一月二十六日
你们的天父（太6:26）
神的子民之所以是他的孩子，可以从两方面看，他们是他所创造的，并且他们是因基督的缘故才得成为他的儿子。因此他们有权称他“我们在天上的父”。父！这是多么宝贵的一个字，其中有“权柄”：“我既为父亲，尊敬我的在那里呢？”若你们的儿子，你们的顺服在那里呢？其中也有“慈爱”，与权柄相关，这种权柄并不在于阻止人悖逆他，顺服必须出于甘心——就是能够阻止，他也不阻止的。神的儿女顺服他必须因爱他而顺服他。礼拜神时不要像奴隶作主人的苦工一样，乃要在他所命令的道路上行，因为那是神的道路。要将你们的身体当作义的器具献给神，因为义是你父的旨意，他的孩子应当以他的旨意为旨意。父！在慈爱里存著祥和，在君王的面前就忘了君王的冠冕，他的王节，不是铁杖，而成为怜悯的银节——他和善地把他的王节伸出，就叫我们忘记他的威严。父——其中有尊贵和慈爱。这位父亲对他孩子的爱是多么大呢？那是友谊所办不到的，平常父亲对他儿子的心也不能这样慈爱。他们是他的后代，他必须赐福于他们；他们是他的儿女，他必须显出他的力量来保护他们。若是属世的父亲常爱护他的儿女，何况我们的天父呢？阿爸，父啊！这样的称呼，是美妙的音乐，就是基路伯和撒拉弗也不能唱出这样美妙的歌。父字包含着天堂的意思，在那里我什么都能求，我一切的需要都可以要，我一切的愿望都能得。只要我能说“父！”我就有了一切的一切直到永远。
January
26
“Your
heavenly Father.” –Matthew 6:26
God’s people are doubly His children, they are His offspring by
creation, and they are His sons by adoption in Christ. Hence they are
privileged to call Him, “Our Father which art in heaven.” Father! Oh,
what precious word is that. Here is authority: “If I be a Father, where is
mine honour?” If ye be sons, where is your obedience? Here is affection
mingled with authority; an authority which does not provoke rebellion; an
obedience demanded which is most cheerfully rendered–which would not be
withheld even if it might. The obedience which God’s children yield to Him must
be loving obedience. Do not go about the service of God as slaves to their
taskmaster’s toil, but run in the way of His commands because it is your
Father’s way. Yield your bodies as instruments of righteousness, because
righteousness is your Father’s will, and His will should be the will of His
child. Father!–Here is a kingly attribute so sweetly veiled in love, that the
King’s crown is forgotten in the King’s face, and His sceptre becomes, not a
rod of iron, but a silver sceptre of mercy–the sceptre indeed seems to be
forgotten in the tender hand of Him who wields it. Father!–Here is honour and
love. How great is a Father’s love to his children! That which friendship
cannot do, and mere benevolence will not attempt, a father’s heart and hand
must do for his sons. They are his offspring, he must bless them; they are his
children, he must show himself strong in their defence. If an earthly father
watches over his children with unceasing love and care, how much more does our
heavenly Father? Abba, Father! He who can say this, hath uttered better music
than cherubim or seraphim can reach. There is heaven in the depth of that
word–Father! There is all I can ask; all my necessities can demand; all my
wishes can desire. I have all in all to all eternity when I can say,
“Father.”
