4月18日 每日经历神



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标  题: 给第二次机会的神

经  节: 你们可以去告诉祂的门徒和彼得,说:“祂在你们以先往加利利去。在那里你们要见祂,正如祂从前所告诉你们的。”(马可福音十六章7节)

神是否给失败者第二次机会呢?祂就是这样对待彼得的。彼得当初骄傲地告白自己是耶稣最忠实的信徒(马太福音廿六:33)。然而,彼得不仅在那危急存亡的一刻,与门徒四散逃跑,也厚颜无耻地否认自己认识耶稣(马太福音廿六:6975)。彼得失败了,他悲惨地跑到外面痛哭(路加福音廿二:62)。

复活的主是多么地怜悯彼得!在坟墓旁的天使给那几个妇人特别的指示,好叫彼得知道耶稣已经复活了。耶稣还特意把彼得带到一旁,让彼得再次肯定自己的爱与献身(约翰福音廿一:1517)。复活主也选择彼得作五旬节的主要发言人,那天门徒的数目约添了三千人。

神想要领你由现在的地方,到祂要你去的地方。当祂查找祂受挫的门徒时,耶稣第一句话是:“愿你们平安!”(约翰福音二十:19)当你失败,令耶稣失望时,祂对你说的第一句话也是:“愿你们平安!”耶稣会在你沮丧时带给你平安。然后,祂会让你再次两眼朝向祂,你会相信祂并跟随祂。如果你使你的主失望,不要灰心,牢记在彼得身上所发生的事。神尚未把你训练成门徒呢!


The God of Second Chances

“But go, tell His disciples–and Peter–that He is going before you
into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.” (Mark 16:7)

Does God give second chances to those who have failed Him? He certainly
did so for Peter. Peter had proudly announced that he was Jesus’ most reliable
disciple (Matt. 26:33). Yet Peter not only fled with the other disciples in the
moment of crisis, but also blatantly denied he even knew Jesus (Matt.
26:69–75). Peter failed so miserably that he went out into the night and wept
bitterly (Luke 22:62).

How compassionate the risen Christ was to Peter! The angel gave the
women at the tomb special instructions to let Peter know that He was risen.
Jesus took Peter aside to allow him the opportunity to reaffirm his love and
commitment (John 21:15–17). The risen Lord also chose Peter as His primary
spokesman on the day of Pentecost, when three thousand people were added to the
church.

God’s desire is to take you from where you are and bring you to where He
wants you to be. When He found His defeated followers hiding together in an
upper room, Jesus’ first word was “peace” (John 20:19). Jesus’ first words to
you after you fail may also be “peace.” Jesus will find you in despair and
bring you peace. Then, He will reorient you to Himself so that you can believe
Him and follow Him. Don’t give up if you have failed your Lord. Remember what happened
to Peter. God has not yet finished developing you as a disciple.

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