八月四日
惟獨認識神的子民必剛強行事。（但11：32）
每一位信徒都知道認識神是最高尚、最好的一種知識，這一種屬靈的知識乃是基督徒力量的源頭。它能加強他的信心：聖書中常論到信徒是一些被主所教所化的人，他們乃是“從那聖者受了恩膏”，幷且聖靈的工作就是領他們進入一切真理，這一切都是爲了要加添他們的信心。知識既能加強信心，也能加增愛心：知識開了門，我們便可從門中看到我們的救主，或者再用一個比方，知識爲耶穌畫了一幅像，當我們看到那像的時候，我們就愛他，我們若不認識基督就不能愛他，至少愛的程度有差別。
我們若少認識耶穌，他已經爲我們成就的，他現在爲我們所作的，我們就不能多愛他；但若我們多認識他，我們就能多愛他。知識也能加強盼望：我們怎能盼望根本不知道是否存在的一件事呢？盼望是望遠鏡，但我們若沒有相當的知識去運用，那末站在望遠鏡之前也是徒然，我們什麽也看不見；知識把遠處的東西移到我們眼前，當我們看到鏡片所顯于我們的榮耀時，我們就快樂地確信，幷得到所見的。知識使我們能忍耐：若我們不知道基督體恤我們，不知道天父管教我們是爲了我們的好處，我們怎能忍耐呢？基督徒的一切德行，若沒有屬靈的知識，就不能得以完全。因此，我們不單要在“德行”——恩典——上有長進，而在主，我們的救主耶穌的“知識”上有長進，也是一件很重要的事。
August
4
“The
people that do know their God shall be strong.” — Daniel 11:32
Every believer understands that to know God is the highest and best form
of knowledge; and this spiritual knowledge is a source of strength to the
Christian. It strengthens his faith. Believers are constantly spoken of in the
Scriptures as being persons who are enlightened and taught of the Lord; they
are said to “have an unction from the Holy One,” and it is the
Spirit’s peculiar office to lead them into all truth, and all this for the
increase and the fostering of their faith. Knowledge strengthens love, as well
as faith. Knowledge opens the door, and then through that door we see our
Saviour. Or, to use another similitude, knowledge paints the portrait of Jesus,
and when we see that portrait then we love Him, we cannot love a Christ whom we
do not know, at least, in some degree. If we know but little of the excellences
of Jesus, what He has done for us, and what He is doing now, we cannot love Him
much; but the more we know Him, the more we shall love Him. Knowledge also
strengthens hope. How can we hope for a thing if we do not know of its
existence? Hope may be the telescope, but till we receive instruction, our
ignorance stands in the front of the glass, and we can see nothing whatever;
knowledge removes the interposing object, and when we look through the bright
optic glass we discern the glory to be revealed, and anticipate it with joyous
confidence. Knowledge supplies us reasons for patience. How shall we have
patience unless we know something of the sympathy of Christ, and understand the
good which is to come out of the correction which our heavenly Father sends us?
Nor is there one single grace of the Christian which, under God, will not be
fostered and brought to perfection by holy knowledge. How important, then, is
it that we should grow not only in grace, but in the “knowledge” of
our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
