342 中翻英 (82) How to deal with the passive voice。 如何處理被動態 3/31/2023

342  中翻英 (82)      How to deal with the passive voice。  如何處理被動態            3/31/2023 

中文裡很少出現被動態的句子,  換句話說,  用得較少.  例如, "我被人打."  很少碰到. 多般以 "他打我" 出現. 在英文裡却常常使用. 

 在英文裡如, "bore 加 -ed (bored )的過去分詞就是用來處理被動態.

 例如:

Mary is bored . ( Mary 因工作而被弄厌倦 .)

 

试比较 下列两句

    例如 : 

             I am very interesting in Mathematics.  

               (错了. 因为interesting 后面不能用介词 in)

               (应改写 ‘I think Mathematics is very interesting.’)

             I am very interested in Mathematics.  

               (有被動的意思, 所以用過去分詞 'interested'.)

三月三十一日(星期五)的曠野筵席是豐富的大餐，訪友可盡情的享用，因為有聖經中歷史的記載，告訴我們如何認識和遵行上帝的旨意的教導，我們不會走入迷途。祂在新約和舊約里，給了信徒許多史實，却好叫門徒因著圣經上的忍耐和安慰，同得著天上將來的盼望。

「從前所寫的圣經，都是為教訓我們寫的。」（羅15:4）

基督教不單建立在訓律上，也建立在具體的榜樣上。神教導人的方法之一，乃是借著史實。圣經中歷史的記載，告訴我們人類如何認識和遵行上帝的旨意。我們因著留意古圣徒的生活，就不但可以發現神對我們的旨意，更學習了應如何去完成它。神的手在生活中給他們帶領，并在此表達了對他們的愿望，祂也要我們注意這些事物，好叫我們借此更清楚明白祂在我們身上所策划的工作。

我們是否需要很清楚的去教導一個小孩子去做每一件事呢？是否每一項生活細節，都必須個別的加以准許或禁止呢？難道小孩子不能單從觀察父母親的行動生活而多獲訓益嗎？我們從觀察所學的，比從聆听所學的是更快更多。并且經由前者所產生的印象，在我們里面也顯得更為深刻，因為訓律無疑是抽象的，而榜樣即將真理的運行方法，很具體的表達出來。在原則上，神的工作方法在今時代与在圣經的日子仍然是一樣的。祂在新約和舊約里，給了我們許多史實，好叫我們因著圣經上的忍耐和安慰，一同可以得著盼望。

March 31

"Every scripture that was ever written was written for our instruction." (Romans 15:4)

Christianity is not only founded on precepts, but also on concrete examples. One of the ways God teaches is through historical facts. The historical records in the Bible tell us how human beings know and obey His will. By paying attention to the lives of the ancient saints, we can not only discover God's will for us, but also learn how to accomplish it. God's hand guides them in life and expresses his desire for them here. He also wants us to pay attention to these things so that we can understand more clearly what He has planned in us.

Do we need to clearly teach a child to do everything? Does every detail of life have to be individually permitted or forbidden? Couldn't the child learn much from simply observing the action-life of their parents? We learn more quickly and more from observation than from listening. And the impression produced by the former is also more profound in us, because precepts are undoubtedly abstract, while examples express the operation method of truth in a very concrete way. In principle, God's method of working is still the same in today's age as it was in the days of the Bible. He has given us many historical facts in the New Testament and the Old Testament, so that we may have hope together through the endurance and comfort in the Bible.

341 中翻英 (81) How to use the Modifier (2) 如何使用修飾語(二) 3/30/2023

341 中翻英 (81)             How to use the Modifier (2)            如何使用修飾語(二)           3/30/2023  

修飾語字尾是 -ing 和 -ed (如,"boring" 和 "bored" ).  修飾語藉由動詞演變成的,在中文裡很少見.

例如 :

Mary's job is boring.  (Mary 的工作是厌倦, 此处指工作厌倦 ).

Mary is bored . (有被动的意思, Mary 被工作弄厌倦 . 不可写Mary is boring).

 

[注] : 若我们写 ‘Mary is boring” 那意味着Mary弄得别人厌倦.

 

试比较 下列两句

    例如 : 

             I am very interesting in Mathematics.  

