必不可少的信心
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
基督教的福音与其他宗教系统的主要分别，正在于前者要求人用信心去相信。我们若要亲近神，就不可缺少信心。为此缘故，信心可以是借着基督进到神面前的大门，但同时亦可以是阻碍人进到神面前的绊脚石。
圣经由最初的创世记，至最后的启示录，无不教导人要有信心。希伯来书十一章6节正是一针见血地指出这个真理。作者在十章38节引用的一节经文，被誉为「最铿锵有力的一节圣经」，它亦是指出：「义人必因信得生」。
人必须信有神，才会蒙神的接纳。也许，更准确地说，一个因相信耶稣基督而蒙神接纳的人，必须继续凭信心生活。第十一章的整章经文，正是列出一个接一个的例子来说明这个真理。
旧约的众先知和先贤，都是凭借信人来经历人生的一切。我们今天正需要这种信心。
当你的信心遭到考验，当你觉得神仿佛不听你的祷告，当祂领你走上一条艰难和不知目的地的路，那就是你要运用和活出信心的时刻。
在那一刻，我们应该回想神过往给我们的一切帮助，应该重温圣经的应许。「信心」就是相信神的话语真实，因此便遵照而行。神所要求人的，就是要人有信心。祂在你里面看见信心没有？
祷告：
主啊，求你加添我的信心。
THE NECESSITY 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
The moment you come in contact with the Christian gospel and the Bible, you are faced with the need of exercising faith.
Faith is one of the characteristics of the Christian gospel which sets it apart from all the other religious systems. Faith is an absolute necessity if we are to approach God. Because this is true, faith is either a door which opens the way through Christ to God or it is a stumbling block which prevents our entering in.
The Bible everywhere teaches the necessity of faith, right through from Genesis to Revelation. The plain statement of verse 6 in our reading is very challenging. In the previous chapter (10:38) there is a quotation which someone has called 'the mightiest sentence in the Bible'. It is the words 'the just shall live by faith'.
To be accepted by God, a man must have faith in God. Perhaps more plainly it could be said that a man who has been accepted by God because of his faith in Christ, must continue to live by faith in God. The whole of this 11th chapter of Hebrews gives illustration after illustration of this fact.
It was faith which enabled Old Testament prophets and other men and women to go through all kinds of experiences. It is that kind of faith we need today.
When your faith is tested, when it looks as if God is not answering prayer, when he is leading you by an unknown and difficult road, that is the time to remember to trust him. That is faith in daily living.
In a time like that, look back over the past. Remember what God has done before. Remember the promises of his Book. Faith is accepting what God has said and acting accordingly. Faith is what God is looking for. How does he see yours today?
A PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord increase my faith.