四月二十一日

我知道我的救贖主活著。（伯19:25）

約伯得安慰的本源在於一個字：“我”——“我的救贖主”，並且在於救贖主活著的這一事實。我們要把握著活的基督！在我們能享受他之前我們必須先在他裡面得到基業。礦中的黃金對我們有什麼用處呢?要飯的人，到了金山還是得要飯吃。惟有我袋中的金錢才能滿足我的需要，因為我可以用那金錢來買飯吃。所以救贖主若不救贖我，報仇的人來到時他不為我流血，有什麼用呢?你不要自滿，除非你能因著信心說：“是的，我投靠永活的主，他是屬我的。”或許你把握他的手是軟弱無力的，但你要記住，你的信心雖然小得像芥菜種，你有那點小信心就有資格這樣說。這節經文裡還有一個意思，約伯存著堅強的信心說“我知道”；若是說“我這樣盼望，我這樣信靠”，已是很叫人得安慰的了；在耶穌的圈中有很多人還不能超過這標準。但你若要獲得安慰的真諦就必須說“我知道”。如果，但是，或許，都是殘殺平安和安慰的仇敵。在患難之中疑惑是最可怕的東西，像螫人的蜂刺一樣！若我們懷疑到基督不是我的，那末死的苦膽所調和的醋就臨到我；但我若知道耶穌為我而活著，那末黑暗在我便不算黑暗，黑夜也是白晝了。若約伯在基督降生以及再來的許多年代之前能說“我知道”，我們也不能不肯定地說這話了。神不要我們的肯定立在假設上面，讓我們明白我們的證據是正確的，免得我們的盼望毫無依據；也讓我們不要以為有了這根基就覺得滿足了，我們必須在秘室中使它大大發展起來。真實屬我的活的救贖主，才是我說不出來的快樂。

April 21

"I know that my Redeemer liveth." --Job 19:25

The marrow of Job's comfort lies in that little word "My"--"My Redeemer," and in the fact that the Redeemer lives. Oh！ to get hold of a living Christ. We must get a property in Him before we can enjoy Him. What is gold in the mine to me? Men are beggars in Peru, and beg their bread in California. It is gold in my purse which will satisfy my necessities, by purchasing the bread I need. So a Redeemer who does not redeem me, an avenger who will never stand up for my blood, of what avail were such? Rest not content until by faith you can say "Yes, I cast myself upon my living Lord; and He is mine." It may be you hold Him with a feeble hand; you half think it presumption to say, "He lives as my Redeemer;" yet, remember if you have but faith as a grain of mustard seed, that little faith entitles you to say it. But there is also another word here, expressive of Job's strong confidence, "I know." To say, "I hope so, I trust so" is comfortable; and there are thousands in the fold of Jesus who hardly ever get much further. But to reach the essence of consolation you must say, "I know." Ifs, buts, and perhapses, are sure murderers of peace and comfort. Doubts are dreary things in times of sorrow. Like wasps they sting the soul！ If I have any suspicion that Christ is not mine, then there is vinegar mingled with the gall of death; but if I know that Jesus lives for me, then darkness is not dark: even the night is light about me. Surely if Job, in those ages before the coming and advent of Christ, could say, "I know," we should not speak less positively. God forbid that our positiveness should be presumption. Let us see that our evidences are right, lest we build upon an ungrounded hope; and then let us not be satisfied with the mere foundation, for it is from the upper rooms that we get the widest prospect. A living Redeemer, truly mine, is joy unspeakable.