我和我家 What of My House?

經文: 「當信主耶穌，你和你一家都必得救。」（使徒行傳十六︰31）

人人都當認識主耶穌，這樣的福音是為每個人預備的。尤其是我，或生或死，我都需要主。我要靠主遠離自我、罪惡、甚至我的優點，我就是單單地仰賴主耶穌。我相信祂，依靠祂，作為我一切的一切。主啊，祢拯救我到底，祢的名真是可稱頌的。願我每天都可以靠祢，遠離各樣的罪惡、世俗、及自私。          但至於我家呢？主啊，若我沒有將祢全備的應許兌現，我絕不離開，我要懇求祢，拯救我的全家，將救恩臨到我的骨肉至親，引領我的孩子、孫子信主，也祝福那些在我家工作的僕人（若有的話）。祢已經在我身上成就祢的應許，我現在求祢將救恩臨到我全家，就如你所說的。          我要每天為我的父母、兄弟姊妹、子女、親朋好友、鄰居同事，一一提名代禱，切切地為他們代求，直到祢的應許完全成就，我才休息停止。 Scripture: "Believe on the LORD Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house"(Acts 16:31).         This gospel for a man with a sword at his throat is the gospel for me. This would suit me if I were dying, and it is all that I need while I am living. I look away from self, and sin, and all idea of personal merit, and I trust the LORD Jesus as the Savior whom God has given. I believe in Him, I rest on Him, I accept Him to be my all in all. LORD, I am saved, and I shall be saved to all eternity, for I believe in Jesus. Blessed be Thy name for this. May I daily prove by my life that I am saved from selfishness, and worldliness, and every form of evil.         But those last words about my "house": LORD, I would not run away with half a promise when Thou dost give a whole one. I beseech Thee, save all my family. Save the nearest and dearest. Convert the children and the grandchildren, if I have any. Be gracious to my servants and all who dwell under my roof or work for me. Thou makest this promise to me personally if I believe in the LORD Jesus; I beseech Thee to do as Thou hast said.         I would go over in my prayer every day the names of all my brothers and sisters, parents, children, friends, relatives, servants, and give Thee no rest till that word is fulfilled, "and thy house."

生於憂患，死於安樂 Sufferers Make Strong Believers

經文: 「人在幼年負軛，這原是好的。」（耶利米哀歌三︰27）

這經文也像是個應許，這真理是顛撲不破的──生於憂患，死於安樂。          在年少時，我須體會到覺悟悔改後，所帶來的衝擊和影響，而此後也證明，這的確對我靈魂有益。若我未曾經歷過救恩的寶貴與人心的滿足，我又怎能深愛這福音，並樂於向人傳講﹖惟有在苦難中認識主的，才能在主的恩典上越發剛強，成為一個堅強的信徒。          遭人攻訐是很受傷的感覺，但這是預備承受將來的榮耀，因為一個人若備受關懷與寵愛，未曾聽過一句重話，他怎能當領袖﹖因為在上位者難免會被人指責挨罵！若非經過一番寒冷澈骨的淬煉，很難禁得起高處不勝寒的考驗。          當然，我們無需主動追求勞其筋骨，餓其體膚，空乏其身的經驗，但主若允許我們在年少時，有苦其心志，行拂亂其所為的經驗，實在是要砥礪我們的品格，磨練我們的個性，以便將來服事教會，榮耀上帝。          來吧，讓我們低頭負軛，為了耶穌的緣故，快樂地接受上帝所量給我的考驗吧！ Scripture: "It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth"(Lamentations 3:27).         This is as good as a promise. It has been good, it is good, and it will be good for me to bear the yoke.         Early in life I had to feel the weight of conviction, and ever since it has proved a soul-enriching burden. Should I have loved the gospel so well had I not learned by deep experience the need of salvation by grace? Jabez was more honorable than his brethren because his mother bare him with sorrow, and those who suffer much in being born unto God make strong believers in sovereign grace.         The yoke of censure is an irksome one, but it prepares a man for future honor. He is not fit to be a leader who has not run the gauntlet of contempt. Praise intoxicates if it be not preceded by abuse. Men who rise to eminence without struggle usually fall into dishonor.         The yoke of affliction, disappointment, and excessive labor is by no means to be sought for; but when the LORD lays it on us in our youth, it frequently develops a character which glorifies God and blesses the church.         Come, my soul, bow thy neck; take up thy cross. It was good for thee when young; it will not harm thee now. For Jesus’ sake, shoulder it carefully.

