Extra Grace Required 额外恩典
Dexu Xia
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith . . . not by works. Ephesians 2:8–9
While we decorated for a special event at church, the woman in charge griped about my inexperience. After she walked away, another woman approached me. “Don’t worry about her. She’s what we call an E.G.R.—Extra Grace Required.”
I laughed. Soon I started using that label every time I had a conflict with someone. Years later, I sat in that same church sanctuary listening to that E.G.R.’s obituary. The pastor shared how the woman had served God behind the scenes and given generously to others. I asked God to forgive me for judging and gossiping about her and anyone else I’d labeled as an E.G.R. in the past. After all, I needed extra grace as much as any other believer in Jesus.
In Ephesians 2, the apostle Paul states that all believers were “by nature deserving of wrath” (v. 3). But God gave us the gift of salvation, a gift which we did nothing to deserve, a gift we’d never be able to earn “so that no one can boast” (v. 9). No one.
As we submit to God moment by moment during this lifelong journey, the Holy Spirit will work to change our character so we can reflect the character of Christ. Every believer requires extra grace. But we can be grateful that God’s grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9).
By: Xochitl Dixon
When have you judged others for requiring extra grace? In what area of your life do you require grace today?
Father God, please help me extend grace to others as freely and generously as You’ve lavished Your abounding grace on me.
你们得救是本乎恩，也因着信。⋯⋯也不是出于行为。—以弗所书2章8-9节
当我们在教会为一个特别活动进行布置时，负责的一位姐妹因我经验不足而大发牢骚。等她走开后，另一位姐妹走近我，说：“别管她。她就是我们所说的，那种需要额外恩典的人。”
我一笑置之。自此之后，每当与人发生冲突时，我就会给对方贴上这个标签。多年后，我坐在同一间教会的会堂里，听到那位“需要额外恩典”的姐妹去世的消息。牧师在悼念这位姐妹时，分享了她如何在幕后殷勤服事上帝，并且乐善好施。我听了十分羞愧，祈求上帝饶恕我过去给她和其他人贴上标签，论断他们，还说他们的闲话。其实，我与其他的基督徒一样，都需要额外恩典。
在以弗所书2章，使徒保罗提到，所有的信徒“本为可怒之子”（3节）。然而，上帝却赐给我们救恩，这份恩典是我们不配得到，也永远无法赚取的，“免得有人自夸”（9节）。的确，无人能自夸！
在人生的旅途中，当我们不断地顺服上帝时，圣灵就会在我们身上动工，改变我们的个性，使我们能彰显上帝的特质。每个信徒都需要额外的恩典，但我们应该感到庆幸，因为上帝的恩典够我们用（哥林多后书12章9节）。
作者： 邓书琪
你曾在何时断定别人需要额外恩典？
今天你在生活的哪一方面需要恩典？
天父上帝，求祢帮助我以恩慈待人，
犹如祢厚赐予我丰盛的恩典一样。