一月十二日

你們是屬基督的（林前3:23）

“你們是屬基督的”，你之所以屬他是由於贈與，因為父把你賜給了子；是因他用血買了你，他為救贖你的緣故付上了代價；也是由於奉獻，因為你把自己分別為聖歸他；因為你與他發生了關係，以他的名為自己的名，並且成了他的一位弟兄和同為後嗣的人。你實際的工作向世界表現出來你是耶穌的一位僕人、朋友和新婦。當你被罪誘惑的時候，你回答說：“我不能犯這大罪，因為我是屬基督的。”永生之道不准基督的朋友犯罪。當財富誘致你犯罪的時候，你要說你是屬基督的，並且不要摸著它。你受到種種困難和危險嗎？要在邪惡的時代站立得穩，要記住你是屬基督的。你所在的工場人們都終日閑坐，無所事事嗎？你要起來盡上你一切的力量作工；當汗珠滾到你的眉毛上，你不要受引誘而怠惰，你要說：“不，我不能停，因為我是屬基督的。若是我不被寶血所買，我便像以薩迦一樣背重服苦了；但我是屬基督的，我不能擦去。”當靡靡之音傳到你的耳中引誘你離開正路的時候，你回答說：“你的歌聲不能迷惑我，因我是屬基督的。”當神的工作等待你的時候，你要全力以赴；當窮人要求你的時候，你要把你的東西和你一起給他，因為你是屬基督的。不要兒戲你的職責，永遠使你的舉止、行動像一位基督徒，使你的話語像拿撒勒人，使你的言行真有天上的香氣，使凡看到你的人都知道你是屬救主的，承認你有他的愛和他聖潔的儀容。你當隨時表明“我是屬基督的”！

January 12

"Ye are Christ's." --1 Corinthians 3:23

Ye are Christ's." You are His by donation, for the Father gave you to the Son; His by His bloody purchase, for He counted down the price for your redemption; His by dedication, for you have consecrated yourself to Him; His by relation, for you are named by his name, and made one of His brethren and joint-heirs. Labour practically to show the world that you are the servant, the friend, the bride of Jesus. When tempted to sin, reply, "I cannot do this great wickedness, for I am Christ's." Immortal principles forbid the friend of Christ to sin. When wealth is before you to be won by sin, say that you are Christ's, and touch it not. Are you exposed to difficulties and dangers? Stand fast in the evil day, remembering that you are Christ's. Are you placed where others are sitting down idly, doing nothing? Rise to the work with all your powers; and when the sweat stands upon your brow, and you are tempted to loiter, cry, "No, I cannot stop, for I am Christ's. If I were not purchased by blood, I might be like Issachar, crouching between two burdens; but I am Christ's, and cannot loiter." When the siren song of pleasure would tempt you from the path of right, reply, "Thy music cannot charm me; I am Christ's." When the cause of God invites thee, give thy goods and thyself away, for thou art Christ's. Never belie thy profession. Be thou ever one of those whose manners are Christian, whose speech is like the Nazarene, whose conduct and conversation are so redolent of heaven, that all who see you may know that you are the Saviour's, recognizing in you His features of love and His countenance of holiness. "I am a Roman!" was of old a reason for integrity; far more, then, let it be your argument for holiness, "I am Christ's!"