405 中翻英 (105)

六月二日

「曾住在他蔭下的必歸回，發旺如五谷，開花如葡萄樹。....」（何   14:7 新國際版）

誰曾多關切葡萄的花呢？它原是一种活得最短命的花，當人僅僅注意及之，它已凋謝而變為果子了。在自然界里，我們可以認識如下三种植物：第一類只開花不結果。第二類花果俱美，就如桃子。還有第三類，花無大价值，但人們卻重視它的果子，就如葡萄樹。對于最后一類，神明顯的對它有很高的評价。我們是多么容易受引誘去顯揚一些可以給人深刻印象的東西，就如一朵令人羡慕的花一樣！但父神卻安徘我們作葡萄樹的枝子，在此祂所最關切尋求的，乃是結果子。

June 2

"Men will dwell again in his shade.  He will flourish like the grain.  He will blossom like the vine." (Hosea 14:7 NIV)Who cares much for the flowers of the grapes? It was originally a short-lived flower, and when people start to see it, it immrately begins to wither and bears a fruit.  We have three types of plants in nature : the first type is only blooms but does not bear fruit. The second one has beautiful flowers and beared fruits, like peaches. There is a third class, we don't care the flower's value, but its fruit is valueable, like the vine.  God cares this type obviously very much.

How easily we are tempted to display something impressive, like an enviable flower! But God the Father has placed us as branches of the vine, where His chief concern and pursuit is to bear fruit.