經文: 「他的僕人進前來，對他說，我父啊，先知若吩咐你做一件大事，你豈不做麼？何況說你去沐浴而得潔淨呢？」— [聖經·列王紀下 5章13節]
舊約中乃縵將軍的故事，讓我們看到人的信心，在上帝與人互動中所扮演的角色，是何等關鍵重要的部份。首先，乃縵想得醫治的心極為強烈，他不計任何代價，向敘利亞王求，向以色列王求。他不辭勞苦、長途跋踄，謙卑自己向先知求醫治，即使那先知並不想見他。他強烈求醫的動機是他信心的根基，而這股尋求上帝，尋求祂祝福的心志，正是許多人信仰中所缺乏的。
信心的第二個特色，就是捨棄成見，謙卑順服上帝的話，這對乃縵而言實在太難做到，因此他憤怒地轉身就走，幸好有一位忠誠智慧的僕人進忠言，改變他心意。的確，人常因理性的限制，困惑上帝怎麼會用這樣簡單的方法，行出奇妙的作為，信心因而受到攔阻。
信心第三個特色是單純地接受上帝的話：「去洗，就得潔淨。」剛開始看起來沒什麼效果，但順服到底就見效果。一次，兩次乃縵病情並沒有好轉，但到第七次上帝就展現奇蹟，只要單純相信上帝的話：「去洗，就得潔淨。」結果乃縵的皮膚潔白細嫩地像嬰兒皮膚一樣，上帝果然行了大事。
當上帝應許我們：「我用清水灑你們，你們就必得潔淨，除去罪污。」若我們不信，就會攔阻上帝的工作；讓我們相信當我們完全降服於上帝的話，上帝就會賜下我們所需要的心靈潔淨。「有一條河，它使上帝的城歡喜。」它從羔羊的寶座流下，藉由上帝的應許，流向凡接受祂話語的人心中。「去洗就得潔淨。」人心藉著上帝的道得以潔淨，上帝的應許是個呼召，「去洗，就得潔淨。」耶穌說：「我的道使你們得潔淨。」而且是除去一切的污穢。
—《 神 的 心 意 》
[每日靈修 4月12日]
作者：慕安德烈
編輯：榮華興
[圖片版權屬「恩雨之聲」所有，在此僅供分享福音用途。]
『 The Trial of Faith 』
Scripture: “And Naaman’s servants came near, and spake unto him, and said: ‘My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldst thou not have done it? How much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?’ ” — [2 Kings 5:13]
In Naaman we have a striking Old Testament illustration of the place faith takes in God’s dealing with man. It gives us a wonderful discovery of what faith really is. Think first of how intense the desire was for healing on Naaman’s part. He would do anything, appeal to the King of Syria and the King of Israel; he would undertake a long journey and humble himself before the prophet, who did not even deign to come out and see him. In this intensity of desire for blessing we have the root of a strong faith. And it is just this seeking for God and His blessing which is too much lacking in our religion.
The second mark of faith is that it has to give up all its preconceived opinion and to bow before the word of God. This was more than Naaman was willing to do, and he turned away in a rage. It was well for him that a wise and faithful servant gave him, better advice. Faith is often held back by the thought how such a simple thing as to accept God’s word can effect such a mighty revolution in the heart.
And then comes the third mark of faith. It submits implicitly to the word of God: “Wash, and be clean.” At first all appears vain, but faith proves itself in obedience. It does it not once or twice, but seven times in the assurance that the mighty wonder will be wrought. It takes the simple word, “Wash, and be clean,” and lo, it finds itself renewed as with the life of a little child, “clean, every whit.” The mighty deed is done.
When God’s word brings us to the promise: “I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean; from all your filthiness will I cleanse you,” it is nothing but unbelief that holds us back. Let us believe that a simple determined surrender of the whole will to God’s promise will indeed bring the heart-cleansing we need. “There is a river, the streams whereof make glad the city of God.” It flows from under the throne of God and the Lamb, through the channels of a thousand precious promises, and at each step the word is heard: “Wash, and be clean.” Christ cleanses “by the washing of water with the Word.” Every promise is a call: “Wash, and be clean; Wash, and be clean”; and Christ will speak: “Ye are clean through the word that I have spoken unto you” — clean, every whit.
— God’s Best Secrets by Andrew Murray
「 12 April 」
