一月四日
你们却要在我们主救主耶稣基督的恩典和知识上有长进。（彼后3:18）
“在恩典上有长进”——不是在一样恩典上，而是在一切恩典上有长进。要在恩典的根本——信上有长进，要更坚定不移地信神的应许，要叫信增长得有根有基，完全而一致。也要在爱上有长进，求神使我们的爱能推而广之，叫我们的爱心更博大、更强大起来，能注入我们的每一个思想、话语和举动。更要在谦卑上有长进，要常处于至卑之境，知道自己是毫无所有。当你在谦卑上“往下”扎根时，也要“往上”结果，在祷告中与神日渐接近，并与耶稣更加亲近。愿神和圣灵使你“在……主救主……的……知识上有长进”，若人不在耶稣的知识上有长进，就是拒绝蒙福。认识（多知道）他就是“永生”，而在他的知识上有长进就是在福乐上有长进。那不切求认识基督的人，根本对他毫无所知。尝过他滋味的人还要再尝，虽然基督足可满足人，但这满足不能使食欲饱足，只能增进食欲。正像鹿渴慕溪边的水一样，你要更加切慕耶稣的爱。若你不愿更加认识他，你就是不爱他，因为爱要常唱“亲之近之”。离开基督就是地狱；进到耶稣面前便是天堂。若是在认识耶稣上毫无长进，就不要满足，要不停地追求。要在他的神性与人的关系，他所完成的工作，他的死，他的复活，他现今在荣耀里的代求和他大有荣耀的再来等方面多知道他。要切实住在十字架下，寻求他受创伤的奥秘，就必更加爱耶稣，并且更加了解他对我们的爱，这是试验人在恩典上有无长进的好方法。
January
4
“Grow
in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” –2
Peter 3:18
“Grow in grace”–not in one grace only, but in all grace. Grow
in that root-grace, faith. Believe the promises more firmly than you have done.
Let faith increase in fulness, constancy, simplicity. Grow also in love. Ask
that your love may become extended, more intense, more practical, influencing
every thought, word, and deed. Grow likewise in humility. Seek to lie very low,
and know more of your own nothingness. As you grow downward in humility, seek
also to grow upward–having nearer approaches to God in prayer and more
intimate fellowship with Jesus. May God the Holy Spirit enable you to
“grow in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour.” He who grows not in
the knowledge of Jesus, refuses to be blessed. To know Him is “life
eternal,” and to advance in the knowledge of Him is to increase in
happiness. He who does not long to know more of Christ, knows nothing of Him
yet. Whoever hath sipped this wine will thirst for more, for although Christ
doth satisfy, yet it is such a satisfaction, that the appetite is not cloyed,
but whetted. If you know the love of Jesus–as the hart panteth for the
water-brooks, so will you pant after deeper draughts of His love. If you do not
desire to know Him better, then you love Him not, for love always cries,
“Nearer, nearer.” Absence from Christ is hell; but the presence of
Jesus is heaven. Rest not then content without an increasing acquaintance with
Jesus. Seek to know more of Him in His divine nature, in His human
relationship, in His finished work, in His death, in His resurrection, in His
present glorious intercession, and in His future royal advent. Abide hard by
the Cross, and search the mystery of His wounds. An increase of love to Jesus,
and a more perfect apprehension of His love to us is one of the best tests of
growth in grace.
