1月29日 神所眷爱的对象
神所眷爱的对象
祂的耳朵何时曾对你的呼求充耳不闻呢？祂的手何时短缺过，不能供应你的需要呢？
那看顾你的，并不打盹。诗人向我们保证说：“耶和华的眼目看顾义人，他的耳朵听他们的呼求。”（诗34:15）祂定睛注视你，直到永远，并以明确而喜悦的心意，将你视为祂爱的对象。祂的耳朵何时曾对你的呼求充耳不闻呢？祂的手臂何时短缺过，不能供应你的需要呢？你的福祉岂不是常在神的意念之中吗？祂对你所怀的，岂不都是赐平安的意念吗？只要这应许的油滴上几滴，就足以使你信心的车轮持续转动。
为了更好地认识仇敌的本性，我们要留意保罗在此所用的词：“诡计”。这个希腊词带有一种“在辩论中所展现的技巧与章法”的含义。因为它暗示了一种极高的技巧和狡诈的心机，用来构建复杂的论述，所以“诡计”一词生动地描述了撒但在策划对付基督徒时的狡诈。精通兵法的士兵明白这一点，而学者也明白：组建一支军队有其方法，而构建一个论证同样有其章法。
正因魔鬼如此狡猾，圣徒才必须时刻警醒。撒但被称为“古蛇”，因为蛇在受造物中本就最为诡诈，而一条古蛇更是狡猾中的老手。若撒但在亚当完美无瑕之时都能胜过人，如今在我们被罪损伤的光景中，牠岂不是更加危险吗？因为自从亚当的堕落给我们的悟性留下了巨大的裂痕以来，我们再也没有完全恢复；而在我们失去知识的同时，撒但却积累了成千上万年的经验。诚然，牠在堕落为魔鬼时失去了属天的智慧，但此后牠却不断地增长诡诈；牠虽没有足够的智慧为自己谋福，却有足够的诡诈去伤害别人。神曾应许要伤蛇的头，以此向我们显明撒但的要害所在；头一被击碎，这蛇就离灭亡不远了。
麦琴（麦克谦）读经计划进度
家庭敬拜：创30章，可1章，
个人灵修：斯6章，罗1章
JANUARY 29, THURSDAY
THE OBJECT OF GOD’S AFFECTIONS
When was His ear deaf to your cries or His hand short from supplying your needs?
He who keeps you does not slumber. The psalmist assures us, “The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous” (Psalm 34:15). He has fixed His gaze forever and with definite delight pleases Himself in the object of His affection. When was His ear ever deaf to your cries or His hand short from supplying your needs? Does not your welfare occupy the thoughts of God, and are there any other than thoughts of peace which He entertains? A few drops of this oil will keep the wheels of your faith in motion.
To better understand the nature of our enemy let us note the term Paul uses here: wiles, or methods. The word in the Greek connotes “that art and order one observes in handing an argument.” Now because it implies extraordinary skill and a sharp wit to compose that kind of discourse, wiles is used to express the subtlety of Satan in planning his strategy against the Christian. The expert soldier is keenly aware of this order, as well as the scholar. He understands there is method in forming an army, as well as in framing an argument.
Because the devil is a very subtle enemy, the saint must always be on his guard. Satan is called the old serpent. The serpent is subtle above the other creatures; and an old serpent, above other serpents. If Satan was too crafty for man in his perfection, how much more dangerous to us now in our maimed condition—for we have never recovered from that first crack Adam’s fall gave to our understanding. And as we have lost knowledge, so Satan has gained more and more experience. Granted, he lost his heavenly wisdom as soon as he became a devil, but ever since, he has increased his craft. And while he does not have wisdom enough to do himself good, yet he has knowledge enough to do others harm. God showed us where Satan’s strength lies when He promised to bruise the head of the serpent; with his head crushed, he will soon die.