【双语灵修】奇普：新造的人CHIP: A NEW CREATION

哥林多后书 5:16-17

所以，我们从今以后，不凭着外貌[a]认人了。虽然凭着外貌认过基督，如今却不再这样认他了。 若有人在基督里，他就是新造的人，旧事已过，都变成新的了。

4月10日

奇普：新造的人

“若有人在基督里，他就是新造的人，旧事已过，都变成新的了！” - 哥林多后书 5:17

奇普已经变成了一个老人，当他回到自己长大的小镇时，几乎没人认得出他来。这并不是因为他的长相变得有多不同，不，这些年来他一直有回来探望。他一直和高中认识的人保持联系，大家对彼此老去的容颜都很熟悉。

奇普的不同之处在于他的性格变了。以前，正如有些人称呼他的那样，他是个“刁钻的机灵鬼”。他会回到镇上，和当地人混在一起，等待合适的时机，然后用一种带刺的方式，说些关于政治、宗教或其他方面的话。接着，趁大家开始互相争吵时，他就离开了。他似乎很享受挑起分歧。

但现在奇普变了。他得知癌症很快就要夺去他的生命，而且，他在自家附近的社区事工中遇见了耶稣。所以，当他这次回到镇上时，已经是一个改变了的人。虽然他老了，但他也是新的。他仁慈、慷慨、充满歉意。他称自己为耶稣的朋友。大家都对此议论纷纷。多么奇妙的改变啊！

即使身体正在走向死亡，奇普却是一个新造的人。他是“在基督里”。

奇普也是基督复活的一个回响，是神那宏大工程的开始—神要进行一个新的创造，让所有“在基督里”的人都能与祂永远同住！

祷告

神啊，我们赞美你，因你在基督里使我们更新，并使我们成为你新创造计划的一部分。求你帮助我们忠心地为你而活。阿们。

2 Corinthians 5:16-17

FRIDAY, APRIL 10

CHIP: A NEW CREATION

If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! —2 Corinthians 5:17

Chip had become an old man, and when he returned to the small town where he had grown up, hardly anyone recognized him.

It wasn’t because he looked so different. No, he’d been back to visit throughout the years. He had kept up with people he’d known in high school, and they were familiar with each other’s aging appearance.

What was different about Chip was that his character had changed. He had always been a “clever devil,” as some called him. He would come to town, hang out with the locals, wait for the right opportunity, and then say something political or religious or something else in a thorny way. Then he’d leave as people started bickering with one another. He seemed to enjoy stirring up disagreement.

But now Chip was different. He’d learned that cancer was going to take his life soon. And he’d met Jesus through a local ministry in his neighborhood.

So he came back to town a changed man. Though he was old, he was new. He was kind. Generous. Apologetic. He called himself a friend of Jesus. Everyone talked about it. What an amazing change!

Chip was a new creation, even as his body was dying. He was “in Christ.”

Chip was also an echo of Christ’s resurrection, the beginning of God’s big project of making a new creation where all who are “in Christ” can live with him forever!

God, we praise you for making us new in Christ and for making us a part of your new creation plan. Help us to live faithfully for you. Amen.