1月11日 神对圣徒的挚爱
神对圣徒的挚爱
正是你身上所反映出的神的形像，才使地狱权势如此暴怒；也正是这一点，招致鬼魔将最猛烈的武器掷向你。当神护卫你时，祂也是在护卫祂自己。
神对圣徒的爱，会推动祂的大能运行。心怀神的心意，就不会缺少神的大力相助。爱能凝聚一切情感，激发人全部的潜能去付诸行动；对神而言也是如此，祂的爱使祂的一切属性都为之效力：凡神所喜悦的事，祂的一切属性都蓄势待发，一同协力成就。神虽顾念祂一切的受造之物，但信徒的灵魂却是祂最深爱、最宝贵的对象——这爱正是祂爱祂儿子的那份爱，也在祂的信徒里面（约 17:26）。
当一个灵魂归信时，神在永恒中指着这人所定的旨意与筹算——就是神在创世以前在基督里所拣选的人——便“足月生产”了。你能想象吗？神在祂永恒旨意的“母腹”中怀了一个孩子这么久，祂对此会有何等的爱？若神在尚未用话语创造世界以前，就已经喜悦祂的计划，那么当祂亲眼看见自己劳苦的功效完全成熟——即一个灵魂的信主——祂的喜悦岂不更大？既然祂按着自己的旨意一路成就到如今，祂也必动用一切大能来护卫这信的人，祂绝不愿在最后关头，被人夺去祂的荣耀。
神借着祂所付出的“买价”，向我们显明一个灵魂的价值何其宝贵。这是祂付上极重的代价得来的，祂必不轻易放弃。祂既舍了祂儿子的宝血买赎你，就必用祂自己的大能保守你。
地上的父母看见自己的美德在儿女身上体现，尚且欣慰；神这位完全的父，更渴望看见祂的属性在圣徒身上彰显出来。正是你身上所反映出的神的形像，才使地狱权势如此暴怒；也正是这一点，招致鬼魔将最猛烈的武器掷向你。当神护卫你时，祂也是在护卫祂自己。既然这场争战是属于神的，你以此确信：祂绝不会让你独自承担打这场仗的重负
麦琴（麦克谦）读经计划进度
家庭敬拜：创12章，太11章，
个人灵修：拉11章，徒11章
JANUARY 11, SUNDAY
GOD’S DEAR LOVE FOR THE SAINTS
It is this image of God reflected in you that so enrages hell; it is this at which the demons hurl their mightiest weapons.When God defends you, He also defends Himself.
God’s love for His saints sets His power in motion. He who has God’s heart does not lack for His arm. Love rallies all other affections and sets the powers of the whole man into action. Thus in God, love sets His other attributes to work; all are ready to bring about what God says He likes. God considers all His creatures, but the believing soul is an object of His choicest love—even the love with which He loves His Son (John 17:26).
When a soul believes, then God’s eternal purpose and counsel concerning him—whom He chose in Christ before the foundation of the world—is brought to term. Can you imagine the love God has for a child He has carried so long in the womb of His eternal purpose? If God delighted in His plan before He spoke the world into being, how much greater is His delight to witness the full fruition of His labor—a believing soul. Having performed His own will thus far, God will surely raise all the power He has in that believer’s behalf, rather than be robbed of His glory within a few steps of home.
God showed us how much a soul is worth by the purchase price He paid. It cost him dearly, and that which is so hard won will not be easily given up. He spent His Son’s blood to purchase you, and He will spend His own power to keep you.
As an earthly parent you rejoice to see your own good qualities reproduced in your children. God, the perfect parent, longs to see His attributes reflected in His saints. It is this image of God reflected in you that so enrages hell; it is this at which the demons hurl their mightiest weapons. When God defends you, He also defends Himself. Now knowing that the quarrel is God’s, surely He will not have you go forth to war at your own expense!