2月5日 瞄准有影响力的人
瞄准有影响力的人
身为领袖，你的一言一行都举足轻重。因为人们往往会减少对自我的省察，转而注视着你，以你为标杆来定步调、立规矩。
撒但仅仅偏爱那些有权势、有才智的人吗？不，他也热衷于笼络那些享有“圣洁名声”的人。有什么比用一只活鸟作诱饵，更能引诱别的鸟儿入网呢？这就是撒但的诡诈之处——也是我们中间最优秀的人表现出的软弱——连最圣洁的人也曾沦为牠的“诱饵”，被用来网罗他人。那位伟大的族长亚伯拉罕就曾引诱撒拉说谎：“求你说，你是我的妹子”（创12:13）。伯特利的老先知也曾误导了那位神人离弃正路；这正是因为老先知过往敬虔的生活，以及岁月积淀下的威望，使他的错误建议显得极具权威（王上 13:18）。
若你是一位在主道上追求已久、大有长进，且在教会中享有美名的人，你更当如履薄冰。身为领袖，你的一言一行都举足轻重。因为人们往往会减少对自我的省察，转而注视着你，以你为标杆来定步调、立规矩。
撒但也会挑选那些能左右掌权者的人。牠若能将一个人的家人或挚友拉拢过去，就能轻而易举地接近牠真正意欲猎取的对象。有人认为，这正是撒但为何留下约伯妻子的原因——好借她之手给约伯递上那杯毒酒：“你弃掉神，死了吧！”我们也知道，大卫绝不会接受拿八的羞辱，却听从了亚比该的劝诫。撒但处心积虑想借夏娃的手将禁果递给亚当，借大利拉之手让参孙遭遇惨败，牠甚至企图利用门徒彼得来试探基督。许多殉道者曾坦言，他们一生最艰难的争战，并非面对酷刑，而是要胜过亲友的眼泪与苦劝。保罗也曾表达过这种撕裂感，他说：“你们为什么这样痛哭，使我心碎呢？我为主耶稣的名，不但被人捆绑，就是死在耶路撒冷也是愿意的。”（徒21:13）
麦琴（麦克谦）读经计划进度
家庭敬拜：创38章，可8章，
个人灵修：伯4章，罗8章
FEBRUARY 5, THURSDAY
TARGETING PERSONS OF INFLUENCE
What you say and do, because you are a leader, causes others to look less to themselves and more to you to set the pace and make the rules.
Does Satan prefer the company of persons of power and intellect? He also delights to entertain those who have a reputation for holiness. What works as well as a live bird to draw others into the net? Such is the craft of Satan—and the frailty of the best among us—that the holiest men have been his bait to snare others. That great patriarch Abraham tempted Sarah to lie: “Tell them you are my sister!” (Genesis 12:13). The old prophet of Bethel led the man of God out of his way, the holiness of the prophet’s life and the reverence of his age lending authority to his counsel (1 Kings 13:18).
Oh, how this should make you watchful if you are one whose long travel and great progress in the ways of God have gained you a name of eminence in the church! What you say and do, because you are a leader, causes others to look less to themselves and more to you to set the pace and make the rules.
Satan chooses persons able to influence those in power. If he can win family or friends to his side, he has easy access to the real object of his desire. Some think this is why he spared Job’s wife—so he could send by her own hands his cup of poison: “Curse God and die!” We know David would not have received from Nabal what he took from Abigail. Satan thought to send the apple to Adam by Eve’s hand; he sent defeat to Samson by Delilah. And he used Peter, a disciple, to tempt Christ. Some martyrs have confessed that their hardest work was to overcome the prayers and tears of their friends and relatives. Paul himself expressed these same feelings when he said, “What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? For I am ready, not to be bound only but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 21:13).