出入蒙福 Coming In; Going Out

經文: 「你出也蒙福，入也蒙福。」（申命記廿八︰6）

這應許的福份是永遠有效的。當耶穌擔當我們罪債時，祂就重申這應許的效能，若我真正遵行上帝的旨意，我就可毫不遲疑地支取這應許。         今天，我安心地回到家中，不怕惡者侵擾；我進入內室禱告，期盼聽到主向我說話；我也不怕自我省察，或檢視我的工作，因我胸襟坦蕩，問心無愧。喔，這是何等奇妙的應許，我心有主，祂願與我同在。          我也必須入世。膽怯常使我寧願待在家裡，而不願出去接觸罪惡的世界。但我既被呼召，就當出去捍衛真理，打擊魔鬼，使我對週遭的人，盡些傳福音的本份，得以分享福音的好處。          主啊，在祢聖靈的引導下，祢領我何往，我必前往，我願當你的跟班，做祢所吩咐的。主啊，住進我的心，成為我的主；外出時，祢與我同行，沿路與我談話，火熱我的心，讓我為祢而活。 Scripture: "Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out"(Deuteronomy 28:6).         The blessings of the law are not canceled. Jesus confirmed the promise when He bore the penalty. If I keep the commands of my LORD, I may appropriate this promise without question.         This day I will come in to my house without fear of evil tidings, and I will come in to my closet expecting to hear good news from my LORD. I will not be afraid to come in unto myself by self-examination, nor to come in to my affairs by a diligent inspection of my business. I have a good deal of work to do indoors, within my own soul; oh, for a blessing upon it all, the blessing of the LORD Jesus, who has promised to abide with me.         I must also go out. Timidity makes me wish that I could stay within doors and never go into the sinful world again. But I must go out in my calling, and I must go out that I may be helpful to my brethren and useful to the ungodly. I must be a defender of the faith and an assailant of evil. Oh, for a blessing upon my going out this day! LORD, let me go where Thou leadest, on Thy errands, under Thy command, and in the power of Thy Spirit.         LORD Jesus, turn in with me and be my guest; and then walk out with me and cause my heart to burn while You speak with me by the way.

敬虔度日 Fear Has Its Place

經文: 「常存敬畏的，便為有福；心存剛硬的，必陷在禍患裏。」（箴言廿八︰14）

敬畏上帝是一切真正信仰的開端與基石。若對上帝沒有一顆神聖敬畏的心，是不可能延伸發展其他的美德，那些不習慣敬拜上帝的人，也不會過一個聖潔的生活。          懷有對犯錯戒慎恐懼之心的人有福了，他不但凡事三思而後行，而且不敢怠忽職守，深恐犯罪得罪上帝。他謹言慎行，結交良友，不做落人話柄的事，如此他就不致醉生夢死，荒唐度日，而是過著光明快樂的生活。一個儆醒的哨兵，要比一個站崗睡著的士兵要來得快樂得多。那些能預見危險而躲避它的人，要比迷糊大意而失足悔恨一生的人快樂得多。          一顆沈靜敬畏上帝的心，引導一個人走在窄路上，經上記著︰「這條路上沒有獅子，也沒有惡獸干擾。」遠離試探誘惑，清心禱告主，是敬虔度日的原則，同時藉著聖靈的保守，上帝使我們在世，毫無玷污或皺紋。          所羅門王曾儆醒守住聖潔，也曾放蕩追求享樂，嚐過這兩種生活，他發現後者讓他感到空虛，而前者卻帶來喜樂。讓我們不要重蹈他的覆轍，當遵循他醒悟後的度日原則。 Scripture: "Happy is the man that feareth alway"(Proverbs 28:14).         The fear of the LORD is the beginning and the foundation of all true religion. Without a solemn awe and reverence of God there is no foothold for the more brilliant virtues. He whose soul does not worship will never live in holiness.         He is happy who feels a jealous fear of doing wrong. Holy fear looks not only before it leaps, but even before it moves. It is afraid of error, afraid of neglecting duty, afraid of committing sin. It fears ill company, loose talk, and questionable policy. This does not make a man wretched, but it brings him happiness. The watchful sentinel is happier than the soldier who sleeps at his post. He who foreseeth evil and escapes it is happier than he who walks carelessly on and is destroyed.         Fear of God is a quiet grace which leads a man along a choice road, of which it is written, "No lion shall be there, neither shall any ravenous beast go up thereon." Fear of the very appearance of evil is a purifying principle, which enables a man, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to keep his garments unspotted from the world. Solomon had tried both worldliness and holy fear: in the one he found vanity, in the other happiness. Let us not repeat his trial but abide by his verdict.

