1月26日 军装必须常穿不卸
军装必须常穿不卸
主吩咐我们要穿戴军装，使美德常在行动中：“你们腰里要束上带，灯也要点着”（路12:35）。
基督徒的军装是为穿戴而造的，绝不可卸下，直到你跑尽当跑的路。你的军装将与你肉身这件外衣在同一时刻脱去。那时，你就不再需要盾牌和头盔，也不再需要夜间的守望了；那些军中的职责和战场上的美德——也就是信心、盼望等——将光荣地完成它们的使命。到那时，你在天上显现的，不再是军装，而是荣耀的白袍。
然而，在现今，你必须昼夜穿戴这套装备。你若不穿着它行走、作工、甚至安歇，就称不上是基督真正的精兵。保罗为自己立下目标说：“我因此自己勉励，对神对人，常存无亏的良心。”（徒 24:16）在这里，我们看见这位圣洁之人如同一名操练中的士兵，以自己的内心为靶场，在其上操练各样属灵的美德，为争战做预备。我们也有充分的理由去效法他。
首先，这是基督的命令。主吩咐我们要穿戴军装，使美德常付诸行动：“你们腰里要束上带，灯也要点着”（路12:35）。祂以将军的身份对士兵说：“擦亮军装，点燃火把，随时准备行军；在试探初起之时，就预备迎战！”随后，祂又以主人的身份对仆人说话：若庄园的主人离家在外，归期未定，忠心的仆人岂会关门熄灯、安然入睡吗？绝不会，他必彻夜警醒，随时迎接主人的归来。这意味着，如果主站在心门外叩门，却发现我们里面的美德正在沉睡，那是极不合宜的。
基督徒的一切本分都要求这种持续的警醒：要祷告，但要如何祷告呢？“不住地祷告。”要喜乐，但在何时喜乐？“常常喜乐。”要谢恩，是为着什么呢？“凡事谢恩”（帖前 5:16-18）。我们必须一直持守信德的盾牌和救恩的头盔，直到终局（弗 6:16-17）。
麦琴（麦克谦）读经计划进度
家庭敬拜：创27章，太26章，
个人灵修：斯3章，徒26章
JANUARY 26, MONDAY
THE ARMOR MUST BE KEPT ON
He tells us to have our armor on, our grace in action: “Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning” (Luke 12:35).
The Christian’s armor is made to be worn—no taking it off until you have finished your course. Your armor and your garment of flesh come off together. Then there will be no more need of shield or helmet, no more late night watches. Those military duties and field graces—as I may call faith, hope, and the rest—shall be honorably discharged. In heaven you shall appear, not in armor, but in robes of glory.
Nevertheless, for the present you must wear your assigned suit night and day. You must walk, work, and sleep in it or you are not a true soldier of Christ. Paul set himself a goal: “Herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men” (Acts 24:16). Here we see this holy man at his arms, training like a true soldier, his own heart the target range on which he practices all the graces in preparation for battle. We have ample reasons to conduct ourselves in like manner.
For one thing, Christ commands it. He tells us to have our armor on, our grace in action: “Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning” (Luke 12:35). He speaks as a general to his soldiers: “Oil your armor; light your torch; be ready to march. Prepare to fight at the first alarm of temptation!” Again He speaks, this time as a master to his servants: “If the lord of the manor is called away and the hour of his return uncertain, will a faithful servant bolt the door, douse the fire, and retire? No, he will stand watch through the night, ready to greet the master whenever he comes.” Meaning, it is not fit for the Master to stand at our heart’s door knocking, and find our graces sleeping.
Every duty of the Christian demands this constant effort. Pray he must, but how? “Without ceasing.” Rejoice, but when? “Evermore.” Give thanks—for what? “In everything” (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18). We must hold our shield of faith and helmet of hope to the very end (Ephesians 6:16–17).