杨心斐
中国家庭教会著名传道人、音乐家。因拒绝参加“三自会”
六月十七日
耶和华啊,求你帮助……(12:1)
这个祷告是很特殊的,因为非常简短,但这个祷告却是很合时,很生动,并且很能提醒人。大卫因为世上的忠信人太少而伤感起来,当人靠不住的时候,他便投靠造物主。他也感到自己的软弱,否则他便不会求神帮助了;同时他自己也愿意为真理努力,否则要“帮助”作什么用。这几个字可以叫我们看出他的知觉是直截了当而判然分明的,他的说法是很清晰洒脱的,比那嘴唇上敬畏之人的冗长的祷词有意义得多了。诗人的祷告并不兜圈子,他乃是开门见山,直接把他经过周密考虑的祷告陈到神面前;他知道他所求的是什么,并知道到那里求。有很多时候我们用得着这个祷告。在神所允准的苦难中,受苦的信徒找不到什么帮助的时候,这个祷告是多么合适呀!研究主道的人在道理上有什么困难时,向圣灵,我们的大教师这样呼求说“耶和华啊,求你帮助”,就必得到指教。属灵的战士心中若有什么争战也可以到宝座那里这样祷告。从事天工的人在缺乏的时候也能因此得到恩典。在疑惑和恐惧之中的罪人,若用这祷词也必找到他们所要寻求的。事实上,无论何事、何时、何地,这个祷告都能帮助一切有缺乏的人。活着或将死的人、受苦或劳苦的人、快乐和忧伤的人都能这样祷告说:“耶和华啊,求你帮助”。他是我们的帮助,我们要常呼求他,切不要疏忽懈怠。我们的祷告若奉耶稣的名献上,神就必答应。他的神性就是保证。“不要怕,我必帮助你”,便是他可靠的应许。
六月十七日
经文: 当时,以色列人唱歌说,井阿,涌上水来。你们要向这井歌唱。(民数记二十一:17)
这旷野中的井是有名的,因为它是应许之主题。“从前耶和华吩咐摩西说,招聚百姓,我好给他们水喝,说的就是这井。”(民二十一:16)百姓需要水,他们恩典的上帝就应允赐给他们。我们需要天国恩典的清新供应,主以自己承诺保证赐我们所有需要。井成为歌唱之缘由。水尚未涌出,喜乐的信心促使百姓歌唱。当他们看到清莹之水涌出来时,歌声更为欢乐。我们相信上帝的应许,应当为灵里被祂复兴而欢呼;当我们经历上帝的应许时,对祂的喜乐更应满溢出来。口渴吗?不要埋怨,只要歌唱。属灵的干渴是难以忍受的,但上帝应许给我们一口井。让我们受此激励去找寻它。井也是祷告的中心。“井啊,涌上水来。”我们必须寻求上帝应许要赐的,不然就是表示我们既不渴望又无信心。今晚让我们寻求所读的经文和培灵的文章不致成为空虚的形式。进一步,让它们成为恩典进入我们心灵的管道。井更是努力的对象。“尊贵人……所挖所掘的。”(民二十一:18)主要我们主动去得恩典。不能忽略祈祷,与其他信徒之交通亦不可以中断,敬拜上帝不能掉以轻心。主将丰丰富富赐我们祂的恩典,但绝不是对我们怠惰之赏赐。让我们来寻求主吧,祂是我们所有清新的喜乐之泉。
Evening, June 17
Scripture: “Then Israel sang this song, Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it.”(Numbers 21:17)
Famous was the well of Beer in the wilderness, because it was the subject of a promise: “That is the well whereof the Lord spake unto Moses, Gather the people together, and I will give them water.” The people needed water, and it was promised by their gracious God. We need fresh supplies of heavenly grace, and in the covenant the Lord has pledged himself to give all we require. The well next became the cause of a song. Before the water gushed forth, cheerful faith prompted the people to sing; and as they saw the crystal fount bubbling up, the music grew yet more joyous. In like manner, we who believe the promise of God should rejoice in the prospect of divine revivals in our souls, and as we experience them our holy joy should overflow. Are we thirsting? Let us not murmur, but sing. Spiritual thirst is bitter to bear, but we need not bear it-the promise indicates a well; let us be of good heart, and look for it. Moreover, the well was the centre of prayer. “Spring up, O well.” What God has engaged to give, we must enquire after, or we manifest that we have neither desire nor faith. This evening let us ask that the Scripture we have read, and our devotional exercises, may not be an empty formality, but a channel of grace to our souls. O that God the Holy Spirit would work in us with all his mighty power, filling us with all the fulness of God. Lastly, the well was the object of effort. “The nobles of the people digged it with their staves.” The Lord would have us active in obtaining grace. Our staves are ill adapted for digging in the sand, but we must use them to the utmost of our ability. Prayer must not be neglected; the assembling of ourselves together must not be forsaken; ordinances must not be slighted. The Lord will give us his peace most plenteously, but not in a way of idleness. Let us, then, bestir ourselves to seek him in whom are all our fresh springs.
《竭诚为主》6月17日 不挑剔的品性
你们不要论断人,免得你们被论断。(太七1)
耶稣对论断的看法是:“不要”。一般信徒是最擅于挑剔的。批评是人的本性,但在属灵领域里,批评绝不能成事。批评就是将被批评者的力量削弱。其实只有圣灵才真有批评的身分,指出错处而不至招来伤害。你若带着挑剔的脾气,是无法与神交通契合的。你会变得刚硬、敌视、残忍,或沾沾自喜,以为高人一等。耶稣说,作为一个门徒,应当培养口不言人过的品质。这不是一劳永逸的,要随时当心,不让任何事使你自高、睥睨一切。
耶稣洞悉一切,谁也无可遁形。我若见你眼中有刺,那我眼中必然有梁木。我见到你的任何错失,神都在我身上找到了。我什么时候论断人,就什么时候定自己的罪(罗二17-20)。不要在他人身上滥施尺度,每个人总有些隐情,是我们无法了解的。神首先要来一次属灵大扫除,使我们不再骄傲自满。每想到若非神的恩典,我里面根本一无所有,那就不会对任何人感到绝望了。
祈祷◆主啊,我仰望你,求你帮助我正确地敬拜你。为着我与生俱来可敬拜你,我赞美你,可是,我的生活却没有速速按照着它当行的去回应你和你的美善。主啊,帮助我。
June 17 The Uncritical Temper
“Judge not, that ye be not judged.” Matthew 7:1
Jesus says regarding judging – Don't. The average Christian is the most penetratingly critical individual. Criticism is a part of the ordinary faculty of man; but in the spiritual domain nothing is accomplished by criticism. The effect of criticism is a dividing up of the powers of the one criticized; the Holy Ghost is the only One in the true position to criticize, He alone is able to show what is wrong without hurting and wounding. It is impossible to enter into communion with God when you are in a critical temper; it makes you hard and vindictive and cruel, and leaves you with the flattering unction that you are a superior person. Jesus says, as a disciple cultivate the uncritical temper. It is not done once and for all. Beware of anything that puts you in the superior person's place.
There is no getting away from the penetration of Jesus. If I see the mote in your eye, it means I have a beam in my own. Every wrong thing that I see in you, God locates in me. Every time I judge, I condemn myself (see Romans 2:17-20). Stop having a measuring rod for other people. There is always one fact more in every man's case about which we know nothing. The first thing God does is to give us a spiritual spring-cleaning; there is no possibility of pride left in a man after that. I have never met the man I could despair of after discerning what lies in me apart from the grace of God.
六月十七日信心的支票簿 Faith's check book
我们的战场
经文:「因为耶和华你们的神与你们同去,要为你们与仇敌争战,拯救你们。」(申命记20:4)
我们没有仇敌,神的仇敌就是我们的仇敌;我们的仇敌不是人,乃是属灵的恶魔;我们争战的对象,是牠带来的谬误思想、亵渎的意念、以及灰心失望的种子,还有诸般的罪恶,比如不圣洁、淫乱、醉酒、辖制人、不忠诚、不敬虔等,而我们争战的武器,不是刀枪长矛,乃是靠十字架与祷告。
耶和华,我们的神,恨恶一切罪恶,所以祂与我们同去,为我们争战。若我们站在神这一边,依靠祂,神也必在我们这一边。有神做我们坚固的靠山,胜利是无庸置疑的。不仅是因为真理必被宣扬,更是因为所倚靠的父神是全能的,耶稣是掌管天地间一切所有的,圣灵的大能也运行在人的心中。
基督的精兵,穿上属灵的军装,以圣洁之神的名,奋勇争战,用信心紧紧抓住祂的救恩。不要让这一天白白渡过,而要为耶稣和祂的圣洁,奋力争战。
Our Field of Battle
Scripture: "For the LORD your God is He that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you"(Deuteronomy 20:4).
We have no enemies but the enemies of God. Our fights are not against men but against spiritual wickednesses. We war with the devil, and the blasphemy, and error, and despair, which he brings into the field of battle. We fight with all the armies of sin -- impurity, drunkenness, oppression, infidelity, and ungodliness. With these we contend earnestly, but not with sword or spear; the weapons of our warfare are not carnal.
Jehovah, our God, abhors everything which is evil, and, therefore, He goeth with us to fight for us in this crusade. He will save us, and He will give us grace to war a good warfare, and win the victory. We may depend upon it that if we are on God's side God is on our side. With such an august ally the conflict is never in the least degree doubtful. It is not that truth is mighty and must prevail, but that might lies with the Father who is almighty, with Jesus who has all power in heaven and in earth, and with the Holy Spirit whoworketh His will among men.
Soldiers of Christ, gird on your armor. Strike home in the name of the God of holiness, and by faith grasp His salvation. Let not this day pass without striking a blow for Jesus and holiness.
