一月二十六日

你們的天父（太6:26）

神的子民之所以是他的孩子，可以從兩方面看，他們是他所創造的，並且他們是因基督的緣故才得成為他的兒子。因此他們有權稱他“我們在天上的父”。父！這是多麼寶貴的一個字，其中有“權柄”：“我既為父親，尊敬我的在那裡呢？”若你們的兒子，你們的順服在那裡呢？其中也有“慈愛”，與權柄相關，這種權柄並不在於阻止人悖逆他，順服必須出於甘心——就是能夠阻止，他也不阻止的。神的兒女順服他必須因愛他而順服他。禮拜神時不要像奴隸作主人的苦工一樣，乃要在他所命令的道路上行，因為那是神的道路。要將你們的身體當作義的器具獻給神，因為義是你父的旨意，他的孩子應當以他的旨意為旨意。父！在慈愛裡存著祥和，在君王的面前就忘了君王的冠冕，他的王節，不是鐵杖，而成為憐憫的銀節——他和善地把他的王節伸出，就叫我們忘記他的威嚴。父——其中有尊貴和慈愛。這位父親對他孩子的愛是多麼大呢？那是友誼所辦不到的，平常父親對他兒子的心也不能這樣慈愛。他們是他的後代，他必須賜福於他們；他們是他的兒女，他必須顯出他的力量來保護他們。若是屬世的父親常愛護他的兒女，何況我們的天父呢？阿爸，父啊！這樣的稱呼，是美妙的音樂，就是基路伯和撒拉弗也不能唱出這樣美妙的歌。父字包含著天堂的意思，在那裡我什麼都能求，我一切的需要都可以要，我一切的願望都能得。只要我能說“父！”我就有了一切的一切直到永遠。

January 26

"Your heavenly Father." --Matthew 6:26

God's people are doubly His children, they are His offspring by creation, and they are His sons by adoption in Christ. Hence they are privileged to call Him, "Our Father which art in heaven." Father! Oh, what precious word is that. Here is authority: "If I be a Father, where is mine honour?" If ye be sons, where is your obedience? Here is affection mingled with authority; an authority which does not provoke rebellion; an obedience demanded which is most cheerfully rendered--which would not be withheld even if it might. The obedience which God's children yield to Him must be loving obedience. Do not go about the service of God as slaves to their taskmaster's toil, but run in the way of His commands because it is your Father's way. Yield your bodies as instruments of righteousness, because righteousness is your Father's will, and His will should be the will of His child. Father!--Here is a kingly attribute so sweetly veiled in love, that the King's crown is forgotten in the King's face, and His sceptre becomes, not a rod of iron, but a silver sceptre of mercy--the sceptre indeed seems to be forgotten in the tender hand of Him who wields it. Father!--Here is honour and love. How great is a Father's love to his children! That which friendship cannot do, and mere benevolence will not attempt, a father's heart and hand must do for his sons. They are his offspring, he must bless them; they are his children, he must show himself strong in their defence. If an earthly father watches over his children with unceasing love and care, how much more does our heavenly Father? Abba, Father! He who can say this, hath uttered better music than cherubim or seraphim can reach. There is heaven in the depth of that word--Father! There is all I can ask; all my necessities can demand; all my wishes can desire. I have all in all to all eternity when I can say, "Father."