8月13日

標 題：有恩慈

經 節：並要以恩慈相待，存憐憫的心，彼此饒恕，正如神在基督裡饒恕了你們一樣。（以弗所書四章32節）

以弗所書說明的行為，應該可以描繪出基督徒彼此相交的特性。我們的行為應該要有恩慈。恩慈是以實際的方式表達愛，是考慮別人的需要高過自己的需要。恩慈是用心思考如何滿足他人的需要。

擁有溫柔的心，表示我們能夠敏銳地得知其他人的感受。當主內弟兄姊妹悲痛時，我們的心也跟著悲痛（哥林多前書十二：26）。當另一位主內弟兄姊妹快樂時，我們也快樂。擁有溫柔的心，表示我們對周遭的人熱情洋溢。

我們能夠饒恕人，因為我們也沒有達到神完美的理想。當有人冒犯我們，我們願意原諒人，因為我們知道神已滿有恩慈地，把我們由毀滅中拯救出來。比起對待非基督徒，我們通常對自己主內的肢體更沒耐心。我們對基督徒期望較高，當他們有負於我們，我們覺得自己被出賣。發生這種事的時候，我們更要靠近十字架，並且回想自己在那兒所得到的赦免。我們一定要停止自義的態度，不然，會變得沒耐性及好批評。

耶穌並沒有說世人會因我們行神跡、作震撼人心的見證，或因我們廣博的聖經知識而認識祂。世人是因基督徒之間彼此相愛的心，而認識祂（約翰福音十三：35）。你是否經常與人發生衝突？你當求神賜給你恩慈、一顆溫柔的心，和饒恕的靈。當容許聖靈在你的身上創建這些特質，你的生命會成為周圍所有人的祝福。

Showing Grace

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32)

The Book of Ephesians describes the behavior that ought to characterize Christians as they relate to one another. Our actions ought to be permeated with kindness. Kindness is love expressed in practical ways; it is putting the needs of others before our own. It is intentionally considering ways to meet other people’s needs. Being tenderhearted means that we are keenly sensitive to the feelings of others. When a fellow Christian experiences sorrow, we grieve also (1 Cor. 12:26). When another believer is joyful, we, too, rejoice. Being tenderhearted means showing compassion toward those around us.

We show forgiveness because we, too, fall short of God’s ideal. Knowing that God has graciously saved us from destruction motivates us to forgive others when they offend us. Often we are less patient with our fellow Christians than we are with nonbelievers. We expect more of Christians, and we feel betrayed when they fail us. When this happens, we need to look closely at the cross and remember the forgiveness we received there. We must set aside the self-centered attitude that leads to impatience and criticism of others.

Jesus did not say that the world will know Him by our miracles, by our grand testimonies, or by our vast Bible knowledge. The world will know Him by the love that Christians show to one another (John 13:35). Are you constantly in conflict with others? Ask God to give you kindness, a tender heart, and a forgiving spirit. As you allow the Spirit to build these qualities into you, your life will be a blessing to others around you.