Roughed Up To Grow Up 艰苦的成长
Many Christians have to be lovingly roughed up before they will grow up. Although the heavenly Father never allows His children to suffer needlessly, sometimes He lets them experience hard knocks so they'll become mature believers.
The need for "bad weather" to stimulate growth can be seen in nature. Scientists say that the seeds of some desert bushes must be damaged by a storm before they will germinate. They are covered with hard shells that keep out water. This allows them to lie dormant on the sand for several seasons until conditions are right for growth.
When heavy rains finally come, the little seeds are carried away in a flash flood. They are banged against sand, gravel, and rocks as they rush down the slopes. Eventually they settle in a depression where the soil has become damp to a depth of several feet. Only then do they begin to grow, for moisture is absorbed through the nicks and scratches they picked up on their downhill plunge.
Similarly, difficulties may be needed to wake up a sleeping saint. This may hurt for a while, but if we yield to the Lord we will find that life's bruises can mark the beginning of spiritual advances. We may prefer to remain "seeds," but He wants us to become "fruitful trees." —Mart De Haan
Should Thy mercy send me sorrow, toil, and woe,
Or should pain attend me on my path below,
Grant that I may never fail Thy hand to see,
Grant that I may ever cast my care on Thee. —Montgomery
There are no gains without pains.
许多基督徒必须经历爱的管教后，才能得以成长。尽管天父从不允许祂的儿女衣食匮乏，但有时候祂会让他们经历挫折，从而成为成熟的信徒。
大自然界里，「坏天气」刺激了植物的生长。科学家说有些沙漠灌木的种子于萌芽前必须先经暴风摧残，因为种子复盖着防水的硬壳，所以能够在沙漠休眠数季，直至遇到有利生长的条件才发芽。
一旦大雨来临，那细小的种子便被洪水带走。当它们从斜坡上被冲刷下来，就会撞击到沙粒、碎石及石块，最后落到洼地上。那里的土壤潮湿，且深及数尺，只有在这情况下种子才会开始生长。因为种子在冲下山坡时被划破，所以可从破处吸收水份。
同样地，上帝可能需要利用艰苦困难来唤醒沉睡中的圣徒。我们也许会有短暂的苦楚，但只要顺服主，便会发现生命的创伤正标示着灵命成长的开始。我们也许安于未发芽的「种子」阶段，但上帝却要我们成为「结果子的树」。MRD
若因主的怜爱，我遭苦与愁，
若我生活道途多遇痛与忧；
愿我眼不模糊，看见主恩手，
常将难当重担，卸交主肩头。Montgomery
要得胜，就难免经历艰苦。
The need for "bad weather" to stimulate growth can be seen in nature. Scientists say that the seeds of some desert bushes must be damaged by a storm before they will germinate. They are covered with hard shells that keep out water. This allows them to lie dormant on the sand for several seasons until conditions are right for growth.
When heavy rains finally come, the little seeds are carried away in a flash flood. They are banged against sand, gravel, and rocks as they rush down the slopes. Eventually they settle in a depression where the soil has become damp to a depth of several feet. Only then do they begin to grow, for moisture is absorbed through the nicks and scratches they picked up on their downhill plunge.
Similarly, difficulties may be needed to wake up a sleeping saint. This may hurt for a while, but if we yield to the Lord we will find that life's bruises can mark the beginning of spiritual advances. We may prefer to remain "seeds," but He wants us to become "fruitful trees." —Mart De Haan
Should Thy mercy send me sorrow, toil, and woe,
Or should pain attend me on my path below,
Grant that I may never fail Thy hand to see,
Grant that I may ever cast my care on Thee. —Montgomery
There are no gains without pains.
许多基督徒必须经历爱的管教后，才能得以成长。尽管天父从不允许祂的儿女衣食匮乏，但有时候祂会让他们经历挫折，从而成为成熟的信徒。
大自然界里，「坏天气」刺激了植物的生长。科学家说有些沙漠灌木的种子于萌芽前必须先经暴风摧残，因为种子复盖着防水的硬壳，所以能够在沙漠休眠数季，直至遇到有利生长的条件才发芽。
一旦大雨来临，那细小的种子便被洪水带走。当它们从斜坡上被冲刷下来，就会撞击到沙粒、碎石及石块，最后落到洼地上。那里的土壤潮湿，且深及数尺，只有在这情况下种子才会开始生长。因为种子在冲下山坡时被划破，所以可从破处吸收水份。
同样地，上帝可能需要利用艰苦困难来唤醒沉睡中的圣徒。我们也许会有短暂的苦楚，但只要顺服主，便会发现生命的创伤正标示着灵命成长的开始。我们也许安于未发芽的「种子」阶段，但上帝却要我们成为「结果子的树」。MRD
若因主的怜爱，我遭苦与愁，
若我生活道途多遇痛与忧；
愿我眼不模糊，看见主恩手，
常将难当重担，卸交主肩头。Montgomery
要得胜，就难免经历艰苦。
