二月二十三日[mp3_embed playlst=”/downloading/audio/evening/02/0223.mp3″]
经文: 背起十字架来跟从我。（注：中文和合译本没有“背起十字架”五字，是：“你还要来跟从我”，英文KSV有take up the cross……）（马可福音十：21）
虽然“不信”是制造十字架的木匠专家，但上帝没有吩咐你去制造自己的十字架。人的意志十分希望成为自己的主和指挥者，然而上帝不允许你去选择自己的十字架。上帝的爱已备妥了指定给你的十字架，你唯有喜乐地接受。你必须背起十字架视它为为你指定的记号和负担，不要有所抱怨。耶稣要你将肩膀放在祂轻省的轭下。切勿因激怒而踢它、勿因骄傲而践踏它、勿因失望而在它下面跌倒、更勿因害怕而逃避它。像耶稣的真实跟随者一样背起它来！耶稣曾经背负十字架，祂在忧伤之径上领路，没有人能成为比祂更佳的向导！十字架的道路是安全的道路。不必为了行走在荆棘路上而胆怯。十字架并非用羽毛制成，也没有衬以丝绒。对于不顺服之肩头，它是沉重且令人激愤的。但是十字架不是以铁制成的，虽然恐惧使它染上了铁的色调。那只是一个木头的十字架。人的能力足以背负它。忧伤之子是背负它的第一人。藉着圣灵的能力，你很快就会爱上这十字架，你将会像摩西那样，不愿意以全埃及的财富来换取基督的羞辱。请记住，不久以后，十字架就可换取冠冕。思想到将来极重之荣耀，必会大大减轻目前困难之沉重。主将助你使你的心屈伏于上帝的旨意之下，然后你将带着属于被钉之主的跟随者所具有的圣洁和顺服勇往前进！
Evening, February 23
Scripture: “Take up the cross, and follow me.”(Mark 10:21)
You have not the making of your own cross, although unbelief is a master carpenter at cross-making; neither are you permitted to choose your own cross, although self-will would fain be lord and master; but your cross is prepared and appointed for you by divine love, and you are cheerfully to accept it; you are to take up the cross as your chosen badge and burden, and not to stand cavilling at it. This night Jesus bids you submit your shoulder to his easy yoke. Do not kick at it in petulance, or trample on it in vain-glory, or fall under it in despair, or run away from it in fear, but take it up like a true follower of Jesus. Jesus was a cross-bearer; he leads the way in the path of sorrow. Surely you could not desire a better guide! And if he carried a cross, what nobler burden would you desire? The Via Crucis is the way of safety; fear not to tread its thorny paths.
Beloved, the cross is not made of feathers, or lined with velvet, it is heavy and galling to disobedient shoulders; but it is not an iron cross, though your fears have painted it with iron colours, it is a wooden cross, and a man can carry it, for the Man of sorrows tried the load. Take up your cross, and by the power of the Spirit of God you will soon be so in love with it, that like Moses, you would not exchange the reproach of Christ for all the treasures of Egypt. Remember that Jesus carried it, and it will smell sweetly; remember that it will soon be followed by the crown, and the thought of the coming weight of glory will greatly lighten the present heaviness of trouble. The Lord help you to bow your spirit in submission to the divine will ere you fall asleep this night, that waking with to-morrow’s sun, you may go forth to the day’s cross with the holy and submissive spirit which becomes a follower of the Crucified.