               (错了. 因为interesting 后面不能用介词 in)

               (应改写 ‘I think Mathematics is very interesting.’)

             I am very interested in Mathematics.  

               (对的. interested 后面要用介词 in, Mathematics作in 的宾语)

 

     [注] :还记得我在初中三年级学英语时常被interesting和interested所搅扰.  因为忽略了这加 –ing                字尾的形容词是修饰主语 ‘I’ , 但它是主动的(active), 习惯上都不能在其后加介词 ‘in’.              若改用加 –ed的形容词写, 就可以. 因为它是被动的(passive).

 

surprise,  disappoint 和shock等动词字尾是 –ing和 -ed, 它们的用法 如interesting 一样. 可以仿照使用.

例如 :

It was quite surprising that he passed the examination.

Everybody was surprised that he passed the examination.

The film was disappointing. I expected it to be much better.

I was disappointed with the film. I expected it to be much better.

The news was very shocking. 

I was very shocked when I heard the news.

三月三十日   (星期四)

「如經上所記，夸口的當指著主夸口。」（林前 1:31 新國際版）

保羅在哥林多前書9章21節說到，"在基督面前，正在律法之下"。對于你和我，上面那經句，絕不是指著努力去守律法，因為我們都知道靠自己去守律法的結果！那句話乃指著我們能夠在自己身上證實了基督的能力，如何使我們能夠遵守律法。這与我們憑自己的努力去遵行律法，是截然不同的。對基督這樣的倚靠，只能在我們里面產生一种深深的謙卑。誠然，神在我們身上所產生任何一方面的恩典，總會使我們謙卑下來。如果我在某項成就上稍有驕傲，那很可能是依賴一己努力的結果。但所成就的如果不是自己的工作，我就不可能因此而驕傲。得榮耀的乃是那位做工的主。神必須得著一切的榮耀，因此祂堅持要親自來做祂一切之工。我的分乃是因祂在我里面所做的而歡樂，并一定要將贊美歸給祂。 

March 30

      "Therefore, as it is written: Let him who boasts boast in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 1:31 NIV)

In 1 Corinthians 9 : 21 Paul speaks,  "being in the presence of Christ and under the law".  For you and me, the above sentence does not refer to trying to keep the law, because we all know the result of keeping the law by ourselves! That statement refers to how we can demonstrate in ourselves the power of Christ, which enables us to keep the law. This is very different from keeping the law by our own efforts. Such dependence on Christ can only produce in us a deep humility. It is true that any aspect of God's grace in us will always humble us. If I am a little proud of an achievement, it is probably the result of relying on my own efforts. But if it's not my own work, I can't be proud of it. It is the Master who did the work that is glorified. God must have all the glory, so he insists on doing all his work himself. I have to participate the rejoicing in what He has done for me, and must praise Him.

340 中翻英 (80) How to use Modifier。 如何使用修飾語。 3/29/2023

340  中翻英 (80)                  How to use Modifier。                如何使用修飾語。            3/29/2023 

编辑者祈求上帝赐下恩典, 使我能把中國的文化弄清楚, 说出中文与英语在表达思想上的语法的结构差异.  我并非从根源上來做, 这是比较语言学家的研究专题.  而是从应用上介绍给訪友，願有助您們在学习英语语文. 例如,  "一朵红玫瑰" 在中文裡来说是一句满好而能理解的句子;  把它翻成英文 "a red rose." 可就不行.  因为它只是一群单词, 而没有表达出个一句完整的意思.  這就是中文與英文的差異.  中国的文化是表意的, 充满诗意及感受. 

修飾語的應用更是這樣。

                例如,                                        今天很冷。                        It   is  a very   cold   to-day。   

            註   :   從這兩句的差別很清楚表示。中文的修飾   "很冷"   在名詞的後面，而英文的修飾詞則                                                                名詞的前面。還有英文   "a very   cold"   的排列要注意。"a"  一定是在最前面， "very"  是                                                            修飾  形容詞的副詞，肯定緊接著在形容詞的   " cold"   的前面。

