5月16日 仇敌并不疲倦
仇敌并不疲倦
圣徒的冠冕设在终点，唯有跑到赛程尽头的人，才能得着它。
仇敌的纠缠不休，要求我们必须恒忍到底。魔鬼从不撤退，也绝不宣布休战。若仇敌反复攻城，而守军停止抵抗，胜负就不言自明了。那位被差往伯特利的神人，本已忠心地完成了使命并抵挡了耶罗波安的试探；但在回程途中，他却被老先知引诱偏离，最终惨死于狮子之口（王上 13）。同样，许多人逃过了一个试探，却被另一个试探击垮了。许多神宝贵的仆人，在晚年若没有像起初那样警醒抵挡也会晚节不保，从而悲惨跌倒，正如我们在所罗门、亚撒等人身上所看到的教训。
正如你所知，长时间紧握一件东西，手指难免会发麻，而难以持守。在属灵的事上也是如此。因此，圣经常常劝勉我们要持守所承认的信仰。当我们看见仇敌正虎视眈眈，伺机趁我们疲乏跌倒时下手，我们更应受到激励去加固我们的持守，而非放松戒备。
我们永恒的奖赏与恒忍到底紧密相连。圣徒的冠冕设在终点，唯有跑到赛程尽头的人，才能得着它。基督说：“得胜的，我要赐他在我宝座上与我同坐”（启 3:21）。保罗在写给提摩太的信中说：“那美好的仗我已经打过了……从此以后，有公义的冠冕为我存留”（提后4:7-8）。为何说“从此以后”？难道以前没有存留冠冕吗？不，早已存留了。但如今他既然已经恒忍到底，且已看见家乡在望而预备殉道，他便更能确信并牢牢抓住这应许。的确，从这个意义上说，一个蒙恩的灵魂在每一次得胜之后，都比从前更接近救恩。因为他更接近赛程的终点，那正是领受所应许之救恩的时刻（罗 13:11）。到那时，也唯有到那时，得胜的花冠才会戴在他的头上。
麦琴（麦克谦）读经计划进度
家庭敬拜：民25章，诗68章，
个人灵修：赛15章，彼前3章
MAY 16, SATURDAY
THE ENEMY DOESN’T GROW WEARY
The saint’s crown stands at the goal; he who comes to the end of the race wins it.
The persistence of the enemy requires perseverance. The devil never retreats or declares a truce. If an enemy repeatedly assaults a city and those within cease to resist, you know who will win. The prophet who was sent to Bethel did his errand well and withstood Jeroboam’s temptation. But on his way home he was drawn aside by the old prophet and at last slain by a lion (1 Kings 13). Thus many flee from one temptation, only to be vanquished by another. Many precious servants of God, not making such vigorous resistance in their last days as in their first, have fallen miserably, as we see in Solomon, Asa, and others.
You know it is hard to hold anything in your hand for very long and not have your fingers grow numb. This is also true in a spiritual sense. Therefore, we are frequently admonished to hold fast the profession of our faith. And surely when we see our enemy always keeping watch to catch us when we fall, we will be challenged to strengthen our grip, not loosen it.
Our eternal reward is contingent upon perseverance. The saint’s crown stands at the goal; he who comes to the end of the race wins it. “To him that overcometh will I grant,” says Christ (Revelation 3:21). In his letter to Timothy, Paul said, “I have fought a good fight… henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness” (2 Timothy 4:7–8). Why “henceforth”? Was it not laid up before? Yes, but having persevered and come within sight of home, ready to die, he now takes surer hold of the promise. Indeed, in this sense, a gracious soul is nearer his salvation after every victory than he was before, because he approaches nearer to the end of his race, which is the time for receiving his promised salvation (Romans 8:10). Then, and not until then, the garland will be placed on his head.