十月二十日
在凡事上向他里面长进。（改译）（弗4：15）
有许多基督徒在属灵的事上总是那样瘦削、弱小，年复一年，依然故我。他们一点也没有上进和增长的表现。他们是活的，但是却不“凡事在他里面有长进”。（改译）当我们到了能“吐穗”，甚至能长成“子粒饱满的麦穗”时，我们会以仅仅有了“绿叶”而感到满足吗？我们信了基督，幷且说“我平安了”，而不愿在我们的经验上多认识他里面的丰盛，就算够了吗？我们不当如此；我们应当在天堂的商场上作一个殷勤的商人，致力使我们在耶稣的知识上丰富起来。留心别人得葡萄园是很好的事，但同时也不要忘了自己的长进和成熟。爲什麽让我们的心永远过著严冬呢？到了春天我们必须要有播种的时候，不错，但到了夏天也要及时成熟。
若我们要在恩典上有长进，就必须亲近耶稣——在他面前——藉他慈面的照射使我们成熟。我们必须与他有密切的交通。我们必须就近前来看他的面，正像约翰枕首在他的胸怀一般；那末我们就觉得自己在圣洁、爱心、信心和盼望上幷在一切宝贵的恩赐上有了长进。正像日出时，金光映照着山顶，把一幅悦人的美景呈现在游客的眼前一样；照样世人看到一位灵性长成的圣徒头上发射出圣灵的光来，也感到极大的欢欣。好像保罗在同侪中像一座终年积雪的雄伟大山，他把公义太阳的光綫先映给选民看，然后把他的光耀辉煌高高地映给衆人看，既然看到就将荣耀归于天上的父。
October
20
“Grow
up into him in all things.”–Ephesians 4:15
Many Christians remain stunted and dwarfed
in spiritual things, so as to present the same appearance year after year. No
up-springing of advanced and refined feeling is manifest in them. They exist
but do not “grow up into him in all things.” But should we rest
content with being in the “green blade,” when we might advance to
“the ear,” and eventually ripen into the “full corn in the
ear?” Should we be satisfied to believe in Christ, and to say, “I am
safe,” without wishing to know in our own experience more of the fulness
which is to be found in him. It should not be so; we should, as good traders in
heaven’s market, covet to be enriched in the knowledge of Jesus. It is all very
well to keep other men’s vineyards, but we must not neglect our own spiritual growth
and ripening. Why should it always be winter time in our hearts? We must have
our seed time, it is true, but O for a spring time–yea, a summer season, which
shall give promise of an early harvest. If we would ripen in grace, we must
live near to Jesus–in his presence–ripened by the sunshine of his smiles. We
must hold sweet communion with him. We must leave the distant view of his face
and come near, as John did, and pillow our head on his breast; then shall we
find ourselves advancing in holiness, in love, in faith, in hope–yea, in every
precious gift. As the sun rises first on mountain-tops and gilds them with his
light, and presents one of the most charming sights to the eye of the
traveller; so is it one of the most delightful contemplations in the world to
mark the glow of the Spirit’s light on the head of some saint, who has risen up
in spiritual stature, like Saul, above his fellows, till, like a mighty Alp,
snow-capped, he reflects first among the chosen, the beams of the Sun of
Righteousness, and bears the sheen of his effulgence high aloft for all to see,
and seeing it, to glorify his Father which is in heaven.
