信心的祈求

Bible Reading: Acts 12: 1 – 11

讀經： 使徒行傳十二章1至11節

How do we explain some of the things God does? Here is one of the greatest examples of how God does one thing for one person and the opposite for another. James lost his wife for Christ's sake while Peter was miraculously delivered. We can only say God knows best. Even if we do not understand all he does or why he does it, we can still trust him

人生中確實有某些事情是很難去解釋的，這段經文便提供了一個實際的事例。雅各被逼迫教會的人捉拿以後，神沒有用特殊的方式去拯救他，最後他便為主而殉道；但是，彼得雖同樣被捉拿，可是神卻差派天使去拯救他，使他神蹟性地逃出了監牢。神怎麼會用這兩種截然不同的方式，去對待這兩個屬祂的人呢？我們不知道真正的答案，只能相信惟有神才知道甚麼是對人最好的。因此，即使我們不能夠明白神的一切作為，或神做某些事情的背後原因，但我們仍然可以放心去信靠祂。

Perhaps someone reading this page today has been unable to understand why they have been allowed to suffer while others have not. In those circumstances it is always good to ask this question, 'What does God want me to learn from all of this?' Sometimes when we begin to really learn the lesson God has for us, he then changes our circumstances. When the planned change begins in us, often the situation changes too.

當讀到今天這段經文時，也許立即勾起某些人的反應，質疑神為何容讓自己受苦，卻又幫助別人解困。當我們落入艱難困苦的境況時，也許最好先反省一個問題：「神究竟想我從中學到甚麼功課呢？」有些時候，當我們開始認真去學習神要我們去學的功課，神就會逐漸改變客觀的環境，為我們打開出路。神的計劃，可能是要藉著困境來使我們作出某些改變，因此，當我們開始作出改變之後，困境便可能迎刃而解。

The other point to notice in our reading today is found in verse 5. Prayer was made by the church unto God for him. There is tremendous power in the united prayer of God's people, especially when they really lay hold of God for the special thing they are asking for.

這段經文的另一個重點是在第5節：教會切切為彼得禱告，求神拯救他。信徒同心合意的祈禱，尤其是對神滿有信心的禱告，確實是大有功效的。

True prayer of course is always 'unto God'. Sometimes we need to be reminded that without him we can do nothing. If we want what prayer can do, then we have to be truly in touch with God.

當然，真正的禱告永遠是「在神的面前」懇切祈求。當們面對危難或挫敗的經歷時，往往會猛然醒覺，我們如果離開了神，便甚麼也不能作。我們若然希望禱告產生果效，就必須與神保持美好的相交。

Prayer was very definite, too. Notice it says 'for him'. They were not praying general prayers which went round the world and back again. They were praying definitely for Peter – a particular person – and God heard and answered.

而且，禱告更不要流於空泛，要確切地將真正的需要帶到神的面前。請留意，經文中的信徒並非無的放矢地禱告，反之，他們是確切地為到彼得的安危代求，而神最終亦垂聽和應允了他們的禱告。

Sometimes we have to pray in faith, not knowing just what God will do. But when we put our trust in him and definitely ask him for that which is on our hearts, he will always answer. We may have to wait. His answer may not be what we wanted or asked for, but it will be for our best good. Lord, teach us to pray.

許多時候，我們確實只能憑著信心禱告，不知道神的計劃最終要怎樣。然而，我們只要全心全意地信靠神，並為到內心的逼切需要向神祈求，神總必垂聽。我們也許需要等候一段時間，才能得到神的回應；而神的回應也許並不如我們所求；可是，我們必須切記：愛我們的神，總必把最好的給予祂的兒女。主啊，求你教導我們禱告。