六月十七日
信心比果效,等于芥菜子比大山。
主说:「我实在告诉你们,你们若有信心象一粒芥菜种,就是对这座山说,你从这边挪到那边,他也必挪去;并且你们没有一件不能作的事了。」(太十七20) 保罗说:「而且有全备的信,叫我能够移山。」(林前十三2)
把这两节圣经联合起来看,有一粒芥菜种的信就能够移山,能够移山的信是全备的信;那么有一粒芥菜种的信,就可以称为全备的信了。可见我们的信心太小了,信心几乎成为历史上的东西,在显微镜下面也几乎看不见了。无怪主耶稣说:「人子来的时候,遇得见世上有信德么?」(路十八8)
我们若是还有一点信心,起码我们不惧怕、不忧虑、不看环境、不看自己。我们若稍多一点信心,我们就可以往前走,因为信能叫我们意志刚强,能叫我们心灵奋兴;这是信心在我们心中的功能。如果我们在所求的事有信心,神要照著我们信心的祷告赐给我们,比移山更大更难的事都要成功。我们的信心实在太小,以致神的大能不能向我们彰显,但还有一个医治的方法,当效法那个被鬼附著的孩子的父亲。
主耶稣对他说:「你若能信,在信的人,凡事都能。」他立刻向主流泪地呼喊说:「我信!但我信不足,求主帮助!」(可九23至24)
主又说:「我劝你向我买火炼的金子,叫你(信心)富足。」(启三18)
《荒漠甘泉》6月17日
“当活物站住,将翅膀垂下的时候,在他们头以上的穹苍之上有声音。”(结1章25节,直译)
人常问:“你如何听见神的声音的?”在这里有一个秘诀。当活物站住,垂下翅膀时,在他们上面就有全能者的声音发出来了。什么是“站住”和“垂下”呢?只有一个意思——停止自己的活动。
多少时候,我们做事,不到神前去寻求他的旨意,一意孤行;这是不“站住”,自然听不见神的声音。多少时候,我们在祷告中,还运用自己的聪明计划事情;这是“站住”而不“垂下”,犹如鸟站在枝上而翅膀还是扑着,仍不能听见神的声音。
一位朋友告诉我,前几天她专心为着某件事祷告;她说:“但是我不等到答应来到,就照我自己的意思去做了。”结果非常不幸。
哦,因为我们不肯“站住”和“垂下”的缘故,以致吃多少亏!——耗费光阴,损失精力,而事情又必须重新开始。
啊,基督徒,让我们“站住”,把“翅膀垂下”,领受神的话,然后我们可以“直往前行,灵往哪里去…就往哪里去,行走并不转身”(结1章12节)了。
六月十八日
你的救赎主。(改译)(赛54:5)
耶稣,救赎主,都是我们的,并且永远是我们的;基督的一切职司都是为了我们。他是君王、是祭司、是先知,都是为了我们的缘故。每当我们念到救赎主的名称时,我们就当知道那种名称是为了我们,一如其他名称一样。牧人的竿、父亲的杖、元帅的刀、祭司的牌、君王的节、先知的外衣都是我们的。耶稣没有一种尊位不是为了要高举我们,他没有一种权柄不是为了要保守我们。他神性的丰富是我们取不尽、用不竭的宝库。他的人性,也是为了我们,并且也完全是我们的。我们的恩主使我们的品格无玷污、无皱纹,他赐我们一个令人尊敬的敬虔生活,他叫我们藉着顺服和殷勤得他所为我们预备的赏赐。他以他生活的完美的衣服给我们穿上,他以他品性的光明的美德作我们的装饰和珍宝,并以他死时的超人的柔和作我们的夸耀和光荣。他把他的马槽传留给我们,叫我们知道神怎样降卑成为人形;他的十字架使人知道怎样才能到神面前。他一切的思想、感情、动作、说话、神迹、代求,都是为了我们。他为我们的缘故走上悲伤的路,并且他毕生所成就的果效使我们得到他在天上所为我们存留的基业。他将来怎样属我们,现在也怎样属我们;虽然他是那当称颂的大君,万王之王,万主之主,但他不以他被称为“我们的主耶稣基督”为耻。基督随时随在都是我们的,永永远远是我们所享受不尽的。 我的心哪!今晨愿你藉着圣灵的能力称他为“你的救赎主”。
六月十八日
经文: 我妹子、我新妇,我进了我的园中。(雅歌五:1)
信徒的心是基督的花园。是祂以自己的宝血买来的。祂进入此花园,并宣告它属祂自己。花园的含意是分别出来的。它不是公有财产,也不是旷野,四周有篱芭围绕。分开教会和世界的墙必须筑得又宽又坚固。基督徒常说:“这个无妨,那个无碍。”因此,与世界越靠越近。人若想知道他与世人可以一致到什么程度,恩典在这人的心中可能只占一点点的部份。花园是一美丽之处,远超过荒野未开垦之地。真正的基督徒在生命中的表现,必须比最好的道德家更为优异,因为基督的花园应当长出世上最优美的花朵。在耶稣称为属祂的地方,应当绽放出最罕见、最珍贵、最让人羡慕的百合花和玫瑰。花园是生长的地方。圣徒不能停滞不发展,常常只有稀疏的花蕾和花苞。我们应当“在我们主救主耶稣基督的恩典和知识上有长进”(彼后三:18)。耶稣是园丁,圣灵是从天而降的雨露,生长应当是迅速的。花园是一隐退的场所。主耶稣基督呼召我们将心灵保留作为祂向我们彰显祂自己的地方。我们常常像马大那样,为各种事务忧虑烦恼,不能像马利亚那样为基督保留地方,也没有坐在祂的脚前,那本是我们应当作的。但愿主今日沛降恩典之雨、滋润祂的花园。
Evening, June 18
Scripture: “I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse.”(Song of Solomon 5:1)
The heart of the believer is Christ's garden. He bought it with his precious blood, and he enters it and claims it as his own. A garden implies separation. It is not the open common; it is not a wilderness; it is walled around, or hedged in. Would that we could see the wall of separation between the church and the world made broader and stronger. It makes one sad to hear Christians saying, “Well, there is no harm in this; there is no harm in that,” thus getting as near to the world as possible. Grace is at a low ebb in that soul which can even raise the question of how far it may go in worldly conformity. A garden is a place of beauty, it far surpasses the wild uncultivated lands. The genuine Christian must seek to be more excellent in his life than the best moralist, because Christ's garden ought to produce the best flowers in all the world. Even the best is poor compared with Christ's deservings; let us not put him off with withering and dwarf plants. The rarest, richest, choicest lilies and roses ought to bloom in the place which Jesus calls his own. The garden is a place of growth. The saints are not to remain undeveloped, always mere buds and blossoms. We should grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Growth should be rapid where Jesus is the Husbandman, and the Holy Spirit the dew from above. A garden is a place of retirement. So the Lord Jesus Christ would have us reserve our souls as a place in which he can manifest himself, as he doth not unto the world. O that Christians were more retired, that they kept their hearts more closely shut up for Christ! We often worry and trouble ourselves, like Martha, with much serving, so that we have not the room for Christ that Mary had, and do not sit at his feet as we should. The Lord grant the sweet showers of his grace to water his garden this day.
《竭诚为主》6月18日 不必筹算了,上路吧!
彼得就……在水面上走,要到耶稣那里去。只因见风甚大,就害怕。(太十四29-30)
风虽然大,浪虽然高,但彼得却视若无睹。他并不怕波涛汹涌,因为他一心一意只知道主,而且因主在水面上走。过后,他发现到现实的环境,随即就下沉了。何以主不使他在水底行走,像在水面上一样呢?若不认识是主耶稣,两者都不能行。
在某些事上,我们会毅然信靠神,稍后就姑息自己,便往下沉了。所以只要认清是主,就不必问他怎样处理环境。现实本来就是如此,你一旦注目其上,就被它支配,看不见耶稣了。神就会责备你说:“为什么疑惑呢?”不管现实环境怎样,总要认识耶稣,保持对他完全的信赖。
神的话一发出,只要你有一刻的迟疑,就完了。切勿说:“唔,他到底有没有说过呢?”这时要立即孤注一掷,把一切投在他身上。你不知道他什么时候说话,但只要稍微认识他,就该不顾一切地投上。只有舍弃一切,你才会认出他来。只有当你不顾一切时,才更清楚认出他的声音。
祈祷◆主啊,求你在这天,让那使我们在你的事奉中软弱下来的自我意识永远消失,使我们所认知的就只有耶稣。
June 18 Don't Think Now, Take The Road
“And Peter . . . walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid.” Matthew 14:29-30
The wind was actually boisterous, the waves were actually high, but Peter did not see them at first. He did not reckon with them, he simply recognized his Lord and stepped out in recognition of Him, and walked on the water. Then he began to reckon with the actual things, and down he went instantly. Why could not our Lord have enabled him to walk at the bottom of the waves as well as on the top of them? Neither could be done saving by recognition of the Lord Jesus.
We step right out on God over some things, then self-consideration enters in and down we go. If you are recognizing your Lord, you have no business with where He engineers your circumstances. The actual things are, but immediately you look at them you are overwhelmed, you cannot recognize Jesus, and the rebuke comes: “Wherefore didst thou doubt?” Let actual circumstances be what they may, keep recognizing Jesus, maintain complete reliance on Him.
If you debate for a second when God has spoken, it is all up. Never begin to say – “Well, I wonder if He did speak?” Be reckless immediately, fling it all out on Him. You do not know when His voice will come, but whenever the realization of God comes in the faintest way imaginable, recklessly abandon. It is only by abandon that you recognize Him. You will only realize His voice more clearly by recklessness.
六月十八日信心的支票簿 Faith's check book
神要做工
经文:「耶和华说:现在我要起来,我要兴起,我要勃然而兴。」(以赛亚书33:10)
当入侵者蹂躏土地,像蝗虫横扫麦田,当捍卫国土的战士坐下,像妇人般地哭泣,主的拯救就要来到。当巴珊和迦密不再出产果子,百姓们不再登锡安山,主就要兴起。神的名在受苦的百姓中被高举,因为他们寻求祂的面,要仰赖祂。当百姓们向祂哭喊求助,神就要施行拯救,歼灭仇敌。
今天我们正处于困苦当中吗?让我们企盼主荣耀的拯救。我们在炽热恳切的祷告吗?我们是否昼夜向祂恳求?祂恩典的时刻就要来到。神要在最适合的时机兴起,在最能彰显祂荣耀的时刻行事。我们渴望祂荣耀的彰显,胜于我们自己被释放;当主的名被高举,我们的目的就达到了。
主啊,帮助我们看到祢正在做工,让我们在灵魂最深处赞美祢的名。愿我们周围的人都知道,我们的神是多么美好且伟大的神!
God Himself Shall Work
Scripture: "Now will I rise, saith the LORD; now will I be exalted; now will I lift up Myself"(Isaiah 33:10).
When the spoilers had made the land as waste as if devoured by locusts, and the warriors who had defended the country sat down and wept like women, then the LORD came to the rescue. When travelers ceased from the roads to Zion, and Bashan and Carmel were as vineyards from which the fruit has failed, then the LORD arose. God is exalted in the midst of an afflicted people, for they seek His face and trust Him. He is still more exalted when in answer to their cries He lifts up Himself to deliver them and overthrow their enemies.
Is it a day of sorrow with us? Let us expect to see the LORD glorified in our deliverance. Are we drawn out in fervent prayer? Do we cry day and night unto Him? Then the set time for His grace is near. God will lift up Himself at the right season. He will arise when it will be most for the display of His glory. We wish for His glory more than we long for our own deliverance. Let the LORD be exalted, and our chief desire is obtained.
LORD, help us in such a way that we may see that Thou Thyself art working. May we magnify Thee in our inmost souls. Make all around us to see how good and great a God Thou art.
六月十八日
在人间的失丧,正是在主里面的得著。当我们失丧了属地的东西,这正是为属灵的事倒出空间来。在世上的失丧不过是失掉了在主里面的间隔;最大的失丧是失掉了与主之间的最大的间隔。世界的失丧是不可怕的,所怕的是失丧了主,或是从主失丧了。神有时特意叫我们有所失丧,为要我们得著上好的。
浪子失丧了一切才回到家中来,虽然他的失丧是由于自取,但父亲仍旧把上好的袍子给他穿上,把肥牛犊为他宰了,一切都用上好的来补足他所失丧的。信徒的路程仿佛走阶梯,神愿意藉着环境叫我们登峰造极;失去了一层就上来一层,失丧的多就得著的多;这样我们就渐渐地脱离地而往上升;不但是痛苦、愁烦、罪孽,要脱离,连属地的快乐、幸福、享受,也都要一步一步地遗留在我们的下面;我们的心灵一日更进一日地与神相近,主吸引我们往上进。
失丧,割断我们与地的关系,我们是得著与主更深的合一。若是我们要在地上扎根,不肯前进,主就要来搅动窝巢,如大鹰领小鹰上腾;所以我们在地上遇著失丧失意的事,要知道,这是神的慈爱手引导我们前进。以色列人在旷野的时候,苦的玛拉不能久住;甜的以琳,神也不许他们久住,神所要领他们到的地方乃是更美的迦南地,所以不许他们在旷野的美景中留恋。我们是真以色列人,神更不能让我们在世界中停留。
「祂已将又宝贵又极大的应许赐给我们,叫我们既脱离世上从情欲来的败坏,就得与神的性情有分。」(彼后一4)
《荒漠甘泉》6月18日
“所以你们要把下垂的手,发酸的腿,挺起来。也要为自己的脚把道路修直了,使瘸子不至于歪脚,反得痊愈。。”(来12章12-13节)
这是神激励我们的话,叫我们挺起信心的手和祷告的腿来。我们的信心时常会疲惫,衰弱,疏懈;我们的祷告时常会失了能力和功效。
这节圣经真有能力,它似乎看出我们已经气馁,已经胆怯了——一点极小的试炼就会使我们沮丧,使我们惊骇;我们就会绕道而行,不敢面对面去对抗;我们会选择一条比较容易的路去走。
我们时常会用很多的方法去逃避试炼;当我们遇到了试我们为难的环境,多少次我们总是用“我现在还没有准备好”来推托,来闪避。啊!有多少需要我们牺牲的时候,需要我们顺服的时候,需要夺取耶利哥的时候,需要勇气去带领失丧的灵魂的时候,需要祷告的时候,或者当我们的疾病神已经医治了一半的时候,我们却绕道而行——拣选了别条路。
神说:“你们要把下垂的手…挺起来。”一直向大水走去,看啊,水便分开,红海成了干地,约旦河立起成垒:不要惧怕,神自会带领你进入胜利的。
【聖靈降臨】
詩集:生命聖詩,152
歌詞由 Sau 提供,謹此致謝!
