God’s deep love means we can be real with others.

上帝的大爱使我们能以真面貌示人。

You are precious and honored in my sight, and . . . I love you. Isaiah 43:4

因我看你为宝为尊，又因我爱你。-以赛亚书43章4节

To celebrate Winston Churchill’s eightieth birthday, the British parliament commissioned artist Graham Sutherland to paint a portrait of the celebrated statesman. “How are you going to paint me?” Churchill reportedly asked the artist: “As a cherub, or the Bulldog?” Churchill liked these two popular perceptions of him. Sutherland, however, said he would paint what he saw.

为了庆贺邱吉尔的八十大寿，英国国会委托画家萨瑟兰为这位政治家画一幅肖像。据称当时邱吉尔曾询问画家：“你要把我画成什么样子？像天使基路伯，还是一只斗牛犬？”即使邱吉尔很喜欢他的这两个公众形象，但萨瑟兰却回答说，他会将自己所看到的画出来。

Churchill was not happy with the results. Sutherland’s portrait had Churchill slumped in a chair wearing his trademark scowl—true to reality, but hardly flattering. After its official unveiling, Churchill hid the painting in his cellar. It was later secretly destroyed.

邱吉尔对成品并不满意。在这幅肖像画中，邱吉尔在座椅中，摆出一贯眉头深锁的表情。画作虽十分逼真，却并不讨喜。因此这幅画在公开亮相后，就被邱吉尔藏入地窖，后来私下销毁。

Like Churchill, most of us have an image of ourselves we want others to have of us also—whether of success, godliness, beauty, or strength. We can go to great lengths to conceal our “ugly” sides. Perhaps deep down we fear we won’t be loved if the real us is known.

我们像邱吉尔一样，都有个希望别人能看到的形象，可能是成功、敬虔、美丽或有能力的形象。我们努力隐藏自己“丑陋”的一面，或许是害怕真实面一旦揭露，自己会让人厌恶。

When the Israelites were taken captive by Babylon, they were seen at their worst. Because of their sins, God allowed their enemies to conquer them. But He told them not to fear. He knew them by name, and He was with them in every humiliating trial (Isa. 43:1–2). They were secure in His hands (v. 13) and “precious” to Him (v. 4). Despite their ugliness, God loved them.

以色列人被掳到巴比伦时，正是他们最“丑陋”的时候。上帝因他们的罪而容许他们被掳。但上帝告诉他们不要怕，因祂按著名字认识他们，在他们受苦蒙羞的试炼中与他们同在（以赛亚书43章1-2节）。他们在上帝手中是安稳的（13节），在上帝眼中被看为宝贵（4节），他们虽然丑陋，仍为上帝所爱。

We will find ourselves less motivated to seek the approval of others when such a truth truly sinks in. God knows the real us and still loves us immeasurably (Eph. 3:18).

当我们确实相信这个真理，就不会再汲汲营营追求他人的认同。上帝认识我们真实的面貌，并以那无法测度的爱来爱我们（以弗所书3章18节） 。

天父，感谢祢深爱我，藉基督饶恕我，

使我成为祢的儿女。

正因如此，我不需要虚假，让人觉得我很完美。

Isaiah 43:1-9New International Version (NIV)

Israel’s Only Savior

43 But now, this is what the Lord says—
    he who created you, Jacob,
    he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters,
    I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
    they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
    you will not be burned;
    the flames will not set you ablaze.
3 For I am the Lord your God,
    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom,
    Cush and Seba in your stead.
4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
    and because I love you,
I will give people in exchange for you,
    nations in exchange for your life.
5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
    I will bring your children from the east
    and gather you from the west.
6 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
    and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’
Bring my sons from afar
    and my daughters from the ends of the earth—
7 everyone who is called by my name,
    whom I created for my glory,
    whom I formed and made.”

8 Lead out those who have eyes but are blind,
    who have ears but are deaf.
9 All the nations gather together
    and the peoples assemble.
Which of their gods foretold this
    and proclaimed to us the former things?
Let them bring in their witnesses to prove they were right,
    so that others may hear and say, “It is true.”

以赛亚书 43:1-9 Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Simplified) (CUVMPS)

耶和华许赐多恩慰藉其民

43 雅各啊，创造你的耶和华，以色列啊，造成你的那位，现在如此说：“你不要害怕，因为我救赎了你；我曾提你的名召你，你是属我的。 2 你从水中经过，我必与你同在；你趟过江河，水必不漫过你；你从火中行过，必不被烧，火焰也不着在你身上。 3 因为我是耶和华你的神，是以色列的圣者，你的救主。我已经使埃及做你的赎价，使古实和西巴代替你。 4 因我看你为宝为尊，又因我爱你，所以我使人代替你，使列邦人替换你的生命。 5 不要害怕，因我与你同在。我必领你的后裔从东方来，又从西方招聚你。 6 我要对北方说‘交出来！’，对南方说‘不要拘留！’，将我的众子从远方带来，将我的众女从地极领回， 7 就是凡称为我名下的人，是我为自己的荣耀创造的，是我所做成、所造做的。”

8 “你要将有眼而瞎、有耳而聋的民都带出来。 9 任凭万国聚集，任凭众民会合，其中谁能将此声明，并将先前的事说给我们听呢？他们可以带出见证来，自显为是，或者他们听见，便说这是真的。”

整理：于姊妹