January 21
As it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations.” — Romans 4:17
Scripture reading: Genesis 15:3–6; 18:9–15
Here are Sarah—her body is almost dead—and Abraham—his body is almost dead. “Now,” says Abraham, “God has made me a father of many nations, and there is no hope of a son according to the natural law, no hope whatever.” Here God says, “I have made you a father of many nations,” yet Abraham has no son. During the past twenty years of waiting, conditions had grown more and more hopeless, yet the promise had been made.
How long have you believed and still suffered from some disease? How long have you been waiting for the promise, and it has not come? Did you need to wait? Look here! I want to tell you that all the people who are saved are blessed with faithful Abraham (Galatians 3:9). Abraham is the great substance of the whole keynote of Scripture; he is a man who dared for twenty-five years to believe God when everything got worse every day. I do not know anything in the Scriptures as marvelous, as far-reaching, and as full of the substance of living reality to change us if we will believe God. He will make us so different. This is a blessed incarnation of living faith that changes us and makes us know that “[God] is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). God is a reality. God is true, and in Him there is no lie or “shadow of turning” (James 1:17). Oh, it is good! I do love to think about such truths as these.
No subject in the whole Bible makes my body aflame with passion after God and His righteousness as this one does. I see that He never fails. He wants man to believe, and then man will never fail. Oh, the loveliness of the character of God!
“A father of many nations.” You talk about your infirmities—look at this! I have never felt I have had an infirmity since I understood this chapter. My cup runs over as I see the magnitude of this living God.
It is almost as if Abraham had said, “I won‘t look at my body. I won‘t look at my infirmities. I believe God will make the whole thing right.” Some of us can say, “What does it matter if I have not heard for over twenty years? I believe my ears will be perfect.” God is reality and wants us to know that if we will believe, it will be perfect. “God…gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did” (Romans 4:17).
Then God tested Abraham and Sarah still further than that. Oh, it is blessed to know you are tested. It is the greatest thing in the world to be tested. Some people say, “Oh, I don‘t know why my lot is such a heavy one,” and God puts them into the fire again. He knows how to do it. I can tell you, He is a blessed God. There is no such thing as a groan when God gets hold of you. There is no such thing as lack to those who trust the Lord. When we really get in the will of God, He can make our enemies to be at peace with us (Proverbs 16:7). It is wonderful.
I wonder if you really believe that God can quicken what is dead. I have seen it many times. The more there was no hope, Abraham believed in hope. Sometimes Satan will cloud your mind and interfere with your perception so that the obscure condition is brought right in between you and God, but God is able to change the whole position if you will let Him have a chance. Turn your back on every sense of unbelief, and believe God. There are some who would like to feel the presence of the touch of God; God will bring it to you. I wish people could come to this place.
Abraham had a good time. The more he was squeezed, the more he rejoiced:
And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God. (Romans 4:19–20)
God knows. He has a plan; He has a way. Do you dare trust Him?
Thought for today: You never know what you are made of until you are tested.
敢于相信
1月21日
正如经上所记：“我已使你成为多国的父。” — 罗马书 4:17
经文阅读：创世记 15:3–6；18:9–15
这是莎拉——她的身体几乎已经死了——还有亚伯拉罕——他的身体几乎已经死了。亚伯拉罕说：“现在，上帝已使我成为多国之父，按自然法则是不可能得儿子的，根本没有希望。”上帝在这里说：“我已使你成为多国之父，”然而亚伯拉罕没有儿子。在过去二十年的等待中，情况越来越无望，然而这个应许已经给出。
你相信并仍然受某种疾病折磨多久了？你等候那应许多久了，却还没有临到？你还需要等待吗？看这里！我想告诉你，所有得救的人都与信实的亚伯拉罕一同蒙福（加拉太书 3:9）。亚伯拉罕是整部圣经主旨的伟大实质；他是一个二十五年来在一切情况越来越糟的日子里仍敢相信神的人。我在圣经中没有看到什么比这更奇妙、更深远、更充满活生生的现实内容，如果我们相信神，它能改变我们。它会使我们完全不同。这是活信心的蒙福化身，它改变我们，使我们知道“神是存在的，并且赏赐那些恒切寻求他的人”（希伯来书 11:6）。神是真实的。神是真实的，他里面没有谎言，也没有“变动的影儿”（雅各书 1:17）。哦，这真好！我确实喜欢思考这样的真理。
在整本圣经中，没有任何主题像这一主题一样让我的身体因对上帝和他公义的热爱而燃烧。我看到他从不失败。他希望人相信，然后人就永远不会失败。啊，上帝品格的可爱啊！
“多国之父。” 你谈论你的虚弱——看看这个！自从我理解了这一章以来，我从未觉得自己有过虚弱。当我看到这位永生上帝的伟大时，我的心充满喜乐。
几乎就好像亚伯拉罕说过：‘我不会看我的身体。我不会看我的疾病。我相信上帝会使一切都正确。’ 我们中的一些人可以说：‘如果我二十多年没能听到，那又有什么关系呢？我相信我的耳朵会完美无缺。’ 上帝是真实的，并希望我们知道，如果我们愿意相信，它将是完美的。‘上帝…使死人复活，也呼求那些本不存在之物，如同它们存在一样。’（罗马书 4:17）
然后上帝进一步考验了亚伯拉罕和撒拉。哦，知道自己被考验是多么幸福啊。被考验是世界上最伟大的事情。有些人说：“哦，我不知道为什么我的命运如此沉重，”上帝便再一次把他们放入火中。他知道如何去做。我可以告诉你，他是多么有福的神。当上帝抓住你时，没有什么可叹息的。那些信靠主的人不会缺乏。当我们真正进入上帝的旨意时，他能够使我们的敌人与我们和睦相处（箴言16:7）。这真是太奇妙了。
我想知道你是否真的相信上帝能够使死物复生。我已经见过很多次。希望越渺茫，亚伯拉罕就越相信希望。有时撒旦会蒙蔽你的心思，干扰你的感知，使模糊的状况直接摆在你和上帝之间，但上帝能够改变整个局面，只要你给祂一个机会。背弃一切不信的感觉，相信上帝。有些人希望感受到上帝的触摸；上帝会把它带给你。我希望人们能来到这个地方。
亚伯拉罕过得很愉快。他受的挤压越多，他就越欢喜：
并且没有在信心上软弱，他没有考虑自己已经死亡的身体（因为他大约一百岁了），也没有考虑撒拉子宫的死亡。他没有因不信而动摇上帝的应许，而是在信心上坚固，将荣耀归给上帝。（罗马书 4:19–20）
上帝知道。他有计划；他有办法。你敢信任他吗？
今日的思考：你永远不知道自己由什么组成，直到你受到考验。
Leave a Reply