God’s Gift of Grace 上帝赐恩典

[Dexu Xia]

To each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. Ephesians 4:7

As I was grading another stack of papers for a college writing class I teach, I was impressed with one particular paper. It was so well-written! Soon, though, I realized it was too well-written. Sure enough, a little research revealed that the paper had been plagiarized from an online source.

I sent the student an email to let her know that her ruse had been discovered. She was getting a zero on this paper, but she could write a new paper for partial credit. Her response: “I am humiliated and very sorry. I appreciate the grace you are showing me. I don’t deserve it.” I responded by telling her that we all receive Jesus’ grace every day, so how could I deny showing her grace?

There are many ways God’s grace enhances our lives and redeems us from our errors. Peter says it gives salvation: “We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved” (Acts 15:11). Paul says it helps us not to be overtaken by sin: “Sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace” (Romans 6:14). Elsewhere, Peter says grace allows us to serve: “Use whatever gift you have received . . . as faithful stewards of God’s grace” (1 Peter 4:10).

Grace. So freely given by God (Ephesians 4:7). May we use this gift to love and encourage others.

By:  Dave Branon

When do you most feel God’s grace in your life? What are a couple ways you can show surprising grace to others today?

God of grace, help me to share Your grace in my interactions with others. 

我们各人蒙恩，都是照基督所量给各人的恩赐。—以弗所书4章7节

我在某所大学教授写作课程，在批改一叠学生写的文章时，其中一篇令我印象深刻。这篇文章实在写得很好，但随即我就意识到好得太过头了。果然，在网络上稍做搜寻，就发现她是抄袭一篇网络文章。

我给这位学生发了封电邮，让她知道她的伎俩已被识破。这份作业她得零分，但她可以重写一篇文章以取得部分的分数。她回复说：“我感到非常羞愧，也很抱歉。感谢你对我的宽容，这是我不配得到的。”但我明确地告诉她，我们每天都蒙受耶稣所赐的恩典，我岂能不以恩慈待她呢？

上帝所赐的恩典在许多方面提升了我们的生命，救赎我们得以脱离自己的罪恶过犯。彼得说，上帝的恩典带来救恩，“我们得救乃是因主耶稣的恩，⋯⋯这是我们所信的”（使徒行传15章11节）。保罗说，这份恩典帮助我们不被罪恶辖制：“罪必不能作你们的主，因你们不在律法之下，乃在恩典之下”（罗马书6章14节）。彼得还说，恩典让我们能够服事，“各人要照所得的恩赐……，作上帝百般恩赐的好管家”（彼得前书4章10节）。上帝已将恩典白白地赐给我们（以弗所书4章7节），愿你我能使用上帝所赐的恩典去关爱及鼓励他人。

作者：  白德夫

在你的生命中，你何时最能感受到上帝的恩典？今天你能以哪些方式
让人感受到意想不到的恩典？

满有恩典的上帝，在我与他人互动时，帮助我能与他们分享祢的恩典