一月二十三日

我高舉那從民中所揀選的。（詩89:19）

為什麼基督從民中被揀選除了呢？我的心哪！你說吧，因為心裡的意念是最好的。他不是我們的兄長，與我們有血緣關係嗎？基督和信徒之間有一種什麼關係呢？信徒可以說：“我在天上有一位兄長。我雖貧窮，但我的兄長是最富足的，並且他也是一位君王，他坐在寶座上會任令我受貧窮嗎？噢。不！他愛我，他是我的兄長。”信徒啊！你把這有福的話，當作一串金剛石的項鍊，戴在你記憶的頸項上吧；把它當作一個戒指戴在你回憶的手指上吧；把它當作君王的玉璽，用信心印在你的祈求上，一心相信他必為你成全。他生來就是一位共患難的兄長，我們也應該這樣待他。基督從民中被揀選出來，他知道我們的需要並且同情我們。“他也曾凡事受過試探，與我們一樣，只是他沒有犯罪。”我們在一切患難中，他都同情我們。試探，痛苦，失望，軟弱，疲倦，貧窮——他的知道，因為他曾一一忍受過。基督徒啊！記住這一點，讓這話作你的安慰。不管你的路是多麼艱難痛苦，我們的救主也曾在那些地方留下過他的腳蹤；甚至當你經過黑暗的幽谷、死亡的陰影和約旦河漲溢的深水，你也必在那裡看到他的腳蹤。在我們所到的一切地方，他都是一個過來人；我們所背得每一個重擔，也曾沉重地壓在以馬內利的肩頭上。鼓起勇氣來！大君王的雙腳已經在路上留下了血紅的足跡，它把荊棘之路永遠分別為聖了！

“他的路比我的更崎嶇更黑暗；我主基督也曾忍受，我還抱怨什麼呢？”

January 23

"I have exalted one chosen out of the people." --Psalm 89:19

Why was Christ chosen out of the people? Speak, my heart, for heart-thoughts are best. Was it not that He might be able to be our brother, in the blest tie of kindred blood? Oh, what relationship there is between Christ and the believer! The believer can say, "I have a Brother in heaven; I may be poor, but I have a Brother who is rich, and is a King, and will He suffer me to want while He is on His throne? Oh, no! He loves me; He is my Brother." Believer, wear this blessed thought, like a necklace of diamonds, around the neck of thy memory; put it, as a golden ring, on the finger of recollection, and use it as the King's own seal, stamping the petitions of thy faith with confidence of success. He is a brother born for adversity, treat Him as such.

Christ was also chosen out of the people that He might know our wants and sympathize with us. "He was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin." In all our sorrows we have His sympathy. Temptation, pain, disappointment, weakness, weariness, poverty--He knows them all, for He has felt all. Remember this, Christian, and let it comfort thee. However difficult and painful thy road, it is marked by the footsteps of thy Saviour; and even when thou reachest the dark valley of the shadow of death, and the deep waters of the swelling Jordan, thou wilt find His footprints there. In all places whithersoever we go, He has been our forerunner; each burden we have to carry, has once been laid on the shoulders of Immanuel.

"His way was much rougher and darker than mine

Did Christ, my Lord, suffer, and shall I repine?"

Take courage! Royal feet have left a blood-red track upon the road, and consecrated the thorny path for ever.