三月二十九日的曠野筵席供訪友任意享受，因為主耶穌基督為贖我們的罪釘在十字架上，我們就白白的得著祂賜的恩典，有戰勝魔鬼的能力。

「祂既被神的右手高舉，又從父受了所應許的圣靈，就把你們所看見所听見的澆灌下來。」（徒   2:33）

我怎樣才能得著圣靈的能力來事奉呢？我必須為此操勞嗎？我必須為此向神苦求嗎？我須借著克己和禁食，叫我魂受苦，然后才可以領受它嗎？不必！因這些都不是圣經的教訓。請仔細思量：我們如何得著罪的赦免？保羅告訴我們，是按著祂丰盛的恩典，而這恩典是「在愛子里所賜給我們的」。我們并沒有做什么來得到這恩典，我們乃是借著祂的血得蒙救贖，這也是根据祂所做成了的工。那么，在圣經里，圣靈的澆灌是根据什么？就是根据主耶穌基督的高升。因為主耶穌死在十字架上，我的罪得到赦免，因為祂已經被高舉在寶座上，我便得著從上而來的能力。

March 29

"Exalted to the right hand of God,  He has received from the Father the promised the Holy Spirit, and has poured out what you now see and hear." (Acts 2:33 NIV )

How can I receive the power of the Holy Spirit to serve? Do I have to work hard for this? Do I have to beg God for this? Must I afflict my soul by self-denial and fasting, before I can receive it? No,  these are not from the Bible teaching. Please consider carefully: How do we receive the forgiveness of sins? According to the riches of His grace, Paul tells us, which was "given to us by His Beloved Son".  We are granted the power by His grace, but redeemed by His blood, which is also based on His finished work on the cross.  What is the basis for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit from the Bible teaching ? It is based on the exaltation of the Lord Jesus Christ. Because of the Lord Jesus died on the cross, my sins are forgiven, and since He has been exalted on the throne, I have power from the above.

339 中翻英 (79) Pronoun is Pro-Noun。 代名詞是代替名詞。 3/28/2023

339  中翻英 (79)                Pronoun is Pro-Noun。                  代名詞是代替名詞。        3/28/2023

我們在天上的父上帝，求賜憐憫。孩子蒙祢救贖大恩，讓我活到93歲，更求賜恩典，使孩子能完成為祢作見證的智慧，主耶穌是子上帝，為贖我們的罪而釘在十字架，死了，埋葬，第三天從死裡復活，後升天坐在父上帝的右邊，將從天上再來，建立祂的國度，凡相信祂的都要與主共享祂的榮耀。奉主耶穌基督的名禱告。阿們。

在中翻英的功課裡，最使我國年輕學英文的孩子苦惱的是代名詞，修飾語，和被動語氣。因為在這三方面中英有很大的差異。今天先談代名詞。

代名詞是代替名詞，不是代詞 --- 不是代替英文中任何的詞類。

在2011年11月12發表的 "代名詞" 的博客中是這樣定義代名詞的 :

我們如果說 “"John speaks to John's mother, but John's mother does not hear John",  每個人都會覺得這一句陳述長得無謂, 而且笨得很.  通常是說  "John speaks to his mother, but she does not hear him".  His, she, him  這些單詞是代表或代替, John's ,  John's mother 和John的, 多麽簡潔明暸.  所以, 使用代名詞是英語中的特色.  反觀我國的語言就不大一樣,  似乎是只用一個 ‘他’ 來作代表人稱名詞之用, 卻没有辦法分別出男女的性別來.  近幾十年來因我國百話文的創新, 因此發明了新字 ‘她’ 代  she  (只用 ‘他’ 指定代he )和 ‘牠’(或‘它’) 代  it, 表示無生命的事物.  英文句子寫得扼要和嚴謹應該部份歸功於代名詞的使用.   因此, 要學好英文,  必須在代名詞上面下功夫, 把它的用法以勤做練習來掌握它. 

