September 21

"I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord" (Phil. 3:8).

This is the happy season of ripening¹ cornfields, of the merry song of the reapers², of the secured and garnered³ grain. But let me hearken to the sermon of the field. This is its solemn word to me. You must die in order to live. You must refuse to consult your own case and well-being⁴. You must be crucified, not only in desires and habits which are sinful, but in many more which appear innocent and right.

If you would save others, you cannot save yourself. If you would bear much fruit, you must be buried in darkness and solitude⁵.

My heart fails me as I listen. But, when Jesus asks it, let me tell myself that it is my high dignity to enter into the fellowship of His sufferings; and thus I am in the best of company. And let me tell myself again that it is all meant to make me a vessel⁶ meet for His use. His own Calvary has blossomed into fertility; and so shall mine. Plenty out of pain, life out of death: is it not the law of the Kingdom? --In the Hour of Silence

Do we call it dying when the bud bursts into flower? –Selected

“Finding, following, keeping, struggling, Is He sure to bless? Saints, apostles, prophets, martyrs⁷, Answer, Yes.”

九月二十一日

「我……将万事当作有损的，因我以认识我主基督耶稣为至宝。」（腓三8）

现在，正是五谷成熟的时期，农夫唱着欢乐的凯歌，把农产物收敛在仓廪里。但是，让我们想一想：如果不是有一粒麦子先死在地里的话，怎么能结出这么多的子粒来呢？属灵的事情也这样。我们自己的生命如果不死，怎么能活出基督的生命来呢？所以，让我们不再顾念我们自己的安乐和幸福。我们必须将自己的生命完全钉死在基督的十字架上－－不但将犯罪的欲望和习惯钉死，连天然生命中一切无罪的、美好的，也该一起钉死。因为如果我们要多结果子，就必须先被埋在黑暗和孤寂中。

亲爱的，恐怕你一定会像我一样━一听到这个消息，心中会感到非常失望。但是让我们记着：主竟看上了我们，要我们与祂一同受苦，在我们这岂不是一件极顶荣幸的事吗？并且，一切所遭遇的，无非要把我们造成合乎主用的器皿。痛苦生丰富，死亡生生命━这是神国中的定律。－－译自静默的时候

1 ripening   

v.成熟，使熟( ripen的现在分词 )；熟化；熟成

参考例句：

• The corn is blossoming [ripening]. 玉米正在开花[成熟]。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• When the summer crop is ripening, the autumn crop has to be sowed. 夏季作物成熟时，就得播种秋季作物。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 reapers   

n.收割者，收获者( reaper的名词复数 )；收割机

参考例句：

• Ripe white wheat reapers reap ripe white wheat right. 成熟的白色小麦收割者最懂得收获成熟的白色小麦。 来自互联网
• A pair of reapers help fend off the attack. 几个收割者辅助攻击这些小狗。 来自互联网

3 garnered   

v.收集并（通常）贮藏（某物），取得，获得( garner的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Mr. Smith gradually garnered a national reputation as a financial expert. 史密斯先生逐渐赢得全国金融专家的声誉。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He has garnered extensive support for his proposals. 他的提议得到了广泛的支持。 来自辞典例句

4 well-being   

n.安康，安乐，幸福

参考例句：

• He always has the well-being of the masses at heart.他总是把群众的疾苦挂在心上。
• My concern for their well-being was misunderstood as interference.我关心他们的幸福，却被误解为多管闲事。

5 solitude   

n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方

参考例句：

• People need a chance to reflect on spiritual matters in solitude. 人们需要独处的机会来反思精神上的事情。
• They searched for a place where they could live in solitude. 他们寻找一个可以过隐居生活的地方。

6 vessel   

n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管

参考例句：

• The vessel is fully loaded with cargo for Shanghai.这艘船满载货物驶往上海。
• You should put the water into a vessel.你应该把水装入容器中。

7 martyrs   

n.martyr的复数形式；烈士( martyr的名词复数 )；殉道者；殉教者；乞怜者（向人诉苦以博取同情）

参考例句：

• the early Christian martyrs 早期基督教殉道者
• They paid their respects to the revolutionary martyrs. 他们向革命烈士致哀。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》