一月五日

神看光是好的，就把光暗分開了。（創1:4）

光是好的，因為它是出於聖善神的命令，“要有光。”我們越享受光就越發感激光，並且越能在光中，藉著光就越發能多看到神。所羅門論到物質的光說它本是“佳美的”（傳11:7），但是福音的光更是無上的寶貴了，因為它把永久的事顯明出來，並且有助於我們的永遠生命。當聖靈賜我們靈光的時候，就開了我們的眼睛，叫我們從耶穌基督的臉上看到神的榮耀！我們也看到罪的本色和我們自己的本性，我們看到那向我們彰顯的至高的神和他發憐憫的計劃，以及經言所說來世的情形。靈光有許多光線和光彩，不論它們是知識、喜樂、聖潔和生命，這一切都是好的，神聖的。我們所得到的光既然這麼好，那麼這光便是最要緊的光了，並且他彰顯自己的地方也一定是最榮耀的地方了。主啊！既然光是好的，求你多給我們些光，多把你自己那真光給我們。光既然是好的，因此就有分開的必要。光明和黑暗有什麼相通呢？神已經把它們分開了，我們就不要把它們混雜在一起。光明之子不當與黑暗的行為、教義或欺詐相交。白晝之子必須端正、誠實而且勇敢地作主的工作，把黑暗的工作留給那些永遠甘居黑暗的人吧！我們的教會也必須把光和暗分開，我們既與世界判然分清就當這樣。無論在論斷、行事、聽話、教導、聯絡方面，我們必須把正和邪，貴重的和卑賤的區別出來，好像主在創世之初所作最重大的區分的工作一樣。主耶穌！求你作我們今天的光，因為你的光是照亮人的光。

January 5

"And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness." --Genesis 1:4

Light might well be good since it sprang from that fiat of goodness, "Let there be light." We who enjoy it should be more grateful for it than we are, and see more of God in it and by it. Light physical is said by Solomon to be sweet, but gospel light is infinitely more precious, for it reveals eternal things, and ministers to our immortal natures. When the Holy Spirit gives us spiritual light, and opens our eyes to behold the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, we behold sin in its true colours, and ourselves in our real position; we see the Most Holy God as He reveals Himself, the plan of mercy as He propounds it, and the world to come as the Word describes it. Spiritual light has many beams and prismatic colours, but whether they be knowledge, joy, holiness, or life, all are divinely good. If the light received be thus good, what must the essential light be, and how glorious must be the place where He reveals Himself. O Lord, since light is so good, give us more of it, and more of Thyself, the true light.

No sooner is there a good thing in the world, than a division is necessary. Light and darkness have no communion; God has divided them, let us not confound them. Sons of light must not have fellowship with deeds, doctrines, or deceits of darkness. The children of the day must be sober, honest, and bold in their Lord's work, leaving the works of darkness to those who shall dwell in it for ever. Our Churches should by discipline divide the light from the darkness, and we should by our distinct separation from the world do the same. In judgment, in action, in hearing, in teaching, in association, we must discern between the precious and the vile, and maintain the great distinction which the Lord made upon the world's first day. O Lord Jesus, be Thou our light throughout the whole of this day, for Thy light is the light of men.