Our Daily Bread September 14, 2013 — by Bill Crowder Unfailing Mercy Read: Luke 22:54-62 "Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. . . . Great is Your faithfulness." —Lamentations 3:22-23 As I strolled through Chicago’s O’Hare airport, something caught my eye—a hat worn by someone racing through the concourse. What caught my attention was the message it conveyed in just two words: “Deny Everything.” I wondered what it meant. Don’t ever admit to guilt? Or deny yourself the pleasures and luxuries of life? I scratched my head at the mystery of those two simple words, “Deny Everything.” One of Jesus’ followers, Simon Peter, did some denying. In a critical moment, he denied three times that He even knew Jesus! (Luke 22:57, 58,60). His fear-filled act of denial caused him such guilt and heartache that, broken by his spiritual failure, he could only go out and weep bitterly (v.62). But Peter’s denial of Christ, like our own moments of spiritual denial, could never diminish the compassion of God. The prophet Jeremiah wrote, “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness” (Lam. 3:22-23). We can take heart that even when we fail, our faithful God comes to us in mercy and compassion that never fails! Thank You, Father, for Your new and never- failing mercies. Forgive me for the times I deny You and fail others, and teach me to run to You for Your overflowing compassion. Being imperfect emphasizes our dependence on God’s mercy. ********************************************** 《靈命日糧》 2013年 09月 14日 - Bill Crowder 不止息的慈愛 讀經: 路加福音22章54-62節 "我們不至消滅，是出於耶和華諸般的慈愛，是因祂的憐憫不致斷絕……祢的誠實極其廣大！" —耶利米哀歌3章22-23節 有一次，當我走在芝加哥國際機場時，有位戴著帽子的旅客，跑過中央大廳，他的帽子引起我的注意，上面寫著簡單的幾個字：「拒絕到底」。我揣測著這幾個字的含義，是指拒絕承認自己有錯？還是拒絕自己過奢華快樂的生活？我搔搔頭，思緒停留在這幾個讓我迷惑的字眼：「拒絕到底？」 西門彼得，耶穌的門徒之一，曾經拒絕承認是耶穌的門徒。在重要的時刻，他三次否認自己認識耶穌（路加福音22章57-58、60節），因心中惶恐而否認的行為，使他充滿罪咎與心碎，這屬靈上的失敗，使他只能出去痛哭（62節）。 正如彼得否認耶穌一樣，我們也曾在生活中否認基督，但這都減少不了上帝對我們的憐憫。先知耶利米寫道：「我們不至消滅，是出於耶和華諸般的慈愛，是因祂的憐憫不致斷絕。每早晨這都是新的；禰的誠實極其廣大！」（耶利米哀歌3章22-23節）即便在失足犯錯的時候，我們仍然可以重新振作，因信實的上帝必賜下祂永不止息的憐憫和慈愛。 感謝父神，因祢慈愛不致斷絕， 每早晨都是新的。在我拒絕祢、 絆倒別人時，願祢饒恕我， 指教我因祢的憐憫，投奔祢懷抱。 因知自身軟弱，更需主的慈愛。 English: odb.org/2013/09/14/unfailing-mercy/ Chinese: traditional-odb.org/2013/09/14/不止息的慈愛/
Posted on: Sat, 14 Sep 2013 06:11:31 +0000
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