Just Right for Jesus 正好适合被耶稣重造
Dexu Xia
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 1 Timothy 1:15
Today's Scripture 1 Timothy 1:12-17
Today's Insights The apostle Paul (Saul) was there at the very beginning of the church in Jerusalem (Acts 8:1-4), but at the time, he held no love or loyalty for Jesus and His people. Instead, he approved of the murder of Stephen, a leader in the new church (6:1-6; 7:57–8:1) and then actively hunted down believers in Christ in Jerusalem and “put them in prison” (8:3). He requested letters to travel around the area with the full intention of murdering any believer he could get his hands on or—at the very least—imprisoning them (9:1-2). It’s that very violence—something Paul thought he was doing in the name of God—that the apostle said made him the “worst of sinners” (1 Timothy 1:16). Jesus took a violent, angry man and turned him into someone who would lay down his own life for the salvation of the very people he once sought to murder (Romans 9:3).
Today's Devotional Eric’s childhood challenges included a severe skin rash, difficulties in school, and getting high on alcohol or drugs daily from a very early age. Yet the one who dubbed himself as the “king of bad” found that he excelled on the baseball field—until he abandoned baseball after becoming discouraged by discrimination. This allowed him even more time for using and dealing drugs.
Things changed for Eric, however, when he had a life-altering encounter with Jesus while attending a church service. At his job the next day, a dedicated believer in Jesus invited Eric to attend yet another church service, where he heard these words that encouraged him in his newfound faith: “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17 kjv). Eric’s life has never been the same.
Like Eric, Saul of Tarsus (also known as Paul) would’ve been classified as a “tough case.” He said, “I am the worst” of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). He was “once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man” (v. 13). Like Saul, Eric was just right for Jesus. And so are we, even if we don’t view ourselves in the same league as Saul or Eric, for “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). We’re all just right for Jesus.
Reflect & Pray How do Eric and Saul’s stories help you to see God as a forgiving God? What does it mean for you to be just right for Jesus? Dear God in heaven, please help me to see that the blood of Jesus cleanses me from “big” and “little” sins. By Arthur Jackson
“基督耶稣降世，为要拯救罪人……在罪人中我是个罪魁。”（提摩太前书 1:15 ）
今日经文 提摩太前书 1章12-17
今日心得 使徒保罗（扫罗）在耶路撒冷教会刚建立时就在那儿（使徒行传 8:1-4），但当时他对耶稣和他的子民没有既没有爱心，也没有忠诚。相反，他赞成谋杀新教会的领袖司提反（6:1-6；7:57–8:1），然后，他积极追捕耶路撒冷的基督徒并“将他们关进监狱”（8:3）。他要求写信给周围地区的人，企图杀害他能找到的任何信徒，或者至少将他们关进监狱（9:1-2）。使徒保罗说，正是这种他认为是以上帝的名义行的暴力，使他成为“罪人中的罪魁祸首”（提摩太前书 1:16）。耶稣却把这个残暴、充满愤怒的人，变成一个愿意为拯救他曾经想要谋杀的人而献出自己生命的人（罗马书 9:3）。
今日灵修 埃里克童年的挑战包括严重的皮疹、学习困难以及很小年纪就开始酗酒或吸毒。然而，这个自称“坏人之王”的人发现自己在棒球场上表现出色，直到他因被歧视而灰心丧气，放弃了棒球。这让他有更多的时间吸毒和贩毒。然而，当埃里克在参加教堂礼拜时遇到了改变他一生的耶稣时事情发生了改变。第二天，埃里克在工作时，一位虔诚的耶稣信徒邀请他参加另一场教堂礼拜，在那里，他听到这些话：“若有人在基督里，他就是新造的人，旧事已过，都变成新的了”（哥林多后书 5:17）。这些话鼓舞他重拾新信仰。埃里克的生活从此改变。
和埃里克一样，大数的扫罗（又名保罗）也会被归类为“棘手的案例”。他说：“罪人中我是个罪魁”（提摩太前书 1:15）。他“从前亵渎神，逼迫人，侮慢人”（第 13 节）。和扫罗一样，埃里克非常适合被耶稣重造。我们也是如此，即使我们不认为自己犯罪与扫罗或埃里克属于同一级别，因为“世人都犯了罪，亏缺了神的荣耀”（罗马书 3:23）。我们都非常适合被耶稣重造。
反思与祈祷 艾瑞克和扫罗的故事如何帮助你认识，上帝是一位宽容的上帝？对你来说，成为被耶稣重造的合适人选意味着什么？ 亲爱的天上的上帝，请帮助我看到，耶稣的宝血洗净了我“大”和“小”的罪。 作者：亚瑟·杰克逊