| 經文: 「知道自己有更美更長存的家業。」(希伯來書十：34)
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旅居在世的產業有如過眼雲煙，都會過去；但上帝應許的天上產業必永遠長存。因著我們心眼被開啟，我們確知天上有一份產業為我存留。
有人說：「一鳥在手勝於二鳥在林。」天堂的應許對一般人而言，或許過於虛無渺茫；但我們確信，我們不僅有來生的盼望，也有今生的福份，我們不只聽說有這等事情，更是內心有這樣的確據與把握。
想到生命彼岸更美好的家鄉，豈不讓我們更加看淡今生身外之物的損失﹖我們錢財會被偷被搶，但天上的財寶卻是安全的。因為主活著，祂在天上已為我們預備地方；因著更美之約，我們盼望一個更美的家鄉，更好的產業在天上。所以，讓我們歡欣高唱：「主啊，每天我要歌頌祢的名到永遠。」
| Scripture: "Knowing in yourselves that ye have in Heaven a better and an enduring substance"(Hebrews 10:34).
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This is well. Our substance here is very unsubstantial; there is no substance in it. But God has given us a promise of real estate in the gloryland, and that promise comes to our hearts with such full assurance of its certainty that we know in ourselves that we have an enduring substance there. Yes, "we have" it even now.
They say, "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush," but we have our bird in the bush and in the hand, too. Heaven is even now our own. We have the title deed of it, we have the earnest of it, we have the firstfruits of it. We have heaven in price, in promise, and in principle; this we know not only by the hearing of the ear but "in ourselves."
Should not the thought of the better substance on the other side of Jordan reconcile us to present losses? Our spending money we may lose, but our treasure is safe. We have lost the shadows, but the substance remains, for our Savior lives, and the place which He has prepared for us abides. There is a better land, a better substance, a better promise; and all this comes to us by a better covenant; wherefore, let us be in better spirits, and say unto the LORD, "Every day will I bless thee; and praise thy name for ever and ever." |
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| 經文: 「他必不怕兇惡的信息；他心堅定，倚靠耶和華。」(詩篇一一二：7)
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若你的家人深夜未歸，你的心一定焦急掛慮，深恐意外發生，即使人家勸你說：「沒有消息就是好消息。」你還是放不下這顆心。此時，信心就是最佳的安定劑。上帝藉著聖靈把我們的心安置在穩妥的隱密處，對現在或未來，都不再擔憂恐懼。
詩篇所說的這種內心的安穩篤定，是有待我們竭力地去追求，這不僅是相信上帝這個應許或那個應許而已，乃是一種對上帝毫不動搖的信心。我們堅信上帝不會加害我們，或使別人受苦而傷我們的心，這種持續的信心讓我們能面對已知或未知的各樣磨難挑戰。無論發生任何事，耶和華上帝是我永遠的上帝，我就是決心要信靠祂到底。即使最不幸的事臨到，我們的上帝仍然是最偉大、最好的上帝。所以，我們不必害怕郵差突然的電鈴，或半夜的電報；上帝活著，祂的孩子們怕什麼﹖
| Scripture: "He shall not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD"(Psalm 112:7).
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Suspense is dreadful. When we have no news from home, we are apt to grow anxious, and we cannot be persuaded that "no news is good news." Faith is the cure for this condition of sadness; the LORD by His Spirit settles the mind in holy serenity, and all fear is gone as to the future as well as the present.