親愛救主離世之前,應許差聖靈來,
引領,安慰,扶持,常與我同在。
聖靈降臨感化護佑,願作恩慈良友,
祂來尋找謙虛心靈,作祂居停。
我們聽到聖靈柔聲,好像晚風輕盈,
審察意念,平靜恐驚,細說天庭。
我們每一善行美德,每次克敵得勝,
每一聖潔思想意念,出自聖靈。
聖潔慈悲上主的靈,扶助我們軟弱,
使我們有清潔的心,作你居所。
用於 《静夜亮光》六月十九日
六月十九日
他们就都被圣灵充满……(徒2:4)
若我们今日都被圣灵充满,我们的灵福必然丰富而充盈。圣灵充满的果效是不可能加以估计的。生命、安慰、光明、清洁、能力、平安和其他宝贵的福份都与圣灵的充满是分不开的。圣灵像圣油一样,他膏了信徒的头,分别他使他成为君尊的祭司,并且施恩于他,叫他能合宜的执行他的职务。他像清洁的水一样,从罪里把我们洗净,使我们分别为圣,进入圣洁的地步,并在我们心中使我们愿意作主所喜欢的事。他像光一样,在起初的时候叫我们知道我们失丧之时的苦况,并且现在在我们里面把主耶稣启示给我们,指引我们走正真的路,用他天上的亮光光照我们,我们不再在黑暗之中,乃在主的光明之中了。他像火一样,除净我们的渣滓,燃起我们成圣的性情;他是献祭的火,使我们整个的生命献给神当作活祭。他像天露一样,除去我们的贫瘠使我们肥活起来。愿他在清晨的时候自天下降!每天开始时若有清晨的甘露是最美好最甜蜜的。他像鸽一样,用平安之爱的双翼覆庇他的教会和信他的人;他是一位安慰者,他扫除那些使他所爱之人失去平安的忧虑和疑惑;他降在被选之人的身上像在约旦河边降在主身上一样。他见证他们是神的儿女,并赐他们顺服的心,因此得以呼叫阿爸父。他也像风一样,把生命的气息带给了人,凡他所吹到的地方,就藉着苏醒的能力使人的灵性蓬勃起来,并保持下去。愿神使我们今天并天天感到有他同在。
六月十九日
经文: 良人属我,我也属祂。祂在百合花中牧放群羊。我的良人哪,求祢等到天起凉风,日影飞去的时候,祢要转回,好像羚羊,或像小鹿在比特山上。(雅歌二:16~17)
圣经中若有任何喜乐的经节,无疑的这是这节:“良人属我,我也属祂。”这经节是安详、充满信心、洋溢着喜乐与满足的。这经节也提醒了我们,祂在到客西马尼园以前所说的:“我留下平安给你们,我将我的平安赐给你们。我所赐的,不像世人所赐的。”(约十四:27)“在世上你们有苦难,但你们可以放心,我已经胜了世界。”(约十六:33)让我们再次摇响银钟说:“良人属我,我也属祂。祂在百合花中牧放群羊。”虽然环境是美丽可爱的,但却不是一片阳光普照的土地,地上尚有一阴影。天空中有一片云,在美景上投下一阴影。“等到天起凉风,日影飞去”。“比特山”的另一名称为“分隔的山”。对我所爱的人,任何分离都是苦涩的。虽然你不怀疑自己的救恩,你知祂属于你,但是你尚未与祂一同坐席。切勿让疑惑之云遮蔽“你属祂、祂也属你”的信念。
Evening, June 19
Scripture: “My Beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies. Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my Beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether.”(Song of Solomon 2:16, 17)
Surely if there be a happy verse in the Bible it is this-“My Beloved is mine, and I am his.” So peaceful, so full of assurance, so overrunning with happiness and contentment is it, that it might well have been written by the same hand which penned the twenty-third Psalm. Yet though the prospect is exceeding fair and lovely-earth cannot show its superior-it is not entirely a sunlit landscape. There is a cloud in the sky which casts a shadow over the scene. Listen, “Until the day break, and the shadows flee away.”
There is a word, too, about the “mountains of Bether,” or, “the mountains of division,” and to our love, anything like division is bitterness. Beloved, this may be your present state of mind; you do not doubt your salvation; you know that Christ is yours, but you are not feasting with him. You understand your vital interest in him, so that you have no shadow of a doubt of your being his, and of his being yours, but still his left hand is not under your head, nor doth his right hand embrace you. A shade of sadness is cast over your heart, perhaps by affliction, certainly by the temporary absence of your Lord, so even while exclaiming, “I am his,” you are forced to take to your knees, and to pray, “Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my Beloved.”“Where is he?” asks the soul. And the answer comes, “He feedeth among the lilies.” If we would find Christ, we must get into communion with his people, we must come to the ordinances with his saints. Oh, for an evening glimpse of him! Oh, to sup with him to-night!
《竭诚为主》6月19日 热诚的事奉
你爱我吗?……你牧羊我的羊。(约二十一16)
耶稣并没有叫人追随祂的思想,而是要你看顾祂的羊,使他们因认识祂而得着滋养。我们把事奉的工作视作事奉主;但耶稣基督却视我们与祂的关系为事奉,而不是我们为祂所做的工作。做门徒,是基于对耶稣基督的忠诚,而不是由于服从一套信徒规条。“人到我这里来,若不爱我胜过……,就不能作我的门徒。”没有争议,也没有强逼,只直截了当地--“你若做我的门徒,必须专心归我”。一个人被圣灵摸着了,就说:“我如今认识了耶稣是谁。”这就是专心归依的根源。
时至今日,我们已把信条代替了个人的信仰,所以致力于事工的人多,而一心归服耶稣基督的人却少。人不要归服耶稣,只想致力于他所创立的事工。他们只认耶稣为同志。主首先顺服的,是祂父的旨意,而不是人群的需要。他之所以救人,是顺服父神的必然结果。我若只致力于人群的事工,不久就会精疲力竭,落到爱心冷淡的地步;但若我爱耶稣基督,就是人把我当作地席,我仍要服侍他们。门徒生活的秘诀就是全心归依基督。那生命的特征是隐藏不露,就如一粒麦子落在地里死了,不久就萌芽生长,改变整个田园的景象(约十二24)。
祈祷◆愿祢感动我的灵,使它被祢所充满,直至涌溢。愿祢透过我的意念思想,直至我形成“在基督耶稣里的心怀意念”。
June 19 Service Of Passionate Devotion
“Lovest thou Me? . . . Feed My sheep.” John 21:16
Jesus did not say – Make converts to your way of thinking, but look after My sheep, see that they get nourished in the knowledge of Me. We count as service what we do in the way of Christian work; Jesus Christ calls service what we are to Him, not what we do for Him. Discipleship is based on devotion to Jesus Christ, not on adherence to a belief or a creed. “If any man come to Me and hate not . . . , he cannot be My disciple.” There is no argument and no compulsion, but simply – If you would be My disciple, you must be devoted to Me. A man touched by the Spirit of God suddenly says – “Now I see Who Jesus is,” and that is the source of devotion.
Today we have substituted credal belief for personal belief, and that is why so many are devoted to causes and so few devoted to Jesus Christ. People do not want to be devoted to Jesus, but only to the cause He started. Jesus Christ is a source of deep offence to the educated mind of today that does not want Him in any other way than as a comrade. Our Lord's first obedience was to the will of His Father, not to the needs of men; the saving of men was the natural outcome of His obedience to the Father. If I am devoted to the cause of humanity only, I will soon be exhausted and come to the place where my love will falter; but if I love Jesus Christ personally and passionately, I can serve humanity though men treat me as a door-mat. The secret of a disciple's life is devotion to Jesus Christ, and the characteristic of the life is its unobtrusiveness. It is like a corn of wheat, which falls into the ground and dies, but presently it will spring up and alter the whole landscape (John 12:24).
六月十九日信心的支票簿 Faith's check book
无愧的心
经文:「愿我的心在祢的律例上完全,使我不致蒙羞。」(诗篇119:80)
这节受默示所写出的经文,包含这样的应许,那些守住神律法的,在他所行的事上,必不致蒙羞。
瞧!这祷告是为了无愧的良心。有健全的教义是好的,能够完备理解教义更好,但是一颗在神真理上求完全的心,才是最可贵的。我们必须喜悦真理,更要体验、服从真理,否则,我们就不算真正行在神的道上。在这样邪恶的世代,有多少个服膺信从真理的基督徒?愿你和我位列他们之中!
在最后审判之日,尘埃落定,一切皆成定局,许多人要羞愧得无地自容。到那时他们要为自己愚蠢的作为付出代价,也要为对主的投机不忠和恣意任行懊悔莫及。但是那些持守主教训、且又奉行不渝者,在审判的会中,必站立得住,他且要发光如太阳。那些被羞辱恶待的义人必会看到,必不再蒙羞,反要得着荣耀。
主啊,愿这经节成为我们我衷心的祷告。让我们相信这应许必成就在我们身上。若主让我们有无愧的良心,祂也必保守我们十分的平安。
A Sound Heart
Scripture: "Let my heart be sound in Thy Statues: that I be not ashamed"(Psalm 119:80).
We may regard this inspired prayer as containing within itself the assurance that those who keep close to the Word of God shall never have cause to be ashamed of doing so.
See, the prayer is for soundness of heart. A sound creed is good, a sound judgment concerning it is better, but a sound heart toward the truth is best of all. We must love the truth, feel the truth, and obey the truth, otherwise we are not truly sound in God's statutes. Are there many in these evil days who are sound? Oh, that the writer and the reader may be two of this sort!
Many will be ashamed in the last great day, when all disputes will be decided. Then they will see the folly of their inventions and be filled with remorse because of their proud infidelity and willful defiance of the LORD; but he who believed what the LORD taught and did what the LORD commanded will stand forth justified in what he did. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun. Men much slandered and abused shall find their shame turned into glory in that day.
Let us pray the prayer of our text, and we may be sure that its promise will be fulfilled to us. If the LORD makes us sound, He will keep us safe.
