全职基督徒的灵修生活
倚赖神的大能大力做刚强的人。要穿戴神所赐的全副军装，就能抵挡魔鬼的诡计。（弗6:10-11）
读了《基督徒灵修生活》（Devotional Life of the ‘Professional Christian）的第一篇文章，我们知道，追随基督必须是我们生活的中心，并且我们的灵修应该帮助我们聚焦在这个目标上。
然而，仅仅强调这个事实不会使我们自动就有丰盛的属灵生命。我们需要操练，操练很好的使用时间来灵修。
在这篇文章当中，我们将阐述留出灵修时间的必要性。只有（在祷告中）争战，我们才能扛得住忙碌生活带来的压力，才能胜过魔鬼的抵挡，抵挡肉体情欲和这悖逆世界的诱惑。
1.无计划的灵修生活会因我们的忙碌而夭折
我们经常怪没有时间祷告，也确实会有些实际的原因，因为我们需要完成生活中，并且是必须马上完成。很少有人能完成日常计划中的所有事情。
所以除非我们认定祷告和默想神的话语的重要性和紧迫性，否则，我们就会把它们拖到第二天。明日复明日，很快我们就会发现很多日子在没有读经、没有祷告中蹉跎了。正如D. A.卡森写道：
我们不会混出属灵生命的，我们也不会混出谨守的祷告生活。只有坚持有计划的祷告，我们的灵命才会成长。这就意味着我们必须拿出时间专一地祷告。我们付诸行动的所做反映出我们最看重什么。这就意味着我们可以永远宣称自己如何致力于祷告，但是除非我们真的祷告了，不然我们的行为会出卖我们的话。（《保罗的祷告：灵命更新的呼召》，中文版由麦种传道会出版，本段来自英文版第19页）
责怪生活繁忙的同时，我们更应该知道，我们不能长期委身阻拦了我们的灵修，除此之外，还有更多的因素。到底是哪些因素呢？
2. 祷告是不可缺少的属灵兵器
首先，属灵的争战时时存在。
因为我们并不是与属血气的争战，乃是与那些执政的、掌权的、管辖这幽暗世界的，以及天空属灵气的恶魔争战。（弗6:12）
我们不能以忙碌为自己开脱，我们需要知道，我们在遭受攻击。很明显在这一段经文中，保罗并未像陈述如何预备属灵战争那样详尽讲述如何进行属灵战争。他告诉我们现在就穿上神所赐的全副军装，好在征战来临的时候，我们已经是做好准备的了。
所以要拿起神所赐的全副军装，好在磨难的日子抵挡仇敌，并且成就了一切，还能站立得住（弗6:13）。
一旦战争开始，再去做准备就太迟了。
想象一下，如果一个士兵因自信于自己多年的训练，而在战争时穿着睡衣赤膊上阵，这有多么愚蠢！同样对于牧师而言，如果他自以为自己的属灵生命成熟了，而放下圣灵的宝剑（神的道）、不去祷告预备信德的藤牌，仅仅靠自己去面对每日的属灵争战，这又是多么蠢不可言！，
基督徒的生活就是争战，我们不仅要进行战争，我们还要积极为争战做准备。生活中我们时常会面临争战，但是我们必须在争战到来之前就藉着祷告和研读神的话语来穿上神所赐的全副军装。否则的话，我们就给仇敌留下了可怕的破口。
撒旦知道你的房间和橱子的摆放，虽然他没有打开你心灵的钥匙，然而他可以站在隔壁，悄悄地听你内心的低语。他通过自己的嗅觉猎取基督徒的心，并且一旦他嗅到了你内心的喜好，他就知道下一步该怎么做了；哪怕仅有一扇门未上锁、一个疏忽、一次没有祷告、一个该做的事没有做、错过一次恩典，就给撒旦留下了足够的破口。（William Gurnall著，The Christian in Complete Armour, Banner of Truth出版社1964版，英文版第64页开始）
或许牧师们在他们成为牧师以前，认为祷告的操练在他们成为全职牧师之后就会很容易了。毕竟对于牧师来说，祷告是最重要的两件工作内容之一（“但我们要专心以祷告、传道为事”，徒6：4）。
然而对于牧师而言，不仅恒切祷告很难，在很多事上都变得更难了。魔鬼知道神的话语有改变的能力，他要把神的话从人的心中抢走（太13:19）。难道那恶者不会更加拦阻那些用神话语喂养他人的人得到喂养么？
3. 始终如一的灵修生活是与和肉体争战
不仅魔鬼拦阻我们，我们的肉体——“罪性”也拦阻我们。
因为情欲和圣灵相争，圣灵和情欲相争，这两个是彼此相敌，使你们不能做所愿意做的（加5:17）。
为了制服肉体的情欲，即罪性，我们必须在神的话语和祷告中追求认识神。正如19世纪爱尔兰的一位牧师写道：
