大大張口 Needs to Open Our Mouths

經文: 「你要大大張口，我就給你充滿。」（詩篇八十一︰10）

這樣的禱告，多麼令人鼓舞！按著人的觀念，不敢求太大的事，因為我們的肚量有限，但上帝要我們求更多更大的恩典。禱告應該是像張口既簡單、又自然的事。當一個人乾渴時，他會大大地張口；我們所遇到的情境，有時逼得我們不得不迫切地禱告。         這也是指我們可以大膽地向上帝求更大的事，讓我們再看一次整段經文︰「我是耶和華──你的上帝，曾把你從埃及地領上來；你要大大張口，我就給你充滿。」因為上帝已經給我們這麼多，祂要我們渴慕更多，得到更多！         看看那些雛鳥，在鳥巢裡嗷嗷待哺，張大嘴巴等待母鳥歸來餵他們，讓我們也學像那樣。把握每一個機會得著恩典，就像海棉那樣，吸收每一滴水份。上帝隨時要充滿我們，只要我們準備好要得著祂。讓我們因著需要而向上帝開口懇求，讓我們因著軟弱而求上帝加添力量，讓我們像小孩一樣，哭著張開雙臂，跑向爸媽。喔，主啊，就在今天，求祢，以祢自己來充滿我！ Scripture: "Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it"(Psalm 81:10).         What an encouragement to pray! Our human notions would lead us to ask small things because our deservings are so small; but the LORD would have us request great blessings. Prayer should be as simple a matter as the opening of the mouth; it should be a natural, unconstrained utterance. When a man is earnest he opens his mouth wide, and our text urges us to be fervent in our supplications.         Yet it also means that we may make bold with God and ask many and large blessings at His hands. Read the whole verse, and see the argument: "I am Jehovah, thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it." Because the LORD has given us so much He invites us to ask for more, yea, to expect more.         See how the little birds in their nests seem to be all mouth when the mother comes to feed them. Let it be the same with us. Let us take in grace at every door. Let us drink it in as a sponge sucks up the water in which it lies. God is ready to fill us if we are only ready to be filled. Let our needs make us open our mouths; let our faintness cause us to open our mouths and pant; yea, let our alarm make us open our mouths with a child’s cry. The opened mouth shall be filled by the LORD Himself. So be it unto us, O LORD, this day.

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榮耀主耶穌 To Glorify Christ Jesus

經文: 「祂要榮耀我，因為祂要將受於我的告訴你們。」（約翰福音十六︰14）

聖靈要榮耀主耶穌，最直接的的方式，就是向人啟示主耶穌的事。耶穌就是祂本身最好的註腳，再沒有比呈現祂的事蹟，更能彰顯榮耀祂自己的了。         聖靈保惠師將受於耶穌的一切，告訴了我們。天國的事，若非聖靈開啟我們的心眼，我們是無法理解；聖經的話語，若非聖靈開啟，就不能成為一本生命的書。藉著聖靈的雙重工作，祂讓我們認識耶穌救主。這樣一樁改變人心的工作，是完全屬於真理聖靈的。那是何等的恩寵、特權，能夠識透屬靈的事，領會天國的異象！         求聖靈繼續來照明我們心中的眼睛，讓我們知道祂的恩召有何等的指望，這不是要滿足我們的好奇心，或給我們個人的享受，乃是要榮耀上帝，因救主寶貴的名配得稱頌到萬代。既然對神性、上帝的工作、和祂榮耀的國度，有這樣的認識，我們就禁不住要開口讚美。當一個人心中充滿聖靈恩膏的教導，救主耶穌就自然而然被高舉榮耀。喔，聖靈，來吧，求祢用屬天的亮光，讓我更清楚認識救主耶穌！ Scripture: "He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of Mine, and shall shew it unto you"(John 16:14).         The Holy Ghost Himself cannot better glorify the LORD Jesus than by showing to us Christ’s own things. Jesus is His own best commendation. There is no adorning Him except with his own gold.         The Comforter shows us that which He has received of our LORD Jesus. We never see anything aright till He reveals it. He has a way of opening our minds and of opening the Scriptures, and by this double process He sets forth our LORD to us. There is much art in setting forth a matter, and that art belongs in the highest degree to the Spirit of truth. He shows us the things themselves. This is a great privilege, as those know who have enjoyed the hallowed vision.         Let us seek the illumination of the Spirit; not to gratify our curiosity, nor even to bring us personal comfort, so much as to glorify the LORD Jesus. Oh, to have worthy ideas of Him! Groveling notions dishonor our precious LORD. Oh, to have such vivid impressions of His person, and work, and glory that we may with heart and soul cry out to His praise! Where there is a heart enriched by the Holy Ghost’s teaching there will be a Savior glorified beyond expression. Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly light, and show us Jesus our LORD!

