5月3日 唯有属天之事长存
唯有属天之事长存
你或许会失去今生一切的慰藉，包括家人与朋友；但若你的财宝安稳地藏在基督里，你依然是一个富足的人。
地上的事物是无法“投保”的。纵然神曾赐福你拥有财富，即使你今日富足，明日也可能贫穷；你昨夜入睡时或许身体还康健，黎明前却可能被病痛甚至死亡夺去。你能采取何种预防措施，来保证没有任何意外摧毁你的家产呢？你能富有到买回健康，或为自己多添一日寿数吗？
圣经将世人比作波涛汹涌的大海。君王与掌权者坐在这海上，他们的生平如同船只漂浮在众人的恩宠之上。然而，依附波浪能有什么保障呢？他们一时被抬举到云霄，转瞬却又坠入深渊。大卫深知世人的恩宠是何等反复无常：以色列人前一刻还说“我们与王有十份”（撒下19:43），下一刻风向便转了，“我们与大卫无分，与耶西的儿子无涉”（撒下20:1-2）。大卫就这样在瞬息之间，被世态的潮汐抛上抛下。
然而，天国是不能震动的国；基督是永不改变的产业。祂的恩典与安慰，是直涌到永生的活水。以色列人因贪欲得来的鹌鹑转眼即逝，但那供应他们信心的磐石却一直随着他们，这磐石就是基督。你或许会失去今生一切的安逸，但若你的财宝在基督里，你就仍是富足的。基督必在你最黑暗的时刻临到你，赐下平安与应许：“不要惧怕死亡，也不要惧怕魔鬼。我要在你身边守候，直到你气绝。我的使者正与我一同等候。当你的灵魂脱离身体的一刻，他们要把你带入天家，安放在我爱的怀中。我必以我宝血所买赎、我爱所成全的永远福乐，亲自养育你。”
麦琴（麦克谦）读经计划进度
家庭敬拜：民10章，诗46-47章，
个人灵修：歌8章，来8章
MAY 3, SUNDAY
ONLY HEAVENLY THINGS LAST
You may lose every temporal comfort, including family and friends, but if your treasure is secure in Christ, you are a rich man still.
Earthly things are uninsurable. Though God may have blessed you with wealth, you could be rich today and poor tomorrow. You could be in good health when you go to bed, but seized by pangs of illness or death before morning. Can you take enough precautions to guarantee that nothing will happen to wipe out your fortune? Can you become rich enough to buy good health or add one day to the span of your years?
Scripture compares the world’s population to a mighty ocean. Kings and rulers sit upon this ocean. As a ship floats upon the waves, so their lives float upon the favor of the multitude. And what kind of security is there in riding the waves? For a while they will be lifted up to the heavens, only to fall down again into the deep. David knew how fickle the world’s preferments are: “We have ten parts in the king,” said the men of Israel (2 Samuel 19:43); and in the very next verse the tide had already turned: “We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse” (2 Samuel 20:1–2). Thus was David tossed up and down, almost in the same breath.
But heaven is a kingdom that cannot be shaken. Christ is an abiding portion which changes not. His graces and comforts are sure waters that spring up into eternal life. The quail that were food for the Israelites’ greed soon ceased, but the rock that was drink for their faith followed them. This rock is Christ. You may lose every temporal comfort, including family and friends, but if your treasure is secure in Christ, you are a rich man still. Christ will come to you in your darkest hour with peace and a promise: “Fear not death nor devils. I will stay right here beside you until you breathe your last breath. My angels are waiting with Me. As soon as your soul is breathed out of your body, they will carry it to heaven and lay it in the bosom of My love. Then I will nourish you with those eternal joys that My blood has purchased and My love has perfected for you.”