4月18日 骄傲的毒药
骄傲的毒药
撒但比谁都清楚，骄傲有着怎样叫人沉沦的力量。既然如此，牠常利用骄傲来毒害圣徒，也就不足为奇了。
撒但在圣徒中间散布的第二类错误，就是骄傲。骄傲正是那将蒙福的天使变为受咒诅之魔鬼的罪。撒但比谁都清楚，骄傲有着怎样叫人沉沦的力量。既然如此，牠常利用骄傲来毒害圣徒，也就不足为奇了。更何况，由于人心的堕落，天然就对骄傲有一种偏爱，这正中牠的下怀。骄傲如同烈酒，极具迷惑性。只要吞下几口，通常就足以叫一个人在神面前变得毫无用处。
骄傲最险恶的一点在于：它既能驾驭我们里面较好的倾向，也能利用那些恶念来为它拉车；同时，它极擅长与其他的罪同流合污。事实上，有无数的罪从早到晚劳碌工作，自以为是在为主作工，殊不知始终只是骄傲所雇佣的短工。当你看见一个人在欺诈、诡诈、谎言或压迫他人时，他的动机是什么呢？不正是为了积攒产业，好维持他那不可一世的骄傲吗？
比与明显的邪恶结盟更糟糕的是，这无赖般的骄傲竟然还会把自己套在美善的事上，与神的条例并肩而行。于是，我们看见一个人在祷告上表现得极其热忱，在聚会中显得格外忠心，便以为他是一位大有能力的圣徒；但其实，他所服事的主人始终是骄傲，只不过是披着“神仆人”的外衣罢了。骄傲能够躲进最圣洁的行动里，藏在美德的衣襟下。因此，当你听闻有人慷慨周济穷人而深感敬佩时，他那样大方地撒钱，其原因可能并非出于怜悯，而是出于骄傲。
另一个人也许坚定地抵挡一切恶事，因而被尊为模范基督徒；但在这一切背后，推动他谨慎行事的可能并非内心真实的敬畏，而是骄傲。法利赛人便是如此：他炫耀自己的属灵，夸口自己不像那个税吏。对于这类骄傲，基督仅用寥寥数语，就已清楚表明了祂的厌弃。
麦琴（麦克谦）读经计划进度
家庭敬拜：利22章，诗28-29章，
个人灵修：传5章，提后1章
APRIL 18, SATURDAY
THE POISON OF PRIDE
Satan knows better than anyone the damning power of pride. Is it any wonder, then, that he so often uses it to poison the saints?
A second type of error Satan sows among saints is pride. Pride was the sin that turned Satan, a blessed angel, into a cursed devil. Satan knows better than anyone the damning power of pride. Is it any wonder, then, that he so often uses it to poison the saints? His design is made easier in that man’s heart shows a natural fondness for it. Pride, like liquor, is intoxicating. A swallow or two usually leaves a man worthless to God.
One of the perilous things about pride is that it uses both our good and our bad inclinations to draw its chariot. On the other hand, it works companionably with other sins. In fact, a multitude of sins will slave all day long and into the night, supposing they are their own masters, when all along they are the hirelings of pride. Watch someone cheating, deceiving, lying, oppressing others. What is his motive, if not to acquire an estate to maintain his pride?
Even worse than teaming up with other sorts of wickedness, this rascal pride will also harness itself to that which is good, and work alongside Gods ordinances. When this happens, we see a person zealous in prayer or faithful in church attendance, and suppose him to be a mighty saint. But all the while pride is the master he serves, though in God’s livery. Pride can take sanctuary in the holiest of actions and hide itself under the very skirt of virtue. Thus you may hear of someone giving generously to the poor, and be moved to admire his charity. Yet pride—not compassion—may be the reason he lavishes out his gold so freely.
Another may steadfastly resist every appearance of evil and be respected as a model Christian. And all the while, pride—not true heart conviction—may be the promoter of his circumspect walk. This was the case with the Pharisee, who flaunted his spirituality and bragged because he was not like the publican. Christ showed us in a word or two how He felt about that kind of pride!