4月11日 神藉着撒但显明人的罪
神藉着撒但显明人的罪
即便是最真诚的慈善家，或最热心的道德改革者，其内心也潜藏着与魔鬼同样的败坏种子，以及作恶的可能。
如果一个人拿自己的善行去与他人比较，并因觉得自己还算不错而自满，也就是说，他不像邻舍那样明显地刻薄或卑劣，他就以为自己能够通过神的察验。然而，在圣灵使这样的人为自己需要基督而知罪以前，他必须先认同神对他本相的评价：即他一切的义都不过像“污秽的衣服”（赛64:6）。若他能看清那源源不断供应外在行为的泉源本身是何等污秽，或许就能更深刻地明白自己内在的邪恶。
你能在脑海中勾勒出撒但那种可怖、畸形且骇人的邪恶程度吗？若能，你就对每一个人潜藏的邪恶本性有了一点认识。即便是最真诚的慈善家，或最热心的道德改革者，其内心也潜藏着与魔鬼同样的败坏种子，以及作恶的可能。若他的本相尚未完全显露，那仅仅是因为神普遍恩典的拦阻仍在发挥作用。因为，在你于基督里被造成新造的人以前，你原本就属于蛇的族类；它的种子就在你里面。而魔鬼所生的，只会像它自己。
罪人哪，若你今生在地上尚未完全长成撒但的样式，那么你在地狱里必然会如此。在那里的火焰中，遮掩你真面目的彩饰将被洗尽，显露出你最真实的本相。在天上，众圣徒在敏捷、爱心和对神的忠心上，要像天使一样；而在地狱里，被定罪的人在罪恶与刑罚上，也要像魔鬼一样。在你试图用“出发点是好的”来为自己开脱以前，当知道：若你的心是好的，那么魔鬼的心也该是好的了！牠的本性是邪恶的，你的本性也是如此。你以为那些微不足道的瑕疵，其实是你内在致命疾疾的征兆。若没有福音的良药，就是基督的宝血，亲自施展在你身上，你终必像大麻风病人一样死去。罪是一种遗传性的顽疾，且随岁月的增长而愈发老练：年轻的罪人若不悔改，终必成为老练的魔鬼。而这种病总会代代相传。
麦琴（麦克谦）读经计划进度
家庭敬拜：利15章，诗18章，
个人灵修：箴29章，帖后3章
APRIL 11, SATURDAY
GOD USES SATAN TO CONVICT
The most sincere philanthropist or moral crusader has within him the same seeds of corruption, the same potential for wickedness as the devil himself
If the measure of a man’s own good works compares favorably to everyone else’s—i.e., if they are not noticeably meaner or viler than his neighbor’s—he thinks he can pass God’s inspection. Before the Holy Spirit can convict such a person of his need of Christ, he must agree with God that all his righteousness is but filthy rags. It may help him understand his own wickedness if he sees how utterly polluted the spring is that incessantly feeds it.
Can you somehow get a mental picture of the monstrous intensity of Satan’s wickedness? Then you have an idea of every man’s potential for evil. The finest human being—the most sincere philanthropist or moral crusader—has within him the same seeds of corruption, the same potential for wickedness as the devil himself. If his true nature has not yet shown through, it is because God’s grace is intervening. For until you are made a new creature in Christ, you are of the same brood as the Serpent; his seed is in you. And the devil can only beget a child like himself.
Sinner, if you do not blossom into Satan’s likeness here on earth, you can be sure you will in hell. There the flames will wash off the paint that hides your true complexion. In heaven, the saints will be like the angels in alacrity, love, and constancy to God; in hell, the damned will be like the devils, in sin as well as in punishment. Before you excuse yourself by claiming “good intentions,” know this. If your heart is good, then so is the devil’s! His nature is wicked, and so is yours! The blemishes which you think are so small and insignificant are symptoms of a deadly disease within. Without Gospel medicine—the blood of Christ—applied to you personally, you will die a leper. Sin is a hereditary disease that increases with age: a young sinner will be an old devil. And the malady is always passed on to the next generation.