希伯来书的这一章里,我们会发现一长串我们称之为“信心榜样”的人。这些经文描述了这样一些人,他们在日常生活中活出了对神的信心。信心是要被活出来的。
亚伯拉罕和撒拉相信神的应许,祂要把他们带到一个新的地方,并赐给他们后裔。过了很长一段时间,这些应许才得以实现,但他们信靠神,神成就了这些应许。
摩西信靠神会引导他带领祂的百姓脱离埃及的奴役。这花了很长时间和很多艰难的工作,经过了一系列的神迹,神把百姓救了出来。摩西又服事神很多年,将神的律法传给百姓,设立敬拜礼仪,教导百姓怎样遵守神的道(出 12-40)。
喇合是外邦人,当主将百姓带回(给亚伯拉罕的)应许之地时,她信靠神,成了神的子民。她成了耶稣的曾,曾…祖母。(参 书 2:1-21; 6:25;太 1:1-6。)
在我们的生活中,让我们在信心里也来这样做。我们往往需要对未见之事的信心和确据。我们所信的在耶稣再来的时候将会显明。祂是拯救我们脱离罪的那一位。祂是信实的那一位,所以我们蒙召,以活出信仰来回应祂。
主啊,求你帮助我们活出信仰。使我们能够回应你的呼召,跟随你的脚踪。阿们。
希伯来书 11:1-3, 8-12, 24-31, 39-40
1信就是所望之事的实底,是未见之事的确据。
2古人在这信上得了美好的证据。
3我们因着信,就知道诸世界是藉神话造成的;这样,所看见的并不是从显然之物造出来的。
8亚伯拉罕因着信,蒙召的时候就遵命出去,往将来要得为业的地方去;出去的时候,还不知往哪里去。
9他因着信,就在所应许之地作客,好像在异地居住帐篷,与那同蒙一个应许的以撒、雅各一样。
10因为他等候那座有根基的城,就是神所经营、所建造的。
11因着信,连撒拉自己,虽然过了生育的岁数,还能怀孕,因她以为那应许她的是可信的。
12所以从一个仿佛已死的人就生出子孙,如同天上的星那样众多,海边的沙那样无数。
24摩西因着信,长大了就不肯称为法老女儿之子。
25他宁可和神的百姓同受苦害,也不愿暂时享受罪中之乐。
26他看为基督受的凌辱比埃及的财物更宝贵,因他想望所要得的赏赐。
27他因着信,就离开埃及,不怕王怒;因为他恒心忍耐,如同看见那不能看见的主。
28他因着信,就守逾越节,行洒血的礼,免得那灭长子的临近以色列人。
29他们因着信,过红海如行干地;埃及人试着要过去,就被吞灭了。
30以色列人因着信,围绕耶利哥城七日,城墙就倒塌了。
31妓女喇合因着信,曾和和平平地接待探子,就不与那些不顺从的人一同灭亡。
39这些人都是因信得了美好的证据,却仍未得着所应许的。
40因为神给我们预备了更美的事,叫他们若不与我们同得,就不能完全。
"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." - Hebrews 11:1
In this chapter of Hebrews we find a long list of people whom we could call “heroes of faith.” These are descriptions of people whose faith in God showed in their actions as they lived out their everyday lives. Faith is intended to be lived out.
Abraham and Sarah trusted God’s promises to take them to a new land and to give them descendants. It took a long time for these promises to be fulfilled, but they trusted God, and he fulfilled those promises.
Moses trusted God to guide him in leading his people out of slavery in Egypt. It took a long time and a lot of hard work, and through a series of miracles God delivered the people. Then Moses served God for many more years, bringing God’s law to the people, setting up the worship of God, and teaching the people how to live God’s way (Exodus 12-40).
Rahab, an outsider, declared her faith in God and became one of God’s people when the Lord took them back into the land promised to Abraham. She became one of the great, great . . . grandmothers of Jesus. (See Joshua 2:1-21; 6:25; Matthew 1:1-6.)
As we live our lives, let us do so in faith. Often we need the confidence and assurance of what we cannot see. Our faith will be made sight when Christ comes again. He is the one who has saved us from our sin. He is the one who is faithful, so we are called to live out our lives in response to him.
Lord, help us to live our lives in faith. Empower us to respond to your call to follow you wherever you lead. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