恩，就在谁的身后拾取麦穗。（得2：2）
灰心失望，受苦受难的基督徒啊！来，到广大的应许田间随意拾取吧！那里有丰富的、正合你需要的宝贵应许。你拾起这一个应许吧：“压伤的芦苇，他不折断；将残的灯火，他不吹灭。”这个应许不合乎你的情形吗？一根柔弱、无力、细小、卑微的芦苇，一根压伤的芦苇，再也奏不出什麽美妙的音乐，既软弱又可怜；一根芦苇，被压伤的芦苇，但是他不折断，相反地，他还要使你复原，加力量给你。你像一盏将残的灯火（冒烟的灯火），你没有光，没有热；但他幷不吹灭你，他要用他恩怜的气吹你，他要挑旺你的火。你不愿意再拾一穗吗？“凡劳苦担重担的人，可以到我这里来，我就使你们得安息。”这话是多麽温柔、和蔼呀！
你的心是柔弱的，主知道，所以他用柔和慈祥的声音和你说话。你愿意顺服他吗？你愿意现在就来到他的面前吗？你再拾一穗吧：“你这虫雅各和你们以色列人，不要害怕，耶和华你的救赎主，就是以色列的圣者说，我必帮助你。”（改译）你既有这样奇妙而可靠的应许，还害怕什麽呢？你还可以拾取千千万万相似的宝贵麦穗！“我涂抹了你的过犯，像厚云消散；我涂抹了你的罪恶，如薄云灭没。”还有：“你们的罪虽像朱红，必变成雪白；虽红如丹顔，必白如羊毛。”或是：“圣灵和新妇都说：‘来！’……口渴的人也当来；愿意的，都可以白白取生命的水喝。”我们主的田非常丰富；你所拾的不过是一小把。
你看：懦怯的信徒啊！那不是都摆在你的眼前吗？你拾取吧！把它们当作你自己的，因爲耶稣叫你拾取。不要怕，只要信！抓住这些甜蜜的应许，用默想打出它们的麦粒来，快乐地食用吧！
August
1
“Let
me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn.” — Ruth 2:2
Downcast and troubled Christian, come and glean to-day in the broad
field of promise. Here are abundance of precious promises, which exactly meet
thy wants. Take this one: “He will not break the bruised reed, nor quench
the smoking flax.” Doth not that suit thy case? A reed, helpless,
insignificant, and weak, a bruised reed, out of which no music can come; weaker
than weakness itself; a reed, and that reed bruised, yet, He will not break
thee; but on the contrary, will restore and strengthen thee. Thou art like the
smoking flax: no light, no warmth, can come from thee; but He will not quench
thee; He will blow with His sweet breath of mercy till He fans thee to a flame.
Wouldst thou glean another ear? “Come unto Me all ye that labour and are
heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” What soft words! Thy heart is
tender, and the Master knows it, and therefore He speaketh so gently to thee.
Wilt thou not obey Him, and come to Him even now? Take another ear of corn:
“Fear not, thou worm Jacob, I will help thee, saith the Lord and thy
Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.” How canst thou fear with such a wonderful
assurance as this? Thou mayest gather ten thousand such golden ears as these!
“I have blotted out thy sins like a cloud, and like a thick cloud thy
transgressions.” Or this, “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall
be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as
wool.” Or this, “The Spirit and the Bride say, Come, and let him that
is athirst come, and whosoever will let him take the water of life
freely.” Our Master’s field is very rich; behold the handfuls. See, there
they lie before thee, poor timid believer! Gather them up, make them thine own,
for Jesus bids thee take them. Be not afraid, only believe! Grasp these sweet
promises, thresh them out by meditation and feed on them with joy.
