上帝要搭救 An Appeal; Deliverance

經文: 「並要在患難之日求告我；我必搭救你，你也要榮耀我。」（詩篇五十︰15）

這的確是一個應許！在患難之日，眼看山窮水盡，前途暗淡，一切指望都沒了。這經節還管用嗎﹖這應許仍然是對我的嗎﹖         是的，上帝說︰「來求告我。」這應該是基督徒每日的習慣，無需特別耳提面命。我們能自由地來到祂的施恩寶座前，那是何等大的恩典！我們能善用禱告的權利，是何等的智慧！去倚靠人，尋求他們的幫助，是何等不智！上帝要我們把重擔卸在祂腳前，祂當然會承擔我們交託給祂的事情。          而且祂進一步保證︰「我必搭救你。」無論怎樣的麻煩，只要上帝插手，一切難處將迎刃而解，你也會逢凶化吉，相信這應許，上帝必不叫仰望祂的人羞愧。          最後，上帝說︰「你要榮耀我！」當我得拯救，我們禁不住要高聲讚美祂。就因為上帝真的會這麼做，讓我們從現在就立刻開口讚美祂！ Scripture: "And call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me"(Psalm 50:15).         This is a promise indeed!         Here is an urgent occasion — "the day of trouble." It is dark at noon on such a day, and every hour seems blacker than the one which came before it. Then is this promise in season: it is written for the cloudy day.         Here is condescending advice, "Call upon me." We ought not to need the exhortation: it should be our constant habit all the day and every day. What a mercy to have liberty to call upon God! What wisdom to make good use of it! How foolish to go running about to men! The LORD invites us to lay our case before Him, and surely we will not hesitate to do so.         Here is reassuring encouragement: "I will deliver thee." Whatever the trouble may be, the LORD makes no exceptions but promises full, sure, happy deliverance. He will Himself work out our deliverance by His own hand. We believe it, and the LORD honors faith.         Here is an ultimate result: "Thou shalt glorify Me." Ah, that we will do most abundantly. When He has delivered us we will loudly praise Him; and as He is sure to do it, let us begin to glorify Him at once.

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天上相見 Promise of Future Meeting

經文: 「我要再見你們，你們的心就喜樂了。」（約翰福音十六︰22）

耶穌必會再來，到那時候，我與祂，祂與我，要再相見，那是何等歡欣快樂的時刻！          但這應許在另一方面，也可以每天實現；當我們又因犯罪而憂傷痛悔時，上帝就再次表現原諒我們，並用祂的話潔淨我們。祂已經向我們啟示，上帝已接納我們，若我們對這應許，仍有些許疑慮，祂就會再次向我們顯現，並多保證︰「上帝的平安必與你同在。」我們就能放心。         親愛的弟兄姊妹，你若嚐過主恩的滋味，就知道上帝的慈愛是昔在今在。若耶穌曾與我們同在，將來我們也要與祂再相見。要常計算主的恩典，切莫輕忽遺忘，反要更深經歷主的信實與恩典。你現在正處於靈性低潮，覺得上帝遠離你嗎﹖振作起來！祂就在附近，祂就要來與你見面，讓我們快快轉換心情，再次充滿喜樂與期待。 Scripture: "l will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice"(John 16:22).         Surely He will come a second time, and then, when He sees us and we see Him, there will be rejoicings indeed. Oh, for that joyous return! But this promise is being dainty fulfilled in another sense. Our gracious LORD has many "agains" in His dealings with us. He gave us pardon, and He sees us again and repeats the absolving word as fresh sins cause us grief. He has revealed to us our acceptance before God, and when our faith in that blessing grows a little dim, He comes to us again and again and says, "Peace be unto you," and our hearts are glad.         Beloved, all our past mercies are tokens of future mercies. If Jesus has been with us, He will see us again. Look upon no former favor as a dead and buried thing, to be mourned over; but regard it as a seed sown, which will grow, and push its head up from the dust, and cry, "I will see you again." Are the times dark because Jesus is not with us as He used to be? Let us pluck up courage; for He will not be long away. His feet are as those of a roe or young hart, and they will soon bring Him to us. Wherefore let us begin to be joyous, since He saith to us even now, "I will see you again."

