三月三日
你在苦难的炉中，我拣选你。（赛48:10）
受苦炼的信徒呀，你用神说的这句话来安慰你自己吧！你想想“你在苦难的炉中，我拣选你”的意思。这句话不像一阵沛雨倾倒在熊熊的火焰上吗？它不像一套烈火所不能焚毁的石棉军装吗？不管苦难怎样，神已拣选了我。贫穷虽然闯进了我的门内，但神却早已在家中，早已拣选了我。我在流泪谷中无论经过什么艰险，我知道他已“拣选”了我。信徒呀！若你需要更大的安慰的话，那么记住你有人子和你一同在烈火的炉中。在你隐秘的内室中，有一位坐在你的旁边，虽然你眼不能见，但你却爱他；当你不知道的时候，他常在你的苦难中为你铺床，使你的枕头柔软舒适。你虽贫穷，但那荣耀的主却常到你的陋室之中，他愿意到简陋的地方来会见你。他是你的朋友，与你形影不离。你不能看到他，但你能感到他的腕力。你听见了他的声音吗？甚至在死荫幽谷中，他说：“你不要怕，因为我与你同在；不要惊惶，因为我是你的神。”尊贵的该撒曾说：“不要怕，你可以取得该撒和他一切的财富。”基督徒呀！不要怕，耶稣与你同在。你在一切火热的试炼中，他的同在是你的安慰和保障。他所拣选属他的人，他绝不离弃。“你不要怕，因为我与你同在”，岂不是他向在“苦难的炉中”所拣选的人所说的可靠的话吗？那么，你现在不愿紧紧抓住基督吗？你要说：
“有耶稣领导我，虽经洪水烈火，我必欣然跟从，直到主脚停歇。”
March 3
“I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.” –Isaiah
48:10
Comfort thyself, tried believer, with this
thought: God saith, “I have chosen thee in the furnace of
affliction.” Does not the word come like a soft shower, assuaging the fury
of the flame? Yea, is it not an asbestos armour, against which the heat hath no
power? Let affliction come–God has chosen me. Poverty, thou mayst stride in at
my door, but God is in the house already, and He has chosen me. Sickness, thou
mayst intrude, but I have a balsam ready–God has chosen me. Whatever befalls
me in this vale of tears, I know that He has “chosen” me. If,
believer, thou requirest still greater comfort, remember that you have the Son
of Man with you in the furnace. In that silent chamber of yours, there sitteth
by your side One whom thou hast not seen, but whom thou lovest; and ofttimes
when thou knowest it not, He makes all thy bed in thy affliction, and smooths
thy pillow for thee. Thou art in poverty; but in that lovely house of thine the
Lord of life and glory is a frequent visitor. He loves to come into these desolate
places, that He may visit thee. Thy friend sticks closely to thee. Thou canst
not see Him, but thou mayst feel the pressure of His hands. Dost thou not hear
His voice? Even in the valley of the shadow of death He says, “Fear not, I
am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God.” Remember that noble
speech of Caesar: “Fear not, thou carriest Caesar and all his
fortune.” Fear not, Christian; Jesus is with thee. In all thy fiery
trials, His presence is both thy comfort and safety. He will never leave one
whom He has chosen for His own. “Fear not, for I am with thee,” is
His sure word of promise to His chosen ones in the “furnace of
affliction.” Wilt thou not, then, take fast hold of Christ, and say–
“Through floods and flames, if Jesus
lead,
I’ll follow where He goes.”
