在冰涷荒凉中休养生息
我们曾居住在加州中部低谷地带，那时候知道了关于栽种杏树园的奇妙秘诀。比如说，杏树在冬季，需要度过约500个小时的零下四十摄氏度的温度，到夏季来临时，它才会有好的产量。在我看来，冬季的果园不过是一片荒凉，但种植杏树的农夫却称那段时间为休养生息期。现在我们住在密歇根州中部，这里有很多种果树。这里的果园每年要想有好收成，也需要冬季这种休养生息的时间。
我一直以为，冬雪和寒冷对水果的成长并非必要，我更天真地觉得冬天不过是浪费时间——因为只要等待春天来到，花园和果园就自然地再生及繁茂。但现在我看待事物的眼光不再一样了。以赛亚先知尝试画出一幅图画，向我们指出这个不一样的方向。
作为神所栽种的，我们也需要被灌溉。暖和的雨水和冰冷的冬雪都是神为丰收设计的灌溉方式。祂话语的灌溉有时温暖而令人欣慰。而在其它时候，祂的话语可能更像冬雪，冰涷我们，挑战我们，使我们安息在祂更高的意念和旨意里。
现在，请重新思量从神的话中领受的某个信息，那信息可能一直使你与神摔跤。不妨用冬雪休养生息的想法，让这信息深深沉淀到你的心思和意念中。
神啊，我为着祢的话语感谢祢，也感谢祢使它浇灌我的生命得以成就祢的旨意。求祢打开我的心，好使祢的话渗入我里面，将我转化。奉耶稣的名求，阿们。
以赛亚书 55:9-13
9天怎样高过地， 照样，我的道路高过你们的道路； 我的意念高过你们的意念。
10雨雪从天而降，并不返回， 却滋润地土，使地上发芽结实， 使撒种的有种，使要吃的有粮。
11我口所出的话也必如此， 决不徒然返回， 却要成就我所喜悦的， 在我发他去成就的事上必然亨通。
12你们必欢欢喜喜而出来， 平平安安蒙引导。 大山小山必在你们面前发声歌唱； 田野的树木也都拍掌。
13松树长出，代替荆棘； 番石榴长出，代替蒺藜。 这要为耶和华留名， 作为永远的证据，不能剪除。
Desolation And Rest
"As the rain and snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth... so is my word that goes out from my mouth." — Isaiah 55:10-11
While living in California's central valley, I learned some surprising things about almond orchards. For example, I learned that almond trees need about 500 hours of sub-40 degree temperatures in winter for a good crop yield in the summer. The orchards in winter looked desolate to me, but almond farmers called it a time of rest. I now live in central Michigan, where a variety of fruit trees grow. The orchards here also need a winter rest in order to be fruitful each year.
Snow and cold were not things I viewed as necessary for growing fruit. Naively, I thought of winter as a waste of time—a time of waiting for the return of spring so that gardens and orchards could flourish again. Now I see things differently. Isaiah points us in this different direction too, in the picture he paints.
We need watering too, as God's plantings. Warm rain and cold snow are both part of God's watering program for a rich harvest. The watering of his Word is sometimes warm and comforting. In other seasons his Word may be more like snow that chills and challenges us to rest in his higher thoughts and purposes.
Reconsider a thought from God's Word that has you wrestling with God. Rest with that thought and let it sink deep in your heart and mind.
Thank you, Lord, for your Word and how it waters my life to fulfill your purpose. Open my heart to let your Word sink in and transform me. Amen.
诵读: 孙大中
片头: 张妙阳
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