9月4日 敬虔之忧胜于虚假之乐
敬虔之忧胜于虚假之乐
灵魂察觉，除了基督以外，在它与地狱之间再无任何阻挡；于是它宁愿向祂呼求也不愿灭亡，并甘心顺从祂的引导。
盼望你不要以为我限制了以色列的圣者，仿佛祂在每个人身上作工的程度与分量必须千篇一律。然而，在一切光景中，圣灵使人降卑的工作，必须先使人知罪，然后平安与安慰才会降临，借以倒空灵魂中积存的虚假自信。那时，人心便如一个底部被击碎的器皿，里面所有的水都漏尽了。它开始恨恶曾经恋慕的罪，那些曾取悦并支撑它的盼望尽都消逝，这人便被留在荒凉与孤单的境地中。
灵魂察觉，除了基督以外，在它与地狱之间再无任何阻挡；于是它宁愿向祂呼求也不愿灭亡，并甘心顺从祂的引导。这样的灵魂宛如一位病人，对医生的医术与关怀已深信不疑。这就是我所说的“破碎的心”。
然而，我恳求你，在你的良心能够回答几个问题之前，切莫安歇。你的酒曾经是水吗？你的光是从黑暗中升起的吗？你的平安是从灵魂的争战与患难中孕育出来的吗？你是在流血受创之后才得医治的吗？若真如此，就当称颂神，因为祂已将你的哀哭变为跳舞。
另一方面，若你的水缸尚未装水，你就已经喝到了酒；若你的清晨尚未经历黑夜便已破晓；若你虚假的平安尚未被击碎便已觉稳妥；若你的良心尚未被刺透以流出骄傲与属肉体的自信便已完好如初，那么你也许拥有一种短命的平安。但耶稣否认这是祂的医治。在人心里作工生出真实的敬虔忧伤，比制造虚假的喜乐需要大得多的能力。你因良心受困苦而哀恸，远比围着魔鬼设立的平安偶像跳舞更加有福。
“凡照此理而行的，愿平安、怜悯加给他们。”（加6:16）这里的“此理”，即是照着神的话语而行的“新造的人”的圣洁生活（参 15节）。栽种在信徒灵魂中的恩典原则，与信徒的灵魂如此契合，正如眼睛与光照彼此相配一般。
麦琴（麦克谦）读经计划进度
家庭敬拜：撒上28章，林前9章，
个人灵修：结7章，约8章
SEPTEMBER 4, FRIDAY
GODLY SORROW BETTER THAN FALSE JOY
The soul realizes that nothing stands between it and hell except Christ; and rather than die she cries out to Him, willing to follow His direction.
I hope you do not think I limit the Holy One of Israel in working to the same degree and measure in everyone. But in all cases the humbling work of the Spirit must convince a person before peace and comfort come to empty the soul of false confidence which she has stored up. Then the heart becomes like a vessel whose bottom has been beaten out until all the water spills out. It hates sin it once loved. The hopes which pleased and sustained her are gone and the person is left in a desolate and solitary condition.
The soul realizes that nothing stands between it and hell except Christ; and rather than die she cries out to Him, willing to follow His direction. The soul is like a patient who is thoroughly convinced of her doctor’s personal skill and care. This is what I call “the broken heart.”
I beg you, though, not to rest until your conscience answers some questions. Was your wine once water? Does your light arise from darkness? Is your peace the product of soul-conflict and trouble? Did you bleed before you were healed? If so, bless God who has turned your mourning into dancing.
On the other hand, if you drank wine before your pots were ever filled with water; if your morning dawned before there was evening; if your peace was settled before your false peace was broken; if your conscience was sound and whole before it was lanced and drained of pride and carnal confidence—you may possess short-lived peace. But Jesus denies all this to be His cure. It requires far more power to work true godly sorrow than false joy. You would be happier mourning from distress of a troubled conscience than dancing around the devil’s idol of peace.
“As many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them” (Galatians 6:16). Now “this rule” is the holy walk of the “new creature” according to God’s Word (v. 15). The principles of grace planted in the believer’s soul are as appropriate to it as the agreement between the eye and light.