牢记恩典
如果我们跟随基督，那么我们和神的关系会透过与人的关系表现出来，二者是连在一起的。但我们常常忘记这一点。我们很容易以种族、宗教、性别、教会、社区、家庭、朋友圈以及其它的名义来制造隔阂。尽管这些差异能帮助我们认识自己的身份, 但我们的罪性使我们曲解这些，在人与人之间立起高墙。我们庆祝多样化，但它不应导致分裂。
使徒保罗说我们可以在基督奠定的根基中找到合一。我们作为神的子民，彼此连结合一会提高见证的果效。祂会加添我们的力量，增添我们的价值。神最大的款待就是，祂差祂的儿子耶稣来，使我们与神和好成为可能。
透过基督在十字架上所作的工作，我们是祂的百姓，永远的合而为一。除非是这样，否则就没有好消息。除非是这样，否则我们就依然迷失在自己的罪中——被排除在神国以外，与基督隔绝。
我们庆祝那隔断的墙已经被拆毁。保罗敦促我们记住，我们本来被排斥在外，但神使我们与祂亲近，好使我们成为“新造的人”，并邀请所有人都进入神在基督里的大家庭。
神啊，祢为使我们归回祢的家付出了昂贵的代价。请帮助我们记住，并慷慨地欢迎他人也进入这个家。阿们。
以弗所书 2:11-22
11 所以你们应当记念：你们从前按肉体是外邦人，是称为没受割礼的，这名原是那些凭人手在肉身上称为受割礼之人所起的；
12 那时你们与基督无关，在以色列国民以外，在所应许的诸约上是局外人，并且活在世上没有指望，没有神。
13 你们从前远离神的人，如今却在基督耶稣里，靠着他的血，已经得亲近了。
14 因他使我们和睦，将两下合而为一，拆毁了中间隔断的墙，
15 而且以自己的身体废掉冤仇，就是那记在律法上的规条，为要将两下藉着自己造成一个新人，如此便成就了和睦。
16 既在十字架上灭了冤仇，便藉这十字架，使两下归为一体，与神和好了。
17 并且来传和平的福音给你们远处的人，也给那近处的人；
18 因为我们两下藉着他被一个圣灵所感，得以进到父面前。
19 这样，你们不再做外人和客旅，是与圣徒同国，是神家里的人了。
20 并且被建造在使徒和先知的根基上，有基督耶稣自己为房角石，
21 各房靠他联络得合式，渐渐成为主的圣殿，
22 你们也靠他同被建造，成为神藉着圣灵居住的所在。
Called To Remember
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. — Ephesians 2:13
If we follow Christ, we have a relationship with God that is bound to be expressed in our relationships with other people. But we often forget that. We can easily create barriers in the name of race, religion, gender, churches, communities, families, friend groups, and more. While these differences can help us think about who we are, our sinful nature distorts them in such a way that we put up walls that divide us. We should celebrate diversity, but it should not lead to division.
The apostle Paul says we can find unity in the foundation that has already been laid in Christ. Being connected to one another increases our effectiveness as God’s people. It increases our strength as well as our worth. In the ultimate act of hospitality, God sent his Son, Jesus, making reconciliation possible between us and God.
Through Christ’s work on the cross, we are united as his people once and for all. Unless this is the case, there is no good news. Unless this is the case, we are lost in our sin—excluded from the kingdom and separate from Christ.
We celebrate that the dividing wall has come down. Paul urges us to remember that we were once excluded but that God drew us near to himself so that we can become “one new humanity,” inviting everyone to join God’s household in Christ.
God, you went to great lengths to bring us into your family. Help us remember, and make us generous in welcoming others into the family too. Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
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