十二月十二日
他的作爲永远一样。（改译）（哈3：6）
他这次怎样行，下次也必怎样行；人的作爲常改变，神的作爲却永远一样；有很多理由可以解释这一个安慰人的真理。谨胪列于下：神的作爲是慎思熟虑的结果；一切事情都按着他的智慧和旨意安排得井井有序。人类的行事常是出于一时感情或惧怕的冲动，过后便继之以后悔和更变；但一切事都不能使全能者大惊失色，也没有一件事出乎他的预料之外。他的作爲是出于他永不改变的品性，从他的作爲就可以清清楚楚地看明神的性情。除非永存者自己也有改变，否则他的作爲，就是那彰显他自己的行事，必永远不变；他是永远公义、恩惠、信实、智慧、慈祥的吗？那末他的行事也必清楚地表现出这些高贵的品性来。行事与性情相符，性情改变，行事也必改变；但神既然连转动的影儿也没有，那末他的行事必然永远一致。
再者，从外面说来幷没有一种理由可以转变神的作爲的，因爲他的作爲乃是出于他不能加以反抗的大能；先知说当耶和华出来拯救他百姓的时候，江河分开大地，山岭战惧，深渊举手，日月都在本宫停住。谁能止住他的手，对他说：你作的是什麽昵？但幷非仅因他的大能而稳固不移，神的作爲乃是永久真确之原则的表现，因此必不能过时。错谬至终必然败亡毁灭，但真与善的活力永远也不会减缩的。今晨愿我们存信来到天父面前，切记耶稣基督昨日、今日直到永远是一样的，神必永远在他里面施恩于他的百姓。
December 12
“His ways are everlasting.”—Habakkuk 3:6
What he hath done at
one time, he will do yet again. Man’s ways are variable, but God’s ways are
everlasting. There are many reasons for this most comforting truth: among them
are the following–the Lord’s ways are the result of wise deliberation; he ordereth
all things according to the counsel of his own will. Human action is frequently
the hasty result of passion, or fear, and is followed by regret and alteration;
but nothing can take the Almighty by surprise, or happen otherwise than he has
foreseen. His ways are the outgrowth of an immutable character, and in them the
fixed and settled attributes of God are clearly to be seen. Unless the Eternal
One himself can undergo change, his ways, which are himself in action, must
remain forever the same. Is he eternally just, gracious, faithful, wise,
tender?–then his ways must ever be distinguished for the same excellences.
Beings act according to their nature: when those natures change, their conduct
varies also; but since God cannot know the shadow of a turning, his ways will
abide everlastingly the same. Moreover there is no reason from without which
could reverse the divine ways, since they are the embodiment of irresistible
might. The earth is said, by the prophet, to be cleft with rivers, mountains
tremble, the deep lifts up its hands, and sun and moon stand still, when
Jehovah marches forth for the salvation of his people. Who can stay his hand,
or say unto him, What doest thou? But it is not might alone which gives
stability; God’s ways are the manifestation of the eternal principles of right,
and therefore can never pass away. Wrong breeds decay and involves ruin, but
the true and the good have about them a vitality which ages cannot diminish.
This morning let us go to our heavenly Father with
confidence, remembering that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and
forever, and in him the Lord is ever gracious to his people.
