十二月二十八日[mp3_embed playlst=”/downloading/audio/evening/12/1228.mp3″]
经文: 我来，并不是叫地上太平，乃是叫地上动刀兵。（马太福音十：34）
基督徒肯定会制造许多敌人。虽然这并非他的本意，但是他若行为正直，并且相信真理，就必失去每一个地上的朋友，而他只将之视为小小的损失。他在天上的伟大的朋友将更恩待他，更把自己向他启示。“因为我来，是叫人与父亲生疏、女儿与母亲生疏，……人的仇敌，就是自己家里的人。”（太十：35～36）基督是伟大的和平使者，但是在和平来临之前，祂要带来战争。光一进入，黑暗就必须离开。真理所在之处，谎言必然逃跑。若不逃跑，必然有严重的冲突，因为真理不能也不会降低标准。你的生活若在最后审判前能站立得住，世人必然不会善待你。与世界为友就是与上帝为敌。你若向至高者诚实尽忠，世人将憎恨你不退缩的忠贞，因为你的行为证明了他们是邪恶的。你必须不计任何后果作正直的事。你需要有狮子般的勇气，在你奔跑的道路上，你最要好的朋友将成为你最凶猛的仇敌。但是为了对耶稣的爱，你必须勇敢。你若要冒牺牲名誉和爱好的危险，就需要道德的力量，而唯有上帝的灵能赐你力量。切勿像懦夫一样背弃真理。勇敢地跟随主的脚踪，祂已在你前面走过了这条艰难崎岖之路。短暂之争战和永恒之安息是比虚假的和平和永远的受苦更好。
Evening, December 28
Scripture: “I came not to send peace on earth, but a sword.”(Matthew 10:34)
The Christian will be sure to make enemies. It will be one of his objects to make none; but if to do the right, and to believe the true, should cause him to lose every earthly friend, he will count it but a small loss, since his great Friend in heaven will be yet more friendly, and reveal himself to him more graciously than ever. O ye who have taken up his cross, know ye not what your Master said? “I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother; and a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.” Christ is the great Peacemaker; but before peace, he brings war. Where the light cometh, the darkness must retire. Where truth is, the lie must flee; or, if it abideth, there must be a stern conflict, for the truth cannot and will not lower its standard, and the lie must be trodden under foot. If you follow Christ, you shall have all the dogs of the world yelping at your heels. If you would live so as to stand the test of the last tribunal, depend upon it the world will not speak well of you. He who has the friendship of the world is an enemy to God; but if you are true and faithful to the Most High, men will resent your unflinching fidelity, since it is a testimony against their iniquities. Fearless of all consequences, you must do the right. You will need the courage of a lion unhesitatingly to pursue a course which shall turn your best friend into your fiercest foe; but for the love of Jesus you must thus be courageous. For the truth’s sake to hazard reputation and affection, is such a deed that to do it constantly you will need a degree of moral principle which only the Spirit of God can work in you; yet turn not your back like a coward, but play the man. Follow right manfully in your Master’s steps, for he has traversed this rough way before you. Better a brief warfare and eternal rest, than false peace and everlasting torment.