Starting this month, we are looking at the patriarchs of God’s people in Genesis. Terah’s family came from Ur of the Chaldeans and set out on a journey toward Canaan (Gen 11:31), yet he did not complete the journey. It was God who freely established His covenant with his son, Abraham, choosing him, blessing him, and promising to bless his descendants. The calling of Abraham was not based on his own initiative, but entirely on God’s gracious choice — and so it is with us.
This reminds us that being part of God’s people begins with Him, not with us.
Many of us are familiar with stories of migration, as our own families have walked similar paths. And yet, beyond these journeys, we are reminded that God, in His grace, has freely offered life and salvation through Jesus Christ to sinners like us, under the covenant of grace (Westminster Confession 7.3). The spiritual blessings we now have in Christ are not something we have earned, but are given according to God’s will.
As I reflect on how this grace came to my own family, I am still quite amazed. My family was quite influenced by atheism and traditional Chinese beliefs. My mother sent me to a Christian primary school simply because it seemed like a good option at the time. And somehow, the gospel was sown in my heart. Later, after coming to Australia, I met Christians who brought me back to church. Even now, I am still amazed how the Lord has been at work in my family, especially through prayer in times of need.
Perhaps we can take some time to reflect on our own stories — how God’s covenant of grace has entered into our families, often in ways we did not expect.
When you think about your own story, where do you see God’s hand at work?
It is a humbling reminder that our place among God’s people is ultimately the result of His grace.
Let us give thanks to God, who in His mercy has called us to Himself. May the Holy Spirit deepen our faith, and continue to work in our families, as we learn to respond to God’s grace.
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從本月開始，我們將查考《創世記》中神子民的族長。他拉的家族從迦勒底的吾珥出發，前往迦南地（創11:31），卻沒有完成這段旅程。是神主動與他的兒子亞伯拉罕立約，揀選他、賜福給他，並應許要賜福給他的後裔。亞伯拉罕的呼召並不是出於他自己的主動，而完全是出於神恩典的揀選——我們也是如此。
這提醒我們，成為神子民的一份子，是從神開始，而不是從我們開始。
我們當中許多人對遷徙的故事並不陌生，因為我們的家庭也曾走過類似的道路。然而，超越這些人生旅程，我們更被提醒：神在祂的恩典中，已經透過耶穌基督，在恩典之約下，白白地將生命與救恩賜給像我們這樣的罪人（《西敏信條》7.3）。我們如今在基督裡所擁有的一切屬靈福分，並不是我們賺得的，而是按著神的旨意所賜下的。
當我回想這恩典如何臨到我自己的家庭時，我仍然感到十分驚奇。我的家庭曾深受無神論和中國傳統信仰的影響。母親當初送我進入一所基督教小學，只是因為那看起來是一個不錯的選擇。而就在那樣的情況下，福音竟然被種在我的心裡。後來來到澳洲之後，我遇見了一些基督徒，他們帶我回到教會。直到今天，我仍然驚訝於主如何在我的家庭中動工，特別是在困難時藉著禱告所成就的作為。
或許我們可以花一些時間，來回顧屬於我們自己的故事——神的恩典之約是如何進入我們的家庭，常常是在我們意想不到的方式中發生。
當你回想自己的故事時，你在哪些地方看見神的手在動工呢？
這是一個令人謙卑的提醒：我們能成為神子民的一份子，最終完全是出於祂的恩典。
讓我們向神獻上感謝，因祂憐憫我們，呼召我們歸向祂。願聖靈加深我們的信心，並繼續在我們的家庭中動工，使我們學習回應神的恩典。
