二月五日

父差子作世人的救主。（約一4:14）

耶穌基督來到世上並非沒有經過他父的允准、命令、同意和幫助。這句話的含意是很寶貴的。他是被父所差，使他作人類的救主。我們不當忘記，三位一體的神雖然位格不同，但是尊榮卻是沒有分別的。我們為所得到的救恩，至少是洪福，常把尊榮歸於耶穌基督，而忽略了父。這是很大的錯誤。耶穌不是已經來嗎？不是父所差他來的嗎？他所說的話多麼美妙，不是他父把恩典澆灌在他的嘴唇上，使他作新約的職事嗎？那認識父、子和聖靈的人，他應當有這樣的認識，那末就不當使他的愛有差等；他可以在伯利恒、客西馬尼和各各他看到他們都一同在成就救恩的事。基督徒呀！你信靠降生為人的基督耶穌嗎？你專依靠他嗎？你與他聯合一起嗎？那末就應當信你已與天上的神聯合一起了。你既與降生為人的基督耶穌為弟兄，與他有密切的關係，你就與永生的神有了系連了，並且那“亙古常在者”就是你的父和你的朋友。當父神藉著他的兒子發大憐憫的時候，你曾測量過耶和華心中之愛的深度嗎？若是沒有，你當藉著今晨所念的來探測一下神愛的寬廣吧！父差遣他！仔細想想這個題目吧！想想耶穌怎樣完成父的旨意。從受死救主的創傷就可看到“自有永有”（I AM）的大愛。讓我們每逢想到耶穌的時候，也當聯想到永生的、永遠可稱頌的神，因為“耶和華卻喜悅將他壓傷，使他受痛苦”。

February 5

"The Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world." --1 John 4:14

It is a sweet thought that Jesus Christ did not come forth without His Father's permission, authority, consent, and assistance. He was sent of the Father, that He might be the Saviour of men. We are too apt to forget that, while there are distinctions as to the persons in the Trinity, there are no distinctions of honour. We too frequently ascribe the honour of our salvation, or at least the depths of its benevolence, more to Jesus Christ than we do the Father. This is a very great mistake. What if Jesus came? Did not His Father send Him? If He spake wondrously, did not His Father pour grace into His lips, that He might be an able minister of the new covenant? He who knoweth the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost as he should know them, never setteth one before another in his love; he sees them at Bethlehem, at Gethsemane, and on Calvary, all equally engaged in the work of salvation. O Christian, hast thou put thy confidence in the Man Christ Jesus? Hast thou placed thy reliance solely on Him? And art thou united with Him? Then believe that thou art united unto the God of heaven. Since to the Man Christ Jesus thou art brother, and holdest closest fellowship, thou art linked thereby with God the Eternal, and "the Ancient of days" is thy Father and thy friend. Didst thou ever consider the depth of love in the heart of Jehovah, when God the Father equipped His Son for the great enterprise of mercy? If not, be this thy day's meditation. The Father sent Him! Contemplate that subject. Think how Jesus works what the Father wills. In the wounds of the dying Saviour see the love of the great I AM. Let every thought of Jesus be also connected with the Eternal, ever-blessed God, for "It pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He hath put Him to grief."