10月14日
标 题：胜利与失败
经 节：仇敌起来攻击你，耶和华必使他们在你面前被你杀败；他们从一条路来攻击你，必从七条路逃跑。……耶和华必使你败在仇敌面前，你从一条路去攻击他们，必从七条路逃跑。你必在天下万国中抛来抛去。（申命记廿八章7、25节）
当以色列人预备进入应许之地时，神给他们一个选择：留心注意祂的声音、遵行祂的命令，并且经历连续的胜利；或是背离神、不遵行祂的话，并且一再经历严重的失败。这是个容易的选择。而他们在战场上胜负的结局，明确地表明出他们的选择是什么。
胜利的保证并不代表以色列人不需要束上盔甲、上战场，也不是指他们可以不付任何代价，就得到胜利。有时候，他们的敌人猛烈地攻击，战争反反复复、一再激烈地进行。然而，当以色列人亲密地与神同行，他们知道自己的努力将得到最后的胜利。
神给我们的选择，与当时以色列人相同。若与祂同行及遵行祂的命令，祂会与我们站在同一边，保证我们必可战胜所面对的挑战。我们一定得面对战争，只要一直行在祂的旨意中，神应许我们会得胜利。然而，如果我们行事的抉择与神不相干，当然会被困难给压垮。诚如以色列人一样，事情的结局将明确地表明我们的选择是什么。如果你所经验的每个挑战都失败，你的心可能已经远离神了。要聆听神，遵行祂向你显明的旨意。不论遭遇何事，你会得到胜利的。
Victory Versus Defeat
The LORD will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways….The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies; you shall go out one way against them and flee seven ways before them. (Deuteronomy 28:7, 25)
As the Israelites were preparing to enter the Promised Land, God set before them a choice: Heed His voice, obey His commandments, and experience continued victory. Or turn from God, disobey His word, and experience repeated and resounding defeat. It was a simple choice. The choice they made would be evident by the results on the battlefield.
The assurance of victory did not mean that the Israelites would not have to strap on their armor and go to battle. It did not assure them of effortless victory. At times their enemies fought fiercely, and the battles raged back and forth. Nevertheless, as the Israelites walked closely with God, they knew that their efforts would always result in victory.
God gives us the same choice He gave the Israelites. If we walk with Him, obedient to His word, He will stand with us and ensure victory over our challenges. We must face the battle, but God promises us victory if we remain in His will. However, if we choose to disassociate from God, we surely will be overtaken by difficulties. As with the Israelites, our decision will be evident by the outcome. If you are continually being defeated by everything you face, your heart has departed from God. If you have been experiencing defeat in the challenges you face, examine your heart. When you are buffeted by the crises of life, your heart may have shifted away from God. Choose to listen to God. Then obey what He tells you, no matter what you face, and you will experience victory.