六月十九日
世上的贫穷人,他们的贫穷成了他们的重担;但是世上的富足人,他们的富足也是他们的重担;富足的重担比贫穷的重担还要大。世上没有家的人,以孤单为苦;但是那些有家的,又以家室为苦;有家所受的苦,比没有家所受的苦还大;所以世界上并没有真的幸福。惟有在基督里的人,在各样的环境中都有平安喜乐;基督不但是人将来的福气,也实在是今日的福气,可是我们常是近视眼,看不见基督是我们的至宝,衹在地上东抓西抓,抓来抓去,结果是捉影捕风。虽然富有经验的所罗门主留下了自己的经历,约伯也留下赤身出于母胎也以赤身归回的见证,但世人仍然不肯相信;世人不相信他们的话,但信主的人也是不信,和世人一样天天以地上的事为念;世人以为乐的我们也乐;世人以为苦的我们也苦;因此信主的人和世人并没有多少分别。在我们的生活中并没有见证,基督没有在我们里面,所以基督也不能披戴在我们外面。
神的旨意是叫属祂的人在地上与世人有分别,脱离 上的一切捆绑,在基督里过自由得胜的生活;不作罪孽的奴仆,不受肉体的辖制,在基督里有丰盛的生命与葡萄树紧密联合在一起,因基督而多结果子;神不是向少数的人这样要求,乃是向每一个在基督里的有此愿望。
「不要效法这个世界;衹要心意更
《荒漠甘泉》6月19日
“作饼的粮食是用磨磨碎。”(赛28章28节)
我们没有在主的手里被摔碎以前,主不能用我们来做世人的粮食。“作饼的粮食是用磨磨碎”的。多少时候,主给我们的经历是痛苦的;但是我们的痛苦能使别人的生命得福,那么我们所付的代价,也不算太大了。世上最可爱的东西,往往是从眼泪和痛苦中得来的。 ——密勒(J.R.Miller)
世上的英雄,医界的伟人,差不多都是由贫乏、患难、不幸,促成的。 圣经上最光荣的人物,都是先被磨碎,压伤,然后才成了他人的粮食。
亚伯拉罕被称为“信心之父”,是因为他的苦难最多,顺服也最多。
雅各也曾遭受过不少难忍的磨练。
约瑟必须做过波提乏的仆役,坐过埃及的监狱,才能得到宰相的高位。
大卫在山上象鹧鸪般被人追逐——又疲倦,又痛苦,至终却成了全国的粮食。
保罗如果没有受过鞭打和石击,也决不会成为该撒家的粮食。他是为王家作磨碎的细粉。
亲爱的读者,如果神命定你受特别的试炼,当知道在他的心中,已经给你留着一个特别的地位。
六月二十日
我必出令,将以色列家分散在列国中,好像用筛子筛谷,连一粒也不落在地上。(摩9:9)
我们每一次经过筛子筛都是出于神的命令和允准。当撒但加手在约伯身上的时候,必须得到神的允许他才能去。我们经过筛,也可说是天父直接的工作,因为经上说:“我必筛以色列家。”(改译)撒但像雇工一样,或许他手里拿着筛子,想把谷毁坏了,但是大权却操在全地的大主宰手里,他要籍这过程洁净谷,而仇敌却欲藉此施行毁坏。神的仓中最宝贵的谷都是已经筛过的,但是想到禾耙和筛子都是直接操在神的手里,他为了他的荣耀和我们永久的好处才加在我们身上,那末我们就当得安慰并要赞美他。主耶稣当然要使用他手中的扇子,要把宝贵的和卑*的、好的和坏的分开。以色列人中不都是以色列人;仓中的谷不都是干净的粮食,因此筛簸的工作是少不了的。在筛子里真正有分量的东西才有力量。糠秕必在风前被吹散,只留下粒粒坚实的谷粒。神的谷粒必然十分安全,就是最小的颗粒也有被保全的应许。神自己筛,因此是一种严格而可怕的工作;他到处筛他们“在列国中”,他筛得很彻底、很有效,“连一粒也不落在地上”,一切谷粒,最小、最轻、最瘪的谷都不会落在地上。每一位信徒在神的眼中都是宝贵的;牧人不肯失去一只羊,珠宝商不肯失去一粒金钢石,母亲不愿失去一个孩子,人人都不愿失去身体的任何一部份,照样神也不愿失去一个得赎的人。不论我们多么微小,只要我们是属神的,我们就当快乐,因为我们必在基督耶稣里被保守。
六月二十日
经文: 他们就立刻舍了网,跟从了祂。(马可福音一:18)
当西门和安得烈听到耶稣的召呼时,立即毫无疑问的服从了。倘若我们能时常并且立即带着决定的热诚,将所听到的付诸行动,我们所读的圣经必定丰富了我们的灵命。一个人若立即吃掉面包,就不会失去面包。他若已经实行了教义,教义的利益就不能从他身上被剥夺。许多读者和听者被一篇信息感动了,欲改变自己。但是信息只是花朵,很快从树上脱落,不能收成果子。他们等待、动摇、然后就忘记。就像路上的水坑,晚上霜冻和白天日照,及时解冻却又立即冰冻了。注定要来的明日因扼杀正确的决定而染成血红;它是美好意图之屠宰场。做一个行道的人吧!真理必须是心理明白又付诸行动,才能得到最大的利益。当你默想本书的内容,而被任何当行的责任感动时,赶快去实行,免得圣灵之亮光离开你的心。撇下你的网和所有一切,免得悖逆主的呼召。不要因延迟而给魔鬼留地步;当机会和渴望愉快连接时,赶快行动!不要陷在自身的网罗中,割断属世界的网,到上帝呼召你的荣耀之地!
Evening, June 20
Scripture: “Straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.”(Mark 1:18)
When they heard the call of Jesus, Simon and Andrew obeyed at once without demur. If we would always, punctually and with resolute zeal, put in practice what we hear upon the spot, or at the first fit occasion, our attendance at the means of grace, and our reading of good books, could not fail to enrich us spiritually. He will not lose his loaf who has taken care at once to eat it, neither can he be deprived of the benefit of the doctrine who has already acted upon it. Most readers and hearers become moved so far as to purpose to amend; but, alas! the proposal is a blossom which has not been knit, and therefore no fruit comes of it; they wait, they waver, and then they forget, till, like the ponds in nights of frost, when the sun shines by day, they are only thawed in time to be frozen again. That fatal to-morrow is blood-red with the murder of fair resolutions; it is the slaughter-house of the innocents. We are very concerned that our little book of “Evening Readings” should not be fruitless, and therefore we pray that readers may not be readers only, but doers, of the word. The practice of truth is the most profitable reading of it. Should the reader be impressed with any duty while perusing these pages, let him hasten to fulfil it before the holy glow has departed from his soul, and let him leave his nets, and all that he has, sooner than be found rebellious to the Master's call. Do not give place to the devil by delay! Haste while opportunity and quickening are in happy conjunction. Do not be caught in your own nets, but break the meshes of worldliness, and away where glory calls you. Happy is the writer who shall meet with readers resolved to carry out his teachings: his harvest shall be a hundredfold, and his Master shall have great honour. Would to God that such might be our reward upon these brief meditations and hurried hints. Grant it, O Lord, unto thy servant!
《竭诚为主》6月20日 你什么时候开始代求?
约伯为他的朋友祈祷,耶和华就使约伯从苦境转回。(伯四十二10)
以自我为中心的病态式祈祷,苦苦哀求一意强求自己的好转,在新约中是找不到的。我若要努力弄好与神的关系,正表明我正离弃神救赎的大恩。“主啊,你若垂听我祷告,我的心就洁净;你若帮助我,我就行事正直。”我无法使自己的生命在神面前正直,也无法使生命完全;只有接受主耶稣白白的救赎,我才可以与神有正常的关系。我谦卑地接受这个事实吗?我必须放下一切权利,放下一切为自己付出的努力,把自己完全的放在神手中,然后以祭司的身分做代求的工作。今日许多祷告是出于对救恩的不信。耶稣不是开始拯救我们,而是已经救了我们,事情已经成就,因此求他再做是一种侮辱。
你若尚未得着百倍的恩典,未领悟话语的亮光,那就该开始为你的朋友祷告,进入内室的事奉。“约伯为他的朋友祈祷,耶和华就使约伯从苦境中转回。”作为一个得救的人,你生命的真正事业就是为人代求。不论神把你放在什么环境里,都要立刻祷告,求他救赎的大工在别人身上成就,正如在你身上一样。现在就为你的朋友祈祷,为那些与你有接触的人祈祷吧!
祈祷◆噢,主啊,打发更多工人到我们这里来,直至这教会挤满了人,而你能透过他们,在全地荣耀你自己。
June 20 Have You Come To "When" Yet?
“And the Lord turned the captivity of Job when he prayed for his friends.” Job 42:10
The plaintive, self-centred, morbid kind of prayer, a dead-set that I want to be right, is never found in the New Testament. The fact that I am trying to be right with God is a sign that I am rebelling against the Atonement. “Lord, I will purify my heart if You will answer my prayer; I will walk rightly if You will help me.” I cannot make myself right with God, I cannot make my life perfect; I can only be right with God if I accept the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ as an absolute gift. Am I humble enough to accept it? I have to resign every kind of claim and cease from every effort, and leave myself entirely alone in His hands, and then begin to pour out in the priestly work of intercession. There is much prayer that arises from real disbelief in the Atonement. Jesus is not beginning to save us, He has saved us, the thing is done, and it is an insult to ask Him to do it.
If you are not getting the hundredfold more, not getting insight into God's word, then start praying for your friends, enter into the ministry of the interior. “The Lord turned the captivity of Job when he prayed for his friends.” The real business of your life as a saved soul is intercessory prayer. Wherever God puts you in circumstances, pray immediately, pray that His Atonement may be realized in other lives as it has been in yours. Pray for your friends now; pray for those with whom you come in contact now.
用於 《信心的支票簿》06月20日
用於 《信心的支票簿》06月20日
六月二十日信心的支票簿 Faith's check book
主是良伴
经文:「我虽然行过死荫的幽谷,也不怕遭害;因为祢与我同在,祢的杖,祢的竿,都安慰我。」(诗篇23:4)
对病榻上的人而言,这几句话是何等甘甜的安慰!有多少人临终前,以无比喜悦的心复诵这经文!
然而,这经文也同样适用于灵性陷入低潮苦境的人。有些人,比如保罗,天天冒死,经历灵魂的黑暗。作家班杨在《天路历程》中,也把经历死荫的幽谷放在抵达圣山的河流之前。我们也曾经踏过死荫的幽谷好几次,我们可以证明在这无名的恐怖,极度沮丧的时刻,只有神扶持我们,纵使我们的灵跌至深渊低谷,但神把我们放在高处,使我们远离恶者的威胁;我们曾经受制被压,但我们仍存活至今,因为好牧人的同在,使我们安心,知道祂的杖和竿,要把恶者赶跑,不致伤害到我们。
现今你若正处在灵魂的黑暗期,快把自己完全地交托在神的手中,享受祂所赐的安息,以荣耀祂。
The LORD Our Companion
Scripture: "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy Rod and Thy Staff they comfort me"(Psalm 23:4).
Sweet are these words in describing a deathbed assurance. How many have repeated them in their last hours with intense delight!
But the verse is equally applicable to agonies of spirit in the midst of life. Some of us, like Paul, die daily through a tendency to gloom of soul. Bunyan puts the Valley of the Shadow of Death far earlier in the pilgrimage than the river which rolls at the foot of the celestial hills. We have some of us traversed the dark and dreadful defile of "the shadow of death" several times, and we can bear witness that the LORD alone enabled us to bear up amid its wild thought, its mysterious horrors, its terrible depressions. The LORD has sustained us and kept us above all real fear of evil, even when our spirit has been overwhelmed. We have been pressed and oppressed, but yet we have lived, for we have felt the presence of the Great Shepherd and have been confident that His crook would prevent the foe from giving us any deadly wound.
Should the present time be one darkened by the raven wings of a great sorrow, let us glorify God by a peaceful trust in Him.
