《静夜亮光》十二月二十五日

十二月二十五日[mp3_embed playlst=”/downloading/audio/evening/12/1225.mp3″]

经文: 筵宴的日子过了,约伯打发人去叫他们自洁。他清早起来,按着他们众人的数目献燔祭。因为他说,恐怕我儿子犯了罪,心中弃掉上帝。约伯常常这样行。(约伯记一:5)

信徒今晚睡觉以前,应当为了自己,效法约伯献上清晨之祭。在家人的欢聚中,人很容易就坠入罪恶的轻率中,忘记自己作基督徒的品行。这本是不应该的。只是筵乐的日子极少能成为自洁欢乐的日子,反倒常常堕落为不洁之荒宴。纯净圣洁的欢乐如同沐浴在伊甸中的河流。圣洁的感恩应该像忧伤一般的纯净。不幸的是,悲哀常常比欢乐更容易促使灵命成长。信徒啊,你今日犯了什么罪吗?你是否忘记了上帝对你的呼召?你的言谈是否充满了无聊和放荡的话?承认你的罪,并且快快献祭吧!被杀羔羊的宝血能除罪污,洗净无知和疏忽之罪的污秽。圣诞节日的最佳结束方法就是在清洁之泉洗净自己,使自己焕然一新。信徒啊,每晚都当献上这祭。能活在祭坛前是尊贵祭司的特权。罪恶虽多,也不至使你绝望。你若亲近耶稣并承认自己的过犯,祢必将你良心中取死之工作洗净。
 

Evening, December 25
Scripture: “And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.”(Job 1:5)

What the patriarch did early in the morning, after the family festivities, it will be well for the believer to do for himself ere he rests tonight. Amid the cheerfulness of household gatherings it is easy to slide into sinful levities, and to forget our avowed character as Christians. It ought not to be so, but so it is, that our days of feasting are very seldom days of sanctified enjoyment, but too frequently degenerate into unhallowed mirth. There is a way of joy as pure and sanctifying as though one bathed in the rivers of Eden: holy gratitude should be quite as purifying an element as grief. Alas! for our poor hearts, that facts prove that the house of mourning is better than the house of feasting. Come, believer, in what have you sinned to-day? Have you been forgetful of your high calling? Have you been even as others in idle words and loose speeches? Then confess the sin, and fly to the sacrifice. The sacrifice sanctifies. The precious blood of the Lamb slain removes the guilt, and purges away the defilement of our sins of ignorance and carelessness. This is the best ending of a Christmas-day-to wash anew in the cleansing fountain. Believer, come to this sacrifice continually; if it be so good to-night, it is good every night. To live at the altar is the privilege of the royal priesthood; to them sin, great as it is, is nevertheless no cause for despair, since they draw near yet again to the sin-atoning victim, and their conscience is purged from dead works.

Gladly I close this festive day,

Grasping the altar’s hallow’d horn;

My slips and faults are washed away,

The Lamb has all my trespass borne.

《静夜亮光》十二月二十四日

十二月二十四日[mp3_embed playlst=”/downloading/audio/evening/12/1224.mp3″]

经文: 耶和华的荣耀必然显现,凡有血气的必一同看见。(以赛亚书四十:5)

我们期盼着全世界归向基督的欢乐日子。外邦的神明都被丢弃,虚伪之宗教都被推翻,永不再欺骗世人。世上的王都要向和平之君下拜,万族都要称颂他们的拯救者。有人对这一日的来临已放弃希望。他们视这世界为破成碎片之器皿。我们知道有一日这世界要被烧毁,继之而起的就是新天新地。我们并不会因耶稣迟延再来而失望。我们也不因祂在这漫长的阶段内忍心让教会陷于冲突予盾之中而沮丧。我们相信上帝既已教基督的宝血为世人所流,必不会让世界长久在撒但的控制之中。基督来,为要将这世界从黑暗的极权中释放出来。当人与天使联合发出大声说:“哈利路亚!因为主我们的上帝,全能者,作王了。”(启十九:6),其声音是何等响亮啊!到那日,在为我们的主争战中有分的人,在赢得胜利中有分的人,是何等满足啊!与主一齐并肩作战,为祂的名靠祂的力量争战的人是何等欢乐啊!反之,站在罪恶一方的人将是何等悲哀!因那是失败的一方,而且在此战役中所有的失败者是永远地失败。你在哪一方呢?
 

Evening, December 24
Scripture: “The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.”(Isaiah 40:5)

We anticipate the happy day when the whole world shall be converted to Christ; when the gods of the heathen shall be cast to the moles and the bats; when Romanism shall be exploded, and the crescent of Mohammed shall wane, never again to cast its baleful rays upon the nations; when kings shall bow down before the Prince of Peace, and all nations shall call their Redeemer blessed. Some despair of this. They look upon the world as a vessel breaking up and going to pieces, never to float again. We know that the world and all that is therein is one day to be burnt up, and afterwards we look for new heavens and for a new earth; but we cannot read our Bibles without the conviction that-

“Jesus shall reign where’er the sun

Does his successive journeys run.”