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工作已了，靜享安息 Work is Done; Rest in Him

經文: 「必另有一安息日的安息為上帝的子民存留。」（希伯來書四︰9）

上帝已經預備了安息日，只有某些人才進得去。上帝第一次向他們傳講這信息，人得不著，因為他們不相信，所以只好留給相信的人享用。大衛也曾歌頌這安息，但他的百姓卻沒聽進去，拒絕上帝所賜的安息。約書亞對進迦南有極大的信心，但他也無法將這信心分給他人，這安息只留給那相信上帝話語的人。         來吧，讓我們努力，以得著這安息。讓我們不再自我中心，不再受罪和私慾的干擾；甚至不要落入自信自義的牢籠，你有這些毛病嗎﹖摒除這一切，甚至停止自我的努力或工作，讓上帝自己來動工。讓我們在主耶穌已完成的事工裏找到安息，因為大功已經告成，公義的要求已得著滿足，享有在耶穌裡的平安，是我們應得的份。         至於上帝的預定、人的得救、成聖功夫的完成，這些傷神的問題，就交給上帝自己來處理吧！若上帝託負我們這樣的責任，我們自會很輕省地扛起這個責任；憑著信心，我們努力進入上帝所賜的安息，同時拒絕陶醉在自義自滿中，那不是真正的安息，只有主耶穌自己是我們惟一的滿足，也只有浸沐在祂裏面，才能找到真正的安息。 Scripture: "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God"(Hebrews 4:9).         God has provided a Sabbath, and some must enter into it. Those to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief; therefore, that Sabbath remains for the people of God. David sang of it; but he had to touch the minor key, for Israel refused the rest of God. Joshua could not give it, nor Canaan yield it: it remains for believers.         Come, then, let us labor to enter into this rest. Let us quit the weary toil of sin and self. Let us cease from all confidence, even in those works of which it might be said, "They are very good." Have we any such? Still, let us cease from our own works, as God did from His. Now let us find solace in the finished work of our LORD Jesus. Everything is fully done: justice demands no more. Great peace is our portion in Christ Jesus.         As to providential matters, the work of grace in the soul and the work of the LORD in the souls of others, let us cast these burdens upon the LORD and rest in Him. When the LORD gives us a yoke to bear, He does so that by taking it up we may find rest. By faith we labor to enter into the rest of God, and we renounce all rest in self-satisfaction or indolence. Jesus Himself is perfect rest, and we are filled to the brim in Him.

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黑暗中的光 The Divine Light in Darkness

經文: 「必點著我的燈。」（詩篇十八︰28）

我的魂在黑暗裡，甚至我的靈也處於低潮，似乎毫無出路，沒有人能帶給我亮光、喜樂。感謝主，祂可以點亮我的燈，驅走我心中的黑暗，即使這黑暗是這樣的大，祂可以突破陰霾，立刻帶給我光明。         而且因著祂的慈悲憐憫，這燈一旦點着，就無人能吹滅，也不會因為缺油而熄滅。主所點的燈一直亮著，即使有時燈蕊要修剪，但總是永遠亮著。         讓我像夜鶯那樣，在黑暗裡歌唱。因著期待，有盼望，就使我心中充滿樂歌，而不久上帝的亮光也照臨我。現在我雖然疲乏困倦，或許是因著天氣、身體的軟弱；或是突然的打擊，無論怎樣，只有上帝能帶給我亮光。我的眼目也要單單地仰望祂，而祂的亮光也要四圍環繞我、充滿我，到一個地步，我不需要燭光，也不需日光，上帝自己要做我的光，哈利路亞！ Scripture: "For Thou wilt light my candle"(Psalm 18:28).         It may be that my soul sits in darkness; and if this be of a spiritual kind, no human power can bring me light. Blessed be God! He can enlighten my darkness and at once light my candle. Even though I may be surrounded by a "darkness which might be felt," yet He can break the gloom and immediately make it bright around me.         The mercy is that if He lights the candle none can blow it out, neither will it go out for lack of substance, nor burn out of itself through the lapse of hours. The lights which the LORD kindled in the beginning are shining still. The LORD’s lamps may need trimming, but He does not put them out.         Let me, then, listen to the nightingale sing in the dark. Expectation shall furnish me with music, and hope shall pitch the tune. Soon I shall rejoice in a candle of God’s lighting. I am dull and dreary just now. Perhaps it is the weather, or bodily weakness, or the surprise of a sudden trouble; but whatever has made the darkness, it is God alone who will bring the light. My eyes are unto Him alone. I shall soon have the candles of the LORD shining about me; and, further on in His own good time, I shall be where they need no candle, neither light of the sun. Hallelujah!