The fixedness of heart spoken of by the psalmist is to be diligently sought after. It is not believing this or that promise of the LORD, but the general condition of unstaggering trustfulness in our God, the confidence which we have in Him that He will neither do us ill Himself nor suffer anyone else to harm us. This constant confidence meets the unknown as well as the known of life. Let the morrow be what it may, our God is the God of tomorrow. Whatever events may have happened, which to us are unknown, our Jehovah is God of the unknown as well as of the known. We are determined to trust the LORD, come what may. If the very worst should happen, our God is still the greatest and best. Therefore will we not fear though the postman’s knock should startle us or a telegram wake us at midnight. The LORD liveth, and what can His children fear? |
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| 經文: 「口吐真言，永遠堅立；舌說謊言，只存片時。」(箴言十二：19)
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時間考驗真理，而真理像真金，不怕火燒，經得住時間的考驗；因此，我若因說真話而受苦，我必須心平氣和地等待真相大白。我若真心相信上帝，並竭力地宣揚此真理，我也必會遇到許多磨難，但我不用害怕，最終真理必得勝。
「舌說謊言，只存片時。」假象雖能暫時迷惑人心，但那結果不過如花，稍縱即逝，多麼可悲；它越快發旺，也越快凋謝。反之，不朽的真理，卻永不改變；古老的福音，建立在永生上帝的磐石上，歷久彌新，越陳越香。有句格言「那說真話的使撒但蒙羞。」千真萬確地那傳揚上帝真理的，必使撒但抱愧蒙羞下到地獄；毒蛇的種類雖吐出虛假虺氣，終究必歸於滅亡。
信徒啊，無論大小事，保守你的心在真理這一邊，尤其要站在上帝這邊，祂必施恩給你。
| Scripture: "The lip of Truth shall be established for ever; but a lying tongue is but for a moment"(Proverbs 12:19).
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Truth wears well. Time tests it, but it right well endures the trial. If then, I have spoken the truth and have for the present to suffer for it, I must be content to wait. If also I believe the truth of God and endeavor to declare it, I may meet with much opposition, but I need not fear, for ultimately the truth must prevail.
What a poor thing is the temporary triumph of falsehood! "A lying lip is but for a moment!" It is a mere gourd which comes up in a night and perishes in a night; and the greater its development the more manifest its decay. On the other hand, how worthy of an immortal being is the avowal and defense of that truth which can never change; the everlasting gospel, which is established in the immutable truth of an unchanging God! An old proverb saith, "He that speaks truth shames the devil." Assuredly he that speaks the truth of God will put to shame all the devils in hell and confound all the seed of the serpent which now hiss out their falsehoods.
O my heart, take care that thou be in all things on the side of truth, both in small things and great; but specially, on the side of Him by whom grace and truth have come among men! |
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| 經文: 「你們倒要稱為耶和華的祭司。」(以賽亞書六十一：6)
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按字面上看，這經文是對以色列人講的，從屬靈的意義而言，這是對所有信徒說的。我們既有這等特權為上帝的祭司，就當過聖潔生活，讓別人看出我們真是分別為聖，在上帝面前過祭司的生活。我們或可全職出來傳道，或仍照常上班工作，無論怎麼，我們惟一的職份乃是常以禱告、讚美為祭獻給上帝，並且靠著耶穌，敬虔度日，見證這位永生上帝。
這是我們惟一的目標，至於那些沒有這樣呼召的人，他們儘可繼續從政從商，研究科學，分析法律。經上記著說：「讓死人埋葬他們的死人吧。」「讓陌生人看管你的羊群，耕種你的田地吧。」但我們要將自己獻上，像耶穌那樣，做上帝永遠的祭司。
接受這尊貴的職事，意謂著肩負著神聖的責任，讓我們穿上細麻布的以弗得（祭司之服），日夜侍奉在上帝面前。
| Scripture: "Ye shall be named the priests of the LORD"(Isaiah 61:6).
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This literal promise to Israel belongs spiritually to the seed after the Spirit, namely, to all believers. If we live up to our privileges, we shall live unto God so clearly and distinctly that men shall see that we are set apart for holy service and shall name us the priests of the LORD. We may work or trade as others do, and yet we may be solely and wholly the ministering servants of God. Our one occupation shall be to present the perpetual sacrifice of prayer, and praise, and testimony, and self-consecration to the living God by Jesus Christ.
This being our one aim, we may leave distracting concerns to those who have no higher calling. "Let the dead bury their dead." It is written, "Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vine-dressers." They may manage politics, puzzle out financial problems, discuss science, and settle the last new quibbles of criticism; but we will give ourselves unto such service as becomes those who, like the LORD Jesus, are ordained to a perpetual priesthood.