油將盡，燈將滅 Broken and Smoking

經文: 「壓傷的蘆葦，祂不折斷，將殘的燈火，祂不吹滅。」（以賽亞書四十二︰3）

我還記得上帝是怎樣溫柔地對待我，真的，當我軟弱，卑微像蘆葦時，正是我覺得最幸福的時候。有人說︰「我不珍惜燈心草。」這話聽起來蠻無情的，但也是實情。說真的，我還不如河邊的一株蘆葦，至少它還可以迎風抬頭。而我全身青腫疼痛，心中毫無喜樂可言，維持生命的能源似乎漏光。然而，主耶穌並不打壓我，若祂這樣仁慈待我，我還在意別人怎樣對待我嗎﹖喔，慈悲憐憫的父上帝，側身在祢溫柔的蔭疪下，我已經忘掉我的疼痛紅腫。          說真的，我也像那將殘的燈火，油盡燈滅，只剩下微弱的煙，我擔心自己成了惹人厭的傢伙，以為上帝毫不顧惜地捻熄我最後一口氣。但是我錯了，我看到人間的律法會欺壓弱勢，落井下石，但上帝絕不會吹滅那將殘的燈火，所以，我是很有希望的。主啊，重新點燃我，讓我繼續照亮，好讓別人看到祢的仁慈與權能，並榮耀祢的名。 Scripture: "A bruised reed shall He not break, and the smoking flax shall He not quench"(Isaiah 42:3).         Then I may reckon upon tender treatment from my LORD. Indeed, I feel myself to be at best as weak, as pliant, as worthless as a reed. Someone said, "I don’t care a rush for you"; and the speech, though unkind, was not untrue. Alas! I am worse than a reed when it grows by the river, for that at least can hold up its head. I am bruised — sorely, sadly bruised. There is no music in me now; there is a rift which lets out all the melody. Ah, me! Yet Jesus will not break me; and if He will not, then I mind little what others try to do. O sweet and compassionate LORD, I nestle down beneath Thy protection and forget my bruises!         Truly I am also fit to be likened to "the smoking flax," whose light is gone, and only its smoke remains. I fear I am rather a nuisance than a benefit. My fears tell me that the devil has blown out my light and left me an obnoxious smoke, and that my LORD will soon put an extinguisher upon one. Yet I perceive that though there were snuffers under the law, there were no extinguishers, and Jesus will not quench me; therefore, I am hopeful. LORD, kindle me anew and cause me to shine forth to Thy glory and to the extolling of Thy tenderness.

救恩的羊圈內 The Reach of Almighty Grace

經文: 「從前在什麼地方對他們說：『你們不是我的子民』將來在那裡必對他們說：『你們是永生上帝的兒子。』」（何西阿書一︰10）

至高無上的恩典，可以使罪人悔改、浪子回頭。上帝在這裡向人宣告，祂是如何挽回那些背逆人的心。親愛的讀者，上帝在我身上的工作，就是最好的例子，你也曾經歷同樣的心路歷程嗎﹖來吧，讓我們同心合意地讚美，這位可稱頌的上帝吧！          我們當中有些人就是如此硬心，他們就是選擇不跟從上帝，以致上帝向他們的良心說話︰「你們不是我的兒子。」在家裡或教會，當我們讀聖經時，我們的心中，又有聖靈的聲音︰「你們不是我的子民。」這實在是令人傷心的重話！          但是現在，在同一處經文，我們又聽到一個聲音︰「你們是永生上帝的兒子！」我們豈不要為這感恩？這豈不太好了？我們不也因此對別人懷著希望﹖又有誰是被命定在救恩羊圈之外？既然上帝在我們身上做了這等奇妙的改變，我們豈能對別人的得救，不抱指望？          所以，讓我們懷著無比信心，勇往直前，絕不退縮。 Scripture: "It shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not My people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God"(Hosea 1:10).         Sovereign grace can make strangers into sons, and the LORD here declares His purpose to deal thus with rebels and make them know what He has done. Beloved reader, the LORD has done this in my case; has He done the like for you? Then let us join hands and hearts in praising His adorable name.         Some of us were so decidedly ungodly that the LORD’s Word most truly said to our conscience and heart, "Ye are not my people." In the house of God and in our own homes, when we read the Bible, this was the voice of God’s Spirit in our soul, "Ye are not my people." Truly a sad, condemning voice it was. But now, in the same places, from the same ministry and Scripture, we hear a voice, which saith, "Ye are the sons of the living God." Can we be grateful enough for this? Is it not wonderful? Does it not give us hope for others? Who is beyond the reach of almighty grace? How can we despair of any, since the LORD has wrought so marvelous a change in us?         He who has kept this one great promise will keep every other; wherefore, let us go forward with songs of adoration and confidence.

