1月28日

標　　題： 神正尋找站在破口的人

經　　節： 我在他們中間尋找一人重修牆垣，在我面前為這國站在破口防堵，使我不滅絕這國，卻找不著一個。（以西結書廿二章30節）

神尋找那些已經預備好、願意在神面前站在破口的人。那站在破口代禱者的心與神的心和諧一致。他們極敏銳地瞭解自己國家的問題所在，他們在神面前，不管擺上多少時間，是不得答案決不甘休的。這就是為甚麼你不能自願成為站在破口的人，是神徵募你！

我們為何不能照著所當行的，來為人代禱呢？也許我們害怕把神放在試驗之中。我們害怕神不會回答禱告。事實上，神已答應我們，如果祈求就給我們（馬太福音七：7）。我們未能成為站在破口的人，可能是因為我們以為每日汲汲營營，遠比禱告有效多了。耶穌警告我們，離了祂，我們甚麼也不能做（約翰福音十五：5）。沒有更深刻地認識神與祂的旨意，你的手所做的一切工作，都是白費力氣。當耶穌為耶路撒冷站在破口之上，祂為耶路撒冷哀哭（馬太福音廿三：37）。倘若我們心中真有神的愛，我們會全心全意為那些即將面對神審判的人，懇求神的憐憫。

站在破口代禱，是一份寂寞的工作。你也許得花上數日、數年，才看到一點點勞苦的果效。不但如此，站在破口的代禱者，可能是唯一位於家人與神審判的中間者，或是站在個人、國家與神暴怒的中間者。

God Is Looking for Intercessors

So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. (Ezekiel 22:30)

God looks for those whose hearts are prepared to be intercessors before Him. Intercessors have hearts in tune with God’s heart. They are so acutely aware of what is at stake, for their land, that they will stay before God as long as necessary in order to obtain God’s answer. That is why you do not volunteer to be an intercessor. God enlists you.

Why do we not intercede as we should? Perhaps we are afraid to put God to the test. We worry that God might not answer our prayers. Yet God promises that if we ask, we will receive (Matt. 7:7). We may fail to intercede because we believe the busyness of our everyday lives is more effective than prayer. Jesus warned that apart from Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5). Without being intimately acquainted with God and His will, all of our labors are futile. Perhaps we fail to intercede because we misunderstand the heart of God. Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem as He interceded for it (Matt. 23:37). If we truly have God’s love within us, we will feel compelled to plead with God on behalf of those who face His imminent judgment.

Intercession is a lonely business. There may be many days or even years when there appear to be few results for your labor. Yet intercessors can be the only ones standing between a family and God’s judgment, or between an individual or nation and God’s wrath.