我上網訂購了一些蔬果，打開超市送到家裡來的包裝袋時，我以為只有8根香蕉，沒想到卻有20根！這時我才想到，自己搬到英格蘭居住後，意味著物品的重量不再是以磅而是以公斤計算。我只需要3磅的香蕉，卻訂購了3公斤（大約7磅）！

既然手邊有這麼多香蕉，於是我就做了好幾批我最愛的香蕉麵包，跟其他人分享這份意外的祝福。我一邊製作香蕉泥一邊思考，發現我生命中有許多方面也經歷到這種意外的豐盛祝福，而且全都源於上帝。

保羅似乎也曾反思上帝在他生命中所賜下的豐盛恩典。在他寫給提摩太的第一封書信中，他特別提到自己在遇見耶穌以前，是「逼迫人的，侮慢人的」（13節），甚至是個「罪魁」（16節）。然而，在保羅如此不堪的境況中，上帝賜給了他豐盛的恩典，加添他的信心與愛心（14節）。保羅講述自己所領受的一切豐盛恩典之後，不禁開口讚美，宣告上帝配得一切「尊貴、榮耀……直到永永遠遠」（17節）。

像保羅一樣，我們在相信耶穌而從罪惡中得拯救時（15節），就領受了豐盛無比的恩典。我們若安靜下來想想得救後所得到的祝福，就會和保羅一樣，禁不住要感謝讚美這位厚賜恩福的上帝！

I expected eight bananas. Instead, when I opened the grocery bags delivered to my home, I discovered twenty bananas! I quickly realized that my move to England meant I also moved from ordering groceries in pounds to requesting them in kilograms. Instead of three pounds, I had ordered three kilograms (nearly seven pounds!) of bananas.

With such an abundance, I made several batches of a favorite banana bread recipe to share the blessing with others. As I mashed up the fruit, I began thinking about the other areas of my life where I have experienced unexpected abundance—and each path led back to God.

Paul appears to have had a similar experience of reflecting on God’s abundance in his life. In his first letter to Timothy, Paul paused to describe his life before Jesus, describing himself as a “persecutor and a violent man” (1 Timothy 1:13); “the worst of sinners” (v. 16). Into Paul’s brokenness, God lavishly poured out grace, faith, and love (v. 14). After recounting all the abundance in his life, the apostle couldn’t help but express praise to God, declaring Him worthy of all “honor and glory for ever and ever” (v. 17).

Like Paul, we all received an overwhelming abundance of grace when we accepted Jesus’ offer of rescue from sin (v. 15). As we pause to reflect on all the resulting blessings, we’ll find ourselves joining Paul in grateful praise to our generous God.