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列在被救贖中 Among the Redeemed

經文: 「這是獨居的民，不列在萬邦之中。」（民數記廿三︰9）

誰願住在列邦中，而被數算為其中之民？憑良心說，即使在教會中，要找出那些真正跟隨耶穌，完全遵行祂旨意的人也很難。大多是掛名的、冒牌的、摻雜的，以致真正的基督徒，有如鳳毛鱗角。          上帝一定會要求祂的子民走一條窄路，那是從世界分別出來的。我們是被救贖的一群，是被揀選的族類，有君尊祭司的身份和特別的呼召，我們內在的經驗也叫我們分別為聖。所以，我的家不在這浮華世界，也不在這毀滅之城，而是一條跟隨主的窄路。         這樣的信念，會使我們不在意世人的藐視與恥笑，也願意接納世人與我們有別的事實。畢竟，我們的名字是在生命冊上；我們是從聖靈而生，而非血氣而生；我們有不同的人生目標，我們是要往天家去。所以，我們是獨居的民，不列在萬邦之中，我們是列在被救贖的民當中。因此即使在我一生的日子，被世人認為是孤僻怪異，我也不以為忤，反而心中坦蕩自在。 Scripture: "Lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be redeemed among the nations"(Numbers 23:9).         Who would wish to dwell among the nations and to be numbered with them? Why, even the professing church is such that to follow the LORD fully within its bounds is very difficult. There is such a mingling and mixing that one often sighs for "a lodge in some vast wilderness."         Certain it is that the LORD would have His people follow a separated path as to the world and come out decidedly and distinctly from it. We are set apart by the divine decree, purchase, and calling, and our inward experience has made us greatly to differ from men of the world; and therefore our place is not in their Vanity Fair, nor in their City of Destruction, but in the narrow way where all true pilgrims must follow their LORD.         This may not only reconcile us to the world’s cold shoulder and sneers but even cause us to accept them with pleasure as being a part of our covenant portion. Our names are not in the same book, we are not of the same seed, we are not bound for the same place, neither are we trusting to the same guide; therefore it is well that we are not of their number. Only let us be found in the number of the redeemed, and we are content to be off and solitary to the end of the chapter.

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蒙悅納的獻祭 The Sacrifice Has Been Accepted

經文: 「耶和華若要殺我們，必不從我們手裡收納燔祭和素祭，並不將這一切事指示我們，今日也不將這些話告訴我們。」（士師記十三︰23）

這是邏輯演繹出來的一個應許，也是推理後的事實。上帝既然向瑪拿西和他的妻子啟示，要賜給他們一個兒子，不會出爾反爾，擊殺他們。這妻子推論得很對，我們也要學習她思路的發展，與上帝理論。         天父既接受了加略山的獻祭，悅納耶穌所做的犧牲，祂怎麼還會定我們的罪，置我們於死地？若是如此，代罪羔羊耶穌，不是枉死﹖所以我們不用懼怕，耶穌的被釘受死，已經為我們做成挽回祭，祂是上帝與人之間的中保。         上帝已經向我們顯明祂的揀選與接納，祂已定意要我們成為祂的新婦，與基督聯合。祂怎麼會要我們滅亡？不，祂救贖、保守我們，賜以永生。若祂棄我們於不顧，又怎麼能實踐祂的新約？從過去的見證，到未來的應許都再再保證上帝話語的真實。我們會有永生，因為我們已看到耶穌，而且在祂裏面，藉著聖靈的啟示，我們也見到天父。因著這樣的啟示，我知道信耶穌有永生。 Scripture: "If the LORD were pleased to kill us, He would not have received a burnt offering and a meat offering at our hands, neither would He have showed us all these things"(Judges 13:23).         This is a sort of promise deduced by logic. It is an inference fairly drawn from ascertained facts. It was not likely that the LORD had revealed to Manoah and his wife that a son would be born to them and yet had it in His heart to destroy them. The wife reasoned well, and we shall do well if we follow her line of argument.         The Father has accepted the great sacrifice of Calvary and has declared Himself well pleased therewith; how can He now be pleased to kill us! Why a substitute if the sinner must still perish? The accepted sacrifice of Jesus puts an end to fear.         The LORD has shown us our election, our adoption, our union to Christ, our marriage to the Well-beloved: how can He now destroy us? The promises are loaded with blessings, which necessitate our being preserved unto eternal life. It is not possible for the LORD to cast us away and yet fulfill His covenant. The past assures us, and the future reassures us. We shall not die but live, for we have seen Jesus, and in Him we have seen the Father by the illumination of the Holy Ghost. Because of this life-giving sight we must live forever.

