2月20日 神使用试探
神使用试探
全能的神坐在魔鬼的议会中，统管其中一切进程，使之最终对圣徒有益。
撒但设下的每一次试探，都是为了尽可能加重圣徒内心的不安，企图夺走他的平安，并让他怀疑自己信仰的真诚。
但神绝不袖手旁观。我们有确实的应许：“耶和华的眼目看顾义人”（诗34:15）。首先，神利用撒但引诱人落入某种罪的试探，来防备另一种罪。全能的神坐在魔鬼的议会中，统管其中一切进程，使之最终对圣徒有益。祂许可魔鬼用某些烦人的试探来搅扰基督徒，因为祂知道这些试探会催逼灵魂进入警醒之中。正如保罗“肉体上的刺”防备了他的骄傲：神任凭撒但攻击保罗最刚强的一面，好叫保罗软弱的地方也同时得到祂的坚固。
第二，神使用“被引诱犯罪”的经历，作为预防未来犯罪的“清泻剂”。彼得在大祭司的院子里否认主之后，才真正胜过了他的自恃之心，他的信心才得到了从未有过的坚固。这个曾在使女的盘问下就退缩的人，后来却在公会和权贵面前，成了勇敢为基督作见证的人。如果你在某次试探中绊跌，甚至陷入罪里，你要效法彼得：借此经历去发现你那根深蒂固的软弱，并采取措施去胜过它。
第三，神使用试探来促进恩典在人心里全方位的做工。一个好丈夫若看见屋顶有一角漏水，就会请人来检查整栋房子；一个好妻子若发现丈夫衬衫上有一处污渍，就会把整件衣服洗净。这种对属灵光景的敏锐关切，将诚实的心与假冒为善的人区别开来，因为假冒为善者的懊悔往往是局部且肤浅的。犹大承认了他在出卖主上的背叛，却对他平时的偷窃与虚伪闭口不提。若他真的悔改，他对这一种罪的忧伤，必会让他为其他的罪也一同心碎。而大卫在一次跌倒后，便更新了他对所有的罪的悔改（见诗51）。
麦琴（麦克谦）读经计划进度
家庭敬拜：出3章，路6章，
个人灵修：伯20章，林前7章
FEBRUARY 20, FRIDAY
GOD USES TEMPTATION
God omnipotent sits in the devil’s council and overrules proceedings there to the saint’s advantage.
Satan designs every temptation to bring as much discomfort as possible to the saint, hoping to rob him of his peace and create self-doubts about his sincerity.
But God does not sit idly by. We have a sure promise that “the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous” (Psalm 34:15). First of all, He uses the temptations of Satan to one sin as a preventive against another. God omnipotent sits in the devil’s council and overrules proceedings there to the saint’s advantage. He allows the devil to annoy the Christian with certain troublesome temptations which He knows will drive the soul to watchfulness. So Paul’s thorn in the flesh prevents his pride. God sent Satan to assault Paul on his strong side so that in the meantime He might fortify the apostle where he was weak.
Second, God uses the temptation to sin as a purgative against future sin. Peter never had such a conquest over his self-confidence, never such an establishment of his faith, as after his denial in the high priest’s hall. This man, who recanted when questioned by a serving maid, became a bold confessor of Christ before councils and rulers. If you should trip over a temptation and fall headlong into sin, do like Peter. Use the experience to discover your prevailing infirmity and take measures to overcome it.
Third, God uses temptation to promote the whole work of grace in the heart. A good husband, seeing the roof leak in one corner, will send for a repairman to check the whole house. And a good wife, finding a stain on her husband’s shirt, will wash the whole garment. This kind of concern for one’s spiritual condition distinguishes a sincere heart from a hypocrite, whose repentance is only partial. Judas confessed his treason, but not a word of his thievery and hypocrisy. If he had been truly repentant, his sorrow for one sin would have broken his heart for the others also. David, when overcome by one sin, renewed his repentance for all (Psalm 51).