十一月十七日
愿荣耀归给他，直到永远。阿们！（罗11：36）
“愿荣耀归给他，直到永远。”这应当是基督徒惟一的心愿。其他一切愿望都应当爲了幷属这一个愿望。基督徒很可以求事业的发达，但目的也是爲此——“愿荣耀归给他，直到永远。”他或愿多得些恩赐和恩典，但也只应爲了“愿荣耀归给他，直到永远。”若你所作的事含着其他动机，而非专注于神的荣耀，那末你就不当做。你既是一个基督徒就“本于他，倚靠他”，幷且也当“归于他”。愿你的心永远爲了爱他而大大跳动不息。愿这一个愿望燃起你的心灵，愿这一个愿望作你一切事业的基础；幷且当你冷淡起来的时候，愿这一个愿望作爲扶持你的动机，使神作你惟一的目标。
我们要以此爲依皈，什麽时候有自己，什麽时候就有悲伤；但若神是我们的至大的快乐和惟一的目标，“只要神所命定的，或生或死，或乐或苦，在我都是一样。”愿你荣耀神的心愿日渐增长，你年轻的时候曾称颂他，现在你就不能以那时的颂赞爲满足了。神曾使你的事业发达兴隆吗？他既多给你恩典，你就当多给他颂赞。
神曾赐你经验吗？你要用起初所没有的大信心来颂赞他。你的知识增加了吗？那末就当用妙歌多多歌颂他。你的福乐加增，你的病得痊愈，你的忧伤变爲平安和快乐吗？那末要多多称扬他，要把你称赞的香炉中多添一些炭火和香料。要在你的生活上实际尊崇他，在歌颂你伟大慈神的时候，末了要用你的工作和圣洁作爲“阿们”。
November
17
“To
whom be glory forever. Amen”–Romans 11:36
“To whom be glory forever.” This
should be the single desire of the Christian. All other wishes must be
subservient and tributary to this one. The Christian may wish for prosperity in
his business, but only so far as it may help him to promote this–“To him
be glory forever.” He may desire to attain more gifts and more graces, but
it should only be that “To him may be glory forever.” You are not
acting as you ought to do when you are moved by any other motive than a single
eye to your Lord’s glory. As a Christian, you are “of God, and through
God,” then live “to God.” Let nothing ever set your heart
beating so mightily as love to him. Let this ambition fire your soul; be this
the foundation of every enterprise upon which you enter, and this your sustaining
motive whenever your zeal would grow chill; make God your only object. Depend
upon it, where self begins sorrow begins; but if God be my supreme delight and
only object,
“To me ’tis equal whether love ordain
My life or death–appoint me ease or
pain.”
Let your desire for God’s glory be a growing desire. You blessed him in
your youth, do not be content with such praises as you gave him then. Has God
prospered you in business? Give him more as he has given you more. Has God
given you experience? Praise him by stronger faith than you exercised at first.
Does your knowledge grow? Then sing more sweetly. Do you enjoy happier times
than you once had? Have you been restored from sickness, and has your sorrow
been turned into peace and joy? Then give him more music; put more coals and
more sweet frankincense into the censer of your praise. Practically in your
life give him honour, putting the “Amen” to this doxology to your
great and gracious Lord, by your own individual service and increasing
holiness.
