第三十三周 神的信实
“神是信实的。”（林前1:9）。
诗：哦！何日云翳消减，得以瞻祂慈颜，
在恩中更能赏识，祂信袂的爱顾。
哦！何日享祂爱情，缅怀今天路径，
软弱中全信于祂，爱的工作扶护。
我们应当有信心，信神是信实的，能保守祂自己的人。
祂虽不会在任何事上都使用我们，但他常会作祂自己的工，我们可以（也应当）信靠祂所作的工。
忍耐往往是一个很好的办法，因为有神在其中行事；有许多事我们必须让神自己去作。
千万不可疑惑神的信实，哦，假若我不为神的信实作见证，不述说祂对无用的仆人的伟大，甘甜，和可贵的忍耐，那我就是一个忘恩负义的人。
我觉得，我们永不用去答复人的攻击，如果失败是在我，就应当坦白承认，若不在我，交托给主就好了。
“我主，我神，你必替我回答。”……你若与一个打扫烟窗的人纠缠，你必沾染肮脏。我们该有的立场是，活在超越这些事的上头，不去想人的攻击，只想到人的灵魂。
神一作工，我们必定可以预期有圆满的结果。
我时常发现，真的有事临到时，把这事带到神前，是使事情获致妥善处理的法子。
祂的爱与恩永不止息。我们在地上，纵使是子然一身，祂的恩典也会够用，赞美祂的名，祂是我们永远的良伴。
保罗因为那加给他力量的，凡事都能作。这是何等甘甜和宝贵的经历，这不只是因得着能力，可以应付一革的环境（当然这是已经够宝贵的了）。更是因这一位永不改变，信实而大能的至友被他认识了。不是“我凡事都能作。”而是“在那加给我力量者的里面，凡事都有作。”这力量源源不绝的涌流，都因在心中连结着基督。事实上人并不是“凡事都能作”者，但保罗已在经历上学会了这功课，他知道他所倚靠的谁，基督对他一直是信实的，曾带他经过那么多的难处，也经过那么多享通的日子，所以他已经学会信靠祂而不看环境。基督是永不改变的。
保罗的心是安息在神里面，他写给腓立比人那安慰的话语，曾透亮的表达了这一点。他说，我的神必照祂荣耀的丰富，在基督耶稣里，使你们一切所需用的都充足。他并不是表示一个愿望说，愿神这样行，他根据自己的经历，己熟识他的神是怎样的一位神。他说我的神，就是在我经历种种环境中所认识的神。必定用诸般的好处充满你们。他把神如何恩待他个人，以及基督对他是何等信实可靠的丰富经历，全应用在腓立比人身上。
但愿那信实并完全良善的主耶稣，用祂的同在托住你们，并使你们的心欢乐。
THIRTY-THIRD WEEK THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD
“God is faithful.” 1 Corinthians 1:9
Oh! when—without a cloud—
His features trace,
Whose faithful love so long
We’ve known in grace;
That love itself enjoy—
Which ever true
Did, in our feeble path,
Its work pursue?
We should … have faith in the faithfulness of God to keep His own.
He will not always use us in everything, but He will always do His own work, and we can or ought to trust Him for it.
Patience is often a great remedy, because there is a God who acts. … There are cases where we must let God alone do all.
Do not doubt His faithfulness … oh, how ungrateful I should be if I did not testify to His faithfulness, and to His great and sweet and precious patience with His poor servant.
Mere attacks, I feel, are never to be answered. If we have failed—acknowledge it; if not—leave it to the Lord.
“Thou shalt answer for me, O Lord my God.” … You get as dirty in contending with a sweep as in hugging him … our part is to live above these things, and not to think of attacks but of souls.
When God works we look for full results.
I have constantly found that bringing things to God, if real, is the way of having them done.
His love and grace never fail. Were we alone in the world, His grace would be sufficient, and blessed be His name, perpetual company.
Paul … could do all things through Him who strengthened him. Sweet and precious experience! not only because it gives ability to meet all circumstances, which is of great price, but because the Lord is known, the constant, faithful, mighty friend of the heart. It is not “I can do all things,” but “I can do all through him who strengtheneth me.” It is a strength which continually flows from a relationship with Christ, a connection with Him maintained in the heart. Neither is it only “one can do all things.” This is true; but Paul had learnt it practically. He knew what he could … reckon on. Christ had always been faithful to him, had brought him through so many difficulties, and through so many seasons of prosperity, that he had learnt to trust in Him, and not in circumstances. And Christ was the same ever.
(Paul’s) heart rested in God; his assurance with regard to the Philippians expresses it. My God, he says, shall richly supply all your need. He does not express a wish that God may do so. He had learnt what his God was by his own experience. My God, he says, He whom I have learned to know in all the circumstances through which I have passed, shall fill you with all good things. … He applies his own experience of that which God was to him, and his experience of the faithfulness of Christ, to the Philippians.
May the presence of that faithful and all good Jesus sustain you and rejoice your heart.