2月3日
标 题： 刚强而非胆怯
经 节： 因为神赐给我们，不是胆怯的心，乃是刚强、仁爱、谨守的心。（提摩太后书一章7节）
我们基督徒惟一的畏惧应是敬畏神（哥林多后书五：10～11；希伯来书十：31）。人类的恐惧不是由神而来，问题是许多基督徒惧怕人多过惧怕神。他们白费力气讨好他人，于是他们的恐惧阻碍他们讨神的欢喜。提摩太是个天性害羞的年轻人，身体可能不是很强壮（提摩太前书五：23）。他知道保罗常遇见苦难及遭受迫害，也知道自己可能会遭受类似的迫害。保罗提醒这位年轻的同工，惧怕人不是由神而来。惧怕会使我们停止手上的工作，开始怀疑神所清楚交代的事。在迫害到来之前，我们对自己的顺服还满怀信心。然而在逆境中，我们不再确定自己是否正确地听到神的声音。我们大部分的恐惧是畏惧未知，我们不知道等在前头的是什么。于是我们担心忧虑。我们的想像力扩大问题的严重性，直到这些问题似乎变得难以越过、不能克服。我们需要以健全的心态与正确的眼光来看待事物，这就是为什么神赐下祂的圣灵，使我们能够以神的眼光来看事物。惧怕不能成为悖逆神的借口。当你拥有伟大圣灵同住在你心里时，你没有理由活在恐惧中。恐惧虽然会奴役你，但基督已释放你，让你得自由。祈求神把你由现在的恐惧中释放出来，并且张开你心灵的眼睛看到事实的真相。当神光照你处境的真相时，祂会使你能够继续地顺服。
Power,
Not Fear
For
God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound
mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)
The only fear that God encourages in a
Christian’s life is the fear of God (2 Cor. 5:10–11; Heb. 10:31). Fear of people does not come
from God. The problem is that many Christians fear people more than they fear
God. Their fear hinders them from pleasing God because they waste their efforts
appeasing other people. Timothy was a young man, timid by nature, and probably not strong physically (1 Tim.
5:23). He knew of Paul’s frequent trials and persecutions. He knew that he,
too, might suffer those same persecutions. Paul reminded his young colleague
that fear of others does not come from God.
Fear causes us to stop and question what
God has clearly told us to do. Perhaps we were confident in our obedience until
persecution came; now we doubt whether we heard God correctly. Most fear is
fear of the unknown. We do not know what lies ahead of us, so we become
apprehensive. Our imaginations can magnify problems until they seem
insurmountable. We need a sound mind to see things in proper perspective. That
is why God gave us His Holy Spirit, to enable us to see things as God sees
them.
Fear is no excuse to disobey God. There is
no reason to live in fear when you have the mighty presence of the Holy Spirit
within you. Fear will enslave you, but Christ has come to set you free. Ask God
to free you from any fear you are experiencing and to open your eyes. As He
reveals the reality of your situation, He will enable you to continue in
obedience.