Accepting this honorable promise as involving a sacred duty, let us put on the vestments of holiness and minister before the LORD all day long. |
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| 經文: 「你們若常在我裏面，我的話也常在你們裏面，凡你們所願意的，祈求就給你們成就。」(約翰福音十五：7)
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要注意，若我們希望上帝聽我們祈禱，我們也必須聽上帝向我們說什麼，若我們沒心聽祂，祂也會如此，因為祈禱乃是雙向溝通。
並且，我們所聽到的，必須持久停留在我們心中，並且內化成我們性格的一部份，這樣才有一股力量行出來。我們必須接受聖經的教導，祂所說的箴言，以及聖靈在我們心中的運行和帶領，如此我們才能過一個由聖靈掌管的生活。
若我們將主的話存記在心，並晝夜思想，那將有多麼大的福份為我們開啟！我們可以用我們的意志禱告，因為我們已將意志降服在主的旨意下，那就是為什麼以利亞可以禱告，讓天閉塞，它就閉塞，要天下雨就下雨。一個這樣的基督徒，勝過千萬個普普通通的基督徒。我們是否渴望成為世界禾田和教會聖工的代禱勇士﹖那麼我們必須俯首傾聽主的聲音，謹守遵行祂的命令，惟有那明白上帝心意的，才能有效地禱告。
| Scripture: "If ye abide in Me, and My Words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you"(John 15:7).
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Note well that we must hear Jesus speak if we expect Him to hear us speak. If we have no ear for Christ, He will have no ear for us. In proportion as we hear we shall be heard.
Moreover, what is heard must remain, must live in us, and must abide in our character as a force and a power. We must receive the truths which Jesus taught, the precepts which He issued, and the movements of His Spirit within us; or we shall have no power at the Mercy Seat.
Suppose our LORD’s words to be received and to abide in us, what a boundless field of privilege is opened up to us! We are to have our will in prayer, because we have already surrendered our will to the LORD’s command. Thus are Elijahs trained to handle the keys of heaven and lock or loose the clouds. One such man is worth a thousand common Christians. Do we humbly desire to be intercessors for the church and the world, and like Luther to be able to have what we will of the LORD? Then we must bow our ear to the voice of the Well-beloved, treasure up His words, and carefully obey them. He has need to "hearken diligently" who would pray effectually. |
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| 經文: 「你們若常在我裏面，我的話也常在你們裏面，凡你們所願意的，祈求就給你們成就。」(約翰福音十五：7)
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為主而活，我們必須住在基督裏；並且，我們住在祂裏面，才能從這應許支取最大的福份。要住在主裏面，我們就得以祂居首位，除去其他的愛慕或偶像，單單地戀慕住在祂裏面，並渴慕與祂連結在一起。枝子不僅是靠近根莖而已，乃是不斷地從樹幹吸取養份、生命。從某方面說，所有的基督徒是在主裏面，但這還有更深一層的含義，而這只有在我們真了解這含義後，方能從祂寶座得到浩大的能力。「凡你們所願的」，這話是對與上帝同行的以諾說的，也是對在主懷裏的約翰說的，更是對那些與上帝緊緊契合的信徒說的。
我們的心要住在主愛裏，我們的意志要根植在信心內，我們的希望要像水泥般凝結在上帝話語上，我們的全人要和上帝連在一起；否則，我們以為憑著自己熱心禱告，就能得能力，這是很危險的。「祈求就給你們成就」，這應許是給那些「不再是我，乃是耶穌活在我裏面」的人。若你沒和耶穌聯合，你的能力就流失！若你想要禱告有能力，你就要讓主住在你裏面，你也住在主裏面。
| Scripture: "If ye abide in Me, and My Words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you"(John 15:7).
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Of necessity we must be in Christ to live unto Him, and we must abide in Him to be able to claim the largesse of this promise from Him. To abide in Jesus is never to quit Him for another love or another object, but to remain in living, loving, conscious, willing union with Him. The branch is not only ever near the stem but ever receiving life and fruitfulness from it. All true believers abide in Christ in a sense; but there is a higher meaning, and this we must know before we can gain unlimited power at the throne. "Ask what ye will" is for Enochs who walk with God, for Johns who lie in the LORD’s bosom, for those whose union with Christ leads to constant communion.