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趕出仇敵 He Routs Our Enemy

經文: 「耶和華……趕出你的仇敵。」（西番雅書三︰15）

這是何等有力的宣告︰趕出仇敵！撒但不能在我們心中作王，就像牠在天上無位無份一樣。我們已接受主耶穌做王，我們的肢體不再做罪的奴僕。牠可以讓我們憂慮，但無法宣稱我們屬於牠，上帝已經釋放了我們，我們與牠不再有任何牽連或瓜葛。          但牠仍然會控告我們，即使牠站在這樣的位置，上帝仍要斥責牠，將牠趕走，並為我們辯護、代求。所以，無論撒但怎樣囂張，傷害是不會臨到我們。          撒但是引誘者，這邪惡的靈總是設法乘虛而入，引誘我們的心偏離正道；但像其先祖那樣，牠已被咒詛趕走，像蛇那樣彎曲匐行，無法統治駕馭我們。但一有機會，牠總要灌輸我們褻瀆的思想。感謝上帝，上帝已喝斥，叫牠安靜，牠只好像落難的狗，夾著尾巴乖乖地走開。         主啊，若有人正為仇敵的叫囂而膽戰心驚，斥責牠們，把仇敵趕走，讓你在孩子面前，顯為榮耀。趕走仇敵，把牠們從世界上趕出。 Scripture: "He hath cast out thine enemy"(Zephaniah 3:15).         What a casting out was that! Satan has lost his throne in our nature even as he lost his seat in heaven. Our LORD Jesus has destroyed the enemy’s reigning power over us. He may worry us, but he cannot claim us as his own. His bonds are no longer upon our spirits: the Son has made us free, and we are free indeed.         Still is the archenemy the accuser of the brethren; but even from this position our LORD has driven him. Our Advocate silences our accuser. The LORD rebukes our enemies and pleads the causes of our soul, so that no harm comes of all the devil’s revilings.         As a tempter, the evil spirit still assails us and insinuates himself into our minds; but thence also is he cast out as to his former preeminence. He wriggles about like a serpent, but he cannot rule like a sovereign. He hurls in blasphemous thoughts when he has opportunity; but what a relief it is when he is told to be quiet and is made to slink off like a whipped cur! LORD, do this for any who are at this time worried and wearied by his barkings. Cast out their enemy, and be Thou glorious in their eyes. Thou hast cast him down; LORD, cast him out. Oh, that Thou wouldst banish him from the world!

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自卑的必升高 Bow Down; Be Lifted Up

經文: 「所以，你們要自卑，服在上帝大能的手下，到了時候，祂必叫你們升高。」（彼得前書五︰6）

這是先決條件︰我們若自卑，上帝就要將我們升高。謙卑引我們到尊榮，順服在高升之先。那把我們降卑的上帝，正等著，當我們預備好能接受祝福時，祂要把我們升高。那些懦弱屈服於人的淫威者，得不著他們所渴望的幫助與支持；反之，那些在上帝的手中自卑者，卻要受膏抹，得安慰，被扶持、堅立，並高舉。因為上帝一向是打擊驕傲者，祝福謙卑人。          我們需要給上帝機會做工，現在正是我們謙卑的時候，而且不管上帝怎樣對待我們，我們都要一直保持謙卑的心。當上帝擊打我們，我們的責任，就是要絕對順服，接受煉淨的工作。至於何時我們得以高舉，那就得看上帝的意思。我們是否哭求那時刻趕快來到﹖我們是否迫不及待地要上帝把管教的杖挪開﹖若是這樣，我們尚未真正謙卑下來，且讓我們學習如何在上帝面前安靜順服。 Scripture: "Humble yourselves therefore order the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time"(1 Peter 5:6).         This is tantamount to a promise: if we will bow down, the LORD will lift us up. Humility leads to honor; submission is the way to exaltation. That same hand of God which presses us down is waiting to raise us up when we are prepared to bear the blessing. We stoop to conquer. Many cringe before men and yet miss the patronage they crave; but he that humbles himself under the hand of God shall not fail to be enriched, uplifted, sustained, and comforted by the ever-gracious One. It is a habit of Jehovah to cast down the proud and lift up the lowly.         Yet there is a time for the LORD’s working. We ought now to humble ourselves, even at this present moment; and we are bound to keep on doing so whether the LORD lays His afflicting hand upon us or not. When the LORD smites, it is our special duty to accept the chastisement with profound submission. But as for the LORD’s exaltation of us, that can only come "in due time," and God is the best judge of that day and hour. Do we cry out impatiently for the blessing? Would we wish for untimely honor? What are we at? Surely we are not truly humbled, or we should wait with quiet submission. So let us do.

