十二月二十七日
蒲草没有泥岂能发长？（伯8：11）
蒲草是中空的，好像海绵一样，可说是假冒爲善的人，里面幷没有实在而坚固的东西。蒲草临风摇来摆去，正像形式主义者受每一种影响的左右一样；爲此蒲草不被风暴所吹折，假冒爲善的人也不受逼迫的磨难。我不愿欺骗人也不愿被欺骗，或许今天所念的经节能使我知道我是不是一个假冒爲善的人。蒲草的天性是生长在水中的，它的根就扎在泥和水里；泥水若干涸了，蒲草很快地就枯萎了。它青葱的顔色完全在于环境，有水就茂盛，干旱就枯焦。我是这种情形吗？环境顺利，或信主有益处、被尊敬的时候，我才服侍神吗？当我从他的手得到眼前的苟安和今世的福乐时，我才爱主吗？若果是这样，我就是一个卑鄙的僞善者，和枯萎的蒲草一样，当死亡夺去我外面的欢乐时，我就灭亡了。
但我能诚实地说，当我失去肉体的福乐、环境不顺的时候，我仍能持守恩典幷坚信如恒吗？那末我就可以说我已完全属神了。蒲草没有泥就不能生长，但神的右手所种植的植物就是当干旱之时也必兴旺如常。属神的人当属世的环境最恶劣的时候，生长得最好。爲钱袋而跟随基督的乃是犹大，爲饼和鱼跟从他的乃是魔鬼的儿女；但那爲爱他而跟从他的人才是他所爱的。主啊！愿我在你里面而活，幷不倚靠这世界的顺适或兴盛的泥。
“处世莫作临风草，爱主当同向日葵。”
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.