與上帝同在 With Me Wherever I Am

經文: 「耶和華與你們同在。」（歷代志下廿︰17）

在強鄰環伺，敵軍逼境之下，「耶和華與你同在」這句話對約沙法可是極大的安慰；同樣，我有極大的需要，卻缺少智慧、能力，這句話對我，也是極大的安慰。只要上帝與我同在，我才不在乎人遺棄我；只要上帝與我同在，我必打勝這場生命之役；而且考驗越大，勝利的光榮也必更大。我如何確定主與我同在呢？         若我選擇與祂同在，祂也必定與我同在。若我信靠祂的信實，相信祂的話，並遵行祂的旨意，祂必定與我同在。若我選擇在撒但那邊，上帝就抵擋我，也無法與我同在。但我活著就是要榮耀主，祂也要以我為榮。         我深信上帝必與我同在，若我把耶穌當作我唯一的救主。若我把我的一生都交託在主耶穌的手中，天父要將祂的能力覆疪保守我，使我不致玷污上帝的名。         喔，今天就抓住這節簡短有力的經文，讓這應許成就在我身上。無論我在家裡，在街上，在戶外，在店裡，在辦公室，或者獨處，求祢與我同在；也與眾人同在。 Scripture: "The LORD will be with you"(2 Chronicles 20:17).         This was a great mercy for Jehoshaphat, for a great multitude had come out against him; and it will be a great mercy for me, for I have great need, and I have no might or wisdom. If the LORD be with me, it matters little who may desert me. If the LORD be with me, I shall conquer in the battle of life, and the greater my trials the more glorious will be my victory. How can I be sure that the LORD is with me?         For certain He is with me if I am with Him. If I trust in His faithfulness, believe His words, and obey His commands, He is assuredly with me. If I am on Satan’s side, God is against me and cannot be otherwise; but if I live to honor God, I may be sure that He will honor me.         I am quite sure that God is with me if Jesus is my sole and only Savior. If I have placed my soul in the hands of God’s only-begotten Son, then I may be sure that the Father will put forth all His power to preserve me, that His Son may not be dishonored.         Oh, for faith to take hold upon the short but sweet text for today! O LORD, fulfill this word to Thy servant! Be with me in the house, in the street, in the field, in the shop, in company, and alone. Be Thou also with all Thy people.

靠主得勝 Victory Without Battle

經文: 「我卻要憐憫猶大家，使他們靠耶和華──他們的上帝得救，不使他們靠弓、刀、爭戰、馬匹，與馬兵得救。」（何西阿書一︰7）

多麼寶貴的話語！耶和華要親自憐憫、拯救百姓，卻不是靠兵馬刀劍。人很不容易將上帝應得的榮耀歸給上帝。假如人在戰場靠弓刀得勝，就常自以為是自己本領高強，而沒有把榮耀歸給上帝；為了這緣故，耶和華常不靠兵馬刀劍來拯救百姓，好讓他們單單地把榮耀歸給上帝。          我的心哪，單單地仰望上帝，勿依靠人；當無人可恃時，我仍然信心十足，因為我可感覺到上帝站在我這邊。讓我滿心歡喜，因上帝就像經文所記載，不用刀槍，就打勝這場仗。若上帝憐憫我們，我們又何需求兵馬相助﹖若上帝要伸出大能膀臂拯救我，我們又何需仰賴刀劍﹖從今日起，我要依靠上帝，一無所懼，勇往直前！ Scripture: "But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the LORD their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen"(Hosea 1:7).         Precious Word. Jehovah Himself will deliver His people in the greatness of His mercy, but He will not do it by the ordinary means. Men are slow to render to God the glory due unto His name. If they go to battle with sword and bow and win the victory, they ought to praise their God; yet they do not, but begin to magnify their own right arm and glory in their horses and horsemen. For this reason our Jehovah often determines to save His people without second means, that all the honor may be to Himself alone.         Look, then, my heart, to the LORD alone and not to man. Expect to see God all the more clearly when there is no one else to look to. If I have no friend, no adviser, no one at my back, let me be none the less confident if I can feel that the LORD Himself is on my side; yea, let me be glad if He gives victory without battle, as the text seems to imply. Why do I ask for horses and horsemen if Jehovah Himself has mercy upon me and lifts up His arm for my defense! Why need I bow or sword if God will save? Let me trust and not be afraid from this day forth and for evermore. Amen.

