The Reboot of Grace 重启之恩典

[Dexu Xia]

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22–23

Over the last several decades, a new word has entered our movie vocabulary: reboot. In cinematic parlance, a reboot takes an old story and jumpstarts it. Some reboots retell a familiar tale, like a superhero story or a fairytale. Other reboots take a lesser-known story and retell it in a new way. But in each case, a reboot is a bit like a do-over. It’s a fresh start, a chance to breathe new life into the old.  

There’s another story that involves reboots—the gospel story. In it, Jesus invites us to His offer of forgiveness, as well as abundant and eternal life (John 10:10). And in the book of Lamentations, Jeremiah reminds us that God’s love for us makes every day a “reboot” of sorts: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (3:22–23).

God’s grace invites us to embrace each day as a fresh opportunity to experience His faithfulness. Whether we’re struggling with the effects of our own mistakes or going through other hardships, God’s Spirit can breathe forgiveness, new life, and hope into each new day. Every day is a reboot of sorts, an opportunity to follow the lead of the great Director, who is weaving our story into His bigger one.

By:  Adam Holz

How do you think reflecting upon and remembering God’s faithfulness in the midst of trials changes your perspective on them? How has God’s forgiveness and grace brought a reboot to your life?

Father, thank You that Your grace and forgiveness invite me to start over, fresh, every morning

我们不至消灭，是出于耶和华诸般的慈爱，是因祂的怜悯不致断绝。每早晨这都是新的。祢的诚实极其广大！—耶利米哀歌3章22-23节

 

在过去数十年里，电影界又多了新名词：重新启动。在电影术语中，这是指以新的方式重新讲述旧的故事。有些重新启动的电影重述了人们熟悉的故事，如超级英雄或童话故事；有些则以新的手法复述较鲜为人知的故事。但无论是前者或后者，重新启动都有点像从头再来一次，这是一个新的开始，让旧的故事有机会注入新的生命。

福音信息也让人可以有新的开始！耶稣邀请我们接受祂所赐的赦罪之恩，并领受祂给予的丰盛和永恒的生命（约翰福音10章10节）。先知耶利米提醒我们，上帝深爱我们，使我们每一天都可以重新开始。他说：“我们不至消灭，是出于耶和华诸般的慈爱，是因祂的怜悯不致断绝。每早晨这都是新的。祢的诚实极其广大！”（耶利米哀歌3章22-23节）

满有恩典的上帝邀请你我积极迎接每一天，将之视为经历上帝信实的新机会。不论我们是正在承担自己犯错的后果，或是深陷困境，上帝的灵都能让我们在每个新的一天，得着饶恕、新生命及盼望。每天都是一种重新启动，都是一个跟随上帝这位大导演的机会，祂正把你我的故事纳入祂那伟大的计划当中。

作者：  何安德

在试炼中思想上帝的信实，
如何改变你对试炼的看法？
上帝的饶恕和恩典如何让你的人生重新开始？

天父，感谢祢的恩典和饶恕，
让我每个早晨都能重新开始