一月二日
恒切祷告（西4:2）
这节经文里有一个很大的论到祷告的题目，它既可作我们的榜样，叫我们明白祷告的事，而且也有宝贝的应许。我们读圣经时开卷不久就看到：“那时候人才求告耶和华的名。”正当我们合起书来的时候，热切的“阿们”又萦绕于我们耳中。例子不甚枚举：此处我们看到摔跤的雅各，彼处又看到每日祷告三次的但以理和全心求告神的大卫。在山上我们看到以利亚，在狱中我们看到保罗和西拉。我们有很多的命令，也有无数的应许，这叫我们明白祷告的重要和需要。神在他的话中所看重的事，也叫我们在生活上表现出来。他说了很多关于祷告的话，是因为他知道我们很需要祷告。我们的需要非常深切，甚至到天堂的时候，我们还不停止我们的祷告。你不感到有什么需要吗？那末，求神怜悯你，使你知道你的可怜！一个不祷告的人，是一个没有基督的人。祷告是信主之婴孩口中的牙牙学语，是奋战之信徒的杀敌呐喊，是临终之圣徒睡在耶稣怀中的安魂诗歌。它是基督徒的呼吸、标语、安慰、力量和尊荣。若你是神的儿女，你必愿寻求你父的慈面，并在你父的爱中生活。要求神叫你今年能够圣洁、谦卑、热心并忍耐，与基督的交通更密切，并常进入他爱的筵宴所。求神叫你作别人的榜样和祝福，并叫你的生活更能荣耀你的主。“恒切祷告”要作我们今年一年的标语。
“不住祈祷因主是近，不住祈祷主全要听。真神已许决不失信，不住祈祷主必应允。”
January
2
“Continue
in prayer.” –Colossians 4:2
It is interesting to remark how large a
portion of Sacred Writ is occupied with the subject of prayer, either in
furnishing examples, enforcing precepts, or pronouncing promises. We scarcely
open the Bible before we read, “Then began men to call upon the name of
the Lord;” and just as we are about to close the volume, the
“Amen” of an earnest supplication meets our ear. Instances are
plentiful. Here we find a wrestling Jacob–there a Daniel who prayed three
times a day–and a David who with all his heart called upon his God. On the
mountain we see Elias; in the dungeon Paul and Silas. We have multitudes of
commands, and myriads of promises. What does this teach us, but the sacred
importance and necessity of prayer? We may be certain that whatever God has made
prominent in His Word, He intended to be conspicuous in our lives. If He has
said much about prayer, it is because He knows we have much need of it. So deep
are our necessities, that until we are in heaven we must not cease to pray.
Dost thou want nothing? Then, I fear thou dost not know thy poverty. Hast thou
no mercy to ask of God? Then, may the Lord’s mercy show thee thy misery! A
prayerless soul is a Christless soul. Prayer is the lisping of the believing
infant, the shout of the fighting believer, the requiem of the dying saint
falling asleep in Jesus. It is the breath, the watchword, the comfort, the
strength, the honour of a Christian. If thou be a child of God, thou wilt seek
thy Father’s face, and live in thy Father’s love. Pray that this year thou
mayst be holy, humble, zealous, and patient; have closer communion with Christ,
and enter oftener into the banqueting-house of His love. Pray that thou mayst
be an example and a blessing unto others, and that thou mayst live more to the
glory of thy Master. The motto for this year must be, “Continue in
prayer.”
