十月十七日 [mp3_embed playlst=”/downloading/audio/evening/10/1017.mp3″]
经文: 祂用膀臂聚集羊羔。（以赛亚书四十：11）
我们好牧人的羊群中有各种不同的羊。有些在主里刚强，有些却信心软弱。祂照顾所有的羊，一点也不偏爱，最软弱的羊羔与羊群中最硕壮的羊，于祂都是一般的可爱。羊羔常常落后，徘徊不前，容易疲倦。但是牧人用祂大能的膀臂保护它们，使它们不致陷入这些危险的习惯里。祂发现初生的灵魂就像幼小的羊羔般容易死亡，祂喂养他们，直至他们的生命变为强盛。祂寻找容易昏睡或死亡的软弱心灵，安慰他们，使他们重新得力。祂聚集所有幼小的羊，因为我们的天父不愿意他们之中任何一个灭亡。祂的目光何等敏锐，能够一一看到他们！祂的心何等温柔，能够一一照顾！祂的膀臂何等坚强，能够伸到远方，也能属够一一聚拢！祂在世的一生，聚集所有软弱的。现在祂虽属于高天，祂仁慈的心仍然怜悯地上谦卑悔罪的、胆怯微小的、恐惧衰弱的人。祂温柔地将我拥抱在祂自己、祂的真理、祂的宝血、祂的大爱和祂的教会之内。自从我悔改以来，祂常将我从徘徊中领回，再次用祂永恒的膀臂环抱我！最美的是祂亲自为我做这些事情。在爱的工作上祂并不要派代表，反而亲自降世来拯救保全祂最不配的仆人。我怎样爱祂才够？怎样才能相称地服事祂？伟大的收者，我祈求能有一颗更真诚爱祢的心！
Evening, October 17
Scripture: “He shall gather the lambs with his arm.”(Isaiah 40:11)
Our good Shepherd has in his flock a variety of experiences, some are strong in the Lord, and others are weak in faith, but he is impartial in his care for all his sheep, and the weakest lamb is as dear to him as the most advanced of the flock. Lambs are wont to lag behind, prone to wander, and apt to grow weary, but from all the danger of these infirmities the Shepherd protects them with his arm of power. He finds new-born souls, like young lambs, ready to perish－he nourishes them till life becomes vigorous; he finds weak minds ready to faint and die－he consoles them and renews their strength. All the little ones he gathers, for it is not the will of our heavenly Father that one of them should perish. What a quick eye he must have to see them all! What a tender heart to care for them all! What a far- reaching and potent arm, to gather them all! In his lifetime on earth he was a great gatherer of the weaker sort, and now that he dwells in heaven, his loving heart yearns towards the meek and contrite, the timid and feeble, the fearful and fainting here below. How gently did he gather me to himself, to his truth, to his blood, to his love, to his church! With what effectual grace did he compel me to come to himself! Since my first conversion, how frequently has he restored me from my wanderings, and once again folded me within the circle of his everlasting arm! The best of all is, that he does it all himself personally, not delegating the task of love, but condescending himself to rescue and preserve his most unworthy servant. How shall I love him enough or serve him worthily? I would fain make his name great unto the ends of the earth, but what can my feebleness do for him? Great Shepherd, add to thy mercies this one other, a heart to love thee more truly as I ought.