三月五日
所以，我们不要睡觉，像别人一样……（帖前5:6）
有很多方法可以使基督徒警醒。在安逸中，我要劝基督徒彼此谈论神的道路。基督徒和美徒向郇城走时，两人走到了迷气地，为要避免睡觉，基督徒说：“我俩最好多谈话，就可以免去入睡。但是“弟兄！我们从那里开头呢？”美徒说：“就从神选召我们的时候开头吧！”于是基督徒唱了下面的歌：
“若圣徒睡眼迷糊，便请来此处，
听二位行天路的客人如何谈吐；
愿他们从其中学得真道，
好使他们蒙眬的睡眼不打盹睡觉，
若圣徒能和衷共济同心合意，
就是地狱也不能使他们沉迷。”
基督徒若离群索居必定会沉睡起来，与别的基督徒保持一种密切的关系，就必会警醒，必会重新得力，振刷精神，鼓起勇气，奔走天路。但当你在神的道路中与别人一同“畅谈”的时候，要留意你们谈话的题目必须是主耶稣。让信眼常仰望他，让你们心中充满了他，让你们的唇多颂扬他。朋友！你的生活要就近十字架，那么就不会打盹。你的心中要深深觉得你所去的地方是极宝贵的。若你记得你是往天堂走，那么你在路上就不会睡觉了。若你想到地狱就在你后面，魔鬼正尾随你，你就不会旷时闲懒了。杀了人的人后面有报血仇的人紧紧追逐，而逃城就在面前，他会在路上睡觉吗？基督徒呀！珍珠门已经大开，天使也唱歌迎接你，金冕已经为你预备好了，你还要睡觉吗？啊！不，你们要彼此勉励，警醒祷告，免得你们入了迷惑。
March 5
“Let us not sleep, as do others.” –1 Thessalonians 5:6
There are many ways of promoting Christian
wakefulness. Among the rest, let me strongly advise Christians to converse
together concerning the ways of the Lord. Christian and Hopeful, as they
journeyed towards the Celestial City, said to themselves, “To prevent
drowsiness in this place, let us fall into good discourse.” Christian
enquired, “Brother, where shall we begin?” And Hopeful answered,
“Where God began with us.” Then Christian sang this song–
“When saints do sleepy grow, let them
come hither,
And hear how these two pilgrims talk together;
Yea, let them learn of them, in any wise,
Thus to keep open their drowsy slumb’ring
eyes.
Saints’ fellowship, if it be managed well,
Keeps them awake, and that in spite of
hell.”
Christians who isolate themselves and walk alone, are very liable to
grow drowsy. Hold Christian company, and you will be kept wakeful by it, and
refreshed and encouraged to make quicker progress in the road to heaven. But as
you thus take “sweet counsel” with others in the ways of God, take
care that the theme of your converse is the Lord Jesus. Let the eye of faith be
constantly looking unto Him; let your heart be full of Him; let your lips speak
of His worth. Friend, live near to the cross, and thou wilt not sleep. Labour
to impress thyself with a deep sense of the value of the place to which thou
art going. If thou rememberest that thou art going to heaven, thou wilt not
sleep on the road. If thou thinkest that hell is behind thee, and the devil
pursuing thee, thou wilt not loiter. Would the manslayer sleep with the avenger
of blood behind him, and the city of refuge before him? Christian, wilt thou
sleep whilst the pearly gates are open–the songs of angels waiting for thee to
join them–a crown of gold ready for thy brow? Ah! no; in holy fellowship
continue to watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation.
