自古以来，以色列民时常都有离开神的倾向，但是神总会让他们回转。在耶稣所讲的其中一个比喻中，有一个人的儿子离家出走，羞辱了父亲，后来，这个儿子终于醒悟过来，他便返回老家，希望得到些少恩惠，然而这仁慈的父亲却以厚爱待他（参看路加福音 15:11-32）。耶稣用这个比喻，来描述我们的天父与衪的子民的关系。
我们的忍耐和怜悯是有限的。有时，为了让儿女明白我的感受，我会说：“我已经忍无可忍了。”如果他们继续胡闹，我恐怕我的脾气会爆发。然而，统管万有的神的忍耐和怜悯，却永远不会耗尽。尽管我们犯了同样的罪亿万次，只要我们真的认错，衪仍然会继续赦免我们。
但这并不是说，我们不用面对后果。神要求我们仰望衪，如果我们没有打算与神建立关系，我们便不能期望得赦免了。衪的赦免，是基于我们与祂建立关系，好叫我们能继续亲近衪，并且远离那些伤害我们自己和别人的事物。神的心意不会改变，如果我们真的希望与衪建立关系，主必定会再次接纳我们的。
今天是教会纪念耶稣升天的日子，你与这位高升的君王有怎样的关系呢？你爱衪和奉祂为你的主和救主吗？
亲爱的耶稣，求祢帮助我们去爱。惟愿我们抵制那些妨碍我们与祢的关系的事物。我们走迷时，求祢赦免我们，并且再次接纳我们。奉耶稣名求，阿们。
玛拉基书 3:6-7
6“因我－耶和华是不改变的，所以你们雅各之子没有灭亡。"I the LORD do not change. So you . . . are not destroyed. . . . Return to me, and I will return to you." — Malachi 3:6-7
From early times the Israelites had a tendency to turn away from God. But God always let them turn back. In one of Jesus' parables, a man's son shames his father and runs away. Eventually the son comes to his senses and returns, hoping for a small scrap of mercy. But the father is gracious and showers the son with love (see Luke 15:11-32). That is how Jesus describes our Father's relationship with his children.
We have limits to our patience and mercy. Occasionally I must appeal to my kids, "I don't have any patience left." If they keep going, I'm afraid my reaction won't be fair. But the patience and mercy of God, who rules the universe, never run out. If we commit the same sin a billion times and are truly sorry for it, he will keep forgiving.
This is not to say there are no consequences. God wants us to look to him. We should not expect to be forgiven without wanting a relationship with God. His forgiveness is about building a relationship with us that will keep us close to him and far from hurting ourselves and others. The heart of God does not change on that point, and if we truly want a relationship with him, the Lord will always take us back.
On this day when the church commemorates Jesus' ascension to heaven, what is your relationship with the ascended King? Do you love and serve him as your Lord and Savior?
Dear Jesus, teach us to love. May we reject anything that comes between us and you. Forgive us and take us back when we stray. Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
