July 27

"Prove me now." (Mal. 3:10.)

WHAT is God saying here but this: "My child, I still have windows in Heaven. They are yet in service. The bolts slide as easily as of old. The hinges have not grown rusty¹. I would rather fling them open, and pour forth², than keep them shut, and hold back. I opened them for Moses, and the sea parted. I opened them for Joshua, and Jordan rolled back. I opened them for Gideon, and hosts fled. I will open them for you─if you will only let Me. On this side of the windows, Heaven is the same rich storehouse as of old. The fountains and streams still overflow³. The treasure rooms are still bursting with gifts.

The lack is not on my side. It is on yours. I am waiting. Prove Me now. Fulfill⁴ the conditions, on your part. Bring in the tithes⁵. Give Me a chance. --- Selected.

I can never forget my mother's very brief paraphrase⁷ of Malachi 3:10. The verse begins, "Bring ye the whole tithe⁶ in," and it ends up with "I will pour" the blessing⁸ out till you'll be embarrassed for space. Her paraphrase was this: Give all He asks; take all He promises." --- S. D. Gordon.

The ability of God is beyond our prayers, beyond our largest prayers! I have been thinking of some of the petitions that have entered into my supplication⁹ innumerable times. What have I asked for? I have asked for a cupful, and the ocean remains¹⁰! I have asked for a sunbeam, and the sun abides¹¹! My best asking falls immeasurably short of my Father's giving: it is beyond that we can ask.---J.H. Jowett.

"All the rivers of Thy grace I claim. Over every promise write my name."

七月二十七日

「你们要将当纳的十分之一，全然送入仓库....以此试试我，是否为你们敞开天上的窗户，倾福与你们，甚至无处可容。」（玛三:10）

　　亲爱的读者，神在这里对我们说：「我的孩子，天上的窗户和从前一点没有两样，窗闩和从前一样光滑，铁钮也一点没有生锈。这窗户我曾为摩西敞开，红海分开了。我曾为乔舒亚敞开，约但河停住了。我曾为基甸敞开，敌军逃跑了。现在我也愿意为你敞开━只要你肯让我这样作。在我这一面，天仍旧是一个丰富的仓库，泉源仍旧是满溢的，宝藏室仍旧满贮着礼物。」

　　「所有的缺乏不是在我，乃是在你。但是我现在还在等候。试试我看！你去履行你方面的条件━将当纳的十分之一，全然送入仓库━其余的事情便是我的了。孩子，给我一个机会━给我一个倾福与你的机会！」──选

　　我永远不会忘却我母亲所说的两句话：给一切神所要求的，取一切神所允许的。──戈登

　　神的能力真是远超过我们所祷告的！我今天回想一想我多次在神前的请求━我所请求的是什么？我所请求的不过是一小杯水，海洋却依然留着！我所请求的不过是一线日光，日头却依然在着！我所求的和父所给的相差得多远啊━父所给的真是远超过我所求的！── 乔怀德

1 rusty   

adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的

参考例句：

• The lock on the door is rusty and won't open.门上的锁锈住了。
• I haven't practiced my French for months and it's getting rusty.几个月不用，我的法语又荒疏了。

2 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。

3 overflow   

v.(使)外溢，(使)溢出；溢出，流出，漫出

参考例句：

• The overflow from the bath ran on to the floor.浴缸里的水溢到了地板上。
• After a long period of rain,the river may overflow its banks.长时间的下雨天后，河水可能溢出岸来。

4 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

5 tithes   

n.（宗教捐税）什一税，什一的教区税，小部分( tithe的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• For your tithes and offerings, please use the envelopes at the entrance. 什一捐款及奉献：奉献信封摆放于入口处。 来自互联网
• Although she left the church officially, she still tithes. 虽然她正式离开了该教堂，但她仍然对教堂缴纳什一税。 来自互联网

6 tithe   

n.十分之一税；v.课什一税，缴什一税

参考例句：

• It's not Christ plus your tithe.这不是基督再加上你的什一税。
• The bible tells us that the tithe is the lords.圣经说十分之一是献给主的。

7 paraphrase   

vt.将…释义，改写；n.释义，意义

参考例句：

• You may read the prose paraphrase of this poem.你可以看一下这首诗的散文释义。
• Paraphrase the following sentences or parts of sentences using your own words.用你自己的话解释下面的句子或句子的一部分。

8 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。

9 supplication   

n.恳求，祈愿，哀求

参考例句：

• She knelt in supplication. 她跪地祷求。
• The supplication touched him home. 这个请求深深地打动了他。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

10 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

11 abides   

容忍( abide的第三人称单数 )； 等候； 逗留； 停留

参考例句：

• He abides by his friends. 他忠于朋友。
• He always abides by the law. 他素来守法。