三月二日
以色列要磨锄、犁、斧、铲，就下到非利士人那里去磨。（撒上13:20）
我们和邪恶的非利士人起了大战，凡我们所有的兵器都要拿出来用。我们要动员讲道，教训，祷告，施舍，甚至也要发动被人忽视的天才。犁、斧、铲都能用以击杀非利士人；杀敌未必一定要有利器，粗笨的器具也能使敌人受到严重的打击，这些东西都有用处。每一秒时间，得时与不得时；每一分力量，受过训练或没有受过；每一个机会，顺利或不顺利，都要加以利用，因为我们的仇敌众多，我们的力量微弱。我们一切武器都需要磨砺，我们的悟性、技巧、力量、敏捷都要加以砥砺，换句话说，要叫这一切都能合乎主工作的需用。很多从事基督圣工的人多缺少普通的常识。若我们要，我们可跟我们的仇敌学习，下到非利士人那里去磨我们的武器。今晨我们也要藉圣灵的帮助把我们的热心磨得锋快。我们看看教皇党徒怎样爬山过海引人入教，又怎样利用教徒的热诚呢？异教人，又怎样火热地忍受苦痛，敬奉他们的偶像，表现他们的忍耐和特性呢？再看一看黑暗的君王，他的奋斗是多么坚忍不拔，他的努力是多么大胆妄为，他的计谋是多么慎思熟虑，他的企图是多么明目张胆，他的手段是多么高明毒辣，他的工作又是多么积极起劲呢？鬼魔都结合一致背叛真神，而我们相信耶稣的人却在服侍神的工作上散漫分歧，不能协和一致。愿我们从撒旦的工场中学会作一个好撒玛利亚人，找到我们所能帮助的人！
March 2
“But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen
every man his share, and his coulter, and his ax, and his mattock.” –1
Samuel 13:20
We are engaged in a great war with the
Philistines of evil. Every weapon within our reach must be used. Preaching,
teaching, praying, giving, all must be brought into action, and talents which
have been thought too mean for service, must now be employed. Coulter, and axe,
and mattock, may all be useful in slaying Philistines; rough tools may deal
hard blows, and killing need not be elegantly done, so long as it is done
effectually. Each moment of time, in season or out of season; each fragment of
ability, educated or untutored; each opportunity, favourable or unfavourable,
must be used, for our foes are many and our force but slender.
Most of our tools want sharpening; we need quickness of perception,
tact, energy, promptness, in a word, complete adaptation for the Lord’s work.
Practical common sense is a very scarce thing among the conductors of Christian
enterprises. We might learn from our enemies if we would, and so make the
Philistines sharpen our weapons. This morning let us note enough to sharpen our
zeal during this day by the aid of the Holy Spirit. See the energy of the
Papists, how they compass sea and land to make one proselyte, are they to
monopolize all the earnestness? Mark the heathen devotees, what tortures they
endure in the service of their idols! are they alone to exhibit patience and
self-sacrifice? Observe the prince of darkness, how persevering in his
endeavours, how unabashed in his attempts, how daring in his plans, how
thoughtful in his plots, how energetic in all! The devils are united as one man
in their infamous rebellion, while we believers in Jesus are divided in our
service of God, and scarcely ever work with unanimity. O that from Satan’s
infernal industry we may learn to go about like good Samaritans, seeking whom
we may bless!
