our daily bread
Dexu Xia
Dressed Up
Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 13:14
In her book Wearing God, author Lauren Winner says our clothes can silently communicate to others who we are. What we wear may indicate career, community or identity, moods, or social status. Think of a T-shirt with a slogan, a business suit, a uniform, or greasy jeans and what they might reveal. She writes, “The idea that, as with a garment, Christians might wordlessly speak something of Jesus—is appealing.”
According to Paul, we can similarly wordlessly represent Christ. Romans 13:14 tells us to “clothe [ourselves] with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.” What does this mean? When we become Christians, we take on Christ’s identity. We’re “children of God through faith” (Gal. 3:26–27). That’s our status. Yet each day we need to clothe ourselves in His character. We do this by striving to live for and to be more like Jesus, growing in godliness, love, and obedience and turning our back on the sins that once enslaved us.
This growth in Christ is a result of the Holy Spirit working in us and our desire to be closer to Him through study of the Word, prayer, and time spent in fellowship with other Christians (John 14:26). When others look at our words and attitudes, what statement are we making about Christ?
Dear Lord, we want to be a reflection of You. Help us to look more like You each day. Grow us in godliness, love, joy, and patience.
When others see us, may what they see speak well of the Savior.
穿着
总要披戴主耶稣基督。-罗马书13章14节
作家罗兰·韦纳（Lauren Winner）在她所写的《披戴基督》（Wearing God）一书中提到，我们的衣着能够无声地告诉别人我们是谁。穿着显示了我们的职业、文化背景、身分、心情或社会地位。一件附有标语的T恤、一套西装、制服，或是一条沾满油污的牛仔裤，都可以让人看见端倪。罗兰写道：“像衣着一样，基督徒也可能正无声地彰显耶稣的形象，这样的想法挺有趣的。”
根据使徒保罗的论述，我们也可以在无形中反映出耶稣基督的样式。罗马书13章14节告诉我们：“总要披戴主耶稣基督，不要为肉体安排去放纵私欲。”这是什么意思呢？当我们成为基督徒，我们的身分就是基督的代表，我们“因信基督耶稣，都是上帝的儿子”（加拉太书3章26-27节） 。然而，我们每一天还是需要披戴主耶稣基督，努力为祂而活、效法祂、愿意敬虔、爱人和顺服，以及转离曾经奴役我们的罪。
我们藉着圣灵在生命中的动工，读经、祷告并与主内肢体相互激励，亲近基督，我们就能在祂里面有所成长（约翰福音14章26节） 。当其他人看到我们的言行举止时，对基督会有什么评价呢？
亲爱的主，我们要反映祢的形象。
求祢帮助我们每天更像祢。
让我们愈发敬虔、有爱心、喜乐和忍耐。