阅读经文 

一个朋友告诉我，若是她起床时心情欠佳，她便会穿上一些最漂亮的衣服，她说，这样做可以帮助她体会庆祝的感觉，而她那天的心情通常都会变得好起来。

圣经描述我们在基督里成为新造的人时，我们就像穿上了新的和特制的衣服那样。在启示录七章十三到十四节中，我们看到神让祂的子民穿上曾被羔羊的血洗净的白衣。加拉太书 三章二十七节说，凡受洗归入基督的，都是披戴基督了。

歌罗西书劝勉我们，当存“怜悯、恩慈、谦虚、温柔、忍耐的心。”这些质素就像配搭完美的套装中的每一件衣物。你有没有留意到，保罗首先开列一张我们需要治死的罪恶清单，就如淫乱、污秽、邪情、恶欲、贪婪、恼恨、忿怒、恶毒和污秽的言语等，然后才列出这些要穿戴配搭的衣物呢？实际上他是在说：“弃绝你破旧、污秽、发臭的衣服，让耶稣把新生命的衣服赐给你吧。”然后，“在这一切之外，要存着爱心，爱心就是联络全德的。”

更换了衣服后，会产生什么果效呢？“无论做什么，或说话、或行事，都要奉主耶稣的名，藉着祂感谢父神。”若能做到死而后生，耶稣便能藉着我们彰显祂的荣光了。

在今天，你应当在哪些事情上死去（脱下）？又会在基督里活出（穿上）哪些衣服呢？

A friend told me that when she wakes up feeling down, she will put on some of her best clothes. That can help her feel like celebrating, she says, and it will often improve her day.

The Bible describes how being made new in Christ is like putting on new and special clothing. In Revelation 7:13-14 we read that God’s people are given white robes to wear, washed in the blood of the Lamb. Galatians 3:27 says that all who are baptized have been clothed with Christ.

In Colossians we are encouraged to clothe ourselves with “compassion, humility, kindness, gentleness and patience.” These qualities are like all the pieces in a matching set of clothes. Did you notice that Paul names these articles of clothing after giving us a long list of vices that need to die, such as sexual immorality, lust, evil desires, greed, anger, rage, malice, and filthy language? He’s saying, in effect, “Get rid of your old, dirty, smelly clothes so that Jesus can give you the clothing of life.” Then “over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

And what’s the result of this change of clothing? “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” When we’re dying to live, Jesus shines through us.What are some things that should die in you today? And which articles of clothing will you put on, in Christ?