2015年12月9日
免付罰單 Just the Ticket
读经: 以弗所書1章1-10節
Reading: Ephesians 1:1-10
我們藉這愛子⋯⋯過犯得以赦免，乃是照祂豐富的恩典。-以弗所書1章7節
In him we have . . . the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace.- Ephesians 1:7
全年读经: 但以理書11-12章;猶大書
Bible in a Year: Daniel 11–12; Jude
警察攔下一位婦女，因為她沒有依法給年幼的女兒使用兒童安全座椅。這位警察原本應該給這名婦女一張違反交通規則的罰單，但是他卻讓這對母女到附近一家商店與他會面，自己掏腰包為她們買了安全座椅。因為那位母親陷入經濟困難，沒能力為女兒購買安全座椅。
那位婦女原本該因違規而受罰，卻反而帶著禮物離去。其實，凡是認識基督的人都經歷類似的情景。我們全都因違反了上帝的律法而應該受罰（傳道書7章20節） ，但是因為耶穌，我們從上帝那裡經歷了不配得的好處，讓我們的罪得以逃脫最終的後果，那就是死亡並與上帝永久隔離（羅馬書6章23節） 。「我們藉這愛子的血得蒙救贖，過犯得以赦免，乃是照祂豐富的恩典」（以弗所書1章7節） 。
有人說恩典是「愛的行動」。那位年輕母親經歷這件事之後，說：「我會永遠心存感激⋯⋯當我負擔得起時，一定將這份愛心傳遞出去。」出於感恩的心，她立志慷慨地回報警察的贈禮，對於我們這些曾經接受過上帝恩典禮物的人來說，這實在是一個激勵人心的典範。
親愛的天父，謝謝祢賜給我們不配得的恩典。
祢已經赦免我的罪，
還讓我能夠透過祢的愛子與祢和好。
幫助我因著祢的恩典永遠心存感恩。
上帝賜下我們不配得的禮物──恩典。
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When a police officer stopped a woman because her young daughter was riding in a car without the required booster seat, he could have written her a ticket for a traffic violation. Instead, he asked the mother and daughter to meet him at a nearby store where he personally paid for the needed car seat. The mother was going through a difficult time and could not afford to buy a seat.
Although the woman should have received a fine for her misdemeanor, she walked away with a gift instead. Anyone who knows Christ has experienced something similar. All of us deserve a penalty for breaking God's laws (Eccl. 7:20). Yet, because of Jesus, we experience undeserved favor from God. This favor excuses us from the ultimate consequence for our sin, which is death and eternal separation from God (Rom. 6:23). "In [Jesus] we have . . . the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace" (Eph. 1:7).
Some refer to grace as "love in action." When the young mother experienced this, she later remarked, "I will be forever grateful! . . . And as soon as I can afford it I will be paying it forward." This grateful and big-hearted response to the officer's gift is an inspiring example for those of us who have received the gift of God's grace!
Dear Father, thank You for giving us what we don't deserve. You have forgiven my sins and provided a way for me to be reconciled to You through the gift of Your Son. Help me to always be grateful for Your grace.
God's gift is grace.