8月14日 以神为乐
以神为乐
当不信之人看见基督徒手中端着救恩的杯，却依然满面愁容时，他们便会怀疑，这杯中的酒并不像传道人所吹嘘的那般甜美。
所罗门写道：“设摆筵席是为喜笑。”（传10:19）我深信，神设立基督福音的筵席，正是要让祂的儿女在其中得着真实的属灵欢喜。在旧约中，哀恸之人是不被允许坐在神筵席前的。如果圣徒长久陷于属灵的愁苦与阴郁中，难免会使人误以为神是一位苛刻无情的主；倘若神那使人满足的爱，都不能真正在内心里满足我们，我们又怎能向旁人举荐这爱呢？
世人本来就认定基督徒的生活压抑沉闷，仿佛是一顿难以下咽的枯燥饭食，几乎尝不到半点喜乐的滋味。基督徒啊，你为何还要以萎靡不振的属灵状态，去加深他们的这种错觉呢？为何要让他们从你的生活中找寻证据，去反驳耶稣和祂的话语呢？要知道，祂的话语明明应许，凡来到这筵席前的人，必得着属天的平安与喜乐。
你本该将“生命的道表明出来”，并在世人眼前彰显这道的真实。愿神拦阻我们，绝不让我们的行事为人与祂的话语相悖，免得令人对祂的应许产生怀疑（腓2:16）。罗马天主教错误地教导说，若没有教会的见证，我们就无法确知圣经是神的话。然而，基督徒生命中那份真实的属灵见证，在说服世人的良心相信福音真理这方面，确实极具感染力。当人们能够从一个因得着基督而深感满足的生命中，清晰地读懂福音时，他们自然会相信这确是好消息。
当不信之人看见基督徒手中端着救恩的杯，却依然满面愁容时，他们便会怀疑，这杯中的酒并不像传道人所宣讲的那般甜美。试想，倘若前往印度寻宝的商人归来时，其光景反倒比出发时更加凄惨，那么无论传说那里耸立着多少座金山，也难以说服其他人冒险前往。基督徒啊，这里所说的绝非属世的财富，而是属灵的丰盛；千万不要让不信之人因看见你愁云惨淡、步履蹒跚地奔跑天路，就误以为人若要跟随基督，就必须赔上一切真正的幸福，甚至只能与一群凄苦无望的人在哀恸之家中度过余生。
基督的福音里究竟是否充满了丰盛的生命？既然确实如此，你就不必去向世界借债，企图靠攫取属肉体的利益来换取快乐。你永远无须踏出神的家门，去别处寻觅真正的喜乐。
麦琴（麦克谦）读经计划进度
家庭敬拜：撒上4章，罗4章，
个人灵修：耶42章，路11章
AUGUST 14, FRIDAY
ENJOYING GOD
When unbelievers see Christians sad as they hold the cup of salvation in their hands, they suspect the wine is not so good as preachers say it is.
A feast is made for laughter,” Solomon wrote (Ecclesiastes 10:19). I am sure God intended His children to be joyful in the feast of Christ’s Gospel. In the Old Testament, mourners were not allowed to sit at God’s table. Since a saint’s gloom reflects unkindness on God Himself, how can we recommend His satisfying love if it does not satisfy us? The world thinks the Christian life is depressing anyway, a dry meal where very little wine of joy is tasted. Why will you confirm their deception, Christian? Why should they have your example as evidence against Jesus and His Word, which promises peace and joy to everyone who comes to this table?
God forbid that your behavior, which should hold forth “the word of life” and demonstrate the reality of it in the eyes of the world, ever disagree or throw doubt on His Word (Philippians 2:16). It is a gross error for Rome to teach that we cannot know Scripture as God’s Word except by the testimony of the church. Yet a practical testimony from Christians’ lives has great authority over the consciences of men to persuade them of Gospel truth. They can believe it is good news when they can read it clearly in a cheerful life.
When unbelievers see Christians sad as they hold the cup of salvation in their hands, they suspect the wine is not so good as preachers say it is. If traders to the Indies returned poorer than they were when they began, it would be hard to convince others to venture to that place, regardless of how many golden mountains might tower there. Christian, do not give unbelievers reason to imagine, by seeing you limping through the race, that they must forfeit happiness if they become Christians and spend the rest of their lives in a house of mourning, with a team of losers.
Is Christ’s Gospel full of abundant life or not? Then do not go into debt with the world to soak up its carnal benefits; you need never leave God’s house to be made glad.