神恩典的隐秘大能
耶稣的眼光和世人不一样。人们想像中，神的国更像大卫王和所罗门王统治下的以色列王国，又甚或像罗马帝国，透过它庞大的军事势力和宏伟建筑城邑而快速扩张。
耶稣却把他听众的注意力转到一粒小小的芥菜种上，说天国就像如此。这恐怕粉碎了许多人想要的瞬间成功的梦。
芥菜种？！——它是那么渺小、生长那么缓慢的种子！毫无疑问，耶稣的比喻使他们搔搔头顶，感到索然无味。
耶稣从没意图使自己出名，或成为一位按世人的标准攻无不克的君王。祂教导说，尽管神的国开始时是这样卑微，它却以恩典和爱这微妙、隐藏的大能增长，最终会传遍世界。
在恩典中成长可能是个缓慢的过程，但它引进的是在神的国里那永恒的生命，而神的国比宇宙一切都大。天国的恩典包括一生与主同行，祂总是关注你的生命，并温柔地督促你关注祂如何在你的生命中动工。
亲爱的主，赦免我，因我没有足够的耐性信靠祢的恩典在我生命中作工。求祢帮助我抵挡“快速见效”这试探，信靠祢带领我每天成长。奉耶稣的名祷告，阿们。
路加福音 13:18-21
18 耶稣说：“神的国好像什么？我拿什么来比较呢？
19 好像一粒芥菜种，有人拿去种在园子里，长大成树，天上的飞鸟宿在它的枝上。”
20 又说：“我拿什么来比神的国呢？
21 好比面酵，有妇人拿来藏在三斗面里，直等全团都发起来。”
The Hidden Power Of God’s Grace
Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to?” - Luke 13:18
Jesus’ vision and the people’s vision were not the same. The people imagined the kingdom of God was more like their ancient kingdom of Israel under King David and his son Solomon. Or maybe even like the Roman Empire, which spread rapidly through its vast military might and also built great cities.
But Jesus focused his listeners on the tiny mustard seed, saying that this was what the kingdom of God was like. This probably shattered the dreams of instant success that so many of the people wanted.
Mustard?!—it was such a small, slow-growing seed! No doubt the people were scratching their heads as Jesus’ parable underwhelmed them.
Jesus was not trying to make a name for himself or to be a conquering king by the world’s standards. He taught that although God’s kingdom might seem to have insignificant beginnings, it grew with the subtle, hidden power of grace and love and would eventually spread throughout the earth.
Growth in grace may be a slow process, but the result is everlasting life with God in his kingdom, which is even greater than the cosmos. Kingdom grace involves a lifelong walk with the Master, who is always paying attention to your life and nudging you to pay attention to his life at work in you.
Dear Lord, I am not patient enough to trust the process of grace in my life. Help me to resist the appeal of quick results and to trust in you for growth each day. Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
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