6月11日 纯全使灵魂甘心乐意
6月11日 纯全使灵魂甘心乐意
即使我们竭尽全力仍以失败告终，但在神面前，甘心乐意便被视为成功。
纯全的心与乐意的心总是紧密相连的。大卫曾劝勉他的儿子所罗门说：“你当认识耶和华你父的神，诚心乐意地侍奉祂。”（代上28:9）虚假的心总是尽可能拖延当尽的本分，只有在管教的杖下才勉强作工，这样的工作自然得不到什么称赞。但纯全的人却随时预备好承担责任。即使缺乏技巧与能力，他依然热切满怀。这种甘心好比停在人手上的猎鹰；一旦看见猎物，便立刻振翅欲飞，若不是被系绳拉住，早已冲向前方。
圣经说利未人“诚心自洁，胜于祭司”（代下29:34）。为什么呢？因为他们更甘心乐意地作工。当王发出改革的命令时，利未人立刻起来，“洁净自己”（代下29:15）。
改革之路宛如结冰的险途，胆怯者总希望别人先把路踩实了，自己才敢涉足其上。但纯全的人乃是由更上等的金属铸就的，就像一个真正的天路客，一旦定意启程，再恶劣的天气也无法拦阻他的脚步。正直的人不会袖手旁观寻找借口，也不会任凭灰心在心里发酵；他只从神的话语中领受命令。一旦领受了命令，除非同一位神亲自下达撤回的旨意，否则任何事物都不能使他退缩。他的心已经与神的旨意融为一体。当父神说：“你们当寻求我的面”，他的心便回声般地应答：“耶和华啊，你的面我正要寻求。”（诗27:8）
即使我们竭尽全力仍以失败告终，但在神面前，甘心乐意便被视为成功。当父亲吩咐年幼的儿子去拿一样东西时，顺服的孩子不会抱怨这命令太难，而是立刻跑去执行。即使他用尽了全力，却还是没能完成这简单的任务，他的这份乐意也会激起父亲的怜恤，从而出手相助。同样，基督也以此来遮盖门徒的软弱与过失：“你们心灵固然愿意，肉体却软弱了。”（太26:41）
麦琴（麦克谦）读经计划进度
家庭敬拜：申16章，诗103章，
个人灵修：赛43章，启13章
JUNE 11, THURSDAY
SINCERITY MAKES THE SOUL WILLING
Even when failure is the result of our best effort, willingness speaks success to God.
A perfect heart and a willing mind are joined together. David counseled his son Solomon to “serve God with a perfect heart and with a willing mind” (1 Chronicles 28:9). A false heart puts off its work as long as possible and deserves little appreciation for work done under the rod of correction. But the sincere soul is ready for responsibility. Though it may lack skill and strength it will always be eager. Such willingness is like a hawk perched upon a man’s hand; as soon as the game is in sight she launches forward and would be in flight immediately, except for the tether holding her back.
“The Levites” were “more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests” (2 Chronicles 29:34). Why? They were more willing to work. No sooner had the word come out of the king’s mouth concerning reformation than the Levites arise and “sanctified themselves” (v. 15).
Reformation is an icy path which cowards prefer to have well beaten by others before they venture out on it. But sincerity is made of better metal. It is like a true traveler—no weather gets bad enough to stop him after he has determined to make the trip. And the upright man does not stand around looking for loopholes or letting discouragement fester, but takes his orders from God’s Word. And once he has them, he will not be turned back by anything short of a counter-command from the same God. His heart is merged with God’s will. When the Father says, “Seek ye my face,” the heart echoes, “Thy face, Lord, will I seek” (Psalm 27:8).
Even when failure is the result of our best effort, willingness speaks success to God. When a father asks his small son to bring him something, an obedient child does not complain that the command is too hard but runs to do it. And even if he uses all his strength but miscarries the simple mission, his willingness stirs up the parent’s pity to help him. Thus Christ throws this covering over His disciples’ blunders: “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41).