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生命之河 The Life-Giving Stream

經文: 「這河水所到之處，凡滋生的動物都必生活……這河水所到之處，百物都必生活。」（以西結書四十七︰9）

在先知的眼中，活水流進死海，也把生命帶進停滯的湖泊。當恩典流過，屬靈的生命就復甦發旺。至高無上的恩典憐憫，按著上帝的心意發出，就像河川按著它既有的計劃，蜿蜒向前流著，無論它往那兒去，它並沒有等著生命進來，而它本身快速地流動，就帶出生命來。喔，它流向街道，湧向社區，甚至進到屋子，讓每個房間都漲滿了水。         喔，主啊，讓生命的活水流到我的家庭、我的親朋好友，我希望我飲於這活水的泉源，而且是浸沐在其間，可以游泳在其中。喔，我的救主，我需要更豐盛的生命，求祢充滿我，使我身體的每一部份都充滿的生命活力。         我是一根乾枯可憐的木杖，我求祢來滋潤我，就像亞倫的杖那樣，會發芽開花，甚至結果，以榮耀祢。主啊，求祢速來，為了主名的緣故，阿門。 Scripture: "And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live"(Ezekiel 47:9).         The living waters, in the prophet’s vision, flowed into the Dead Sea and carried life with them, even into that stagnant lake. Where grace goes, spiritual life is the immediate and the everlasting consequence. Grace proceeds sovereignly according to the will of God, even as a river in all its windings follows its own sweet will; and wherever it comes it does not wait for life to come to it, but it creates life by its own quickening flow. Oh, that it would pour along our streets and flood our slums! Oh, that it would now come into my house and rise till every chamber were made to swim with it! LORD, let the living water flow to my family and my friends, and let it not pass me by. I hope I have drunk of it already; but I desire to bathe in it, yea, to swim in it. O my Savior, I need life more abundantly. Come to me, I pray Thee, till every part of my nature is vividly energetic and intensely active. Living God, I pray Thee, fill me with Thine own life.         I am a poor, dry stick; come and make me so to live that, like Aaron’s rod, I may bud and blossom and bring forth fruit unto Thy glory. Quicken me, for the sake of my LORD Jesus. Amen.

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去蕪存菁 Deliverance from Dust and Chaff

經文: 「我必出令，將以色列家分散在列國中，好像用篩子篩穀，連一粒也不落在地上。」（阿摩司書九︰9）

上帝要繼續做篩選的工作。無論我往那兒去，我們都要歷經考驗與篩選；在各邦，上帝的選民都要像麥穗經過打穀機。魔鬼甚至猛力地翻動畚箕，想把信徒從裡面摔出去。世界不信上帝的潮流，也不斷衝擊我們的信仰，使我們落入恐懼與驚慌。世人更在一旁冷嘲熱諷，想激動我們的心，偏離正道。更糟的是，教會中變節背道的層出不窮，使得動盪不安的局面，更是雪上加霜，變本加厲。         唉，讓這樣局勢繼續下去吧！所謂板蕩識忠臣，疾風知勁草；而上帝的恩典是這樣保守我們，有如經文最後一節說的「連一粒也不落在地上。」那些好的穀粒都會被存留，好的信徒一個也不流失。若真有什麼損失，對信徒而言，身外之物的損失，也算不得什麼損失。只要我們活在基督裏，我們是絕不會有被篩落而遭淘汰的命運。 Scripture: "For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all sections, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth"(Amos 9:9).         The sifting process is going on still. Wherever we go, we are still being winnowed and sifted. In all countries God’s people are being tried "like as corn is sifted in a sieve." Sometimes the devil holds the sieve and tosses us up and down at a great rate, with the earnest desire to get rid of us forever. Unbelief is not slow to agitate our heart and mind with its restless fears. The world lends a willing hand at the same process and shakes us to the right and to the left with great vigor. Worst of all, the church, so largely apostate as it is, comes in to give a more furious force to the sifting process.         Well, well! Let it go on. Thus is the chaff severed from the wheat. Thus is the wheat delivered from dust and chaff. And how great is the mercy which comes to us in the text, "Yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth"! All shall be preserved that is good, true, gracious. Not one of the least of believers lose anything worth calling a loss. We shall be so kept in the sifting that it shall be a real gain to us through Christ Jesus.

