十二月十二日

他的作爲永遠一樣。（改譯）（哈3：6）

他這次怎樣行，下次也必怎樣行；人的作爲常改變，神的作爲却永遠一樣；有很多理由可以解釋這一個安慰人的真理。謹臚列于下：神的作爲是慎思熟慮的結果；一切事情都按著他的智慧和旨意安排得井井有序。人類的行事常是出于一時感情或懼怕的衝動，過後便繼之以後悔和更變；但一切事都不能使全能者大驚失色，也沒有一件事出乎他的預料之外。他的作爲是出于他永不改變的品性，從他的作爲就可以清清楚楚地看明神的性情。除非永存者自己也有改變，否則他的作爲，就是那彰顯他自己的行事，必永遠不變；他是永遠公義、恩惠、信實、智慧、慈祥的嗎？那末他的行事也必清楚地表現出這些高貴的品性來。行事與性情相符，性情改變，行事也必改變；但神既然連轉動的影兒也沒有，那末他的行事必然永遠一致。

再者，從外面說來幷沒有一種理由可以轉變神的作爲的，因爲他的作爲乃是出于他不能加以反抗的大能；先知說當耶和華出來拯救他百姓的時候，江河分開大地，山嶺戰懼，深淵舉手，日月都在本宮停住。誰能止住他的手，對他說：你作的是什麽昵？但幷非僅因他的大能而穩固不移，神的作爲乃是永久真確之原則的表現，因此必不能過時。錯謬至終必然敗亡毀滅，但真與善的活力永遠也不會减縮的。今晨願我們存信來到天父面前，切記耶穌基督昨日、今日直到永遠是一樣的，神必永遠在他裏面施恩于他的百姓。

December 12

"His ways are everlasting."—Habakkuk 3:6

What he hath done at one time, he will do yet again. Man's ways are variable, but God's ways are everlasting. There are many reasons for this most comforting truth: among them are the following--the Lord's ways are the result of wise deliberation; he ordereth all things according to the counsel of his own will. Human action is frequently the hasty result of passion, or fear, and is followed by regret and alteration; but nothing can take the Almighty by surprise, or happen otherwise than he has foreseen. His ways are the outgrowth of an immutable character, and in them the fixed and settled attributes of God are clearly to be seen. Unless the Eternal One himself can undergo change, his ways, which are himself in action, must remain forever the same. Is he eternally just, gracious, faithful, wise, tender?--then his ways must ever be distinguished for the same excellences. Beings act according to their nature: when those natures change, their conduct varies also; but since God cannot know the shadow of a turning, his ways will abide everlastingly the same. Moreover there is no reason from without which could reverse the divine ways, since they are the embodiment of irresistible might. The earth is said, by the prophet, to be cleft with rivers, mountains tremble, the deep lifts up its hands, and sun and moon stand still, when Jehovah marches forth for the salvation of his people. Who can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? But it is not might alone which gives stability; God's ways are the manifestation of the eternal principles of right, and therefore can never pass away. Wrong breeds decay and involves ruin, but the true and the good have about them a vitality which ages cannot diminish.

This morning let us go to our heavenly Father with confidence, remembering that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in him the Lord is ever gracious to his people.