8月10日 基督徒属灵的鞋
基督徒属灵的鞋
“又用平安的福音当作预备走路的鞋穿在脚上。”（弗6:15）
这是基督徒防护装备中的第三件军装，一双按其脚型量身定制的属灵战靴，并且要在他与罪和撒但争战的整个一生中，始终穿在脚上。“又用平安的福音当作预备走路的鞋穿在脚上。”（弗6:15）接下来，让我们考察圣经在论及这双鞋时所使用的三个不同词语：第一，何谓“福音”；第二，何谓“平安”；第三，此处的“脚”是指什么，以及“平安福音的预备”所指的究竟是何种恩典。
按照原文字义，“福音”就是好消息或令人欢喜的信息。在圣经中，这个词通常特指关于基督和祂救恩的教义。天使对牧羊人说：“不要惧怕！我报给你们大喜的信息，是关乎万民的。”（路2:10）随后又说：“因今天在大卫的城里，为你们生了救主，就是主基督。”（路2:11）因此，在新约中，“福音”一词通常蕴含着喜乐与好消息的意味，我们在此也同样采用这层含义。
神将基督以及藉着基督所赐的恩典启示出来，这对罪人而言，无疑是无可比拟的绝佳福音。这信息是如此独特，以至于在它之前再无更好的消息，在它之后也无法有任何坏消息能夺走这喜乐。神的怜悯总是先于祂向罪人所施的赐福：“愿神怜悯我们，赐福与我们，用脸光照我们。”（诗67:1）
除非神借着基督满有怜悯地赦免我们的罪，否则祂绝不能以恩惠的眼光来看待我们这些罪人。我们所领受的一切益处，在福音的恩典（即赦罪的怜悯）为它们盖上救恩的印记、使它们成为可流通的货币之前，都不过像是一堆尚未铸造的金块。若非基督为我们成就了和平，神就绝不能向我们显出恩惠：“在至高之处荣耀归与神！在地上平安归与祂所喜悦的人！”（路2:14）一个罪人即使承受了整个王国，倘若他不能确信这一切是源于神心中的喜悦与恩宠，这王国又能给他带来什么真正的喜乐呢？
麦琴（麦克谦）读经计划进度
家庭敬拜：得3-4章，徒28章，
个人灵修：耶38章，路7章
AUGUST 10, MONDAY
THE CHRISTIAN’S SPIRITUAL SHOE
“And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace” (Ephesians 6:15).
Here is the third piece of armor in the Christian’s protection—a spiritual shoe, fitted to his foot and designed to be worn as long as he battles sin and Satan. “And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.” Let us now study three distinct terms from Scripture concerning this shoe: first what is meant by the Gospel; second, what is meant by peace; and third, what the word feet means here, as well as the grace intended by the preparation of the gospel of peace.
Gospel, according to the meaning of the original word, signifies good news or joyful message. Usually in Scripture the word is reserved for the doctrine of Christ and His salvation. “I bring you good tidings of great joy,” said the angel to the shepherds (Luke 2:10). And then he added, “Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” (v. 11). Thus Gospel in the New Testament generally carries the connotation of joy and good news, and we shall use that same meaning here.
The revelation of Christ and the grace of God through Him is, without compare, the best news a sinner can hear. It is such a unique message that no good news can come before it nor bad news can follow. God’s mercy precedes His blessing to sinners: “God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us” (Psalm 67:1).
Until God mercifully pardons our sins through Christ He cannot look kindly on us sinners. All our benefits are but blessings in bullion until Gospel grace—pardoning mercy—stamps them with salvation and makes them current. God cannot show any good will until Christ makes peace for us; “On earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14). And what joy would it be, even to the sinner who inherited a kingdom, if he could not claim it from the joy and favor of God’s heart?