【双语灵修】宽仁Grace And Generosity

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“凡事谦虚、温柔、忍耐，用爱心互相宽容。” - 弗 4:2

在耶稣的时代，人们都看不起当地的税吏，因为他们与接管他们国家的罗马人勾结。税吏还会向人们多收税款，以中饱私囊。因此他们常常以牺牲当地社区的利益为代价发财致富。

耶稣见到撒该后，主动要住在撒该家里，这让税吏撒该和在场的所有人都感到震惊。耶稣以这种方式向撒该表示了极大的重视和尊敬，从而改变了撒该的生命。这个税吏勇敢担当，承认了自己的错误，做出了补偿，并把自己一半的财产捐给了穷人。耶利哥城一片欢腾！

撒该从耶稣得了恩典；耶稣没有拒绝他，而是接纳了他，尊重了他。他被征服了，变得谦卑，立刻对周围的人慷慨起来。

在以弗所书中，保罗邀请我们过一种回应神恩典的生活。他命令基督徒谦卑、温柔、忍耐。作为接受了神慷慨恩典的人，我们蒙召过有恩典的生活。神赐我们恩典，这会激励我们也向他人彰显恩典、慷慨相助。

你所领受的恩典如何影响你与周围人的关系？在家庭、工作或学校以及教会的人际关系中，你能做些什么来显出温柔和谦卑呢？

祷告

耶稣，感谢你在我们还在罪中的时候向我们施恩。求你藉着圣灵赐我们能力，让我们向今天遇到的每一个人彰显恩典。阿们。

路加福音 19:1-10

1耶稣进了耶利哥，正经过的时候，
2有一个人名叫撒该，做税吏长，是个财主，
3他要看看耶稣是怎样的人。只因人多，他的身量又矮，所以不得看见。
4就跑到前头，爬上桑树，要看耶稣，因为耶稣必从那里经过。
5耶稣到了那里，抬头一看，对他说：“撒该，快下来！今天我必住在你家里。”
6他就急忙下来，欢欢喜喜地接待耶稣。
7众人看见，都私下议论说：“他竟到罪人家里去住宿！”
8撒该站着对主说：“主啊，我把所有的一半给穷人，我若讹诈了谁，就还他四倍。”
9耶稣说：“今天救恩到了这家，因为他也是亚伯拉罕的子孙。
10人子来，为要寻找、拯救失丧的人。”

Grace And Generosity

"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." - Ephesians 4:2

In Jesus’ day people despised the local tax collectors for collaborating with the Romans, who had taken over their nation. The tax collectors could also overcharge people in order to pay themselves, so they often got rich at the expense of their local community.

When Jesus came to visit, he shocked Zacchaeus, the local tax collector, and everyone in the crowd by inviting himself to stay at Zacchaeus’s house. In this way Jesus showed Zacchaeus great honor and respect, and that turned Zacchaeus’s life around. The tax collector stood up and acknowledged his wrongdoing, made amends, and gave half of his wealth to the poor. What joy in the city of Jericho!

Zacchaeus met grace in the person of Jesus, who accepted and honored him instead of rejecting him. He was overwhelmed and humbled, and immediately he became generous to the people around him.

In Ephesians, Paul invites us to live a life that responds to God’s grace. He calls Christians to be humble, gentle, and patient. As people who have received generous grace, we are called to live gracious lives. God's grace to us fuels us to show grace and generosity to others.

How does the grace you receive affect your relationships with the people around you? What can you do to show humility and gentleness in your relationships at home, at work or school, and in the church?

Prayer

Jesus, thank you for showing us grace despite our many sins. By your Spirit, empower us to show grace to everyone we meet today. Amen.

诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