我将恩典称为神圣的逆转。就像转折介词 (例:但是、然而、尽管如此、无论如何),是用来连接相反观点的词,预示着方向或观点将要逆转,神正是这样,祂要将我们从奔向地狱逆转为奔向天堂。何等奇妙!
大卫的敌人们使他成为邻舍嘲笑和藐视的对象。更糟糕的是,他感到被忽视和被遗忘,被看作毫无价值,像破碎的杯盘一样。那些看到他的人威胁他,想要害他的性命。耶稣在十字架上的时候,曾引用这首诗篇呼喊说:“我将我的灵魂交在你手里” (路 23:46)。这是为什么呢?耶稣也经历了神圣的逆转,却是与我们方向相反的。“神使那无罪的,替我们成为罪,好叫我们在他里面成为神的义 ” (林后 5:21 )。
透过这个交易 (即神的儿子担负了我们的罪),神不仅把救恩赐给我们这些奔向地狱的罪人,还使用那落在我们身上的恶来转化我们的生命,正如圣经说:“就是在患难中也是欢欢喜喜的;因为知道患难生忍耐,忍耐生老练,老练生盼望” (罗 5:3-4)。神圣的逆转,正是神要把恩典传给祂的百姓——是神的一种转翻的、救赎的恩典。
愿我们也同声回应神说:“耶和华啊,我仍旧倚靠你。”
以恩典转翻我们的神啊,为祢百姓的缘故,祢使用世界上最糟糕的事,使之带来最大的好处,正如祢将祢儿子的被钉十字架转变为我们的救恩。今天,求祢更新及改变我们。奉耶稣的名祷告,阿们。
诗篇 31:1-16
1耶和华啊,我投靠你;求你使我永不羞愧;凭你的公义搭救我!"But I trust in you, LORD; I say, 'You are my God.' My times are in your hands; deliver me.." — Psalm 31:14-15
Grace comes as what I call the Divine Adversative. Adversative conjunctions (but, yet, still, however) are words that connect opposing ideas. They indicate a reversal of direction or perspective. God turns us around from being hell-bent to heaven-bound. Amazing!
David's enemies made him the object of derision and scorn by his neighbors. Worse, he felt ignored and forgotten, treated as worthless, like a broken plate or cup. And those who took notice threatened his life and wished him dead. Jesus quoted from this psalm on the cross when he cried, "Into your hands I commit my spirit" (Luke 23:46). Why? Jesus experienced the Divine Adversative, but in the opposite direction. "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21).
That transaction, with the Son of God taking on our sin, not only delivers salvation to us hell-bent sinners. God also takes the evil that befalls us and uses it to transform us. "We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope" (Romans 5:3-4). The Divine Adversative delivers grace to God's people—transforming, redeeming grace.
"I trust in you, LORD."
O God of transforming grace, you take the worst in our world to make the best of and for your people, just as you turned your Son's crucifixion into our salvation. Transform us today. Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