【双语灵修】恩典无法数算BEYOND OUR ABILITY

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「『你向天观看，数算众星，能数得过来吗？』」-创 15:5

我好奇亚伯兰曾多少次仰望天空，祈求神成就多年前的应许，赐给他孩子。我还想知道，亚伯兰是否停止过这样的祷告，以及什么时候停止的。神曾应许他，万国将因他的后裔而得福（创 12:1-3）。但没有什么改变，亚伯兰和撒莱仍然没有孩子。

亚伯兰对神的回应中充满了疲惫和悲伤：「我既无子，你还赐我什么呢？」亚伯兰实际上是在问：「我真的能相信你吗……？」

对于我们许多人来说，这也是我们的故事。我们一次又一次地祈祷，相信神会听到我们的祷告，眷顾我们。有时，神会给我们一个奇迹般的回应。但有时，我们也会像诗人一样吶喊：「耶和华啊，你忘记我要到几时呢？要到永远吗？」（诗 13:1）

25年后，神才透过以撒的出生成就了给亚伯兰的应许，又过了近2000年，神才差耶稣来最终成就祂的应许。

在将临期，我们与亚伯兰一起带着疲惫和忧伤等待。神邀请我们记住并相信，祂对我们的信实、怜悯和爱如同星星般遍布天空，远远超出了我们的数算能力。

祷告

主啊，我们在疲惫和悲伤中挣扎，我们需要祢的拯救。请帮助我们等候祢，盼望祢成就所有的应许。在耶稣里，阿们。

创世记 15:1-6
1 这事以后，耶和华在异象中有话对亚伯兰说：「亚伯兰，你不要惧怕！我是你的盾牌，必大大地赏赐你。」 2 亚伯兰说：「主耶和华啊，我既无子，你还赐我什么呢？并且要承受我家业的是大马士革人以利以谢。」3 亚伯兰又说：「你没有给我儿子，那生在我家中的人就是我的后嗣。」 4耶和华又有话对他说：「这人必不成为你的后嗣，你本身所生的才成为你的后嗣。」 5于是领他走到外边，说：「你向天观看，数算众星，能数得过来吗？」又对他说：「你的后裔将要如此。」 6 亚伯兰信耶和华，耶和华就以此为他的义。

BEYOND OUR ABILITY

“‘Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.’” - Genesis 15:5

I wonder how many times Abram had looked into that sky, asking God to fulfill his promise from years earlier to give Abram children of his own. I also wonder if Abram had stopped praying that prayer, and when. God had promised him that the nations would be blessed through his offspring (Genesis 12:1-3). But nothing had changed. Abram and Sarai still didn’t have a child.

There is weariness and sorrow in Abram’s response to God: “What can you give me since I remain childless . . . ?” Here Abram is basically asking, “Can I truly believe you . . . ?”

For many of us, this is our story too. We’ve prayed again and again, trusting that God hears us and cares for us. Sometimes God shows up with a miraculous answer. But other times we cry out with the psalmist, “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?” (Psalm 13:1).

It was 25 years before God fulfilled the promise to Abram in the birth of Isaac, and nearly 2,000 more years passed before God sent Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment of his promises.

During Advent, we join Abram in waiting with our weariness and sorrows. And God invites us to remember and believe that his faithfulness, mercy, and love for us extend from one end of the heavens to the other—far beyond our ability to count.

Prayer

Lord, we struggle with weariness and grief. We need your deliverance. Help us to wait for you in the hope that you will fulfill all your promises. In Jesus, Amen.

诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