五月二十六日[mp3_embed playlst=”/downloading/audio/evening/05/0526.mp3″]
经文: 恒守所信的道。(使徒行传十四:22)
坚恃恒守是真正圣徒的徽章。基督徒的生命不只是在上帝的道上开始,更是一生之信心的持续。拿破仑说:“得胜使我成为如今的我,而得胜也维持我。”基督徒也该如此。唯一真正的征服者,也就是可以获得冠冕的,是持续至战争的号角不再吹响的人。因此,坚持就成为我们所有属灵仇敌的攻击目标。世界并不反对你作一时的基督徒,反而会引诱你放弃走天国的旅程,而安于这浮华世界。肉体会缠累你,阻止你努力走向荣耀。“作基督徒真是累啊,放弃吧。我必须时时谦卑吗?我永不可放任自己吗?在这不断的争战中,至少给我几天假期吧!”对你的坚持,撒但总是发动许多凶猛的攻击。它所有的目标是你的恒守。它要拚命的阻挠你的事奉。更要以间接纡曲的方式告诉你,你所作的并不好。它要竭力使你疲于忍受苦难。它要对你轻声耳语:“弃掉上帝、死了吧!”(伯二:9)它会攻击你的坚定:“你如此热心有什么好处?你可以像其他人那安分守已。”它会诘问你的信仰:“你为何要守住这些宗教信条?敏感的人是不受拘束的。他们在移动路标,你也当适应时代的变化。”基督徒啊!戴上你的盔甲,穿上你的军装。恳求上帝藉着圣灵使你能忍耐到底。
Evening, May 26
Scripture: “Continue in the faith.”(Acts 14:22)
Perseverance is the badge of true saints. The Christian life is not a beginning only in the ways of God, but also a continuance in the same as long as life lasts. It is with a Christian as it was with the great Napoleon: he said, “Conquest has made me what I am, and conquest must maintain me.” So, under God, dear brother in the Lord, conquest has made you what you are, and conquest must sustain you. Your motto must be, “Excelsior.” He only is a true conqueror, and shall be crowned at the last, who continueth till war’s trumpet is blown no more. Perseverance is, therefore, the target of all our spiritual enemies. The world does not object to your being a Christian for a time, if she can but tempt you to cease your pilgrimage, and settle down to buy and sell with her in Vanity Fair. The flesh will seek to ensnare you, and to prevent your pressing on to glory. “It is weary work being a pilgrim; come, give it up. Am I always to be mortified? Am I never to be indulged? Give me at least a furlough from this constant warfare.” Satan will make many a fierce attack on your perseverance; it will be the mark for all his arrows. He will strive to hinder you in service: he will insinuate that you are doing no good; and that you want rest. He will endeavour to make you weary of suffering, he will whisper, “Curse God, and die.” Or he will attack your steadfastness: “What is the good of being so zealous? Be quiet like the rest; sleep as do others, and let your lamp go out as the other virgins do.” Or he will assail your doctrinal sentiments: “Why do you hold to these denominational creeds? Sensible men are getting more liberal; they are removing the old landmarks: fall in with the times.” Wear your shield, Christian, therefore, close upon your armour, and cry mightily unto God, that by his Spirit you may endure to the end.