2008-05-25 Devotionals Today

知信行網上團契為各主內肢體提供的每日靈糧，歡迎訂閱，推介及奉獻支持。 《網絡天糧》查詢，請電郵：ccf@ccfellow.org 訂閱天糧 | 轉介天糧 | 修訂訂閱 | 奉獻支持 讓人看見你的信心 粵語 國語 第 25 天 讀經：雅各書二章14至26節 　　有些人認為，這段經文是教導人要靠行善來賺取救恩；然而，這絕非雅各的原意。他只是要指出，我們若說自己相信基督，那麼，我們就要在所行的事上，把這種信心活出來。雅各在書信中一再談及信心，由一開始的落在百般試煉中，以至無論是貧窮或富足，及至該做或不該做某些事情，雅各都認為最重要是信心。 　　信心的最首要表現，當然是相信唯獨耶穌基督是我們的救主。然後，雅各便敦促我們要凡事順服基督，藉此證明我們對基督的信心。你說你有信心，那麼，你就要將它活出來。當別人看見你凡事遵行神的吩咐而行，以及看見你對別人的關心，他們就看見你的信心了。 　　雅各舉了兩個舊約的事例，來說明甚麼是信心的表現。亞伯拉罕對神大有信心，從他對神完全順服的表現，我們便看見他的信心。至於喇合，她又如何證明她的信心呢？喇合因為相信以色列的神，才是又真又活的神，所以，當約書亞派兩名探子來到耶利哥城窺探的時候，喇合便讓他們藏匿在她那裡，又幫助他們逃命，以致那兩名探子都看見她真的對神有信心。 　　因此，雅各在此教導信徒，不要空談信心，反之，卻要以行動來活出信心。面對這個教訓，我們必須認真地自我檢視：我們自稱是基督徒，我們說我們對神有信心；然而，別人能否在我們的日常生活中，看見我們對神的信心呢？回想最近，我們有哪方面的表現，能見證我們的信心呢？別人是否只聽見我們談論信心，卻看不見我們有任何信心的表現？ 　　信心當然是最首要的；然而，我們若真有信心的話，就自然會從所行的事上表現出來。 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LET OTHERS SEE YOUR FAITH Day 25 BIBLE READING: James 2:14-26 This passage has made some people say we have to work for our salvation. But that is not what James means. He is simply that if you have faith in Christ, it will be seen in the things you do for him. James repeatedly speaks about our faith in Christ and he always puts that first. Whether he is talking about testings or being rich or poor or about anything we should or should not do, faith comes first. Faith in Jesus Christ alone as our Saviour is first, James says 'now prove your faith in Christ by doing those things Christ would have you do. Let others see your faith. You say you have faith. Then show it by the way you live, the way you obey God and the way you care for others.' James uses two illustrations from the Old Testament to show what he means. Abraham had great faith in God and he showed it by being obedient. Rahab had faith in God and showed it by taking care of the two men Joshua had sent to look around Jericho. She was convinced that the God of Israel was the true and living God. She wanted to show that fact to those who were his representatives. That was letting others see her faith. Faith in action is what James is speaking about. The up-to-date question that comes out of this passage for us today is this: We say we are Christians. We say we have faith. Does the world around us see that faith in action? What have we done recently in the name of Christ that would show we are what we say we are? Can other Christians see our faith or do they only hear what we say about it? Faith comes first. But if we have faith it should show day by day in the things we do for Christ.