十二月二十二日[mp3_embed playlst=”/downloading/audio/evening/12/1222.mp3″]
经文: 祂儿女的记号(The spot of his children)(译者自行翻译)(申命记三十二:5)
将上帝的儿女与世上的人分别开来的秘密记号是什么呢?我们若妄想自己来决定这点可就太大胆了。主告诉我们说:“凡接待祂的,就是信祂名的人,祂就赐他们权柄,作上帝的儿女。”(约一:12)我若已接受基督耶稣进入心中,那我就是上帝的孩子。我信耶稣基督的名,也就是我打心底相信那位曾被钉十架而现在已升天的救赎者。我就是至高者家庭中的一份子。若有了这些,我就有成为上帝儿女的特权。我们的主耶稣用另外一种方式说:“我的羊听我的声音,我也认识他们,他们也跟着我。”(约十:27)基督是祂自己羊群的牧者。只要祂一出现,祂的羊必马上认出祂,他们信赖祂,准备随时跟从祂。祂认识他们,他们也认识祂。他们之间有紧密的联系。如此一来,这记号、这确实的记号、重生与进入上帝家永不错误之记号,也就是对上帝所命定的救赎主之衷心信靠。你可以肯定自己已有上帝儿女的秘密记号了吗?不要再浪费光阴了,愿你现在就说:“上帝啊,求祢鉴察我,知道我的心思。”(诗一三九:23)切勿轻忽与你永恒灵魂及其目的有关之事!
Evening, December 22
Scripture: “The spot of his children.”(Deuteronomy 32:5)
What is the secret spot which infallibly betokens the child of God? It were vain presumption to decide this upon our own judgment; but God’s word reveals it to us, and we may tread surely where we have revelation to be our guide. Now, we are told concerning our Lord, “to as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to as many as believed on his name.” Then, if I have received Christ Jesus into my heart, I am a child of God. That reception is described in the same verse as believing on the name of Jesus Christ. If, then, I believe on Jesus Christ’s name-that is, simply from my heart trust myself with the crucified, but now exalted, Redeemer, I am a member of the family of the Most High. Whatever else I may not have, if I have this, I have the privilege to become a child of God. Our Lord Jesus puts it in another shape. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” Here is the matter in a nutshell. Christ appears as a shepherd to his own sheep, not to others. As soon as he appears, his own sheep perceive him-they trust him, they are prepared to follow him; he knows them, and they know him-there is a mutual knowledge-there is a constant connection between them. Thus the one mark, the sure mark, the infallible mark of regeneration and adoption is a hearty faith in the appointed Redeemer. Reader, are you in doubt, are you uncertain whether you bear the secret mark of God’s children? Then let not an hour pass over your head till you have said, “Search me, O God, and know my heart.” Trifle not here, I adjure you! If you must trifle anywhere, let it be about some secondary matter: your health, if you will, or the title deeds of your estate; but about your soul, your never-dying soul and its eternal destinies, I beseech you to be in earnest. Make sure work for eternity.