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上帝說話算話 More than Mere Words

經文: 「我必將所應許大衛那聖潔、可靠的恩典賜給你們。」（使徒行傳十三︰34）

人會失信，但上帝卻永不失信；尤其上帝的恩典，更是確鑿可靠，就如同祂向大衛所應許的︰這約所應許的一切都是真實確定。          我們確知上帝祂絕對說話算話，祂的每個應許都不致落空，祂的恩典永遠常存，縱然這應許眼看因著某種原因要泡湯，但上帝必要使祂的話有效。         我們確信上帝的選民，無分貴賤，只要存心恒切禱告，祂的應許必要一一實現。我們也確信，上帝要繼續將祂的恩典臨到百姓，祂不會三心二意，出爾反爾，祂從前既然向我們施恩，現在也一樣要為我們行大事，尚未應允禱告，時候到了，終究要實現，且讓我們稍安勿躁，耐心安靜等候，我們沒有理由疑慮，上帝的話語安定在天，祂的慈愛信實永遠常存，世事世人或許會變遷無常，但在上帝卻是沒有轉動的影兒。 Scripture: "I wilt give you the sure mercies of David"(Acts 13:34).         Nothing of man is sure; but everything of God is so. Especially are covenant mercies sure mercies, even as David said "an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure."         We are sure that the LORD meant His mercy. He did not speak mere words: there is substance and truth in every one of His promises. His mercies are mercies indeed. Even if a promise seems as if it must drop through by reason of death, yet it never shall, for the good LORD will make good His word.         We are sure that the LORD will bestow promised mercies on all His covenanted ones. They shall come in due course to all the chosen of the LORD. They are sure to all the seed, from the least of them unto the greatest of them. We are sure that the LORD will continue His mercies to His own people. He does not give and take. What He has granted us is the token of much more. That which we have not yet received is as sure as that which has already come; therefore, let us wait before the LORD and be still. There is no justifiable reason for the least doubt. God’s love, and word, and faithfulness are sure. Many things are questionable, but of the LORD we sing —         For his mercies shall endure         Ever faithful, ever sure.

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改變名號 A Change of Name

經文: 「耶和華說：那日你必稱呼我伊施，不再稱呼我巴力；因為我必從我民的口中除掉諸巴力的名號，這名號不再提起。」（何西阿書二︰16，17）

這日子已經來到，我們不再把我們的上帝，看作是暴君，或霸道的巴力，因為我們是在恩典之下，不在律法之下。我們現在把上帝看作我們的良人，稱祂為伊施，與我們有最親密神聖的關係。我們不會輕慢祂，只有更加愛祂；我們不會以服事祂為苦，卻是甘心事奉，以此為至高之樂；我們不再害怕祂的嚴厲，反倒享受祂的大愛；我們不再做奴僕，我們是上帝家的兒女；工作不再成為重擔，反倒成為一種享受。          親愛的讀者，你的情形是這樣嗎﹖祂的恩典使我們生活在坦然無懼的愛中，這是多麼快樂的一種經驗，崇拜不再只是一種儀式，禱告是一種特權，讚美成為一首樂歌，順服是我們所樂做，佈施是一種饗宴，一切的一切都變成新的。喔，伊施是我們永遠的良人，我的心暢快，我的口歡唱！ Scripture: "And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD, that thou shalt call Me Ishi; and shalt call Me no more Baali; for I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name"(Hosea 2:16-17).         That day has come. We view our God no more as Baal, our tyrant lord and mighty master, for we are not under law but under grace. We now think of Jehovah, our God, as our Ishi, our beloved husband, our LORD in love, our next-of-kin in bonds of sacred relationship. We do not serve Him less obediently, but we serve Him for a higher and more endearing reason. We no longer tremble under His lash but rejoice in His love. The slave is changed into a child and the task into a pleasure.         Is it so with thee, dear reader? Has grace cast out slavish fear and implanted filial love? How happy are we in such an experience! Now we call the LORD’s day a delight, and worship is never a weariness. Prayer is now a privilege, and praise is a holiday. To obey is heaven; to give to the cause of God is a banquet. Thus have all things become new. Our mouth is filled with singing and our heart with music. Blessed be our heavenly Ishi forever and ever.

