How to Reflect Christ 活出基督

[Dexu Xia]

How to Reflect Christ

God has chosen to make known . . . the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.Colossians 1:27

Thérèse of Lisieux was a joyful and carefree child—until her mother died when she was just four years old. She became timid and easily agitated. But many years later on Christmas Eve, all of that changed. After celebrating the birth of Jesus with her church community, she experienced God releasing her from her fear and giving her joy. She attributed the change to the power of God leaving heaven and becoming a man, Jesus, and through His dwelling in her.

What does it mean for Christ to dwell within us? It’s a mystery, said Paul to the Colossian church. It’s one that God “kept hidden for ages and generations” (Colossians 1:26), but which He disclosed to God’s people. To them God revealed “the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (v. 27). Because Christ now dwelled in the Colossians, they experienced the joy of new life. No longer were they enslaved to the old self of sin.

If we’ve asked Jesus to be our Savior, we too live out this mystery of His dwelling in us. Through His Spirit, He can release us from fear, as He did Thérèse, and grow within us the fruit of His Spirit, such as joy, peace, and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23).

Let’s give thanks for the wonderful mystery of Christ within us.

How do you see Jesus reflected in your life? In the lives of those you love who follow Him?

Jesus, thank You for lowering Yourself and becoming a man, and for living within me. Help me to understand more of Your work in my life.

活出基督

上帝愿意叫他们知道，这奥秘⋯⋯-有何等丰盛的荣耀，就是基督在你们心里成了有荣耀的盼望。—歌罗西书1章27节

圣女小德兰（Thérèse of Lisieux）原是一个无忧无虑的孩子，直到她母亲在她四岁时过世，她变得胆怯，容易焦虑。但在多年后的一个圣诞节前夕，一切都改变了。小德兰在教会庆祝了耶稣的降生后，上帝使她从恐惧中释放出来，并赐给她喜乐的心。她知道自己经历了圣子耶稣道成肉身的大能，有耶稣基督居住在她的心中，所以她才得到改变。

基督住在我们心中是什么意思呢？这是个奥秘，正如保罗告诉歌罗西教会说，这是上帝“历世历代所隐藏的奥秘”（歌罗西书1章26节），但如今上帝却向祂的子民显明。上帝向他们揭示了“这奥秘在外邦人中有何等丰盛的荣耀，就是基督在你们心里成了有荣耀的盼望”（27节）。因为基督住在歌罗西教会信徒的心里，所以他们能够体验到新生命的喜乐，不再被有罪的老我所奴役。

如果我们恳求耶稣成为我们的救主，那么我们也将活出基督在我们心中居住的奥秘。透过圣灵，祂可以使我们像圣女小德兰一样，从恐惧中被释放出来，并使我们结出圣灵的果实，如喜乐、和平与节制等等（加拉太书5章22-23节）。

感谢基督住在我们里面，让我们体会这奇妙奥秘！

你的生活如何反映基督的样式？
在其他基督徒身上，你看见他们如何活出基督呢？

耶稣，感谢祢甘愿卑微地降世为人，住在我的心中。
求祢帮助我能更了解祢在我生命中的工作。