June 10

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God." (Rom. 8:28)

How wide is this assertion of the Apostle Paul! He does not say, "We know that some things," or "most things," or "joyous¹ things," but "ALL things." From the minutest to the most momentous²; from the humblest event in daily providence³ to the great crisis hours in grace.

And all things "work"--they are working; not all things have worked, or shall work; but it is a present operation.

At this very moment, when some voice may be saying, "Thy judgments⁴ are a great deep," the angels above, who are watching the development of the great plan, are with folded wings exclaiming, "The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works." (Psa. 145:17)

And then all things "work together." It is a beautiful blending. Many different colors, in themselves raw and unsightly, are required in order to weave the harmonious⁵ pattern.

Many separate tones and notes of music, even discords⁶ and dissonances, are required to make up the harmonious anthem⁷.

Many separate wheels and joints⁸ are required to make the piece of machinery⁹. Take a thread separately, or a note separately, or a wheel or a tooth of a wheel separately, and there may be neither use nor beauty discernible.

But complete the web, combine the notes, put together the separate parts of steel and iron, and you see how perfect and symmetrical is the result. Here is the lesson for faith: "What I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter." –Macduff.

In one thousand trials it is not five hundred of them that work for the believer's good, but nine hundred and ninety-nine of them, and one beside. --George Mueller.

"GOD MEANT IT UNTO GOOD" (Gen. 50:20).

"God meant it unto good"--O blest assurance,

Falling like sunshine all across life's way,

Touching¹⁰ with Heaven's gold earth's darkest storm clouds,

Bringing fresh peace and comfort day by day.

'Twas not by chance the hands of faithless brethren

Sold Joseph captive to a foreign land;

Nor was it chance which, after years of suffering,

Brought him before the monarch's throne to stand.

One Eye all-seeing saw the need of thousands,

And planned to meet it through that one lone¹¹ soul;

And through the weary days of prison bondage¹²

Was working towards the great and glorious goal.

As yet the end was hidden from the captive,

The iron entered even to his soul;

His eye could scan the present path of sorrow,

Not yet his gaze might rest upon the whole.

Faith failed not through those long, dark days of waiting,

His trust in God was recompensed at last,

The moment came when God led forth¹³ his servant

To succour many, all his sufferings past.

"God means it unto good" for thee, beloved,

The God of Joseph is the same today;

His love permits afflictions strange and bitter,

His hand is guiding through the unknown way.

Thy Lord, who sees the end from the beginning,

Hath purposes for thee of love untold¹⁴.

Then place thy hand in His and follow fearless,

Till thou the riches of His grace behold¹⁵.

There, when thou standest in the Home of Glory,

And all life's path ties open to thy gaze,

Thine eyes shall SEE the hand which now thou trustest,

And magnify His love through endless days.

--Freda Hanbury Allen.

　 六月十日

“我们晓得万事都互相效力，叫爱神的人得益处”（罗八：28）。

　　使徒保罗所说的范围何其广阔！他不是说“我们晓得有几件事”，或者“多数的事”，或者“快乐的事”，他乃是说“万事”。从至微的事到至大的事，从至可爱的事到至可怕的事。

　　“万事都互相效力”——它们正在“互相效力”；并不是“万事已经互相效力”，或者　“将要互相效力”；这里所用的动词是现在式。

　恐怕这时有人要说：“耶和华阿…你的判断，如同深渊”（诗三十六：6）；可是天使在天上答应说：“耶和华在他一切所行的，无不公义，在他一切所作的，都有慈爱”（诗一四五：17）。

　　“万事都互相效力”。所以顶不悦目的黑色和灰色也是必须的；有了它们，才可以使你们图画美丽。

　　悲音和哀调是必须的；有了它们，才可以使你的音乐动听。

　　各种的齿轮和枢纽都是必须的；有了它们，才可以使你的机器活动。你若把每一根线一个音符，一组齿轮拆了开来，那就没有效用可言，也没有美感可言；但是把各色的线编织起来，各种的音符结合并和谐起来，各组机器零件齿轮装配起来，你可以发现它们的结果是多么的完美和调和！

