大儿子读二年级那年，班上每一个学生都被分配一个主题，他们有整个学年的时间去作深入的钻研；他的老师分配给他的主题是“石头和宝石。”他立刻便开始搜集石头了。很快家里每一个角落都是一堆一堆的石，每当我拿走一些时，他立刻便察觉到！就是到了今天，家中仍然到处散布着石子。儿子对石头着迷，其中一个原因是它们是不会破碎和坚硬的，它们不像其他会损坏的玩具。石头是永久不变的。
石头之所以有很多用途，就是这个原因；它们很耐用，可以用来盖各种建筑物，这些可以存留很久。
以利亚呼求永活的神，这位掌管天地的神便降下火来，火不但烧了坛上的燔祭，它更烧尽木柴、石头、尘土、和水，你大概可以想像到在场目睹的人是如何惊讶！神彰显的能力是多么惊人啊！因此，众民都呼叫说：“耶和华是神！”毫无疑问，这位创造了活物、木柴、石头、尘土、和水的神，显明在衪实在没有难成的事。而无论衪选择做什么事，这些事最终都表明祂是万有的主宰。
神啊，祢是天地之主，我们惊叹祢的大能。愿祢的国度继续降临在地上，又开我们的眼睛叫我们看见祢。奉耶稣祈求，阿们。
列王纪上 18:30-39
30 以利亚对众民说：“你们到我这里来。”众民就到他那里。他便重修已经毁坏耶和华的坛。
31 以利亚照雅各子孙支派的数目，取了十二块石头（耶和华的话曾临到雅各说“你的名要叫以色列”），
32 用这些石头为耶和华的名筑一座坛，在坛的四围挖沟，可容谷种二细亚。
33 又在坛上摆好了柴，把牛犊切成块子放在柴上，对众人说：“你们用四个桶盛满水，倒在燔祭和柴上。”
34 又说：“倒第二次。”他们就倒第二次。又说：“倒第三次。”他们就倒第三次。
35 水流在坛的四围，沟里也满了水。
36 到了献晚祭的时候，先知以利亚近前来，说：“亚伯拉罕、以撒、以色列的神，耶和华啊，求你今日使人知道你是以色列的神，也知道我是你的仆人，又是奉你的命行这一切事。
37 耶和华啊，求你应允我，应允我，使这民知道你耶和华是神，又知道是你叫这民的心回转。”
38 于是，耶和华降下火来，烧尽燔祭、木柴、石头、尘土，又烧干沟里的水。
39 众民看见了，就俯伏在地，说：“耶和华是神！耶和华是神！”
"The fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench." - 1 Kings 18:38
When our oldest son was in grade two, every student was given a topic to study in depth for the whole school year. His teacher assigned him the topic “rocks and gems.” Immediately he began collecting rocks. Soon there were little piles of rocks everywhere. Whenever I tried to thin out the collection, he noticed right away! Today there are still little collections of rocks all over our house. Our son’s fascination with rocks was partly that they were indestructible and invincible. They weren’t like other toys that could be broken. Rocks were permanent.
This is why stones are used for many purposes; they are durable and can be used to build structures that will last a long time.
So you can imagine the astonishment of all the witnesses when Elijah called out to the living God, and the God of heaven and earth responded by sending down fire that didn’t just burn up the sacrifice on the altar, but also consumed the wood, the stones, the soil, and the water! What extraordinary power God demonstrated! That’s why the people cried out, “The LORD—he is God!” Without a doubt, the one who created the creatures, wood, stones, soil, and water can also show that there is nothing he cannot do. And whatever God chooses to do ultimately points to his authority over all things.
God, you are the Lord of heaven and earth. We are in awe of your power. May your kingdom continue to come here on earth and open our eyes to see you. In Jesus, Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
