十月二十日

在凡事上向他裏面長進。（改譯）（弗4：15）

有許多基督徒在屬靈的事上總是那樣瘦削、弱小，年復一年，依然故我。他們一點也沒有上進和增長的表現。他們是活的，但是却不“凡事在他裏面有長進”。（改譯）當我們到了能“吐穗”，甚至能長成“子粒飽滿的麥穗”時，我們會以僅僅有了“綠葉”而感到滿足嗎？我們信了基督，幷且說“我平安了”，而不願在我們的經驗上多認識他裏面的豐盛，就算够了嗎？我們不當如此；我們應當在天堂的商場上作一個殷勤的商人，致力使我們在耶穌的知識上豐富起來。留心別人得葡萄園是很好的事，但同時也不要忘了自己的長進和成熟。爲什麽讓我們的心永遠過著嚴冬呢？到了春天我們必須要有播種的時候，不錯，但到了夏天也要及時成熟。

若我們要在恩典上有長進，就必須親近耶穌——在他面前——藉他慈面的照射使我們成熟。我們必須與他有密切的交通。我們必須就近前來看他的面，正像約翰枕首在他的胸懷一般；那末我們就覺得自己在聖潔、愛心、信心和盼望上幷在一切寶貴的恩賜上有了長進。正像日出時，金光映照著山頂，把一幅悅人的美景呈現在游客的眼前一樣；照樣世人看到一位靈性長成的聖徒頭上發射出聖靈的光來，也感到極大的歡欣。好像保羅在同儕中像一座終年積雪的雄偉大山，他把公義太陽的光綫先映給選民看，然後把他的光耀輝煌高高地映給衆人看，既然看到就將榮耀歸于天上的父。

October 20

"Grow up into him in all things."--Ephesians 4:15

Many Christians remain stunted and dwarfed in spiritual things, so as to present the same appearance year after year. No up-springing of advanced and refined feeling is manifest in them. They exist but do not "grow up into him in all things." But should we rest content with being in the "green blade," when we might advance to "the ear," and eventually ripen into the "full corn in the ear?" Should we be satisfied to believe in Christ, and to say, "I am safe," without wishing to know in our own experience more of the fulness which is to be found in him. It should not be so; we should, as good traders in heaven's market, covet to be enriched in the knowledge of Jesus. It is all very well to keep other men's vineyards, but we must not neglect our own spiritual growth and ripening. Why should it always be winter time in our hearts? We must have our seed time, it is true, but O for a spring time--yea, a summer season, which shall give promise of an early harvest. If we would ripen in grace, we must live near to Jesus--in his presence--ripened by the sunshine of his smiles. We must hold sweet communion with him. We must leave the distant view of his face and come near, as John did, and pillow our head on his breast; then shall we find ourselves advancing in holiness, in love, in faith, in hope--yea, in every precious gift. As the sun rises first on mountain-tops and gilds them with his light, and presents one of the most charming sights to the eye of the traveller; so is it one of the most delightful contemplations in the world to mark the glow of the Spirit's light on the head of some saint, who has risen up in spiritual stature, like Saul, above his fellows, till, like a mighty Alp, snow-capped, he reflects first among the chosen, the beams of the Sun of Righteousness, and bears the sheen of his effulgence high aloft for all to see, and seeing it, to glorify his Father which is in heaven.