11月1日

標　　題： 恩惠、憐憫、平安

經　　節： 寫信給那因信主作我真兒子的提摩太。願恩惠、憐憫、平安從父神和我們主基督耶穌歸與你！（提摩太前書一章2節）

為家人及朋友禱告，是非常重要的。再也沒有比仿效聖經的榜樣來為你所愛的人禱告更好的。保羅常為他所關心的人，祈求明確的恩賜。他為提摩太求恩惠、憐憫與平安。

恩惠不是我們賺得的，是神白白授予祂兒女的禮物。恩惠是神與我們相親的惟一途徑。我們本該滅亡，是祂的恩惠救贖了我們（以弗所書二：8）。祂的恩惠帶來天堂的豐盛，在我們遭遇痛苦時帶來平安。在每日生活中，祂的恩惠帶來各樣的美事。

神除去在我們身上當受的懲罰乃是憐憫。我們犯罪的代價是死亡，然而，耶穌已經為我們付上救贖的代價（羅馬書六：23）。神有長久的忍耐，祂延遲我們受公義審判的時間，給我們許多悔改的機會，接受祂的救恩（彼得後書三：9）。

平安是當我們相信神的恩典及憐憫時，所存的心靈及意志狀態。平安是在危難中，仍確信神的恩惠（腓立比書四：7）。神應許我們，即使得罪祂，祂仍會憐憫我們。這個保證帶給我們平安。

神所賜的平安與世界所給予的大不相同（約翰福音十四：27）。世界教我們接受協談、藥物或短暫娛樂以脫離困境，而神所賜的平安，是直接切入靈魂的深處，平靜我們的心靈及意志。

你是如何為你所愛的禱告呢？最好的祈禱便是求神賜予豐盛的恩惠、憐憫與平安。

Grace, Mercy, and Peace

To Timothy, a true son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Timothy 1:2)

How you pray for your family members and friends is important. There is no better way to pray for someone you love than by following the example found in Scripture. Paul often asked for specific gifts from God for those He cared about. On Timothy’s behalf, Paul requested grace, mercy, and peace. Grace is the unearned gifts the Father bestows on His children. The Lord relates to us only by His grace. His grace provided salvation though we deserved destruction (Eph. 2:8). His grace blesses us with the riches of heaven. His grace brings us peace in troublesome times. His grace brings us good things every day (1 Tim. 1:14).

Mercy is God withholding the punishment we deserve because of our sinfulness. The consequences of our sin is death, yet Jesus paid this penalty for us (Rom. 6:23). God is long-suffering and will delay giving us our just punishment in order for us to have every opportunity to repent and to receive His gift of salvation (2 Pet. 3:9).

Peace is the state of mind and heart we experience when we are confident of God’s grace and mercy toward us. Peace comes in knowing that God’s grace will sustain us, even in our most difficult crises (Phil. 4:7). God assures us that even when we fail miserably in our commitments to Him, He will show mercy upon us. This assurance gives us peace.

The peace God gives is fundamentally different from the peace the world offers (John 14:27). The world seeks to sedate us from the problems we face through counseling or drugs or temporary pleasures. The peace that God gives goes right to the soul, relieving the heart and mind.

How are you praying for your loved ones? There could be no better request than asking the Lord to give them an abundance of His grace, His mercy, and His peace.