5月26日 要恒切警醒
要恒切警醒
我深信，圣徒何时停止警醒，魔鬼便何时开始试探。因此，你务要恒切警醒；否则，你必面临失去一切的危险。
我们在这世上的一生，从始至终，岂不正如充满试探的黑夜吗？基督徒啊，在这黑暗中，务要确保你守望的灯盏不致熄灭，免得仇敌趁你不备将你掳掠，这是何等要紧的事。你若陷入属灵的沉睡，便成了牠倾泻忿怒的活靶子。你大可确信，若你任由睡意胜过了自己，魔鬼定会察觉。牠知道使徒们沉睡的时刻，想要得着他们，好筛他们像筛麦子一样（路22:31）。正派人安眠入睡之时，正是盗贼起身作案之刻。我深信，圣徒何时停止警醒，魔鬼便何时开始试探。因此，你务要恒切警醒；否则，你必面临失去一切的危险。
有些基督徒曾因严重跌倒犯罪而受损，于是在一段时间内，他们会谨言慎行，对于当行的路和结交的伴侣也格外小心。然而，随着良心的刺痛渐渐消退，他们便忘了继续守望，又变得如从前般疏忽大意。正如一个刚遭抢劫的店主，会极为谨慎地锁好店铺；他甚至可能连熬几个夜晚看守，但随着时日推移，他便放松了警惕，最终将此事抛诸脑后。
约瑟夫在《犹太古史》中告诉我们，洪水过后的头几年，挪亚的子孙只敢住在高山之巅，生怕再被洪荒吞噬，绝不敢在低洼处建造房屋。但随着时光流逝，洪水不再泛滥，他们便冒险下到了示拿地。在那里，他们先前的敬畏与恐惧荡然无存，取而代之的是人类历史上最狂妄、最傲慢的抵挡神之举——他们试图建造一座塔，塔顶通天（创11:2-4）。正是这群人，起初因惧怕溺亡而不敢下山，最后却胆大包天地筹划在低处建塔，妄图以此抵挡在未来天上之神将对他们施行的任何审判。
麦琴（麦克谦）读经计划进度
家庭敬拜：民35章，诗79章，
个人灵修：赛27章，约壹5章
MAY 26, TUESDAY
WATCH CONSTANTLY
The devil, I am sure, begins to tempt when saints cease to watch. So be consistent in your watchfulness; otherwise you stand to lose everything.
What is our life in this world from beginning to end but a dark night of temptation? Christian, it is so very important to make sure your sentry lamp does not go out in this darkness, and your enemy catch you unawares. If you drift off into spiritual slumber, you are an easy mark for his wrath. And you may be sure if you do let sleep overtake you, the devil will hear of it. He knew the apostles’ sleeping time and desired to sift them like wheat (Luke 22:31). A thief is just getting up when honest men are going to bed. The devil, I am sure, begins to tempt when saints cease to watch. So be consistent in your watchfulness; otherwise you stand to lose everything.
Some Christians, having been injured by a serious fall into sin, will be very careful for a while as to where they walk and the kind of company they keep. But as the soreness of their consciences wears off, they forget to keep watch and become as careless as ever. A shopkeeper who has just been robbed is very careful to lock up his store thoroughly. He may even stay up late to watch it for several nights, but as time passes he relaxes his guard and at last gives it no further attention.
Josephus, in his Antiquities, tells us that the sons of Noah lived only on the tops of high mountains for some years after the flood, not daring to build houses on lower ground for fear of being drowned by another deluge. But as time passed and no flood came, they ventured down into the plain of Shinar where their former fear gave way to one of the boldest, most arrogant attempts against God that man ever pursued. They tried to build a tower high enough to reach heaven (Genesis 11:2–4). The very men who at first were so fearful of drowning that they would not venture down the hill, at last ventured on a plan to protect themselves against all future attempts from the God of heaven to judge them.