1月1日 基督徒蒙召要有勇气
1月1日，周四
基督徒蒙召要有勇气
我们当中有谁不是从自己的亲身经历中学到：若要完全跟随基督，必须拥有一种世界所不能给予的心志？
口里承认基督的人何其多，真正属基督的人却何其少；口口声声要上战场对抗撒旦的人何其多，最终得胜凯旋的人却何其少。人人都渴望成为得胜的精兵，却鲜有人拥有勇气和决心，去直面并克服通往胜利路上的一切艰难。当年以色列全会众都欢欢喜喜地跟随摩西出了埃及；但当他们肚子稍感饥饿，或眼前的欲望未能马上满足时，他们便立刻想要退缩。他们宁可选择去做法老的奴役，也不愿要主所应许的福分。
今日的人也不例外。有多少人在受苦的岔路口便与基督分道扬镳！他们像俄珥巴一样，只同行了一小段路就回头了（参 得1:14）。他们口谈福音，自称是圣徒福气的有份者；可一旦进入真实的试炼，他们很快就厌倦了这段旅程，不愿为基督忍耐。一看到苦难的苗头，他们便在“亲吻”救主后转身离去——他们并非不想得天国，只是不愿为此付出昂贵的代价。若前方的道路意味着要抵挡重重仇敌，他们便宁愿安于现状，守着自己那污浊淤积的破池子，而把“生命之水”留给那些愿意为此付上代价、走得更远的人。我们当中有谁不是从自己的亲身经历中学到：若要完全跟随基督，必须拥有一种世界所不能给予的心志？
所以，基督徒啊，务要以此自勉，切切向神恳求那追随基督所必须具备的圣洁决心和属天勇气。若无此心志，你便名不副实。那些“胆怯的人”是走向地狱的行伍（参启21:8）；而“努力的人”才能得着天国（太11:12）。懦夫永远赢不了天国。除非你能以这种英雄般的心志证明你的属灵血统——在人的反对和魔鬼的攻击中，仍敢于追求圣洁——否则，不要声称自己是从神而生、血管里流淌着祂尊贵血脉的人。
麦琴（麦克谦）读经计划进度
家庭敬拜：创1章，太1章，
个人灵修：拉1章，徒1章
JANUARY 1，THURSDAY
THE CHRISTIAN’S CALL TO COURAGE
Who among us has not learned from his own experiencethat it requires another spirit than the world cangive to follow Christ fully?
There are so many who profess Christ and so few who are in fact Christians; so many who go into the field against Satan, and so few who come out conquerors. All may have a desire to be successful soldiers, but few have the courage and determination to grapple with the difficulties that accost them on the way to victory. All Israel followed Moses joyfully out of Egypt. But when their stomachs were a little pinched with hunger, and their immediate desires deferred, they were ready at once to retreat. They preferred the bondage of Pharaoh to the promised blessings of the Lord.
Men are no different today. How many part with Christ at the crossroad of suffering! Like Orpah, they go a short distance only (Ruth 1:14). They profess the Gospel and name themselves heirs to the blessings of the saints. But when put to the test, they quickly grow sick of the journey and refuse to endure for Christ. At the first sign of hardship, they kiss and leave the Savior, reluctant to lose heaven, but even more unwilling to buy it at so dear a price. If they must resist so many enemies on the way, they will content themselves with their own stagnant cisterns and leave the Water of Life for others who will venture farther for it. Who among us has not learned from his own experience that it requires another spirit than the world can give to follow Christ fully?
Let this exhort you, then, Christian, to petition God for the holy determination and bravery you must have to follow Christ. Without it you cannot be what you profess. The fearful are those who march for hell (Revelation 21:8); the valiant are they who take heaven by force (Matthew 11:12). Cowards never won heaven. Do not claim that you are begotten of God and have His royal blood running in your veins unless you can prove your lineage by this heroic spirit, to dare to be holy in spite of men and devils.