6月23日 神总是出于纯全而行事
神总是出于纯全而行事
神是如此纯全，以至于祂竟将自己的荣耀作为抵押，来担保祂儿女的安全。
爱是神行动的原则，祂子民的益处是祂行动的目标。祂从不偏离这两者。祂心中的爱火永不熄灭，祂子民的益处也从未离开祂的视线。每一次祂眉头紧锁，嘴唇责备，或是伸手击打管教时，即便在那一刻，祂的心依然为爱燃烧，祂的意念仍在为祂的儿女筹划平安。“被掳去的犹大人，就是我打发离开这地到迦勒底人之地去的，我必看顾他们如这好无花果，使他们得好处。我要眷顾他们，使他们得好处。”（耶24:5-6）这是神降在祂百姓身上最严厉的审判之一，然而，即便在审判最严酷的时刻，祂依然在计划怜悯，为他们筹谋益处。当以色列人呼喊说摩西把他们带进旷野是要杀死他们时，他们不过是出于过度的恐惧，而非真的受到了伤害。神为他们所计划的益处，是他们当时连想都无法想象的；祂定意要降卑他们，好叫他们最终能够领受祂的美善。
神是如此纯全，以至于祂竟将自己的荣耀作为抵押，来担保祂儿女的安全。祂公义的衣袍被紧紧系于他们得蒙拯救与属灵兴盛之上。事实上，直到祂怜悯的旨意在祂百姓生命中成为现实之前，祂不会，也可以说不能，在祂完全的威严与君王的荣耀中显明自己。祂乐意推迟向世界彰显祂完全荣耀的时间，直到祂全然成就了对子民的拯救，好叫祂与祂的百姓能在同一日一同在荣耀里显现：“因为耶和华建造了锡安，在祂荣耀里显现。”（诗102:16）
太阳总是荣耀的，即使在云层最厚的日子也是如此；但这荣耀要等到它驱散遮蔽其光芒的云雾之后，才全然显明在地上。神本是荣耀的，即使这世界看不见祂也是如此；但当祂怜悯、真理与信实的荣耀，在祂子民的救恩中如光芒般绽放时，祂的荣耀便全然彰显了。
麦琴（麦克谦）读经计划进度
家庭敬拜：申28章，诗119:25-48，
个人灵修：赛55章，太3章
JUNE 23, TUESDAY
GOD ALWAYS ACTS FROM SINCERITY
God is so sincere that He gives His own glory as hostage for His children’s security.
Love is the principle of God’s actions and the good of His people is His goal. He never swerves from these. The fire of love never goes out of His heart, nor their good out of His eye. Every time He frowns with His brow, chides with His lips, or strikes with His hand, even then His heart burns with love and His thoughts meditate peace to His children. “So will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good. For I will set mine eyes upon them for good” (Jeremiah 24:5–6). This was one of the sharpest judgments God ever brought on His people, yet He designed mercy and projected good into the severest hours of it. When the Israelites cried out that Moses had brought them into the wilderness to kill them, they were more afraid than hurt. God had plans for their good which they could not even imagine; He purposed to humble them so they could at last receive His goodness.
God is so sincere that He gives His own glory as hostage for His children’s security. His robes of righteousness are locked up in their salvation and prosperity. He will not, indeed cannot, present Himself in all His magnificence and royalty until His intended thoughts of mercy become realities in the lives of His people. He is pleased to postpone the time of His appearing in all His glory to the world until He has fully accomplished their deliverance so both He and His people may come forth together in their glory on the same day: “When the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory” (Psalm 102:16).
The sun is always glorious, even on the most cloudy day, but this glory is not apparent until it has scattered the clouds which hide its light from the earth. God is glorious even when the world cannot see Him, but the demonstration of His glory appears when the glories of His mercy, truth, and faithfulness break forth in His people’s salvation.