6月2日 在危险面前承认真理
在危险面前承认真理
死亡的机器不断运转，炮制出撒但攻击真理认信者的恶谋。
如今我们得着真理的代价很低；但这属灵市场的代价何时会水涨船高，我们无从知晓。真理并不总是以同样低廉的价格摆在我们面前。我们必须不惜任何代价去买真理，却绝不可在任何条件下出卖它。
在邪恶的人心中，逼迫的灵一直存在，且必将存留到世界的末了。正如撒但在对约伯下手之前曾仔细察看他一样，逼迫之灵如今也在不敬虔之人的心中暗暗运行。死亡的机器不断运转，炮制出撒但攻击真理认信者的恶谋。他们心里清楚得很，一旦权柄和机会落入他们手中，他们很清楚将如何实施自己险恶的欲望。
撒但总是先带来错谬的灵，随后便带来逼迫的灵；他先用异端错谬毒害人的心思意念，接着便使他们心中充满对信徒的愤恨。错谬绝不可能带来任何真正的平安；它是地狱所生的孽种，必定与其父（魔鬼）性情相投。凡属地的，既不纯洁，也不和平。神虽容许这如硫磺般的错谬之灵暂时存在，但祂已赐给我们真理的带子作为保护。
然而，并非每一个为真理喝彩的人，都能在真理将他引向监牢时仍紧随其后；也并非每一个传讲真理的人，都甘愿为真理受苦。口头辩论是无伤大雅的，不过是未开刃的钝器，不见血。但当我们受苦时，我们是被呼召与真理的仇敌近战肉搏。这所需要的，远不仅是犀利的言辞和严密的逻辑。到那时，那些只擅长口头争辩的人将在哪里呢？他们会现出懦弱逃兵的原形，尽管在没有敌人的操练场上，他们曾表现得如同身披勋章的勇士一般神气。在那样的情形下，站在真理这边只是意味着名誉和奖赏，毫无危险，也没有死亡的威胁。但在真正的属灵争战中，神拣选了世上愚拙的，叫有智慧的羞愧——就是那谦卑的基督徒，凭着他的信心、忍耐和对真理的爱，使那些地位显赫却毫无恩典的人蒙羞。
麦琴（麦克谦）读经计划进度
家庭敬拜：申6章，诗89章，
个人灵修：赛34章，启4章
JUNE 2, TUESDAY
PROFESSING OF TRUTH IN THE FACE OF DANGER
Engines of death continually grind out the thoughts of Satan against professing believers of truth.
We have the truth at a cheap rate now; but how soon the market may rise we do not know. Truth is not always available at the same price. We must buy it at any cost but sell it on no terms.
There has always been, and always will be to the end of the world, a spirit of persecution in wicked hearts. And even as Satan researched Job before he laid his hands on him, persecution is working now in the spirits of the ungodly. Engines of death continually grind out the thoughts of Satan against professing believers of truth. They already know exactly what they will do if power and opportunity are provided for them to carry out their sinister desires.
Satan comes first with a spirit of error and then of persecution; he poisons men’s minds with error and then fills their hearts with anger against believers. It is impossible for error to bring any kind of peace; it is a brat of hell that must favor its father. Whatever comes from below can be neither pure nor peaceable. God has let this sulfurous spirit of error remain but He has given us a girdle of truth for protection.
But not everyone who applauds truth will follow it when it leads him to prison. And not everyone who preaches it is willing to suffer for it. Arguments are harmless things—blunt weapons which bring no blood. But when we suffer we are called to fight with the enemies of truth. And this requires more than a sharp tongue and logical brain. Where will disputers be then? They will appear like cowardly soldiers, who, in basic training when no enemy was in sight, seemed to be as brave as decorated heroes. To be on truths side then meant only recognition and reward, not danger and death. But God has chosen the foolish to confound the wise in this service—the humble Christian, by his faith, patience, and love for truth—to shame men of high standing and no grace.