2月3日 撒但的战术动作
撒但的战术动作
撒但作为试探的“大师级工匠”，亲手裁切并勾勒试探的雏形，但有时牠会交给手下的“熟练工”去完成。牠会仔细权衡，看谁最适合执行这项任务。
撒但的另一种策略是“精明的撤退”。经文不仅提到撒但被赶出去，也提到污鬼有时会主动离去，却是为了带更恶的同伴回来（太12:43-45）。撒但并不总是被得胜恩典的大能击退，有时牠是故意后撤，以便另起围攻。牠会等候基督徒离开坚固的防御工事。如果牠攻不下坚固的营垒，就会打算在平原上把你一口吞下。因此，当撒但看似认输时，千万不要以为争战已经结束了；牠的逃跑应当坚固你的信心，而不是削弱你的警醒。
撒但也会精心选择试探的工具。我们已经看到牠会决定何时、如何实施试探；现在我们要看到，牠也会决定利用谁或什么中介来执行任务。
撒但作为试探的“大师级工匠”，亲手裁切并勾勒试探的雏形，但有时牠会交给手下的“熟练工”去完成。牠深知假手他人往往能更有效地做工，因此牠会仔细权衡，看谁最适合执行这项任务。正如并非每个政客都适合担任大使，也不是人人都够格执行魔鬼的“特种差事”；撒但会慎重筛选牠的候选人。在这一点上，牠与神完全不同：神在拣选器皿上毫无限制，因为神不需依靠任何人，无论用谁，神都能成就同样的伟业。但撒但的能力是有限的，所以牠必须用“狐狸的狡黠”来弥补披着狮子皮的缺陷。
撒但最青睐的“使节”主要有四类：有地位、有权势的人；聪明过人、长于辞令的人；看似圣洁、或至少被公认为圣洁的人；以及能对掌权者施加影响的人。
麦琴（麦克谦）读经计划进度
家庭敬拜：创35-36章，可6章，
个人灵修：伯2章，罗6章
FEBRUARY 3, TUESDAY
SATAN’S TACTICAL MOVES
As the master workman, Satan cuts out the temptation and gives it shape, but sometimes he has his journeymen finish it. He carefully considers who can do the work.
Another strategy Satan uses is his shrewd retreat. We read not only of Satan’s being cast out, but of the unclean spirit going out voluntarily, with a purpose to come again and bring worse company with him (Matthew 12:43–45). Satan is not always beaten back by the dint and power of conquering grace; sometimes he retreats willingly, then lays his own siege. He waits until the Christian is out of his trench, intending to snap him up on the plains if he cannot take him in his fortification. When Satan seems to have conceded defeat, do not assume the battle is won. His flight should strengthen your faith, but not weaken your guard.
Satan chooses what or whom to use as instruments of temptation. We have seen that he decides when and how he will tempt; now we shall see that he decides what or whom he will use to do his work.
As the master workman, Satan cuts out the temptation and gives it shape, but sometimes he has his journeymen finish it. Knowing his work may be carried on better by others, he carefully considers who can do the work to the greatest advantage of his evil cause. Just as every politician is not fit to serve as an ambassador, so not just everyone qualifies for the devil’s special service. He screens his prospects with care. In this he is unlike God, who is not at all limited by His choice of instruments, because He needs no one and is able to do as well with one as with another. But Satan’s power is finite, so he must patch up the defect of the lion’s skin with the fox’s.
The ambassadors Satan prefers are chiefly of four sorts: persons of prominence and power; persons of superior intellect and diplomacy; persons of holiness, or at least reputed to be; and persons able to influence those in power.