九月二十三日 [mp3_embed playlst=”/downloading/audio/evening/09/0923.mp3″]
经文: 耶稣对他说,你若能信。(马可福音九:23)
有一个人,他的儿子被哑吧鬼附着。他见门徒无能力医治他的儿子,因此对基督也没有了信心。耶稣吩咐他把孩子带来时,他对主说:“祢若能作什么,求祢怜悯我们,帮助我们。”(可九:22)这位父亲的问题中有一个若字,只是这可怜、战栗的人将这个若字放错了地方。耶稣的回答似乎是:“关于我的能力和我的意愿,不应该有个若字。你若能信,在信的人,凡事都能!”此人的信心增强了,他谦卑地求主增加他的信心。耶稣斥责污鬼,将它赶了出来,并命令它再不要进入孩子的身体。我们也像这个人一般,常常知道主的应许是带着条件的,但却笨拙地将条件放在错误之处。耶稣若能帮助我,祂若能赐恩于我去胜过试探、祂若能饶恕我、祂若能使我成功。真理却是,你若能信,在祂是既能又愿意。你若能坚定信赖主,于基督凡事都能,于你也能。信心是坚立于上帝的能力中,并披上上帝庄严之外袍。以圣灵的荣耀大能束腰,在上帝的无所不能之中,信心成为敢做、敢想、敢受苦之能力。在信的人,凡事都能,并没有限制。
Evening, September 23
Scripture: “Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe.”(Mark 9:23)
A certain man had a demoniac son, who was afflicted with a dumb spirit. The father, having seen the futility of the endeavours of the disciples to heal his child, had little or no faith in Christ, and therefore, when he was bidden to bring his son to him, he said to Jesus, “If thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us.” Now there was an “if” in the question, but the poor trembling father had put the “if” in the wrong place: Jesus Christ, therefore, without commanding him to retract the “if,” kindly puts it in its legitimate position. “Nay, verily,” he seemed to say, “there should be no ‘if’ about my power, nor concerning my willingness, the ‘if’ lies somewhere else.” “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” The man’s trust was strengthened, he offered a humble prayer for an increase of faith, and instantly Jesus spoke the word, and the devil was cast out, with an injunction never to return. There is a lesson here which we need to learn. We, like this man, often see that there is an “if” somewhere, but we are perpetually blundering by putting it in the wrong place. “If” Jesus can help me-“if” he can give me grace to overcome temptation-“if” he can give me pardon-“if” he can make me successful? Nay, “if” you can believe, he both can and will. You have misplaced your “if.” If you can confidently trust, even as all things are possible to Christ, so shall all things be possible to you. Faith standeth in God’s power, and is robed in God’s majesty; it weareth the royal apparel, and rideth on the King’s horse, for it is the grace which the King delighteth to honour. Girding itself with the glorious might of the all-working Spirit, it becomes, in the omnipotence of God, mighty to do, to dare, and to suffer. All things, without limit, are possible to him that believeth. My soul, canst thou believe thy Lord to-night?