在編輯者讀私塾的年代 (約在1936年左右) 還只有 : 吾，汝 等代名詞。

懇請訪友參考該博客。

月二十八日(星期二)

「雖然憑著外貌認過基督，如今卻不再這樣認祂了。」（林后     5:16  新國際版）

「七日的第一日清早，天還黑的時候，抹大拉的馬利亞來到墳墓那里，看見石頭從墳墓挪開了。」（約20:1）空的墳墓不能滿足馬利亞的心，因她盼望見到主的身體。她哭泣著向那兩位天使說：「有人把我主挪了去，我不知道放在哪里。」之后她轉過身來，看見了她所熟悉的主，但她卻以為祂是陌生的人。如果你怀疑對屬靈的啟示是否有需要的話，請將這件事思想一下！

在這里有一個很重要的原則，基督「按著肉體」已經被釘死了，如果憑著肉體認識祂，結果是徒然去尋覓那個身體。馬利亞就是被這一种的認識所限制，所以雖然看見主耶穌站在那里，她卻無從辨認。哦！難道馬利亞的官能改變了嗎？不是的，那是因為主耶穌借著圣靈的大能，已經從死里复活，恢复了祂的榮耀。由于祂在复活里的改變，所以認識祂的方式照樣也必須改變。只有當主耶穌向她說話時，馬利亞才能認識祂。主向我們說話，乃是一切啟示的來源。這种里頭明亮的認識，你絕不能用人的術語來加以闡明。總之你心領神會——這樣也就夠了。

馬利亞曾經哭泣。她去尋找主的身體，但在辨識主這件事上卻弄錯了。我們有許多人也有不少可哭泣的事，我們會遇到僵局而四面受困，但我們接著听見身旁一聲呼喚：「馬利亞」——看哪，在這時刻，那位我們以為失去了的主，就在我們跟前出現了！

March 28

"So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view.  Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer." (2 Corinthians  5:16  NIV)

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. (John 20:1) She could not satisfy Mary's heart with an empty tomb, because she longed to see the body of the Lord. She wept and said to the two angels, ".... Someone has taken my Lord away, and I don't know where they put." Then she turned around and saw the Lord whom she was familiar with, but she thought He was strange people. If you doubt the need for spiritual revelation, consider this!

There is a very important principle here. Christ was crucified "according to the flesh". If we know Him according to the flesh, the result is to seek that body in vain. Mary was limited by this kind of understanding, so although she saw the Lord Jesus standing there, she could not recognize Him. oh! Did Mary's faculties change? No, that is because the Lord Jesus has been raised from the dead and restored to His glory by the power of the Holy Spirit. Because of his change in resurrection, the way of knowing him must also change. Only when the Lord Jesus spoke to her did Mary know Him. The Lord speaking to us is the source of all revelation. You can never explain this inner light in human terms. In short, you understand - and that's enough.

Mary used to cry. She went to seek the Lord's body, but made a mistake in identifying the Lord. Many of us have much to cry about, we'll hit a wall and be caught on all sides, and then we'll hear a cry beside us: "Mary"—behold, at this hour, the One we thought we had lost The Lord, who has come, has appeared before us!

338 中翻英 (78) The fragrance of Christ. 基督的馨香之氣. 3/27/2023

 338  中翻英 (78)                The fragrance of Christ.            基督的馨香之氣.                                                3/27/2023

三月二十七日的曠野筵席上有一盤極為珍貴的菜餚   ---   馬利亞的香膏.   是她專為主耶穌預備的.   她在主要上十字架前膏祂的.   滿屋充滿了   "基督的馨香之氣."   凡是信徒都能聞到這出自聖徒內心的破碎,   為的要使主的馨香之氣釋放出來.   朋友,   您有否在編輯者的博客中聞到   "基督的馨香之氣."   這基督的馨香之氣是永遠充滿今日祂的教會中.   請您務必到祂的教會或接觸追隨祂的信徒,   都能聞到基督的馨香之氣.

「屋里就滿了膏的香气。」（約     12:3 新國際版）

馬利亞為著主的緣故，打破了盛香膏的玉瓶，伯大尼的家就滲透了最甜美的芳香。這里有點能供大眾共享的東西釋放出來了，對此沒有一個人會懵然忽略。這件事的含義何在呢？你曾否遇過一深受苦難的人，他的經歷會迫他單單從主得著滿足呢？當你与他晤面時，你會立刻接触著一些東西，你屬靈的感覺馬上聞到一种香气，這就是保羅所說的「基督的馨香」。在那受苦圣徒的生命里，已經有一些東西經過破碎，其目的乃是要從他里面將神自己釋放出來；這种情形你一碰便知。是的，那天充滿了伯大尼之家的香气，今日仍然充滿在教會中，馬利亞帶來的馨香是永遠不會過去的。           

