二月十三日
你看父赐给我们是何等的慈爱，使我们得称为神的儿女；我们也真是他的儿女。世人所以不认识我们，是因未曾认识他。亲爱的弟兄啊，我们现在是神的儿女……（约一3:1/2）
“你看父赐给我们是何等的慈爱”，想想我们是谁，再想想败坏在我们里面得势时，我们有何感想，你必因此奇异我们怎会成为神的儿女。但我们仍被“称为神的儿女”。儿子与父亲的关系是多么密切，有了这名份就可享受各种权益！儿子怎样期待父亲的看顾、抚育，父亲对儿子是怎样的亲爱、慈祥呀！但这一些，其实还不只这一些，我们现在都可因基督得到了。现在我们怀着光荣的心情与兄长一同忍受至暂至轻的苦。“世人所以不认识我们，是因未曾认识他。”我们与主一样存著谦卑的心，甘愿和他一同不被人所认识，因为我们必与他一同被高举。“亲爱的弟兄啊，我们现在是神的儿女”，这话念起来很容易，但想起来却不简单。今天早晨你的心怎样感觉？你是否落到悲伤的深谷之中？败坏是否在你的心灵之中发生？恩典是否像一星残余的火花踏在你的脚下？你的信是否几乎失去了功效呢？不要怕，你活着并不是靠你自己的善功或感觉！你必须单单信靠基督。现在，我们虽有这些挫折，堕在愁苦的泥淖中，无论我们在什么地方——现在，谷中和山上一样，“亲爱的弟兄啊，我们现在是神的儿女。”你说：“唉！你看我现在是一种什么样子！既无堂皇的功德，也无荣显的义行。”但你再念下去：“我们现在是神的儿女，将来如何，还未显明；但我们知道，主若显现，我们必要像他。”圣灵必洁净我们的心，神的能力必改变我们的身体，那时我们就“必得见他的真体”。
February 13
“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that
we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not,
because it knew Him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God.” –1 John
3:1, 2
“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us.
Consider who we were, and what we feel ourselves to be even now when corruption
is powerful in us, and you will wonder at our adoption. Yet we are called
“the sons of God.” What a high relationship is that of a son, and
what privileges it brings! What care and tenderness the son expects from his
father, and what love the father feels towards the son! But all that, and more
than that, we now have through Christ. As for the temporary drawback of
suffering with the elder brother, this we accept as an honour: “Therefore
the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not.” We are content to be
unknown with Him in His humiliation, for we are to be exalted with Him.
“Beloved, now are we the sons of God.” That is easy to read, but it
is not so easy to feel. How is it with your heart this morning? Are you in the
lowest depths of sorrow? Does corruption rise within your spirit, and grace
seem like a poor spark trampled under foot? Does your faith almost fail you?
Fear not, it is neither your graces nor feelings on which you are to live: you
must live simply by faith on Christ. With all these things against us, now–in
the very depths of our sorrow, wherever we may be– now, as much in the valley
as on the mountain, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God.” “Ah,
but,” you say, “see how I am arrayed! my graces are not bright; my
righteousness does not shine with apparent glory.” But read the next:
“It doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall
appear, we shall be like Him.” The Holy Spirit shall purify our minds, and
divine power shall refine our bodies, then shall we see Him as He is.
