双语灵修（葛培理牧师）：10月18日 儆醒预备

10月18日

儆醒预备

因为你们自己明明晓得，主的日子来到，好像夜间的贼一样。

帖撒罗尼迦前书5:2

多年前，已故总统艾森豪威尔在丹佛度假时，当地报纸上的一封公开信引起了他的注意，信中讲述了六岁的保罗·哈利因癌症不治而濒临死亡，他表达了一个想见美国总统的愿望。总统自然答应这个男孩的请求，这个举动在他精心准备的演讲被遗忘后仍会被人们铭记。

于是，8月里的一个星期天早上，一辆大型豪华轿车停在哈利家门外，总统走了出来，走到门前敲门。

唐纳德·哈利先生开了门，他穿着蓝色牛仔裤和一件旧衬衫，留着一天没刮的胡子；身后就是他的儿子小保罗。可以想象，当他们发现艾森豪威尔总统站在家门口时，是多么的惊讶。

“保罗，”总统对小男孩说，“我知道你想见我，很高兴见到你。”他和这个六岁的孩子握手，带他去看总统的豪华轿车，又握了握手，然后就离开了。

哈利一家和他们的邻居，还有许多其他人，可能会在一段很长的时间里谈论这位忙碌的总统这善意、体贴的举动。只有一个人对此不太开心——那就是哈利先生。他永远不会忘记自己开门时的穿着。“那条牛仔裤、旧衬衫、没刮胡子的脸——怎么会以这个窘相去见美国总统呢！”他说。

当然，这次来访没有事先通知，在这种情况下，他不可能穿上最好的衣服。但在未来的一生中，他都将会这样想：那天真该早点起床，早点刮胡子，在总统到来之前，至少穿上一件干净的衬衫。这一切都在敦促我们基督徒，儆醒做好准备，免得基督来的时候，我们惊慌失措，毫无准备。

今日祷告：

天父，求祢的圣灵带领我们顺服祢，并预备好迎接那荣耀的日子；奉耶稣的名，阿们。

October 18

READY–OR SORRY?

For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.1 Thessalonians 5:2

When the late President Eisenhower was vacationing in Denver many years ago,his attention was called to an open letter in a local newspaper,which told how six-year-old Paul Haley,dying of incurable cancer,had expressed a wish to see the president of the United States.Spontaneously,in one of those gracious gestures remembered long after a man’s most carefully prepared speeches are forgotten,the president decided to grant the boy’s request.

So one Sunday morning in August,a big limousine pulled up outside the Haley home,and out stepped the president.He walked up to the door and knocked.

Mr.Donald Haley opened the door,wearing blue jeans,an old shirt,and a day’s growth of beard.Behind him was his little son,Paul.Their amazement at finding President Eisenhower on their doorstep can be imagined.

“Paul,”said the president to the little boy,“I understand you want to see me.Glad to see you.”Then he shook hands with the six-year-old,took him out to see the presidential limousine,shook hands again,and left.

The Haleys and their neighbors,and a lot of other people,will probably talk about this kind and thoughtful deed of a busy president for a long time to come.Only one person was not entirely happy about-that was Mr.Haley.He can never forget how he was dressed when he opened the door.“Those jeans,the old shirt,the unshaven face-what a way to meet the president of the United States!”He said.

Of course,the visit was unannounced,and under the circumstances it wasn’t to be expected that he would be all dressed up in his best clothes.But all his life he will wish he had gotten up a bit earlier that day,shaved a little sooner,and at least put on a clean shirt before the president arrived.Readiness and watchfulness are all urged upon Christians,lest Christ’s coming,taking us by surprise,should find us unprepared.

Pray for the Day:

Father,lead us by Your Holy Spirit to obey you and be ready for the glorious day when we will meet You;in Jesus’Name,Amen.