十一月二十五日
差遣我報告被擄的得釋放。（路4：18）
除了耶穌之外無人能釋放被擄的人，真正的自由惟有從他而來。這自由乃是按著公義所存留的；因爲子，就是那承受萬有的，有權使人自由。聖徒看重神的公義，因爲現在這義也作了他們得救的保障。這自由是用重價所買來的。基督有權能宣告自由，但這自由卻是用他的血所買來的。他藉著自己的捆綁使你得到自由。你的雙肩爲之一輕，因爲他擔當你的重擔；你得了自由，因爲他作了你的替身。但這自由雖然是重價買來的，他卻白白地賜給你。他幷不叫我們先作什麽準備然後才可得這自由。他看見我們披麻蒙灰，就叫我們穿上自由的華美服裝；正當我們軟弱可憐之時，他救了我們，幷不需要我們一切的幫助或功勞。
耶穌一釋放我們，我們就永遠自由了，任何鎖鏈不能再捆綁我們。撒但容或圖謀奴役我們，但若有主同在，我們還懼怕誰呢？世界和試探容或要陷害我們，但他比一切攻擊我們的仇敵更有能力。我們詭詐之心的惡計容或折磨、煩擾我們，但他的善工既已開頭，就必成全到底。神和人的仇敵雖或協力同心、集中力量來攻擊我們，但神既豁免了我們，稱我們爲義，有誰能定我們的罪呢？雄立岩穴、高翔雲端的飛鷹也不及基督所釋放的人更爲自由。若我們既已不在律法之下，脫離了它的咒詛，就當用感恩和快樂的心在服侍神的事上實際表現出我們所得的自由。“我是你的僕人，是你婢女的兒子，你已經解開我的綁索。”“主啊！我當作什麽？”
November
25
“To
preach deliverance to the captives.”–Luke 4:18
None but Jesus can give deliverance to captives. Real liberty cometh
from him only. It is a liberty righteously bestowed; for the Son, who is Heir
of all things, has a right to make men free. The saints honour the justice of
God, which now secures their salvation. It is a liberty which has been dearly
purchased. Christ speaks it by his power, but he bought it by his blood. He
makes thee free, but it is by his own bonds. Thou goest clear, because he bare
thy burden for thee: thou art set at liberty, because he has suffered in thy
stead. But, though dearly purchased, he freely gives it. Jesus asks nothing of
us as a preparation for this liberty. He finds us sitting in sackcloth and
ashes, and bids us put on the beautiful array of freedom; he saves us just as
we are, and all without our help or merit. When Jesus sets free, the liberty is
perpetually entailed; no chains can bind again. Let the Master say to me,
“Captive, I have delivered thee,” and it is done forever. Satan may
plot to enslave us, but if the Lord be on our side, whom shall we fear? The
world, with its temptations, may seek to ensnare us, but mightier is he who is
for us than all they who be against us. The machinations of our own deceitful
hearts may harass and annoy us, but he who hath begun the good work in us will
carry it on and perfect it to the end. The foes of God and the enemies of man
may gather their hosts together, and come with concentrated fury against us,
but if God acquitteth, who is he that condemneth? Not more free is the eagle
which mounts to his rocky eyrie, and afterwards outsoars the clouds, than the
soul which Christ hath delivered. If we are no more under the law, but free
from its curse, let our liberty be practically exhibited in our serving God
with gratitude and delight. “I am thy servant, and the son of thine
handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.” “Lord, what wilt thou have me
to do?”
