有一首古老的诗歌唱道：“你知道吗，基督徒，你自己就是布道信息？”这些话一直萦绕在我脑海中，向我有力说明了生命的目的。在我做牧师的这几年，我一直努力传道，帮助人听到神的话，但是，把自己当作布道信息做得如何呢？
耶稣教导时说：“我是葡萄树，”祂明确说，所有结果子的工作都会荣耀神，也就是祂的父。而我们作为耶稣的跟随者，也被呼召为了神的荣耀去结果子。这意味着我们是基督的门徒，藉着所应许的圣灵与祂相连接。靠着在我们里面工作的圣灵，我们就能“多结果子。”这果子以多种方式呈现，总是以我们对主的爱为动力。
我们许多人无法分辨苹果树和梨树，却能尝出它们果子的区别。果子会显出我们是耶稣的门徒，也能使我们确信我们与神的关系。多特信经描述这果子是在基督里真实的信心，谦卑爱神，为罪忧伤，饥渴慕义，对神深厚的怜悯发出赞美和惊奇，等等（参林前 13，加 5:22-23）。
藉着在我们里面工作的圣灵，我们会结出果子，确信神的爱，从而使神得着荣耀。
耶稣啊，求以你的灵赐力量给我们，使我们能结果子，荣耀神。奉你的名祷告。阿们。
约翰福音 15:1-8
1“我是真葡萄树，我父是栽培的人。
2凡属我不结果子的枝子，他就剪去；凡结果子的，他就修理干净，使枝子结果子更多。
3现在你们因我讲给你们的道，已经干净了。
4你们要常在我里面，我也常在你们里面。枝子若不常在葡萄树上，自己就不能结果子；你们若不常在我里面，也是这样。
5我是葡萄树，你们是枝子。常在我里面的，我也常在他里面，这人就多结果子；因为离了我，你们就不能做什么。
6人若不常在我里面，就像枝子丢在外面枯干，人拾起来扔在火里烧了。
7你们若常在我里面，我的话也常在你们里面，凡你们所愿意的，祈求，就给你们成就。
8你们多结果子，我父就因此得荣耀，你们也就是我的门徒了。
“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” — John 15:8
There’s an old song with the words “Do you know, O Christian, you’re a sermon in shoes?” These words have stuck with me as a powerful illustration for life. Throughout my years as a pastor, I worked diligently to deliver sermons that help people hear God’s Word, but what about showing myself to be a sermon?
When Jesus taught, “I am the true vine,” he made clear that all the work of fruitbearing was to the glory of God, his Father. As Jesus’ followers, we’re called to bear fruit for God’s glory also. This means showing that we are Jesus’ followers, connected to him by the promised Holy Spirit. And by the power of the Spirit working in us, we will “bear much fruit.” This fruit takes shape in a variety of ways, always motivated by our love for our Lord.
Many of us cannot tell an apple tree from a pear tree, but we can taste the difference in their fruit. The fruit that shows we are Jesus’ disciples also assures us of our relationship with God. The Canons of Dort describe this fruit as faith in Christ, humble love for God, sorrow for sin, hunger and thirst for righteousness, wonder and praise at the depths of God’s mercy, and more (see also 1 Corinthians 13; Galatians 5:22-23).
Bearing fruit, by the power of the Spirit working in us, we are assured of God’s love and can bring him glory.
Jesus, empower us with your Spirit so that we will always bear fruit for God’s glory. In your name we pray. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
