Oct22,07 是一個奇蹟！A Miracle!+珠寶盒和珠寶The Casket And The Jewel

靈命日糧 - 2007年10月22日
珠寶盒和珠寶
讀經: 羅馬書2章17-24節
金句: 「我們有這寶貝放在瓦器裏，要顯明這莫大的能力，是出於上帝，不是出於我們。」（哥林多後書4章7節）
全年讀經: 以賽亞書65-66章；提摩太前書2章

加拿大的牧師約翰·格萊德斯東，曾經引用以撒瓦特生命中一段悲傷的故事，來引起人們的注意。那位著名的英國詩人以撒愛上了一位妙齡少女，名叫伊莉莎白·辛格。少女也仰慕他的文采、思想和心靈，然而她對大詩人所有的欣賞都不敵她對他長相的排斥。
以撒瓦特身材瘦小，更慘的是還有一雙細小的灰眼睛，鷹鈎鼻，以及高聳的顴骨。當他向伊莉莎白 · 辛格小姐求婚時，她也十分傷心地回答：「瓦特先生，我真希望我能說，我喜愛珠寶盒，一如喜愛它裡面所裝的珠寶。」
格萊德斯東指出，福音就像是「珠寶」，教會則像「珠寶盒」。這個類比，讓人心動，有多少人拒絕福音，正因為福音的見證人往往看起來誠懇，卻熱心過度！難道我們不知不覺地變得令人討厭，沒有愛心了嗎？如果我們無法彰顯耶穌的榮美，我們如何能給瞎子領路，作「黑暗中人的光」（羅馬書2章19節）呢？
我們廣傳福音，要運用一切可能的辦法！但我們當祈求聖靈幫助我們，成為可愛的人，有愛心的人，並且遠離罪惡，這樣我們才能吸引他人歸向耶穌。VCG
願主耶穌的榮美在我彰顯，表彰主奇妙慈憐，純潔，美善；懇求聖靈潔淨，使我心意純正，直到耶穌的榮美在我彰顯。Orsborn
心中的義必能生出人格的美。
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October 22, 2007
The Casket And The Jewel
ODB RADIO: Listen Now DownloadREAD: Romans 2:17-24
We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. —2 Corinthians 4:7
-->About this cover

