谢尔·希尔弗斯坦（Shel Silverstein）的《爱心树》（The Giving Tree）一书讲述了一个男孩的故事，他经常带着所有的问题回到他儿时的树下。每次他回来的时候，这棵树都会想办法奉献出自己的一些东西，以便能帮助他。在故事的最后，这棵树就只剩下一个树桩了——即便如此，树还在奉献自己。在这个故事中，很明显，这棵树结出了慷慨、见识、智慧、谦卑和舍己的爱的“果实”。
在马太福音7:16-20中，耶稣教导祂的门徒们，你可以凭着果子认出一棵树。祂说，凡好树都结好果子，唯独坏树结坏果子。
我们也像希尔弗斯坦故事中的树一样，当我们结出公义的果实，我们就成了他人的生命之源。我们若藉着神的灵与祂建立亲密的关系，我们就深深地扎根并与生命之源相连，我们就会结出彰显这生命的果子：仁爱、喜乐、和平、忍耐、恩慈、良善、信实、温柔和节制（加 5:22-23）。
当我们结出这些果子时，我们就有一种能够拯救他人生命的智慧。人们会在我们身上找到生命，因为他们透过我们找到了耶稣。
信实的父，请帮助我结出公义的果子。赐我更多你的圣灵，使我可以向他人显明那指向你的果子。阿们。
箴言 11:30
30义人所结的果子就是生命树，有智慧的必能得人。
"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives." - Proverbs 11:30
The Giving Tree, a book by Shel Silverstein, tells a story of a boy who routinely comes back to his childhood tree with all of his problems. Each time he comes back, the tree finds a way to give more of itself so that it can help. By the end of the story there is only a stump left—and even then the tree offers to gives more of itself. In this story, it is clear that the tree is bearing the "fruit" of generosity, insight, wisdom, humility, and self-giving love.
In Matthew 7:16-20, Jesus teaches his disciples that you can tell a tree by its fruit. A good tree bears good fruit, he says, and a bad tree bears bad fruit.
Like the tree in Silverstein's story, we can become sources of life for others when we bear the fruit of righteousness. When we are in right relationship with God through his Holy Spirit, we are deeply rooted and connected to the source of life, and we bear the fruit that reflects that life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
When we bear this fruit, we possess a wisdom that is able to save the lives of others. We become a resource in which people find life, because through us they find Jesus.
Faithful Father, help me to bear the fruit of righteousness. Grant me more of your Spirit so that I might show others the kind of fruit that points to you. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
