七月十日
是与圣徒同国。（弗2：19）
我们作天国的子民有什麽意义呢？那就是说我们是在天国的治理之下。天国的王基督在我们心中掌权，我们天天的祷告乃是：“愿你的旨意行在地上如同行在天上。”我们甘心接受荣耀宝座所出的指示，我们乐意顺服大君王的命令。我们既是新耶路撒冷的子民，我们就有天上的尊荣，蒙福的圣徒所有的荣耀也是我们的，因爲我们已经是神的儿子了，已经成爲君王的后裔；我们已经穿上了耶稣洁白的义袍，我们已经有天使伺候；圣徒是我们的同伴，基督是我们的兄长，神是我们的父，幷且永不朽坏的冠冕是我们的奖赏。
我们有天国子民的尊荣，因我们的名既被录在天上，就得以参加诸长子所共聚的总会。既是子民，我们就有承受天上一切産业的权柄。珍珠门、碧玉墙是我们的；城内的荣光，幷非日月的光，也是我们的；生命的河水和河边按月结十二样果子的生命树，都是我们的；天上没有一样不是属我们的。“现在的事或将来的事”都是我们的。我们既是天国的子民也得享受天上的欢乐。天使不是爲悔改的罪人——回家的浪子欢喜快乐吗?我们也要这样；他们爲得胜的恩主唱歌幷将荣耀归给他吗？我们也要这样；他们把冠冕摘下在他的脚前俯拜吗？我们也有这样的荣幸；他们因他的慈面得到安慰吗?我们在地上的人也一样地尝到这滋味；他们也等待他再来吗？我们也盼望幷切慕他快显现。这样，我们既是天国的子民，就当让我们的行动与我们的尊贵地位相符。
July 10
“Fellow citizens with the saints.” —
Ephesians 2:19
What is meant by our
being citizens in heaven? It means that we are under heaven’s government.
Christ the king of heaven reigns in our hearts; our daily prayer is, “Thy
will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” The proclamations issued from
the throne of glory are freely received by us: the decrees of the Great King we
cheerfully obey. Then as citizens of the New Jerusalem, we share heaven’s
honours. The glory which belongs to beatified saints belongs to us, for we are
already sons of God, already princes of the blood imperial; already we wear the
spotless robe of Jesu’s righteousness; already we have angels for our
servitors, saints for our companions, Christ for our Brother, God for our
Father, and a crown of immortality for our reward. We share the honours of
citizenship, for we have come to the general assembly and Church of the
first-born whose names are written in heaven. As citizens, we have common
rights to all the property of heaven. Ours are its gates of pearl and walls of
chrysolite; ours the azure light of the city that needs no candle nor light of
the sun; ours the river of the water of life, and the twelve manner of fruits
which grow on the trees planted on the banks thereof; there is nought in heaven
that belongeth not to us. “Things present, or things to come,” all
are ours. Also as citizens of heaven we enjoy its delights. Do they there
rejoice over sinners that repent–prodigals that have returned? So do we. Do
they chant the glories of triumphant grace? We do the same. Do they cast their
crowns at Jesu’s feet? Such honours as we have we cast there too. Are they
charmed with His smile? It is not less sweet to us who dwell below. Do they
look forward, waiting for His second advent? We also look and long for His
appearing. If, then, we are thus citizens of heaven, let our walk and actions
be consistent with our high dignity.
