如此結實豐碩? (卓爾君牧師)
蔬果專家告訴我們試吃葡萄時,只要是吃最末端那一顆就可以知道整串葡萄的味道,因為葡萄的養分是從上而下傳遞,所以末端的葡萄如果甜度很夠,那麼整串葡萄的甜度也一定很甜。這也可以用來描述基督徒生命的光景。在觀察一個基督徒的時候,我們只要淺嘗一部分,就可以知道全部的真相。在約翰福音15章談到「凡結果子的,他就修理乾淨,使枝子結果子更多」。這裡所說的「結果子」是一段奇妙且充滿恩典的生命旅程,甚至身為基督徒的我們,很多時候並沒有意識到神這樣豐富、神聖、並且富有生命力的計劃,就正在我們的信仰中發生。
潔淨跟能力是密不可分的,基督徒的生活如果不聖潔,他的生命就沒有能力,有的基督徒可能有些才華與恩賜,也能結出一些果子,但是他們沒有神的大能。修剪的目的是為了結果子的能力,基督徒如果拒絕神的修剪,神就會修剪得更深,因為神無法忍受那些阻礙你結果子的枝子。
約翰福音15:1-10 (和合本)
- 我是真葡萄樹,我父是栽培的人。
- 凡屬我不結果子的枝子,他就剪去;凡結果子的,他就修理乾淨,使枝子結果子更多。
- 現在你們因我講給你們的道,已經乾淨了。
- 你們要常在我裡面,我也常在你們裡面。枝子若不常在葡萄樹上,自己就不能結果子;你們若不常在我裡面,也是這樣。
- 我是葡萄樹,你們是枝子;常在我裡面的,我也常在他裡面,這人就多結果子。因為離了我,你們就不能做甚麼。
- 人若不常在我裡面,就像枝子丟在外面枯乾,人拾起來扔在火裡燒了。
- 你們若常在我裡面,我的話也常在你們裡面;凡你們所願意的,祈求就給你們成就。
- 你們多結果子,我父就因此得榮耀,你們也就是我的門徒了。
- 我愛你們,正如父愛我一樣,你們要常在我的愛裡。
- 你們若遵守我的命令,就常在我的愛裡;正如我遵守了我父的命令,常在他的愛裡。
John 15:1-10 (NIV)
- “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
- He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.
- You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
- Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
- “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
- If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
- If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
- This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
- “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.
- If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.