一月十五日

照你所說的而行。（撒下7:25）

神的應許非同棄置一旁的廢紙，他的意思是要人使用。神的金寶並非守財奴的錢財，乃是為了流通才發行的。他喜歡看到自己的孩子把他的應許帶到他的面前對他說：“主啊！照你所說的而行吧！”我們這樣求他就是榮耀他。你想神會因為按應許使你豐富而自己便會貧窮起來嗎？你曾夢想他會因使你聖潔而自己的聖潔便有所減損嗎？你曾想像他會因洗淨你的罪而自己的清潔便受到沾染嗎？他曾說：“你們來，我們彼此辯論。你們的罪雖像朱紅，必變成雪白；雖紅如丹顏，必白如羊毛。”你若憑信心緊緊抓住赦罪的應許說：“這是一個寶貴的應許，我要證實它。”就得立即來到寶座前，禱告說：“主啊！這是你的應許，照你所說的而行吧！”我們的主必說：“照你所要的，給你成全了吧！”基督徒在抓住一個應許的時候，不就質於神，就等於不榮耀他；但他若馬上來到施恩寶座前，說道：“主啊！除了‘照你所說的而行’，我別無所陳。”如此就能得到所求的。我們在天上的銀行經理很喜歡使他的鈔票兌現。不要叫應許生銹！把應許的話從鞘袋之中抽出來，大膽地使用吧！你不要以為神會因我們強求他按他的應許而行便會感到厭煩。他很喜歡聽一個有所缺乏的孩子大聲呼求他。他樂意把恩典賜給人，他願意垂聽你，超過你所求的；你還未求，他就在等待聽你了。神是信實的，他必按照自己的應許行；因此，你當立即來到他的施恩座前說：“照你所說的而行。”

January 15

"Do as thou hast said." --2 Samuel 7:25

God's promises were never meant to be thrown aside as waste paper; He intended that they should be used. God's gold is not miser's money, but is minted to be traded with. Nothing pleases our Lord better than to see His promises put in circulation; He loves to see His children bring them up to Him, and say, "Lord, do as Thou hast said." We glorify God when we plead His promises. Do you think that God will be any the poorer for giving you the riches He has promised? Do you dream that He will be any the less holy for giving holiness to you? Do you imagine He will be any the less pure for washing you from your sins? He has said "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Faith lays hold upon the promise of pardon, and it does not delay, saying, "This is a precious promise, I wonder if it be true?" but it goes straight to the throne with it, and pleads, "Lord, here is the promise, 'Do as Thou hast said.'" Our Lord replies, "Be it unto thee even as thou wilt." When a Christian grasps a promise, if he do not take it to God, he dishonours Him; but when he hastens to the throne of grace, and cries, "Lord, I have nothing to recommend me but this, 'Thou hast said it;'" then his desire shall be granted. Our heavenly Banker delights to cash His own notes. Never let the promise rust. Draw the word of promise out of its scabbard, and use it with holy violence. Think not that God will be troubled by your importunately reminding Him of His promises. He loves to hear the loud outcries of needy souls. It is His delight to bestow favours. He is more ready to hear than you are to ask. The sun is not weary of shining, nor the fountain of flowing. It is God's nature to keep His promises; therefore go at once to the throne with "Do as Thou hast said."