our daily bread

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Dexu Xia

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Dec 4, 2017, 3:26:57 AM12/4/17

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Imperfect, Yet Loved

God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

In Japan, food products are immaculately prepared and packaged. Not only must they taste good but they must look good too. Often I wonder if I am purchasing the food or the packaging! Because of the Japanese emphasis on good quality, products with slight defects are often discarded. However, in recent years wakeari products have gained popularity. Wakeari means “there is a reason” in Japanese. These products are not thrown away but are sold at a cheap price “for a reason”—for example, a crack in a rice cracker.

My friend who lives in Japan tells me that wakeari is also a catchphrase for people who are obviously less than perfect.

Broken people are made whole by God’s love.

Jesus loves all people—including the wakeari who society casts aside. When a woman who had lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at a Pharisee’s house, she went there and knelt behind Jesus at His feet, weeping (Luke 7:37–38). The Pharisee labeled her “a sinner” (v. 39), but Jesus accepted her. He spoke gently to her, assuring her that her sins were forgiven (v. 48).

Jesus loves imperfect, wakeari people—which includes you and me. And the greatest demonstration of His love for us is that “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). As recipients of His love, may we be conduits of His love to the flawed people around us so they too may know that they can receive God’s love despite their imperfections.

I know I’m not perfect, Lord, so help me not to be hypocritical and pretend I have it all together. Open my heart to others in acceptance and love so that they might know Jesus’s concern for them.

Broken people are made whole by God’s love.

不完美

惟有基督在我们还作罪人的时候为我们死，上帝的爱就在此向我们显明了。-罗马书5章8节

日本食品总是精心制作、包装精美，不仅要好吃，还要好看。有时我不知道到底是买食品还是买包装呢！由于日本人重视优良的品质，那些稍有瑕疪的产品通常就被淘汰。然而，近年来，日本“稍有瑕疵”的产品却越来越受欢迎，例如有瑕疵的虾饼，没有被丢弃，而是以便宜的价格出售。有位住在日本的朋友告诉我，“稍有瑕疵”也可指不够完美的人。

耶稣爱世上所有的人，包括那些被社会抛弃的、不够完美的人。当一个生活充满罪恶的女人，知道耶稣在法利赛人的家里吃饭时，她就去到那里，跪在耶稣身后，挨着祂的脚哭泣（路加福音7章37-38节）。法利赛人认定这个女人是个“罪人”（39节），但耶稣却接纳她、柔声地对她说，她的罪已被赦免了（48节）。

耶稣爱那些并不完美、有瑕疵的人，包括你和我。上帝显明祂对我们的爱，莫过于“惟有基督在我们还作罪人的时候为我们死”（罗马书5章8节）。我们得着上帝的爱，便可成为祂爱的管道，使我们周遭并不完美的人也能知道，尽管有瑕疪，他们也同样能得到上帝的爱。

主啊，我知道自己并不完美。求祢帮助我，
不再虚伪、粉饰太平。求祢敞开我的心，
去爱和接纳别人，好让他们知道，耶稣顾念他们。