十月二十日[mp3_embed playlst=”/downloading/audio/evening/10/1020.mp3″]
经文: 不要拘留。（以赛亚书四十三：6）
虽然这一信息是对以色列百姓说的，不过对我们亦是一种劝诫。我们天性会敌对一些美善的事物，需要靠恩典来学习在上帝的道路中前进。你尚未信主，却愿意信靠主耶稣吗？那么，不要停留。主的大爱邀请你前来，祂宝贝的血已为你预备了道路。不要让罪或恐惧阻挡你，就带着你原本的样子来到耶稣跟前。你渴望祷告吗？你愿意将心倾倒在主前吗？不要停留。施恩宝座乃为那些需要怜悯的人而预候备的。罪人的呼求在上帝面前是有效的。主邀请你来，祂命令你向祂祷告。勇敢地到施恩宝座前来吧！你已经求救了吗？那么不要停止与主的百姓相交。不要忽视浸礼，也不要忽视主餐。你可能个性胆怯，但你必须竭力与这胆怯的心对抗，否则你将会被导入不顺从。你若有才能，不要拘留不用。切勿聚藏财富或浪费光阴。不要让你的才能长诱，也不要隐藏不用你的影响力。耶稣没有留一样好处不给我们，我们要效法祂的舍已与牺牲。不要停止与上帝的亲密交通，不要停止发现基督之爱的宝贵奥秘。更不要因你的冷淡、无情或疑惑犯下阻止别人前来的罪。为耶稣的缘故，你要前进并且鼓励其他人也前进。地狱和其不信的或迷信的军队已全力赴战。十字架的士兵啊，不要再裹足不前了！
Evening, October 20
Scripture: “Keep not back.”(Isaiah 43:6)
Although this message was sent to the south, and referred to the seed of Israel, it may profitably be a summons to ourselves. Backward we are naturally to all good things, and it is a lesson of grace to learn to go forward in the ways of God. Reader, are you unconverted, but do you desire to trust in the Lord Jesus? Then keep not back. Love invites you, the promises secure you success, the precious blood prepares the way. Let not sins or fears hinder you, but come to Jesus just as you are. Do you long to pray? Would you pour out your heart before the Lord? Keep not back. The mercy-seat is prepared for such as need mercy; a sinner’s cries will prevail with God. You are invited, nay, you are commanded to pray, come therefore with boldness to the throne of grace.
Dear friend, are you already saved? Then keep not back from union with the Lord’s people. Neglect not the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. You may be of a timid disposition, but you must strive against it, lest it lead you into disobedience. There is a sweet promise made to those who confess Christ－by no means miss it, lest you come under the condemnation of those who deny him. If you have talents keep not back from using them. Hoard not your wealth, waste not your time; let not your abilities rust or your influence be unused. Jesus kept not back, imitate him by being foremost in self-denials and self-sacrifices. Keep not back from close communion with God, from boldly appropriating covenant blessings, from advancing in the divine life, from prying into the precious mysteries of the love of Christ. Neither, beloved friend, be guilty of keeping others back by your coldness, harshness, or suspicions. For Jesus’ sake go forward yourself, and encourage others to do the like. Hell and the leaguered bands of superstition and infidelity are forward to the fight. O soldiers of the cross, keep not back.