靈性復甦 Out of Spiritual Death

經文: 「我的民哪，我開你們的墳墓，使你們從墳墓中出來，你們就知道我是耶和華。」（以西結書卅七︰13）

的確如此，那些看到骸骨長肉復活的，不禁要說，這真是全能者的手在作工。這也是人所經歷最不可思議的奇妙改變──上帝把我們沈寂的靈甦醒過來，把祂的靈放在我們裏面，使我們活過來，這工作只有上帝能做。          喔，我還清楚記得，我當時是怎樣躺在白骨遍地的荒郊野外，我的心也像那枯骨般的槁木死灰，直到有一天，至高的權能者，派神人向我說預言，哈利路亞，那信心的話語，帶來無比的震撼，更奇妙的是，四方吹來的風，使這些枯骨長肉生筋！現在我真認識這快如閃電的靈，就是真神的靈，祂可以殺人，也可以使人復活。祂是獨一的上帝，最偉大的上帝，我的靈要稱頌這位自有永有的上帝，願榮耀都歸於這神聖的名，只要我尚有氣息，我就要永遠歌頌祂的名。 Scripture: "And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up out of your graves"(Ezekiel 37:13).         Indeed it must be so: those who receive life from the dead are sure to recognize the hand of the LORD in such a resurrection. This is the greatest and most remarkable of all changes that a man can undergo — to be brought out of the grave of spiritual death and made to rejoice in the light and liberty of spiritual life. None could work this but the living God, the LORD and giver of life.         Ah, me! How well do I remember when I was lying in the valley full of dry bones, as dry as any of them! Blessed was the day when free and sovereign grace sent the man of God to prophesy upon me! Glory be to God for the stirring which that word of faith caused among the dry bones. More blessed still was that heavenly breath from the four winds which made me live! Now know I the quickening Spirit of the ever-living Jehovah. Truly Jehovah is the living God, for He made me live. My new life even in its pinings and sorrowings is clear proof to me that the LORD can kill and make alive. He is the only God. He is all that is great, gracious, and glorious, and my quickened soul adores Him as the great I AM. All glory be unto His sacred name! As long as I live I will praise Him.

追求認識主 Follow to Know

經文: 「我們務要認識耶和華，竭力追求認識祂。」（何西阿書六︰3）

對主的認識，不是一蹴可及的，乃是藉著讀經禱告、經歷主，點點滴滴累積而成。雖然我們的進步很緩慢，但別灰心，主是我們的導師，祂會極有耐心地教導我們明白真理，糾正我們謬誤的思想，祂絕不會放棄我們，祂極為樂意將單純的人，調教成有智慧的人。          我們的責任就是認定目標，要更多追求認識主，不單是知道片段的聖經教義而已。認識父、子、聖靈三位一體的上帝，是我們永遠的目標，讓我們持守這個標竿，我們才能得著完全的知識；藉著跟隨認識主，我們經歷破碎後的癒合，擊打後的包紮，死亡後的新生。這些經歷是我們靈性成長不可或缺的過程。          我的靈啊，緊緊地靠近耶穌，追求認識主，你就會更多認識這位豐富全備的主，這是最棒的一門學科，聖靈也要引導你進入真理，這兒豈不就是祂的教室﹖讓主親自授課，充實你的心靈吧！ Scripture: "Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD"(Hosea 6:3).         Not all at once, but by degrees shall we attain to holy knowledge, and our business is to persevere and learn by little and little. We need not despair, though our progress may be slow, for we shall yet know. The LORD, who has become our Teacher, will not give us up, however slow of understanding we may be; for it is not for His honor that any degree of human folly should baffle His skill. The LORD delights to make the simple wise.         Our duty is to keep to our main topic and follow on to know, not this peculiar doctrine nor that, but Jehovah Himself. To know Father, Son, and Spirit, the Triune God, this is life eternal. Let us keep to this, for in this way we shall gain complete instruction. By following on to know the LORD, we learn healing after being torn, binding up after smiting, and life after death. Experience has its perfect work when the heart follows the trackway of the Almighty LORD.         My soul, keep thou close to Jesus, follow on to know God in Jesus, and so shalt thou come to the knowledge of Christ, which is the most excellent of all the sciences. The Holy Ghost will lead thee into all truth. Is not this His gracious promise? Rely upon Him to fulfill it.