认识神，神的恩典，神和我们的关系，我们对于神的意义，我们的生活，我们的职分，我们的圣洁，我们的产业，我们的荣耀，所有这些真理就像“他是教会的头”一样，都在圣经中指示给了我们，这能加给我们力量去克制肉体的行为，并且能使我们越来越向罪死、向世界死。（Joseph Denham Smith著，Life Truths，费城Rice & Hurst出版社出版，英文版第15页起）
但是肉体却不愿意被制服。就像牛犊窥探屠刀一样，肉体会消灭学习神话语的念头。讽刺的是，肉体可能不会抵抗我们对他人讲道，却会阻止我们自己去灵修。只要我们的肉体不被挑战，它就会满足于忙着帮别人克制肉体的情欲。毕竟肉体不像魔鬼。它不是同整个教会争战。
我们这些有牧师职分的人必须认识到：如果清晨我们第一想做的事情是去服事弟兄姊妹而不是追求耶稣，那么这是来自肉体的情欲——不愿对付自己。认识到这些，我们就会明白，在每日清单上，没有什么比优先安排灵修时间更重要的事情了。
4.应该惧怕神，而不是惧怕人
除了魔鬼和肉体，我们必须知道这个世界也反对我们的灵修生活。我们知道世人将跟随耶稣视为愚蠢的事，也要知道在我们的教会中存在世俗的力量。他们忽视耶稣交给教会的使命——比如探望患病的，关心孤独的——认为这是牧师一个人的事。
我从未听说有牧师因为不祷告而被解雇，尽管我认为公正的说，有些人（包括我自己）应该被解聘。至少有三点原因。第一，会众很少认为牧师需要操练灵修生活。第二，牧师自己也不认为自己需要。第三，和公开的职责相比，牧师能够轻松地掩饰个人职责上的疏忽。
但是这种对个人灵修生活的疏忽说明什么呢？那就是牧师惧怕人甚于惧怕神。
解决办法很简单：祷告加行动。向神祈求一颗谦卑、敬畏神的心，然后照着祷告的去行。没有什么能取代自律。因为敬畏神，而不是惧怕人，所以把祷告放在最优先的地位。有时候出于对神的爱，我们必须拒绝他人要我们做的事。
无独有偶，人们认为牧师很容易胜过哪些干扰灵修生活的事，但事实上这对于牧师而言更难。教众的很多事会让牧师忽略职责，比如探访病人、善工等。然而牧师必须学会拒绝其中的一些事，以免沦落为失去与神亲密关系的“全职基督徒”。
看一看为了留下祷告的时间，基督舍弃的事吧：
“但耶稣的名声越发传扬出去。有极多的人聚集来听道，也指望医治他们的病。耶稣却退到旷野去祷告”。（路5:15-16）。
看一看使徒们为了祷告所委派给出去的事情吧：
那时门徒增多。有说希腊话的犹太人向希伯来人发怨言，因为在天天的供给上忽略了他们的寡妇。十二使徒叫众门徒来，对他们说：“我们撇下神的道去管理饭食原是不合宜的。所以弟兄们，当从你们中间选出七个有好名声、被圣灵充满、智慧充足的人，我们就派他们管理这事。但我们要专心以祈祷传道为事。（徒6:1-4）
耶稣这样做给人们控告他的把柄：控告他不传道或不医治那些专门来寻求他的人。而使徒们则面临当时世上唯一新约教会内部的严重分歧。然而无论是耶稣还是门徒都知道他们必须祷告。他们对神的爱胜过对人的惧怕，这种爱使得他们能够更好地爱人、服事人，这是属世的智慧所不能预见的。
结论：操练敬虔生活是我们的目标
在所有对操练的讲述中，值得一提的是，我们自律不是为了伤害自己。更确切的说，自律让我们有机会享受神丰盛的恩典，就像我们都知道，这些恩典基于我们顺服地预备充足的灵修时间。这个世界，肉体，还有魔鬼都不想我们享受与基督的相交，所以非常明确地反对我们的灵修生活。然而只要我们留出与神亲近的时间，我们可以享受对神的赞美。
“彼得告诉我们‘天使也愿意详细查看这些事’（彼前1：12）。天使都愿意详细查看的我们却不愿意去瞥一眼，这难道不可悲么？或许我们早已对神的祝福视为理所当然。如果当你静下来感到疲惫想赶快摆脱这种感觉，停下来想一下你被赋予的特权！你能遇见你的造物主，你被邀请与万能的神相见，来倾听他的话语，来敬拜他。还需要更好的理由让我们预备时间么？”（Simon Robinson著，Improving your quiet time，Day One Publications出版社1998年出版，英文版第24页）
与我们的神相见并不艰难。我们因他而得救。我们难道不应每天享受他的同在么？
The Devotional Life of the Professional Christian
Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes (Eph. 6:10-11).
