八月十一日
惟願我的景況如從前的月份。（伯29：2）
有很多基督徒認爲過去是快樂的，現在是令人不滿意的；他們想到過去與主有密切的交通是最好、最甜蜜的，可是現在卻滿臉愁容，滿心重擔，軟弱疲乏，萎靡不振起來。從前的生活靠近耶穌，現在卻覺得遠離了他，他們說：“惟願我的景況如從前的月份！”他們不滿意現在的生活，感到若有所失，現在他們心中沒有平安，現在他們不能享受恩典之樂；他們的良心遲鈍，他們已不像從前爲神的榮耀發熱心了。
所以致此的原因有很多：或者是因爲忽略禱告的緣故，因爲一切屬靈的墮落都是從忽略禱告開頭；或者是因爲拜偶像的結果，心中被另外一些東西占據了，它們比神更要緊；專愛屬世的東西，而忘記屬天的福分，忌邪的神絕不願人的心分爲別用；他應當得到人首先幷最好的愛。他的目光不會照射冷漠、偏離的心的。或者是因爲信靠自己，幷自以爲義的緣故。心中充滿驕傲，高抬自己而不謙卑俯伏在十字架下。基督徒呀！若你現在不像“從前的月份”，就不當自滿，也不要以恢復從前的快樂爲知足，乃要立即尋求主，幷把你的景況告訴他，求他賜你力量能緊緊地跟著他走；要在他面前謙卑，那末他必高舉你，再使你得見他的容光。不要呆坐，嘆息難過；只要醫生活著就有希望，就是不治之症也必得到痊愈。
“他曾救我們脫離那極大的死亡，現在仍要救我們。……”
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.
