1月30日 撒但选择试探的时机
撒但选择试探的时机
当所谓的“出路”，恰恰伪装成撒但所提议的罪行时，那便是试探最猛烈、最危险的一刻。
魔鬼尤其喜欢在基督徒初信之时发动试探。恩典之子一旦诞生，立刻就招致这恶龙喷吐炽热的试探。在基督里新造的人，他们发出的第一声啼哭足以震动地狱的军团，正如当年希律和全耶路撒冷因新生王的出现而惊惶不安一样。撒但毫不犹豫地试探那些在基督里尚为婴孩的使徒，因为他知道他们里面的恩典还很软弱，而圣灵降临后才有的丰盛滋养那时还尚未临到。当城中只剩下孩子守家时，敌人岂不是最容易得手吗？诚然，初信者面临的劣势如此之多，若不是我们知道他们被包裹在圣约的恩典之中，被神大能的应许膀臂紧紧托住，我们几乎会为每一个属灵婴孩感到绝望。
撒但另一个惯常出击的时机，是当基督徒深陷重重苦难之时。牠先从神那里获准，夺去约伯在世的产业，随后便趁虚而入，诱使他陷入烦乱与不信。牠直到基督禁食了四十昼夜、身体极其疲乏时才前来试探，正如军队围困一座城邑，往往要直等到城中粮尽援绝、守军几乎愿意接受任何条件时，才开始诱其投降。如果想要在受苦中站立得稳，你必须预先提醒自己这一事实：当所谓的“出路”，恰恰伪装成撒但所提议的罪行时，那便是试探最猛烈、最危险的一刻。比如，当你的家庭陷入窘境、看似走投无路时，撒但就会在那一刻对你耳语：“你该怎么办？神难道真会让你的孩子饿死吗？你看，邻居的菜园就在篱笆那边，他家绰绰有余；况且夜色昏暗，即便拿这一点点来救急，又有谁会看见呢？”
麦琴（麦克谦）读经计划进度
家庭敬拜：创31章，可2章，
个人灵修：斯7章，罗2章
JANUARY 30, FRIDAY
SATAN CHOOSES WHEN TO TEMPT
Temptation is never stronger than when relief seems to dress itself in the very sin that Satan is suggesting.
The devil especially likes to tempt when the Christian is newly converted. No sooner is the child of grace born than this vicious dragon belches forth white-hot temptations upon him. The first cry of the new creature in Christ startles all the legions of hell. They are as troubled by it as Herod and Jerusalem were when they sat in council to take away the life of the newborn King. Satan did not hesitate to tempt the apostles while they were yet infants in Christ. He knew grace within was weak and the nourishment promised at the Spirit’s coming had not yet arrived. Is an enemy ever more likely to take a town than when only the children are home? Indeed, the disadvantages are so many that we would despair for every babe in Christ if we did not know he is wrapped in covenant grace and held tightly in the strong arms of God’s promise.
Another time Satan attacks is when the Christian is enduring some great affliction. Satan first got permission from God to weaken Job in his temporal estate, then he tempted him to impatience. He let Christ fast forty days before he came, and then fell to his enticing work—just as an army blocks off a town and waits to negotiate until it is pinched for provisions and likely to agree to almost anything. If you wish to stand firm in the midst of suffering, forewarn yourself of this fact: Temptation is never stronger than when relief seems to dress itself in the very sin that Satan is suggesting. For example, suppose your family falls on hard times and you see no way out of your predicament. This is the very moment Satan will come to whisper in your ear, “What are you going to do? Surely God would not have your children starve! Your neighbor’s garden is just beyond the hedge. He has enough and to spare. The night is dark. Who will see if you step across and take only what you need?”