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無事可驚嚇 Nothing to Alarm Us

經文: 「你且去等候結局，因為你必安歇。到了末期，你必起來，享受你的福份。」（但以理書十二︰13）

我們無法瞭解所有的預言，但我們卻不是以害怕的心看待它，反之，我們以欣喜的心等待它。因為天父的心意，不會是驚嚇祂的孩子。雖然上帝命定苦難災禍，但真正信徒經此考驗，靈性會越加純潔堅定；就像經過烈焰，卻沒有火燎的味道；雖然我們翻滾紅塵，歷經人世波折，但上帝必保守祂所揀選的子民。          縱然肩頭責任再重，道路再艱難，我們仍要鎮定地面對挑戰，在衝突中站穩，在患難中忍耐，不退縮，不逃避，一直往前走，直到那日子來到。         安息屬乎我們，世事常是搖擺不定，變幻無常，但我們的根基卻是穩固可靠。因為我們安息在主的愛中。我們心中的平安，有如一條河，平穩地流著；無論什麼事臨到，屬天的安息，總是源源不斷地供應我們。那些願像但以理那樣，堅守聖潔真理者，上帝也要以祂的信實保守他們，不讓坑中的獅子傷害他們分毫，奪去他們的福份。 Scripture: "But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days"(Daniel 12:13).         We cannot understand all the prophecies, but yet we regard them with pleasure and not with dismay. There can be nothing in the Father’s decree which should justly alarm His child. Though the abomination of desolation be set up, yet the true believer shall not be defiled; rather shall he be purified, and made white, and tried. Though the earth be burned up, no smell of fire shall come upon the chosen. Amid the crash of matter and the wreck of worlds, the LORD Jehovah will preserve His own.         Calmly resolute in duty, brave in conflict, patient in suffering, let us go our way, keeping to our road, and neither swerving from it nor loitering in it. The end will come; let us go our way till it does.         Rest will be ours. All other things swing to and fro, but our foundation standeth sure. God rests in His love, and, therefore, we rest in it. Our peace is, and ever shall be, like a river. A lot in the heavenly Canaan is ours, and we shall stand in it, come what may. The God of Daniel will give a worthy portion to all who dare to be decided for truth and holiness as Daniel was. No den of lions shall deprive us of our sure inheritance.

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聖潔無瑕疵 Perfect Purity

經文: 「凡得勝的必這樣穿白衣，我也必不從生命冊上塗抹他的名；且要在我父面前，和我父眾使者面前，認他的名。」（啟示錄三︰5）

基督精兵，奮勇往前，不到凱旋終點，絕不退後中止，因為天上的獎賞，值得我們奉獻一生追求。          看哪，得勝的人不多，上帝要賞賜那得勝者有潔白衣服穿，聖潔無瑕疪是回應上帝呼召最大的獎賞，切莫錯過了它！          看哪，這兒有喜樂，有如穿上盛裝，像你要赴喜宴那樣；你也要換上喜樂的心情，容光煥發，精神奕奕。良心不再有罪惡糾纏，或任何矛盾掙扎，因此，你可享受主裏的平安和喜樂。          看哪，這兒有勝利。棕櫚樹、皇冠、白袍，將是你的獎賞，上帝看你是得勝者，而你也配得這名。          看哪，祭司列隊成行，你也是他們當中的一員，就像亞倫的兒子一樣，站在上帝面前，獻上感謝祭，以及讚美馨香之祭。          上帝既要給卑微渺小的僕人無比的尊貴榮耀，我們還能不為這位永生上帝而戰？上帝既要給我喜樂潔白的衣服穿，我們還不趕快換掉自己污穢骯髒的舊衣？ Scripture: "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment"(Revelation 3:5).         Warrior of the cross, fight on! Never rest till thy victory is complete, for thine eternal reward will prove worthy of a life of warfare.         See, here is perfect purity for thee! A few in Sardis kept their garments undefiled, and their recompense is to be spotless. Perfect holiness is the prize of our high calling; let us not miss it.         See, here is joy! Thou shalt wear holiday robes, such as men put on at wedding feasts; thou shalt be clothed with gladness and be made bright with rejoicing. Painful struggles shall end in peace of conscience and joy in the LORD.         See, here is victory! Thou shalt have thy triumph. Palm, and crown, and white robe shall be thy guerdon; thou shalt be treated as a conqueror and owned as such by the LORD Himself.         See, here is priestly array! Thou shalt stand before the LORD in such raiment as the sons of Aaron wore; thou shalt offer the sacrifices of thanksgiving and draw near unto the LORD with the incense of praise.         Who would not fight for a LORD who gives such large honors to the very least of His faithful servants? Who would not be clothed in a fool’s coat for Christ’s sake, seeing He will robe us with glory?

