「他把自己的羊都放出來」－約翰福音 10:4
哦！這是一件對祂和我們都同樣辛苦的事。對我們，前面的道路崎嶇難行；對祂，我們的受苦使祂心痛。然而這些卻是必要的。
在羊圈安適的環境對我們並不是真正的益處；祂必須放我們出來。當羊圈被捨棄時，羊才能自在地漫步在廣闊的山間；農人必須被差遣到田間，豐盈的穀物才得存留。
放心吧！當祂引導我們前行時，留在原地是一件愚昧的事；若主已伸出慈愛的手，為何我們不願意隨著祂往前呢？在祂的名裡，向著前頭的青草地、溪水邊，和高山峻嶺勇敢的邁進吧！因祂必走在我們的前頭，祂必先經過我們即將走過的路途。
信心的眼睛總能在環境中清楚看見祂在前頭的引領；若是沒有，那必是危險臨到的時候。將這安慰繫在你的心上吧！我們的救主已親自走過了祂將引導你的途徑；祂不會讓我們經過我們所不能承受的試煉，祂必隨著試煉開一條出路，使我們能忍受得住。
這就是個蒙福的生活－不急切遙望著將來，不掛心即將踏下的步伐，也不為自己選擇路程，或將對未來的重擔扛在肩上，而是一次一步的，默默地尾隨我們的牧人前行。
"He putteth forth his own sheep" (John10:4).Oh, this is bitter work for Him and us--bitter for us to go, but equally bitter for Him to cause us pain; yet it must be done. It would not be conducive to our true welfare to stay always in one happy and comfortable lot. He therefore puts us forth. The fold is deserted, that the sheep may wander over the bracing mountain slope. The laborers must be thrust out into the harvest, else the golden grain would spoil.
Take heart! it could not be better to stay when He determines otherwise; and if the loving hand of our Lord puts us forth, it must be well. On, in His name, to green pastures and still waters and mountain heights! He goeth before thee. Whatever awaits us is encountered first by Him. Faith's eye can always discern His majestic presence in front; and when that cannot be seen, it is dangerous to move forward. Bind this comfort to your heart, that the Savior has tried for Himself all the experiences through which He asks you to pass; and He would not ask you to pass through them unless He was sure that they were not too difficult for your feet, or too trying for your strength.
This is the Blessed Life--not anxious to see far in front, nor careful about the next step, not eager to choose the path, nor weighted with the heavy responsibilities of the future, but quietly following behind the Shepherd, one step at a time.
