耶稣经常使用有关耕种的图画来描述天国。耕种的奥秘和喜悦会帮助我们看见天国里一些重要的事。种子一旦入了土，农夫就无法控制它。他可以帮助提供水份和阳光，但他必须等待种子发芽和长大。
当看到第一批小芽出现时会让人感到安慰和兴奋。当然，农夫已经料想到了——种子在好的环境下通常都会生长。然而农夫并没有掌控所有的条件。因此，种子按着它应有的规律生长时，每一次都很奇妙。尽管农夫缺乏控制，但当所有的条件成熟，收获的季节最终来临时，那又是一次安慰和兴奋。
当我们播下天国好消息的种子时，我们可以相信，如果条件适宜，它就会生长。不过，我们无法控制环境。所以我们得等待。当看到一个孩子、朋友或刚刚认识的人出现信仰的萌芽时，那是多么令人激动啊！哪怕播种的不是我们，只看到它的成长就令人兴奋。
还有另一种更深的激动，是当我们看到一个人的信仰成长到一定程度时，他已经准备好来喂养他人，以及传播神话语种子的时候。
亲爱的耶稣，求你使你的国度成长。在我里面种下信仰和新生命，好使我结出果子。也求你在我播下种子的地方，赐下成长和你的话语。阿们。
马可福音 4:26-29
26又说：“神的国如同人把种撒在地上，
27黑夜睡觉，白日起来，这种就发芽渐长，那人却不晓得如何这样。
28地生五谷是出于自然的，先发苗，后长穗，再后穗上结成饱满的子粒。
29谷既熟了，就用镰刀去割，因为收成的时候到了。”
“This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground." - Mark 4:26
Jesus often used pictures about farming to describe the kingdom of God. Here the mystery and excitement of farming helps us see something important about the kingdom. Once seeds go into the ground, the farmer has no control over them. It may help to provide water and sunlight, but the farmer must simply wait for the seeds to sprout and grow.
It’s a relief and a thrill to see the first tiny shoots appear. Sure, the farmer expects it—seeds usually grow when the conditions are good. Yet the farmer doesn’t control all the conditions. So when growth happens just as it should, it’s amazing every time. And when the time for harvesting finally comes—when all the conditions have been met regardless of the farmer’s lack of control—that’s another thrill and another relief.
When we sow seeds of the good news of God’s kingdom, we can trust they will grow if the conditions are right. Yet we don’t have control over the conditions. So we have to wait. And what a thrill it is to see the first sprout of faith begin in a child, a friend, or even someone we have just met! Even if we didn’t plant the seed, it’s a thrill to watch it grow.
It’s also another, deeper thrill when we see that a person’s faith in God has grown to the point where they are ready to join in feeding others and spreading the seed of God’s Word too.
Dear Jesus, please grow your kingdom. Grow faith and new life in me so that I may bear fruit. And please spread the growth or your Word where I have planted seeds. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
