1月3日 头与心：信仰的根基与力量
头与心：信仰的根基与力量
如果你的心志没有坚定的目标，那么你的原则就算再好，也只会是松松垮垮的；在战场激战正酣之时，这些原则就像一把弦没上紧的弓，发挥不了任何作用。
一个与君王只有“点头之交”的人，很容易被说服去背弃誓言，或至少在叛乱发生时尝试保持中立。同样，有些自称是基督徒的人，对福音也仅是“略知一二”。他们几乎无法交待自己所盼望的是什么，也说不清楚自己所信靠的是谁。即便他们对某些教义稍有好感，也是根基不稳，结果每一阵风都能像吹走房顶松动的瓦片一样，把他们轻易卷走。
当撒但猛烈攻击、试探如海啸般向你袭来时，你必须紧紧抓住神的真理。这些真理是你面对一切狂风暴雨时的避难所。但你必须预先将它们预备在手，随时待命；不要等到船快沉了才想起去补漏洞。当暴风雨来临时，软弱的委身几乎没有生还的希望。当那种虚浮的决心在风浪中翻滚下沉时，那扎根于主的圣洁心志，却会像磐石一样，在滔天巨浪中傲然挺立。
圣经应许说：“……惟独认识神的子民必刚强行事”（但11:32）。天使曾告诉但以理，当安提阿古发起逼迫与试探时，有哪些人会为了神挺身而出。有些人会被败坏之人的利诱所收买，有些人会因权势的威吓而倒下；但那少数深植于信仰要义的人，必会为神成就大事。也就是说：面对谄媚利诱，他们是不可收买的；面对强权暴力，他们是不可征服的。
仅仅对基督的事迹拥有“头脑的知识”是不够的；跟随基督，首要是关乎“心”的事情。如果你的心志没有坚定的目标，那么你的原则就算再好，也只会是松松垮垮的；在战场激战正酣之时，这些原则就像一把弦没上紧的弓，发挥不了任何作用。心怀二意的决心，既没有勇气、也不愿为了基督冒任何风险或走得太远。
麦琴（麦克谦）读经计划进度
家庭敬拜：创3章，太3章，
个人灵修：拉3章，徒3章
JANUARY 3, SATURDAY
HEAD AND HEART
If your heart is not fixed in its purpose, your principles, as good as they may be, will hang loose and be of no more use in the heat of battle than an ill-strung bow.
He who has only a nodding acquaintance with the king may easily be persuaded to change his allegiance, or will at least try to remain neutral in the face of treason. Some professing Christians have only a passing acquaintance with the Gospel. They can hardly give an account of what they hope for, or whom they hope in. And if they have some principles they take kindly to, they are so unsettled that every wind blows them away, like loose tiles from a housetop.
When Satan buffets and temptation washes over you like a tidal wave, you must cling to God’s truths. They are your shelter in every raging storm. But you must have them on hand, ready to use. Do not wait until it is sinking to patch the boat. A feeble commitment has little hope of safety when caught in a tempest. While that flounders and drowns, holy determination, grounded in the Lord, will lift up its head like a rock in the midst of the highest waves.
Scripture promises, “The people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits” (Daniel 11:32). An angel told Daniel which men would stand up and be counted for God when tempted and persecuted by Antiochus. Some would be taken in by the bribery of corrupt men, others would fall victim to intimidation and threats. But a few, who were firmly grounded in the tenets of their faith, would do great things for God. That is to say, to flatteries they would be incorruptible, and to power and force, unconquerable.
Head knowledge of the things of Christ is not enough; this following Christ is primarily a matter of the heart. If your heart is not fixed in its purpose, your principles, as good as they may be, will hang loose and be of no more use in the heat of battle than an ill-strung bow. Half-hearted resolve will not venture much nor far for Christ.