April 8

"Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses¹ for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." (2 Cor. 12:10)

The literal translation of this verse gives a startling emphasis to it, and makes it speak for itself with a force that we have probably never realized. Here it is: "Therefore I take pleasure in being without strength, in insults, in being pinched, in being chased about, in being cooped up in a corner for Christ's sake; for when I am without strength, then am I dynamite²."

Here is the secret of Divine all-sufficiency, to come to the end of everything in ourselves and in our circumstances. When we reach this place, we will stop asking for sympathy because of our hard situation or bad treatment, for we will recognize these things as the very conditions of our blessing³, and we will turn from them to God and find in them a claim upon Him. --A. B. Simpson.

George Matheson, the well-known blind preacher of Scotland, who recently went to be with the Lord, said: "My God, I have never thanked Thee for my thorn. I have thanked Thee a thousand times for my roses, but not once for my thorn. I have been looking forward to a world where I shall get compensation for my cross; but I have never thought of my cross as itself a present glory.

"Teach me the glory of my cross; teach me the value of my thorn. Show me that I have climbed to Thee by the path of pain. Show me that my tears have made my rainbows."

"Alas⁴ for him who never sees

The stars shine through the cypress⁵ trees."

　 四月八日

“我为基督的缘故，就以软弱，凌辱，急难，逼迫，困苦，为可喜乐的。因我什么时侯软弱，什么时侯就刚强了“（林后十二：10）。

　　若是把这一节圣经直译出来，是非常有力的。直译该是：“我为基督的缘故，就是没有力量，被人侮辱，受折磨，被追赶，关入绝境，还是喜乐的，因我什么时侯没有力量，什么时侯就像炸药一般猛烈”。

　　这是得神够用恩典的秘诀：就是承认我们自己的环境和一切都已完了。当我们到了这种境地的时候，我们就不会再去求人的同情了。所以所有的患难，痛苦，都是我们得祝福的条件，我们可以藉此向神有所要求。——信宣

　　苏格兰（Scotland）的盲目布道家马得胜（George Matheson）说：“我的神啊，我从来没有为我的遭遇感谢过你。我曾为我的玫瑰感谢你过一千次，却没有为我的刺感谢你过一次。我一直注目仰望那个因背十字架而得的奖赏，却从来没有想到十字架本身就是现在荣耀的奖赏。

　　求你给我知道十字架的荣耀；求你给我知道刺的价值。求你给我看见痛苦的路径是到你那里去的梯级；求你给我看见我的眼泪是筑成虹彩的材料”。

“未见穿过柏树的星光，

将是人生莫大的悲伤”。

1 distresses   

n.悲痛( distress的名词复数 )；痛苦；贫困；危险

参考例句：

• It was from these distresses that the peasant wars of the fourteenth century sprang. 正是由于这些灾难才爆发了十四世纪的农民战争。 来自辞典例句
• In all dangers and distresses, I will remember that. 在一切危险和苦难中，我要记住这一件事。 来自互联网

2 dynamite   

n./vt.(用)炸药(爆破)

参考例句：

• The workmen detonated the dynamite.工人们把炸药引爆了。
• The philosopher was still political dynamite.那位哲学家仍旧是政治上的爆炸性人物。

3 blessing   

n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿

参考例句：

• The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
• A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。

4 alas   

int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等)

参考例句：

• Alas!The window is broken!哎呀！窗子破了！
• Alas,the truth is less romantic.然而，真理很少带有浪漫色彩。

5 cypress   

n.柏树

参考例句：

• The towering pine and cypress trees defy frost and snow.松柏参天傲霜雪。
• The pine and the cypress remain green all the year round.苍松翠柏，常绿不凋。