八月三十一日
倚赖我的膀臂。（赛51：5）
基督徒在受苦至极的时候，在地上幷没有什麽可以依靠的，所以他不得不把自己完全交托给他的神。当他的船航到尽处的时候，人不能救他，他只能完全依靠神的大能和照顾。把人破碎在这磐石上的浪是有福的！把人吹到神，独有神那里的风是可称颂的！我们不能从神那里得到什麽，是因爲我们还有许多朋友；但当一个人在可怜无友、无依时，他不能到别的地方去，只能投在父的怀中，在其中享受福分！当他受到困难的重压时，他不能向任何人谈说，只能向神吐诉，他要爲它们感谢神，因爲他在这时更能多认识神。受风浪冲击的信徒啊！那是一个令人快乐的困难，因爲它能把你驱到父前！现在你除了神之外，别无依靠，你要看看你是否全心相信他。不要用不当有的疑惑和惧怕羞辱你的神和你的主；要使信心坚强起来，要归荣耀于神。要叫世人知道你的神比千千万万的世界更宝贵。要叫富足人知道你虽在贫穷之中但有主神作你的帮助，你便多麽丰富；要叫强壮人知道你在软弱之时有神永远的膀臂在你以下，你便多麽强壮。现在正是信心应当奋发有爲、有所建树的时候。要刚强壮胆，那末主你的神必定，像创造天地那样地确定，在你的软弱中荣耀他，在你的苦难中显出他的大能来。若是天有柱来支撑，同样穹苍的华美都必消失，同样你的信若是用肉眼希望另外的东西，也必失去它的荣耀。愿圣灵使你从此会依赖耶稣。
August
31
“On
mine arm shall they trust.” — Isaiah 51:5
In seasons of severe trial, the Christian has nothing on earth that he
can trust to, and is therefore compelled to cast himself on his God alone. When
his vessel is on its beam-ends, and no human deliverance can avail, he must
simply and entirely trust himself to the providence and care of God. Happy
storm that wrecks a man on such a rock as this! O blessed hurricane that drives
the soul to God and God alone! There is no getting at our God sometimes because
of the multitude of our friends; but when a man is so poor, so friendless, so
helpless that he has nowhere else to turn, he flies into his Father’s arms, and
is blessedly clasped therein! When he is burdened with troubles so pressing and
so peculiar, that he cannot tell them to any but his God, he may be thankful
for them; for he will learn more of his Lord then than at any other time. Oh,
tempest-tossed believer, it is a happy trouble that drives thee to thy Father!
Now that thou hast only thy God to trust to, see that thou puttest thy full
confidence in Him. Dishonour not thy Lord and Master by unworthy doubts and
fears; but be strong in faith, giving glory to God. Show the world that thy God
is worth ten thousand worlds to thee. Show rich men how rich thou art in thy
poverty when the Lord God is thy helper. Show the strong man how strong thou
art in thy weakness when underneath thee are the everlasting arms. Now is the
time for feats of faith and valiant exploits. Be strong and very courageous,
and the Lord thy God shall certainly, as surely as He built the heavens and the
earth, glorify Himself in thy weakness, and magnify his might in the midst of
thy distress. The grandeur of the arch of heaven would be spoiled if the sky
were supported by a single visible column, and your faith would lose its glory
if it rested on anything discernible by the carnal eye. May the Holy Spirit
give you to rest in Jesus this closing day of the month.
