8月10日

標　　題：他人的見證

經　　節：「我在這裡，你們要在耶和華和祂的受膏者面前給我作見證。我奪過誰的牛，搶過誰的驢，欺負過誰，虐待過誰，從誰手裡受過賄賂因而眼瞎呢？若有，我必償還。」眾人說：「你未曾欺負我們，虐待我們，也未曾從誰手裡受過什麼。」（撒母耳記上十二章3∼4節）

不需要隱藏是一種自由。正直的生活使你得到這個自由。正直與否不在於你怎麼說自己，而在於神與人們怎樣說你。撒母耳終其一生住在神的百姓之中，當時國家高位的領袖既不正直又腐敗；對撒母耳來說，與他們相交時是很容易妥協讓步的。然而，撒母耳膽敢站立在他的同胞面前，要他們說出自己是否侵犯過他們。百姓們一點也想不出來。

撒母耳身為領導，大可占百姓的便宜。然而，因為他謹守自己的動機及保持清白的人際關係，撒母耳能夠毫無所懼地，要百姓說出自己是否曾經虐待他們。要公然開放自己的生命，讓眾人仔細檢驗自己，是極需勇氣的，但撒母耳絲毫不怕眾人如何說他。他不逃避任何他所觸犯與傷害的人。他的信心是來自堅守過無瑕疵的生活。

如果你曾經冒犯某人，你不可能改變過去，但是從今天開始，你可以選擇過完全正直的生活。過公義的生活可以釋放你，使你毫不羞愧面對任何人，因為你確知自己的行為像基督一樣。如果你的名譽有玷污，當尋求被你冒犯的人寬恕你。求神每日指引你處理人際關係，好叫你與他人相交毫無抱愧。

The Testimony of Others

"Here I am. Witness against me before the LORD and before His anointed: Whose ox have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken, or whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed, or from whose hand have I received any bribe with which to blind my eyes? I will restore it to you." And they said, "You have not cheated us or oppressed us, nor have you taken anything from any man's hand." (1 Samuel 12:3-4)

There is a freedom that comes in having nothing to hide. Living a life of integrity allows you this freedom. Your integrity is measured not by what you say about yourself but by what God and people say about you. Samuel had lived all his life among the people of God. Leaders who preceded him were dishonest and corrupt; it would have been easy for Samuel to compromise in his dealings as well. Near the end of his life, however, Samuel could boldly stand before his nation and ask them to reveal any offense he had committed against any of them. They could not think of one.

In his position of leadership, Samuel could have taken advantage of people. Yet because he carefully guarded his motives and kept his relationships blameless, Samuel could fearlessly ask the people to report if he had mistreated them in any way. It takes courage to open your life up to the scrutiny of others, but Samuel did not fear what others would say about him. He did not have to avoid anyone whom he had offended. He had a confidence that comes from living a blameless life.

If you have mistreated others, you cannot change the past, but you can choose to live with absolute integrity from this day forward. Living righteously frees you to face any person unashamedly, knowing you have behaved in a Christlike manner. If your reputation is stained, seek forgiveness from those you have offended. Ask God to guide you daily in your relationships so that you have no regrets about your treatment of others.