十月二十三日 [mp3_embed playlst=”/downloading/audio/evening/10/1023.mp3″]
经文: 你们为什么睡觉呢？起来祷告，免得入了迷惑。（路加福音二十二：46）
基督徒最容易沉睡的时间是什么时候？岂不是当他周围环境昌盛之时？当你忙于将每日的困难带到施恩座前，你在灵性上不是更为儆醒吗？平顺大道使旅客易于瞌睡。基督徒在路途中遇见狮子或心灵之仇敌交战时，是不会沉睡的；可是，当他攀登困难山，中途来到一可爱的凉亭，他坐下来休息一会儿，不久就沉睡了，以后遭受了大忧伤、大损失。你记得本仁约翰的描述吗？（注）他说：“他们来到一凉亭，温暖舒适，尤其是对于疲惫的朝圣者；因为它的顶部经过细心加工，以绿枝美化，并有长椅卧榻，疲惫者可以倚靠憩息……。凉亭之名为懒惰人之友，建造之目的是倘若有疲惫的朝圣者经过者，诱惑他们停下休息。”在舒适之处人会闭上双目，随即堕入遗忘之梦乡。老轭尔斯金智慧之言说：“我宁愿遇见吼叫的魔鬼，而不愿遇见使人贪睡的魔鬼。”不被试探与遭受试探是同样的危险。痛苦困扰的心灵不会沉睡，但当我们进入平安稳妥之境地时，就面临沉睡的危险了。门徒在山上见到耶稣改变形像后，他们沉睡了。留意啊，快乐的基督徒！愉快的环境是试探的近邻。你可以如愿地喜乐，但是必须儆醒！（注：本仁约翰着──“天路历程”大光出版）
Evening, October 23
Scripture: “Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.”(Luke 22:46)
When is the Christian most liable to sleep? Is it not when his temporal circumstances are prosperous? Have you not found it so? When you had daily troubles to take to the throne of grace, were you not more wakeful than you are now? Easy roads make sleepy travellers. Another dangerous time is when all goes pleasantly in spiritual matters. Christian went not to sleep when lions were in the way, or when he was wading through the river, or when fighting with Apollyon, but when he had climbed half way up the Hill Difficulty, and came to a delightful arbour, he sat down, and forthwith fell asleep, to his great sorrow and loss. The enchanted ground is a place of balmy breezes, laden with fragrant odours and soft influences, all tending to lull pilgrims to sleep. Remember Bunyan’s description: “Then they came to an arbour, warm, and promising much refreshing to the weary pilgrims; for it was finely wrought above head, beautified with greens, and furnished with benches and settles. It had also in it a soft couch, where the weary might lean.” “The arbour was called the Slothful’s Friend, and was made on purpose to allure, if it might be, some of the pilgrims to take up their rest there when weary.” Depend upon it, it is in easy places that men shut their eyes and wander into the dreamy land of forgetfulness. Old Erskine wisely remarked, “I like a roaring devil better than a sleeping devil.” There is no temptation half so dangerous as not being tempted. The distressed soul does not sleep; it is after we enter into peaceful confidence and full assurance that we are in danger of slumbering. The disciples fell asleep after they had seen Jesus transfigured on the mountain top. Take heed, joyous Christian, good frames are near neighbours to temptations: be as happy as you will, only be watchful.