六月二十日
当牧人领羊走路的时候,羊看到路旁美好的景致和青草,就心中十分贪爱,愿在路旁住下,不再想往前进;但牧人用杖用竿催促它,要领它到美好的草场上,到清洁的溪水旁,到更美的山林中,羊心中却不明白,以为牧人的催促是苦待它,于是羊就离开牧人,自己逃出牧人的手,任所欲为。牧人心中难过,翻山越岭亲自去寻找,见它受伤卧在地上,牧人不但不因寻找它而发怒,并且用柔和的声音呼唤它,用慈爱的手抚摸它,擦干它的眼泪,把它抱在怀里,带回家中。
无知的羊啊!你不知道你的牧人是第一个好牧人,祂曾为你走迷路而舍命;你想祂的杖,祂的竿是要伤你,不!祂要引领你到最美好的地方:有时祂虽然领你经过死荫的幽谷,是要你观看祂的大能;有时虽然遇著狮子和熊,祂有足够的能力保护你;无论在何等境遇中,祂都能保守你十分平安。所以羊啊!你衹管放心跟著你的牧人走,祂要领你到更美的地方。
以色列人行走旷野,他们忘记神要把他们领进迦南美地,他们总以为摩西欺骗了他们,领他们要死在旷野,时常起意叛逆要回埃及去。我们也是常和以色列人一样悖逆,在路途中多有失败,时常怀疑神,不满意神的引领,随从自己的肉体走了迷路;但为我们舍命的好牧人,至终要将我们找领回来。
「祂却领出自己的民如羊,在旷野引他们如羊群。祂领他们稳稳妥妥的,使他们不至害怕;海却淹没他们的仇敌。祂带他们到自己圣地的边界,到祂右手所得的这山地。」(诗七十八52至54)
《荒漠甘泉》6月20日
“你或向左,或向右,你必听见后边有声音说,这是正路,要行在其间。”(赛30章21节)
当我们犹豫不决的时候,或者遭遇了什么困难的时候,有许多声音会来催我们这样做,那样做;智慧会发表意见,信心也会发表意见。遇到这样的时候,我们就当安静下来,排除所有的意见,静静地等候在神的面前;恭恭敬敬地把神的话寻思一回,专心仰望神的旨意——不久我们就会得到极清楚的声音,明明白白地告诉我们神机密的指导。 灵命幼稚的信徒,不当单独凭依这样的直觉来行事,最好还须等待环境的证实。与神多有交通的信徒,很容易知道神的旨意。
读者,你是不是正在困难的处境中?将你的问题带到神面前去;从他脸上的微笑或峻拒,你就可以找到你所要找的答案。
只要你肯独自安静在一个地方——人世间的光明和黑暗,一概接触不到的地方——人们的意见不能到达的地方——只要你敢在那里静静地等候着,不顾你四围一切的催促,那时神旨就要向你显明;你对神就会有一种新的概念,对他的神性和爱心会有更深切的洞见,这会成了你极乐的经历——永久可宝贵的经历。你等待的时间虽长,至此也得到了丰富的酬报。——大卫(David)
杨作新
温州地区早期基督教传道人之一;
六月廿一日
你比世人更美……(诗45:2)
耶稣整个的为人像一颗宝石一样,他一切的生活像是一个印子所印出来的一样。他各方面都是纯全的;不是几方面,整个的他都是荣耀美丽的。他的品格并不像一些混杂一起的好看的颜色,也不像杂乱无章的堆在一起的宝石;他是一幅美丽的像,一尊荣耀的像。在他里面凡事都是“有美名的”,都各得其所,安排得合适,并且彼此为装饰。他一切荣耀的品性没有一种特别令人喜欢而凌驾其他之上,但他乃是全然、整个可爱。耶稣啊!你的能力、你的恩典、你的公义、你的温柔、你的真理、你的尊贵和你的不变组成了这样一位人,这样一位神人,是天地之间所未曾见过的。你的幼年、你的永远、你的受苦、你的得胜、你的死和你的永活,织成一片没有缝儿的绚烂锦绣。你是和谐的音乐;你是众多,而且是不能分开的;你是一切,而且是不能分割的。像许多颜色汇成天空中灿烂的彩虹一样,天上地下一切的荣耀都集结在你身上。这种汇合奇妙非常,甚至没有一个人在一切事上能及得上你。你像一捆最高贵的美德一样,谁也不能与你堪比,你是一面纯全的镜子。你曾被没药和乳香的圣膏膏过,是神特特为你所预备的;你的香气,有圣洁的芬芳,是其他巧妙制造的膏油所比不上的;每一种香料都芳香异常,合在一起更加神圣。“天使称赞名最香,人亦歌咏名无双,天上地下常颂扬,耶稣我恩主耶稣。”
六月二十一日
经文: 然而上帝坚固的根基立住了。(提摩太后书二:19)
我们信心的根基是:“上帝在基督里,叫世人与自己和好,不将他们的过犯归到他们的身上。”(林后五:19)真正的信心所依赖的事实是:“道成了肉身,住在我们中间。”(约一:14)。“基督也曾一次为罪受苦,就是义的代替不义的。为要引我们要上帝的面前。”(彼前三:18)“祂被挂在木头上,亲身担当了我们的罪。”(彼前二:24)“因祂受的刑罚我们得平安,因祂受的鞭伤我们得医治。”(赛五十三:5)一言以概之,基督徒盼望的支柱是代替。基督自己为罪成了牺牲。祂为我们成为有罪的,好叫我们在祂里面成为上帝的义(参阅林后五:21)。这个根基与上帝的宝座一般坚固。我们的喜乐就是握住它、默想它,并且去宣告它。对救恩的感激应该渗入我们的生命和我们改变的每一部份。有人直接攻击赎罪的教义。他们不能接受“代替”的说法。当想到上帝的羔羊背负世人的罪孽时,他们会咬牙切齿。但是我们是已经经历到这宝贵真理的人,能有信心并且不停地宣告这真理。我们既不贬降这真理,也不在任何方面加以改变。我们不能也不敢放弃这真理,因为它是我们的生命。不顾争辩的结果为何,我们肯定知道“上帝坚固的根基立住了”。
Evening, June 21
Scripture: “The foundation of God standeth sure.”(2 Timothy 2:19)
The foundation upon which our faith rests is this, that “God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them.” The great fact on which genuine faith relies is, that “the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us,” and that “Christ also hath suffered for sin, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God”; “Who himself bare our sins in his own body on the tree”; “For the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and by his stripes we are healed.” In one word, the great pillar of the Christian's hope is substitution. The vicarious sacrifice of Christ for the guilty, Christ being made sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in him, Christ offering up a true and proper expiatory and substitutionary sacrifice in the room, place, and stead of as many as the Father gave him, who are known to God by name, and are recognized in their own hearts by their trusting in Jesus-this is the cardinal fact of the gospel. If this foundation were removed, what could we do? But it standeth firm as the throne of God. We know it; we rest on it; we rejoice in it; and our delight is to hold it, to meditate upon it, and to proclaim it, while we desire to be actuated and moved by gratitude for it in every part of our life and conversation. In these days a direct attack is made upon the doctrine of the atonement. Men cannot bear substitution. They gnash their teeth at the thought of the Lamb of God bearing the sin of man. But we, who know by experience the preciousness of this truth, will proclaim it in defiance of them confidently and unceasingly. We will neither dilute it nor change it, nor fritter it away in any shape or fashion. It shall still be Christ, a positive substitute, bearing human guilt and suffering in the stead of men. We cannot, dare not, give it up, for it is our life, and despite every controversy we feel that “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure.”
《竭诚为主》6月21日 内室的事奉
你们是……有君尊的祭司。(彼前二9)
我们凭什么资格成为君尊的祭司?是凭救赎。我们有没有立志放下自己,投身在祭司祷告的职分上?整天只顾审查自己是否合水准,就产生以自我为中心、自怨自艾的基督徒,而不是活泼有力、天真无邪神的儿女。除非我们与神有正确的关系,否则只会挣扎求存,说:“看我打了何等的胜仗!”这态度一点也表现不出救赎的奇能。要不顾一切地相信救恩是完全的,然后只照耶稣所说的--为那半夜来找你的朋友祷告,为圣徒祷告,为万人祷告。祷告时要知道只有在耶稣基督里才得完全,不要说:“主啊,我已尽了所能,求你听我祷告。”
到底神何时才把我们从以自我为中心的恶习中释放出来?我们要对自己厌恶至死,以致神无论说我们什么,我们也不觉得诧异。我们内心的卑污,实无法可测。只有一处是我们可得完全的,就是在耶稣基督里。我们进入他那里,就要竭尽所能作内室的事奉。
祈祷◆愿你在今天施福予我们,护卫我们的意念和心灵,抵挡模糊的幻想和虚假的情绪,以及那如幽灵的想像,保守我们完全属你。
June 21 The Ministry Of The Interior
“But ye are . . . a royal priesthood.” 1 Peter 2:9
By what right do we become “a royal priesthood”? By the right of the Atonement. Are we prepared to leave ourselves resolutely alone and to launch out into the priestly work of prayer? The continual grubbing on the inside to see whether we are what we ought to be generates a self-centred, morbid type of Christianity, not the robust, simple life of the child of God. Until we get into a right relationship to God, it is a case of hanging on by the skin of our teeth, and we say – What a wonderful victory I have got. There is nothing indicative of the miracle of Redemption in that. Launch out in reckless belief that the Redemption is complete, and then bother no more about yourself, but begin to do as Jesus Christ said – pray for the friend who comes to you at midnight, pray for the saints, pray for all men. Pray on the realization that you are only perfect in Christ Jesus, not on this plea – “O Lord, I have done my best, please hear me.”
How long is it going to take God to free us from the morbid habit of thinking about ourselves? We must get sick unto death of ourselves, until there is no longer any surprise at anything God can tell us about ourselves. We cannot touch the depths of meanness in ourselves. There is only one place where we are right, and that is in Christ Jesus. When we are there, then we have to pour out for all we are worth in this ministry of the interior.
用於 《信心的支票簿》06月21日
六月廿一日信心的支票簿 Faith's check book
女人的战争
经文:「因为耶和华要将西西拉交在一个妇人手里。」(士师记4:9)
世上或许有人有足够的信心,抓住这节不寻常的经文。神呼召巴拉这个男人去应战,但他胆子小,他说若底波拉不与他去,他就不去,所以神决定使这场战争,成为一个女人的战争。换句话说,祂不满这男人的懦弱,祂要让女先知底波拉参战,使祂的名更得彰显,使敌人更受羞辱。
神今日仍然使用柔弱卑微的器皿。为何不是我?祂或许会用那些不起眼的小人物去做大事。为何不是你?这个杀戮以色列仇敌的女子,既非出色的公众人物,亦非叱咤风云的将领,她只不过是待在帐篷里挤牛奶的小女子。难道主不也用平凡的你我来完成祂的旨意?
或许今天就有人来到你家,就像西西拉进到雅亿的帐篷。但我们不是要杀他,乃是要以爱心接待他,带给他耶稣基督真正的救恩,让他明白“信而得救”的真理。说不定一个硬心的罪人,就在今天被福音软化,感动而得救呢!
A Woman's War
Scripture: "The LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman"(Judges 4:9).
Rather an unusual text, but there may be souls in the world that may have faith enough to grasp it. Barak, the man, though called to the war, had little stomach for the fight unless Deborah would go with him, and so the LORD determined to make it a woman's war. By this means He rebuked the slackness of the man, gained for Himself the more renown, and cast the more shame upon the enemies of His people.
The LORD can still use feeble instrumentalities. Why not me? He may use persons who are not commonly called to great public engagements. Why not you? The woman who slew the enemy of Israel was no Amazon but a wife who tarried in her tent. She was no orator but a woman who milked the cows and made butter. May not the LORD use any one of us to accomplish His purpose? Somebody may come to the house today, even as Sisera came to Jael's tent. Be it ours not to slay him, but to save him. Let us receive him with great kindness and then bring forth the blessed truth of salvation by the LORD Jesus, our great Substitute, and press home the command "Believe and live." Who knoweth but some stout-hearted sinner may be slain by the gospel today!
