我们能在神的恩典中存活吗？
几年前，我们社区有个人给了我一本陆可铎的《恩典百分百》。经历几次悲惨的事件使得这个人和他的家人转向主和归向教会。她送给我这本书时说道：“我们回归是因为神的恩典抓住了我们。”她认识到我们都在神恩典的手中——无时无刻都在。若不是这样，无人能有机会归向神。
神的恩典是你我最需要的。没有它，我们什么也不是，但有了神的恩典，我们就能够面对一切。这就是主自己告诉使徒保罗的。保罗带着所谓的“一根刺，撒旦的使者”这种生活，一直受着折磨。他不断祈求主把这根刺挪去。神回应说不，祂的恩典够他用。无论如何，神会用祂的恩典抓住保罗，保罗也能够完成神为他预备的工作。
这也是我们新年的确信：无论前方如何，神都会托住我们，以祂的恩典抓住我们。我们只需要转向耶稣，并接受祂的恩典。
我们在天上的父，感谢你应许我们，你会永远托住我们。求你保守我们在你恩典的手中。阿们。
哥林多后书 12:1-10
1我自夸固然无益，但我是不得已的。如今我要说到主的显现和启示。
2我认得一个在基督里的人，他前十四年被提到第三层天上去——或在身内，我不知道；或在身外，我也不知道；只有神知道。
3我认得这人——或在身内、或在身外，我都不知道，只有神知道——
4他被提到乐园里，听见隐秘的言语，是人不可说的。
5为这人，我要夸口；但是为我自己，除了我的软弱以外，我并不夸口。
6我就是愿意夸口，也不算狂，因为我必说实话；只是我禁止不说，恐怕有人把我看高了，过于他在我身上所看见、所听见的。
7又恐怕我因所得的启示甚大，就过于自高，所以有一根刺加在我肉体上，就是撒旦的差役要攻击我，免得我过于自高。
8为这事，我三次求过主，叫这刺离开我。
9他对我说：“我的恩典够你用的，因为我的能力是在人的软弱上显得完全。”所以，我更喜欢夸自己的软弱，好叫基督的能力覆庇我。
10我为基督的缘故，就以软弱、凌辱、急难、逼迫、困苦为可喜乐的，因我什么时候软弱，什么时候就刚强了。
Will We Remain In God’s Grace?
"Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'" - 2 Corinthians 12:8-9
Several years ago someone in our community gave me a book titled In The Grip of Grace by Max Lucado. A couple of tragic events had brought this person and her family back to the Lord and to the church. When she handed me the book, she said, “We found our way back because we were in the grip of God’s grace.” She had learned that we are all in the grip of God’s grace—all of the time. Without that, none of us would stand a chance.
God’s grace is what you and I need more than anything else. Without it we are nothing, but because of God’s grace we can face whatever comes our way. That’s what the Lord himself tells the apostle Paul. Paul lived with what he called “a thorn in [his] flesh, a messenger of Satan,” that was tormenting him. He kept asking the Lord to remove that thorn. God’s answer was no, saying that his grace would be enough. No matter what, God would keep Paul in the grip of his grace, and Paul would be able to carry out the work God had in mind for him.
That’s our assurance for the coming year too: Come what may, God will hold on to us and keep us in the grip of his grace. All we need to do is turn to Jesus to receive his grace.
Father in heaven, we thank you for your promise to hold on to us always. Please keep us in the grip of your grace. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
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