信心的结果
希伯来书十一章1至6节
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。
4亚伯因着信，献祭与神，比该隐所献的更美，因此便得了称义的见证，就是神指他礼物作的见证。他虽然死了，却因这信，仍旧说话。
5以诺因着信，被接去，不至于见死，人也找不着他，因为神已经把他接去了；只是他被接去以先，已经得了神喜悦他的明证。
6人非有信，就不能得神的喜悦；因为到神面前来的人必须信有神，且信他赏赐那寻求他的人。
信息分享
我们在昨天已经指出，圣经所言的「信心」，就是指到相信神的话语并遵照而行，换句话说，信心的结果就是「遵照而行」。我们若说自己有信心，我们就应该在每天的生活中遵照神的话语而行。这章经文列出的18个人物，正是在生活中以行动活出信心。
信心带来证据(2节)、使人明辨真理(3节)、也带来行动和神的悦纳(4节)。亚伯听从神有关献祭的指示，当他献上羔羊的时候，羔羊所流出的血便能涂抹他的罪。
亚伯怎么晓得神的心意呢？信心的基础，是在于明白神的话语。亚伯和他的兄弟该隐准是从他们的父亲亚当那里，得知神的心意。
然而，该隐却没有听从神的话语，反而擅作主张地献上其他祭物；因此，他的献祭并不是出于信心──只有相信神的话语并遵照而行的，才是信心的行动。
亚伯向神献祭，是要向神表明「我知道自己是个罪人，但你说过我只要献上羔羊赎罪，就能得蒙你的接纳。」在他的内心深处，他可能自忖：「我虽然不太明白献上羔羊怎可以代我赎罪，但由于这是神的教导，我便遵行。」
重点是在于亚伯是遵从神的心意，而不是按照自己的意思而行。亚伯虽然死了几千年，但他的见证仍然不住地呼吁我们：「要相信神，要按照神的教导而行。将你自己交在祂的手中，相信祂会赎你的罪。」
要遵从神的教导而行，有时并非易事。喜欢按照自己的意思去行，反倒是人之常情。然而，我们是否愿意在此刻立志，努力效法亚伯的榜样，凡事遵从神的话语而行？
反思：
信心是要按照神的心意、而不是按照我们的喜好来敬拜神。
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.