Daily Devotion - Jan 2 - ¥q¥¬¯u¨C¤éÆF­×(©]) Evening by Evening

司布真每日靈修(夜) Evening by Evening

一月二日

經文: 眾民當從新得力。（以賽亞書四十一：1）

地上萬物皆需被更新。沒有一樣被造之物能靠自己的能力得以維生。當詩人說：「您使地面更換為新」（詩一○四：30）時，他認定一切皆出於上帝的作為。甚至那些不會因憂慮而耗盡自己，或因辛勞而縮減壽命的樹木，也必須飲取從天降下的雨露和吸收隱藏於泥土中的寶物。人要維持生命，就必須抑賴從上帝而來的更新。如同每日三餐對補充身體所需的重要性一樣，我們的靈命也必須靠上帝的聖言來餵養，藉聆聽所傳的真道得供養，或藉著敬拜和讚美使靈命長進。若屬靈的食糧被忽視，我們基督徒的生命將是何等沮喪啊！有些聖徒不勤於運用上帝的話語和暗中的祈禱，他們是何等貧乏和飢餓啊！若我們的信心能無上帝而活，那一定不是上帝所造的。既然信心生發於上帝，就必須等候祂如同花朵等候朝露。缺乏經常的復興，我們就無法應付從地獄而來的攻擊，甚至不能應付內心的爭戰。當旋風颳起時，那些沒有用許多糾纏在一起的根緊緊抓住磐石的樹有禍了。倘若我們不注重善，那惡者必定集中一切力量，拚命掙扎，要征服我們。但願我們藉著謙卑的禱告來靠近上帝慈悲的腳凳，在那�，我們會看到上帝應許的實現──「那等候耶和華的，必從新得力」（賽四十：31）

Evening, January 2

Scripture: "Let the people renew their strength."(Isaiah 41:1)

All things on earth need to be renewed. No created thing continueth by itself. "Thou renewest the face of the year," was the Psalmist's utterance. Even the trees, which wear not themselves with care, nor shorten their lives with labour, must drink of the rain of heaven and suck from the hidden treasures of the soil. The cedars of Lebanon, which God has planted, only live because day by day they are full of sap fresh drawn from the earth. Neither can man's life be sustained without renewal from God. As it is necessary to repair the waste of the body by the frequent meal, so we must repair the waste of the soul by feeding upon the Book of God, or by listening to the preached Word, or by the soul-fattening table of the ordinances. How depressed are our graces when means are neglected! What poor starvelings some saints are who live without the diligent use of the Word of God and secret prayer! If our piety can live without God it is not of divine creating; it is but a dream; for if God had begotten it, it would wait upon him as the flowers wait upon the dew. Without constant restoration we are not ready for the perpetual assaults of hell, or the stern afflictions of heaven, or even for the strifes within. When the whirlwind shall be loosed, woe to the tree that hath not sucked up fresh sap, and grasped the rock with many intertwisted roots. When tempests arise, woe to the mariners that have not strengthened their mast, nor cast their anchor, nor sought the haven. If we suffer the good to grow weaker, the evil will surely gather strength and struggle desperately for the mastery over us; and so, perhaps, a painful desolation, and a lamentable disgrace may follow. Let us draw near to the footstool of divine mercy in humble entreaty, and we shall realize the fulfilment of the promise, "They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength."

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