十一月二十五日
差遣我报告被掳的得释放。（路4：18）
除了耶稣之外无人能释放被掳的人，真正的自由惟有从他而来。这自由乃是按著公义所存留的；因爲子，就是那承受万有的，有权使人自由。圣徒看重神的公义，因爲现在这义也作了他们得救的保障。这自由是用重价所买来的。基督有权能宣告自由，但这自由却是用他的血所买来的。他借着自己的捆绑使你得到自由。你的双肩爲之一轻，因爲他担当你的重担；你得了自由，因爲他作了你的替身。但这自由虽然是重价买来的，他却白白地赐给你。他幷不叫我们先作什麽准备然后才可得这自由。他看见我们披麻蒙灰，就叫我们穿上自由的华美服装；正当我们软弱可怜之时，他救了我们，幷不需要我们一切的帮助或功劳。
耶稣一释放我们，我们就永远自由了，任何锁链不能再捆绑我们。撒但容或图谋奴役我们，但若有主同在，我们还惧怕谁呢？世界和试探容或要陷害我们，但他比一切攻击我们的仇敌更有能力。我们诡诈之心的恶计容或折磨、烦扰我们，但他的善工既已开头，就必成全到底。神和人的仇敌虽或协力同心、集中力量来攻击我们，但神既豁免了我们，称我们爲义，有谁能定我们的罪呢？雄立岩穴、高翔云端的飞鹰也不及基督所释放的人更爲自由。若我们既已不在律法之下，脱离了它的咒诅，就当用感恩和快乐的心在服侍神的事上实际表现出我们所得的自由。“我是你的仆人，是你婢女的儿子，你已经解开我的绑索。”“主啊！我当作什麽？”
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?”
