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造就圣徒
【Edification】The church is
not a gallery where we exhibit the finest of Christians. No, it is a school
where we educate and encourage imperfect Christians.
【Edification】When geese
migrate they can be seen flying in a V-shaped formation. While to us on the
ground it is a thing of beauty, to the geese it is an essential for survival.
If you watch them, you will observe that at certain intervals, relative to the
strength of the headwind, the lead bird—who was doing the most work by breaking
the force of wind—will drop off and fly at the end of the formation.
The
reason for this is that the V-formation is much more efficient than flying
close; up to 60 percent less work is required! It has been discovered that the
flapping wings create an uplift of air, an effect that is greater at the rear
of the formation. So the geese take turns “uplifting” one another. By
cooperating—working together—the geese can achieve long migrations that would
otherwise be exceedingly difficult for the strongest and deadly for the others.
In a
similar manner, when believers in Christ actively uplift one another through
prayer, sharing material means, and heart-to-heart friendship and caring, they
can go further into godliness than if they attempt their pilgrimage alone.
【Education】Soap and
education are not as sudden as a massacre, but they are more deadly in the long
run.—Mark Twain