Canadian minister John Gladstone has made a compelling application of a sad episode in the life of Isaac Watts. That famous English hymnwriter fell in love with a beautiful young woman, Elizabeth Singer. She admired his poetry, his mind, and his spirit, but for all her admiration she could not overcome her revulsion at his appearance.
Isaac was short and slight, afflicted with mere slits of gray eyes, a hook nose, and large cheekbones. When he proposed to Elizabeth, she all too hurtfully replied, "Mr. Watts, if only I could say that I admire the casket [jewelry box] as much as I admire the jewel it contains."
Gladstone draws a disturbing analogy between the "jewel" of the gospel and the "casket" of the church. How many people have rejected the good news because of its often sincere yet overly zealous witnesses! Are we unknowingly repulsive and unloving? How can we be "a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness" (Rom. 2:19) if the beauty of Jesus cannot be seen in us?
By every means possible, let’s proclaim the gospel. But let’s pray that the Holy Spirit will make us personally winsome and loving and free from sin so that we can attract others to Him. —Vernon C Grounds—Vernon C Grounds-->
Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me,All His wonderful passion and purity;Oh, Thou Spirit Divine, all my nature refineTill the beauty of Jesus be seen in me. —Orsborn
Righteousness in the heart produces beauty in the character.
For similar resources, search these topics:Ministry and Outreach > Sharing the Gospel > Inviting others to Christ Christian Life > Character > Christlikeness
Bible in One Year: Isaiah 65-66; 1 Timothy 2
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是一個奇蹟！ 使我得到所有哭泣，更強（聞！ ） 一個小女孩來到她的臥室，並把一名玻璃罐子果凍從它的藏身之地，在壁櫥她傾注了全身心的變化列於地板，並仔細閱讀。 3倍，甚至。總要完全完美的。沒有機會在這裡犯錯誤。 小心地把硬幣早在罐子和扭就鴨舌帽， 她跌出後門，使她的方式， 6個區塊，以大賽的藥店與大紅色印行政簽署上述的大門。 她耐心地等待，藥劑師給她一些關注， 但他是過於忙碌，在這一刻苔絲扭曲她的腳作膠合噪音。落空。她清除了她的喉嚨與最令人反感的聲音，她能鼓起。沒有好。最後，她終於有四分之一從她的罐子和banged它放在玻璃櫃檯。即贏了！ '您怎麼想？ '藥劑師詢問，在一個惱火語氣。我說我的兄弟從芝加哥人，我還沒有看到，在不同年齡， '他說，沒有等待回答他的問題。 那麼，我想和大家談談我的兄弟，苔絲回答早在同一惱火的語調。他的真，真的生病… …我想購買一個奇蹟。 ' '我對不起？ '說，藥劑師'他的名字是鄭家富和他的東西越來越壞在他的頭部和我的爸爸說，只有奇蹟才能救他，現在。那麼又有多少是一個奇蹟，成本？ ' '我們不賣奇蹟，在這裡，小女孩。我很抱歉，但我不能幫你， '藥師表示，軟化一點。 '聽著，我有足夠資金來支付。如果它是不夠的，我會得到休息。剛剛告訴我的成本是多少。 ' 藥劑師的弟弟是一個穿戴整齊的男子。他stooped下來，並詢問小女孩， '什麼樣的一個奇蹟，請問你的弟弟需要的人呢？ ' '我不知道， '苔絲回答了她的眼睛welling到了。我只知道他的真病假和媽媽說，他需要動手術。但我的爸爸，不能支付，所以我想用我的錢。 ' '多少錢你有嗎？ '問該名男子從芝加哥'一美元和11美分， '苔絲回答勉強聲音。 '和它的所有錢，我有，但我可以多組織一些，如果我需要。 ' '那麼，什麼是巧合， '微笑著該名男子。 '一美元和11美分---確切的價格是一個奇蹟，為小兄弟。 ' 他把她的錢，一方面和另一方面，他抓住了她的手套，並說'帶我到你的居住地點。我想看到你的兄弟和滿足你的父母。讓我們來看看，如果我有奇蹟，你需要的人。 ' 這穿戴整齊男子博士為carlton阿姆斯特朗，一個外科醫生，專門從事神經外科。手術完成後，費用全免，而且不長，直到鄭家富的家，又和做好。 爸爸媽媽都是愉快地談論的連環事件，這導致了他們在這個地方。 '手術，她的媽媽直犯嘀咕，這是一個真正的奇蹟。我不知道它要花多少錢，將有成本？ '苔絲笑了。她很清楚自己到底有多少是一個奇蹟，成本… …一美元和11美分… …再加上真誠的小孩子。 在我們的生活中，我們從來不知道有多少奇蹟，我們將需要的人。 是一個奇蹟，是不會停止的自然法，但操作一個更高的法律。我知道你會隨時向球移動！
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A Miracle!Made me get all teary eyed (sniff!) A little girl went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly jar from its hiding place in the closet She poured the change out on the floor and counted it carefully. Three times, even. The total had to be exactly perfect. No chance here for mistakes. Carefully placing the coins back in the jar and twisting on the cap, she slipped out the back door and made her way 6 blocks to Rexall's Drug Store with the big red Indian Chief sign above the door. She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her some attention, but he was too busy at this moment Tess twisted her feet to make a scuffing noise. Nothing. She cleared her throat with the most disgusting sound she could muster. No good. Finally she took a quarter from her jar and banged it on the glass counter. That did it! 'And what do you want?' the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of voice. I'm talking to my brother from Chicago whom I haven't seen in ages,' he said without waiting for a reply to his question. Well, I want to talk to you about my brother, Tess answered back in the same annoyed tone. He's really, really sick...and I want to buy a miracle.' 'I beg your pardon?' said the pharmacist 'His name is Andrew and he has something bad growing inside his head and my Daddy says only a miracle can save him now. So how much does a miracle cost?' 'We don't sell miracles here, little girl. I'm sorry but I can't help you ,' the pharmacist said, softening a little. 'Listen, I have the money to pay for it. If it isn't enough, I will get the rest. Just tell me how much it costs.' The pharmacist's brother was a well dressed man. He stooped down and asked the little girl, 'What kind of a miracle does your brother need?' 'I don't know,' Tess replied with her eyes welling up. I just know he's really sick and Mommy says he needs an operation. But my Daddy can't pay for it, so I want to use my money.' 'How much do you have?' asked the man from Chicago'One dollar and eleven cents,' Tess answered barely audibly.'And it's all the money I have, but I can get some more if I need to.''Well, what a coincidence,' smiled the man. 'A dollar and eleven cents---the exact price of a miracle for little brothers.'He took her money in one hand and with the other hand he grasped her mitten and said 'Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents. Let's see if I have the miracle you need.' That well dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon,specializing in neuro-surgery. The operation was completed free of charge and it wasn't long until Andrew was home again and doing well.Mom and Dad were happily talking about the chain of events that had led them to this place.'That surgery, her Mom whispered, was a real miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost?' Tess smiled. She knew exactly how much a miracle cost...one dollar and eleven cents....plus the faith of a little child. In our lives, we never know how many miracles we will need.A miracle is not the suspension of natural law, but the operation of a higher law. I know you'll keep the ball moving!