January 17
Peter…said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.” — Acts 12:11
Scripture reading: Acts 12:1–17
There is a lot in an amen. I find that you can have zeal without faith. The Scripture reading shows the difference between the amen of faith and having zeal without faith.
When Peter was imprisoned by Herod, the church was in constant prayer for his release. They were even praying all night. They had zeal, but they did not have faith. Although there is much that could be commended to us from this passage, one thing is missing: faith. Young Rhoda had more faith than all the rest of them. When the knock came at the door, she ran to answer it. The moment she heard Peter‘s voice, she was so excited to share the good news that she didn‘t even unlock the gate so that Peter could come in. She ran with joy to tell those praying that Peter stood at the gate.
All the people said, “You are mad. It isn‘t so.” She insisted that she had seen Peter, but the people had no faith at all. They said, “Perhaps God has sent an angel.”
But Rhoda said, “It is Peter.” And Peter continued knocking. They went and found him at the door. They had zeal but no faith. God wants to bring us to the place where we will take hold of Him in a living way. We need to rest and always trust the plan of God.
There was such a difference between Zacharias and Mary. Zacharias definitely wanted a son, but even when the angel came and told him that he would be a father, he was full of unbelief. The angel said, “You will be mute and not able to speak…because you did not believe” (Luke 1:20). But when the angel came to Mary, she said, “Let it be to me according to your word” (v. 38). This was the beginning of the amen.
God wants us to have an inward amen, a mighty moving amen. This amen says, “It is,” because God has spoken.
Thought for today: Believe that there can be a real amen in your life.
对耶稣说阿门
1月17日
彼得……说:“现在我确实知道,主差遣了他的使者,把我从希律的手里,以及从全犹太人的期望中救出来了。”——使徒行传 12:11
圣经阅读:使徒行传 12:1–17
阿门里包含了很多。我发现你可以有热情而没有信仰。读经显示了信心的阿门与没有信仰的热情之间的区别。
当彼得被希律囚禁时,教会不断为他的释放祈祷。他们甚至通宵祈祷。他们有热心,但缺乏信心。虽然这段经文中有许多值得我们称赞之处,但有一样东西缺失:信心。年轻的罗大比其他人都有更多的信心。当有人敲门时,她跑去开门。听到彼得的声音的那一刻,她兴奋地想分享这好消息,以至于她甚至没有打开门让彼得进来。她满心喜悦地跑去告诉那些祈祷的人,彼得站在门口。
所有人都说:“你疯了。不可能是这样。”她坚持说她见过彼得,但人们一点也不相信。他们说:“也许是上帝派来的一位天使。”
但是罗大说:“是彼得。”而彼得还在叩门。他们去门口找他。他们有热情,但没有信心。上帝希望把我们带到一个我们能以生命的方式抓住祂的地方。我们需要安息,并且永远信靠上帝的计划。
撒迦利亚和马利亚之间有着如此大的差异。撒迦利亚无疑想要一个儿子,但即使天使来告诉他他将成为父亲时,他仍充满不信。天使说:“因为你不信,你必哑口,不能说话……”(路加福音 1:20)。但当天使来到马利亚时,她说:“愿照你的话成就于我”(v. 38)。这就是‘阿们’的起始。
上帝希望我们有一个内心的阿门,一个强有力的动感阿门。这个阿门说:“就是这样”,因为上帝已经说过了。
今日思考:相信你的生活中可以有真正的阿门。