6月1日 勇敢承认你的信仰
勇敢承认你的信仰
因此，我们绝不可在风平浪静时扬起信仰告白的风帆，却在刚起风时就将它匆匆收起。
当一个人从天上得着圣洁的胆量，拔出圣灵的宝剑，在死亡面前坦然无惧地承认那直白赤裸的真理时，他就成了不可战胜的人。这就是“用真理当作带子束腰”的真意。
你要持守对真理坚定的认信。使徒郑重地将此教导勉励众基督徒说：“也要坚守我们所承认的指望，不至摇动”（来10:23）。保罗曾责备那些因惧怕逼迫而停止与圣徒聚会的人，因为他深知，在属灵上如此摇摆不定的人，离背道仅有一步之遥。因此，我们绝不可在风平浪静时扬起信仰告白的风帆，却在刚起风时就将它匆匆收起。
别迦摩教会因其勇敢的信仰告白而备受称赞：“我知道你的居所，就是有撒但座位之处；当我忠心的见证人安提帕在你们中间、撒但所住的地方被杀之时，你还坚守我的名，没有弃绝我的道。”（启2:13）那是一个欺骗者坐在审判席上的时代，基督徒动辄被判处死刑。鲜血就在他们眼前流淌，但这并没有使他们否认基督为他们流出宝血的真理。
保罗也严肃地嘱咐提摩太，要坚定地承认真理：“但你这属神的人要逃避这些事，追求公义、敬虔、信心、爱心、忍耐、温柔。”（提前6:11）当你周围的人都在狂热地追逐世界时，你要以同等的热切去追寻属灵的财富。
然而，如果追求公义这条路无法太平地走下去呢？我们是否就该关门歇业，将信仰见证束之高阁，等到顺境重临再来追求圣洁呢？保罗给出的答案是：“为真道打那美好的仗”（提前6:12）。千万不要放弃你对真理的认信，而要将自己的生命摆上，去捍卫它。
麦琴（麦克谦）读经计划进度
家庭敬拜：申5章，诗88章，
个人灵修：赛33章，启3章
JUNE 1, MONDAY
BOLDLY PROFESS YOUR FAITH
We must not, then, spread our sails of profession in a calm but fold them up as soon as the wind starts to rise.
A person becomes unconquerable when he is empowered with a holy boldness from heaven to draw forth the sword of the Spirit and embrace the naked truth by freely professing it in the face of death. This is to have our “loins girt about with truth.”
Maintain a steadfast profession of truth. The apostle pressed this instruction upon all Christians when he said: “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering” (Hebrews 10:23). Paul spoke against those who avoided assembling together with saints for fear of persecution, for he believed men who staggered spiritually like this stood next door to apostasy. We must not, then, spread our sails of profession in a calm but fold them up as soon as the wind starts to rise.
Pergamos was commended for her bold profession: “I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you” (Revelation 2:13). It was a time when the deceiver sat in the judge’s seat and Christians often drew a sentence of death. Blood was spilled right before their eyes but it did not make them deny the truth of Christ’s blood given for them.
Paul delivered a strict charge to Timothy concerning a steadfast profession of truth: “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness” (1 Timothy 6:11). While people all around you aim at the world, run after spiritual riches with a chase as hot as theirs.
But what if this business of seeking righteousness cannot be transacted peaceably? Should we close up shop, put our profession on the shelf and postpone holiness until favorable times have come again? Paul’s solution is to “fight the good fight of faith” (v. 12). Do not abandon your profession of truth but put your life on the line to keep it.