六月二十七日[mp3_embed playlst=”/downloading/audio/evening/06/0627.mp3″]
经文: 各人蒙召的时候是什么身份,仍要守住这身份。(哥林多前书七:20)
有人愚蠢地以为,为主而活的唯一方法,是成为牧师或是宣教士。倘若这想法是正确的,那么许多人将失去许多颂赞至高者的机会了。亲爱的,重要的不是工作的本身,乃是作工时迫切的心。不是地位,乃是恩典使我们能荣耀上帝。上帝最得荣耀的场所,是敬畏上帝的工人在工厂中操作机器时,唱出救主的大爱。祂在此所得的荣耀,远超过许多正规宗教性,却执行出来不够水准之任务的讲台。药房中的职员赞美上帝,或与祂的同事谈论耶稣的时候,祂的名所得荣耀,其程度不亚于受人欢迎的布道家,到各地热烈广传福音时所得的荣耀。在我们的正当职业中,通过我们的服事,上帝被荣耀了。毋需辞去你的职业中,放弃责任,却要小心的尊重你的事业。不要忽视你的呼召,每种合法的商业都可以藉福音成为圣洁。翻开圣经,你将发现最低下的劳动,与信心的伟大事业相连。因此,不要不满足于你的呼召。无论上帝让你处在什么地位,就要守住它,除非你十分肯定上帝呼召你去从事其他工作。但愿你能先关心,在岗位上用最大的努力去荣耀上帝。祂若需要你到别处去,祂也会指示你。今晚,将困扰你的野心置于一旁,拥抱平安的满足吧!
Evening, June 27
Scripture: “Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.”(1 Corinthians 7:20)
Some persons have the foolish notion that the only way in which they can live for God is by becoming ministers, missionaries, or Bible women. Alas! how many would be shut out from any opportunity of magnifying the Most High if this were the case. Beloved, it is not office, it is earnestness; it is not position, it is grace which will enable us to glorify God. God is most surely glorified in that cobbler’s stall, where the godly worker, as he plies the awl, sings of the Saviour’s love, aye, glorified far more than in many a prebendal stall where official religiousness performs its scanty duties. The name of Jesus is glorified by the poor unlearned carter as he drives his horse, and blesses his God, or speaks to his fellow labourer by the roadside, as much as by the popular divine who, throughout the country, like Boanerges, is thundering out the gospel. God is glorified by our serving him in our proper vocations. Take care, dear reader, that you do not forsake the path of duty by leaving your occupation, and take care you do not dishonour your profession while in it. Think little of yourselves, but do not think too little of your callings. Every lawful trade may be sanctified by the gospel to noblest ends. Turn to the Bible, and you will find the most menial forms of labour connected either with most daring deeds of faith, or with persons whose lives have been illustrious for holiness. Therefore be not discontented with your calling. Whatever God has made your position, or your work, abide in that, unless you are quite sure that he calls you to something else. Let your first care be to glorify God to the utmost of your power where you are. Fill your present sphere to his praise, and if he needs you in another he will show it you. This evening lay aside vexatious ambition, and embrace peaceful content.