二月二十八日

我的盼望是從他而來。（詩62:5）

這句話是信徒的特權。若是他貪愛世福，那才是最可憐的“盼望”呢！但他若在屬世和屬靈的需要上都尋求神的幫助和賜福，那末這“盼望”就不至成為虛妄了。他可以常到信心的銀行支取所需，他必從神豐富的慈愛得到滿足。世上雖有許多可靠的大銀行，但我卻願意讓神作我的銀行。我們的神從不使他的應許失效；當我們把他應許帶到他的寶座前兌現時，他從不會退票的。所以我只要等在他的門前，因為他必用施洪恩的手把門敞開。這時我要再試試他看。但我們也有今生之外的“盼望”。不久我們就離世，那時我們的“盼望是從他而來”。當我們躺在病床上的時候，我們不盼望他差天使來接我到他的懷中嗎？我們相信當脈搏停止、心房沉重時，必有天使在面前用和愛的眼光看著我們輕聲說：“靈魂哪，來吧！”當我們到了天門口，我們盼望聽到迎接我們的聲音說：“你們這蒙我父賜福的，可來承受那創世以來為你們所預備的國。”我們盼望得金琴和榮冕，我們盼望也在光明的聖者群中環繞寶座，我們切望那時也像我們榮耀的主——因為我們“必得見他的真體。”我的心哪！若這是你的“盼望”，那末就為神而活吧；要決心使你的生活能榮耀那滿足你一切需要的神，他曾以大恩揀選、救贖、召呼了你，這是你在將來的榮耀中所有的盼望。

“遙山露出晨光，照明一切深谷；塵世黑影速速全消，天光充我眼目。”

February 28

"My expectation is from Him." --Psalm 62:5

It is the believer's privilege to use this language. If he is looking for aught from the world, it is a poor "expectation" indeed. But if he looks to God for the supply of his wants, whether in temporal or spiritual blessings, his expectation" will not be a vain one. Constantly he may draw from the bank of faith, and get his need supplied out of the riches of God's lovingkindness. This I know, I had rather have God for my banker than all the Rothschilds. My Lord never fails to honour His promises; and when we bring them to His throne, He never sends them back unanswered. Therefore I will wait only at His door, for He ever opens it with the hand of munificent grace. At this hour I will try Him anew. But we have "expectations" beyond this life. We shall die soon; and then our "expectation is from Him." Do we not expect that when we lie upon the bed of sickness He will send angels to carry us to His bosom? We believe that when the pulse is faint, and the heart heaves heavily, some angelic messenger shall stand and look with loving eyes upon us, and whisper, "Sister spirit, come away!" As we approach the heavenly gate, we expect to hear the welcome invitation, "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." We are expecting harps of gold and crowns of glory; we are hoping soon to be amongst the multitude of shining ones before the throne; we are looking forward and longing for the time when we shall be like our glorious Lord--for "We shall see Him as He is." Then if these be thine "expectations," O my soul, live for God; live with the desire and resolve to glorify Him from whom cometh all thy supplies, and of whose grace in thy election, redemption, and calling, it is that thou hast any "expectation" of coming glory.