August 23

"He went out, not knowing whither he went" (Heb. 11:8)

It is faith without sight. When we can see, it is not faith, but reasoning. In crossing the Atlantic we observed this very principle of faith. We saw no path upon the sea, nor sign of the shore. And yet day by day we were marking our path upon the chart as exactly as if there had followed us a great chalk line upon the sea. And when we came within twenty miles of land, we knew where we were as exactly as if we had seen it all three thousand miles ahead.

How had we measured and marked our course? Day by day our captain had taken his instruments and, looking up to the sky, had fixed¹ his course by the sun. He was sailing² by the heavenly, not the earthly lights.

So faith looks up and sails on, by God's great Sun, not seeing one shore line or earthly lighthouse or path upon the way. Often its steps seem to lead into utter³ uncertainty⁴, and even darkness and disaster; but He opens the way, and often makes such midnight hours the very gates of day. Let us go forth⁵ this day, not knowing, but trusting.--Days of Heaven upon Eart

"Too many of us want to see our way through before starting new enterprises⁶. If we could and did, from whence would come the development of our Christian⁷ graces⁸? Faith, hope and love cannot be plucked⁹ from trees, like ripe apples. After the words 'In the beginning' comes the word 'God'! The first step turns the key into God's power-house, and it is not only true that God helps those who help themselves, but He also helps those who cannot help themselves. You can depend upon Him every time."

"Waiting on God brings us to our journey's end quicker than our feet."

The opportunity is often lost by deliberation--Selected.

八月二十三日

「亚伯拉罕因着信，蒙召的时候，就遵命出去，往将来要得为业的地方去。出去的时候，还不知往那里去。」（来十一8）

这就是不凭眼见的信心。凡凭眼见的，就不是凭信心，乃是凭理由了。轮船横渡大西洋，也是本着信心的原则的。我们在海面上看不见甚么途径，看不见甚么海岸，我们却能一天过一天地在航海图上画着标号，当轮船前行了若干哩的时候，我们立刻就会知道我们已经到了甚么地方。

但是，我们是怎样来测量我们所画的行程的呢？我们的船主每天拿着他的测量器，望着天，借着太阳来规定他的行程。他是借着天上的光━不是地上的光━来航行的。

信心也是这样航行的━望着天，借着神的光；虽然并没有看见航线、灯塔、或者途径。许多时候，信心的脚步似乎牵引我们进入了黑暗和灾祸，但是神开了路，夜半变成了黎明。让我们今天也这样前行罢━不是因着知道，乃是因着相信。－－译自地上的天上生活

我们中间有许多人常常要先看清路程，纔肯起行。这样，怎能在基督里有长进呢？信、望、爱，是不能像长熟的苹果那样从树上摘下来的。创世记一章一节「起初」后面接着就说「神」。神是全能的，神不单引领那自己帮助自己的人，神也引领那自己不能帮助自己的人，你只要全心倚赖祂就是了。

良好的机会，常是因审慎过度失去的。－－选

1 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

2 sailing   

n.航行，航海术，启航

参考例句：

• Experienced seamen will advise you about sailing in this weather.有经验的海员会告诉你在这种天气下的航行情况。
• The operation was plain sailing.手术进行得顺利。

3 utter   

vt.发出(声音)，说；adj.完全的，绝对的

参考例句：

• He smacked his lips but did not utter a word.他吧嗒两下嘴，一声也不言语。
• I was at an utter loss what to do.我完全不知道该怎样做才好。

4 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

5 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。

6 enterprises   

事业( enterprise的名词复数 )； 事业心； 企[事]业单位； 企业发展

参考例句：

• In capitalist society,big enterprises always try to freeze out the smaller ones. 在资本主义社会，大企业总是千方百计地排挤小企业。
• Big transcontinental enterprises jostle with one another for world markets. 巨大的跨国公司[企业]互相争夺国际市场。

7 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。

8 graces   

n.风度，恩遇，魅力；优美( grace的名词复数 )；宽限；恩泽；风度

参考例句：

• A young man with graces appeared on the stage. 舞台上出现了一位风度翩翩的年轻人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I'm not in her good graces at the moment. 我此刻尚未讨得她的欢心。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 plucked   

采( pluck的过去式和过去分词 )； 拔掉； 解救； 弹

参考例句：

• The actress was only 17 when she was plucked from obscurity and made a star. 这个演员受到提携从无名少女一跃成为明星时年仅17岁。
• She plucked out a grey hair. 她拔掉了一根灰白头发。