11月7日
标 题： 被捷径引诱
经 节： 亚比筛对大卫说︰“现在神将你的仇敌交在你手里，求你容我拿枪将他刺透在地，一刺就成，不用再刺。”（撒母耳记上廿六章8节）
你有时候会面对试探，想走快捷方式达到生活的既定目标。在大卫登上王位宝座时，他好几次面对这个试探。神的先知撒母耳早就用油膏了大卫，预言他是以色列下一个国王（撒母耳记上十六：12～13）。然而，在大卫等候神的时刻来临期间，他困惑地看见扫罗疯狂的作为，他让整个国家陷入危险的境地。扫罗追逐著大卫，亟欲杀他，逼迫大卫亡命天涯。
后来，突然有个千载难逢的大好时机落在大卫手中。大卫发现扫罗与军队安营在一个易受攻击、毫无招架余地的地方。亚比筛是属大卫的勇士之一，他自告奋勇，要为大卫除掉扫罗。这么做似乎是合情合理的，因为扫罗多次想杀大卫，况且神也说要大卫作国王。既然扫罗落在他的手中，大卫大可退出自己亡命天涯的日子，得到王位，作神所膏立的仆人。但就算他很想得到王位，而且这王位原本就属他，他仍然拒绝妥协自己的正直，来取得王权。对大卫来说，以不是神的方式来完成神的旨意，是不可行的。
你也会遇见类似的试探。有时候，朋友好意地建议你尽快完成神的旨意，不要你继续等候。你可能一心一意想控制自己的环境，以为只要有好结局，不择手段也没关系。你要相信，神的时机永远是最恰当的。神可能计画要你得到某一个职位，或转变一个新方向，然而，时机可能不像你所想像的。要保守你的心，不要让其他人说服你，而妥协你自己的正直，来达成神的旨意。
Tempted by
Shortcuts
Then Abishai
said to David, “God has delivered your enemy into your hand this day. Now
therefore, please, let me strike him at once with the spear, right to the
earth; and I will not have to strike him a second time!” (1 Samuel 26:8)
You will sometimes be tempted to take shortcuts to your destinations in
life. David faced this temptation numerous times before he finally assumed the
throne. Samuel, God’s prophet, had anointed David and prophesied that he would
be the next king of Israel (1 Sam. 16:12–13). Yet, while David waited on God’s
timing, he watched in frustration as a crazed King Saul brought the kingdom
into jeopardy. Saul pursued David to murder him, forcing David to flee for his
life.
Then an incredible opportunity presented itself to David. David found
Saul in a vulnerable position, sleeping with his army. Abishai, one of David’s
warriors, offered to kill Saul. It seemed to make perfect sense. Saul had tried
to kill David on numerous occasions. God had said He intended for David to be
the king. By taking matters into his own hands, David could bring an end to his
exile and assume the throne as God’s anointed servant. Yet he refused to
compromise his integrity in order to become king, even though he wanted the
position and it was rightfully his. Accomplishing God’s will in any manner
other than the way God prescribed was unthinkable.
At times you may face similar temptations. Well-meaning friends advise
you to hasten God’s will for you rather than waiting upon Him. You may be
sorely tempted to take control of your situation, assuming the end will justify
the means. These are the times when you must trust God’s perfect timing. God
may plan for you to attain a certain position or take a new direction, but the
timing may not be right. Watch over your heart. Don’t allow others to persuade
you to compromise your integrity as you follow God’s will.
