一月一日
那一年，他们却吃迦南地的出产。（书5:12）
以色列人不再漂流了，他们已经得了所应许的安息。他们不再搬移帐棚，不再担心毒蛇，不再遇见亚玛力人，不再经过大而可畏的旷野了。他们已经到了流奶与蜜之地，他们已经吃了那地的出产。亲爱的读者，或许这就是你我在今年所要有的经验。欢乐就在我们前头，如果我们有活生的信心，就必然结出纯真的喜乐来。与耶稣同享所留给属神之人的安息，这实在是一个令人快乐的盼望，切望这荣耀快些临到我们，更是双重的福乐。不信的忧惧和战栗像约旦河把我们和荣美之地隔开了，但让我们安息，好证实我们已经过了百般的艰危而仍安然无恙。让我们铲除一切恐惧的思想，大声欢呼快乐，盼望今年我们就开始“和主永远同在。”
今年我们仍要活在世上，服侍主。那末，这节新年的经节很可作为我们的座右铭。“我们已经相信的人，得以进入那安息。”圣灵切望我们能得这基业，他把天上的荣耀赐给我们还在地上的人。他们已经安居在天，因此我们也在基督里被保守；他们在天上胜过了仇敌，因此我们也必得胜。进入天堂的灵魂有与主相交之乐，这也是我们的份；他们称颂他，我们也有权柄赞美他。我们今年要在地上收属天的果子，信和望必把荒漠变成主的园子。古时的人曾吃天使的食物，为什么现在不能呢？我们要靠耶稣的恩典，让我们今年吃迦南地的出产吧！
January
1
“They
did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.” –Joshua 5:12
Israel’s weary wanderings were all over,
and the promised rest was attained. No more moving tents, fiery serpents,
fierce Amalekites, and howling wildernesses: they came to the land which flowed
with milk and honey, and they ate the old corn of the land. Perhaps this year,
beloved Christian reader, this may be thy case or mine. Joyful is the prospect,
and if faith be in active exercise, it will yield unalloyed delight. To be with
Jesus in the rest which remaineth for the people of God, is a cheering hope indeed,
and to expect this glory so soon is a double bliss. Unbelief shudders at the
Jordan which still rolls between us and the goodly land, but let us rest
assured that we have already experienced more ills than death at its worst can
cause us. Let us banish every fearful thought, and rejoice with exceeding great
joy, in the prospect that this year we shall begin to be “for ever with
the Lord.”
A part of the host will this year tarry on
earth, to do service for their Lord. If this should fall to our lot, there is
no reason why the New Year’s text should not still be true. “We who have
believed do enter into rest.” The Holy Spirit is the earnest of our
inheritance; He gives us “glory begun below.” In heaven they are
secure, and so are we preserve in Christ Jesus; there they triumph over their
enemies, and we have victories too. Celestial spirits enjoy communion with
their Lord, and this is not denied to us; they rest in His love, and we have
perfect peace in Him: they hymn His praise, and it is our privilege to bless
Him too. We will this year gather celestial fruits on earthly ground, where
faith and hope have made the desert like the garden of the Lord. Man did eat
angels’ food of old, and why not now ? O for grace to feed on Jesus, and so to
eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan this year!