六月二十一日
当神赐人财物的时候,不是叫人保留起来,成为自己和儿孙的财富,乃是要人藉着这些属地的财物行祂所喜悦的事,因为信徒的产业永远是神自己;若是信徒以地上的财宝为产业,就要变成重担、迷惑和网罗;圣经中从来没为那些专为自己积蓄财宝的人祝福,都是以罪责和咒诅对付他们。
先知以赛亚说:「祸哉!那些以房接房,以地连地,以致不留余地的,衹顾自己独居境内。」(赛五8)因为到了禧年的时候,他们不把穷人卖出的地归回,所以他们才以房连房,以地连地。还有主耶稣所说下阴间的财主,衹顾自己天天奢华宴乐,看不见他门口讨饭的拉撒路。(路十六19至20)
雅各也是责备那些在末世衹知积儹钱财的人;金银上的锈要吃他们的肉,如同火烧。(雅五3)所以信徒应当藉着神所赐的财物来尊荣祂,不要让它变成了灾祸,变成了咒诅。
当神赐人知识的时候也是如此,知识若不为神用,知识便叫人自高自大,因知识所引起来的失败也不小于为自己积蓄财富。无论是钱财、是知识、是地位,凡属于这世界的,连信徒的儿女也在内,若不奉献到主的面前,都是与信徒有害的。若是属于我们的,无论是财物、是人口,能带进了永世里面去,样样都是与我们有益的,都是为我们效劳的。
「衹是我先前以为与我有益的,我现在因基督都当作有损的。不但如此,我也将万事当作有损的,因我以认识我主基督耶稣为至宝。我为祂已经丢弃万事,看作粪土,为要得著基督。」(腓三7至8)
《荒漠甘泉》6月21日
“人听见他在房子里。”(可2章1节)
构成礁石的珊瑚虫,勤勤劳劳地在水底下工作着,从来没有梦想到他们正在建立一个新的海岛;在这个岛上,渐渐地会长了植物又住了动物,和神的儿女们,他们就是做基督的后嗣,享受永世的荣耀。
亲爱的,如果现在神给你的地位是一个隐藏的,幽闭的,没有人知道的,不要怨恨,不要忧愁;如果是神将你放在那里的,总不要希图走出神的旨意之外;因为没有珊瑚虫,就永不会有礁石建立起来。神需要一些乐意做属灵珊瑚礁的人;他们的工作,虽没有人发觉,可是他们有圣灵的扶持,和属天的亮光。
那日子将到,主耶稣要施行赏罚;他决不会弄错。那时,有些人因为从来没有听到过,你便会诧异:你怎样也得到这么大的赏赐!——选
也许神要我们离去意个弟兄姊妹众多的聚会,一个最能给我们生气的山顶,一些有帮助的义人的交通,而回到平庸的以马忤斯去,或者到世俗的歌罗西去,或者竟到遥远的马其顿去,我们应当大着胆深信:神无论将我们放在什么地方,他早已命定那地方的胜利,会给我们获得。——德克(Northcote Deck)
六月廿二日
他要建告耶和华的殿,并担负尊荣……(亚6:13)
基督自己是灵殿的建造者,他曾在山上建造了他不变的爱,他全能的恩和他无穷的信实。在所罗门的殿中怎样,这个殿中也怎样。建筑的材料必须先预备好,有“黎巴嫩的香柏木”,但它们在建造前若不经修整,不被砍下、破裂、锯成木板,他们的香味就不能使乐园里、主家中的宫殿满了欢欣。石头仍在石矿中,必须在那里凿好,磨得方方正正的。这一切都是基督的工作。每个信徒都必须经过一番预备,切磋琢磨,好适合他在殿中所居的地位;基督自己的手就能完成这种预备的工作。苦难不能洁净人,除非他要用苦难来洁净人。我们的祷告和努力,若离了耶稣使我们的心正直的手,我们就不能上天堂。所罗门“建殿的时候,锤子、斧子和别样铁器的响声都没有听见”,因为一切建筑用材早已准备好,可以完完整整地运来安置在适当的地位上----耶稣所建造的殿也是这样,准备的工作都是在地上。当我们上了天堂之后,就不用在那里再经洁净了,不再用灾难造就我们了,不再用苦痛修整我们了。不,我们必须在这里预备妥当----基督要预先完成这一切。当他完成之后,我们就被慈爱的手领过死河,到达天上的耶路撒冷,永远成为主殿的梁柱。“你们也靠他同被建造,成为神藉圣灵居住的所在。”
六月二十二日
经文: 使那不被震动的长存。(希伯来书十二:27)
我们所拥有的许多东西是能震动的。基督徒要依靠这些东西是愚蠢的,因为这世上没有一件东西是稳定的。然而我们仍有某些东西是“不被震动的”。若能被震动的东西都挪去了,你可以从那些不被震动的长存的东西中得到慰藉。不论你失去了多少,你都能欣赏目前的救恩。你正站在耶稣的十字架下,信靠祂宝血的功效。市场交之起落不能干扰你在祂里面的救恩。经营失败甚至倒闭也不能触及它。你是上帝的儿子。环境变迁不会夺去你的名份。你虽遭受贫困,赤身露体,却仍然说:“祂仍然是我的父。在我父家中有许多地方,因此我不必忧虑。”另一种永远的祝福是耶稣基督的爱。祂是上帝又是人,祂以祂本性中全部的爱爱你,没有任何事物能影响祂的爱。世上没有任何事物会影响那歌唱“良人属我,我也属祂。”(歌二:16)的人。我们不会失去那最丰富的继承权。因难来临时,让我们坚定站稳。让我们表明自己不是幼童,会在这飞逝的时光中被可能发生的事击倒。我们的国家在以马内利的土地上,我们的盼望在天上。因此,我们能平静如夏天的海洋,我们将见土地上所生的一切破灭,却仍然在上帝里面因我们的救恩欢呼。
Evening, June 22
Scripture: “That those things which cannot be shaken may remain.”(Hebrews 12:27)
We have many things in our possession at the present moment which can be shaken, and it ill becomes a Christian man to set much store by them, for there is nothing stable beneath these rolling skies; change is written upon all things. Yet, we have certain “things which cannot be shaken,” and I invite you this evening to think of them, that if the things which can be shaken should all be taken away, you may derive real comfort from the things that cannot be shaken, which will remain. Whatever your losses have been, or may be, you enjoy present salvation. You are standing at the foot of his cross, trusting alone in the merit of Jesus’ precious blood, and no rise or fall of the markets can interfere with your salvation in him; no breaking of banks, no failures and bankruptcies can touch that. Then you are a child of God this evening. God is your Father. No change of circumstances can ever rob you of that. Although by losses brought to poverty, and stripped bare, you can say, “He is my Father still. In my Father's house are many mansions; therefore will I not be troubled.” You have another permanent blessing, namely, the love of Jesus Christ. He who is God and Man loves you with all the strength of his affectionate nature-nothing can affect that. The fig tree may not blossom, and the flocks may cease from the field, it matters not to the man who can sing, “My Beloved is mine, and I am his.” Our best portion and richest heritage we cannot lose. Whatever troubles come, let us play the man; let us show that we are not such little children as to be cast down by what may happen in this poor fleeting state of time. Our country is Immanuel's land, our hope is above the sky, and therefore, calm as the summer's ocean; we will see the wreck of everything earthborn, and yet rejoice in the God of our salvation.
《竭诚为主》6月22日 不变的考验
因为你们怎样论断人,也必怎样被论断。你们用什么量器量给人,也必用什么量器量给你们。(太七2)
这句话不是信口开河的瞎猜,而是神永恒的定律。你怎样论断人,就得同样的回报。报复与报应是不同的。耶稣说人生是以报应为本的--你用量器量人,人也必用什么量器量你。你若善于挑剔别人,那你所得的也必如此。你付出多少,就收回多少。这定律是由神的宝座上颁下来的(诗十八25-26)
罗马书第二章对这定律更为肯定。其中说人批评别人,自己正犯了同样的罪。神不单看外面的行为,更看人内心的动机。首先,我们不信圣经的话。试问我们真的相信所批评别人的,正是自己所犯上的罪吗?我们所以能看见别人的虚伪、欺诈、虚浮,是因为我们自己心中也有这些东西。圣徒最大的特征是谦卑--“是的,若不是神的恩典,这些东西或其他罪恶,都会发生在我身上,因此我无权批判。”
耶稣说:“你们不要论断人,免得你们被论断。”你若论断人,神则必照你所论断的量你。我们谁敢对神说:“我的神,请你照我论断他人的判断我吧”?我们判断别人为罪人,若神也同样判断我们,我们早已在地狱了。可是,神却透过耶稣基督奇妙的代赎来判断我们。
祈祷◆噢,我只求得尝祢的灵如风吹拂,或得驱策、或使苏醒、或蒙释放、或被感动,我就心满意足了。
June 22 The Undeviating Test
“For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” Matthew 7:2
This statement is not a haphazard guess, it is an eternal law of God. Whatever judgment you give, it is measured to you again. There is a difference between retaliation and retribution. Jesus says that the basis of life is retribution – “with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” If you have been shrewd in finding out the defects in others, remember that will be exactly the measure given to you. Life serves back in the coin you pay. This law works from God's throne downwards (cf. Psalm 18:25-26).
Romans 2 applies it in a still more definite way, and says that the one who criticizes another is guilty of the very same thing. God looks not only at the act, He looks at the possibility. We do not believe the statements of the Bible to begin with. For instance, do we believe this statement, that the things we criticize in others we are guilty of ourselves? The reason we see hypocrisy and fraud and unreality in others is because they are all in our own hearts. The great characteristic of a saint is humility – Yes, all those things and other evils would have been manifested in me but for the grace of God, therefore I have no right to judge.
用於 《竭诚为主》6月22日
六月廿二日信心的支票簿 Faith's check book
祂与我们同在
经文:「敬畏耶和华,使人日子加多;但恶人的年岁必被减少。」(箴言10:27)
此乃至理名言。敬畏主使人不敢胡作非为;养成敬虔的好习惯,时间就不会浪费在放荡纵欲的恶行当中,生命也不至虚度。由信靠耶和华所生发的神圣安息,对病人有极大的帮助。医生也乐见一个从容面对疾病的患者;忧能伤身,对神的信心,却有医治的功能。
所以,我们应当为自己能活到高寿而打算,若神看这为好,我们将安渡晚年,寿终正寝,犹如成熟的果子,落地回天家。我们千万不要因为一点小病痛,就忧心忡忡,以为死期将至,不,我们的日子还长远得很,该做的工还多得是。
但若我们万一蒙主恩召,早日息了地上劳苦,又怎样?这也没什么好怕的,凡事都有神的美意。或死或活我们都属于主,若我们活着,主与我们同在;若死了,我们就与主同在。生命真正的意义,不在乎长短,乃在于生命的内容。你是否善用每时每刻,为了最终极的目标而努力?愿我今日没有虚度光阴。
He With Us; We With Him
Scripture: "The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened"(Proverbs 10:27).
There is no doubt about it. The fear of the LORD leads to virtuous habits, and these prevent that waste of life which comes of sin and vice. The holy rest which springs out of faith in the LORD Jesus also greatly helps a man when he is ill. Every physician rejoices to have a patient whose mind is fully at ease. Worry kills, but confidence in God is like healing medicine.
We have therefore all the arrangements for long life, and if it be really for our good, we shall see a good old age and come to our graves as shocks of corn in their season. Let us not be overcome with sudden expectation of death the moment we have a fingerache, but let us rather expect that we may have to work on through a considerable length of days.
And what if we should soon be called to the higher sphere? Certainly there would be nothing to deplore in such a summons but everything to rejoice in. Living or dying we are the LORD's. If we live, Jesus will be with us; if we die, we shall be with Jesus.
The truest lengthening of life is to live while we live, wasting no time but using every hour for the highest ends. So be it this day.