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  March 27    

"The house was filled with the aroma of the ointment." (John 12:3)

Mary broke the jar of ointment for the Lord's sake.  The house of Bethany was permeated full with the sweetest fragrance. There are something unleashed for the masses that no one can ignore. What does this matter mean to us? Have you ever met a man who suffered so much that his experience enforced him to be satisfied only in the Lord? When you meet him, you will immediately smell something, and your spirit moves smelling a fragrance which is what Paul called "the fragrance of Christ." You can tell by smelling the fragrance of Christ leashing from a broken heart of the suffering saint for the purpose of releasing God Himself from within his heart.  Untill today, the church is filled with the fragrance which was released from the house of Bethany that day.  The fragrance which Mary released it will be filled in the world forever. 

337 中翻英 (77) Because we are sinners, we need a savior. 因我們是罪人, 需要救主. 3/26/2023

337  中翻英 (77)  Because we are sinners, we need a savior.  因我們是罪人, 需要救主.       3/26/2023

三月二十六日的曠野筵席擺滿了恩愛，憐憫的菜餚。主憐憫我們，幫我們付稅銀。因我們是罪人, 需要救主的大愛。親愛的訪友，您們嘗過主恩的滋味，是否是越嘗越覺得主恩更甘甜。請為主的福音作見證 --- 祂的恩典夠我們用。不僅僅為我們付稅銀，更為我們付罪的贖價，釘在十字架上，為我們捨命。

「你且往海邊去釣魚，把先釣上來的魚拿起來，開了它的口，必得一塊錢，可以拿去給他們，作你我的稅銀。」（太   17:27  新國際版）                                                                                                                 

主的意思一定是用這個滿有恩惠的神跡，猶如比喻一樣向彼得說，"作你我的稅銀。"   （可譯作「為你、也是為我」）。有人說，這件事是主耶穌為自己行神跡的唯一例子。是的，但這不過是一半為著祂自己，因為另一半是為著彼得。你我也可以加上去說「為我」。因著恩典，那一塊錢應付了兩個人的丁稅，在此我們很奇妙的看見了主耶穌和祂的仆人那親密的聯結。

那一條成就神跡的魚又是什么呢？這豈不是向我們保證：當我們站在正确的地位上，顧到神的旨意時，一切的需要，神豈不是全然負責嗎？無論何時，愛心的事奉大于本分的要求時，我們可以仰望祂補足那些額外的需要。

March 26

".....  Go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find four a four - drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for My tax and yours."     (Matthew 17:27 NIV)The Lord must intend using this gracious miracle to speak to Peter as a parable. "For My tax and yours too." (maybe translated as "for Me and for you too"). Someone say that this miracle is the only one of the Lord Jesus performs for Himself.  Yes, but it was only half for Himself, because the other half was for Peter. You and I can also add "for me too".  One dollar paid the taxes of two people by grace, it showed us here a marvelously intimate bond between the Lord Jesus and His servant.  

What was the meaning of a fish in the performed miracles? Doesn't this make us assure what we stand in the right situation and obey God's will?  Doesn't God response fully to meet our needs?  We can expect Him to provide the extra needs, as we do the loving service with more than  the duty .

336 中翻英 (76) God is faithful. 上帝是信實的. 3/25/2023

 336  中翻英 (76)              God is faithful.                        上帝是信實的.                3/25/2023

三月二十五日的曠野筵席要信徒默思他們的信心。我們不可以像法律賽人在人前誇張他們的信心。我們在屋內禱告，在暗中的天父，祂在暗中察看我們，必然獎賞。

「.... 禱告你在暗中的父，你父在暗中察看，必然報答你。」（太6:6）

我們無須圖謀設計，去吸引別人注意我們的工作。神在祂那最高主權的安排下，能負起這個責任。我們是在生活上信靠神的，但又何需自我宣傳呢？當我听見神的仆人們，強調他們如何憑信心生活這件事時，我就覺得厭煩。我們是否真的相信神的管理和祂的預備呢？如果是，那我們就能信靠主能將我們的需要指示給別的圣徒們知道，祂也會為我們備辦一切而用不著我們去宣告這些需要。甚至當別人從我們的生活方式，推論我們有了私人的收入，以至停止他們的奉獻，我們也無須介怀。我勸告我的年青弟兄們，要三緘其口，這不但對個人的所需是如此，甚至自己對神那點信靠也是這樣，好叫一切的需要，能更好的證實主的預備。信心越大的人，就越少講他的大信心。

