五月十四日[mp3_embed playlst=”/downloading/audio/evening/05/0514.mp3″]
经文: 用膀臂聚集羊羔抱在怀中。（以赛亚书四十：11）
好牧人将羊羔抱在怀中，因为祂有一颗温柔的心。祂羊群中幼小羊羔的叹息、无知和软弱引出祂的同情。作为一位忠心的大祭司，祂的责任是顾念软弱的人。祂以宝血买赎了他们，因此他们是祂的产业。祂对每一羊羔有责任，并且用约系住他们，不能失去任何一个。他们全都是祂荣耀和赏赐的一部分。我们当如何来明白“祂要抱他们”呢？有时祂以不让他们忍受太多试验来抱住他们，或是以比平常更多的爱充满他们来抱住他们，使他们可以站立得稳。虽然他们的知识可能不深，但在他们所知的事物中，祂让他们感受很大的甜美。更常见的是，祂给他们一个十分简单的信心，以这方式抱持他们，使他们容易领受祂的应许。他们能带着每一困难真奔向耶稣。单纯的信心使他们能有不寻常的信任，引领他们超越世界。祂将羊羔抱在怀中，这是无边的爱。祂若不是深深爱着他们，会将他们抱在怀中吗？这是温柔的亲近，不可能更近了。在此有完全的平安。当祂将他们抱在怀中时，谁能伤害他们？敌人来攻击时，“牧人”先受到伤害。在此有完全的安息和最甜美的安慰。但愿我们能更深更完全感受耶稣的无限温柔！
Evening, May 14
Scripture: “He shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom.”(Isaiah 40:11)
Who is he of whom such gracious words are spoken? He is THE GOOD SHEPHERD . Why doth he carry the lambs in his bosom? Because He hath a tender heart, and any weakness at once melts his heart. The sighs, the ignorance, the feebleness of the little ones of his flock draw forth his compassion. It is his office, as a faithful High Priest, to consider the weak. Besides, he purchased them with blood, they are his property: he must and will care forthat which cost him so dear. Then he is responsible for each lamb, bound by covenant engagements not to lose one. Moreover, they are all a part of his glory and reward.
But how may we understand the expression, “He will carry them”? Sometimes he carries them by not permitting them to endure much trial. Providence deals tenderly with them. Often they are “carried” by being filled with an unusual degree of love, so that they bear up and stand fast. Though their knowledge may not be deep, they have great sweetness in what they do know. Frequently he “carries” them by giving them a very simple faith, which takes the promise just as it stands, and believingly runs with every trouble straight to Jesus. The simplicity of their faith gives them an unusual degree of confidence, which carries them above the world.
“He carries the lambs in his bosom.” Here is boundless affection. Would he put them in his bosom if he did not love them much? Here is tender nearness: so near are they, that they could not possibly be nearer. Here is hallowed familiarity: there are precious love-passages between Christ and his weak ones. Here is perfect safety: in his bosom who can hurt them? They must hurt the Shepherd first. Here is perfect rest and sweetest comfort. Surely we are not sufficiently sensible of the infinite tenderness of Jesus!
