5月10日 今生的思虑
今生的思虑
若我们任由它们存在，这世界的思虑就会跟随我们进入祷告的密室，紧贴我们的灵魂，使我们的祷告与默想带着一种陈腐的、属地的气息。
你与神交通时，你的心是否仍领受着同样丰盛的属灵滋养？这种交通本应坚固你的信心与顺服。还是说，你虽听道、祷告，却再也找不着遵行应许的力量，也没有胜过试探的能力？当你刚从与主相交的山上下来，就立刻打破了神律法的法版，这是何等羞辱主！在与祂的交通中得不着信心与力量的更新，是属灵衰退的明显记号。
我们很容易让工作与家庭的责任，使我们的灵性光景不复从前。若我们任由它们存在，这世界的思虑就会跟随我们进入祷告的密室，紧贴我们的灵魂，使我们的祷告与默想带着一种陈腐的、属地的气息。
使人被今生思虑压倒的一种方式，就是过分看重今世的产业。也许你劳苦工作却得不到相应的酬劳，或者你忠心讲道却少有人认可。当你初信基督时，你唯一关心的是更多认识基督；地位与名望对你而言毫无意义，对人生的失望反而使你更亲近神。但如今，你心中对世界财富与尊荣的渴求却不断驱使着你。你何等急切地需要恩典的复兴！若你少花心力去经营地上的“账目”，多花时间祷告以增进恩典的储备，你很快就会发现，你的灵魂会在神的护理中得着平安。
基督徒的军装有两种受损方式：第一，是遭受猛烈的攻击，即你被试探胜过而陷入罪中；第二，是因疏忽而逐渐损坏，即你忽略了那些如同油脂般保养军装、使其保持光亮的属灵本分。因此，请省察究竟是什么原因导致了你的软弱，很可能这两种因素都在同时作祟。
麦琴（麦克谦）读经计划进度
家庭敬拜：民19章，诗56-57章，
个人灵修：赛8章，雅2章
MAY 10, SUNDAY
THE CARES OF THIS LIFE
If we let them, the cares of this world will follow us into our prayer closets and cleave to our spirits, giving a stale, earthly odor to our prayers and meditations.
Does your heart still receive the same generous portions of spiritual nourishment when you go to commune with God? This communion should strengthen both your faith and your obedience. Or do you listen and pray, but no longer find strength to keep a promise or power to win over temptation? How you dishonor the Lord when you come down from the mount of communion and break the tables of His law as soon as you are off the place! To find no renewed faith and no renewed strength in your communion with Him is a sure sign of spiritual decline.
How easy it is to let the responsibilities of job and family leave us in a less spiritual frame of mind than we once possessed. If we let them, the cares of this world will follow us into our prayer closets and cleave to our spirits, giving a stale, earthly odor to our prayers and meditations.
One way to become weighed down by the cares of this life is to put too much stock in your worldly estate. Perhaps you work diligently but receive little remuneration, or you preach and receive little recognition. When you first became a Christian, all you cared about was getting to know Christ better. Estate and rank meant nothing to you, and life’s disappointments only drew you closer to God. But now, this hankering of your heart after the world’s treasures and esteem drives you relentlessly. How urgently you need to have your grace restored! If you will labor less to promote your earthly account and pray harder to improve your fund of grace, you will soon find your soul at peace with God’s providence.
The Christian’s armor becomes damaged in two ways. The first is by violent assault—when you are overcome by temptation to sin. The second is by neglect—when you fail to perform those duties which, like oil, keep your armor polished and shining. So inquire which has been the cause, it is likely the two agents have concurred.