双语灵修（葛培理牧师）：11月4日 天使看顾

11月4日

天使看顾

因为神救众人的恩典，已经显明出来，教训我们除去不敬虔的心，和世俗的情欲，在今世自守，公义，敬虔度日。

提多书2:11-12

当我们意识到基督徒的所行和争战是天上和天使们所密切关注之事时，在这世界上敬虔度日的责任会使我们清醒过来。保罗说：“我在神和基督耶稣并蒙拣选的天使面前嘱咐你，要遵守（这些诫命）……”（提摩太前书5:21）。保罗提醒提摩太，蒙拣选的天使一直在观看他如何服事主，如何过基督徒生活。还有什么比这更能激励人敬虔度日呢？我必须对自己说：“小心，天使正看着呢！”

天使们看到耶稣基督的教会向世上失丧的人传递基督那无法测透的丰富，必定感到极大的满足。如果天使为一个罪人悔改而欢喜（路加福音15:10），那么他们就列在天上看台的观众席中，也包括在那些被称为如同云彩围着我们的“许多的见证人”之中（希伯来书12:1）；而且他们从不错过我们在地上旅程的任何细节。然而，他们不会像保罗时代的希腊人那样嘲笑我们。相反，当我们传讲福音，看到我们的朋友得救时，他们会和我们一起欢喜。

万斯·哈夫纳博士在他的《虽然行过死荫幽谷》一书中讲述了一位老传道人的故事，他为他的一小群会众的布道一直工作到深夜。他妻子问他：为什么要花这么多时间写一篇只有那么少人听的信息。传道人回答说：“亲爱的，你忘了，我的听众有多么众多啊！”哈夫纳博士补充道：“如果天上天使正在观看，这里就没有什么是微不足道的。如果看见我们被众人围绕，我们就会想起谁在看台上，就会做得更好！”

我们的幽谷中或许充满了仇敌和泪水，但我们可以向山举目，看到上帝和天使，看到天上的观众，他们照着神无穷的智慧来支持我们，预备欢迎我们回家。

今日祷告：

天父，我们感谢祢，因为天使在守护着我们。我们祷告，知道他们在生命中看顾我们，更知道——祢在看顾我们，爱着我们；奉耶稣的名，阿们。

November 4

ANGELS ARE WATCHING US

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.Teaching us that,denying ungodliness and worldly lusts,we should live soberly,righteously,and godly,in this present world.Titus 2:11-12

The charge to live righteously in this present world sobers us when we realize that the walk and warfare of Christians is the primary concern of heaven and its angelic hosts.Paul said,“I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the chosen angels,that you guard and keep[these rules]…”(1 Timothy 5:21,AB).Paul was stirring up Timothy to remember that the elect angels were constantly watching how he served the Savior and lived the Christian life.What fact could provide a greater motivation to righteous living than that?I must say to myself,“Careful,angels are watching!”

It must give the angels great satisfaction to watch the Church of Jesus Christ minister the unsearchable riches of Christ to lost men everywhere.If the angels rejoice over one sinner who repents(Luke 15:10),then the angel hosts are numbered among the spectators in the heavenly grandstands.They are included among those who are referred to as“so great a cloud of witnesses”(Hebrews 12:1);and they never miss any of the details of our earthly pilgrimage.Yet they do not jeer as did the Greek crowds of Paul’s day.Rather,as we declare the Gospel and see our friends saved,they rejoice with us.

In his book Though I Walk Through the Valley,Dr.Vance Havner tells of an old preacher who worked into the night on a sermon for his small congregation.His wife inquired why he spent so much time on a message that he would give to so few.To this the minister replied,“You forget,my dear,how large my audience will be!”Dr.Havner adds that“Nothing is trivial here if heaven looks on.We shall play a better game if,‘seeing we are encompassed,’we remember who is in the grandstand!

Our valleys may be filled with foes and tears,but we can lift our eyes to the hills to see God and the angels,heaven’s spectators,who support us according to God’s infinite wisdom as they prepare our welcome home.

Pray for the Day:

Father,we thank You that the angels are watching over us.We pray that we will live knowing that they are watching and knowing—even more—that You are watching and that You love us;in Jesus’Name,Amen.