六月二十二日
我曾饲养过一只出奶的母羊,那一天羊吃的料足、草多、水丰满,那一天出的奶就多;那一天吃的少,出的奶就少;出奶的多或少,第一与羊的种类有关系,第二与食料有关系。一个传道人----教会的牧者,也是如此,最少有这两个条件,第一必须有神生命的人,第二必须与主有密切联合的人,才能作一个好牧人牧养神的教会。
保罗说:「我是用奶喂你们。」(林前三2)又说:「衹在你们中间存心温柔,如同母亲乳养自己的孩子。」(帖前二7)可是教会中有一类领导人,自己还没有基督的生命,是主所说的假先知、彼得所说的假师傅、保罗所说的假使徒,犹大说这些人偷著进来的,他们不认独一的主宰和我们主耶稣基督。这些人是贼是强盗,是凶暴的豺狼,根本谈不到牧养神的教会;他们的工作是偷窃、杀害、毁坏,他们难免将来的审判。
至于那些真正有生命牧养神教会的,若是没有先进到神的面前,与主有密切的相交,没有把自己充实起来,就不能作一个好牧者。自己还不热心,如何能带领别人热心?自己还不爱主,如何能劝别人爱主?自己还背负重担,如何能叫别人放下重担?自己满了愁苦,如何能叫别人喜乐?必须自己先满有基督的能力,然后才能帮助别人。教会中的领导人,不能象坐在摩西位上的法利赛人,把难担的重担放在别人身上,自己连一个指头也不肯动;乃是要作全群的榜样。好象主耶稣,既放出自己的羊来,就在前头走,羊也跟著祂。
诚然在神家中牧养神教会的人都当如此,但每一个属神的人也都该这样求主的充满。
《荒漠甘泉》6月22日
“爱,能遮掩一切过错。”(箴10章12节)
前几天我在报纸上看到一个神的孩子的一些个人经历,在我的脑海中留下了深深的印象,所以我特将它记在这里。她说:
“一天夜半,我想起了一件痛苦不平的事情,叫我翻来覆去地再也不能睡熟;爱心似乎已经偷偷地从我心中逃了出去。于是我拼命向神呼求能力,叫我能服从他的命令:“爱,能遮掩一切过错。”
圣灵立刻在我里面开始工作,给我能力忘却一切。
起初,我在脑海中掘开了一个坟墓,从从容容地将泥土挖成了一个极深的孔穴。 我悲悲哀哀地尽往下挖那件曾使我受伤的东西,很快地将泥土一铲一铲地铲起来。 可是后来,我却谨谨慎慎地将绿色的草土铺在土墩上面。再用白玫瑰花和勿忘我花将他覆盖,很快地跑开了。
甜蜜的睡眠来了,那几乎致命的创伤,竟被医愈得一无瘢痕;到今天我连想也想不起来:到底是什么东西,曾使我那样悲哀。
六月廿三日
以法莲是没有翻过的饼。(何7:8)
烤饼时若不翻,必然有一面烤不熟。从各方面看来以法莲也是这样,并未被神的恩所接触!虽然有一部份顺服,但仍残留着很多悖逆之心。我的心哪!我要叫你看看你是否也有这种情形。你在神一切的事上都透彻完全吗?是否神的恩已离了你的中心,使你在你一切的力量、动作、言语和思想上感不到神的作为呢?灵魂体都被洁净,应当作为你的目标和祷告。虽然在各处都不十分洁净,但洁净的工作却当均匀而普遍,不当在一处有圣洁的表现,而在别一处却仍有罪,不然你也就成为了一个没有翻过的饼了。一个饼若是不翻,不久靠火的那面必然被烤焦;虽然没人能有太深的信仰,但也有些人为他们所接受那一部份真道的热火烧得焦黑,或是在仪式上追求虚荣像虚浮的法利赛人焦得烧了起来。表面上佯装神圣非凡的人,实际上常是毫不敬虔的人;在公众面前是个圣徒,在私下却是个魔鬼;他的行事白天是面,晚上却成了炭。饼的一面已经焦得冒烟,而另一面却还是生的。若这是我的情形,主啊!求你把我翻过来,使我们不洁净的性情翻向你的爱火,使它经受圣火。当我感到自己的软弱时,使我已经焦了的一面冷下来;当我离了你属天的火时,使我需要你热。求你使我不要三心两意,乃要一心一意地完全受恩典的支配,因为我知道若我是一个没有翻过的饼,两面都不顺服你的恩,那末我必永远被不灭的火所烧。
六月二十三日
经文: 等候得着儿子的名份。(罗马书八:23)
圣徒是上帝的儿女,但是,除非藉着某些道德上的特微,否则人是看不到这身份的。得儿子的名份并没有明显记号,也没有公开的宣告。罗马人可以带领孩子且私下养育他一段长时间。当孩子被合法认可时,才进行第二次的公开领养。他要脱去旧衣裳,领养孩子的父亲会给他穿上合于他身份的新衣。“亲爱的弟兄阿,我们现在是上帝的儿女,将来如何,还未显明。”(约壹三:2)我们尚未穿上合于天国王族的盛装。我们仍然穿着亚当后裔的血肉之躯。但是,我们知道当祂显现的时候,祂是“许多弟兄中作长子”(罗八:29),我们必要像祂,因为必得见祂的真体(约壹三:2)。一个出生于社会低阶层的孩子,被一位罗马高官领养时,他会对自己说:“我渴望被公开领养的日子到来,那时我将脱除这些乞丐的衣服,穿上成为高官阶层的华服。”我们今天也要如此。我们在等待穿上适当的服装,显明自己是上帝的儿女。我们是年青的贵胄,尚未能戴上冠冕。我们是年幼的新妇,婚娶之日尚未来到。我们的喜乐如同涨满的泉水,期待有一日如间歇泉般涌出,直喷天上。我们的灵发出叹息要将它向世人显明。
Evening, June 23
Scripture: “Waiting for the adoption.”(Romans 8:23)
Even in this world saints are God's children, but men cannot discover them to be so, except by certain moral characteristics. The adoption is not manifested, the children are not yet openly declared. Among the Romans a man might adopt a child, and keep it private for a long time: but there was a second adoption in public; when the child was brought before the constituted authorities its former garments were taken off, and the father who took it to be his child gave it raiment suitable to its new condition of life. “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be.” We are not yet arrayed in the apparel which befits the royal family of heaven; we are wearing in this flesh and blood just what we wore as the sons of Adam; but we know that “when he shall appear” who is the “first-born among many brethren,” we shall be like him, we shall see him as he is. Cannot you imagine that a child taken from the lowest ranks of society, and adopted by a Roman senator, would say to himself, “I long for the day when I shall be publicly adopted. Then I shall leave off these plebeian garments, and be robed as becomes my senatorial rank”? Happy in what he has received, for that very reason he groans to get the fulness of what is promised him. So it is with us today. We are waiting till we shall put on our proper garments, and shall be manifested as the children of God. We are young nobles, and have not yet worn our coronets. We are young brides, and the marriage day is not yet come, and by the love our Spouse bears us, we are led to long and sigh for the bridal morning. Our very happiness makes us groan after more; our joy, like a swollen spring, longs to well up like an Iceland geyser, leaping to the skies, and it heaves and groans within our spirit for want of space and room by which to manifest itself to men.
《竭诚为主》6月23日 常经忧患
他……多受痛苦,常经忧患。(赛五十三3)
我们所经的忧患与主所经的不同;我们是忍受、经历,却与忧患没有密切的关系。我们从起头就不肯接受罪恶这个事实,对人生采取一种合乎理性的观点,以为人只要约束自己、教育自己,生命就能逐渐似神。可是日久便发觉有一种东西存在,是意想之外的,就是罪。它把我们一切筹算破坏了。罪使事物本末倒置,毫无道理可言。我们必须承认罪是一个事实,不是一种缺陷;罪是对神赤手空拳的反叛。在我生命中不是神死,就是罪死。新约的真理使我们面对这个问题。若罪在我里面掌权,神在我里面的生命就死了;若神在我里面掌权,罪在我里面就要死;除此之外,不可能有别的结果了。人滔天的大罪,就是把耶稣基督钉在十架上。神在世上的历史如何,你我的生命史上也必如何。我们必须承认,罪是人生苦痛忧患的因由。
祈祷◆噢,主啊,你是没有时间性的,因为“在你看来,千年如已过的昨日”;可是,对我这却截然不同。你弥补我那被腐败所吞蚀的年日,在基督耶稣里使我成为一个新造的人!求你接纳我对你的感恩。
June 23 Acquaintance With Grief
“A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” Isaiah 53:3
We are not acquainted with grief in the way in which Our Lord was acquainted with it; we endure it, we get through it, but we do not become intimate with it. At the beginning of life we do not reconcile ourselves to the fact of sin. We take a rational view of life and say that a man by controlling his instincts, and by educating himself, can produce a life which will slowly evolve into the life of God. But as we go on, we find the presence of something which we have not taken into consideration, viz., sin, and it upsets all our calculations. Sin has made the basis of things wild and not rational. We have to recognize that sin is a fact, not a defect; sin is red-handed mutiny against God. Either God or sin must die in my life. The New Testament brings us right down to this one issue. If sin rules in me, God's life in me will be killed; if God rules in me, sin in me will be killed. There is no possible ultimate but that. The climax of sin is that it crucified Jesus Christ, and what was true in the history of God on earth will be true in your history and in mine. In our mental outlook we have to reconcile ourselves to the fact of sin as the only explanation as to why Jesus Christ came, and as the explanation of the grief and sorrow in life.
六月廿三日信心的支票簿 Faith's check book
仇敌丧胆
经文:「所以耶和华论亚述王如此说:他必不得来到这城,也不在这里射箭,不得拿盾牌到城前,也不筑垒攻城。」(列王纪下19:32)
亚述王西拿基立并未攻陷这城;虽然他夸下海口,但却未能如其所愿。主能在最紧急的时刻,遏阻敌人的凌厉攻击,就像好牧人能把羊从狮子口中拯救出来一样。仇敌的威吓侵犯,只不过提供一个机会来彰显神的权能与智慧。
上述例子中,可怕的敌人亚述王,并未像他所恐吓的那样,摧毁城池;既无刀光剑影,也无筑垒攻城,也谈不上伤及百姓。或许我们当前的景况也是如此,阻碍前路的横逆,不会给我们带来任何伤害。当然,神可改变仇敌的心意,或是变更他们的计划,使他们打消攻击的念头。让我们信靠神,并持守祂的道,祂必眷顾我们。是的,当我们见到祂奇妙的释放,我们的心便满了赞美。
让我们切勿事先忧虑,等到仇敌真正来了,我们再将这事陈明主前,并交托信靠祂。
The Enemy Frustrated
Scripture: "Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a bank against it"(2 Kings 19:32).
Neither did Sennacherib molest the city. He had boasted loudly, but he could not carry out his threats. The LORD is able to stop the enemies of His people in the very act. When the lion has the lamb between his jaws, the great Shepherd of the sheep can rob him of his prey. Our extremity only provides an opportunity for a grander display of divine power and wisdom.
In the case before us, the terrible foe did not put in an appearance before the city which he thirsted to destroy. No annoying arrow could he shoot over the walls, and no besieging engines could he put to work to batter down the castles, and no banks could he cast up to shut in the inhabitants. Perhaps in our case also the LORD will prevent our adversaries from doing us the least harm. Certainly He can alter their intentions or render their designs so abortive that they will gladly forego them. Let us trust in the LORD and keep His way, and He will take care of us. Yea, He will fill us with wondering praise as we see the perfection of His deliverance.
Let us not fear the enemy till he actually comes, and then let us trust in the LORD.
六月二十三日
人的爱真是有限,神的爱是何等的伟大。
人爱的范围太小了,衹爱自己和自己的儿女,所说的那些好人,也不过是爱了父母,又爱了弟兄,若有人连朋友也爱,那真是少有的。
但主耶稣的爱是爱到最后的一等人,就是仇敌,这些仇敌不仅是言语上作了仇敌,在财物上作了仇敌,他们更不是吃了甚么亏作了仇敌,乃是无故要杀害祂的,是仇敌中最可恨的仇敌,然而主耶稣仍旧爱他们。世人衹要在言语上有不相合的仇敌,就不能爱他,主耶稣乃是爱那杀了祂的仇敌;主的爱真是绝顶的爱,爱的不能再加了;并且耶稣爱仇敌,不是在言语上表示爱他们,不是在财物上表示爱他们,乃是以自己的生命来爱仇敌;主以最大的爱,爱了那最大的仇敌;主的爱真是无限无量,不可思议。这爱是人类中所没有的。
当我们接受神伟大爱的时候,我们的爱量也就放大了;不仅爱那些属我们的,也不仅爱那些爱我们的,也愿意爱那些犯罪的人、将亡的人、不相识的人、不相干的人,甚至于恨我们的人,凡神所愿意爱的人,我们也愿意爱了。所以我们放弃有限的爱,接受无限的爱;放弃自私的爱,运用圣洁的爱。放弃人的爱,充实神的爱,这样的爱是永远长存的,有一天这爱就变成了荣耀,永存在永世里面。
「因为所赐给我们的圣灵,将神的爱浇灌在我们心里。」(罗五5)
「使基督因你们的信,住在你们心里,叫你们的爱心,有根有基。」(弗三17)
《荒漠甘泉》6月23日
“耶稣说,你来罢。彼得就从船上下去,在水面上走,要到耶稣那里去;只因见风甚大,就害怕;将要沉下去,便喊着说,主啊,救我。”(太14章29-30节)
读者,你看见吗?彼得的小信是一个极大的障碍:他既然已经开步走了,波浪的大小,无须他去操心;他所当注意的,乃是从主所在的地方射过来的那道光彩。光彩以外,纵有十个埃及,彼得也无须去注意。
读者,当主在水面上叫你:“来罢”的时候,欢欢喜喜地向前走去!不要转过你的眼去注视别的东西。
因为你不能因着测度波浪得到胜利;也不能因着测量风力得到坚固。越去注意危险,越会坠入危险;越是见难而止,越会遭遇苦难。读者,你应当举起你的两眼来专心仰望主,大着胆向前走去!
