7月29日 信徒彼此问责
信徒彼此问责
有时，出于自我的爱会蒙蔽双眼，使我们看不见自己的一丝过犯；有时，自我定罪又会使我们自暴自弃，把真实的境况想得更糟。
旁观者有时比剧中人看得更清。一个人若拥有一位坦诚相待、敢于直言的诤友，他在追求圣洁的大能上，就拥有了极大的鼓励与帮助。有时，出于自我的爱会蒙蔽双眼，使我们看不见自己的一丝过犯；有时，自我定罪又会使我们自暴自弃，把真实的境况想得更糟。因此，你要保守自己的心始终柔软，预备好以真正温柔谦卑的态度去领受责备。
一个不能面对直言相劝和坦率规劝的人，对自己的伤害远超对别人的伤害，原因在于：他几乎听不到真话。你若没有足够的谦卑来领受责备，你就是一个“亵慢人”（箴9:8）。另一方面，一个人若没有足够的爱，不能在合宜的时刻责备弟兄，就不配称为基督徒，这也显明他心里实在“恨他的弟兄”（利19:17）。
大卫说，如果“义人击打”他，他要把“这算为仁慈”（诗141:5）。他领受弟兄的责备，就仿佛弟兄打破一瓶极贵的香膏浇在他的头上。在犹太文化中，这是表达爱与尊荣的极高方式。大卫不仅口中这样说，也以行动印证了这番话。
事实上，亚比该和拿单在奉命责备大卫时，都蒙了神的赐福与同在。亚比该警告大卫，拦阻了他意图残害拿八全家的险恶计划；拿单则因大卫谋害乌利亚的罪恶而严厉责备他。亚比该借着及时的规劝，拦阻了君王犯罪；拿单则迫使大卫从躲藏中走出来，为自己已犯下的可怕重罪彻底悔改。
请注意，这两位圣徒不仅成功完成了这令人不悦的使命，反而因着顺服神、对朋友忠诚，更深地赢得了大卫的尊重。后来，大卫娶亚比该为妻，并尊拿单为他的贴身谋士（撒上25；撒下12）。
麦琴（麦克谦）读经计划进度
家庭敬拜：士12章，徒16章，
个人灵修：耶25章，可11章
JULY 29, WENDESDAY
ACCOUNTABILITY TO BELIEVERS
Sometimes self-love binds us so we cannot see a single fault; and at other times, self-condemnation makes us appear worse than we really are.
A spectator sometimes sees more than the actor himself. And a man with an open-hearted friend who dares speak honestly has a wonderful source of encouragement for the power of holiness. Sometimes self-love binds us so we cannot see a single fault; and at other times, self-condemnation makes us appear worse than we really are. Therefore, keep your heart soft and ready to receive a reproof with real meekness.
A person who cannot face plain dealing and straightforwardness hurts himself more than anyone else, for this reason: he seldom hears the truth. If you do not have enough humility to accept a rebuke you are “a scorner” (Proverbs 9:8). On the other hand, a man who does not have enough love to give reproof in season to his brother is not worthy to be called a Christian and proves himself a “hater of his brother” (Leviticus 19:17).
David said he would take it as “a kindness” for the “righteous to smite” him (Psalm 141:5). He accepted reproof as if the brother had broken a box of precious oil upon his head—a high expression of Jewish love. And his actions backed up his word. Indeed, both Abigail and Nathan knew Godspeed in their mission to reprove David. Abigail warned him about his treacherous intentions against Nabal and his family; and Nathan reproved him for his sin against Uriah. Whereas Abigail prevented the king from sinning by her reproof at the right time, Nathan forced him to come out of hiding and repent of the dismal murder he had already committed.
And notice this—not only did these two saints prevail in their unpleasant errands but actually endeared themselves to David by being obedient to God and faithful to their friend. David took Abigail as his wife and Nathan as his private counselor (1 Samuel 25; 2 Samuel 12).