September 18

"Where there is no vision, the people perish" (Prov. 19 :18)

Waiting upon God is necessary in order to see Him, to have a vision of Him. The time element in vision is essential. Our hearts are like a sensitive photographer's plate; and in order to have God revealed there, we must sit at His feet a long time. The troubled surface of a lake will not reflect an object.

Our lives must be quiet and restful if we would see God. There is power in the sight of some things to affect one's life. A quiet sunset will bring peace to a troubled heart. Thus the vision of God always transforms human life.

Jacob saw God at Jabbok's ford¹, and became Israel. The vision of God transformed Gideon from a coward into a valiant² soldier. The vision of Christ changed Thomas from a doubting follower³ into a loyal, devout⁴ disciple⁵.

But men have had visions of God since Bible times. William Carey saw God, and left his shoemaker's bench and went to India. David Livingstone saw God, and left all to follow Him through the jungles of dark Africa. Scores and hundreds have had visions of God, and are today in the uttermost parts of the earth working for the speedy evangelization of the heathen.

--Dr. Pardington

There is hardly ever a complete silence in the soul. God is whispering to us well-nigh incessantly⁶. Whenever the sounds of the world die out in the soul, or sink low, then we hear the whisperings of God. He is always whispering to us, only we do not hear, because of the noise, hurry, and distraction⁷ which life causes as it rushes on. --F. W. Faber

“Speak, Lord, in the stillness,

While I wait on Thee;

Hushed my heart to listen

In expectancy⁸.”

“Speak, 0 blessed Master,

In this quiet hour;

Let me see Thy face, Lord,

Feel Thy touch of power.”

“For the words Thou speakest,

'They are life, ' indeed;

Living bread from Heaven,

Now my spirit feed!”

“Speak, Thy servant heareth!

Be not silent, Lord;

Waits my soul upon Thee

For the quickening word!”

九月十八日

「没有默示，民就放肆。」（箴廿九18）

要看见神，必须花功夫等候。时间在这里是一个主要的元素。我们必须在神的脚前静候多时，神纔会把祂自己显示在我们心里。一个波动的湖面是映不出甚么东西来的。所以，如果我们要看见神，我们必须先安息在神面前，把我们生活中的风波平静下来。

看见神是最有能力，最能影响我们生活的一回事。看见神常会叫人类的生活得到极大的转变。

雅各布在雅博渡口看见了神，就成了以色列。基甸看见了神，懦夫变成了勇士！多马看见了主，疑惑变成了忠实！

开雷看见了神，舍弃了鞋匠的生活到印度去。李文斯东看见了神，舍弃了一切跟随主，经历非洲的丛林。多少人都是因为看见了神；所以，今天在地极宣传福音，使人归向基督。－－巴亭登

灵里全然安静是一件非常不容易的事情。其实神一直在和我们讲话。甚么时候世界的声音在灵里消灭或低沉了，甚么时候我们就能听见神的声音。我们听不见，是因为我们生活中充满了喧闹、急躁和愁闷的缘故。

－－费勃尔

1 Ford   

n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过

参考例句：

• They were guarding the bridge,so we forded the river.他们驻守在那座桥上，所以我们只能涉水过河。
• If you decide to ford a stream,be extremely careful.如果已决定要涉过小溪，必须极度小心。

2 valiant   

adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人

参考例句：

• He had the fame of being very valiant.他的勇敢是出名的。
• Despite valiant efforts by the finance minister,inflation rose to 36%.尽管财政部部长采取了一系列果决措施，通货膨胀率还是涨到了36%。

3 follower   

n.跟随者；随员；门徒；信徒

参考例句：

• He is a faithful follower of his home football team.他是他家乡足球队的忠实拥护者。
• Alexander is a pious follower of the faith.亚历山大是个虔诚的信徒。

4 devout   

adj.虔诚的，虔敬的，衷心的 (n.devoutness)

参考例句：

• His devout Catholicism appeals to ordinary people.他对天主教的虔诚信仰感染了普通民众。
• The devout man prayed daily.那位虔诚的男士每天都祈祷。

5 disciple   

n.信徒，门徒，追随者

参考例句：

• Your disciple failed to welcome you.你的徒弟没能迎接你。
• He was an ardent disciple of Gandhi.他是甘地的忠实信徒。

6 incessantly   

ad.不停地

参考例句：

• The machines roar incessantly during the hours of daylight. 机器在白天隆隆地响个不停。
• It rained incessantly for the whole two weeks. 雨不间断地下了整整两个星期。

7 distraction   

n.精神涣散，精神不集中，消遣，娱乐

参考例句：

• Total concentration is required with no distractions.要全神贯注，不能有丝毫分神。
• Their national distraction is going to the disco.他们的全民消遣就是去蹦迪。

8 expectancy   

n.期望，预期，（根据概率统计求得）预期数额

参考例句：

• Japanese people have a very high life expectancy.日本人的平均寿命非常长。
• The atomosphere of tense expectancy sobered everyone.这种期望的紧张气氛使每个人变得严肃起来。