Self-Checking自我省察
Dexu Xia
Self-Checking
Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord. Lamentations 3:40
Recently I read through a stack of World War II-era letters my dad sent to my mother. He was in North Africa and she was in West Virginia. Dad, a second lieutenant in the US Army, was tasked with censoring soldiers’ letters—keeping sensitive information from enemy eyes. So it was rather humorous to see—on the outside of his letters to his wife—a stamp that said, “Censored by 2nd Lt. John Branon.” Indeed, he had cut out lines from his own letters!
Self-censoring is really a good idea for all of us. Several times in Scripture, the writers mention the importance of taking a good long look at ourselves to find what’s not right—not God-honoring. The psalmist, for example, prayed, “Search me, God, and know my heart . . . . See if there is any offensive way in me” (Psalm 139:23–24). Jeremiah put it like this: “Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord” (Lamentations 3:40). And Paul, speaking of our heart condition at the time of communion, said, “Everyone ought to examine themselves” (1 Corinthians 11:28).
The Holy Spirit can help us turn from any attitudes or actions that don’t please God. So before we head out into the world today, let’s stop and seek the Spirit’s help in doing some self-checking so we can “return to the Lord” in fellowship with Him.
How will you pursue healthy spiritual self-examination today? What are two things that come to mind that you could remove to improve your fellowship with God?
Search me, O God, and know my heart. See if there are any changes I need to make today as I seek to know You more and serve You better.
自我省察
我们当深深考察自己的行为，再归向耶和华。—耶利米哀歌3章40节
最近，我看了父亲在二次大战期间寄给母亲的一叠信件。当时他身在北非，而母亲则在美国西维吉尼亚州。父亲是名美军少尉，他的职责包括检查士兵的信件，以防泄漏军事机密。因此，看到父亲在写给母亲的信封上，盖个“经白约翰少尉检视”的戳章，表示父亲审查了自己的信件，这令我感到相当滑稽。事实上，他真的把自己写的信件删了好几行！
对我们所有人而言，常常自我检讨是一个很好的习惯。圣经也数次提及，花点时间认真自我省察至关重要，因为这样我们可以发现自己有哪些不正确、不能荣耀上帝的心思或行为。正如诗人祷告说：“上帝啊，求祢鉴察我，知道我的心思；……看在我里面有什么恶行没有”（诗篇139篇23-24节）。先知耶利米说：“我们当深深考察自己的行为，再归向耶和华”（耶利米哀歌3章40节）。保罗在谈及信徒领受圣餐的心态时，也说:“人应当自己省察。”（哥林多前书11章28节）圣灵能帮助我们改变任何不讨上帝喜悦的态度或行为，因此在我们展开一天的生活之前，让我们停下脚步，寻求圣灵的帮助“深深考察自己的行为，再归向耶和华”，与祂有更亲密的关系。
上帝啊，求祢鉴察我，知道我的心思。察看我今日是否当作出改变，使我更认识祢，全心服事祢。
你今天会如何自我省察属灵的生命？
你在哪些方面需要改进，好使你与上帝更亲密？