What’s Your Reputation? 你的名声如何？

[Dexu Xia]

Now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light. Ephesians 5:8

At local high school sporting events, Ted was the largest and loudest cheerleader in the stands. Before a degenerative condition took its toll on him, he stood six feet six inches tall and weighed 290 pounds. Ted’s crowd-stirring chants of “Blue!” (blue was the school color) and candy-tossing at school events were legendary, earning him the name “Big Blue.”

But Ted’s reputation in his community wasn’t just for cheerleading. Neither was it for the alcohol addiction he experienced as a younger man. No, he will be remembered for his love for God and family, for his generosity and kindness. At a four-hour “home-going service” that celebrated his life, person after person came forward to testify about the vibrant Christ-like ways of a man who’d been rescued from darkness by the power of Jesus through the gospel.

In Ephesians 5:8, Paul reminded believers that they “were once darkness” but quickly noted, “but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.” Such is the call for every believer in Jesus. Children of light, like Ted, have much to offer those engulfed in this world’s darkness. Fruitless deeds of darkness (see vv. 3–4) are to be avoided (v. 11). Those in our communities and other places need the brilliant, distinctive witness of those upon whom Jesus has shined (v. 14). How distinctive? As different as light is from darkness.

你的名声如何？

但如今在主里面是光明的，行事为人就当像光明的子女。—以弗所书5章8节

在当地中学的体育比赛里，泰德曾经是看台上身材最魁梧、声音最洪亮的啦啦队长。他在尚未受到退化性疾病严重影响之前，身高约两米，体重130公斤。泰德最出名的是在校际比赛中，引导同学们高呼：“加油！蓝色！”（学校的颜色）同时抛掷糖果，这也为他赢得“大蓝”的称号。

但是在社区中，泰德的名声并非只因为他是有名的啦啦队长，也不是因他曾经年纪轻轻就开始酗酒，而是因为他对上帝和家人的爱，并以慷慨与恩慈待人。多年后，在一场长达四小时，纪念泰德生平事迹的追思礼拜里，人们一个接着一个地上前述说，这个曾透过福音被耶稣的力量拯救而脱离黑暗的人，如何活出蓬勃又像基督的生命。

在以弗所书5章8节，保罗提醒信徒：“从前你们是暗昧的”，却又随即说道：“但如今在主里面是光明的，行事为人就当像光明的子女。”这其实是对每位信徒的呼吁。我们都要像泰德一样做光明的子女，为那些被现今世界的黑暗所吞噬的人贡献一己之力，极力避免“那暗昧无益的事”（见3-4、11节）。我们的社区与全世界的人们，都需要已蒙耶稣光照的人（14节）为主作明亮耀眼，并与众不同的见证。如何与众不同呢？正如光明有别于黑暗。

哪些原因会使你对于传扬基督的光，感到犹豫不决？
你周遭有哪些地方需要祂的明光照耀？

天父，饶恕我没有积极地成为这世上的光。
求祢引导我、使用我，
让我成为这黑暗世界的一道明光