七月十八日[mp3_embed playlst=”/downloading/audio/evening/07/0718.mp3″]
经文: 彼此并不拥挤，向前各行己路。（约珥书二：8）
蝗虫总是守住自己的位置。虽然它们动辄数以千计，但并不互相拥挤，造成队伍之混乱。自然界这一奇特的现象明显了主完全将秩序之灵放入祂的宇宙中。天体行星受控于秩序之灵，即使最小的生物也一样。信徒能在灵命中受制于这相同的影响力才是明智之举。在基督徒的美德中，没有一种德行是搅扰他人的范围，或为了维生而吃别人的食物。爱情不能抑止诚实、勇敢不能将温驯推开、谦逊不能抵撞能力、忍耐不能践踏决心。我们的责任也相同。我们不能干涉他人。公众的好处不能伤害私人的祈祷，教会的工作不能将家庭崇拜推至屋隅。为上帝尽责却染上别人的鲜血，这种事奉是无价值的。耶稣告诉法利赛人说：“这是你们当行的，那也是不可不行的”（太二十三：23）。在我们个人的地位上也要应用相同的规律。我们服事人是按着圣灵所赐的才能，不要侵扰同工的领堿。我们的主耶稣教导我们不要贪图高位，反要愿意作弟兄中最小的一个。要远离嫉妒和野心的灵。但愿我们能亲自感受主命令的威力，行祂要我们行的，与其他信徒保持应守的位份。今晚，让我们来思想是否保住圣灵所赐合而为一的心，以和平彼此联络。（参阅弗四：3）
Evening, July 18
Scripture: “Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path.”(Joel 2:8)
Locusts always keep their rank, and although their number is legion, they do not crowd upon each other, so as to throw their columns into confusion. This remarkable fact in natural history shows how thoroughly the Lord has infused the spirit of order into his universe, since the smallest animate creatures are as much controlled by it as are the rolling spheres or the seraphic messengers. It would be wise for believers to be ruled by the same influence in all their spiritual life. In their Christian graces no one virtue should usurp the sphere of another, or eat out the vitals of the rest for its own support. Affection must not smother honesty, courage must not elbow weakness out of the field, modesty must not jostle energy, and patience must not slaughter resolution. So also with our duties, one must not interfere with another; public usefulness must not injure private piety; church work must not push family worship into a corner. It is ill to offer God one duty stained with the blood of another. Each thing is beautiful in its season, but not otherwise. It was to the Pharisee that Jesus said, “This ought ye to have done, and not to have left the other undone.” The same rule applies to our personal position, we must take care to know our place, take it, and keep to it. We must minister as the Spirit has given us ability, and not intrude upon our fellow servant’s domain. Our Lord Jesus taught us not to covet the high places, but to be willing to be the least among the brethren. Far from us be an envious, ambitious spirit, let us feel the force of the Master’s command, and do as he bids us, keeping rank with the rest of the host. To-night let us see whether we are keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of peace, and let our prayer be that, in all the churches of the Lord Jesus, peace and order may prevail.
