7月24日 接受敬虔亲属的教导
接受敬虔亲属的教导
如果你的家中有一位圣洁的人，就应当留心观察他在苦难中的举止、他如何敬拜，以及他怎样领受神的怜悯，看看你能从中学到什么。
我要提醒你，你必须极其谨慎，既要防止自己把属世的病菌传染给家人，也要保护自己免受家人的感染。你深爱你的妻子，这本是好的；但是，当她亲手将试探的禁果递给你时，切不可让你对她的爱使那试探变得更加诱人。你若为了她的缘故而犯罪，就表明你对神、对自己的爱都太少了。作妻子的，即使你们应当顺服自己的丈夫，也必须“在主里”顺服：切不可本末倒置，把第七条诫命凌驾于第一条诫命之上。你必须先顺服神，然后才顺服丈夫。在此过程中，你或许需要深切地质问自己的灵魂：“我在顺从丈夫意愿的同时，还能否遵守神的命令？”
在商业往来中，我们总是优先偿还那些数额最大且已经到期的债务。那么，你对神欠下的债更多，还是对配偶欠下的债更多呢？在神与你们同行的前提下，你可以尽可能远地陪伴你的亲属走下去，但绝不能越过界限——因为你绝不能将圣洁与公义抛在身后。一旦你失去了这些无价的珍宝，任何人（无论是家人还是其他旁人）都永远无法弥补你的损失。
一位圣洁的父亲、一位蒙恩的丈夫或妻子，甚至一位敬虔的女仆或园丁，他们生命中圣洁的益处，就像极其珍贵的香膏，无论停留在何处，都会自然散发出香气。基督徒啊，如果你的家中有一位圣洁的人，就应当留心观察他在苦难中如何自处、他如何敬拜、如何领受神的怜悯，以及他怎样引导自己的日常生活，看看你能从中汲取什么功课。
以利沙曾吩咐那位寡妇，去把她所能找到或借来的空器皿全都拿来，好承接那瓶中源源不断流出的油。同样，那些在恩典上贫乏的人，也必须善用从敬虔亲属的嘴唇与生命中滴落下来的圣洁恩典之油。你要预备好自己的记忆、良心、心灵与情感，去尽情承接从他们身上倾注而出的一切圣洁的彰显。
麦琴（麦克谦）读经计划进度
家庭敬拜：士7章，徒11章，
个人灵修：耶20章，可6章
JULY 24, FRIDAY
TAKING INSTRUCTION FROM GODLY RELATIVES
If there is a holy person in your family, see what you can learn from watching how he behaves under affliction, how he worships and receives God’s mercies.
Let me remind you to be as careful to protect yourself from receiving infection from your family as of breathing it on them. You have a strong love for your wife, and that is good. But do not let it make the apple of temptation more desirable, when her hand holds it out to you. You love yourself and God too little if you sin for her sake. Even if you wives are submissive to your husbands, obey “in the Lord”: do not turn the tables and put the seventh commandment before the first one. Obey God before you obey your husband. You might need to question your soul in this process: “Is it possible for me to keep God’s command in obeying my husband’s wishes?”
In business we first pay the biggest debts which are already due. Are you more deeply indebted to God or to your mate? Travel as far as you can with your relatives in God’s company, but no farther—because you do not want to leave holiness and righteousness behind. No one—family or otherwise—can ever repay you in the loss of those treasures.
A holy father, a gracious husband or wife—even a godly maid or gardener—the good from their holiness is like precious ointment which betrays itself wherever it lingers. Christian, if there is a holy person in your family, see what you can learn from watching how he behaves under affliction, how he worships and receives God’s mercies, and how he directs his daily life.
Elisha asked the widow to bring all the vessels she could find or borrow to hold what would flow from the pot of oil in her house. Those who are poor in grace must take advantage of the holy oil of grace which drops from the lips and lives of their godly relatives. Set your memory, conscience, heart, and affections to receive all the expressions of holiness that pour from them.