True Change 真实的改变
Dexu Xia
You were taught . . . to put on the new self. Ephesians 4:22–24
Raised in a turbulent home in South London, Claud started selling marijuana at fifteen and heroin when he was twenty-five. Needing a cover for his activities, he became a mentor to young people. Soon he became intrigued by his manager, a believer in Jesus, and wanted to know more. After attending a course exploring the Christian faith, he “dared” Christ to come into his life. “I felt such a welcoming presence,” he said. “People saw a change in me instantly. I was the happiest drug dealer in the world!”
Jesus didn’t stop there. When Claud weighed up a bag of cocaine the next day, he thought, This is madness. I’m poisoning people! He realized he must stop selling drugs and get a job. With the help of the Holy Spirit, he turned off his phones and never went back.
This kind of change is what the apostle Paul referenced when he wrote to the church at Ephesus. Calling the people not to live separated from God, he urged them to “put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires” and instead to “put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22, 24). The verb form Paul used implies that we’re to put on the new self regularly.
As with Claud, the Holy Spirit delights to help us to live out of our new selves and become more like Jesus.
What examples can you bring to mind of how God changes people, including you? How do these stories build your faith in Him, even when change seems impossible?
Loving God, thank You that You don’t give up on people. Show me how I can become more like You.
就要脱去你们从前行为上的旧人，⋯⋯穿上新人。—以弗所书4章22-24节
克罗德在伦敦南部一个破碎的家庭中长大，15岁开始贩卖大麻，25岁开始贩卖海洛因。为了掩盖非法贩毒的行为，他成为年轻人的指导员。因为他的主管是个基督徒，这使他很好奇，想要更了解基督信仰。在参加慕道班后，他“勇敢地”让基督进入他的生命。他说﹕“我觉得祂进入了我的生命，人们立即就看出我的转变。我是世界上最快乐的毒贩！”
然而，耶稣的工作并非仅止于此。隔天，当克罗德秤量一袋古柯碱（即可卡因）时，突然觉得：这真是太可怕了，我正在毒害别人！他意识到必须停止贩毒，并找一份正当的工作。靠着圣灵的帮助，他切断与同伙的一切联系，并且挥别过去，开始了新生活。
使徒保罗也教导以弗所教会的信徒要做出这样的改变，并敦促他们不要离开上帝，而是“要脱去你们从前行为上的旧人，这旧人是因私欲的迷惑渐渐变坏的”，并要“穿上新人，这新人是照着上帝的形象造的，有真理的仁义和圣洁”（以弗所书4章22、24节）。保罗在这里说话的语气，表明我们要经常穿上新人。
正如克罗德一样，圣灵乐于帮助我们活出新造的人，并且变得更像耶稣。
上帝曾经如何改变你，以及你所认识的人？
在人看似无法改变时，
这些见证如何使你对上帝有信心？
慈爱的上帝，感谢祢从不放弃我们，
求祢使我明白如何学习更像祢。