3月4日 我们是属血气的
我们是属血气的
人的灵魂虽由神创造，却因堕落而全然败坏，降服于感官私欲。因此，圣经不再称其为属灵的，而将其看作丧失了生命功能的“血气之辈”。
“我们并不是与属血气的争战”（弗6:12）——也就是说，我们的对手并非世人。耶稣曾说：“魂无骨无肉，……”（路24:39）按此解读，你首先要留意圣灵在提及“人”时是何等轻看它的价值；其次要留意圣灵将圣徒争战的重心放在何处——不在于抵挡凡夫俗子，乃在于与灵界那看不见的执政掌权者争战。
首先请注意，圣灵将人贬抑为“血气”。人本有属天的灵魂，使其与天使同类，甚至在受造秩序中与神相通。但此处对此却避而不谈，仿佛神不愿承认那已被罪玷污、不再具有起初受造样式的受造物。人的灵魂虽由神创造，却因堕落而全然败坏，降服于感官私欲。因此，圣经不再称其为属灵的，而将其看作丧失了生命功能的“血气之辈”。这是圣灵用来形容受造物全然无能的词。例如：“埃及人不过是人，并不是神；他们的马不过是血肉，并不是灵。”（赛31:3）意即软弱无力。相反，当神要强调大能与力量时，祂就将其与“属血气”的对照：“我们争战的兵器本不是属血气的，乃是在神面前有能力”（林后10:4）
这该使你何等谦卑！你平日引以为荣的这副“皮囊”，其实离污秽与败坏仅一步之遥。若不是你那蒙赎的灵魂如同“盐”一般保存着你，你活在地上早已臭不可闻。你因美貌而自负吗？那不过是虚空的虚空！岁月的犁刀很快就会在你脸上耕出深沟；又或者一场疾病就能摧毁你的气色，以致那些曾迷恋你的人都厌恶看你一眼。
你夸口自己的力气吗？唉，那不过是正伸出来就会枯干的血气之臂。不久，你那温热的血便会在血管里变得冰冷；骨髓要干涸，筋腱要萎缩，你那双腿也会在孱弱身体的重压下颤抖弯曲。
麦琴（麦克谦）读经计划进度
家庭敬拜：出15章，路18章，
个人灵修：伯33章，林后3章
MARCH 4, WENDESDAY
WE ARE “FLESH AND BLOOD”
The soul, though of divine extraction, is so immersed in sensuality that it deserves no other name than flesh.
We wrestle not with flesh and blood”—that is, not with other men. “Handle me, and see,” Jesus said, “for a spirit hath not flesh …” (Luke 24:39). Now according to this interpretation, observe first of all how scornfully the Holy Spirit speaks of man, and second, where He lays the stress of the saint’s battle: not in resisting flesh and blood, but in combating principalities and powers in the unseen world of spirits.
First of all, note that the Spirit reduces man to flesh and blood Man has a heaven-born soul, which makes him kin to angels, and what is more, kin to God. But this is passed by in silence, as if God would not own that which is tainted with sin and no longer the creature as He first made it. The soul, though of divine extraction, is so immersed in sensuality that it deserves no other name than flesh to express its weakness and frailty. It is the word the Holy Ghost uses to express the impotence of a creature. For example, “They are men, and their horses are flesh”—that is, weak (Isaiah 31:3). On the contrary, when God wishes to emphasize the power and strength of a thing, He contrasts it to the flesh: “Our weapons are not carnal, but mighty” (2 Corinthians 10:4).
How this should humble you! The flesh, which you so often glory in, is but one step from filth and corruption. Your redeemed soul is the salt that preserves you, or else you would stink above ground. Are you proud of your beauty? It is the vanity of vanities! How soon will time’s plow make furrows in your face, or illness so change your complexion that your doting lovers will abhor to look at you!
Is it strength you boast of? Alas, it is an arm of flesh that withers while you stretch it forth. Soon your blood, which is now warm, will freeze in your veins. Your marrow will dry in your bones, your sinews shrink, and your legs bow under the weight of your puny body.