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完美的祝福 Broad Rivers Without Galleys

經文: 「在那裡，耶和華必顯威嚴與我們同在，當作江河寬闊之地；其中必沒有盪槳搖櫓的船來往，也沒有威武的船經過。」（以賽亞書卅三︰21）

世事無十全十美，水能載舟亦能覆舟，凡事有利也有弊。然而上帝對我們卻不是如此，祂全然美好。一個城邑有大河流過，雖有利灌溉發電，但敵人的戰艦也可順勢而上。但上帝把豐富的恩典賞賜給我們，祂卻沒有把不好的東西，附加其上。因祂完全的大愛，獻上我的感謝。         主啊，若祢加添我財富，莫讓世俗的虛榮感爬進我心；若祢賜我幸福健康，也求祢莫讓我好逸惡勞，死於安樂；若讓我在祢聖工上有份，而且能做得有聲有色，極為興旺，千萬別讓我沾沾自喜，得意忘形。主啊，在祢的豐盛祝福中，莫讓我們為富不仁，或鄙視弱者，或是搶了祢應得的榮耀。主啊，在順境中，別讓我忘記這全是領受的，我豈可驕傲偏執，以致輕慢得罪上帝。 Scripture: "But there the glorious LORD will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby"(Isaiah 33:21).         The LORD will be to us the greatest good without any of the drawbacks which seem necessarily to attend the best earthly things. If a city is favored with broad rivers, it is liable to be attacked by galleys with oars and other ships of war. But when the LORD represents the abundance of His bounty under this figure, He takes care expressly to shut out the fear which the metaphor might suggest. Blessed be His perfect love!         LORD, if Thou send me wealth like broad rivers, do not let the galley with oars come up in the shape of worldliness or pride. If Thou grant me abundant health and happy spirits, do not let "the gallant ship" of carnal ease come sailing up the flowing flood. If I have success in holy service, broad as the German Rhine, yet let me never find the galley of self-conceit and self-confidence floating on the waves of my usefulness. Should I be so supremely happy as to enjoy the light of Thy countenance year after year, yet let me never despise Thy feeble saints, nor allow the vain notion of my own perfection to sail up the broad rivers of my full assurance. LORD, give me that blessing which maketh rich and neither addeth sorrow nor aideth sin.

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患難生忍耐 Let Trials Bless

經文: 「患難生忍耐。」（羅馬書五︰3）

這不是空口說白話的應許，惟有歷經患難，我們才能獲得所需要的忍耐。我們必須從忍受苦難中，才能學會忍耐，就像人必須親自下水，才能學會游泳一樣。你無法只看游泳手冊而學會游泳，也無法不經受苦而學會忍耐。為了學會上帝要我們培養的「耐性」美德，受些苦難與操練，又算得什麼？         這節經文明顯應許的成就，不是靠自己的力量，乃靠上帝的幫助。因為按著人的本性，在患難痛苦中，人的正常反應是沮喪抱怨，掙扎反抗；惟有上帝的恩典，才能幫助我們接受現狀，不再掙扎，學會忍耐。我們打麥得穗，上帝也要用環境磨練我們，用難纏的人激動我們，用不如意的事攪擾我們，使我們煉盡渣滓，去蕪存菁，學習信心、忍耐的功課，這實在是上帝智慧的作為。         喔，主啊，讓這應許成就在我身上！我希望苦難能離開我，但我也期盼「沒有耐心」的性情能離開我！親愛的主，求祢背十字架的身影，忍耐的形象能深印在我心版上。 Scripture: "Knowing that tribulation worketh patience"(Romans 5:3).         This is a promise in essence if not in form. We have need of patience, and here we see the way of getting it. It is only by enduring that we learn to endure, even as by swimming men learn to swim. You could not learn that art on dry land, nor learn patience without trouble. Is it not worth while to suffer tribulation for the sake of gaining that beautiful equanimity of mind which quietly acquiesces in all the will of God?         Yet our text sets forth a singular fact, which is not according to nature but is supernatural. Tribulation in and of itself worketh petulance, unbelief, and rebellion. It is only by the sacred alchemy of grace that it is made to work in us patience. We do not thresh the wheat to lay the dust: yet the flail of tribulation does this upon God’s floor. We do not toss a man about in order to give him rest, and yet so the LORD dealeth with His children. Truly this is not the manner of man but greatly redounds to the glory of our all-wise God.         Oh, for grace to let my trials bless me! Why should I wish to stay their gracious operation? LORD, I ask Thee to remove my affliction, but I beseech Thee ten times more to remove my impatience. Precious LORD Jesus, with Thy cross engrave the image of Thy patience on my heart.

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