11月1日
标 题： 恩惠、怜悯、平安
经 节： 写信给那因信主作我真儿子的提摩太。愿恩惠、怜悯、平安从父神和我们主基督耶稣归与你！（提摩太前书一章2节）
为家人及朋友祷告，是非常重要的。再也没有比仿效圣经的榜样来为你所爱的人祷告更好的。保罗常为他所关心的人，祈求明确的恩赐。他为提摩太求恩惠、怜悯与平安。
恩惠不是我们赚得的，是神白白授予祂儿女的礼物。恩惠是神与我们相亲的惟一途径。我们本该灭亡，是祂的恩惠救赎了我们（以弗所书二：8）。祂的恩惠带来天堂的丰盛，在我们遭遇痛苦时带来平安。在每日生活中，祂的恩惠带来各样的美事。
神除去在我们身上当受的惩罚乃是怜悯。我们犯罪的代价是死亡，然而，耶稣已经为我们付上救赎的代价（罗马书六：23）。神有长久的忍耐，祂延迟我们受公义审判的时间，给我们许多悔改的机会，接受祂的救恩（彼得后书三：9）。
平安是当我们相信神的恩典及怜悯时，所存的心灵及意志状态。平安是在危难中，仍确信神的恩惠（腓立比书四：7）。神应许我们，即使得罪祂，祂仍会怜悯我们。这个保证带给我们平安。
神所赐的平安与世界所给予的大不相同（约翰福音十四：27）。世界教我们接受协谈、药物或短暂娱乐以脱离困境，而神所赐的平安，是直接切入灵魂的深处，平静我们的心灵及意志。
你是如何为你所爱的祷告呢？最好的祈祷便是求神赐予丰盛的恩惠、怜悯与平安。
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.
