To be informed is a good thing. I want people to inform me about things that concern me, specially information that can protect me from dangers that I may face. For example, if I’m going to visit an unfamiliar city, I’d want to be informed about things to which I need to pay attention. That was exactly what happened to me and Eleanor several years ago when we were visiting Paris for the first time. My older brother and sister-in-law planned the trip for the four of us. The first night upon arrival, we went to a restaurant in Paris’ Chinatown. As soon as the owner of the restaurant found out that we were tourists, he gave us a clear warning that I would never forget. In a friendly but firm voice, he said, “Beware of pick-pockets. There are lots of them in Paris.” We thanked him and went our way. The next day we were traveling by the subway system to go sight-seeing. It was crowded in the carriage. We were squeezed. I saw a few kids pressing upon my sister-in-law. I suddenly remembered the warning from the restaurant owner. So, in Cantonese, I softly reminded my sister-in-law to be careful. She immediately reached for her purse, which was covered by her thick coat, and was terrified to find a small hand in her purse. She stared at the girl standing next to her and blurted out, “Why do you put your hand into my purse?” The girl just stood there, still as a statue. A few minutes later, the subway train stopped at the next station, and, as soon as the doors opened, the girl jumped out of the carriage with the other kids. I am pretty sure that things in my sister-in-law’s purse would have been stolen if I had not cautioned her. In turn, I would not have been so alert if the restaurant owner had not kept us informed about pick-pockets. The Bible says, “in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.” (2 Cor. 2:11) Do you know the schemes of Satan? How do you defend yourself against him?

知己知彼是一件好事. 我是希望有人會告訴我一些和我息息相關的資料. 特別是那些可以幫助保護我免受危害的資料. 例如, 若我要到了一個陌生的城市去旅行, 我會希望知道一些我需要注意的事情.  這正是幾年前發生在我和師母身上的事.  當時我們是頭一次到巴黎觀光.  整個行程計劃是由我的大哥和大嫂安排的.  我們一行四人第一晚抵達後, 就去了一家在巴黎唐人街的飯店.  當店主發現我們是遊客時, 他就給了我們一個明確的警告, 是我不會忘記的.  他用友善而堅定的聲音說: “小心摸袋, 因為在巴黎到處都有扒手.”我們感謝他之後就離開了飯店.  第二天, 我們乘搭地下鐵路系統去觀光.  當時車廂很滿, 有很多人, 我們感到擠逼. 我察覺到有幾個孩子逼近我的大嫂.  突然間, 我想起了餐館老闆的警告.  於是, 我輕輕地用廣東話提醒嫂嫂要小心.  她馬上伸手檢查她用外套覆蓋的錢包.  她被嚇壞了, 因為她發現一隻小手在她的錢包裏面.  嫂嫂瞪著那個站在她旁邊的女孩, 脫口而出地問: “你為什麼把你的手放在我的錢包裡面?” 那女孩木木地, 一言不發地站在那裡. 幾分鐘之後, 地鐵列車停在下一站, 車門一打開, 那女孩和其他幾個孩子就跳了出去.  我可以說, 倘若我沒有提醒我的嫂嫂, 她錢包裡的東西肯定會被人偷去. 又倘若餐館的老闆沒有警告我們, 我也不會有所警覺. 聖經說, “免得撒但趁著機會勝過我們. 因我們並非不曉得他的詭計.” (林後2:11)  你是否知道撒但的詭計呢? 你會如何防犯他呢?