一月三十一日[mp3_embed playlst=”/downloading/audio/evening/01/0131.mp3″]
经文: 亚希玛斯就从平原往前跑，跑过古示人去了。（撒母耳记下十八：23）
跑并不是一件简单的事，但所选择的路径也甚重要。腿虽迅束，但在小山和低谷奔跑与在平坦之地上慢步旅行是不相同的。我的属灵旅程又是如何呢？我是否以自己的能力艰辛地爬上山坡，以自我的谦卑和果断下到峡谷？或我仅以单纯的方法“相信并活着”去奔跑？若心灵受感于信心，就能奔跑却不困倦，行走却不疲乏。基督耶稣是生命的道路。祂是一条平坦的路、一条愉快的路、一条适合于颤栗罪人的蹒跚脚步和软弱膝盖的路。我是在祂的路径上仍在寻求宗教或哲学所提示的另一条路径？我已读过有关成圣的方法，寻觅的人，虽然愚笨，也不会走往错误之路。我是否已从骄傲中被释放，如孩童般被引领安息在耶稣的爱和宝血中？若然，藉上帝的恩典，我将胜过选择任何其它路径的最快速赛跑者。我最聪明的方法是即时求助于上帝和祂的指引。祂明白我的缺乏并能解救我。除祂以外，我尚能求谁？我只需直接向祂祈求并单单地抓住祂的应许。人尚且在普通的事上彼此竞争去击败对方，我岂不更该迫切地奔跑为要得到奖赏？主啊，帮助我以祢的话来更新我的心意，使我竭力向着标竿直跑，为要得着上帝在基督耶稣里从上面召我来得的奖赏。
Evening, January 31
Scripture: “Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi.”(2 Samuel 18:23)
Running is not everything, there is much in the way which we select: a swift foot over hill and down dale will not keep pace with a slower traveller upon level ground. How is it with my spiritual journey, am I labouring up the hill of my own works and down into the ravines of my own humiliations and resolutions, or do I run by the plain way of “Believe and live”? How blessed is it to wait upon the Lord by faith! The soul runs without weariness, and walks without fainting, in the way of believing. Christ Jesus is the way of life, and he is a plain way, a pleasant way, a way suitable for the tottering feet and feeble knees of trembling sinners: am I found in this way, or am I hunting after another track such as priestcraft or metaphysics may promise me? I read of the way of holiness, that the wayfaring man, though a fool, shall not err therein: have I been delivered from proud reason and been brought as a little child to rest in Jesus’ love and blood? If so, by God’s grace I shall outrun the strongest runner who chooses any other path. This truth I may remember to my profit in my daily cares and needs. It will be my wisest course to go at once to my God, and not to wander in a roundabout manner to this friend and that. He knows my wants and can relieve them, to whom should I repair but to himself by the direct appeal of prayer, and the plain argument of the promise. “Straightforward makes the best runner.” I will not parlay with the servants, but hasten to their master.
In reading this passage, it strikes me that if men vie with each other in common matters, and one outruns the other, I ought to be in solemn earnestness so to run that I may obtain. Lord, help me to gird up the loins of my mind, and may I press forward towards the mark for the prize of my high calling of God in Christ Jesus.