March 25

".... Then your Father,  who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." (Matthew 6:6  NIV)

We need not to figure out what for attracting attention of others to look our work. God can take this under on His sovereign arrangement. We trust God in our lives.  Why do we need to proclaim it by ourselves? It makes me tiresome as I hear God's people stressing that they live by faith . Do we really believe in His sovereign and provision? If it is so, then we can trust the Lord to show our needs to the other saints, and He will do everything for us without us declaring them. We don't even have to worry when others stop giving as they infer from our lifestyle that we have a private income. I advise my young brothers to keep silent, not only for their personal needs, but also for their little trust in God, so that all their needs can better prove the Lord’s provision. A person with greater faith does not mention his great faith.

335 中翻英 (75) .... perplexed, but not in despair. 心里作難,却不至失望。 3/24/2023

 335 中翻英 (75)    .... perplexed, but not in despair.  心里作難,却不至失望。           3/24/2023   

朋友，三月二十四日的曠野筵席是要請主內的信徒默思，基督徒的生活是在軟弱中剛強，在痛苦中喜樂，在疑惑跟前表現出信心的胜利，是一個矛盾的統一。您認為基督徒的生活是這樣的嗎?

三月二十四日

        心里作難，卻不至失望。」（林后  4:8）

自從我悔改得救之日起，我衷誠的抱負，是要做一個真實的基督徒。當然我對基督徒的標准有自己的概念，而我是竭盡所能的去達到那個標准。我認為一個真實的基督徒一定從早到晚都是笑容可掬的！只要他流一滴眼淚，那他就不是活出得胜了。此外，他隨時隨地必須是勇气百倍，只要他稍有絲毫畏怯，那他在信靠主這件事上已經大大的失敗了。這樣的人，事實上离我的標准很遠了。

不過，我不久發覺，基督徒的生活与我所料想的，卻迥然不同。原來基督徒的生活是在軟弱中剛強，在痛苦中喜樂，在疑惑跟前表現出信心的胜利，是一個矛盾的統一。當一個基督徒在主里面最剛強的時候，他自己往往大感無能，當他最勇敢之際，他可能深知自己內在的畏懼，當他最喜樂的時辰，一种愁困的感覺又再向他回襲了。只有神那「何等浩大的能力」（弗1:19-20），才能把他提升到高處。

 

" The heart is troubled, but not disappointed." (2 Corinthians 4:8)

It has been my sincere ambition to be a true Christian, since I was converted and saved. Of course I have my own conception of what is the standard of Christianity, and I do my best to live for matching to that standard. I think a real Christian must be smiling from morning to night! As long as he sheds a single tear, he is not living a victorious life. In addition, he must be full of courage at any time and any place. As long as he has the slightest timidity, he has already failed greatly in trusting the Lord. Such a person is actually far from my standard.

However, I discovered soon that the Christian life was very different from what I had expected. It turns out that the life of a Christian is to be strong in weakness, to rejoice in pain, to show the victory of faith in the face of doubts, which is a unity of contradictions. When a Christian is strongest in the Lord, he often feels powerless; when he is bravest, he may be aware of his inner fear; when he is happiest, a feeling of distress returns Attacked him back. Only God's "great power" (Ephesians 1:19-20) could lift him to the heights.    

334 中翻英 (74) If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we are belong to the Lord. 我們若活著，是為主而活，若死了，是 為主而死。所以，我們或活或死，總是主的人。 3/23/2023

 334  中翻英 (74)   If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord.  So, whether we                                    live or die, we are belong to the Lord.   我們若活著，是為主而活，若死了，是                                   為主而死。所以，我們或活或死，總是主的人。                                  3/23/2023

