双语灵修（葛培理牧师）：3月30日 永恒的饶恕

3月30日

永恒的饶恕

因为上帝不是预定我们受刑，乃是预定我们借着我们主耶稣基督得救。他替我们死……

——帖撒罗尼迦前书5：9-10

让我们对比基督的受死的记录，美国伟人丹尼尔韦伯斯特（Daniel Webster）的传记用了863页描述他的事业，只有5页写他的去世；海伊（Hay）撰写的林肯传记有5000页，然而其中描写林肯遇刺和去世的章节只有25页。在绝大部分传记中，主人公的去世只是这本书结尾的附带事件而已。但查考耶稣的四部“传记”——四福音书，情况大有不同：三分之一的马太福音和马可福音，四分之一的路加福音，以及一半的约翰福音都在描写耶稣的死亡。而这只是24小时之内发生的事件。耶稣基督的死亡对人类历史意义重大，因为他来到世间就是为罪人牺牲。当他从天上降下人间，他知道自己注定要走向十字架。

今日祷告：

主耶稣，祢为我在十字架上受了那极大的痛苦。那本是我应受的惩罚，然而祢赦免了我的罪过，并且将永生赐给了我。奉耶稣基督的名，阿们。

March 30

Endless Forgiveness

For God hath not appointed us to wrath,but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,who died for us……
—1 Thessalonians 5:9,10

Look at Christ’s death.In one biography of the great American,Daniel Webster,863 pages deal with his career and just five pages are devoted to his death.In Hay’s life of Abraham Lincoln there are 5,000 pages but only 25 are devoted to the dramatic story of his assassination and death.In most biographies the deaths of the subjects are mere incidents at the close of the books.But when we come to the four“biographies”of Jesus,the four Gospels,we are confronted with a strange fact.One-third of Matthew is given to a description of the death of Christ.One-third of Mark,one-fourth of Luke,and one-half of John are given to His death.All these pages are devoted to the last 24 hours of His life.The death of Jesus Christ is a significant fact in human history,because Jesus Christ came for the express purpose of dying for sinners.When He left heaven,He knew He was going to the cross.

Prayer for the day:

Lord Jesus,what agony You suffered for me upon the cross.I deserve Your judgment,yet You have given me forgiveness and eternal life.I praise Your beloved name.In Jesus’Name,Amen.