跟隨萬王之王16
我們絕不要從戰役中落荒而逃，我們被呼召成為得勝者，得勝者不會逃離任何挑戰。聖經不斷陳述：「耶和華試驗義人」（詩篇11:5）。這些試驗不是要讓我們跌倒，而是要提升我們。正如在學校我們沒通過考試無法晉級，在我們基督徒的旅程中也是如此。每一個試驗的目的都是把我們帶到更高之處。
為著更上一層樓而不斷試驗是基督徒旅程的基本部分，我們不太可能以滿分通過考驗。我們回顧每個挑戰，知道自己本可以做得更好，但要「忘記背後…要得神在基督耶穌裡從上面召我來得的獎賞」（腓立比書3:13-14）。我們可能認為自己沒通過試驗，神卻認為我們做得不錯。神總是「拉曲線評分」（註：非原始分數而是水平參照分數），有了祂，恩典就是一切。終極考驗是，我們是否像祂對待我們一樣來對待他人？
有了神，我們絕不會沒通過試驗，只不過是一直重考直到通過。儘管如此，如果我們沒有放棄，我們一定會成功。主應許我們，祂總會帶領我們得勝，而「惟有忍耐到底的，必然得救」（馬太福音24:13）。在這裡「得救」的希臘文也可以翻成「得釋放」。
為什麼有這麼多人放棄、退後或是遠離？人們會為了任何理由放棄，除了愛以外。擁有健全的聖經教義固然重要，卻不足以使我們持守。擁有真理還不夠，我們必須愛真理和愛神超越一切。
在這個世上，人們不太可能懷抱著完美動機來到主面前，或者對神有著完美成熟的愛。然而，我們若在對祂的愛中成長，我們就不會放棄。哥林多前書十三章8節說：「愛是永不止息」，這也可以被翻成「愛是永不放棄」。
此生沒有比跟隨主更艱難的道路了，當我們在祂裡面長熟，試煉可能會更大。俗話說得好：「道高一尺魔高一丈」。這不是為了懲罰我們，但我們若被賦予更多權柄，我們必須好好用它來追趕更大、更邪惡的堅固營壘。戰士奔向打戰的聲音，而不是臨陣脫逃。當受到攻擊時，他們把它當成得勝的大好機會，從敵人手中拿回土地。
此必須成為我們的本質，但在我們所有優先順序之上，我們必須在對神和對人的愛中成長。如果我們沒有在愛中成長，我們走得越高，跌落的風險也越大。
真實的基督徒生活雖然艱難，但也是最充實和最有回報的。這一生彷彿還不夠，我們被賜予永生成為我們的終極獎賞。如果我們無法做到，是不會被呼召的，神應許我們絕不會讓我們所受的試探過於我們所能承受的。隨著我們成熟，我們更多學到此：我們的勝利不是取決在我們的個人力量，而是神的力量，這是透過相信祂所得到的。
箴言廿四章16節告訴我們：「義人七次跌倒」，就連最公義的人也無法走在完全的道路上。然而，正如這節經文繼續說：「義人雖七次跌倒，仍必興起」。主對我們的跌倒並不感到高興，而是因為我們重新站起來繼續戰鬥大大歡喜。起來！奮戰！絕不投降！絕不放棄。
(摘自喬納word for the week, Week 46, 2021)
Follow the King, Part 16
We must never run from a battle. We are called to be overcomers, and overcomers don’t run from challenges. The Scriptures repeatedly state, “The Lord tests the righteous” (see Psalm 11:5). These tests are not to cause us to fall, but to promote us. Just as we cannot advance in school without passing tests, the same is true in our Christian walk. The purpose of every test is to take us higher.
Continual tests for advancement are a basic part of the Christian walk. It is unlikely we will pass any test with a perfect score. We look back on every challenge and know we could have done better, but “forgetting what lies behind . . . I press on toward the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14). We may think we failed a test when God thinks we did well. He always “grades on a curve.” With Him, grace is included in everything for everyone. The ultimate test is, will we treat others as He has treated us?
With God, we never fail a test, but we will keep taking them until we pass. Still, we are assured success if we do not quit. We are promised He will always lead us in His triumph, and “the one who endures to the end . . . will be saved”(Matthew 24:13). The Greek word translated “saved” here can also be translated “delivered.”
Why do so many quit, backslide, or fall away? People will quit for any reason except love. Having sound, biblical doctrine is important but that will not be enough to keep us. It is not enough to have truth; we must love truth and love God above all.
It is unlikely anyone ever came to the Lord with perfect motives, or has perfect, mature love for God in this world. However, if we are growing in our love for Him, we will not quit. I Corinthians 13:8 states “Love never fails.” This could have been translated “Love never quits.”
There is no path in this life more difficult than following the Lord. As we mature in Him, the trials can get even more difficult. The saying is true: “Higher levels; bigger devils.” This is not to punish us, but if we have been given more authority, we must use it to go after bigger, evil strongholds. Warriors run to the sound of battle, not from it. When attacked, they consider it an opportunity for victory and for taking back ground from the enemy.
This must be our basic nature, but above all our main priority must be to grow in our love for God and one another. If we are not growing in love, the higher we go, the greater our risk of falling.
The true Christian life is difficult but also the most fulfilling and rewarding. As if that were not enough, we are given eternal life as our ultimate reward. We would not be called if we could not do it. He promises He will never allow us to be tempted beyond what we can endure. We learn this more as we mature: our victory is not dependent on our own strength but His, which we access through faith in Him.
We are told in Proverbs 24:16, “a righteous man falls seven times.”Even the most righteous will not walk a perfect path. However, as this verse continues, “they rise yet again.” The Lord is not so much pleased with our stumbling as our getting back up and continuing the fight. Get up! Fight on! Never surrender and never quit.
