三月五日

所以，我們不要睡覺，像別人一樣……（帖前5:6）

有很多方法可以使基督徒警醒。在安逸中，我要勸基督徒彼此談論神的道路。基督徒和美徒向郇城走時，兩人走到了迷氣地，為要避免睡覺，基督徒說：“我倆最好多談話，就可以免去入睡。但是“弟兄！我們從那裡開頭呢？”美徒說：“就從神選召我們的時候開頭吧！”於是基督徒唱了下面的歌：

“若聖徒睡眼迷糊，便請來此處，

聽二位行天路的客人如何談吐；

願他們從其中學得真道，

好使他們蒙矓的睡眼不打盹睡覺，

若聖徒能和衷共濟同心合意，

就是地獄也不能使他們沉迷。”

基督徒若離群索居必定會沉睡起來，與別的基督徒保持一種密切的關係，就必會警醒，必會重新得力，振刷精神，鼓起勇氣，奔走天路。但當你在神的道路中與別人一同“暢談”的時候，要留意你們談話的題目必須是主耶穌。讓信眼常仰望他，讓你們心中充滿了他，讓你們的唇多頌揚他。朋友！你的生活要就近十字架，那麼就不會打盹。你的心中要深深覺得你所去的地方是極寶貴的。若你記得你是往天堂走，那麼你在路上就不會睡覺了。若你想到地獄就在你後面，魔鬼正尾隨你，你就不會曠時閑懶了。殺了人的人後面有報血仇的人緊緊追逐，而逃城就在面前，他會在路上睡覺嗎？基督徒呀！珍珠門已經大開，天使也唱歌迎接你，金冕已經為你預備好了，你還要睡覺嗎？啊！不，你們要彼此勉勵，警醒禱告，免得你們入了迷惑。

March 5

"Let us not sleep, as do others." --1 Thessalonians 5:6

There are many ways of promoting Christian wakefulness. Among the rest, let me strongly advise Christians to converse together concerning the ways of the Lord. Christian and Hopeful, as they journeyed towards the Celestial City, said to themselves, "To prevent drowsiness in this place, let us fall into good discourse." Christian enquired, "Brother, where shall we begin?" And Hopeful answered, "Where God began with us." Then Christian sang this song--

"When saints do sleepy grow, let them come hither,

And hear how these two pilgrims talk together;

Yea, let them learn of them, in any wise,

Thus to keep open their drowsy slumb'ring eyes.

Saints' fellowship, if it be managed well,

Keeps them awake, and that in spite of hell."

Christians who isolate themselves and walk alone, are very liable to grow drowsy. Hold Christian company, and you will be kept wakeful by it, and refreshed and encouraged to make quicker progress in the road to heaven. But as you thus take "sweet counsel" with others in the ways of God, take care that the theme of your converse is the Lord Jesus. Let the eye of faith be constantly looking unto Him; let your heart be full of Him; let your lips speak of His worth. Friend, live near to the cross, and thou wilt not sleep. Labour to impress thyself with a deep sense of the value of the place to which thou art going. If thou rememberest that thou art going to heaven, thou wilt not sleep on the road. If thou thinkest that hell is behind thee, and the devil pursuing thee, thou wilt not loiter. Would the manslayer sleep with the avenger of blood behind him, and the city of refuge before him? Christian, wilt thou sleep whilst the pearly gates are open--the songs of angels waiting for thee to join them--a crown of gold ready for thy brow? Ah! no; in holy fellowship continue to watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation.