2月21日 撒但败坏圣徒的意图
撒但败坏圣徒的意图
如果你在试探中跌倒，暂时落在撒但的辖制之下，你就会亲身体会到牠是个何等邪恶的监工。
撒但在某位圣徒心中种下试探，指望它开花结果化为罪行，并盼望这罪的种子借着“随波逐流”的风或“灰心丧志”的风，飘散到其他人的心里。牠的目的是要让人要么因见到反面榜样而放胆犯罪，要么因见到圣徒失足的丑闻而在属灵道路上灰心退后。
然而，神总是再一次戏弄了撒但：神使这些罪成了及时的警钟，提醒其他人省察自己的光景。当你看见连极其谦和的摩西也会被激怒，你就会更加警觉，你会在自己那不受约束的心里，更加谨慎地提防这些会掐灭灵命的杂草！
神也借此安慰受苦的圣徒：神让他们看见，一些祂最宝贵的儿女在通往天家的路上，也曾走过崎岖坎坷。你的良心是否因罪而惶恐不安？你的灵魂是否因撒但使你相信“你已无药可救、毫无赦免的希望”而忧伤欲绝？那些最伟大的圣徒们的生平，就是对撒但针对你的控告最无可辩驳的回击。大卫的罪虽重，但他仍蒙怜恤；彼得曾否认主，但他如今却在天上。神爱你难道会比爱他们更少吗？祂岂不是应许要“靠近伤心的人，拯救灵性痛悔的人”吗（诗 34:18）？
神使用撒但的攻击还有一种方式，就是将它变作训练圣徒的操练场。一个历经严峻试炼的圣徒，往往是装备得最好的人选，最适宜去扶助其他受苦的人。最优秀的教官不是坐在办公桌后面发号施令的将军，而是曾在前线浴血奋战的老兵。因此，在这里你要竭力操练信心，你所有的恩典都将被征召投入战斗。如果你在试探中跌倒，暂时落在撒但的辖制之下，你就会亲身体会到牠是个何等邪恶的监工。牠一手紧握着铁杖，一手挥舞着残忍的皮鞭，企图将所有在牠辖制之下的人都驱赶进地狱。但神诚实的儿女在犯罪并感受到撒但鞭挞的刺痛时，也知道如何逃脱——他要奔向神的话语，奔向神自己，并顺服圣灵温柔的抚慰与引导。
麦琴（麦克谦）读经计划进度
家庭敬拜：出4章，路7章，
个人灵修：伯21章，林前8章
FEBRUARY 21, SATURDAY
SATAN’S INTENTION TO DEFILE SAINTS
If you fall to temptation and come under Satan’s rule for a time, you learn what an evil taskmaster he is.
Satan plants temptation in one saint, hoping it will blossom into sin and its seeds will be carried to other hearts by the winds of conformity or disillusionment so that they are either encouraged to sin by example, or discouraged in their own walk by the scandal.
God once again fools Satan, by making such sins a seasonable warning to others to look to their standing. When you see a meek Moses provoked to anger, you keep more careful watch for such chokeweeds in your own unruly heart!
God also comforts His afflicted saints by showing them what a rocky road some of His dearest children traveled on their way to heaven. Is your conscience distressed by your sin? Is your soul grief-stricken because Satan has convinced you there is no hope of pardon? The lives of some of the greatest saints are an indisputable rebuttal to Satan’s accusations against you. David’s sins were great, yet he found mercy. Peter denied his faith, yet he is now in heaven. Does God love you any less than them? Has He not promised to pardon all who are of a contrite heart (Psalm 34:18)?
Another way God uses Satan’s attacks is as a training ground for His saints. The saint who has been severely tested is best equipped to help other suffering saints. The best drill sergeant is not the general behind the desk but the man who has served in the front line of battle. So here you put your faith to work in earnest; all your graces are called into action. If you fall to temptation and come under Satan’s rule for a time, you learn what an evil taskmaster he is. He wields an iron rod in one hand and a cruel lash in the other, with which he intends to drive all his subjects to hell. But the sincere child of God, when he sins and feels the sting of Satan’s whip, knows how to escape. He runs to the Word and to God Himself. And he yields to the kind ministrations of the Spirit.