Grace and Change 恩典与改变
Dexu Xia
Moses was afraid and thought, “What I did must have become known.” Exodus 2:14
The crime was shocking, and the man who committed it was sentenced to life in prison. In the years that followed, the man—in solitary confinement—began a process of mental and spiritual healing. It led to repentance and a restored relationship with Jesus. These days he’s been allowed limited interactions with other inmates. And, by God’s grace, through his witness some fellow prisoners have received Christ as Savior—finding forgiveness in Him.
Moses, though now recognized as a great man of faith, also committed a shocking crime. After he witnessed “an Egyptian beating a Hebrew,” he looked “this way and that” and “killed the Egyptian” (Exodus 2:11–12). Despite this sin, God in His grace wasn’t done with His imperfect servant. Later, He chose Moses to free His people from their oppression (3:10). In Romans 5:14, we read, “Death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command.” But in the following verses Paul states that “God’s grace” makes it possible for us, regardless of our past sins, to be changed and made right with Him (vv. 15–16).
We might think that what we’ve done disqualifies us from knowing God’s forgiveness and being used for His honor. But because of His grace, in Jesus we can be changed and set free to help others be changed for eternity.
By: Tom Felten
How has God and His grace changed you? What are the changes He’s calling you to make these days?
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your life-changing grace.
摩西便惧怕，说：“这事必是被人知道了。”—出埃及记2章14节
这人犯下令人惊骇的罪行，被判终身监禁。在接下来的数年里，这个被单独禁锢的囚犯开始了心理与属灵的疗愈历程，最终使他悔改并与耶稣恢复关系。现在，他获准与其他狱友进行有限的交流。而且藉着上帝的恩典，他的见证让一些狱友接受了基督做他们的救主，在基督里面得到赦免。
如今被誉为信心伟人的摩西，也曾犯下令人惊骇的罪行。他目睹“一个埃及人打希伯来人”之后，便“左右观看”，见没有人就“把埃及人打死了”（出埃及记2章11-12节）。他虽然犯了这样的罪，但满有恩典的上帝并没有放弃祂不完美的仆人。后来，上帝拣选摩西带领祂的子民离开埃及（3章10节）。在罗马书5章14节，保罗说：“从亚当到摩西，死就掌权了，甚至那些不像亚当那样犯罪的人，也在死的权下”（新译本）。但接下来的经文里，保罗便指出，不管我们过去犯了什么罪，“上帝的恩典”都能使我们得到改变，与祂和好，并在祂面前被称为义人（15-16节）。
我们也许会认为，自己过去所做的一切，根本就不配得到上帝的饶恕，而且没有资格被上帝使用来荣耀祂。但是因为上帝的恩典，我们能够藉着耶稣而被改变、得释放，而且也能帮助其他人得到改变，有永生的盼望！
作者： 冯得恩
上帝与祂的恩典如何改变了你？最近祂要你做些什么改变？
天父，感谢祢赐下改变生命的恩典