We are not discouraged by the length of his delays; we are not disheartened by the long period which he allots to the church in which to struggle with little success and much defeat. We believe that God will never suffer this world, which has once seen Christ’s blood shed upon it, to be always the devil’s stronghold. Christ came hither to deliver this world from the detested sway of the powers of darkness. What a shout shall that be when men and angels shall unite to cry “Hallelujah, hallelujah, for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth!” What a satisfaction will it be in that day to have had a share in the fight, to have helped to break the arrows of the bow, and to have aided in winning the victory for our Lord! Happy are they who trust themselves with this conquering Lord, and who fight side by side with him, doing their little in his name and by his strength! How unhappy are those on the side of evil! It is a losing side, and it is a matter wherein to lose is to lose and to be lost for ever. On whose side are you?

《静夜亮光》十二月二十三日

十二月二十三日[mp3_embed playlst=”/downloading/audio/evening/12/1223.mp3″]

经文: 黑夜也属祢。(诗篇七十四:16)

主,当夕阳西下时,祢并没有离开宝座,让我们在漫长寒夜中孤苦无依地成为罪之猎物。祢的眼睛犹如天上众星看顾我们,祢的双臂犹如天空群星环抱我们。月亮的影响力在祢的手中。当我午夜醒来,饱受痛苦煎熬时,祢于我是何等甘甜。在主的管理下,苦难的夜晚也如同明亮的夏日一样处处欢乐。耶稣在暴风雨之中,祂的爱如同斗篷将夜晚包裹,信心的眼睛就能见到里面的爱。从黄昏至破晓,永恒的守望者注视着祂的众圣徒。为了祂百姓的最大好处,祂统管着永夜的阴影和露珠。我们听到耶和华说:“我造光,又造暗。……造作这一切的是我耶和华。”(赛四十五:7)灵里冷漠和罪恶也是上帝所预知的。当真理的祭坛被污秽,上帝的道路被离弃时,主的仆人忧伤流泪却不必沮丧,因为最黑暗的时刻也是在主的手中。黑夜不久就要过去。在我们看来是失败的,在主可能是得胜的。
 

Evening, December 23
Scripture: “The night also is thine.”(Psalm 74:16)

Yes, Lord, thou dost not abdicate thy throne when the sun goeth down, nor dost thou leave the world all through these long wintry nights to be the prey of evil; thine eyes watch us as the stars, and thine arms surround us as the zodiac belts the sky. The dews of kindly sleep and all the influences of the moon are in thy hand, and the alarms and solemnities of night are equally with thee. This is very sweet to me when watching through the midnight hours, or tossing to and fro in anguish. There are precious fruits put forth by the moon as well as by the sun: may my Lord make me to be a favoured partaker in them.

The night of affliction is as much under the arrangement and control of the Lord of Love as the bright summer days when all is bliss. Jesus is in the tempest. His love wraps the night about itself as a mantle, but to the eye of faith the sable robe is scarce a disguise. From the first watch of the night even unto the break of day the eternal Watcher observes his saints, and overrules the shades and dews of midnight for his people’s highest good. We believe in no rival deities of good and evil contending for the mastery, but we hear the voice of Jehovah saying, “I create light and I create darkness; I, the Lord, do all these things.”

Gloomy seasons of religious indifference and social sin are not exempted from the divine purpose. When the altars of truth are defiled, and the ways of God forsaken, the Lord’s servants weep with bitter sorrow, but they may not despair, for the darkest eras are governed by the Lord, and shall come to their end at his bidding. What may seem defeat to us may be victory to him.

“Though enwrapt in gloomy night,

We perceive no ray of light;

Since the Lord himself is here,

’Tis not meet that we should fear.”

[mp3_embed playlst=”/downloading/audio/evening/12/1201.mp3″]

《静夜亮光》十二月二十二日

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.

《静夜亮光》十二月二十一日

十二月二十一日[mp3_embed playlst=”/downloading/audio/evening/12/1221.mp3″]

经文: 我也使你身穿绣花衣服,脚穿海狗皮鞋,并用细麻布给你束腰,用丝绸为衣披在你身上。(以西结书十六:10)

请看主竟是如此慷慨地为祂的百姓预备衣裳。神圣的技艺所生产的无可匹配的绣工,其中彰显了上帝的每一属性和荣美。世上没有任何艺术可以与展现在我们救恩中的艺术相比,也没有任何手艺像我们在圣徒的公义上所见到的那样。称义吸引历世历代教会中有才能的头脑,而那也是永远赞美之主题。我们的鞋是用海狗皮制成,既实际又耐用。海狗皮是最细又最韧的皮革,也被用来当作会幕的顶盖。因信称义是持久到永远的,此义乃是上帝的本性。穿上这双上帝所预备的鞋,就能安然行过沙漠,甚至能践踏狮子和蛇。我们圣洁衣裳的纯净和高贵完全展现在细麻布上。当上帝教祂的百姓成圣时,他们就和祭司一样穿上洁白的衣服。即使在主的眼中,他们仍是没有污点的。尊贵的装饰如丝绸般细致高贵。不怕浪费,不隐藏美丽,也不吝于使之雅致。我们感激父上帝所赐的美丽衣裳。我们心中必然满了向父的感恩与欢欣。但愿今晚你能因祂的同在而喜乐。
 

