二月二十四日

我也必叫時雨落下，必有福如甘霖而降。（結34:26）

這一個恩典是有權能的：“我也必叫時雨落下。”這不是一個有全能、屬神的恩典嗎？因為除了神誰能說這句話呢？只有一種聲音能命令雲落雨。誰差雨降在地上呢？誰叫甘霖澆灌菜蔬呢？不是神嗎？恩典是神所賜的，並非人所造的。這也是必需的恩典。地若沒有雨會成為什麼樣子呢？你能耕耘，你能種植，但沒有雨你還能作什麼呢？所以神所賜的福是絕對需要的。神若不大降沛雨，不賜下救恩，人的工作必然徒勞。這也是豐盛的恩典。神所賜的是沛雨，而非雨點。他的恩惠也是這樣。神所賜的福，乃是無處可容的福。豐盛的恩惠！我們需要豐盛的恩惠，使我們謙卑、禱告並成為聖潔；我們需要豐盛的恩惠，使我們熱心，使我們能保守我們的一生，並且在末時使我們能進入天堂。若沒有恩雨我們就一無所成。它也是“按時”的恩典。神叫“時雨落下”。今晨你的情形是什麼時候呀？是乾旱的時候嗎？那末那正是需要時雨的時候了。那時正是烏雲彌漫陰沉可怖的時候嗎？那末那正是需要時雨的時候了。“你的日子如何，你的力量也必如何。”這裡也有各樣的福。“必有福如甘霖而降。”甘霖是多數的，神必賜下各式各樣的福。神一切的福是一起傾下的，像一串金鏈。若他賜你悔罪的恩，他也必賜你安慰的恩。他必賜“福如甘霖而降”。乾旱的植物呀！今天要仰起頭來，張開你的枝葉和花朵承接天上降下的雨澤吧！

February 24

"I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing." --Ezekiel 34:26

Here is sovereign mercy--"I will give them the shower in its season." Is it not sovereign, divine mercy?--for who can say, "I will give them showers," except God? There is only one voice which can speak to the clouds, and bid them beget the rain. Who sendeth down the rain upon the earth? Who scattereth the showers upon the green herb? Do not I, the Lord? So grace is the gift of God, and is not to be created by man. It is also needed grace. What would the ground do without showers? You may break the clods, you may sow your seeds, but what can you do without the rain? As absolutely needful is the divine blessing. In vain you labour, until God the plenteous shower bestows, and sends salvation down. Then, it is plenteous grace. "I will send them showers." It does not say, "I will send them drops," but "showers." So it is with grace. If God gives a blessing, He usually gives it in such a measure that there is not room enough to receive it. Plenteous grace! Ah! we want plenteous grace to keep us humble, to make us prayerful, to make us holy; plenteous grace to make us zealous, to preserve us through this life, and at last to land us in heaven. We cannot do without saturating showers of grace. Again, it is seasonable grace. "I will cause the shower to come down in his season." What is thy season this morning? Is it the season of drought? Then that is the season for showers. Is it a season of great heaviness and black clouds? Then that is the season for showers. "As thy days so shall thy strength be." And here is a varied blessing. "I will give thee showers of blessing." The word is in the plural. All kinds of blessings God will send. All God's blessings go together, like links in a golden chain. If He gives converting grace, He will also give comforting grace. He will send "showers of blessing." Look up to-day, O parched plant, and open thy leaves and flowers for a heavenly watering.