二月十一日

認明他們是跟過耶穌的。（徒4:13）

基督徒是耶穌基督的肖像。你曾念過基督的傳記，寫得既優美又流利的傳記，但基督最好的傳記是他的活傳記，乃是屬他之人的言行所寫出來的。若是我們怎樣信就怎樣作人，應當怎樣就怎樣的話，我們就是基督的像了；我們若這樣完全像他，世人連一時也不能容我們了，他們心裡說：“真像呀！”當他們看到的時候，必說：“他曾跟過耶穌，曾受過他的教，他的言行表現出他完全接受了耶穌的觀念。”基督徒要像基督那樣勇毅。不要為你所信的感到赧然；不要羞辱了你所承認的：要留心，永也不要羞辱你所承認的，要像耶穌一樣果敢地服侍神。要在愛人的精神上效法他啊。思想要本乎仁愛之心，說話要出於仁愛之心，行事也要有仁愛之心，好叫人說：“他是跟過耶穌的。”要效法耶穌的聖潔。他曾以父的事為念嗎？他曾為神大發熱心嗎？你也要這樣，要不住地行神所看為善的事。他能舍己嗎？他是從不顧到自己的利益嗎？你也要這樣行。他虔誠嗎？你也要熱切地禱告。他曾違背過父的旨意嗎？你也要這樣順服他。他忍耐嗎？所以要學著忍耐。而最好的，最像耶穌的，像他一樣，是赦免你的仇敵。聽你的主所說的話吧：“父啊，赦免他們！因為他們所作的，他們不曉得。”讓這話永遠縈繞在你耳中！要饒恕人，正像你盼望被饒恕一樣。要因你善待仇敵而把炭火堆在他的頭上。要以德報怨，要以善待惡，記住，你是像神的。要像神，要盡心盡力，在凡事上使你的生活叫看到的人能說：“他是跟過耶穌的。”

February 11

"And they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus." --Acts 4:13

A Christian should be a striking likeness of Jesus Christ. You have read lives of Christ, beautifully and eloquently written, but the best life of Christ is His living biography, written out in the words and actions of His people. If we were what we profess to be, and what we should be, we should be pictures of Christ; yea, such striking likenesses of Him, that the world would not have to hold us up by the hour together, and say, "Well, it seems somewhat of a likeness;" but they would, when they once beheld us, exclaim, "He has been with Jesus; he has been taught of Him; he is like Him; he has caught the very idea of the holy Man of Nazareth, and he works it out in his life and every-day actions." A Christian should be like Christ in his boldness. Never blush to own your religion; your profession will never disgrace you: take care you never disgrace that. Be like Jesus, very valiant for your God. Imitate Him in your loving spirit; think kindly, speak kindly, and do kindly, that men may say of you, "He has been with Jesus." Imitate Jesus in His holiness. Was He zealous for His Master? So be you; ever go about doing good. Let not time be wasted: it is too precious. Was He self-denying, never looking to His own interest? Be the same. Was He devout? Be you fervent in your prayers. Had He deference to His Father's will? So submit yourselves to Him. Was He patient? So learn to endure. And best of all, as the highest portraiture of Jesus, try to forgive your enemies, as He did; and let those sublime words of your Master, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do," always ring in your ears. Forgive, as you hope to be forgiven. Heap coals of fire on the head of your foe by your kindness to him. Good for evil, recollect, is godlike. Be godlike, then; and in all ways and by all means, so live that all may say of you, "He has been with Jesus."