　　今天我们所学的信心的功课乃是：“我所作的，你如今不知道，后来必明白”（约十三：7）。——马克夫

　　在一千件试炼中，并不是五百件是叫爱神的人得益处的；乃是九百九十九件加上一件，能叫爱神的人得益处。——莫勒

“神的意思是好的”。（创五十：20）

“神的意思是好的”这是幸福的保证，

像阳光一样普照人间的生命，

它给地上的阴云抹上了天堂的金辉，

每天带来新的安慰和安宁。

约瑟被不义的长兄们贩卖，

以致流落异邦，这决非偶然。

经过了多年的磨难与困辱，

他得召见于帝王座前，更非偶然。

锁镣深深桎梏了他的灵魂，

但那俘囚看不见终极目标，

只有眼前的折磨与苦痛，

注意不到全部意义的崇高。

神的眼目遍察千万人的需要，

他的计划以一人来应召，

为了那伟大光荣的终极目标，

先要经过监狱中的锁链铁镣。

他在黑暗中长期等待而不沮丧，

他对神的信心终于得到补偿，

到了时候，神差遣这位忠仆，

去救助众人，就可把痛苦丢光。

对于你，“神的意思原是好的，

约瑟的神就是今天的神，

他让你受了奇酷的磨折，

他一直在艰难的路上给你指示。

你的主从开头看到终极，

对你有说不尽的爱的目的，

让他牵着你手，勇敢地跟随他，

直到你认识他的恩情永无止息。

当你站在光荣的天堂边，

一生的经历展露在你眼前，

你必看到你如今信靠的手，

你必发扬他的爱永世绵延。

1 joyous   

adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的

参考例句：

• The lively dance heightened the joyous atmosphere of the scene.轻快的舞蹈给这场戏渲染了欢乐气氛。
• They conveyed the joyous news to us soon.他们把这一佳音很快地传递给我们。

2 momentous   

adj.重要的，重大的

参考例句：

• I am deeply honoured to be invited to this momentous occasion.能应邀出席如此重要的场合，我深感荣幸。
• The momentous news was that war had begun.重大的新闻是战争已经开始。

3 providence   

n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝

参考例句：

• It is tempting Providence to go in that old boat.乘那艘旧船前往是冒大险。
• To act as you have done is to fly in the face of Providence.照你的所作所为那样去行事，是违背上帝的意志的。

4 judgments   

判断( judgment的名词复数 )； 鉴定； 评价； 审判

参考例句：

• A peculiar austerity marked his judgments of modern life. 他对现代生活的批评带着一种特殊的苛刻。
• He is swift with his judgments. 他判断迅速。

5 harmonious   

adj.和睦的，调和的，和谐的，协调的

参考例句：

• Their harmonious relationship resulted in part from their similar goals.他们关系融洽的部分原因是他们有着相似的目标。
• The room was painted in harmonious colors.房间油漆得色彩调和。

6 discords   

不和（discord的复数形式）

参考例句：

• There are many discords in this family. 在这个家庭里有许多争吵。
• The speaker's opinion discords with the principles of this society. 演讲者的意见与本会的原则不符。

7 anthem   

n.圣歌，赞美诗，颂歌

参考例句：

• All those present were standing solemnly when the national anthem was played.奏国歌时全场肃立。
• As he stood on the winner's rostrum,he sang the words of the national anthem.他站在冠军领奖台上，唱起了国歌。

8 joints   

接头( joint的名词复数 )； 关节； 公共场所（尤指价格低廉的饮食和娱乐场所） （非正式）； 一块烤肉 （英式英语）

参考例句：

• Expansion joints of various kinds are fitted on gas mains. 各种各样的伸缩接头被安装在煤气的总管道上了。
• Expansion joints of various kinds are fitted on steam pipes. 各种各样的伸缩接头被安装在蒸气管道上了。

9 machinery   

n.(总称)机械，机器；机构

参考例句：

• Has the machinery been put up ready for the broadcast?广播器材安装完毕了吗？
• Machinery ought to be well maintained all the time.机器应该随时注意维护。

10 touching   

adj.动人的，使人感伤的

参考例句：

• It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
• His letter was touching.他的信很感人。

11 lone   

adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的

参考例句：

• A lone sea gull flew across the sky.一只孤独的海鸥在空中飞过。
• She could see a lone figure on the deserted beach.她在空旷的海滩上能看到一个孤独的身影。

12 bondage   

n.奴役，束缚

参考例句：

• Masters sometimes allowed their slaves to buy their way out of bondage.奴隶主们有时允许奴隶为自己赎身。
• They aim to deliver the people who are in bondage to superstitious belief.他们的目的在于解脱那些受迷信束缚的人。

13 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

14 untold   

adj.数不清的，无数的

参考例句：

• She has done untold damage to our chances.她给我们的机遇造成了不可估量的损害。
• They suffered untold terrors in the dark and huddled together for comfort.他们遭受着黑暗中的难以言传的种种恐怖，因而只好挤在一堆互相壮胆。

15 behold   

v.看，注视，看到

参考例句：

• The industry of these little ants is wonderful to behold.这些小蚂蚁辛勤劳动的样子看上去真令人惊叹。
• The sunrise at the seaside was quite a sight to behold.海滨日出真是个奇景。