回应神的饶恕

只有神的恩典使我们有可能去原谅得罪我们的人。只有我们意识到神在基督里如何饶恕了我们，我们才能学会去饶恕。

“并要以恩慈相待，存怜悯的心，彼此饶恕，正如　神在基督里饶恕了你们一样。” - 弗 4:32

　　这个比喻真是让人难以想像的。怎么刚刚被免了一百万债务的人，竟拒绝免去别人几块钱呢？真令人费解。

　　然而，该想想自己吧——我们也常常很不容易饶恕别人。别人一个简单的错误，我们能怀恨多久？或者，别人说了伤害你的话，你苦苦不能原谅——可能时间久得都记不起对方曾说的话了。或者，别人给你更大的伤害。可能是……配偶对你不忠，同事撒谎导致你被解雇，父亲或母亲虐待你，或一个恃强凌弱的人令你生活很悲惨。

　　只有神的恩典使我们有可能去原谅得罪我们的人。只有我们意识到神在基督里如何饶恕了我们，我们才能学会去饶恕。

　　脸书上的一个帖子有这样一个故事：蒙蒂⋅威廉姆斯是一位篮球教练，他的妻子被一个变态的司机杀害，留下他孤身一人带着四个孩子。然而在追思礼拜上，他竟劝勉众来宾为那位司机祷告，并向大家讲到饶恕的重要性。他真正明白使徒保罗所说的，我们应彼此饶恕，就像神在基督里饶恕了我们一样。

　　作为基督徒，我们是被呼召，要不断呼应神的饶恕。今天，你是这样生活的吗？

祷告

父啊，感谢祢每天都饶恕我们。求祢因着耶稣，教导我们如何去饶恕。奉祂的名求，阿们。

马太福音 18:21-35

21那时，彼得进前来，对耶稣说：“主啊，我弟兄得罪我，我当饶恕他几次呢？到七次可以吗？”
22耶稣说：“我对你说，不是到七次，乃是到七十个七次。
23天国好像一个王要和他仆人算帐。
24才算的时候，有人带了一个欠一千万银子的来。
25因为他没有什么偿还之物，主人吩咐把他和他妻子儿女，并一切所有的都卖了偿还。
26那仆人就俯伏拜他，说：‘主啊，宽容我，将来我都要还清。’
27那仆人的主人就动了慈心，把他释放了，并且免了他的债。
28“那仆人出来，遇见他的一个同伴欠他十两银子，便揪着他，掐住他的喉咙，说：‘你把所欠的还我！’
29他的同伴就俯伏央求他，说：‘宽容我吧，将来我必还清。’
30他不肯，竟去把他下在监里，等他还了所欠的债。
31众同伴看见他所做的事就甚忧愁，去把这事都告诉了主人。
32于是主人叫了他来，对他说：‘你这恶奴才！你央求我，我就把你所欠的都免了，
33你不应当怜恤你的同伴，像我怜恤你吗？’
34主人就大怒，把他交给掌刑的，等他还清了所欠的债。
35你们各人若不从心里饶恕你的弟兄，我天父也要这样待你们了。”

Echoes Of God's Forgiveness

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. — Ephesians 4:32

英语音频 English Audio

The story in this parable seems almost impossible to imagine. Why would anyone who has just been forgiven a million-dollar debt refuse to forgive a debt of a few dollars? It doesn't make sense.

Consider, though, how hard it can be for us to forgive others. How long have we held a grudge against someone, even for a simple mistake? Or how about refusing to forgive someone for saying something that hurt you— perhaps so long ago that you can't remember what they said? Or maybe the offense was more serious. Perhaps a spouse betrayed you, a coworker lied and got you fired, a parent abused you, or a bully made life miserable for you.

Only the grace of God makes it possible to forgive people who sin against us. Only when we begin to realize how much God has forgiven us in Christ can we learn to forgive.

A Facebook post told the story of a basketball coach, Monty Williams, whose wife was killed by an erratic driver, leaving him a single parent with four children. At the memorial service he urged the people there to pray for the driver and talked to them about the importance of forgiveness. He understood the words of the apostle Paul, that we are to forgive each other just as in Christ God has forgiven us.

As Christians, we are called to be echoes of God's forgiveness. Are you living that way?

Prayer

诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