The heart must remain in love, the mind must be rooted in faith, the hope must be cemented to the Word, the whole man must be joined unto the LORD, or else it would be dangerous to trust us with power in prayer. The carte blanche can only be given to one whose very life is, "Not I, but Christ liveth in me." O you who break your fellowship, what power you lose! If you would be mighty in your pleadings, the LORD Himself must abide in you, and you in Him. |
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| 經文: 「大衛又說：耶和華救我脫離獅子和熊的爪，也必救我脫離這非利士人的手。」(撒母耳記上十七：37)
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乍眼一看，這經文不像應許，但從另一角度看，它的確是；尤其對大衛而言，更是千真萬確的親身經歷，因此在面臨新危險時，他因著過去上帝的拯救，而呼求上帝的幫助。為了上帝榮耀之名的緣故，所有應許在耶穌裡都是「阿門（是的）」。上帝奇妙的作為，在信的人身上，會一再重覆顯現。 來吧，讓我們數算主恩。我們不能巴望靠著自己的力量得拯救，只有上帝才能釋放人的受綑綁。難道他不會再度施行拯救﹖祂必定會的。讓我們像大衛一般地迎戰仇敵，上帝曾經與我們同在，祂現在也必與我們同在。祂曾說：「我不離開你，也不遺棄你。」我們為何害怕發抖﹖過去難道只是場夢﹖想想獅子和熊的屍體！誰是那非利士人﹖不錯，他不是獅子或熊，但上帝永遠是上帝，上帝在任何情況下都一樣，祂不會把你從兇猛惡獸口中救出來，卻讓你死在巨人手下。來吧，讓我們信心百倍，勇氣十足地面對仇敵。
| Scripture: "David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, He will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine"(1 Samuel 17:37).
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This is not a promise if we consider only the words, but it is truly so as to its sense; for David spoke a word which the LORD endorsed by making it true. He argued from past deliverance’s that he should receive help in a new danger. In Jesus all the promises are "Yea" and "Amen" to the glory of God by us, and so the LORD’s former dealings with His believing people will be repeated.
Come, then, let us recall the LORD’s former lovingkindness. We could not have hoped to be delivered aforetime by our own strength; yet the LORD delivered us. Will He not again save us? We are sure He will. As David ran to meet his foe, so will we. The LORD has been with us, He is with us, and He has said, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." Why do we tremble? Was the past a dream? Think of the dead bear and lion. Who is this Philistine? True, he is not quite the same, and is neither bear nor lion; but then God is the same, and His honor is as much concerned in the one case as in the other. He did not save us from the beasts of the forest to let a giant kill us. Let us be of good courage. |
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| 經文: 「凡敬畏耶和華的，無論大小，主必賜福給他。」(詩篇一一五：13)
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這是對那些卑微渺小、位低言微者的一帖振奮劑，上帝對那些貧寒者，無才華者，無顯赫地位者，總是特別眷顧；所以祂連一隻小麻雀落地，祂都在意，因為沒有任何事在上帝眼中是微不足道的。祂能化腐朽為神奇，即使是最不起眼的小弟兄，只要他有一顆尋求上帝的心，他的軟弱必轉為剛強，也必蒙福而成為一個快樂的人。
那些敬畏上帝的人中，有巨人，也有小孩，有偉大的，也有渺小的，但他們都是被祝福的。戰戰兢兢相信的，或是信心微小如芝麻的，都有聖靈的恩典與祝福在其中。並且，上帝對他們一視同仁，祂寶血的功效，對他們都是一樣的。祂看顧大羊，更眷顧小羊羔；沒有一個母親會因嬰兒太小而忽略它，越是小，母親越是寶貝乳養它。若上帝也會偏心的話，祂會愛小羊勝於大羊的。
| Scripture: "He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great"(Psalm 115:13).
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This is a word of cheer to those who are of humble station and mean estate. Our God has a very gracious consideration for those of small property, small talent, small influence, small weight. God careth for the small things in creation and even regards sparrows in their lighting upon the ground. Nothing is small to God, for He makes use of insignificant agents for the accomplishment of His purposes. Let the least among men seek of God a blessing upon his littleness, and he shall find his contracted sphere to be a happy one.
