小心提防敵人

小心提防敵人
聖經閱讀：哥林多前書10:12-13 現代中譯本|合和本
2014年12月9日(二)

有一群鴿子正在吃散落在我們家餵鳥器下面的鳥飼料，我看到一隻橘白色花貓正慢慢地匐匍逼近那群鴿子。我拍打廚房的窗戶，希望牠們會飛走，但是牠們並不理會我的警告。 　那群鴿子的敵人是那隻貓，同理，魔鬼是我們的敵人，他誘惑我們違背上帝。魔鬼很狡猾，他讓罪惡的事看起來令人興奮，好讓我們想去犯罪。 　今天的經文很激勵人心。首先，保羅提醒我們，我們「所遭遇的每一個試探無非是一般人所受得了的」（第13a節）。其次，保羅說上帝幫助我們抗拒試探：「當試探來的時候，他會給你們力量，使你們擔當得起，替你們打開一條出路」（第13b節）。 　上帝幫助我們戰勝魔鬼的力量，所以要隨時小心提防魔鬼，要抗拒試探並為主剛強。 —NM 「要警醒戒備！你們的仇敵─魔鬼正像咆哮的獅子走來走去，搜索可吞吃的人。你們要信心堅定，抗拒他。」 彼得前書5:8-9a 禱告：上帝，謝謝祢賜給我抵擋魔鬼的力量。奉耶穌的名，阿們！ (陳萍萍譯)

Beware of the Enemy
Bible Reading: I Corinthians 10:12-13
Tuesday, December 9 2014

Doves were eating the bird seed scattered under our bird feeder. I watched an orange and white cat slowly crawl closer and closer to the doves. I tapped on my kitchen window, hoping they would fly away. But they ignored my warning. 　The doves’ enemy was the cat. In the same way, the devil is our enemy. He tempts us to disobey God. The devil is very sneaky. He makes sinful things look exciting so we will want to do them. 　Our Bible verses today are very encouraging. First, Paul reminds us that our temptations are “the same temptations that all people have” (verse 13a). Second, Paul says that God helps us resist temptation. “He will give you a way to escape that temptation” (verse 13b). 　God helps us overcome the devil’s power. So always beware of the devil. Resist temptation and stand strong for God. —NM “Control yourselves and be careful! The devil is your enemy, and he goes around like a roaring lion looking for someone to attack and eat. Refuse to follow the devil. Stand strong in your faith.” 1 Peter 5:8-9a PRAYER: God, thank You for giving me the power to resist the devil. In Jesus’ name. Amen.