四月十六日

基督的寶血……（彼前1：19）

站在十字架下，仰望雙手、雙足和肋旁，都湧流著鮮紅的寶血。他的血所以“寶”，乃因它有拯救、有贖罪的功效。因這血，屬基督之人的罪才得替贖，他們得從律法以下被救贖出來，他們得以與神和好、與他合一。基督的血所以“寶”，也因為它有洗淨的能力，它“洗淨我們一切的罪”。“你們的罪雖像硃紅，必變成雪白”，信徒經過耶穌的血之後就沒有些微污點了，也不留什麼皺紋等類的病。潔淨我們的寶血！洗除我們眾罪的玷污！雖然我們在許多事上悖逆神，也使我們得以在愛子裡蒙悅納。基督的血之所以“寶”，還在於它保全的能力。滅命的天使看到我們已經被血塗過，我們便可安全無事。要記得神看見了血，他才赦免我們。當信眼迷蒙時，這是我們的安慰，因為神的眼是一樣的。基督的血是“寶”貴的，也因為它有使人成聖的能力。這血除去了罪之後，還有善後的工作，它蘇醒人的新性情使這新人能繼續制服罪，並順服神的命令。惟有耶穌所流的血能引起人追求聖潔的動機。這血是“寶”貴的，它的寶貴是言詞所不能形容的，因為它有一種得勝的能力。啟示錄上說：“弟兄勝過它，是因羔羊的血……。”他們怎能靠別的方法得勝呢?那靠耶穌寶血爭戰的人，乃是靠著一種所向無敵的兵器爭戰。耶穌的血！罪惡必死在它的面前，死也不再成其為死了：天門必因它而開。耶穌的血！我們只要倚靠它的能力，就能奮勇向前，得勝而又得勝！

April 16

"The precious blood of Christ." --1 Peter 1:19

Standing at the foot of the cross, we see hands, and feet, and side, all distilling crimson streams of precious blood. It is "precious" because of its redeeming and atoning efficacy. By it the sins of Christ's people are atoned for; they are redeemed from under the law; they are reconciled to God, made one with Him. Christ's blood is also "precious" in its cleansing power; it "cleanseth from all sin." "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow." Through Jesus' blood there is not a spot left upon any believer, no wrinkle nor any such thing remains. O precious blood, which makes us clean, removing the stains of abundant iniquity, and permitting us to stand accepted in the Beloved, notwithstanding the many ways in which we have rebelled against our God. The blood of Christ is likewise "precious" in its preserving power. We are safe from the destroying angel under the sprinkled blood. Remember it is God's seeing the blood which is the true reason for our being spared. Here is comfort for us when the eye of faith is dim, for God's eye is still the same. The blood of Christ is "precious" also in its sanctifying influence. The same blood which justifies by taking away sin, does in its after-action, quicken the new nature and lead it onward to subdue sin and to follow out the commands of God. There is no motive for holiness so great as that which streams from the veins of Jesus. And "precious," unspeakably precious, is this blood, because it has an overcoming power. It is written, "They overcame through the blood of the Lamb." How could they do otherwise? He who fights with the precious blood of Jesus, fights with a weapon which cannot know defeat. The blood of Jesus! sin dies at its presence, death ceases to be death: heaven's gates are opened. The blood of Jesus! We shall march on, conquering and to conquer, so long as we can trust its power!