1月14日
标 题：争战或磨练
经 节：因为主所爱的，祂必管教，又鞭打凡所收纳的儿子。（希伯来书十二章6节）
许多基督徒有个倾向，就是把所有不如意的事都视为“属灵争战”。当困难发生时，许多基督徒马上向神祈求挪去他们的危难。但问题是，他们的苦境不见得与撒但或属灵争战相关。与其相信自己所收割的正是所种的苦果，或坦承自己乃被天父所管教，我们宁可归咎自己的苦难是出自于撒但的攻击，但这可是太抬举自己了（加拉太书六：7）。
我们往往把天父的管教错认为撒但的攻击。若不重视自己肩负孩子们属灵教师的责任，神可能容许子女们犯罪。如果你在工作上不诚实，神可能允许你承受事情后果，好纠正你的行为。在这种情况求神挪去你的苦难是不智的。神管教你，好引起你的注意，进而改变你的生命。一个人若从未将自己的问题归于神的管教，是极其悲惨的！如果你把神的管教视为撒但的攻击，对你的生命毫无助益。并非你所遭遇的每件苦难都是神的惩罚，然而，圣经的确告诉我们，神会管教祂的儿女。
如果你不明白神的惩罚是为了磨练你，你可能会抱怨神不听你的祷告，或抱怨神不保护你免受撒但的攻击。就在此时，神正在警告你，要你正视自己罪行的后果。你生命中是否正面对困难的环境？这是否是神的管教？神的本性是完全的爱。祂会改正你，因为祂向你所怀的意念自始至终是善的。
Warfare . . . or Discipline?
For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives. (Hebrews 12:6)
There is a tendency among Christians to view anything unpleasant that happens to them as the result of “spiritual warfare.” When a difficulty arises, many immediately ask God to remove their distress. The problem is that their predicament may have nothing to do with Satan or with spiritual warfare. It may appear far more glorious for us to explain our hardships as Satan’s determined attacks against us, rather than admitting that we are merely reaping what we have sown and are being disciplined by our heavenly Father (Gal. 6:7).
What is often mistaken as Satan’s attack may actually be chastisement from our loving Father. If you have neglected your role as spiritual teacher to your children, God may allow them to fall into sin. If you have been dishonest at work, God may correct you by letting you face the consequences. It would be foolish to pray that God would ease your discomfort. God is disciplining you in order to gain your attention and bring necessary change to your life. How tragic never to make the connection between your problems and God’s discipline. God’s discipline will not help you if you dismiss it as Satan’s doing or spiritual warfare. Not every hardship you face is the chastisement of God, but Scripture indicates that God will discipline you.
If you misunderstand God’s chastening, you may actually blame Him for not answering your prayers or failing to protect you from Satan. Meanwhile, God is warning you of the danger you face because of your sin. Are there difficult circumstances in your life? Could it be the discipline of God? God, whose nature is perfect love, will correct you because He has your ultimate good in His heart.
