九月二十三日

在他愛子裏蒙悅納。（改譯）（弗1：6）

這是信徒的專利和特權！其中包含著我們在神面前的成義，但“悅納”在希臘文中還有別的意思。它說明我們是神滿足的對象，甚至是神所歡喜的。我們這些蟲、必死的人、罪人能成爲神所愛的對象，真是一件希奇的事！但只有“在愛子裏”才能蒙悅納。

有一些基督徒以爲自己的經驗可以蒙悅納，至少他們是這樣想。當他們的靈性活潑時，他們的希望明朗時，他們便以爲神悅納他們，因爲他們感到自己很高超，很屬天；但他們行將就木的時候，就擔心自己不再是蒙神悅納的了。若他們能够明白，只要他們站在永不改變的、永遠完全、永無玷污、皺紋等類之病的、神永遠所愛的愛子裏面，他們的一切喜樂都不能高舉他們、一切的失望都不能把他們從神的眼中壓制下去時，那末他們該多麽快樂，幷榮耀他們的救主呀！

信徒啊！要因你“在愛子裏”蒙悅納而快樂吧！你往裏看，你必說：“這裏沒有什麽可以蒙悅納的！”但你仰望基督，看那裏有什麽可以蒙悅納的。你的罪困擾你，但神已把你的罪拋在他的背後，你已在那義者裏蒙了悅納。你必須與敗壞爭鬥，與誘惑角力，但你已在那勝過一切惡勢力的主裏面蒙了悅納。魔鬼來引誘你，要放心，它不能損害你，因你已在打破撒但頭的主裏蒙了悅納。要確實知道你自己的榮耀地位，已經得榮耀的靈魂也不過和你一樣地蒙悅納。他們只是在天堂上、“在愛子裏”蒙悅納，你現在也一樣地在基督裏蒙悅納了。

September 23

"Accepted in the beloved." -- Ephesians 1:6

What a state of privilege! It includes our justification before God, but the term acceptance" in the Greek means more than that. It signifies that we are the objects of divine complacence, nay, even of divine delight. How marvellous that we, worms, mortals, sinners, should be the objects of divine love! But it is only "in the beloved." Some Christians seem to be accepted in their own experience, at least, that is their apprehension. When their spirit is lively, and their hopes bright, they think God accepts them, for they feel so high, so heavenly-minded, so drawn above the earth! But when their souls cleave to the dust, they are the victims of the fear that they are no longer accepted. If they could but see that all their high joys do not exalt them, and all their low despondencies do not really depress them in their Father's sight, but that they stand accepted in One who never alters, in One who is always the beloved of God, always perfect, always without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, how much happier they would be, and how much more they would honour the Saviour! Rejoice then, believer, in this: thou art accepted "in the beloved." Thou lookest within, and thou sayest, "There is nothing acceptable here!" But look at Christ, and see if there is not everything acceptable there. Thy sins trouble thee; but God has cast thy sins behind His back, and thou art accepted in the Righteous One. Thou hast to fight with corruption, and to wrestle with temptation, but thou art already accepted in Him who has overcome the powers of evil. The devil tempts thee; be of good cheer, he cannot destroy thee, for thou art accepted in Him who has broken Satan's head. Know by full assurance thy glorious standing. Even glorified souls are not more accepted than thou art. They are only accepted in heaven "in the beloved," and thou art even now accepted in Christ after the same manner.