穿上祂的義BeingClothed in His Righteousness
[每日靈修] 1/30/2019, 駱鴻銘編譯
教會是我們的母親，但它是基督的新婦。在這個角色中，我們是基督之愛的對象。我們，作為一個團體，是祂所愛的。我們是被玷污的、有皺紋的，就我們自己來說，絕不是聖潔的。當我們說教會是聖潔的，或稱她為「聖母親教會」時，我們知道她的聖潔不是內在的，而是衍生出來的，且依賴於那使她成聖並用祂公義的外袍遮蓋她的主。
正如敏銳的丈夫保護他的妻子，並以俠義的方式在她受凍時給她穿上外衣，我們也被一個丈夫從高天為我們穿上衣服，他不惜一切代價來保衛、保護、眷顧他的未婚妻。他是最高意義的俠客，地上習俗的任何變動都無法根除他的狹義精神，或使之凋殘。這種騎士精神並沒有過世，因為它無法死亡。
基督的新婦被污損了，但聖子有一天會買贖她、愛她、每天為她代求，將她無暇無疵地獻給父神。要是我們愛基督，我們也必須愛祂的新婦。要是我們愛基督，我們就必須愛祂的教會。
活在神的面光中（在神面前禱告）：
求上帝重新點燃你對真正教會基督身體成員的愛。
進一步研讀：
啟三5 凡得勝的必這樣穿白衣，我也必不從生命冊上塗抹他的名；且要在我父面前，和我父眾使者面前，認他的名。
詩一一一3 祂所行的是尊榮和威嚴；祂的公義存到永遠。
彼後三14 親愛的弟兄啊，你們既盼望這些事，就當殷勤，使自己沒有玷污，無可指摘，安然見主；
Being Clothed in His
Righteousness
The
church is our mother, but it is Christ’s bride. In this role, we are the
objects of Christ’s affection. We, corporately, are His beloved. Stained and
wrinkled, in ourselves we are anything but holy. When we say that the church is
holy or refer to her as “holy mother church,” we do so with the knowledge that
her holiness is not intrinsic but derived and dependent upon the One who
sanctifies her and covers her with the cloak of His righteousness.
As
the sensitive husband shelters his wife and in a chivalrous manner lends her
his coat when she is chilled, so we are clad from on high by a husband who
stops at nothing to defend, protect, and care for His betrothed. His is the
ultimate chivalry, a chivalry that no upheaval of earthly custom can eradicate
or make passé. This chivalry is not dead because it cannot die.
The
bride of Christ is soiled but will one day be presented spotless to the Father
by the Son who bought her, who loves her, and who intercedes for her every day.
If we love Christ, we must also love His bride. If we love Christ, we must love
His church.
Coram
Deo
Ask
God to rekindle your love for members of the body of Christ, the true church.
Passages
for Further Study
Revelation
3:5
Psalm
111:3
2
Peter 3:14