五月五日

我要作他們的神，他們要作我的子民。（林後6：16）

“我的子民”是多麼好的一個名稱呀！“他們的神”又是多麼快樂的啟示呀！“我的子民”包涵著多少意義呢?這話有一種專有的意義。整個的世界是神的，天和天上的天也是神的，他掌管人類的一切事務，但他對所選、所買歸於他名下的人說“我的子民”。他並不指著別人說。這話有一種所有權的意義。他曾特特說：“耶和華的份，本是他的百姓；他的產業，本是雅各。”地上的萬國都屬他，全世界都在他的治理之下；而他的子民，他所揀選的更加專屬他，因為他為他們所作的比他人更多。他曾用寶血買了他們，他曾使他們就近自己，他把整個的心都放在他們身上，他以永遠的愛愛他們，這愛是水不能淹沒的，時間的演變也不能滅殺、削弱它的。親愛的朋友，你能用信心的眼看到你也在其中嗎?你能仰頭向天說：“我的主，我的神！我能因那甜蜜的關係得以呼叫你為父嗎?我能因那聖潔的相交得享你向我顯現而不向世人顯現之樂嗎?”你能念他所啟示的書，並在其中得到救恩嗎?你的名字是用寶血寫的，你能看見嗎?你能謙卑地相信並抓住耶穌的衣襟說“我的基督”嗎?若你能，那末，神就向你和其他像你的人說“我的子民”。因為，若神是你的神，基督是你的基督，主就特特並專專喜悅你；你是他揀選的對象，並在他的愛子裡蒙悅納。

May 5

"I will be their God, and they shall be my people." -- 2 Corinthians 6:16

What a sweet title: "My people!" What a cheering revelation: "Their God!" How much of meaning is couched in those two words, "My people!" Here is speciality. The whole world is God's; the heaven, even the heaven of heavens is the Lord's, and He reigneth among the children of men; but of those whom He hath chosen, whom He hath purchased to Himself, He saith what He saith not of others--"My people" In this word there is the idea of proprietorship. In a special manner the "Lord's portion is His people; Jacob is the lot of His inheritance." All the nations upon earth are His; the whole world is in His power; yet are His people, His chosen, more especially His possession; for He has done more for them than others; He has bought them with His blood; He has brought them nigh to Himself; He has set His great heart upon them; He has loved them with an everlasting love, a love which many waters cannot quench, and which the revolutions of time shall never suffice in the least degree to diminish. Dear friends, can you, by faith, see yourselves in that number? Can you look up to heaven and say, "My Lord and my God: mine by that sweet relationship which entitles me to call Thee Father; mine by that hallowed fellowship which I delight to hold with Thee when Thou art pleased to manifest Thyself unto me as Thou dost not unto the world?" Canst thou read the Book of Inspiration, and find there the indentures of thy salvation? Canst thou read thy title writ in precious blood? Canst thou, by humble faith, lay hold of Jesus' garments, and say, "My Christ"? If thou canst, then God saith of thee, and of others like thee, "My people;" for, if God be your God, and Christ your Christ, the Lord has a special, peculiar favour to you; you are the object of His choice, accepted in His beloved Son.