出去的时候,还不知往哪里去。(来十一8)

在旧约时代,个人与神的关系,是在“分离”上显出来。这可从亚伯拉罕离开本地本族本家的生平中看出来。在今日,这“分离”却侧重在心思道德方面的意义。我们所亲爱的人若与神没有个人关系,我们对事物的看法就与他们不同了。耶稣基督也强调这一点(路十四26)。

信心是从来不知道要往哪里去,却知道且深爱领路的那一位。我们的生活是信心的生活,不是理智理性的生活,而是一个认识叫我们“去”的这一位的生活。信心的根源是出于对这一位的认识。但有一个最大的陷阱,是我们以为神一定领我们成功顺利。

信心生活的最终阶段,是性格的达成。人个性的改变,有不少是短暂的。我们祷告时,感到神的祝福包围着我们,那时确有了改变。过后回到日常生活中,又依然故我,而那荣光也就消失了。信心的生活不是展翅上腾的生活,乃是脚踏实地的行走而不颓废。这不是成圣的问题;是比成圣更进一步,是经过考验而被证实的信心的问题。亚伯拉罕不是成圣的模式,乃是信心生活的模范,一个基于真神基础上经过试验的信心。“亚伯拉罕信神”。

祈祷◆噢,主啊,愿今天因着你的同在和祝福,而充满荣耀。愿我们看见你使你所站的地方成为荣耀之处。

March 19 The Way Of Abraham In Faith

“He went out, not knowing whither he went.” Hebrews 11:8

In the Old Testament, personal relationship with God showed itself in separation, and this is symbolized in the life of Abraham by his separation from his country and from his kith and kin. Today the separation is more of a mental and moral separation from the way that those who are dearest to us look at things, that is, if they have not a personal relationship with God. Jesus Christ emphasized this (see Luke 14:26).

Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One Who is leading. It is a life of Faith, not of intellect and reason, but a life of knowing Who makes us “go.” The root of faith is the knowledge of a Person, and one of the biggest snares is the idea that God is sure to lead us to success.

The final stage in the life of faith is attainment of character. There are many passing transfigurations of character; when we pray we feel the blessing of God enwrapping us and for the time being we are changed, then we get back to the ordinary days and ways and the glory vanishes. The life of faith is not a life of mounting up with wings, but a life of walking and not fainting. It is not a question of sanctification; but of something infinitely further on than sanctification, of faith that has been tried and proved and has stood the test. Abraham is not a type of sanctification, but a type of the life of faith, a tried faith built on a real God. “Abraham believed God.”