改變

改變
聖經閱讀：歌羅西書3:8-11 現代中譯本|合和本
2013年9月28日(六)

有一天，我和先生兩人在湖邊散步。我們注意到有一隻大鳥在樹上盤旋，牠真是好美！我原以為那是一隻老鷹，但當我靠近看時，才發現牠其實是一隻火雞禿鷹！ 　我一直以為火雞禿鷹是一種很醜的鳥，所以當我看到牠飛翔時是這麼的漂亮和優雅時，就感到很驚訝。親眼看見這種鳥使我改變了對火雞禿鷹的想法，現在我只記得牠們的美麗，而不記得牠們的醜陋。 　這個經驗提醒了我，我的罪也使我變得醜陋。羅馬書3:23說：「因為人人都犯罪，虧欠了上帝的榮耀。」但今天的經文告訴我們，當信主成為基督徒時，我們就被改變了。「因為你們已經脫掉舊我和舊習慣，換上了新我。這新我，由創造主上帝按照自己的形像不斷地加以更新。」(第9b-10a節) 　我希望你已經願意讓上帝來改變你，並藉由祂的兒子耶穌賜給你新的生命。 －DJH* 「那從主─就是聖靈─所發出這榮耀在改變我們，使我們成為他的樣式，有更輝煌的榮耀。」 哥林多後書3:18b 禱告：親愛的上帝，謝謝祢改變我，使我成為耶穌的樣式。奉耶穌的名，阿們！ (陳萍萍譯)

Changed
Bible Reading: Colossians 3:8-11
Saturday, September 28, 2013

One day my husband and I walked around a lake. We noticed a big bird making wide circles among the trees. It was beautiful! I thought it was an eagle. But when I got a closer look, I realized it was a turkey buzzard! 　I had always thought a turkey buzzard was an ugly bird. So I was surprised to see how beautiful and graceful it was when it was flying. Seeing that bird changed my thinking about turkey buzzards. Now I remember them for their beauty instead of their ugliness. 　This experience reminded me that my sins make me ugly, too. Romans 3:23 says that all people “have sinned and are not good enough to share God’s divine greatness.” But our Bible Reading today tells us that when we become Christians, we are changed. “Now you are wearing a new life, a life that is new every day” (verse 10a). 　I hope that you have allowed God to change you and give you a new life through His Son, Jesus. —DJH* “We all show the Lord’s glory, and we are being changed to be like him. This change in us brings more and more glory.” 2 Corinthians 3:18b PRAYER: Dear God, thank You for changing me to be like Jesus. In Jesus’ name. Amen.