五旬节廿三

为众教会挂心的事

——哥林多后书十一章廿八节

方寸之地，能担几多重负？使徒一颗伟大的心，却总是牵挂着方圆万里，上下千秋！

弟兄之软弱，岂非我之软弱；弟兄之倾跌，岂不令我焦灼？余悸未消，岂不需我抚慰；内伤未愈，岂不待我膏抹？群羔饥渴不择食，能不哺育；亡羊迷途不知返，能不追寻？

主家百废待兴，岂容高枕；万端待举，岂忍尸素？稼多仆少，不当加倍奋勉；青黄难接，不当分外殷勤？

我生苦短，难负千秋之轭；我心虽小，愿与主心同搏！

Pentecost 23

2 Corinthians 11:28

My anxiety for all the churches

 How heavy a burden can the heart bear? Yet the great heart of the apostle Paul was ever anxious for far-flung places and the events of centuries past and to come. 

Are not the weaknesses of my brothers and sisters my weaknesses? When my brother or sister is made to fall, do I not also become indignant? When others are anxious, must I not go to comfort them? Do not those with inner hurts that have not healed wait for me to come and apply a salve? Are the lambs hungry? Then I must feed them. Has a sheep lost its way? I must bring it home.

In God’s house there are so many tasks which need doing. How then can I be permitted to sleep soundly? Thousands of tasks cry out to be done. How then can I simply take up space and eat my fill? The crops are many but the laborers few. Then the laborers must redouble their efforts. There are temporary shortages. Then the laborers must be all the more diligent.

Life is so brief, for we cannot bear a thousand years of the Lord’s yoke. But though my heart is very small, it willingly beats in time with the heart of God.