August 16

"In waiting, I waited, for the Lord" (Ps. 40:1, margin¹).

Waiting is much more difficult than walking. Waiting requires patience, and patience is a rare virtue². It is fine to know that God builds hedges around His people--when the hedge is looked at from the viewpoint of protection.But when the hedge is kept around one until it grows so high that he cannot see over the top, and wonders whether he is ever to get out of the little sphere of influence and service in which he is pent up, it is hard for him sometimes to understand why he may not have a larger environment--hard for him to "brighten the corner" where he is. But God has a purpose in all HIS holdups. "The steps of a good man

are ordered of the Lord,"(Psalm37:23)

On the margin of his Bible at this verse George Mueller had a notation³, "And the stops also." It is a sad mistake for men to break through God's hedges. It is a vital principle of guidance for a Christian⁴ never to move out of the place in which he is sure God has placed him, until the

Pillar of Cloud moves.--Sunday School Times

When we learn to wait for our Lord's lead in everything, we shall know the strength that finds its climax⁵ in an even, steady walk. Many of us are lacking in the strength we so covet⁶. But God gives full power for every task He appoints. Waiting, holding oneself true to His lead--this is the secret of strength. And anything that falls out of the line of obedience⁷ is a waste of time and strength. Watch

For His leading.--S. D. Gordon

Must life be a failure for one compelled to stand still in enforced inaction and see the great throbbing⁸ tides of life go by? No; victory is then to be gotten by standing⁹ still, by quiet waiting. It is a thousand times harder to do this than it was in the active days to rush on in the columns of stirring life. It requires a grander heroism¹⁰ to stand and wait and not lose heart and not lose hope, to submit to the will of God, to give up work and honors to others, to be quiet, confident and rejoicing, while the happy, busy multitude go on and away. It is the grandest life "having done all, to stand."--J. R. Miller　

八月十六日

「我曾耐性等候耶和华。」（诗四十1）

你知道吗？等候比前进困难得多。等候需要忍耐，忍耐是一件难得的美德。神在祂的子民的四周都在建筑篱笆保护他们。当篱笆越筑越高，甚至连顶也看不见的时候，我们就要发急──极欲知道以后有没有机会能从这个幽闭的势力范围里出去，我们不能明白为甚么我们不能有一个较大的环境。但是神在祂一切工作上都有目的的。「义人的脚步，被耶和华立定。」（诗卅七23）

在穆勒的圣经上，这一节经文旁边注着：「义人的止步也被耶和华立定。」但是我们却常常喜欢穿出神为我们所建筑的篱笆外去，这实在是一个极大的错误。一个基督人如果已经确实知到是神将他放在他的地位上的，他千万不可以轻易活动；直到云柱移动了，他纔可以移动这是极重要的。──译自主日学报

甚么时候我们学会了每件事情等待神的引导，甚么时候我们就会知道只有在安静中，我们的灵力纔会达到最高点。我们中间有许多人缺乏这种安静的力量。但是如果神指定我们去做一件工作，祂必定会给我们够用的力量。耐性等候，遵行神的引导──这是得能力的秘诀。在神旨意之外的，都是浪费。让我们等候神的引导罢. --戈登

在神的引导没有来到之先，我们实行不动，坐看良机错失，结果岂不是一个极大的失败吗？不；胜利就是在不动中、静候中得到的。这要比活动艰难千倍。这个需要更大的勇气去站住、等候、不丧胆、不绝望；绝对服从神的旨意；将工作和荣誉让给他人；别人都快快活活、忙忙碌碌在工作，自己却能安安静静，带着信心而欢乐。这纔是最伟大的生活──「成就了一切还能站立得住」（弗六13）。──密勒

1 margin   

n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘

参考例句：

• We allowed a margin of 20 minutes in catching the train.我们有20分钟的余地赶火车。
• The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。

2 virtue   

n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力

参考例句：

• He was considered to be a paragon of virtue.他被认为是品德尽善尽美的典范。
• You need to decorate your mind with virtue.你应该用德行美化心灵。

3 notation   

n.记号法，表示法，注释；[计算机]记法

参考例句：

• Music has a special system of notation.音乐有一套特殊的标记法。
• We shall find it convenient to adopt the following notation.采用下面的记号是方便的。

4 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。

5 climax   

n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点

参考例句：

• The fifth scene was the climax of the play.第五场是全剧的高潮。
• His quarrel with his father brought matters to a climax.他与他父亲的争吵使得事态发展到了顶点。

6 covet   

vt.垂涎；贪图(尤指属于他人的东西)

参考例句：

• We do not covet anything from any nation.我们不觊觎任何国家的任何东西。
• Many large companies covet these low-cost acquisition of troubled small companies.许多大公司都觊觎低价收购这些陷入困境的小公司。

7 obedience   

n.服从，顺从

参考例句：

• Society has a right to expect obedience of the law.社会有权要求人人遵守法律。
• Soldiers act in obedience to the orders of their superior officers.士兵们遵照上级军官的命令行动。

8 throbbing   

a. 跳动的,悸动的

参考例句：

• My heart is throbbing and I'm shaking. 我的心在猛烈跳动，身子在不住颤抖。
• There was a throbbing in her temples. 她的太阳穴直跳。

9 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

10 heroism   

n.大无畏精神，英勇

参考例句：

• He received a medal for his heroism.他由于英勇而获得一枚奖章。
• Stories of his heroism resounded through the country.他的英雄故事传遍全国。