9月5日 因神赐的平安得复兴
因神赐的平安得复兴
“求祢使我仍得救恩之乐，赐我乐意的灵扶持我，我就把祢的道指教有过犯的人，罪人必归顺祢。”（诗51:12-13）
我们若不寻求神，又怎能奢望平安呢？我们绝不会想到在犁地撒种之前就去收割。我们若像旷野中的以色列人那般被夺去外在的蒙恩管道，且我们若竭力抵挡骄傲与懒惰，那么，即便我看见安慰如吗哪般密密麻麻地降在灵魂周围，宛如落在希伯来人的帐棚四围，我也不会感到惊奇。可是，当以色列人能够自己种粮做饼之后，神就不再从天降下粮食。同样，当灵魂能够借着蒙恩管道得着安慰时，主也不会再用神迹来施慰；这些蒙恩管道包括敬拜、讲道、主餐等。神固然可以亲自教导那太监，并用从天而来的光满足他；然而，祂却差遣腓利去传讲真道，这无疑是为了尊荣祂福音的职分。
福音的平安能坚固并复兴基督徒。这平安使基督徒刚强壮胆，足以抵挡罪恶与撒但。圣徒仅仅尝到一点这般甘甜的蜂蜜，就会苏醒过来；若他饱餐一顿，他将对属灵的仇敌展开何等猛烈的击杀！他能像大卫靠着万军之耶和华的名步入战场一般，无人能在他的面前站立得住。
平安也能坚固基督徒去作工。例如，保罗记念神的怜悯，对神大爱的知觉在他心中燃烧，直到把一种超越同侪的福音热忱注入他的里面。正是这种平安，驱使大卫恳切祷告，渴望再次饮用这杯向他封闭已久的美酒。“求你使我仍得救恩之乐，赐我乐意的灵扶持我，我就把你的道指教有过犯的人，罪人必归顺你。”（诗51:12-13）他如此热切地渴慕重尝这酒的甘甜，并非为了求平安而求平安；他真正渴望的，乃是得着能力去作神的工。
麦琴（麦克谦）读经计划进度
家庭敬拜：撒上29-30章，林前10章，
个人灵修：结8章，约9章
SEPTEMBER 5, SATURDAY
RESTORED THROUGH PEACE WITH GOD
“Uphold me with thy free Spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee” (Psalm 51:12–13).
Why should we expect peace without seeking God? We would not think of harvesting before plowing and sowing. If we were like Israel in the wilderness, where the opportunities were taken away, and if we strove against pride and laziness, then I would not be surprised to see comforts falling on the soul as thick as manna around Hebrew tents. But God no longer rained bread once the Israelites grew corn to make their own bread. Neither will the Lord comfort by a miracle when the soul may obtain it through the ordinances: worship, preaching, the Lord’s Supper, and so on. God certainly could have taught the eunuch Himself and satisfied him with a light from heaven. Instead, He send for Philip to preach the word, no doubt to honor the ministry of His Gospel.
Gospel peace strengthens and restores the Christian. This peace makes the Christian strong enough to fight against sin and Satan. The saint is revived when he tastes only a little of this honey, but what a slaughter he makes of his spiritual enemies when he has had a full meal! He can go into battle like a giant refreshed with wine—no one can stand before him.
Peace also strengthens the Christian to work. Paul, for instance, remembered God’s mercy and the awareness of His love glowed in his heart until it infused him with a zeal for the Gospel above his fellows. This same kind of peace made David pray hard to drink again of this wine which had been locked up from him for so long. “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free Spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee” (Psalm 51:12–13). His fervent longing for the sweet taste of this wine was not the main reason he asked for peace—he desired power to do God’s work.