五月十一日[mp3_embed playlst=”/downloading/audio/evening/05/0511.mp3″]
经文: 只要刚强、大大壮胆。(约书亚记一:7)
上帝对祂仆人的温柔大爱,使祂能关心他们的感情状态。祂要他们壮胆。有人以为信徒因怀疑和恐惧而受到困扰是一件小事,但是上帝却不认为。祂要我们脱离焦虑、疑惑和胆怯。我们的主比我们更重视我们的不信。我们若丧胆,就是处于悲苦的不正常状态之中,不应视为小事,应当立即将之带到爱我们的医生处。主若看到我们悲哀的面容,祂会更忧伤。亚达薛西王的律法规定,不容许任何人穿着丧服进入他的宫中(参阅尼二:1~2)。这不是万王之王的律法,因为我们可以到祂面前,向祂诉说我们的感受。但是祂要我们脱离沉重的灵,穿上赞美的外袍,我们才能以英雄的姿态去忍受试验,并以此荣耀主。我们若恐惧不刚强,就羞辱了上帝。除此之外,恐惧更是一个坏榜样!怀疑和恐惧是一种瘟疫,会迅速在主的羊群中传染开来。一个沮丧的信徒,会使二十个心灵忧愁。除非你保持勇气,不然撒但是非你所能敌的。主的喜乐是你的力量,没有一个地狱的魔鬼能抵挡你的。心灵欢愉的人,重担也是轻省的。在上帝里面欣喜并全心相信的人,虽然劳苦却必成功。因此,“只要刚强、大大壮胆”。
Evening, May 11
Scripture: “Only be thou strong and very courageous.”(Joshua 1:7)
Our God’s tender love for his servants makes him concerned for the state of their inward feelings. He desires them to be of good courage. Some esteem it a small thing for a believer to be vexed with doubts and fears, but God thinks not so. From this text it is plain that our Master would not have us entangled with fears. He would have us without carefulness, without doubt, without cowardice. Our Master does not think so lightly of our unbelief as we do. When we are desponding we are subject to a grievous malady, not to be trifled with, but to be carried at once to the beloved Physician. Our Lord loveth not to see our countenance sad. It was a law of Ahasuerus that no one should come into the king’s court dressed in mourning: this is not the law of the King of kings, for we may come mourning as we are; but still he would have us put off the spirit of heaviness, and put on the garment of praise, for there is much reason to rejoice. The Christian man ought to be of a courageous spirit, in order that he may glorify the Lord by enduring trials in an heroic manner. If he be fearful and fainthearted, it will dishonour his God. Besides, what a bad example it is. This disease of doubtfulness and discouragement is an epidemic which soon spreads amongst the Lord’s flock. One downcast believer makes twenty souls sad. Moreover, unless your courage is kept up Satan will be too much for you. Let your spirit be joyful in God your Saviour, the joy of the Lord shall be your strength, and no fiend of hell shall make headway against you: but cowardice throws down the banner. Moreover, labour is light to a man of cheerful spirit; and success waits upon cheerfulness. The man who toils, rejoicing in his God, believing with all his heart, has success guaranteed. He who sows in hope shall reap in joy; therefore, dear reader, “be thou strong, and very courageous.”