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『因此祂已將又寶貴又極大的應許賜給我們。』（彼後一章四節）
一個造船匠造船的目的，是不是為了要把船擱在船架上呢？不，他造船的目的，乃是要把船放在海洋和波濤中。他在造的時候，就已經想到了。
當神把你造成一個信徒的時候，祂的目的就是要把你放在試煉中；所以當祂給你應許，吩咐你信賴的時候，祂就給你一些在狂浪顛簸中所能應用的應許。你想神的應許，會不會像有些商店裏出賣的游泳帶－只能在玻璃窗內陳列，不能在洋海中應用的呢？
我們都知道：作玩具的刀劍，在戰場上是沒有用處的；作玩具的鞋子，是不能穿著走路的。但是神的鞋是銅的、鐵的，你能夠穿著它們走上天去，它們也永遠不會穿壞；神的救生帶，你用以游過一千個大西洋，也不會使你沉溺。
神最不喜歡的，就是祂的子民把祂當作一個展覽品，不去用祂。祂喜歡我們享用祂。所立的約並不是給人看的，乃是給我們享用的。我們的主耶穌，也是神賜給我們，給我們現在享用的。讀者，你有沒有照你應得去享用基督？
信徒阿，我求你不要把神的應許當作展覽會裡的古玩；你應當天天用它們來作安慰的泉源，在患難中隨時仰賴祂。－司布真（C. H. Spurgeon）
神對於已經應允過的東西，怎能說『不』呢？
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"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises." (2 Peter 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.
"Go to the deeps of God's promise,
And claim whatsoever ye will;
The blessing of God will not fail thee,
His Word He will surely fulfill."
How can God say no to something He has promised?
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