全年读经: 但以理书3-4章 约翰一书5章
金句: 穿上了新人。这新人在知识上渐渐更新,正如造他主的形像。 (歌罗西书3章10节)
Put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him. —Colossians 3:10
梵高(Van Gogh)买了一面镜子,画出许多自画像;林布兰(Rembrandt)也同样以自己为模特儿,创作了近100幅自画像。上帝是这些艺术家的好榜样,他按照自己的样式创造出万物之冠(创世记1章27节)。
Vincent Van Gogh bought a mirror and used his own likeness in many of his paintings. Rembrandt also used himself as a model, completing nearly 100 self-portraits. These artists had a good example, that of God Himself, who used His own likeness as the pattern for His crown jewel of creation (Gen. 1:27).
19世纪著名的牧师亨利.毕杰(Henry Ward Beecher)曾说:「每个艺术家,都把自己的灵魂凝聚于笔下,将自己的性情融入画作。」在我们所创作的每件事物中---举凡艺术品、音乐、文学,甚至我们的孩子---都流露出我们的一点样式。上帝也是如此,我们每个人都流露出他的一点形象。这个形象或许已被玷污,但它始终存在,且无法消除。
Henry Ward Beecher, the famous 19th-century clergyman, said, “Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.” In everything we create—works of art, music, literature, even our children—a bit of ourselves is revealed. The same is true of God; each of us reveals a bit of Him. The image may be tarnished, but it’s always there and is never beyond repair.
然而,外表的变化无法解决我们真正的问题。服饰、化妆品及整形手术,只能使我们变得像其他人,而非像上帝为我们每个人设计的独特作品。我们需要一个全新的「自我」(歌罗西书3章10节),就是用他的形象来更新自己,并穿上怜悯、恩慈、谦虚、温柔和忍耐的衣袍(12节)。
Superficial changes won’t fix what’s wrong with us, however. Clothes, cosmetics, and surgical procedures can make us look like everyone else, not like the unique masterpiece God designed each of us to be. We need a whole new “self” (Col. 3:10), one that is renewed in His image and dressed in the wardrobe of mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, and longsuffering (v.12).
要改进你的「自我」形象,就要披戴上帝的个性,展示他荣耀的形象。JAL
To improve your “self” image, put on the character of God and display His image in all its glory. —Julie Ackerman Link
主,我愿像你,主,我愿像你,
荣耀的救主,像你纯洁;
愿你的甘甜,愿你的丰盛,
愿你的圣形印我心灵。Chisholm
O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee,
Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart. —Chisholm
上帝的儿女要反映出天父的形象。
God’s children should reflect their Father’s likeness.