February 5

"Ye shall not go out with haste." (Isa. 52:12)

I do not believe that we have begun to understand the marvelous power there is in stillness. We are in such a hurry━we must be doing━so that we are in danger of not giving God a chance to work. You may depend upon it, God never says to us, "Stand still,"(Ex.14:13) or "Sit still,"(Lk.3:18) or "Be still,"(MK.4:39) unless He is going to do something.

This is our trouble in regard to our Christian¹ life; we want to do something to be Christians² when we need to let Him work in us. Do you know how still you have to be when your likeness³ is being taken?

Now God has one eternal purpose concerning us, and that is that we should be like His Son; and in order that this may be so, we must be passive. We hear so much about activity, may be we need to know what it is to be quiet. ━Crumbs

Sit still, my daughter! Just sit calmly still!

Nor deem these days━these waiting days━as ill!

The One who loves thee best, who plans thy way,

Hath not forgotten thy great need today!

And, if He waits, 'tis sure He waits to prove

To thee, His tender child, His heart's deep love.

Sit still, my daughter! Just sit calmly still!

Thou longest much to know thy dear Lord's will!

While anxious thoughts would almost steal their way

Corrodingly within, because of His delay━

Persuade thyself in simple faith to rest

That He, who knows and loves, will do the best.

Sit still, my daughter! Just sit calmly still!

Nor move one step, not even one, until

His way hath opened. Then, ah then, how sweet!

How glad thy heart, and then how swift thy feet

Thy inner being then, ah then, how strong!

And waiting days not counted then too long.

Sit still, my daughter! Just sit calmly still!

What higher service could'st thou for Him fill?

'Tis hard! ah yes! But choicest things must cost!

For lack of losing all how much is lost!

'Tis hard, 'tis true! But then━He giveth grace

To count the hardest spot the sweetest place.

━J. D. Smith

二月五日

　“你们出来必不至急忙” （赛五十二：12）

　　我不相信，我们已经了解在安静中的奇妙的能力了。我们常太急躁━我们自己一定要去作━不给神一个机会彰显祂的荣耀。因此，神常对我们说，“站住”（出十四：13），“安坐”（路三：18），“住了罢；静了罢“（可四：39），祂纔可以发挥祂的全能。

　　在我们基督徒的生活中，我们的失败常是因为我们要自己工作得胜；其实，我们需要让神在我们里面工作。当你请一个摄影师替你照相的时候，你必须安静不动，完全让他作。

　　神对于我们有一个永久的目的，就是要我们象祂的儿子；如果要达成这个目的，我们必须处在被动的地位，关于如何主动，我们听得太多了，也许我们更需要了解安静的意义。

“女儿啊！你只管安坐静待”

别以为等候的日子对你有害，

最爱你的祂，为你安排前程，

祂不会忘记你今日的迫切的需要，

假若祂在等待，祂的等待，

是为了证实祂对你的深爱。

“女儿啊，你只管安坐静待”

你渴想知道主的旨意！

由于祂的缓慢

切莫让焦躁侵蚀心怀，

你当一心坚信等待，

祂对你的爱，至善至美。

“女儿啊，你只管安坐静待”

一步亦不动，直等到祂的路为你畅开，

那时你将多么舒泰，

你的脚步将如何轻快，

你的灵魂将多么坚强，

等候的日子并不长得不可忍耐。

“女儿啊，你只管安坐静待”

你还能为祂作什么更大的奉献？

是的，这是很难，但好的东西，代价亦贵，

为了吝啬破费，招来多少损害。

是的，这很难，但祂的恩典俱在，

你的等待，换来了福如东海。

━史密斯

1 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

2 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

3 likeness   

n.相像，相似（之处）

参考例句：

• I think the painter has produced a very true likeness.我认为这位画家画得非常逼真。
• She treasured the painted likeness of her son.她珍藏她儿子的画像。