四月十八日

又把朱紅線繩系在窗戶上。（書2:21）

喇合靠賴探子的應許保全了自己。她看那兩個探子是以色列人之神的代表。她的信心既誠篤而堅固，並且也很順服。在窗戶上系一條朱紅線繩是一件小事，可是她卻照辦，不馬虎，不疏忽，免得冒險。這裡給我們一個教訓，你曾留心遵行主的一切旨意嗎？有時他的一些命令似乎並不重要，你也奉行不誤嗎？你對於信者浸禮和主的晚餐這二禮是否按著主自己的方式而行呢？你疏忽了這二者，就說明你的心並不愛主，也不順服。因此要在一切事上都無可指摘，如果系紅線是主的命令，那末就當遵從。喇合這一種行動給我們一個更大的教訓。我們是否一心信賴耶穌的寶血呢？我們是否把這朱紅線繩，像哥狄阿斯的結（Gordian Knot，弗呂家王哥狄阿斯所編之結，極複雜難解，神話謂能解此結者當為亞洲主人，亞歷山大不能解曾拔劍斬之）一樣系在我們的窗上，好叫我們信靠的心永遠不被移去呢？我能看到我的罪在死海，我的盼望在耶路撒冷，若我沒有看到血並看到一切都與這可稱頌的能力有關嗎？若窗戶上有這線，經過的人必看到它的明顯的顏色；若我的生命已經被贖，一切看到的人都必認為是很明顯的。那有什麼可羞恥的呢？讓人或鬼任意看吧。總之，主的血是我所誇耀、我所歌頌的。我的心哪！誰能看到那紅線，在你信心軟弱時連你自己也看不見；耶和華報仇的使者必能看見並越過你。耶利哥的牆倒塌了，喇合的房子就在城牆上，但卻屹立無恙；我的生命建築在血肉之軀上，當死亡來臨時，我必平安穩妥。我的心哪！把鮮明的朱紅線系在窗戶上，然後你放心、安息吧！

April 18

"She bound the scarlet line in the window." --Joshua 2:21

Rahab depended for her preservation upon the promise of the spies, whom she looked upon as the representatives of the God of Israel. Her faith was simple and firm, but it was very obedient. To tie the scarlet line in the window was a very trivial act in itself, but she dared not run the risk of omitting it. Come, my soul, is there not here a lesson for thee? Hast thou been attentive to all thy Lord's will, even though some of His commands should seem non-essential? Hast thou observed in his own way the two ordinances of believers' baptism and the Lord's Supper? These neglected, argue much unloving disobedience in thy heart. Be henceforth in all things blameless, even to the tying of a thread, if that be matter of command.

This act of Rahab sets forth a yet more solemn lesson. Have I implicitly trusted in the precious blood of Jesus? Have I tied the scarlet cord, as with a Gordian knot in my window, so that my trust can never be removed? Or can I look out towards the Dead Sea of my sins, or the Jerusalem of my hopes, without seeing the blood, and seeing all things in connection with its blessed power? The passer-by can see a cord of so conspicuous a colour, if it hangs from the window: it will be well for me if my life makes the efficacy of the atonement conspicuous to all onlookers. What is there to be ashamed of? Let men or devils gaze if they will, the blood is my boast and my song. My soul, there is One who will see that scarlet line, even when from weakness of faith thou canst not see it thyself; Jehovah, the Avenger, will see it and pass over thee. Jericho's walls fell flat: Rahab's house was on the wall, and yet it stood unmoved; my nature is built into the wall of humanity, and yet when destruction smites the race, I shall be secure. My soul, tie the scarlet thread in the window afresh, and rest in peace.