8月23日

標　　題：一步步得勝利

經　　節：耶和華─你神必將這些國的民從你面前漸漸趕出；你不可把他們速速滅盡，恐怕野地的獸多起來害你。（申命記七章22節）

當神帶領祂的百姓進入應許之地，祂是一步步地帶領。倘若神允許他們一舉徹底擊敗所有的敵人，那塊土地將會變得難以治理。所以，祂允許一些敵人仍然存在一段時間，好能維護那塊土地，抑制野獸漫生。藉著這樣的安排，神教導祂的百姓要一步步地信任祂。神每一次只給他們所能擔當的責任。

當神帶領你在屬靈的生命上成長，祂給你的挑戰，是合適於你的性格及你與神的關係。當你成為基督徒時，神不會一次就改變你的性格。祂會引導你經歷一段過程，讓你變得更像祂的兒子。祂會不斷地在你生命某方面作工，直到你生命的那個部分，被聖靈完全掌管才罷休。你可能非常渴望在自己性格上的每個方面都能成熟，然而，穩定且漸進式的成長更能持久。神在訓練你更像基督的成長過程中，是從不走快捷方式的。祂以永恆的角度來看你的生命，並且讓你體會必要的經歷，好幫助你靈性的成長。

當神要培養你擁有像耶穌一樣的生命時，不要沒耐性。不要擔負超過祂要給你的責任。順服祂所有的旨意，祂會照著當前最合適你的性格，及合於祂在你身上的計畫之步調，領你前進。

Victory One Step at a Time

And the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you little by little; you will be unable to destroy them at once, lest the beasts of the field become too numerous for you. (Deuteronomy 7:22)

When God led His people into the Promised Land, He did so step by step. If He had allowed them to annihilate their enemies at once, the land would have been too difficult to manage. So He allowed some of the enemies to remain for a time in order to maintain the land and suppress the wildlife. In doing so, God taught His people to trust Him step by step. He gave them only as much responsibility as they could handle at one time.

As God leads you in your Christian growth, He will allow challenges that match your character and relationship to Him. God will not totally change your character at once when you become a Christian. Rather, He will lead you through a process to become more like His Son. He will keep working in an area in your life until it is controlled by the Holy Spirit. You may eagerly desire maturity in every area of your character, but steady, gradual growth is more lasting. God will not take shortcuts in His process of making you like Christ. He sees your life from eternity and will take as long as necessary to produce lasting spiritual growth in you.

Do not become impatient while God is producing Christlikeness in you. Do not seek more responsibilities than those He has given you. Obey all that you know He has asked, and He will lead you at a pace that fits your present character and His purposes for you.