六月廿四日
众人中间有一个女人大声说:“怀你胎的和乳养你的有福了。”耶稣说:“是,却还不如听神之道而遵守的人有福。”(路11:27-28)
有人想我们主的母亲是有福的,因为她有特权看到他的内心,而是我们所盼望不到的。根据这种猜想,觉得这是很值得称羡的,其实并不尽然。我们不知道马利亚所知道的比别人更多,她所知道的她都存在心里,但是我们念福音书的时候就知道她所知道的并不比基督其他门徒所知道的更多。凡她所知道的我们也能发现。你以为我们这样说法是希奇的吗?且看下面的经文:“耶和华的奥秘显于敬畏他的人,他必将自己的约指示他们。”(改译)主自己的话也曾说:“以后我不再称你们为仆人,因仆人不知道主人所作的事;我乃称你们为朋友,因我从我父所听见的,已经都告诉你们了。”我们真是有福的,因他把自己心中的奥秘告诉了我们,他为我们的好处的缘故,并不隐瞒什么。他自己也曾应许说:“若是没有,我就早已告诉你们了。”他今天不也是这样把自己向我们显露而不向世人显露吗?确实是这样,他叫我们知道而不叫世人知道,因此我们不能无知地说“怀你胎的和乳养你的有福了”,我们乃要为听到了并遵守了他的话称颂神,我们首先要有童女马利亚和救主所有的真正关系,其次要知道他的心意,正像她所知道的。有这权利的人有福了!“马利亚说:我心尊主为大,我灵以神我的救主为乐。”
赵君影
Calvin Chao
二十世纪华人教会名牧和教会领袖、神学教育家。
六月二十四日
经文: 沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌,对王说,……王啊,我们决不事奉你的神。(但以理书三:16、18)
这三个希伯来少年的大胆、勇敢和奇特的话语,说明了他们在暴政的齿缝间和死亡的双颚间仍然高举真理,坚定不移。无论是在对上帝的信心或是在处理事务的正直上,两者皆不可违背你的良心。宁愿损失一切,也不可丧失你的廉正。其他一切虽尽都失去,仍要坚定保持一个清洁的良心,它将成为装饰人心的稀世珍宝。不要随从流沙政策的引导,却要跟从上帝权柄下不移动的星宿。当你看不到眼前的利益时,但凭着信心不凭眼见去行。当面临之事会损及原则时,以信靠上帝来尊崇祂。祂会用自己的话来证明:“敬虔加上知足的心便是大利了”(提前六:6)。“你们要先求祂的国和祂的义,这些东西都要加给你们了。”(太六:33)在上帝的保佑中,你因服从良心行事而遭受损失,这事是可能发生的。你会发现主若不以属世亨通之银子偿还你,就会实现祂的应许,以属灵喜乐的金子偿还你。请记住“人的生命不在乎家道丰富”(路十二:15)。一个诚实的灵,一颗没有过犯的心,和蒙恩于上帝,比钻石矿更为丰富。“吃素菜,彼此相爱,强如吃肥牛,彼此相恨。”(箴十五:17)一两深厚内在的平安,胜过一吨黄金。
Evening, June 24
Scripture: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said ... Be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods.”(Daniel 3:16, 18)
The narrative of the manly courage and marvellous deliverance of the three holy children, or rather champions, is well calculated to excite in the minds of believers firmness and steadfastness in upholding the truth in the teeth of tyranny and in the very jaws of death. Let young Christians especially learn from their example, both in matters of faith in religion, and matters of uprightness in business, never to sacrifice their consciences. Lose all rather than lose your integrity, and when all else is gone, still hold fast a clear conscience as the rarest jewel which can adorn the bosom of a mortal. Be not guided by the will-o’-the-wisp of policy, but by the pole-star of divine authority. Follow the right at all hazards. When you see no present advantage, walk by faith and not by sight. Do God the honour to trust him when it comes to matters of loss for the sake of principle. See whether he will be your debtor! See if he doth not even in this life prove his word that “Godliness, with contentment, is great gain,” and that they who “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, shall have all these things added unto them.” Should it happen that, in the providence of God, you are a loser by conscience, you shall find that if the Lord pays you not back in the silver of earthly prosperity, he will discharge his promise in the gold of spiritual joy. Remember that a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of that which he possesseth. To wear a guileless spirit, to have a heart void of offence, to have the favour and smile of God, is greater riches than the mines of Ophir could yield, or the traffic of Tyre could win. “Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and inward contention therewith.” An ounce of heart's-ease is worth a ton of gold.
《竭诚为主》6月24日 承认罪的事实
现在却是你们的时候,黑暗掌权了。(路二十二53)
不承认罪的事实,会带来人生一切的祸患。你可以大谈人性的尊严,可是人性中有一种东西,在你一切的理想面前,会当面嗤笑你。你若不肯承认人性的邪恶自私、有根本上的罪过,这样,当这些东西袭击你时,你就会与它妥协,并说抵抗也是没用。你有没有准备面对这个关头,面对这黑暗的权势?还是你对自己的评价,没有把罪算在内?你与亲属的关系,与朋友的关系,有没有承认有罪的事实存在?若没有,不需多久,你就会被罪追上,与之妥协了。
但若你承认罪的事实,就必立即觉察到危险--“对啦,我知道这是什么一回事了。”承认罪的事实,并不会破坏友情的根基,反而使彼此看清楚人生基本是可恶的。我们要时时当心,防备那种不承认罪之事实的人生观。
耶稣基督虽不信任人,却不挑剔多疑,因为祂深信为人有所不为。人得到安全的保障是由于清洁,而不是因为无罪。无罪的人是不可靠的。成为无罪,不是人可以做到,只有神才可要求人洁净敬虔。无邪是孩童的特征,但成人则要承认罪这事实。
祈祷◆噢,主啊,以你的恩典和荣耀淹没我,让你那浩瀚的潮水覆盖所有。
June 24 Reconciling One's Self To The Fact Of Sin
"This is your hour, and the power of darkness." Luke 22:53
It is not being reconciled to the fact of sin that produces all the disasters in life. You may talk about the nobility of human nature, but there is something in human nature which will laugh in the face of every ideal you have. If you refuse to agree with the fact that there is vice and self-seeking, something downright spiteful and wrong in human beings, instead of reconciling yourself to it, when it strikes your life, you will compromise with it and say it is of no use to battle against it. Have you made allowance for this hour and the power of darkness, or do you take a recognition of yourself that misses out sin? In your bodily relationships and friendships do you reconcile yourself to the fact of sin? If not, you will be caught round the next corner and you will compromise with it. If you reconcile yourself to the fact of sin, you will realize the danger at once – Yes, I see what that would mean. The recognition of sin does not destroy the basis of friendship; it establishes a mutual regard for the fact that the basis of life is tragic. Always beware of an estimate of life which does not recognize the fact that there is sin.
Jesus Christ never trusted human nature, yet He was never cynical, never suspicious, because He trusted absolutely in what He could do for human nature. The pure man or woman, not the innocent, is the safeguarded man or woman. You are never safe with an innocent man or woman. Men and women have no business to be innocent; God demands that they be pure and virtuous. Innocence is the characteristic of a child; it is a blameworthy thing for a man or woman not to be reconciled to the fact of sin.
六月廿四日信心的支票簿 Faith's check book
神必补偿
经文:「亚玛谢问神人说:“我给了以色列军的那一百他连得银子怎么样呢?”神人回答说:“耶和华能把更多的赐给你。”」(历代志下25︰9)
若你一时失误,而遭受损失,切莫因此违抗神的旨意;神会给你多于你所可能损失的。若祂没有补偿,你会开始与祂讨价还价,理论一番吗?犹大王从拜偶像的以色列国,雇用一支军队,但神不与这些士兵同在,所以王只好把他们送回老家,但他抱怨已为他们付出好几百他连得,如今却泡汤!多丢脸啊,神若不用这些以色列兵,而能赢得胜利,就是白花钱,不也值得,不也光荣?!
让我们为了良心的缘故,愿意损失金钱,为了基督的缘故,愿意吃亏受损。务必记得,为主吃亏绝非损失;甚至在今生,神就会让你得好报;或者在某些情况下,主不会让任何损失发生。至于我们的永生,为耶稣的缘故,所蒙受的损失,必定会被记作在天国的投资。因此,不要为眼前的灾难烦忧,只要倾听那微小的声音︰“主能把更多的赐给你!”
The LORD's
Scripture: "And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, The LORD is able to give thee much more than this"(2 Chronicles 25:9).
If you have made a mistake, bear the loss of it; but do not act contrary to the will of the LORD. The LORD can give you much more than you are likely to lose; and if He does not, will you begin bargaining and chaffering with God. The king of Judah had hired an army from idolatrous Israel, and he was commanded to send home the fighting men because the LORD was not with them. He was willing to send away the host, only he grudged paying the hundred talents for nothing. Oh, for shame! If the LORD will give the victory without the hirelings, surely it was a good bargain to pay their wages and to be rid of them.
Be willing to lose money for conscience' sake, for peace's sake, for Christ's sake. Rest assured that losses for the LORD are not losses. Even in this life they are more than recompensed: in some cases the LORD prevents any loss from happening. As to our immortal life, what we lose for Jesus is invested in heaven. Fret not at apparent disaster but listen to the whisper, "The LORD is able to give thee much more than this."
六月二十四日
有的人是太忙,人见不到他;有的人是惧怕人的杀害,人见不到他;有的人是因势力、权位所起的骄傲,人见不到他;但我们的主不是那样,祂能顾到每一个人,和他最小的事情;虽然祂是万王之王、万主之主,世上最卑微的人都可以找到祂;无论是谁都可以叩祂的恩门;无论是谁都可以和祂作朋友;祂曾和人所最轻看的税吏、娼妓一同吃饭;祂不拒绝每一个来到祂面前的人。白日来找祂,祂愿见;黑夜来寻祂,祂也不厌烦;主是破除阶级的!
诗人说:「耶和华超乎万民之上;他的荣耀高过诸天。谁象耶和华我们的神呢?祂坐在至高之处,自己谦卑,观看天上地下的事。祂从灰尘里抬举贫寒人,从粪堆中提拔穷乏人,使他们与王子同坐,就是与本国的王子同坐。」(诗一一三4至8)
主耶稣称我为弟兄、为朋友都不以为耻,因为在祂的里面根本没有骄傲,祂衹有爱。祂看每一个人都是可爱的。可是我们呢?当著不信主的人常不敢高举主耶稣,仿佛主耶稣是我们的羞耻;甚至有人在不信的人面前不敢承认主的名,真以荣耀的主为羞耻;这是证明我们里面有骄傲,和不信的恶心;若我们真相信主耶稣是万王之王,象我这样的人,有万王之王和我作朋友,我还不以为荣耀吗?所以凡以主耶稣为羞耻的,就证明他们还没有信耶稣是神的儿子。所以主耶稣说:「在人面前不认我的,人子在神的使者面前也必不认他。」(路十二9)
《荒漠甘泉》6月24日
“…我手的工作,你们可以吩咐我。”(赛45章11节)
神说:“你们可以吩咐我。”这是何等的权利!我们可以吩咐神吗?可以。主耶稣在世的时候,曾享受过这样的权利;约书亚,以利亚,马丁路德都曾享受过这样的权利。 约翰福音17章20节里,主要求父说:“父啊!我在哪里,愿你所赐给我的人,也同我在哪里。”主胆敢这样要求,是因为他深信父必将他所求的给他。
约书亚在大胜的时候,举起枪来对着将落的日头,大声喊叫说:“日头啊,你要停在基遍。”(书10章12节)他说话的语气多么勇敢!多有把握!
以利亚三年零六个月封闭了天——使天闭塞不下雨;然后,又将天打开——求下雨来。他在神面前是多么勇敢!
马丁路德跪在将死的麦兰基登(Melanchthon)旁边,大声禁止死神夺去他亲爱的朋友。他又是多么勇敢呢!
亲爱的读者,神允许我们与他发生了多么奇妙的关系!我们平常只知道神曾说过:“我亲手铺张诸天下,天上万象也是我所命定的。”(赛45章12节)但是现在我们却看见神叫我们去吩咐神!命令神!