614 中翻英 (314) The Word became flesh (三). 道成肉身(三). 12/17/2023

614  中翻英 (314)            The Word became Flesh (三).            道成肉身(三).            12/17/2023

十二月十七日

「你這困苦被風飄蕩不得安慰的人哪，我必以彩色安置你的石頭，以藍寶石立定你的根基。」（賽54:11）

在伊甸園和圣城新耶路撒冷里面，我們發現除了金子以外，還有寶石這一個主要因素。寶石乃是經過漫長的時間，在地下被火焚燒而成，而它們的美麗，則是經過巧妙的雕刻与琢磨，才得以展現出來的。按著屬靈的話來說，這是神在你我里面忍耐的做工，將那屬天价值的事物，組織在我們的生命里，這些价值是極其貴重。凡不肯付上代价的，就永不能達到這地步！神的恩典是白給的，但只有付出高价的人，才能買到珍貴的寶石。多少時候，我們要喊說：「這個代价太大了！」然而，我們与主一同「經過水火」所學習的功課，是有真正价值的。有些事物一碰到神的光，就自然消滅，它們不必等候火的試驗。但那些經過神的試驗仍能存留的，那才是真正有价值的事物。

December 17

“O you who are wretched and driven by the wind without comfort, I will set your stones with colored stones and lay your foundations with sapphires.” (Isaiah 54:11)

In the Garden of Eden and the holy city New Jerusalem, we find that in addition to gold, there is also precious stones as a major factor. Gemstones are burned by fire in the ground over a long period of time, and their beauty is revealed through ingenious carving and polishing. In spiritual terms, this is God’s patient work in you and me, organizing things of heavenly value into our lives, and these values ​​are extremely precious. Anyone who is unwilling to pay the price will never reach this point! God's grace is free, but only those who pay a high price can purchase precious gems. How often do we have to cry out, “The price is too high!” However, the lessons we learn “through fire and water” with the Lord are of real value. Some things will naturally perish as soon as they encounter God's light; they do not have to wait for the test of fire. But those things that survive God’s testing are truly valuable.