【双语灵修】失望？DISAPPOINTED?

路加福音 15:1-2

众税吏和罪人都挨近耶稣，要听他讲道。法利赛人和文士私下议论说：“这个人接待罪人，又同他们吃饭。”

11月21日

失望？

“这个人接待罪人，又同他们吃饭。” - 路 15:2

昨天我们思想过，神国里竟然没有“论功行赏”的制度。这令你感到困扰吗？

在耶稣那个年代，有些人认为祂爱这些“失败者”和被排斥的人，真是一个问题，当时大部分的宗教领袖更为此憎恨祂。他们认为自己用尽时间和精力去做正确的事，又避免犯罪，以致可以事奉神，这一切的努力岂不都应该算数？这样才算是公平吧？

作为一个资深的牧师，我理解这种思路。虽然我可能不应这样说，但我一生都努力把一切献给神，所以按道理我的努力都应该算数吧？

或者你也能理解。你正在阅读/聆听这份灵修信息，表示在你生命中你也有事奉过神，或者你也曾把时间和才能用于事奉，你参加敬拜，你又抗拒过那些—坦白说—你也很想沉迷在其中的诱惑。如果神是公平的，你做这些事也应该可以在天堂得到一些肯定吧？

幸而神是不公平的，祂真是很不公平。神赐我们的恩典是远超过我们配得的，没有论功行赏的制度，带来更好的回应：就是感恩。

在明天的灵修文章中，我们将会讨论这点。

祷告

主啊，求你提醒我们，你的道路高过我们的道路。求你帮助我们放下自己的期望，欣然去接受你那慷慨，又可以不劳而获的奇妙恩典。阿们。

Luke 15:1-2

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21

DISAPPOINTED?

“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” —Luke 15:2

Yesterday we reflected on the surprising absence of a merit system in the kingdom of God. Has that ever bothered you?

Some people in Jesus’ day saw his love for “losers” and outcasts as a problem. Most of the religious leaders hated him for it. They put all of their time and energy into doing the right things and keeping themselves from sin in order to serve God. Shouldn’t all that effort count for something? That would only seem fair, right?

As a career-long pastor myself, I can understand that line of thinking. Though I probably shouldn’t say it this way, I’ve worked hard throughout my life to give everything for God. So it would seem reasonable to say that’s got to count for something, right?

Perhaps you understand as well. The fact that you’re reading this devotional guide means you may well have some history of serving God in your own life. Maybe you too have given of your time and abilities in ministry. You’ve participated in worship. You’ve resisted temptations that—truth be told —you really would have liked to indulge in. If God is fair, it seems that those things ought to bring some recognition in heaven, right?

Well, thankfully, God is not fair. Not fair at all. God is more gracious than we deserve. And the absence of a merit system brings something even better: gratitude.

We’ll look at that tomorrow.

Lord, remind us that your ways are higher than ours. Help us to give up our expectations and embrace the wonder of your generous, unearned grace. Amen.