September 24

"After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithyma: but the Spirit suffered them not" (Acts 16:7).

What a strange prohibition¹! These men were going into Bithynia just to do Christ's work, and the door is shut against them by Christ's own Spirit. I, too, have experienced this in certain moments. I have sometimes found myself interrupted in what seemed to me a career of usefulness. Opposition² came and forced me to go back, or sickness came and compelled me to retire into a desert apart.

It was hard at such times to leave my work undone³ when I believed that work to be the service of the Spirit. But I came to remember that the Spirit has not only a service of work, but a service of waiting. I came to see that in the Kingdom of Christ there are not only times for action, but times in which to forbear acting⁴. I came to learn that the desert place apart is often the most useful spot in the varied⁵ life of man--more rich in harvest than the seasons in which the corn and wine abounded⁶. I have been taught to thank the blessed Spirit that many a darling Bithynia had to be left unvisited by me.

And so, Thou Divine Spirit, would I still be led by Thee. Still there come to me disappointed prospects⁷ of usefulness. Today the door seems to open into life and work for Thee; tomorrow it closes before me just as I am about to enter.

Teach me to see another door in the very inaction of the hour. Help me to find in the very prohibition thus to serve Thee, a new opening into Thy service. Inspire me with the knowledge that a man may at times be called to do his duty by doing nothing, to work by keeping still, to serve by waiting. When I remember the power of the "still small voice," I shall not murmur⁸ that sometimes the Spirit suffers me not to go. --George Matheson

“ When I cannot understand my father’s leading, And it seems to be but hard and cruel fate, Still I hear that gentle whisper ever pleading, God is working, God is faithful, ONLY WAIT. "

九月二十四日

「到了每西亚的边界，他们想要往庇推尼去，耶稣的灵却不许。」（徒十六7）

这是一个多么奇怪的禁止！这些人想要往庇推尼去，目的是为作主的工，但是主自几反把工作的门关了起来。我自己也曾有这样的经历。有时候，我自以为成功的路径，反受到了许多拦阻。反对起来摧逼我回去，疾病进来强迫我退到荒野去。

有时工作尚未做完圣灵要我把它放下，这实在是非常困难的事。但是神给我看见：工作是事奉神，等候也是事奉神。要我活动的是神，禁止我活动的是神。感谢神，我现在知道多少时候荒野原是最有益的地方。我感谢神，许多我所爱去的庇推尼，我都没有去。

圣灵阿，虽然我的前途常遭挫折，我仍然愿意拣选祢的引导。今天工作的门似乎开了，明天当我正要进去的时候又忽然关了，这都是祢的事情。

求祢教导我在等候中看见前面的路径。求祢教导我在禁止中寻见事奉祢的新路。求祢教导我在不作工的时候尽忠━用安静来作工，用等候来事奉。－－马德胜

1 prohibition   

n.禁止；禁令，禁律

参考例句：

• The prohibition against drunken driving will save many lives.禁止酒后开车将会减少许多死亡事故。
• They voted in favour of the prohibition of smoking in public areas.他们投票赞成禁止在公共场所吸烟。

2 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

3 undone   

a.未做完的，未完成的

参考例句：

• He left nothing undone that needed attention.所有需要注意的事他都注意到了。

4 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

5 varied   

adj.多样的，多变化的

参考例句：

• The forms of art are many and varied.艺术的形式是多种多样的。
• The hotel has a varied programme of nightly entertainment.宾馆有各种晚间娱乐活动。

6 abounded   

v.大量存在，充满，富于( abound的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Get-rich-quick schemes abounded, and many people lost their savings. “生财之道”遍地皆是，然而许多人一生积攒下来的钱转眼之间付之东流。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
• Shoppers thronged the sidewalks. Olivedrab and navy-blue uniforms abounded. 人行道上逛商店的人摩肩接踵，身着草绿色和海军蓝军装的军人比比皆是。 来自辞典例句

7 prospects   

n.希望，前途(恒为复数)

参考例句：

• There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
• They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。

8 murmur   

n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言

参考例句：

• They paid the extra taxes without a murmur.他们毫无怨言地交了附加税。
• There was a low murmur of conversation in the hall.大厅里有窃窃私语声。