When we realize the depth of our need for mercy, we can more readily offer mercy to others.

明白自己需要主的怜悯，就能以恩慈待人。

 God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Luke 18:13

上帝啊，开恩可怜我这个罪人！-路加福音18章13节

When I complained that a friend’s choices were leading her deeper into sin and how her actions affected me, the woman I prayed with weekly placed her hand over mine. “Let’s pray for all of us.”

我每周都会和一位教会姐妹一起祷告。一天，我向她抱怨某个朋友的决定让自己深陷罪中，也影响了我，这位姐妹握着我的手，对我说：“我们来为大家祷告吧！”

I frowned. “All of us?”

我皱起了眉头说：“也包括我们吗？”

“Yes,” she said. “Aren’t you the one who always says Jesus sets our standard of holiness, so we shouldn’t compare our sins to the sins of others?”

“That truth hurts a little,” I said, “but you’re right. My judgmental attitude and spiritual pride are no better or worse than her sins.”

“And by talking about your friend, we’re gossiping. So—”

“We’re sinning.” I lowered my head. “Please, pray for us.”

她回答：“是的，妳不是常说，耶稣已为我们建立了圣洁的标准，不应拿别人的罪和自己的罪做比较吗？”我说：“嗯，你的提醒让我有点难受，但你说的没错。我的批判态度以及属灵的骄傲，和她的罪比起来，也差不了多少。”她又说：“而且我们谈论妳朋友的言行，其实是在说别人的闲话，所以……”我低着头说：“这就是犯罪了，请妳为我们祷告吧。”

In Luke 18, Jesus shared a parable about two men approaching the temple to pray in very different ways (vv. 9–14). Like the Pharisee, we can become trapped in a circle of comparing ourselves to other people. We can boast about ourselves (vv. 11–12) and live as though we have the right to judge and the responsibility or the power to change others.

路加福音18章记载耶稣的一个比喻，提到两个人以截然不同的态度到圣殿祷告（9-14节）。有时，我们就像法利赛人一样，不断拿自己和别人做比较。我们吹捧自己（11-12节），甚至还自认为有批判的权利，有责任或能力去改变别人。

But when we look to Jesus as our example of holy living and encounter His goodness firsthand, like the tax collector, our desperate need for God’s grace is magnified (v. 13). As we experience the Lord’s loving compassion and forgiveness personally, we’ll be forever changed and empowered to expect and extend mercy, not condemnation, to others.

但是当我们以耶稣圣洁生命的典范作为标准，并亲身经历祂各样的美善，就会像那个税吏一样，看见自己也迫切需要上帝的恩典（13节）。当我们经历了上帝慈爱的怜悯和赦免，我们的生命就会被彻底的改变，不只愿意仰望上帝的恩典，且愿以恩慈待人，而不再定别人的罪了。

Lord, please keep us from falling into the trap of comparing ourselves to others. Mold us and make us more like You.

主啊，求祢让我们远离与人互相比较的试探。

愿祢陶造我们，使我们更像祢。

Luke 18:9-14New International Version (NIV)

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

整理：于姊妹