三月十四日
所以,自己以為站得穩的,須要謹慎,免得跌倒。(林前10:12)
屬靈的驕傲真是一件奇怪的事,但世上竟有人為自己的德行(與恩典為一字)誇口。一個人說:“我有很大的信心,我不會跌倒;可憐小信的人能夠跌倒,但我是永不會跌倒的。”;另一個人說:“我有很大的愛心,我能站立得住,我走到岔路上是沒有危險的。”凡為自己的德行誇口的,實際上他的德行並無可誇之處。有人想他們的德行可以保守他們,但並不知道溪流必須時時與源頭相接,不然溪水就會幹了。若油不源源不絕地湧上燈芯,雖然它今天很明亮,可是明天就會冒煙,發出熏人的臭氣。要留心不要把榮耀歸給你的德行,而要把一切榮耀和尊崇都歸給基督和他的能力,因為只有這樣才能保守你不從恩典中墮落。要多禱告,要多用功夫。在靈修方面要熱心,並常常讀經。要當心自己的生活,要多親近神,要使你的行事能成為最好的模範,要使你的話語有天上的香氣,要使你的心為別人得靈魂發出愛的芬芳之氣,這樣好叫人知道你曾與耶穌常在一起,並學了耶穌。當那快樂之日來臨,當你所愛的召你上去的時候,願你聽到他說:“那美好的仗你已經打過了,當跑得路你已經跑盡了,所信的道你已經守住了。從此以後,有公義的冠冕為你存留。”
基督徒呀!要在意,要小心,往前走吧!戰兢恐懼地往前走吧!往前走時要一心相信耶穌,並以“願主照你的話保守我”作你時時的禱告。他能,惟有他能“保守你們不失腳,叫你們無瑕無疵、歡歡喜喜站在他榮耀之前”。
March 14
“Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”
–1 Corinthians 10:12
It is a curious fact, that there is such a thing as being proud of
grace. A man says, “I have great faith, I shall not fall; poor little
faith may, but I never shall.” “I have fervent love,” says
another, “I can stand, there is no danger of my going astray.” He who
boasts of grace has little grace to boast of. Some who do this imagine that
their graces can keep them, knowing not that the stream must flow constantly
from the fountain head, or else the brook will soon be dry. If a continuous
stream of oil comes not to the lamp, though it burn brightly to-day, it will
smoke to-morrow, and noxious will be its scent. Take heed that thou gloriest
not in thy graces, but let all thy glorying and confidence be in Christ and His
strength, for only so canst thou be kept from falling. Be much more in prayer.
Spend longer time in holy adoration. Read the Scriptures more earnestly and
constantly. Watch your lives more carefully. Live nearer to God. Take the best
examples for your pattern. Let your conversation be redolent of heaven. Let
your hearts be perfumed with affection for men’s souls. So live that men may
take knowledge of you that you have been with Jesus, and have learned of Him;
and when that happy day shall come, when He whom you love shall say, “Come
up higher,” may it be your happiness to hear Him say, “Thou hast
fought a good fight, thou hast finished thy course, and henceforth there is
laid up for thee a crown of righteousness which fadeth not away.” On,
Christian, with care and caution! On, with holy fear and trembling! On, with
faith and confidence in Jesus alone, and let your constant petition be,
“Uphold me according to Thy word.” He is able, and He alone, “To
keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His
glory with exceeding joy.”