七月十七日
親愛的弟兄啊，我知道你們是蒙神所揀選的。（改譯）（帖前1：4）
有很多人在他們未仰望基督之前就要知道他們是否是蒙神所揀選的，他們用這種方法是不會知道的，因爲只能藉著“仰望耶穌”才能知道。若你要確實知道你已蒙揀選，可以按照下面的方法，那末你的心就可以在神面前確實知道了。你感到你是一個失喪的、有罪的人嗎？就應當立刻到基督的十架之前，把你的情形告訴耶穌，幷且告訴他說你在聖經中念過他的話：“到我這裏來的，我總不丟弃他。”你告訴他說：“主啊！你的話中曾說‘基督耶穌降世，爲要拯救罪人。’這話是可信的，是十分可佩服的。”
仰望耶穌，幷要信他，你馬上就知道你已經蒙神的揀選。你所信的既是真實可靠的，你已完全獻給基督，幷依靠他，那末你就是神所揀選的一個人。但你若站住說“我要先知道我是不是一個被選上的人”，那末你幷不知道你所求的是什麽。就到耶穌那裏，不要再這樣地犯罪吧！把一切有關你是否被選的問題丟到腦後。只要到基督跟前，隱藏在他的創傷裏，那末你就知道你是一個蒙神所揀選的人了。聖靈必賜你憑據，使你能說：“因爲知道我所信的是誰，也深信他能保全我所交付他的，直到那日。”你隨時都可以問基督，他能告訴你是否你已被選，但你不能用別的方法知道你是否已蒙選。去，完全投靠他吧！他必回答說：“我以永遠的愛愛你，因此我以慈愛吸引你。”當你揀選了他的時候，他已揀選了你，這是毫無疑問的事。我們因信耶穌基督便被神揀選成爲他的兒子。
July 17
“Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of
God.” — 1 Thessalonians 1:4
Many persons want to know their election
before they look to Christ, but they cannot learn it thus, it is only to be
discovered by “looking unto Jesus.” If you desire to ascertain your
own election;–after the following manner, shall you assure your heart before
God. Do you feel yourself to be a lost, guilty sinner? go straightway to the
cross of Christ, and tell Jesus so, and tell Him that you have read in the
Bible, “Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out.” Tell
Him that He has said, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation,
that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” Look to Jesus and
believe on Him, and you shall make proof of your election directly, for so
surely as thou believest, thou art elect. If you will give yourself wholly up
to Christ and trust Him, then you are one of God’s chosen ones; but if you stop
and say, “I want to know first whether I am elect,” you ask you know
not what. Go to Jesus, be you never so guilty, just as you are. Leave all
curious inquiry about election alone. Go straight to Christ and hide in His
wounds, and you shall know your election. The assurance of the Holy Spirit
shall be given to you, so that you shall be able to say, “I know whom I
have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have
committed to Him.” Christ was at the everlasting council: He can tell you
whether you were chosen or not; but you cannot find it out in any other way. Go
and put your trust in Him, and His answer will be–“I have loved thee with
an everlasting love, therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”
There will be no doubt about His having chosen you, when you have chosen Him.
“Sons we are through God’s election,
Who in Jesus Christ believe.”
