第二十三周 神的爱（上）
“神就是爱。”（约壹4:8）
诗：哦！圣哉神意！已经规定，荣耀都要归给神；
哦！圣哉神爱！已经发令，藉血我们也有分。
最深奥而又最简单的，那就是神完全的爱。什么时候我们真的认识神，我们就认识祂是爱，既知所有临到我们身上的，都是从祂而来，因此虽然现在我们所过的生活像荒漠一样，但不管什么地方，或什么环境，我们都能用神的大爱来解释一切。
神在祂自己的爱中，需要有其他生灵为对象，而使他们得着喜乐，祂是愿意他们喜乐，也只有这样，祂自己在爱中才有完全满足的感觉。
律法是命令说：“你要去爱。”这是公义要求，但在福音书里，基督是说“神爱”（参阅约3:16译注）
没有一种受造之物，或世上任何东西，能和十字架一样。受造之物可能彰显神的能力，却不能像十字架那样表达神的爱和真理，所以十字架永远是那奇妙有福的东西，给我们来探讨，领会，要认识神一切所是，只有藉十字架。
人自私自利的心太厉害，因此，神的爱对他就成了一个谜，这爱比罚他的圣洁更难得到人的了解。当时没有一个人了解主耶稣，因为他是彰显神。
圣灵使我们感到父的大爱，祂显示给我们的，不是我们的微小，而是神的伟大，藉此使我们进入自由。
信心是眼光，是在十字架里，才能最厉害看出人类罪恶的深重，和神对罪的憎恶。信心的眼光，又在那里看出神胜过一切的大爱和怜悯，是如何在祂儿子身上向人布开，百夫长的枪刺透主的肋旁，这不过是引出爱与怜悯的明证。
在人间有一件真正痛苦的试炼。就是看见自己的骨肉，在想不到的日子忽然去世，然而若能抬起头来仰望主的爱，心境又有何等大的区别呢？这一个安慰，能叫一切改观，在亲友离世这一件事上认识神的大爱，能叫所有死的黑暗，给有福之爱的光照亮了；并且那黑暗也不过更加证明，这光是何等有效的安慰。
基督必须作我们的一切，不然，我们就会很快灰心丧气，基督若不是我的一切，而父的爱如何也不我们生命所呼吸的空气，那么我们就不是起在正路上了。
天父的家，万福之源，甘甜远超恩物。临到我身，永不收回，如主存到永远。
耶和华管教祂所爱的人。这里可得到两个结论：一，这管教必不是无缘无故；二，这管教绝对不会不带着神的爱。所以我不可轻看管教，因为在我里头有一个缘由，使圣洁有爱的神要执行这件工作。我不可灰心，因为是祂大爱的作国；这管教是天父对所喜悦的儿子的指正。
TWENTY-THIRD WEEK DIVINE AFFECTIONS (1)
“God is love.” 1 John 4:8
O mind divine! so must it be
That glory all belongs to God;
O love divine, that did decree
We should be part, through Jesus’ blood.
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What is deepest is simplest, that is the perfect love of God.
When once we come really to know God, we know Him as love. Then, knowing that everything comes to us from Him, though we be in a desert—no matter where, or what the circumstances—we interpret all by His love.
There is but one only sense in which God cannot suffice to Himself, that is, in His love; His love needs other beings besides Himself to render them happy. He will render others happy.
The law says, Love: it is a righteous demand. But the gospel, Christ Himself, says, “God so loved.”
No creation, nothing that has ever been seen in this world, could be what the cross was. Creation may shew God’s power, but it cannot bring out God’s love and truth as the cross does; and therefore it remains everlastingly the wonderful and blessed place of learning, what could be learnt nowhere else, of all that God is.
There is so much selfishness in the heart of man that the love of God is to him an enigma, still more incomprehensible than His holiness. No one understood Jesus, because He manifested God.
The Holy Spirit makes us feel the love of the Father. He brings us into liberty by shewing us, not that we are little, but how great God is.
Where does faith see the greatest depth of man’s sin and hatred of God? In the cross; and at the same glance it sees the greatest extent of God’s triumphant love and mercy to man. The spear of the centurion which pierced the side of Jesus only brought out that which spoke of love and mercy.
It is indeed a sore trial to see one who is part of ourselves … taken off at one blow, and unexpectedly. Still, what a difference to have the Lord’s love to look to. It is a consolation which changes everything. … The knowledge of the love of God, which is come into the place of death, has brightened with the most blessed rays all its darkness; and the darkness only serves to shew what a comfort it is to have such a light.
Christ must be all to us or we shall soon be discouraged. … When Christ is not everything and the Father’s love the air we breathe for life we are not going right.
The Father’s love, the source of all,
Sweeter than all it gives,
Shines on us now without recall,
And lasts while Jesus lives.
Jehovah chastens those He loves. … The word draws two conclusions from this truth. … It will not be without a cause in me; it will never be without love in God. Hence I am not to despise, for there is a cause in me which makes the holy God of love act so; I am not to faint, for it is His love which does it. It is correcting a son in whom his Father delights.