2008-06-11 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 得勝的信心 粵語國語 第11天 讀經：約書亞記六章1至5、20節 　　以色列人如今來到迦南人的第一個城邑。它有堅固的護城牆、有強悍的士兵把守，裡面住著人口眾多的居民，而且物資非常充足。但另一方面，以色列人卻從來沒有受過軍事訓練，對作戰的策略全無認識；他們唯一的憑藉，是神在他們那一方。 　　神特別將祂的應許交給他們的領袖約書亞，請讀第2節。神先前已應許將迦南全地賜給他們(一3-4)；神如今再對他說：「我會先將耶利哥城交在你的手中。」 　　他們未出戰之先，約書亞已獲得勝利的保證。這是何等的激勵！但我們是否知道，我們同樣已獲得神的應許。請讀羅馬書八章37節：「然而，靠著愛我門的主，在這一切的事上已經得勝有餘了。」 　　接著，眾民便要接受信心的考驗。約書亞聚集眾民，對他們說：「神吩咐我們要這樣行，我們就按照祂的指示去做吧！」約書亞不單相信神所賜的話，他更謹守遵從。聖經稱這種信心為「順服的信心」；人若能表現出這種信心，就最能討神的喜悅了。 　　不過，即使當他們願意憑著信心而行，過程之中，還要學習其他的功課。神為甚麼要他們繞城行走13次呢？是否真的需要用那麼長的時間，才能令他們相信自己是無能為力，只有仰賴神的幫助？ 　　而且，他們繞城的時候還要默不作聲。這對他們來說真是一大考驗。他們在曠野期間一直連聲抱怨。但如今神卻吩咐他們：「不可作聲，連一句說話也不可出你們的口。你們只要憑著信心，靜默地繞城行走，勝利就必屬你們。」 　　當我們心裡難過，滿懷怒氣和滿心嫉妒的時候，我們當然會悶不作聲。但此刻的以色列人卻不是這種心境，反之，他們的內心是充滿了期待與興奮。然而，他們卻要保持靜默的信心，直至繞城13次之後，在神的命下，才放聲呼喊。一個真正對神有信心的人，會願意靜默地等候神，會願意等候神所定的時間，因為他知道，當神的時間到了，祂便會立即工作，而祂所成就的工作，會使到一切的等待都變得非常值得。 反思： 以色列人因著信，圍繞耶利哥城七日，城牆就倒塌了。(希伯來書十一章30節) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THE VICTORY OF FAITH DAY 11 BIBLE READING: Joshua 6: 1-5, 20 Israel was face to face with the first city held by Canaanities. It was a strong walled city with solders to defend it and with plenty of food for the people living inside. On the other hand, the men of Israel were not trained for fighting. But God was on their side and that made all the difference. Joshua, their leader, had a special word given to him by the Lord. Look at verse 2. God had previously given Joshua the whole of the land (see 1: 3-4). Now God says, 'I have given you the first city, Jericho'. Joshua was assured of victory before he began to fight. What an encouragement. But then God has given the same kind of promise to us. Read Romans 8:37. 'We are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Then came the test of faith. What would Joshua do? He called the people together and said, 'God has told us what to do. Let's get started.' Joshua not only believed the word God had given, he acted on it. God calls this the 'obedience of faith' and nothing pleases him more than that. There are lessons to be learned, however, even while walking by faith. Why did God tell them to walk around the city 13 times? Did it take that long to convince them that they could do nothing unless God really helped them? Then they had to march in silence. That would be hard for these people. All through the wilderness they had murmured and cried out. Now God says, 'Don't say a word. Go in silent faith and the victory will be yours.' It is easy to be silent if we are unhappy or bitter or jealous. Sometimes when we feel like that, we are anything but silent of course. However, this was the silence of faith that waited until the 13th time around. Then they shouted when God told them to do so. Faith can wait for God, for his exact moment. It knows that when God's time comes, he will immediately work. What he does then will be worth waiting for.' A THOUGHT: BY FAITH, the walls of Jericho fell down. Hebrews 11: 30.