【双语灵修】拿起工具 Putting On The Equipment

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“要拿起神所赐的全副军装，好在磨难的日子抵挡仇敌 … ，还能站立得住。” - 弗6:13

在过去的一些年，我曾为成长中的儿女购买曲棍球器械、防滑足球鞋、篮球鞋、棒球裤和帽子、以及其他运动用品。我也和道，他们参与某项运动越久，他们所需的用品也会越昂贵。儿子每过六个月便不再能穿下他的旧篮球鞋，因为他的脚不断在长。当他从社区联盟晋升至竞技篮球时，他想要一双时尚但却不能保护足踝的新鞋。我们明知不可取，但还是给他买了。当我们很快便不得不要用冰敷他受伤的足踝时，我们就知道，买这双鞋不是什么好主意。我们是应该买那些有比较好的防护设计的鞋。

保罗教导我们说，基督徒如果要装备好去打属灵的仗，他们便需要披戴全副的军装。若要在神里面活出丰盛的生命，我们需要认识军装的每一件兵器，并懂得怎样运用它们。

当我看保罗描述的军装时，我发觉自己看到的正是耶稣的形像。耶稣是真理（真理的带子），祂是我们的义和我们的平安（护心镜和鞋）。我们有信心，是基于祂对我们的信实（信德的藤牌）。祂也是我们的救恩和永活的道（头盔和宝剑）。

我们若以基督所有的这些性情和应许作为装备，我们便已经披戴了神的全副军装，使我们得以坚定站立。

祷告

主啊，求你帮助我们从你受教和效法你，好使你为我们预备的军装帮助我们活出在你里面丰盛的信心。阿们。

以弗所书 6:10-20

10我还有末了的话，你们要靠着主，倚赖他的大能大力做刚强的人。
11要穿戴神所赐的全副军装，就能抵挡魔鬼的诡计。
12因我们并不是与属血气的争战，乃是与那些执政的、掌权的、管辖这幽暗世界的，以及天空属灵气的恶魔争战。
13所以，要拿起神所赐的全副军装，好在磨难的日子抵挡仇敌；并且成就了一切，还能站立得住。
14所以要站稳了，用真理当做带子束腰，用公义当做护心镜遮胸，
15又用平安的福音当做预备走路的鞋穿在脚上。
16此外，又拿着信德当做藤牌，可以灭尽那恶者一切的火箭；
17并戴上救恩的头盔，拿着圣灵的宝剑，就是神的道。
18靠着圣灵，随时多方祷告祈求，并要在此警醒不倦，为众圣徒祈求；
19也为我祈求，使我得着口才，能以放胆开口讲明福音的奥秘——
20我为这福音的奥秘做了戴锁链的使者——并使我照着当尽的本分放胆讲论。

Putting On The Equipment

"Put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground. . . ." - Ephesians 6:13

Over the years, I have purchased hockey equipment, soccer cleats, basketball shoes, baseball pants and hats, and more for my children growing up. I also learned that the longer they played a sport, the higher the costs of equipment went up. Our son outgrew his basketball shoes every six months as his feet continued to grow. Then, when he moved up from house league to competitive basketball, he asked for a new shoe that was popular but didn't have ankle support. Against our better judgment, we bought a pair and soon realized as we iced his ankle that it wasn't the best decision to buy those shoes. We should have bought the better equipment instead.

Paul taught that if Christians want to be equipped for spiritual warfare, they need the best equipment. To live into the fullness of God in our lives, we need to understand each piece of equipment and how to use it.

When I look at the armor Paul describes, I realize I am looking at a picture of Jesus. Jesus is the truth (belt of truth), and he is our righteousness and our peace (breastplate and shoes). The reason we have faith is through his faithfulness to us (shield of faith). And he is our salvation as well as the living Word (helmet and sword).

If we are equipped with the full character and blessings of Christ, we have the full armor of God to help us stand.

Prayer

Lord, help me to learn from you and to be like you so that the armor you provide will help me live into the fullness of faith in you. Amen.