Extreme Kindness 极大的恩慈
Dexu Xia
When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us. Titus 3:4–5
Fast-food restaurant worker Kevin Ford hadn’t missed a shift in twenty-seven years. After a video surfaced showing his humble gratitude for a modest gift he received to commemorate his decades of service, thousands of people rallied together to show kindness to him. “It’s like a dream, a dream come true,” he said when a fundraising effort brought in $250,000 in just over a week.
Jehoiachin, the exiled king of Judah, was also the recipient of extreme kindness. He’d been incarcerated for thirty-seven years before the benevolence of the Babylonian king resulted in his release. “[The king] freed him from prison. He spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat of honor higher than those of the other kings who were with him in Babylon” (Jeremiah 52:31–32). Jehoiachin was given a new position, new clothes, and a new residence. His new life was fully funded by the king.
This story pictures what happens spiritually when, out of no contributions from themselves or others, people who believe in Jesus’ death and resurrection are rescued from their estrangement from God. They’re brought from darkness and death into light and life; they’re brought into the family of God because of the extreme kindness of God.
By: Arthur Jackson
What acts of human kindness have reminded you of God’s goodness? How do you respond to the kindness of God who welcomes you into His family based on what Jesus has done?
Father, thank You for Your forgiving kindness. “Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe; sin had left a crimson stain. He washed it white as snow.”
到了上帝我们救主的恩慈和祂向人所施的慈爱显明的时候，祂便救了我们。—提多书3章4-5节
凯文·福特（Kevin Ford）在速食餐厅辛勤工作了27年，从来不缺勤。在他服务了27年的纪念日那天，经理匆忙预备了一份很不起眼的礼物送给他，但他以恭敬的态度接受了，且充满感激。同事将这段短片传到网上，许多人看了都觉得礼物太过微薄，结果有数千人联合起来，向凯文展现了极大的恩慈。在支持凯文的募款活动中，众人纷纷响应，捐款在短短一周便达到25万美元。凯文说：“我感觉好像做梦一样，而梦境实现了。”
被掳至巴比伦的犹大王约雅斤也蒙受极大的恩慈。他被监禁了37年之后，巴比伦王仁慈地将他释放出来。耶利米书52章记载，巴比伦王“把他从狱中领出来，并且安慰他，使他的地位高过和他一起在巴比伦的众王”（31-32节，新译本）。约雅斤获得新的地位、新的衣服与新的居所。他的新生活完全由巴比伦王出资。
约雅斤的经历描绘了一幅得救的图画。那些相信耶稣死而复活的人，可以被拯救不再与上帝隔绝，这并不是因为他们自己或别人做了什么，而是因为上帝极大的恩慈，将他们从黑暗与死亡带进光明与生命，进入上帝的家中。
作者： 简恩德
人们做了哪些善事让你想到上帝的良善？
上帝藉着耶稣所做的一切，
迎接你进入祂的家，
你如何回应上帝的恩慈？
天父，谢谢祢的怜悯与恩慈。让耶稣替我舍命，
还清我的罪债，感谢祢洗净我的污秽，比雪更白。