三月二十三日

「我們若活著，是為主而活，若死了，是為主而死。所以，我們或活或死，總是主的人。」（羅14:8）

我們不要太強調基督徒生活的技術問題，但卻要注意到我們是「屬于基督的」這一基本的事實。我們所做的，乃是為著祂。我們為主而活，也為主而死。我們絕不可企圖去勉強那些与我們不同的人，來与我們有共同的想法或做法。我們唯一的目的，是要帶領他更多的親近基督。因為我們所做的，不是為著表面上的正确，也不是模仿一些美好的事物，而是為著叫人与神自己有更密切的關系。是否有弟兄在見解上和我大不相同呢？讓我首先記牢：他所做的，和我做的，都是為著主！只要我們都有「為著主」的共同目標，那么縱使外面有分岐，我們彼此之間也能和睦相處。主耶穌基督的主權是基督徒的中心。如果祂實實在在是你的主，也實實在在是我的主，那么其它的問題，祂都會親自調整的。

March 23

"If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord.  So, whether we live or die, we are belong to the Lord's." (Romans 14:8)

Let us not stress too much the technicalities of the Christian life, but rather the basic fact that we are "Christ's." What we do is for Him. We live and die for the Lord. We must never try to force those who are different from us to think or act like us. Our sole purpose is to bring him closer to Christ. Because what we do is not for superficial correctness, nor for imitating some good things, but for the purpose of bringing people closer to God Himself. Is there a brother whose opinion is very different from mine? Let me first remember: what he did, and what I did, is for the Lord! As long as we all have a common goal of "for the Lord", we can live in harmony with each other even if there are differences on the outside. The sovereignty of the Lord Jesus Christ is central to the Christian. If He is really your Lord and really my Lord, then He will personally adjust other issues.

333 中翻英 (73) "If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles." 有人強逼你走一里路，你就同他走二里。 3/23/2023

 333  中翻英 (73)            "If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles."                                                                                有人強逼你走一里路，你就同他走二里。                3/23/2023

三月二十二日 曠野筵席出登山寶訓主耶穌的教導，懇求主內訪友親自默思。

「有人強逼你走一里路，你就同他走二里。」（太5:41）

在中國南部有一位弟兄，他有一塊在半山的稻田。當干旱的日子，他利用腳踏的抽水車，將灌溉的水抽上他的田里。他的鄰居也有兩塊稻田，在他那塊田的下面。某夜，那鄰居將他的田堤開了一個破口，把他田里的水全部流到自己的稻田中。翌日，那位弟兄發現了這事，就把田堤的破口修好，然后抽進更多的水到田里，但他的鄰居又再重施故技，如此行了三、四次。因此，那位弟兄就請教弟兄們，他說：「我已經盡量忍耐了，也沒有實行報复。」又說：「不過，我這樣做，對嗎？」當他們為這事同心合意禱告之后，其中一位弟兄說：「如果我們只盡力去做「對的」事，那我們真是一些非常可怜的基督徒，我們應做一些比「對更進一步的事」。」那位吃了虧的弟兄大受感動，第二天早上，他把鄰居的兩塊田先抽滿了水，到了下午，才為他自己的田抽水。從此以后，他的田就一直有水了。他的鄰居對他的行為甚感惊奇，并開始查詢原委。后來他也得著基督了。

「對」或「不對」是外邦人和稅吏生活的原則（太5:46-47），我們卻不是這樣。「模成基督」才是管理我們生活的原則。

March 22

"If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles." (Matthew 5:41)

There was a brother who had a rice field in the middle of the mountain in southern China . On dry days, he used a pedal pump to pump water to irrigate his fields. His neighbor also has two paddy fields below his. One night, the neighbor opened a breach in his field embankment, and all the water in his field flowed into the neighbor's field. The next day, when the christian brother found out his field without water, he repaired the breach in the embankment and pumped more water into the rice field, but his neighbor repeated the same trick three or four times. So the brother asked his christian brothers for advice, and he explained, "I have endured as much as I could, and not to retaliate." Then he asked, "Am I doing it right?"  One of the brothers said, "If we only try to do the 'right' thing, then we are some very poor Christians, and we should do something more than 'right' ". The brother who had suffered was greatly moved. The next morning, he pumped water to the neighbor's two fields first, and pump water to his own field only in the afternoon. Since then, his fields have always the water.  His neighbor moved by his behavior, then to began into investigating.  He became a Christian also later.

"True" or "wrong" is the principle of life for Gentiles and tax collectors (Matthew 5:46-47), but not for us --- Christians. "Conformity to Christ" is the principle that our Christians lives follow it.