在早秋时节，地里庄稼的减少显而易见。空气转凉，庄稼、树木和灌木的叶子开始褪色。白日缩短，暮色降临得早了。把蔬菜水果全部收入仓中也迫在眉睫，就像在与时间赛跑一样。
这种光逐渐消逝的体验，让人想到耶稣催促门徒们，应当趁着有光行走——这光就是耶稣自己。当耶稣说这些话时，祂不久之后就要死在十字架上了。而那次事件成了那恶者企图扑灭这光的最戏剧性的一次行动。但那不是第一次，也不会是最后一次。
在人类历史的每个阶段，凡跟随耶稣的人都需要听到这番急切的劝勉。耶稣作为世界的光，已经藉着为我们的罪付上赎价和践踏死亡，胜过了黑暗。但是罪、这世界的邪恶，以及那恶者持续不断地企图掐灭这光。冷漠和自满在我们身上里应外合地要扑灭这光。 当我们失去那种迫切感，收获就会减少，黑暗也临到了。
如果你注意到逐渐消逝的光，你会怎么做呢？你会抓住每个机会，成为基督之光，并带来丰富的收割吗？
主耶稣，求祢激励我忠心地跟随祢。求祢照亮我，并透过我的言行发出亮光，好使祢收获更多生命。奉耶稣的名祷告，阿们。
约翰福音 12:27-36
27“我现在心里忧愁，我说什么才好呢？父啊，救我脱离这时候；但我原是为这时候来的。
28父啊，愿你荣耀你的名！”当时就有声音从天上来，说：“我已经荣耀了我的名，还要再荣耀。”
29站在旁边的众人听见，就说：“打雷了。”还有人说：“有天使对他说话。”
30耶稣说：“这声音不是为我，是为你们来的。
31现在这世界受审判，这世界的王要被赶出去。
32我若从地上被举起来，就要吸引万人来归我。”
33耶稣这话原是指着自己将要怎样死说的。
34众人回答说：“我们听见律法上有话说，基督是永存的，你怎么说‘人子必须被举起来’呢？这人子是谁呢？”
35耶稣对他们说：“光在你们中间还有不多的时候，应当趁着有光行走，免得黑暗临到你们；那在黑暗里行走的，不知道往何处去。
36你们应当趁着有光，信从这光，使你们成为光明之子。”
"Jesus told them, 'You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before the darkness overtakes you.'" — John 12:35
In early fall the dwindling harvest becomes noticeable. The air cools, and the leaves on plants, trees, and bushes begin to brown. The days grow shorter, and darkness comes earlier. It feels like a race against time to bring in the full harvest of fruits and vegetables.
This experience of fading light brings to mind Jesus' urging his disciples to walk while they still have the light—that is, Jesus himself. When Jesus spoke these words, his upcoming death on the cross was just around the corner. And that event became the most dramatic attempt to snuff out the light. But it was not the first attempt, and it wouldn't be the last.
In every age of human history, people who follow Jesus need to hear these urgent words. Jesus, the light of the world, has overcome the darkness by his payment for our sin and his victory over death. But sin, the wickedness of the world, and the devil persistently continue in their efforts to snuff out the light. Apathy and complacency conspire within and around us to diminish the light. When we lose our sense of urgency, the harvest dwindles and the darkness moves in.
If you are noticing the dwindling light, what are you doing about it? Are you making the most of every opportunity to be the light of Christ and bring in the harvest?
Jesus, inspire me to follow you faithfully. Shine in me and through my words and actions so that the harvest of lives will increase. Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
