Daily Devotion - Mar 17 - ¥q¥¬¯u¨C¤éÆF­×(©]) Evening by Evening

司布真每日靈修(夜) Evening by Evening

三月十七日

經文: 使人和睦的人有福了，因為他們必稱為上帝的兒子。（馬太福音五：9）

這是耶穌登山寶訓論八福中的第七種福。在希伯來習俗中七是代表完全的數字。救主耶穌將「使人和睦的人」列在第七，可能因為這樣的人已經十分接近在基督耶穌�的完全人。這節經文的前一節是「清心的人有福了，因為他們必得見上帝。」（太五：8）。我們必須明白，我們「先是清潔，後是和平」（雅三：17）。和睦的本質是絕不容忍罪或邪惡。對於那些敵擋上帝和祂聖潔的每樣事物，我們必須反對。然後，帶著我們靈�已有的清潔，才能進而尋求和睦。但是在此世界中，無論我們在和睦的事上可以作到如何程度，仍會被人誤會。這一點不應令我們驚訝，因為甚至和平的君也在這世界掀起軒然大波。雖然祂愛人類而且沒有過犯，但是「祂被藐視、被人厭棄；多受痛苦、常經憂患。」（賽五十三：3）。因此，存心和睦的人會遇到仇敵是毋需驚訝的。下一節的經文再加上：「為義受逼迫的人有福了，因為天國是他們的。」（太五：10）。使人和睦的人不僅是有福了，更是被各樣福氣環繞著。主啊！求您恩待，讓我們能攀登上這第七樣的福氣。潔淨我們的心思意念使我們先有清潔的心，繼後與人和睦。剛強我們的心，好讓在我們為你的緣故受到迫害時，不至於膽怯絕望。

Evening, March 17

Scripture: "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God."(Matthew 5:9)

This is the seventh of the beatitudes: and seven was the number of perfection among the Hebrews. It may be that the Saviour placed the peacemaker the seventh upon the list because he most nearly approaches the perfect man in Christ Jesus. He who would have perfect blessedness, so far as it can be enjoyed on earth, must attain to this seventh benediction, and become a peacemaker. There is a significance also in the position of the text. The verse which precedes it speaks of the blessedness of "the pure in heart: for they shall see God." It is well to understand that we are to be "first pure, then peaceable." Our peaceableness is never to be a compact with sin, or toleration of evil. We must set our faces like flints against everything which is contrary to God and his holiness: purity being in our souls a settled matter, we can go on to peaceableness. Not less does the verse that follows seem to have been put there on purpose. However peaceable we may be in this world, yet we shall be misrepresented and misunderstood: and no marvel, for even the Prince of Peace, by his very peacefulness, brought fire upon the earth. He himself, though he loved mankind, and did no ill, was "despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief." Lest, therefore, the peaceable in heart should be surprised when they meet with enemies, it is added in the following verse, "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Thus, the peacemakers are not only pronounced to be blessed, but they are compassed about with blessings. Lord, give us grace to climb to this seventh beatitude! Purify our minds that we may be "first pure, then peaceable," and fortify our souls, that our peaceableness may not lead us into cowardice and despair, when for thy sake we are persecuted.

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