一月一日

那一年，他們卻吃迦南地的出產。（書5:12）

以色列人不再漂流了，他們已經得了所應許的安息。他們不再搬移帳棚，不再擔心毒蛇，不再遇見亞瑪力人，不再經過大而可畏的曠野了。他們已經到了流奶與蜜之地，他們已經吃了那地的出產。親愛的讀者，或許這就是你我在今年所要有的經驗。歡樂就在我們前頭，如果我們有活生的信心，就必然結出純真的喜樂來。與耶穌同享所留給屬神之人的安息，這實在是一個令人快樂的盼望，切望這榮耀快些臨到我們，更是雙重的福樂。不信的憂懼和戰慄像約旦河把我們和榮美之地隔開了，但讓我們安息，好證實我們已經過了百般的艱危而仍安然無恙。讓我們剷除一切恐懼的思想，大聲歡呼快樂，盼望今年我們就開始“和主永遠同在。”

今年我們仍要活在世上，服侍主。那末，這節新年的經節很可作為我們的座右銘。“我們已經相信的人，得以進入那安息。”聖靈切望我們能得這基業，他把天上的榮耀賜給我們還在地上的人。他們已經安居在天，因此我們也在基督裡被保守；他們在天上勝過了仇敵，因此我們也必得勝。進入天堂的靈魂有與主相交之樂，這也是我們的份；他們稱頌他，我們也有權柄讚美他。我們今年要在地上收屬天的果子，信和望必把荒漠變成主的園子。古時的人曾吃天使的食物，為什麼現在不能呢？我們要靠耶穌的恩典，讓我們今年吃迦南地的出產吧！

January 1

"They did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year." --Joshua 5:12

Israel's weary wanderings were all over, and the promised rest was attained. No more moving tents, fiery serpents, fierce Amalekites, and howling wildernesses: they came to the land which flowed with milk and honey, and they ate the old corn of the land. Perhaps this year, beloved Christian reader, this may be thy case or mine. Joyful is the prospect, and if faith be in active exercise, it will yield unalloyed delight. To be with Jesus in the rest which remaineth for the people of God, is a cheering hope indeed, and to expect this glory so soon is a double bliss. Unbelief shudders at the Jordan which still rolls between us and the goodly land, but let us rest assured that we have already experienced more ills than death at its worst can cause us. Let us banish every fearful thought, and rejoice with exceeding great joy, in the prospect that this year we shall begin to be "for ever with the Lord."

A part of the host will this year tarry on earth, to do service for their Lord. If this should fall to our lot, there is no reason why the New Year's text should not still be true. "We who have believed do enter into rest." The Holy Spirit is the earnest of our inheritance; He gives us "glory begun below." In heaven they are secure, and so are we preserve in Christ Jesus; there they triumph over their enemies, and we have victories too. Celestial spirits enjoy communion with their Lord, and this is not denied to us; they rest in His love, and we have perfect peace in Him: they hymn His praise, and it is our privilege to bless Him too. We will this year gather celestial fruits on earthly ground, where faith and hope have made the desert like the garden of the Lord. Man did eat angels' food of old, and why not now ? O for grace to feed on Jesus, and so to eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan this year!