Inheritance Isn’t Earned 白白接受
Dexu Xia
Inheritance Isn’t Earned
He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.
“Thanks for dinner, Dad,” I said as I set my napkin on the restaurant table. I was home on a break from college and, after being gone for a while, it felt strange to have my parents pay for me. “You’re welcome, Julie,” my dad replied, “but you don’t have to thank me for everything all the time. I know you’ve been off on your own, but you’re still my daughter and a part of the family.” I smiled. “Thanks, Dad.”
In my family, I haven’t done anything to earn my parents’ love or what they do for me. But my dad’s comment reminds me that I haven’t done anything to deserve to be a part of God’s family either.
In the book of Ephesians, Paul tells his readers that God chose them “to be holy and blameless in his sight” (1:4), or to stand without blemish before Him (5:25–27). But this is only possible through Jesus, in whom “we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace” (1:7). We don’t have to earn God’s grace, forgiveness, or entrance into His family. We simply accept His free gift.
When we turn our lives over to Jesus, we become children of God, which means we receive eternal life and have an inheritance waiting for us in heaven. Praise God for offering such a wonderful gift!
In what ways do you feel or act as if you have to earn God’s love? How can you practice living in the freedom of His love?
Faithful God, thank You for freely giving Your Son so I can be a part of Your family. Help me to honor You in all You’ve done for me
白白接受
又因爱我们，就按着自己意旨所喜悦的，预定我们藉着耶稣基督得儿子的名分。—以弗所书1章5节
我和父母在餐馆吃完丰盛的晚餐后，对父亲说：“谢谢你请我吃晚餐。”我从大学开始便独立生活，这次假期回家乡，再次让父母为我付帐感觉有些奇怪。父亲说：“竹俐，不用客气，妳不必总是向我道谢。我晓得妳已经能够独立自主，但妳仍旧是我女儿，也是家里的一分子。”我听了倍觉温馨，笑着回答说：“爸爸，谢谢你。”
我在家中，未曾做任何事来赢得父母的爱和付出。我父亲的话也提醒我，我未曾做任何事，能让我配得成为上帝家中的一分子。
保罗在以弗所书告诉他的读者们，上帝已拣选了他们，使他们“在祂面前成为圣洁，无有瑕疵”（1章4节）；让他们在上帝面前毫无玷污（5章25-27节），但这事唯有藉着耶稣才能成就，“我们藉这爱子的血得蒙救赎，过犯得以赦免，乃是照祂丰富的恩典”（1章7节）。我们无须想方设法赢得上帝的恩典、饶恕，或成为祂家中的一分子。我们只须白白接受祂所赐的恩典。
当我们接受耶稣进入我们的生命，便能成为上帝的儿女，得着永恒的生命，承受祂为我们存留在天上的基业。感谢上帝赐下如此美好的福分！
信实的上帝，感谢祢赐下祢的爱子，为我成就的一切，
使我能成为祢家中的一分子。帮助我能荣耀祢的名。
你何时会觉得需要以行动赢得上帝的爱呢？
知道上帝的爱能使你得自由，你要如何回应呢？