五旬节十六

要心地宽大

——哥林多后书七章二节

“山不弃土，故能成其高；海不厌水，故能成其深。”属灵境界之深浅、高低，每因心地之狭窄或宽宏而异。

胸襟狭隘，不能容人，党同伐异，非主所悦。小事区区，耿耿于怀，前嫌难捐难弃，我心何能成为大海？

大地苍茫，孕怀万类；阳光煦煦，无物不能得其热气。我心何小，小于鸡埘豕舍；徒有大志，又何能作雄鹰之飞，骏马之驰？

求主宽广我心，我心始得安息。高如山岳，深若洋海，我心何日能似？

Pentecost 16

2 Corinthians 7:2

Open your hearts

   Li Si has said: “The mountain cherishes the soil which gives it height; the sea does not disdain the water which gives it depth.” The boundaries of the realm of the Spirit depend on the narrowness or breadth of the heart.

  If our embrace is narrow, we cannot put our arms about another. If we are partial to our own group or attack those who are different: this too is displeasing to God. If we take every small thing to heart, if we cannot forget past grudges, can our hearts be vast as the ocean?

  The great land supports the myriad creatures. There is nothing that does not feel the warmth of the sun. But how narrow my heart, smaller than the roost or the enclosure; empty but for ambition. How can it soar with the eagle or race with swift horses?

  I pray God to open my heart. Only then can I find peace. May it be high as a mountain peak, deep as the sea——when, Lord, when?