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不再紀念 Absolutely No Remembrance

經文: 「我不再記念他們的罪愆和他們的過犯。」（希伯來書十︰17）

根據這恩典的約，上帝待我們如同未曾犯過罪；事實上，祂忘記我們所有的過犯，好像一切的罪愆都從祂記憶中抹掉，這是何等奇妙的恩典！這點在某種程度上而言，對上帝是不可能的，但祂慈悲的恩典，遠遠超過祂所做的其他神蹟。          耶穌既成為我們的贖罪祭，上帝就不再記念我們的罪，我們得以坦然無懼地來到祂的施恩寶座前，享受祂同在的喜樂。看哪，祂接納我們成為上帝的兒女，為我們披上公義的外袍，看我們為聖潔無瑕疪的子民；祂信任我們不致玷污祂的名，並看我們配做福音的使者，揀選我們服事祂，這是最明顯的證明，祂一點也沒把我們的過犯放在心上。         再看我們自己，我們即使原諒人，卻不容易再信任他，因我們以為這樣做，會是不明智的。但上帝遺忘我們的罪，如同我們未曾犯過罪那樣。喔，我的靈啊，多麼寶貴的應許！讓我們以喜樂的心相信它吧！ Scripture: "And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more"(Hebrews 10:17).         According to this gracious covenant the LORD treats His people as if they had never sinned. Practically, He forgets all their trespasses. Sins of all kinds He treats as if they had never been, as if they were quite erased from His memory. O miracle of grace! God here doth that which in certain aspects is impossible to Him. His mercy worketh miracles which far transcend all other miracles.         Our God ignores our [repented of] sin now that the sacrifice of Jesus has ratified the covenant. We may rejoice in Him without fear that He will be provoked to anger against us because of our iniquities. See! He puts us among the children; He accepts us as righteous; He takes delight in us as if we were perfectly holy. He even puts us into places of trust; makes us guardians of His honor, trustees of the crown jewels, stewards of the gospel. He counts us worthy and gives us a ministry; this is the highest and most special proof that He does not remember our sins. Even when we forgive an enemy, we are very slow to trust him; we judge it to be imprudent so to do. But the LORD forgets our sins and treats us as if we had never erred. O my soul, what a promise is this! Believe it and be happy.

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永遠的約 An Eternal Pledge

經文: 「我必聘你永遠歸我為妻，以仁義、公平、慈愛、憐憫聘你歸我；我也以誠實聘你歸我，你就必認識我──耶和華。」（何西阿書二︰19，20）

主聘我為妻，這是何等大的尊榮和喜樂！我的靈啊，因著這聘約，耶穌不也「永遠」屬你﹖注意「永遠」這兩字，祂永遠不會解除聘約，更不會對願與祂聯合的人，翻臉離去。          主三次說，「聘你歸我」，這是何等加強的語氣！上帝的公義更顯明這約的合法性，沒有人可以禁止這約的履行；與主的聯合，即使到審判日也是被認可，沒人能指出其中的不妥或錯誤。上帝的慈愛保證這愛的聯合，因為若沒有愛，這婚約是一種束縛，而非一種祝福。同時，因著這神聖的聯合，上帝的恩惠以加倍的祝福臨到我們。上帝的信實是這婚約的印記，而聖靈也點頭稱是，並教導我們永生福份的神聖知識。這是多麼偉大的應許！ Scripture: "And I will betroth thee unto Me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto Me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving kindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto Me in faithfulness; and thou shalt know the LORD"(Hosea 2:19-20).         Betrothment unto the LORD! What an honor and a joy! My soul, is Jesus indeed thine by His own condescending betrothal? Then, mark it is forever. He will never break His engagement, much less sue out a divorce against a soul joined to Himself in marriage bonds.         Three times the LORD says, "I will betroth thee." What words He heaps together to set forth the betrothal! Righteousness comes in to make the covenant legal; none can forbid these lawful bans. Judgment sanctions the alliance with its decree: none can see folly or error in the match. Lovingkindness warrants that this is a love union, for without love betrothal is bondage and not blessedness. Meanwhile, mercy smiles and even sings; yea, she multiplies herself into "mercies" because of the abounding grace of this holy union.         Faithfulness is the registrar and records the marriage, and the Holy Spirit says "Amen" to it as He promises to teach the betrothal heart all the sacred knowledge needful for its high destiny. What a promise!

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