與  神和好

（轉貼：理念相同，代為傳布，千祈海涵）

    「你們從前與上帝隔絕... 但如今祂... 叫你們與自己和好。」—歌羅西書
1 章 21-22 節
    You, who once were alienated... now He has reconciled. —
Colossians 1:21

    早在亞當夏娃的時代，世界就已經失去了和平。當他們吃了禁果，意識到自
己是赤身露體後，便開始責怪對方（創世記 3 章 12 － 13 節）。他們把衝突
帶入上帝所創造的和平美好世界。悲哀的是，他們所有的後代──包括我們，都
重蹈這樣的覆轍。我們因自己錯誤的選擇而怪罪他人，又在沒有人願意承擔錯誤
時惱羞成怒。這種因個人的不滿而怪罪他人的態度，會破壞家庭、教會、社區團
體，以及國家。我們無法彼此和睦相處，因為我們總是在責怪別人。

    聖誕節是和平的季節。從舊約中，我們知道上帝如何為和平之子備好舞台（
以賽亞書 9 章 6 節）。耶穌透過「在十字架上所流的血」（歌羅西書 1 章 20
節），終結了這種犯罪與怪罪他人的惡性循環，使我們與上帝和好。祂沒有抱怨
我們所惹的麻煩，反而為我們承擔了一切刑罰。現在祂正在呼召那些跟從祂的人
，這些人已經接受了祂的赦免之恩，並希望別人也能同得赦免。

    當我們接受來自上帝的赦免時，便不會吝嗇寬恕他人。一旦我們與上帝和好
，我們也會渴求與人和睦。這個聖誕節，我們可以給予並接受這份和平的禮物。
JAL
 

讓我們歡慶聖誕，
因和平之子到來；
雖世界困於衝突，
祂終會將其化開。 Sper

耶穌擔當了我們的罪，使我們與上帝和好。
Jesus took our place to give us His peace.

Peace
December 4, 2011 — by Julie Ackerman Link

    In the days of Adam and Eve, peace was lost. As soon as they ate
the forbidden fruit and realized their nakedness, they started blaming
each other (Gen. 3:12-13) and introduced conflict to God 』 s peaceful
planet. Sadly, all of their descendants, including us, have followed
their bad example. We blame others for our own bad choices and become
angry when no one will accept the guilt. Blaming others for our
unhappiness breaks apart families, churches, communities, and nations.
We can 』 t make peace because we 』 re preoccupied with placing the
blame.

    Christmas is the season of peace. The Old Testament tells the
story of how God set the stage to introduce the Prince of Peace (Isa.
9:6). Jesus came to break the cycle of sin and blame by making peace
for us with God 「 through the blood of His cross 」 (Col. 1:20).
Instead of blaming us for all the trouble we cause, He bore the blame
for all of us. He is now recruiting followers who, having received His
forgiveness, want others to receive it as well.

    When we accept forgiveness from God, we lose our desire to
withhold it from others. And when we live in peace with God, we are
eager to make peace with others. We can both give and receive the gift
of peace this Christmas.

At Christmastime we celebrate
The coming of the Prince of Peace;
Though now our world is locked in strife,
One day He』ll make all conflict cease. —Sper