十一月五日 [mp3_embed playlst=”/downloading/audio/evening/11/1105.mp3″]
经文: 当感谢祂，称颂祂的名。（诗篇一○○：4）
耶稣并不喜欢祂的弟兄们将祂看低。祂喜悦祂所珍爱的人能欣赏祂的美丽。我们不应当认为祂只是我们所需，如同粮食和水一样，却当视祂为佳肴美味和罕见之珍奇。祂向我们启示祂自己如同重价的珍珠，且有绝世的美丽，如同整袋没药，发出怡神的香气，如同沙仑的玫瑰，持久芬芳，又如同谷中的百合，纯洁无瑕疵。试想上帝对祂独生子──祂所赐不可言喻之恩典──的珍重。当天使在祂脚前掩蔽自己的脸，以此做为他们最高的尊崇，请思想天使对祂的想法。当蒙救赎之人在无尽的岁月中向祂唱出祂配受的颂赞，请思想他们对祂的看法。对基督存崇高之思想能帮助我们在与祂的关系中有一贯的行动。我们看到基督超过一切高坐在宝座上，就越发能谦卑地俯伏在祂宝座的脚前，并能真诚地准备向祂尽自己本份。我们的主耶稣期盼我们重视祂，如此我们就能喜乐地顺服在祂的权柄之下。对祂存高贵的思想会增加我们的爱。爱与珍视是紧密相连的。所以，信徒啊，多多思想你主的卓越伟大。认识祂道成肉身取了人的本性以前在天上所得之荣耀。思想祂大能的爱，这大爱让祂从宝座上下来并死在十字架上。尊崇祂因祂战胜地狱的一切权势。请看祂的复活，得冠冕，得荣耀。俯伏在祂脚前，因祂是奇妙、策士、全能的父，唯有这样，你才会向祂发出应有的爱。
Evening, November 5
Scripture: “Be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”(Psalm 100:4)
Our Lord would have all his people rich in high and happy thoughts concerning his blessed person. Jesus is not content that his brethren should think meanly of him; it is his pleasure that his espoused ones should be delighted with his beauty. We are not to regard him as a bare necessary, like to bread and water, but as a luxurious delicacy, as a rare and ravishing delight. To this end he has revealed himself as the “pearl of great price” in its peerless beauty, as the “bundle of myrrh” in its refreshing fragrance, as the “rose of Sharon” in its lasting perfume, as the “lily” in its spotless purity.
As a help to high thoughts of Christ, remember the estimation that Christ is had in beyond the skies, where things are measured by the right standard. Think how God esteems the Only Begotten, his unspeakable gift to us. Consider what the angels think of him, as they count it their highest honour to veil their faces at his feet. Consider what the blood-washed think of him, as day without night they sing his well deserved praises. High thoughts of Christ will enable us to act consistently with our relations towards him. The more loftily we see Christ enthroned, and the more lowly we are when bowing before the foot of the throne, the more truly shall we be prepared to act our part towards him. Our Lord Jesus desires us to think well of him, that we may submit cheerfully to his authority. High thoughts of him increase our love. Love and esteem go together. Therefore, believer, think much of your Master’s excellencies. Study him in his primeval glory, before he took upon himself your nature! Think of the mighty love which drew him from his throne to die upon the cross! Admire him as he conquers all the powers of hell! See him risen, crowned, glorified! Bow before him as the Wonderful, the Counsellor, the mighty God, for only thus will your love to him be what it should.