2月19日 神给撒但设下的界限
神给撒但设下的界限
当撒但试探圣徒时，牠不过是在充当神的差役；保罗把他肉体上的刺称为“撒但的差役”（林后12:7）。
若非神许可，魔鬼就不能试探任何人。基督进入旷野时，引导祂的不是邪灵，而是圣灵（太4:1）。所发生的一切都在神的许可之下；那位引导基督进入战场的圣灵，也同样带领祂凯旋而归。我们看到，基督一击退撒但，立刻就“满有圣灵的能力”回到加利利（路4:14）。
当撒但试探圣徒时，牠不过是在充当神的差役；保罗把他肉体上的刺称为“撒但的差役”（林后12:7）另一个译法可作“撒但这个差役”，暗示这位使者是神差派到保罗那里的。的确，撒但所承办的这差事太好 了，绝不可能是撒但自己的目的，因为保罗亲口说，这刺是为了让他保持谦卑。那个引诱人犯罪的试探者绝不想给保罗带来这样的益处，但神许可牠去，为要成就神自己神圣的旨意。魔鬼及其帮凶，最终都成了神的工具；我们最明智的选择，就是让神亲自去挥动或驾驭这些工具。
任凭路西弗（撒但）选择牠的手段，神在每一种武器上都足以与牠匹敌：若牠借着逼迫攻击圣徒，神必抵挡牠；若牠用诡诈行事，神也早已在那里严阵以待。对神而言，魔鬼以及牠的整个议会不过是一群愚拙之众。罪恶中的狡诈与诡计越多，牠的下场就越惨，因为那是用来对抗全智之神的——而神绝不可能被算计。正如保罗所说：“因神的愚拙总比人智慧”（林前1:25）。神在祂仆人微不足道的讲道中所彰显的智慧，远胜过撒但深沉的阴谋；神在祂无知儿女身上彰显的智慧，远胜过撒但在亚希多弗或参巴拉身上彰显的诡诈；“祂破坏狡猾人的计谋”（伯5:12）。神在追讨圣徒仇敌的过程中显明智慧，也为圣徒最终的拯救增添了一份甘甜。当神将法老从所有的巢穴和藏身之处狼狈赶出后，祂击碎了那恶王计谋的“核心脑髓”，并将其作为得胜的战利品呈现在祂百姓面前。
麦琴（麦克谦）读经计划进度
家庭敬拜：出2章，路5章，
个人灵修：伯19章，林前6章
FEBRUARY 19, THURSDAY
THE LIMITS GOD PLACES UPON SATAN
When Satan tempts a saint, he is only serving as God’s messenger. Paul called his thorn in the flesh “the messenger of Satan” (2 Corinthians 12:7).
The devil may not tempt anyone unless God allows it. When Christ went into the wilderness, He was led, not by an evil spirit, but by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 4:1). All that transpired was by God’s permission. And the same Holy Spirit that led Christ into the field brought Him off with victory. As soon as He had repulsed Satan, we see Him marching into Galilee in the power of the Holy Ghost (Luke 4:14).
When Satan tempts a saint, he is only serving as God’s messenger. Paul called his thorn in the flesh “the messenger of Satan” (2 Corinthians 12:7). Another translation reads “the messenger Satan,” implying that the messenger was sent by God to Paul. Indeed, the errand he came on was too good to be Satan’s own, for Paul himself says it was to keep him humble. This tempter to sin never meant to do Paul such a service, but God let him go to Paul to accomplish His own divine will. The devil and his instruments are both God’s instruments. We will be well advised to let God alone to wield the one and handle the other.
Let Lucifer choose his way; God is a match for him at every weapon. If he assaults the saint by persecution, God will oppose him. If he works by a subtlety, God is ready there also. The devil and his whole council are mere fools to God. The more wit and craft in sin, the worse, because it is employed against an all-wise God who cannot be outwitted. In Paul’s words, “The foolishness of God is wiser than men” (1 Corinthians 1:25). God is wiser in His creatures’ weak sermons than Satan is in his deep plots; wiser in His ignorant children than Satan in his Ahithophels and Sanballats. “[God] disappointeth the devices of the crafty” (Job 5:12). By displaying His wisdom in pursuing the saints’ enemies, God adds a sweet relish to their ultimate deliverance. After He had hunted Pharaoh out of all his lairs and burrows, He broke the very brains of that wicked ruler’s plots and served them up to His people.