January 10

"They were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the Word in Asia." (Acts. 16:6)

It is interesting to study the methods of His guidance as it was extended towards these early heralds¹ of the Cross. It consisted largely in prohibitions², when they attempted to take another course than the right. When they would turn to the left, to Asia, He stayed them. When they sought to turn to the right, to Bithynia, again He stayed them. In after years Paul would do some of the greatest work of his life in that very region; but just now the door was closed against him by the Holy Spirit. The time was not yet ripe for the attack on these apparently⁴ impregnable bastions of the kingdom of Satan. Apollos must come there for pioneer work. Paul and Barnabas are needed yet more urgently elsewhere, and must receive further training before undertaking⁵ this responsible task.

Beloved, whenever you are doubtful as to your course, submit your judgment⁶ absolutely to the Spirit of God, and ask Him to shut against you every door but the right one. Say,

"Blessed Spirit, I cast on Thee the entire responsibility of closing against my steps any and every course which is not of God. Let me hear Thy voice behind me whenever I turn to the right hand or the left."

In the meanwhile, continue along the path which you have been already treading. Abide⁷ in the calling in which you are called, unless you are clearly told to do something else. The Spirit of Jesus waits to be to you, O pilgrim, what He was to Paul. Only be careful to obey His least prohibition³; and where, after believing prayer, there are no apparent hindrances⁸, go forward with enlarged heart. Do not be surprised if the answer comes in closed doors. But when doors are shut right and left, an open road is sure to lead to Troas. There Luke awaits, and visions will point the way, where vast opportunities stand open, and faithful friends are waiting. ━ Paul, by Meyer.

Is there some problem in your life to solve,

Some passage seeming full of mystery?

God knows, who brings the hidden things to light.

He keeps the key.

Is there some door closed by the Father's hand

Which widely opened you had hoped to see?

Trust God and wait ━ for when He shuts the door

He keeps the key.

Is there some earnest prayer unanswered yet,

Or answered NOT as you had thought 'twould be?

God will make clear His purpose by-and-by.

He keeps the key.

Have patience with your God, your patient God,

All wise, all knowing, no long tarrier He,

And of the door of all thy future life

He keeps the key.

Unfailing comfort, sweet and blessed rest,

To know of EVERY door He keeps the key.

That He at last when just HE sees 'tis best,

Will give it THEE.

━Anonymous



一月十日

“圣灵……禁止他们在亚西亚讲道” （徒十六：6）

　　在圣经中研究圣灵怎样引导以前的十字架先锋，是很有趣味的一回事。祂的引导大半是禁止，因为祂们顶容易走错误的路。这次保罗和西拉想向左，到亚西亚一行，圣灵禁止祂们。祂们想向右，到庇推尼去，圣灵又禁止祂们。再过一时保罗将在那里兴起祂生平最大的工作；可是目前圣灵在那里还未替祂开传道之门。在那里攻破撒但城堡的时机尚未成熟。亚波罗必须在那里先起开垦的工作。况且当时别的地方更需要祂们去工作；祂们也必须受更深的造就，然后才能到亚西亚和庇推尼一带去建立神的教会。

　　亲爱的，当你茫然不知前途的时侯，你就该完全让圣灵替你定规，求祂封闭一切左道开启唯一的正路。你该说：

　　“神的灵阿，我把选择的责任完全交托给你，求你封闭左道，不让我的脚步走在一切不是神命定的路上。当我偏左倾右的时侯，求你让我听见你的声音”。

　　同时，在你没有清楚圣灵的指引之先，你应当继续站在你原来的路上。守在你原有的呼召中，除非你得了新的清楚的呼召。哦，旅客哪，耶稣的灵今日等着要启示你，好似祂当日启示保罗一样。在你这方面，只须小心顺服，连一个顶小的禁止也须顺服；信心的祷告之后，如果圣灵没有拦阻，你只管放胆前进。可是也不要希奇，圣灵的答应尽可以是禁止。若是左右的路是关闭的，前面的路是开启的，那条路顶清楚是通到特罗亚去的。在那里有路加等着，在那里有异象会指引我们当走的路，在那里有“敞开的门”和机会，在那里也有忠心的朋友们等着。 ━梅尔

在人生的过程中，充满了谜一般的问题，

你想找寻答案吗？

唯有神知道，祂能揭开奇妙，

祂有一把匙钥。

几扇门被天父关闭，你希望开启吗？

你想瞧透门里的奥秘吗？

当信赖神，当等待神，

祂有一把匙钥。

有些恳切的祈祷，有否回音？

或虽有答复，却不是你所祈求！

神慢慢地会显明祂的旨意，

祂有一把匙钥。

神有最大的耐心，祂是无所不知，

你也要对神有耐心，安分等待。

你未来的生命之门，

在祂有一把匙钥。

我知道了祂有匙钥，可开我心扉之门，

就得到了无穷的安慰，心中安息平宁。

祂选择最适当的时候，

终于为我们一一开启。

━佚名

1 heralds   

n.使者( herald的名词复数 )；预报者；预兆；传令官v.预示( herald的第三人称单数 )；宣布（好或重要）

参考例句：

• The song of birds heralds the approach of spring. 百鸟齐鸣报春到。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• The wind sweeping through the tower heralds a rising storm in the mountain. 山雨欲来风满楼。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

2 prohibitions   

禁令，禁律( prohibition的名词复数 )； 禁酒； 禁例

参考例句：

• Nowadays NO PARKING is the most ubiquitous of prohibitions. 今天，“NO PARKING”（禁止停车），几乎成了到处可见的禁止用语了。
• Inappropriate, excessive or capricious administration of aversive stimulation has led to scandals, lawsuits and prohibitions. 不恰当的、过度的或随意滥用厌恶性刺激会引起人们的反感、控告与抵制。

3 prohibition   

n.禁止；禁令，禁律

参考例句：

• The prohibition against drunken driving will save many lives.禁止酒后开车将会减少许多死亡事故。
• They voted in favour of the prohibition of smoking in public areas.他们投票赞成禁止在公共场所吸烟。

4 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

5 undertaking   

n.保证，许诺，事业

参考例句：

• He gave her an undertaking that he would pay the money back with in a year.他向她做了一年内还钱的保证。
• He is too timid to venture upon an undertaking.他太胆小，不敢从事任何事业。

6 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

7 abide   

vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受

参考例句：

• You must abide by the results of your mistakes.你必须承担你的错误所造成的后果。
• If you join the club,you have to abide by its rules.如果你参加俱乐部，你就得遵守它的规章。

8 hindrances   

阻碍者( hindrance的名词复数 )； 障碍物； 受到妨碍的状态

参考例句：

• She also speaks out against the traditional hindrances to freedom. 她甚至大声疾呼，反对那些阻挡自由的、统礼教的绊脚石。
• When this stage is reached then the hindrances and karma are overcome. 唯此状态达到后，则超越阻碍和因果。