18 Jan 2016, Isaiah 55 以赛亚书 55, Priceless Salvation is Free 无价救恩不收费

Scripture Reading  : Isaiah 55

Theme                  : Priceless Salvation is Free

 

God urges foolish sinners to “buy wine and milk without money and without price,” meaning to receive salvation without any cost. The cost of salvation for God is priceless: the suffering and death of His son (Is. 53), but the cost of salvation for sinners is free. This shows God’s amazing grace. The most valuable thing in the world is free, yet many foolishly refuse it. They are blinded by their sins and are contended with playing with mudpies in a slum instead of a vacation on a beach (cf. Luke 14:15-24). Salvation is only possible through Jesus, who is referred as David because He is the promised Davidic king who will rule the world and Israel (2 Sam. 7:13). God’s salvation and grace will far exceeds the expectation of the Jews for His ways are higher (Eph. 3:20). His salvation will extend to the whole world, not just to Israel. His salvation will surely be accomplished through His word in the Bible, just as rain accomplishes God’s design to sprout vegetation.

 

Praying the Scripture

Some of the most valuable things on earth are priceless, yet free, such as air. We cannot survive for a moment without air, but it is free. Salvation in Jesus is priceless, yet free. But just because it is free for us, it does not mean it is free for God because He paid the ultimate price through the suffering and death of Christ. We should not view God’s grace to be cheap, but to be valuable and treasure it (1 Pet. 1:18-19). Pray that God will open the hearts of people whom you share the gospel with. Pray that they will see the glorious treasure of Christ that is free and not foolishly reject Him for lame excuses such as too busy making money (Luke 14:16-24).

经文:以赛亚书55

主题:无价救恩不收费

 

神劝促愚昧的罪人“不用银钱,不用价值,也来买酒和奶”,意思是不用付费领取救恩。救恩的代价对神而言是昂贵的,即祂儿子的苦难与死亡(赛53);但对罪人而言,救恩是免费的。这彰显了神的奇异恩典。世上最宝贵的事物是免费的,但仍有很多人愚昧地拒绝了。他们被自己的罪蒙蔽双眼,满足于贫民窟里玩泥沙,尝不着到沙滩度假的滋味(参路14:15-24)。救恩唯独藉着耶稣达成(文中的“大卫”),因为祂是神应许要统治以色列及全地的大卫王(撒下7:13)。神的拯救与恩典将远超过犹太人所想象的,因为祂的道路更高(弗3:20)。祂的救恩将扩展至全世界,不只停留在以色列。祂的救恩必然藉着祂在圣经中的话成就,如同雨水按神的意思使地生长植物。


用经文祷告

世上其中最宝贵的事物是无价却又是免费的,如空气。没有了空气,我们一刻都不能存活,但空气是免费的。耶稣的救恩是无价,却也是免费的。但就因为这对我们而言是免费的,不代表它对神而言亦是如此,因为祂藉着基督的苦难和死亡附上了救恩最大的代价。我们不当视神的恩典低廉的物品,而是视它为宝藏一样爱惜(彼前1:18-19)。祷告神会敞开你所传福音之人的心。祷告他们会看见基督免费的荣耀珍宝,而不是为无聊的借口,如忙着赚钱,愚昧地拒绝祂(路14:16-24)。