Extending Grace to Others 传递恩惠
Dexu Xia
Extending Grace to Others
God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them.
Our son spent the early years of his life in a children’s home prior to our adopting him. Before leaving the cinderblock building together to go home, we asked to collect his belongings. Sadly, he had none. We exchanged the clothes he was wearing for the new items we’d brought for him and also left some clothing for the other children. Even though I was grieved by how little he had, I rejoiced that we could now help meet his physical and emotional needs.
A few years later, we saw a person asking for donations for families in need. My son was eager to donate his stuffed animals and a few coins to help them. Given his background, he might have (understandably) been more inclined to hold tightly to his belongings.
I’d like to think the reason for his generous response was the same as that of the early church: “God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all” that nobody in their midst had need (Acts 4:33–34). The people willingly sold their own possessions to provide for one another’s needs.
When we become aware of the needs of others, whether material or intangible, may God’s grace be so powerfully at work in us that we respond as they did, willingly giving from our hearts to those in need. This makes us vessels of God’s grace as fellow believers in Jesus, “one in heart and mind” (v. 32).
How’s God’s grace at work in you? What could you share with others as a manifestation of His grace?
Thank you, God, for all You’ve given to me, including Your grace. Help me to extend Your grace to others.
传递恩惠
众人也都蒙大恩。内中也没有一个缺乏的。—使徒行传4章33-34节
在被我们领养之前，儿子是住在儿童之家。当我们准备带儿子回家时，也要求带走他的个人物品。但叫人感到难过的是，他竟然一无所有。我们让他换上特别为他购买的新衣服，同时也把一些衣服留给其他的孩子们。当我为他所拥有的竟如此之少而悲伤时，也为我们今后能满足他身心的需求而欣慰。
几年后，我们看见有人为需要帮助的家庭募集各种物资时，我儿子很热心地捐赠自己的绒毛玩偶跟一些硬币来帮助他们。按一般人的理解，以我儿子的背景来说，应该更倾向于抓紧自己拥有的一切。
我想，他会这样慷慨付出，或许跟初代教会的信徒有相同的原因：“众人也都蒙大恩”，以至当中没有一个缺乏的（使徒行传4章33-34节）。那时，人们愿意变卖自己的田产房屋来供应彼此的需要。
当我们察觉别人需要帮助时（无论是在物质或心理层面），愿上帝的恩惠大大运行在我们心中，让我们能像初代信徒那样甘心乐意地帮助那些有需要的人。这样我们就能像他们那般“一心一意”（32节），成为上帝向人施恩的器皿。
你曾如何经历上帝的恩惠？
你要跟人分享什么以显明从上帝得着的恩惠呢？
上帝，感谢祢所赐恩典，以及祢赐给我的一切。
求祢使我能将祢的恩惠传给别人。
上帝以慈爱的怜恤恩待我们，愿我们也把这份恩典分享出去。