our daily bread

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Dexu Xia

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Oct 9, 2017, 1:39:03 AM10/9/17

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Clothes for the Climate

Over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:14

While removing the price tag from an item of winter clothing I had purchased, I smiled at these words on the back: “WARNING: This innovative product will make you want to go outdoors and stay there.” When properly clothed for the climate, a person can survive and even thrive in harsh and changing weather conditions.

The same principle is true in our spiritual lives. As followers of Jesus, our all-weather spiritual wardrobe has been prescribed by the Lord in His Word, the Bible. “As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. . . . Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Col. 3:12–13 emphasis added).

Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Col. 3:13

These garments that God provides—such as kindness, humility, and gentleness—allow us to meet hostility and criticism with patience, forgiveness, and love. They give us staying power in the storms of life.

When we face adverse conditions at home, school, or work, the “clothing” God tells us to wear protects us and enables us to make a positive difference. “And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity” (v. 14).

Dressing according to God’s guidelines doesn’t change the weather—it equips the wearer.

Heavenly Father, help me to put on Your garment of love so that I am prepared for whatever life brings me today.

Kindness is the oil that takes the friction out of life.

齐全的装备

在这一切之外，要存着爱心，爱心就是联络全德的。-歌罗西书3章14节

我买了一件冬衣，正要撕下价格标签时，看见背面印了几个字，令我不禁莞尔：“警告：本创新产品将让你等不及想出门去，舍不得进屋来。”的确，一个人只要穿戴合适的御寒装备，在恶劣多变的气候下不只能生存，还能茁壮成长。

对于我们的属灵生活，道理也相同。身为基督徒，上帝已经藉着祂的话语，给了我们适合各种气候的属灵装备。“你们既是上帝的选民、圣洁蒙爱的人，就要存（原文作“穿”）怜悯、恩慈、谦虚、温柔、忍耐的心。……主怎样饶恕了你们，你们也要怎样饶恕人”（歌罗西书3章12-13节）。

上帝为我们预备的装备，例如恩慈、谦卑、温柔，能让我们以忍耐、宽容和爱心，去面对嫌隙与批评，并能加添我们力量，度过人生的风暴。

当我们在家庭、学校或职场中，面临恶劣的环境时，上帝要我们穿上的装备能保守我们，并能让我们带来正面的改变，“在这一切之外，要存（原文作“穿”）着爱心，爱心就是联络全德的”（14节）。

当我们穿着上帝所赐的装备时，恶劣的环境虽然没有改变，但我们却能站立得稳。

天父，求祢帮助我，穿戴祢的慈爱，
让我今天能够面对生命中的各项挑战。