信心的結果
希伯來書十一章1至6節
1信就是所望之事的實底，是未見之事的確據。
2古人在這信上得了美好的證據。
3我們因著信，就知道諸世界是藉神話造成的；這樣，所看見的，並不是從顯然之物造出來的。
4亞伯因著信，獻祭與神，比該隱所獻的更美，因此便得了稱義的見證，就是神指他禮物作的見證。他雖然死了，卻因這信，仍舊說話。
5以諾因著信，被接去，不至於見死，人也找不著他，因為神已經把他接去了；只是他被接去以先，已經得了神喜悅他的明證。
6人非有信，就不能得神的喜悅；因為到神面前來的人必須信有神，且信他賞賜那尋求他的人。
信息分享
我們在昨天已經指出，聖經所言的「信心」，就是指到相信神的話語並遵照而行，換句話說，信心的結果就是「遵照而行」。我們若說自己有信心，我們就應該在每天的生活中遵照神的話語而行。這章經文列出的18個人物，正是在生活中以行動活出信心。
信心帶來證據(2節)、使人明辨真理(3節)、也帶來行動和神的悅納(4節)。亞伯聽從神有關獻祭的指示，當他獻上羔羊的時候，羔羊所流出的血便能塗抹他的罪。
亞伯怎麼曉得神的心意呢？信心的基礎，是在於明白神的話語。亞伯和他的兄弟該隱準是從他們的父親亞當那裡，得知神的心意。
然而，該隱卻沒有聽從神的話語，反而擅作主張地獻上其他祭物；因此，他的獻祭並不是出於信心──只有相信神的話語並遵照而行的，才是信心的行動。
亞伯向神獻祭，是要向神表明「我知道自己是個罪人，但你說過我只要獻上羔羊贖罪，就能得蒙你的接納。」在他的內心深處，他可能自忖：「我雖然不太明白獻上羔羊怎可以代我贖罪，但由於這是神的教導，我便遵行。」
重點是在於亞伯是遵從神的心意，而不是按照自己的意思而行。亞伯雖然死了幾千年，但他的見證仍然不住地呼籲我們：「要相信神，要按照神的教導而行。將你自己交在祂的手中，相信祂會贖你的罪。」
要遵從神的教導而行，有時並非易事。喜歡按照自己的意思去行，反倒是人之常情。然而，我們是否願意在此刻立志，努力效法亞伯的榜樣，凡事遵從神的話語而行？
反思：
信心是要按照神的心意、而不是按照我們的喜好來敬拜神。
THE RESULTS OF FAITH
Hebrews 11:1-6
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.
5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Message
We read these verses yesterday but there is so much more for us to see in them.
These verses speak about faith. What is faith? It is believing what God has said and acting accordingly. Those last two words 'acting accordingly' should always be the effect or result of faith. That result should be seen in our lives. Here in this chapter there is a long list of men and women in whose lives and actions their faith was seen. Eighteen people are mentioned by name.
Faith brings God's approval (v. 2). Faith brings understanding (v. 3). Faith brings action and acceptance (v. 4). Abel listened to what God had said about sacrifices so he brought a lamb whose blood was to be shed to cover his (Abel's) sin.
How did Abel know what God wanted? Faith is based on knowledge of the Word of God. Adam must have told Abel and Cain what God had told him.
Cain did not fully obey what he had been told. Remember 'faith is believing what God has said and acting accordingly'. Cain brought an offering but not what God had asked for.
Abel said by his offering 'I'm a sinner. God, you said that if I brought a sacrifice of a lamb, you'd accept me.' Perhaps he thought 'I don't quite understand but that is what God has asked for so I will do what he says'.
The emphasis was on what God wanted, not on Abel. Even though he has been dead for thousands of years, Abel is still saying to us 'Trust God. Do it God's way. Put yourself in his hands. Trust his sacrifice for your sins.'
It is hard sometimes to do things in God's way. Churches don't always find it easy. We don't ourselves. Is there something God is asking you to do but you want to do it in your own way? Listen to Abel and follow his example.
A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
Faith worships in God's way, not ours.