In the first article on the “Devotional Life of the ‘Professional Christian,’” we saw that pursuing Christ must be the central aim of our lives, and that our devotions should help center our lives upon that aim.
Yet merely affirming this fact doesn’t automatically produce a rich devotional life. We need discipline: discipline for having devotions and discipline for using the time well.
In this article, we shall consider the need to set aside time. In the future articles, we will consider how to use that time well. Only through our (grace empowered) struggle can we overcome the pressures of our busy lives, as well as the opposition of the devil, the flesh, and a world in rebellion against Christ.
1. UNPLANNED DEVOTIONS ARE SQUEEZED OUT BY BUSYNESS
Often, we blame our schedules for our lack of devotions. And there is certainly some legitimacy to this charge. Life assigns us tasks that must be completed, and tasks that must be completed immediately. Few people finish everything on their daily list.
So unless we appreciate the importance and the urgency of prayer and meditation on God’s Word, we will leave it until tomorrow. When tomorrow comes we will leave it until the next day. Soon we find that days and weeks have passed without rich time in the Word and prayer. As D. A. Carson writes,
We don’t drift into spiritual life; we do not drift into disciplined prayer. We do not grow in prayer unless we plan to pray. That means we must set aside time to do nothing but pray. What we actually do reflects our highest priorities. That means that we can proclaim our commitment to prayer until the cows come home, but unless we actually pray, our actions disown our words.[1]
For as much as we blame life’s busyness, notice that it’s not merely our short-term commitments that relegate our devotions; something more is happening. What?
2. DEVOTIONS ARE VITAL PREPARATION FOR SPIRITUAL BATTLE
To begin with, there are active spiritual forces opposing us.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Eph. 6:12).
We must not just fall back on the busyness excuse, but realize that we are under attack.
Strikingly, Paul in this passage does not tell us how to engage in spiritual warfare as much as how to prepare for spiritual warfare. He tells us to put on the full armor of God today so that when the battle is waged, we will be prepared.
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand (Eph. 6:13).
Once the battle begins, it is too late to begin our preparations.
What foolishness for a soldier to be so confident in his years of military training that, on the day of battle itself, he enters the battle unarmed and wearing his pajamas! What foolishness for the pastor to be so confident in his Christian maturity that he enters the daily battles without the sword of the spirit or the shield of faith worked out in prayer!
The Christian life is a battle that should be fought not only reactively but also proactively. The battle will often be brought to us, but we must put on the armor of God through prayer and the study of his Word before those times come. Otherwise, we are giving the devil a terrific advantage.
Satan knows what orders thou keepest in thy house and closet, and though he hath not a key to thy heart, yet he can stand in the next room to it, and lightly hear what is whispered there. He hunts the Christian by the scent of his own feet, and if once he doth but smell which way thy heart inclines, he knows how to take the hint; if but one door be unbolted, one work unmanned, one grace off its carriage, here is advantage enough.[2]
Perhaps pastors, before they were pastors, thought that the discipline of prayer would come more easily once they were in full-time ministry. After all, few jobs list “prayer” as one of the two principle items on the job description (“We will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word”; Acts 6:4).
Yet not only is it difficult for pastors to be devoted to prayer; in many ways it is harder than ever. The devil recognizes the transforming power of the Word of God, and seeks to snatch it from people’s hearts.[3] Will he not focus his attention on keeping those who feed others with the word from being fed by the word?
3. CONSISTENT DEVOTIONAL LIFE IS A STRUGGLE AGAINST THE FLESH
Not only do the devil and his forces oppose us, our flesh—what the NIV translates “sinful nature”—opposes us.
For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want (Gal. 5:17).
