八月十一日
惟愿我的景况如从前的月份。（伯29：2）
有很多基督徒认爲过去是快乐的，现在是令人不满意的；他们想到过去与主有密切的交通是最好、最甜蜜的，可是现在却满脸愁容，满心重担，软弱疲乏，萎靡不振起来。从前的生活靠近耶稣，现在却觉得远离了他，他们说：“惟愿我的景况如从前的月份！”他们不满意现在的生活，感到若有所失，现在他们心中没有平安，现在他们不能享受恩典之乐；他们的良心迟钝，他们已不像从前爲神的荣耀发热心了。
所以致此的原因有很多：或者是因爲忽略祷告的缘故，因爲一切属灵的堕落都是从忽略祷告开头；或者是因爲拜偶像的结果，心中被另外一些东西占据了，它们比神更要紧；专爱属世的东西，而忘记属天的福分，忌邪的神绝不愿人的心分爲别用；他应当得到人首先幷最好的爱。他的目光不会照射冷漠、偏离的心的。或者是因爲信靠自己，幷自以爲义的缘故。心中充满骄傲，高抬自己而不谦卑俯伏在十字架下。基督徒呀！若你现在不像“从前的月份”，就不当自满，也不要以恢复从前的快乐爲知足，乃要立即寻求主，幷把你的景况告诉他，求他赐你力量能紧紧地跟着他走；要在他面前谦卑，那末他必高举你，再使你得见他的容光。不要呆坐，叹息难过；只要医生活着就有希望，就是不治之症也必得到痊愈。
“他曾救我们脱离那极大的死亡，现在仍要救我们。……”
August
11
“Oh
that I were as in months past.” — Job 29:2
Numbers of Christians can view the past with pleasure, but regard the
present with dissatisfaction; they look back upon the days which they have
passed in communing with the Lord as being the sweetest and the best they have
ever known, but as to the present, it is clad in a sable garb of gloom and
dreariness. Once they lived near to Jesus, but now they feel that they have
wandered from Him, and they say, “O that I were as in months past!”
They complain that they have lost their evidences, or that they have not
present peace of mind, or that they have no enjoyment in the means of grace, or
that conscience is not so tender, or that they have not so much zeal for God’s
glory. The causes of this mournful state of things are manifold. It may arise
through a comparative neglect of prayer, for a neglected closet is the
beginning of all spiritual decline. Or it may be the result of idolatry. The
heart has been occupied with something else, more than with God; the affections
have been set on the things of earth, instead of the things of heaven. A
jealous God will not be content with a divided heart; He must be loved first
and best. He will withdraw the sunshine of His presence from a cold, wandering
heart. Or the cause may be found in self-confidence and self-righteousness.
Pride is busy in the heart, and self is exalted instead of lying low at the
foot of the cross. Christian, if you are not now as you “were in months
past,” do not rest satisfied with wishing for a return of former
happiness, but go at once to seek your Master, and tell Him your sad state. Ask
His grace and strength to help you to walk more closely with Him; humble
yourself before Him, and He will lift you up, and give you yet again to enjoy
the light of His countenance. Do not sit down to sigh and lament; while the
beloved Physician lives there is hope, nay there is a certainty of recovery for
the worst cases.
