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經文：「因此祂已將又寶貴又極大的應許賜給我們。」（彼後1:4） 一位造船匠造船的目的，是不是為了把造好的船停放在船架上呢？不，他造船的目的，是要使船可以行在海洋與波濤中。這是早在製造的階段，就已經計畫好的。 同樣的，當神把你造成一個信徒時，祂的目的就是要把你放在試煉中；所以當祂賜下應許，吩咐你信賴的時候，祂就會供應你在顚簸的風浪中可以應用的能力。你想神的應許，會不會像是商店裡展示用的游泳圈；只能在櫥窗內被觀賞，不能在海洋中使用呢？ 我們都知道：作為玩具的刀劍，在戰場上是沒有用處的；作為玩具的鞋子，是不能穿著走路的。但是神的鞋是銅的是鐵的，你可以穿著它們走上天，也永遠不會穿壞；神的救生圈，你可以游過一千個大西洋，也不會使你沉溺。 神最不喜悅的，就是祂的子民將祂視為一個展示品而不去利用；祂喜悅的是我們享用祂。與我們所立的約並不是用來看的，乃是讓我們享用的，正如主耶穌也是神賜給我們享用的。 親愛的讀者，你有沒有照你應得的去享用基督？我求你不要把神的應許當作展場裡的古玩；應該每天都用它們來作你安慰的泉源，在患難中隨時的依靠。--司布眞 C. H. Spurgeon 神對於祂已經應許過的凡事，怎麼能說「不」呢？ 新譯｜荒漠甘泉讀書會
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Scripture: "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises" (2 Pet. 1:4). When a shipwright builds a vessel, does he build it to keep it upon the stocks? Nay, he builds it for the sea and the storm. When he was making it, he thought of tempests and hurricanes; if he did not, he was a poor shipbuilder. When God made thee a believer, He meant to try thee; and when He gave thee promises, and bade thee trust them, He gave such promises as are suitable for times of tempest and tossing. Dost thou think that God makes shams like some that have made belts for swimming, which were good to exhibit in a shop, but of no use in the sea? We have all heard of swords which were useless in war; and even of shoes which were made to sell, but were never meant to walk in. God's shoes are of iron and brass, and you can walk to Heaven in them without their ever wearing out; and His life-belts, you may swim a thousand Atlantics upon them, and there will be no fear of your sinking. His Word of promise is meant to be tried and proved. There is nothing Christ dislikes more than for His people to make a show-thing of Him, and not to use Him. He loves to be employed by us. Covenant blessings are not meant to be looked at only, but to be appropriated. Even our Lord Jesus is given to us for our present use. Thou dost not make use of Christ as thou oughtest to do. O man, I beseech you do not treat God's promises as if they were curiosities for a museum; but use them as every day sources of comfort. Trust the Lord whenever your time of need comes on.--C. H. Spurgeon Now can God say no to something He has promised? ｜ Mrs. Charles Cowman
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