Evening, December 21
Scripture: “I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers’ skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk.”(Ezekiel 16:10)

See with what matchless generosity the Lord provides for his people’s apparel. They are so arrayed that the divine skill is seen producing an unrivalled broidered work, in which every attribute takes its part and every divine beauty is revealed. No art like the art displayed in our salvation, no cunning workmanship like that beheld in the righteousness of the saints. Justification has engrossed learned pens in all ages of the church, and will be the theme of admiration in eternity. God has indeed “curiously wrought it.” With all this elaboration there is mingled utility and durability, comparable to our being shod with badgers’ skins. The animal here meant is unknown, but its skin covered the tabernacle, and formed one of the finest and strongest leathers known. The righteousness which is of God by faith endureth for ever, and he who is shod with this divine preparation will tread the desert safely, and may even set his foot upon the lion and the adder. Purity and dignity of our holy vesture are brought out in the fine linen. When the Lord sanctifies his people, they are clad as priests in pure white; not the snow itself excels them; they are in the eyes of men and angels fair to look upon, and even in the Lord’s eyes they are without spot. Meanwhile the royal apparel is delicate and rich as silk. No expense is spared, no beauty withheld, no daintiness denied.

What, then? Is there no inference from this? Surely there is gratitude to be felt and joy to be expressed. Come, my heart, refuse not thy evening hallelujah! Tune thy pipes! Touch thy chords!

“Strangely, my soul, art thou arrayed

By the Great Sacred Three!

In sweetest harmony of praise

Let all thy powers agree.”

司布真每日灵修(夜) Evening by Evening

《静夜亮光》十二月二十日

十二月二十日[mp3_embed playlst=”/downloading/audio/evening/12/1220.mp3″]

经文: 叫工人都来,给他们工钱。(马太福音二十:8)

上帝是一位好雇主。不但在仆人工作时祂付他们工钱,工作完成后,祂也给他们赏赐。祂所付的工钱中有一项是平安的良心。倘若今日你向一位朋友忠实地述说耶稣,晚上当你躺卧时可以愉快地想:“今日我与朋友分享了救主耶稣的爱。”你为耶稣作了一些工作,心中必会满得欣慰能为祂的冠冕增添珍宝,让主看到祂拯救工作的果效,那是多么大的喜乐啊!看到灵魂因信主而萌放出嫩芽,也是何等大的赏赐啊!也许你看到班上某位女孩时会说:“她的心是何等柔和;但愿是主在她心中作工。”或是你回家后为某位男孩代祷,因他所说的话令你想到他应该明白上帝的真理。能成为赢取灵魂的人是世上最快乐的事。每当你顉一个灵魂到基督面前,就等于是在地上获得了一个新天堂。但是谁能想像那在上面等待着赏赐我们的祝福呢?“可以进来享受你主人的快乐”(太二十五:21)。哦,这话是多么甘甜!你知道一个得救的罪人会给基督带来多大的快乐吗?这也是我们将来在天堂所能拥有的快乐。当天堂响起“好,好”的称许声音时,你就能获得赏赐。你曾与祂一同辛劳,你曾与祂一同受苦,现在你要与祂一同作王。你曾与祂同撒种,就要与祂一同收割。你曾像祂一般汗流满面,你的灵曾像祂的灵一般为人的罪忧伤,现在你的脸将闪耀着天堂的光辉,你的灵将充满喜满乐。
 

Evening, December 20
Scripture: “Call thy labourers, and give them their hire.”(Matthew 20:8)

God is a good paymaster; he pays his servants while at work as well as when they have done it; and one of his payments is this: an easy conscience. If you have spoken faithfully of Jesus to one person, when you go to bed at night you feel happy in thinking, “I have this day discharged my conscience of that man’s blood.” There is a great comfort in doing something for Jesus. Oh, what a happiness to place jewels in his crown, and give him to see of the travail of his soul! There is also very great reward in watching the first buddings of conviction in a soul! To say of that girl in the class, “She is tender of heart, I do hope that there is the Lord’s work within.” To go home and pray over that boy, who said something in the afternoon which made you think he must know more of divine truth than you had feared! Oh, the joy of hope! But as for the joy of success! it is unspeakable. This joy, overwhelming as it is, is a hungry thing-you pine for more of it. To be a soul-winner is the happiest thing in the world. With every soul you bring to Christ, you get a new heaven upon earth. But who can conceive the bliss which awaits us above! Oh, how sweet is that sentence, “Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord!” Do you know what the joy of Christ is over a saved sinner? This is the very joy which we are to possess in heaven. Yes, when he mounts the throne, you shall mount with him. When the heavens ring with “Well done, well done,” you shall partake in the reward; you have toiled with him, you have suffered with him, you shall now reign with him; you have sown with him, you shall reap with him; your face was covered with sweat like his, and your soul was grieved for the sins of men as his soul was, now shall your face be bright with heaven’s splendour as is his countenance, and now shall your soul be filled with beatific joys even as his soul is.