our daily bread
Dexu Xia
Lookalikes
We all . . . are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18
They say we all have one: Doppelgangers some call them. Lookalikes. People unrelated to us who look very much like us.
Mine happens to be a star in the music field. When I attended one of his concerts, I got a lot of double takes from fellow fans during intermission. But alas, I am no James Taylor when it comes to singing and strumming a guitar. We just happen to look alike.
Lord, transform us into Your image by what we say, how we love others, and how we worship You.
Who do you look like? As you ponder that question, reflect on 2 Corinthians 3:18, where Paul tells us that we “are being transformed into [the Lord’s] image.” As we seek to honor Jesus with our lives, one of our goals is to take on His image. Of course, this doesn’t mean we have to grow a beard and wear sandals—it means that the Holy Spirit helps us demonstrate Christlike characteristics in how we live. For example, in attitude (humility), in character (loving), and in compassion (coming alongside the down and out), we are to look like Jesus and imitate Him.
As we “contemplate the Lord’s glory,” by fixing our eyes on Jesus, we can grow more and more like Him. What an amazing thing it would be if people could observe us and say, “I see Jesus in you”!
Lord, help us to gaze on You, to study You, to know You. Transform us into Your image by what we say, how we love others, and how we worship You. May others see Jesus in us.
Love is the family resemblance the world should see in followers of Christ.
相像
我们众人……就变成主的形状，荣上加荣，如同从主的灵变成的。-哥林多后书3章18节
有人说我们每个人都有一个“分身”，就是有一个跟我们长得很像，却毫无血缘关系的人。
有位乐坛明星可说是我的分身。有一次，我参加他的演唱会，到了中场休息的时候，许多歌迷看到我都很惊讶，总会多看我几眼。只可惜，我不是会唱歌又会弹吉他的詹姆斯·泰勒（James Taylor），我们只是碰巧长得像而已。
你长得像谁？若以哥林多后书3章18节来思考这个问题，保罗说我们要“变成主的形状”。当我们愿以生命荣耀耶稣，其中一个目标就是活出祂的形象。当然，这并不意味着我们必须留胡子或穿凉鞋，而是指圣灵会帮助我们在生活中表现出基督的品格，例如：谦逊的态度、仁爱的品格，以及对穷愁潦倒的人心存怜悯。我们在各方面都要仿效耶稣、活得像祂。
当我们仰望耶稣“得以看见主的荣光”，我们就会变得愈来愈像祂。若人们留意我们的言行举止，并对我们说：“我在你身上看见了耶稣。”那是多么棒的事啊！
主啊，帮助我们仰望祢、思想祢并认识祢。
使我们说话、爱人和对祢的敬拜，
都被祢改变，成为祢的样式，
好让别人能从我们身上看见耶稣。