Among those who fear the LORD there are little and great. Some are babes, and others are giants. But these are all blessed. Little faith is blessed faith. Trembling hope is blessed hope. Every grace of the Holy Spirit, even though it be only in the bud, bears a blessing within it. Moreover, the LORD Jesus bought both the small and the great with the same precious blood, and He has engaged to preserve the lambs as well as the full-grown sheep. No mother overlooks her child because it is little; nay, the smaller it is, the more tenderly does she nurse it. If there be any preference with the LORD, He does not arrange them as "great and small" but as "small and great." |
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| 經文: 「耶和華也必時常引導你。」(以賽亞書五十八：11)
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有什麼事煩擾你﹖你迷失方向了嗎﹖你是否陷在如迷宮般的黑暗森林，找不到出路﹖安靜站著，看看上帝如何為你施行拯救。若你向祂呼求，祂必指引你的路。
每天都有不同的遭遇，想到上帝會不斷地帶領我們，這是多麼甘甜！若我們選擇求助於一般屬血氣的人，我們就得不到上帝的帶領。但我們若棄絕自我的私意，上帝就會每天每時每刻，一步一步地帶領我；若我願意真正委身於上帝，祂就會一生一世地帶領我們，叫我們永不迷失。
但這應許的前一節：「你要向飢餓的人發憐憫的心。」提醒我們上帝是向這樣的人守約施慈愛。我們必須樂於捨去，不是施點小惠而已，乃是「己之所欲，施之於人」，願意慷慨給予。若我們向有需要的人，適時伸援手，上帝祂必看顧我們的需要，且時時引領我們。那欺壓善良的不義者，耶穌沒法帶領他，只有那些心地純良，樂善好施的，耶穌必帶領他們奔走天路，永不迷失。
| Scripture: "The LORD shall guide thee continually"(Isaiah 58:11).
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What aileth thee? Hast thou lost thy way? Art thou entangled in a dark wood and canst thou not find thy paths? Stand still, and see the salvation of God. He knows the way, and He will direct thee in it if thou cry unto Him.
Every day brings its own perplexity. How sweet to feel that the guidance of the LORD is continual! If we choose our own way or consult with flesh and blood we cast away the LORD’s guidance; but if we abstain from self-will, then He will direct every step of our road, every hour of the day, and every day of the year, and every year of our life. If we will but be guided, we shall be guided. If we will commit our way unto the LORD, He will direct our course so that we shall not lose ourselves.
But note to whom this promise is made. Read the previous verse: "If thou draw out thy soul to the hungry." We must feel for others and give them, not a few dry crusts, but such things as we ourselves would wish to receive. If we show a tender care for our fellow-creatures in the hour of their need, then will the LORD attend to our necessities and make Himself our continual Guide. Jesus is the Leader, not of misers, nor of those who oppress the poor, but of the kind and tenderhearted. Such persons are pilgrims who shall never miss their way. |
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| 經文: 「我雖然使你受苦，卻不再使你受苦。」(那鴻書一：12)
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受苦終有結束之期，上帝賜下患難，也必挪開它。別忘了我們渡完在世寄居的日子，也是我們息了地上勞苦之日。所以，且讓我們安靜等候，存心忍耐，直到主來的日子。
同時，等我們受管教之後，上帝也會拿走杖和竿。等我們承認自己的愚蠢後，上帝就不會繼續責打。若這苦難是為了考驗我們，那麼等我們擺出美好的見證在人前榮耀上帝時，苦難就會離開我們。我們必須完全降服在主前，讓主完全得著我們時，方求苦難離去。
天有不測風雲，人有旦夕禍福，無論禍福，一切都掌管在上帝手中。有時患難好似遙遙無止盡之期，但終究上帝會把我們的眼淚化為歡笑。在上帝沒有難成的事，祂能讓黑夜變白晝，使烏雲變晴空，讓我們樂觀積極的往前看，向前行，因著盼望，高唱哈利路亞，讚美上帝。
| Scripture: "Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more"(Nahum 1:12).
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There is a limit to affliction. God sends it, and God removes it. Do you sigh and say, "When will the end be?" Remember that our griefs will surely and finally end when this poor earthly life is over. Let us quietly wait and patiently endure the will of the LORD till He cometh.
Meanwhile, our Father in heaven takes away the rod when His design in using it is fully served. When He has whipped away our folly, there will be no more strokes. Or, if the affliction is sent for testing us, that our graces may glorify God, it will end when the LORD has made us bear witness to His praise. We would not wish the affliction to depart till God has gotten out of us all the honor which we can possibly yield Him.
There may today be "a great calm." Who knows how soon those raging billows will give place to a sea of glass, and the sea birds sit on the gentle waves? After long tribulation the flail is hung up, and the wheat rests in the garner. We may, before many hours are past, be just as happy as now we are sorrowful. It is not hard for the LORD to turn night into day. He that sends the clouds can as easily clear the skies. Let us be of good cheer. It is better on before. Let us sing hallelujah by anticipation. |
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