Daily Devotion - Dec 31 - ¥q¥¬¯u¨C¤éÆF­×(¤é) Morning by Morning

司布真每日靈修(日) Morning by Morning

十二月三十一日

經文: 「節期的末日，就是最大之日，耶穌站著高聲說：人若渴了，可以到我這裡來喝。」（約翰福音七：37）

耶穌的心，有如慈母，用百般的忍耐、無比的寬容，規勸引導世人歸向真神，共享天國盛宴。祂不但苦口婆心，諄諄善誘，期盼祂的選民……以色列人……投入上帝的懷抱；更用實際的犧牲行動，懇切呼籲世人離棄假神，重新與上帝和好。

然而世人眼瞎心盲、硬著頸項、狠著心腸，拒絕聖靈在人心叫人知罪悔改的工作，仍然執迷不悟，偏行己路。這位慈愛的救主，卻年復一年，不斷受著罪人無理的冒犯頂撞，以及無情的頑梗背逆，雖然祂的心受傷淌血，但卻默默忍受，不以為忤，仍以祂堅靭無比，綿綿不絕的大愛，繼續感化人心，領人與上帝和好。

多麼希奇啊！上帝躭延祂再來的日子，因為祂願萬人得救，不願一人沈淪；祂讓信靠祂的人，腹中流出活水的泉源，在世上做光做鹽，為祂自己做見證。祂讓瞎眼的得見光明，瘸腿的能行走；祂讓身心受壓制的得釋放，心靈破碎的蒙醫治；無論患痲瘋或暗瘡者，都可得祂寶血來潔淨；無論竊賊強盜，都可來到十架前，求赦免饒恕。


Morning, December 31

Scripture: "In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, if any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink."(John 7:37)

Patience had her perfect work in the Lord Jesus, and until the last day of the feast he pleaded with the Jews, even as on this last day of the year he pleads with us, and waits to be gracious to us. Admirable indeed is the longsuffering of the Saviour in bearing with some of us year after year, notwithstanding our provocations, rebellions, and resistance of his Holy Spirit. Wonder of wonders that we are still in the land of mercy!

Pity expressed herself most plainly, for Jesus cried, which implies not only the loudness of his voice, but the tenderness of his tones. He entreats us to be reconciled. "We pray you," says the Apostle, "as though God did beseech you by us." What earnest, pathetic terms are these! How deep must be the love which makes the Lord weep over sinners, and like a mother woo his children to his bosom! Surely at the call of such a cry our willing hearts will come.

Provision is made most plenteously; all is provided that man can need to quench his soul's thirst. To his conscience the atonement brings peace; to his understanding the gospel brings the richest instruction; to his heart the person of Jesus is the noblest object of affection; to the whole man the truth as it is in Jesus supplies the purest nutriment. Thirst is terrible, but Jesus can remove it. Though the soul were utterly famished, Jesus could restore it.

Proclamation is made most freely, that every thirsty one is welcome. No other distinction is made but that of thirst. Whether it be the thirst of avarice, ambition, pleasure, knowledge, or rest, he who suffers from it is invited. The thirst may be bad in itself, and be no sign of grace, but rather a mark of inordinate sin longing to be gratified with deeper draughts of lust; but it is not goodness in the creature which brings him the invitation, the Lord Jesus sends it freely, and without respect of persons.

Personality is declared most fully. The sinner must come to Jesus, not to works, ordinances, or doctrines, but to a personal Redeemer, who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree. The bleeding, dying, rising Saviour, is the only star of hope to a sinner. Oh for grace to come now and drink, ere the sun sets upon the year's last day!

No waiting or preparation is so much as hinted at. Drinking represents a reception for which no fitness is required. A fool, a thief, a harlot can drink; and so sinfulness of character is no bar to the invitation to believe in Jesus. We want no golden cup, no bejewelled chalice, in which to convey the water to the thirsty; the mouth of poverty is welcome to stoop down and quaff the flowing flood. Blistered, leprous, filthy lips may touch the stream of divine love; they cannot pollute it, but shall themselves be purified. Jesus is the fount of hope. Dear reader, hear the dear Redeemer's loving voice as he cries to each of us,

"IF ANY MAN THIRST,

LET HIM

COME UNTO ME

AND DRINK."


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