竭诚为主4月19日（中/英）

绝不可能吗？

作者：章伯斯

约押虽然没有归从押沙龙，却归从了亚多尼雅。（王上二28）

约押在大考验中站得住，始终对大卫绝对效忠，没有随从那野心勃勃、欺世惑众的押沙龙。但到了晚年，却跟随了贪鄙的押沙龙。所以要常常提高警觉；有一个人可以这样倒退，众人都有这倒退的可能（林前十13）。你过了大难关吗？现在就要在最小的事上留心。那最不为人注意的小事，要懂得留心。

我们会很随意的说：[既然经过这样大的考验，就不会再回到世俗中去，留恋世事了。]不要自以为知道试探的来源；最不可能发生的事，往往是最致命的。在一次重大的属灵转变过后，那隐而不露的试探就开始出现了；这不会很昭彰明显，却潜藏在那里，若不警觉，就必把你绊倒。你在烈火的考验下曾经持守纯正，向神忠贞，如今却要当心暗潮。但不必无病呻吟，内省自疚，对前途恐惧不前，只要保持警觉，在神面前有一种清晰能力。没有防卫看守，力量就会变弱，那暗潮便会涌入，叫防守崩陷。圣经人物很多都在优点上失败，而不是在弱点上。
[蒙神能力保守]——这是唯一安全之方。

祈祷◆主啊，今天我要奉你的名讲道；求你使它藉着你的能力而发放。使我的灵魂确实认识你，让我在所有深入和终极的意义上只专注于你。

April 19 

Beware of the Least Likely Temptation

By Oswald Chambers

Joab had defected to Adonijah, though he had not defected to Absalom. —1 Kings 2:28

Joab withstood the greatest test of his life, remaining absolutely loyal to David by not turning to follow after the fascinating and ambitious Absalom. Yet toward the end of his life he turned to follow after the weak and cowardly Adonijah. Always remain alert to the fact that where one person has turned back is exactly where anyone may be tempted to turn back (see 1 Corinthians 10:11-13). You may have just victoriously gone through a great crisis, but now be alert about the things that may appear to be the least likely to tempt you. Beware of thinking that the areas of your life where you have experienced victory in the past are now the least likely to cause you to stumble and fall.

We are apt to say, “It is not at all likely that having been through the greatest crisis of my life I would now turn back to the things of the world.” Do not try to predict where the temptation will come; it is the least likely thing that is the real danger. It is in the aftermath of a great spiritual event that the least likely things begin to have an effect. They may not be forceful and dominant, but they are there. And if you are not careful to be forewarned, they will trip you. You have remained true to God under great and intense trials— now beware of the undercurrent. Do not be abnormally examining your inner self, looking forward with dread, but stay alert; keep your memory sharp before God. Unguarded strength is actually a double weakness, because that is where the least likely temptations will be effective in sapping strength. The Bible characters stumbled over their strong points, never their weak ones.

“…kept by the power of God…”— that is the only safety. (1 Peter 1:5).

WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS

The great word of Jesus to His disciples is Abandon. When God has brought us into the relationship of disciples, we have to venture on His word; trust entirely to Him and watch that when He brings us to the venture, we take it.  Studies in the Sermon on the Mount, 1459 R

Bible in a Year: 2 Samuel 6-8; Luke 15:1-10