7月17日
标 题：分别虔诚人归祂
经 节：你们要知道，耶和华已经分别虔诚人归祂自己；我求告耶和华，祂必听我。（诗篇四篇3节）
没有一个人比虔诚人在主的眼中更珍贵的。神喜悦每个努力活出圣洁生活、且归荣耀给祂的人。在神的心中有一个特别的地方，是给这些虔诚的人。神总是护佑他们，祂早准备好要回应他们最微弱的哀求。
罪使我们与神隔绝，使得神对我们的祷告闭耳不听。明知自己有罪却不对付，祷告是不蒙垂听的。然而，事情反过来即为真理。当我们过敬虔的生活，神就看重我们，垂听我们每个哀求。历久不渝的安全是由无过的生活而来。正直的人永远不需要怀疑神是否垂听祷告（约翰一书五：14～15）。敬虔的人有信心，神的确会听自己的祷告，并且神会马上以祂自己的权能回应。
被神分别出来，知道神看到且喜悦你成圣的生活，是多么快活的一件事！知道你的生活在神的心中，有一个特别的地方，是多么荣幸的事！世人不见得认同你特别的地位，但你清楚知道自己被神所珍重。世界一直找寻新的方式来荣耀人，但即使是世界最高的荣誉，比起能在神心中占一席之地的祝福，不过是可鄙的！
A Godly Person Set Apart
But know that the LORD has set apart for Himself
him who is godly; The LORD will hear when I call to Him. (Psalm 4:3)
No one is more precious in the Lord’s sight than a
godly person. God is pleased whenever He finds someone who strives to live a
righteous life and bring glory to Him. God sets such people apart in a special
place in His heart. They are always kept before Him, and He stands ready to
respond to their faintest cries for help. Sin separates us from God, causing
Him to close His ears to our praying. It is futile for us to pray when we are
knowingly practicing sin. But the opposite is also true. God chooses to honor
us by listening to our every cry when we are living a godly life. An abiding
security comes with living a blameless life. The righteous person never has to
wonder whether God has listened to his prayer (1 John 5:14–15). The godly
person has confidence that God has indeed heard her prayer and will immediately
respond in all of His power.
It is exhilarating to be set apart by God, knowing that
God observes your consecrated life and is pleased with what He sees. What a
tremendous privilege to know that your life holds a special place in God’s
heart! The world may not accord any special status to you, but you will know
that you are cherished by God. The world continues to find new ways to honor
people, but even the world’s most extravagant accolades are pitiful compared to
the unfathomable blessing of holding a special place in the heart of God!
