Scripture Reading : Gen 12
Theme : Walk by Faith not by Sight
God’s Word leads to faith (1–3).
Abram was an idolater when God called him (Josh. 24:2), revealed His glory to him (Acts 7:2), and spoke to him. Abram turned from vain idols to walk with the Lord, and all of this was by God’s grace. The hearing of the Word creates faith (John 5:24; Rom. 10:17). Again God’s creative Word is at work.
Faith leads to obedience (4–6).
The New Testament states, “By faith Abraham obeyed” (Heb. 11:8). “I will show you, I will make you, I will bless you!” were God’s promises, and Abram believed. It has well been said that faith is not believing in spite of evidence; it is obeying in spite of consequences. The proof of faith is obedience, for true faith always leads to works (James 2:14ff.). Hearing leads to heeding.
Obedience leads to blessing (7–9).
Blessing leads to testing (10–20).
Faith is always tested for at least three reasons: to prove whether our faith is real; to help our faith grow; and to bring glory to the Lord (1 Pet. 1:6–9; James 1:1–8). Imagine a famine in the very land where God led him! We can be in the will of God and still suffer trials. It has been said that “faith is living without scheming,” but Abram began to scheme. He was walking by sight and not by faith, and it cost him his testimony—and almost his wife! Note that Abram had neither a tent nor an altar in Egypt. “Going down to Egypt” is OT language for getting out of the will of God.
God blessed Abram that he might be a blessing. Through Abram and his descendants, the whole world has been blessed. Whenever God gives you a blessing, it’s so that you might be a blessing to others. God’s blessings are not luxuries; they are opportunities.[1]
Praying the Scripture
- The Word of the Lord came to Abram and asked him to leave whatever he is doing, his home and his comfort zone because the Lord wants to bless him. If you were Abram, would you believe God and leave your comfort zone? Let’s pray that we will believe and trust God’s word and leave.
- Abram lived in the same rebellious and disobedient lifestyle as the world. However, the Lord called Abram to come out from his lifestyle of idol worship (Josh 24:2) and separate himself from the world. This is what holiness means. Let’s pray that you be willing to be separated from the world, it’s the culture and value as Abraham.
- When Abraham believed God he stepped out in faith. He walked by faith, not by sight. However, when he was tested, he returned to walk by sight. So he lied and sinned. We need to focus on the Lord rather than our situations and problems. Pray that we fix our eyes on him and trust him always.
[1] Edited from the work of Warren W. Wiersbe, With the Word Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991), Ge 12:1.
经文：创12章
主题：凭信心不是凭眼见
从神的话语到信心 (1–3).
当神呼召亚伯兰时他还是拜偶像的人（书24:2），神向他显现并且和他说话（徒7:2）。亚伯兰就悔改并与主同行，这一切都是神的恩典。信心是通过听从神话语而产生的。（约5:24；罗10:17）这也是神创造的话语在我们里面动工。
从信心到顺服 (4–6).
新约圣经指出，“亚伯拉罕因着信”就顺服了（希11:8）。 “我会让你看见，我会就成你，我必赐福你！”是神的应许，亚伯兰因此就相信了。信心不是因证据而相信，它是不顾后果的顺服。顺服是信心的明证，真正的信心必须有行为（各2:14 FF）。听从使我们有行动。
从顺服到祝福 (7–9)
我们对于亚伯兰的路途一无所知，但想必一定是非常艰苦的；但我们知道，当亚伯兰抵达时，神给了他一个新的承诺。神总是走在我们前面，并准备好祂的话语来鼓励我们。从现在起，亚伯兰的生命将以帐篷（世上的旅者）和祭坛（天上的子民）为标记。
从祝福到试炼 (10–20).
我们要面对信心的试炼有至少三个原因：证明我们的信心是真实的；帮助我们的信心增长以及荣耀主（彼前1:6-9；雅1:1-8）。设想一下，神竟带领亚伯兰到一个闹饥荒的地方！是的，我们可以活在神的旨意下仍然遭受到试炼。曾经有人说：“信心的生活没有自己的打算”，但亚伯却兰开始靠自己计划了。他凭眼见而不是凭着信心，这使得他失去了见证，甚至差一点连自己的妻子也失去！我们需要注意的是亚伯兰在埃及地既没有帐篷也没有祭坛。“走出埃及”在旧约的意思是在行走“神旨意之外”的意思。
神赐福给亚伯兰说，他将成为是一个祝福。通过亚伯兰和他的后裔，整个世界会被祝福。是的，每当神给你祝福时，祂是要叫你成为别人的祝福。神的祝福并不是奢侈品；它们是我们祝福别人的机会。
用经文祷告
- 主的话临到亚伯兰要他不顾一切的放下和离开他舒适的家和环境，因为主的目的是要祝福他。如果你是亚伯兰，你会相信神并离开自己舒适的环境吗？让我们祈求神让我们能够相信神的话语并且顺服的离开。
- 亚伯兰当时如同他所居住的世界一样叛逆和过着不守规则的生活。然而，主呼召了亚伯兰，要他离开崇拜偶像的生活（书24:2）并和世界分离出来。这就是圣洁的意思。让我们祈求神让我们相信亚伯拉罕愿意从世界的文化与价值观中分开来。
- 当亚伯拉罕相信神的时候，他就凭着信心的走出来。他凭着信心而不是凭着眼所见。然而，当他被试探时，他却又回去凭着眼见行事。于是他撒谎、犯罪。我们需要专注于主，而不是我们的情生活况和周围的问题。愿我们能一直定睛在主耶稣身上。
