9月3日          

標　　題：我絕不！

經　　節：至於我，斷不停止為你們禱告，以致得罪耶和華。我必以善道正路指教你們。（撒母耳記上十二章23節）

我們有時候很想放棄，不理神的百姓！他們是那麼不完美，可能罪惡深重，然而，他們是祂的百姓。撒母耳清楚地警告以色列人立王的危險性，但他們仍執意要像鄰國一樣，有王治理他們，並且願意付上任何代價來立王。這些百姓一立了王，就知道自己有罪，只不過一切都太遲了。那麼撒母耳做了些什麼呢？他們曾經漠視他的警告，現在卻又要尋求他的幫助。撒母耳大可拋棄他們，任憑他們承受行為的後果。

撒母耳知道，誠如耶穌知道，神要祂的僕人去服事有病的，不是服事健康的（馬太福音九：12）。撒母耳並沒有把百姓的反應當做是他們的拒絕，他知道百姓的態度顯示出他們與神的關係。撒母耳事奉的對像是神，不是以色列百姓。當神命令他要幫助他們，雖然他們拒絕他的信息，他還是幫助他們。

有時候，人們並沒有照著應有的反應，回應神藉著你說出的信息。不要因此而灰心，他們的態度反映出他們與神的關係。你是神的僕人。如果耶穌投注時間在那些靈性有需要的人身上，你可以預料，祂也要你做同樣的事。不要對神的百姓失去耐心。要記得，神愛他們，誠如祂愛你一樣。

Far Be It from Me!

Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way. (1 Samuel 12:23)

It can be tempting at times to give up on God’s people! They are so imperfect and can be so sinful, yet they are His people. Samuel had thoroughly warned the Israelites of the dangers in appointing a king over Israel. Yet they wanted to be like the nations around them, insisting that they were willing to pay any price. Almost as soon as the people were granted their desire, they recognized their sin. But it was too late. What was Samuel to do? They had ignored his warnings. Now they wanted him to continue to minister to them. It would seem appropriate for Samuel to abandon them and allow them to suffer the consequences of their actions. Samuel knew, as Jesus knew, that God sends His servants to the sick, not the healthy (Matt. 9:12). Samuel did not take the people’s response as a rejection of him but as an indication of their walk with God. Samuel was serving God, not the Israelites. When God commanded him to minister to them, he could do nothing else, despite their resistance to his message.

At times people will not respond as they should to the message God speaks through you. Don’t become discouraged; it is a reflection of their relationship with God. You are God’s servant; if Jesus spent His time with the spiritually needy, you can expect Him to ask you to do the same. Don’t lose your patience with God’s people. Keep in mind that God loves them as much as He loves you.