In order to mortify this flesh, this sinful nature, we must pursue knowledge of Christ through his word and through prayer. As one nineteenth-century Irish pastor wrote,
Knowing him, his grace, what he is to us, and what we are to him, what our life, our rank, our holiness, our inheritance, and our glory, all that as head he is to his members as revealed to us in the word, this is the power that enables us to mortify the deeds of the body, and makes us, with more and more emphasis, morally and practically what we are judicially—crucified, dead to the world, dead to sin.[4]
But the flesh has no desire to be mortified. Like the calf that spies the butcher’s knife, it bolts at the thought of studying God’s Word. What that means, ironically, is that the flesh may not revolt against our ministry to others to the same extent that it revolts against our own devotions. The flesh is content for us to busy ourselves aiding others in their mortification, so long as it remains intact itself. After all, the flesh is not like the devil. It is not fighting a broad war against the whole church.
Each morning, we who are in the pastoral ministry must recognize that our desire to pursue ministry before we have pursued Christ is a desire of the flesh, which resists its own mortification. Recognizing this, we will see that there is no substitute for the discipline of placing our devotional time on the calendar as the most urgent of our daily appointments.
4. FEAR OF MAN IS A POOR SUBSTITUTE FOR THE FEAR OF GOD
In addition to the devil and the flesh, we must recognize the world’s opposition to our devotional life. Not only should we expect non-Christians to perceive the pursuit of Christ as foolish, we should expect a residual worldliness within our own congregations. They will neglect the tasks that Christ has assigned to the whole congregation—such as visiting the sick or befriending the lonely—by expecting the pastor to carry the weight of those tasks alone.
I have never known a pastor to be fired for prayerlessness, even though I expect that many justly could have been (myself included). There are at least three reasons for this. First, congregations rarely hold a pastor accountable for his devotional life. Second, pastors themselves too infrequently seek such accountability. Third, pastors can conceal the neglect of private duties more easily than the neglect of public duties.
But what does such private neglect reveal? That a pastor fears man more than he fears God.
The solution is simple: pray and act. Pray for a humble, God-fearing heart. And then act accordingly. There is no substitute for self-control. Self-control that prioritizes the devotional life is the fruit the Spirit in one who fears God more than men. Such self-control recognizes that what others want us to do must be sacrificed sometimes out of love for the Lord.
Again, one might assume that of all people pastors will find it easier to resist the worldliness that kills the devotional life. But, once again, it is often harder. Many duty-neglecting demands from a congregation, like visiting the sick, still make for good, eternity-building opportunities. Yet a pastor must learn to refuse some of them lest he become a “professional Christian” with no vital walk with the Lord.
Notice the kingdom work that Jesus had to “neglect” in order to set aside time to pray:
Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed (Luke 5:15-16).
Notice also what the apostles had to delegate in order to pray:
In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, ‘It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word’ (Acts 6:1-4).
Jesus left himself open to the accusation of not preaching or healing those who had come specifically to find him. And the apostles faced major division among the only New Testament church in the world! Yet both Jesus and the apostles knew they had to pray. They loved their Lord more than they feared men, and this enabled them to love and serve men more than a worldly wisdom might have predicted.
CONCLUSION: THE JOYFUL GOAL OF DISCIPLINE
Amidst all this talk of discipline, it’s worth remembering that we do not exercise self-control in order to harm ourselves. Rather, self-control provides an opportunity to enjoy the riches of God’s grace—as we all know full well based on the times when we have obediently set aside sufficient time for devotions. The world, the flesh, and the devil oppose our devotional lives precisely because not one of them wants us to enjoy fellowship with Christ. Yet—praise God!—we can enjoy it, if only we will set aside the time.
Peter tells us that ‘angels long to look into the things that God has revealed to us’ (1 Peter 1:12). Isn’t it tragic that where angels long to look we can’t always be bothered to glance! Perhaps we have begun to take God’s blessings for granted. If you come to your quiet times feeling weary and wanting to get them over as quickly as possible, stop and think about the privilege that you have been given! You are able to meet with your Creator, you are invited to encounter Almighty God, to hear from Him and worship Him. What better reason could there possibly be to set the necessary time aside?[5]
It is no hardship to meet with our Lord. We were saved for him. Will we not enjoy him each day?
1. Don Carson, A Call to Spiritual Reformation, (Baker Books, 1992) 19
2. William Gurnall, The Christian in Complete Armour, (Banner of Truth, 1964) 64f.
3. Matthew 13:19
4. Joseph Denham Smith, Life Truths (Philadelphia: Rice & Hurst, [no date]), 15f.
5. Simon Robinson, Improving your quiet time (Day One Publications, 1998) 24.
作者：Mike Gilbart-Smith
翻译肢体：邱晴晴
用圣经视野和实用资源装备教会领袖
进而通过健康的教会向世界彰显神的荣耀
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