我们如何成长
我并不敢夸口我对园艺的兴趣和能力——尤其是我生长在一个并不怎么种植的家庭里。然而我倒记得自己对祖父母的菜园极感兴趣。而当我还是个笨手笨脚的少年时，我第一份工作，便是在姑姑海伦的巨型园林作助手。
随着历年经验的积累，我对园艺的兴趣愈发浓厚。但我想其中的原因更是，我们的创造主和救赎主耶稣，对万物的生长，是一位极富洞见的观察者。在祂的教导中，祂常使用自然界的例子来阐明要点。
当耶稣坐在山坡上，教导那些善变的门徒和精力涣散的群众时，祂敏锐的目光落在附近绚丽的野花上。想到它们，耶稣马上说出一个惊人的道理，从而带出一个简易精深的人生功课。在神的园子中，烦躁乏味的工作不仅不必要，反而适得其反地羞辱了慈爱的造物主，就像打在祂脸上的一记耳光。既然神能为自然万物添上这无比的华丽，难道祂会不顾念你吗？
这个月，我们将遵循耶稣的教诲，来思想我们在神的园中如何成长和被塑造。尽管你可能在现实的生活中没有任何园林的经验，然而生命的荣美却是扎根在我们灵魂深处，这灵魂需要在主里找到它们的归宿。
造物的君王啊，当我与祢同行来思想神的园林时，求祢开启我的眼睛，看见祢丰盛的生命祝福。奉耶稣的名求，阿们。
路加福音 12:22-31
22耶稣又对门徒说：“所以我告诉你们，不要为生命忧虑吃什么，为身体忧虑穿什么；
23因为生命胜于饮食，身体胜于衣裳。
24你想乌鸦，也不种也不收，又没有仓又没有库，神尚且养活它。你们比飞鸟是何等地贵重呢！
25你们哪一个能用思虑使寿数多加一刻呢？
26这最小的事，你们尚且不能做，为什么还忧虑其余的事呢？
27你想百合花怎么长起来；它也不劳苦，也不纺线。然而我告诉你们，就是所罗门极荣华的时候，他所穿戴的，还不如这花一朵呢！
28你们这小信的人哪，野地里的草今天还在，明天就丢在炉里，神还给它这样的妆饰，何况你们呢！
29你们不要求吃什么，喝什么，也不要挂心；
30这都是外邦人所求的。你们必须用这些东西，你们的父是知道的。
31你们只要求他的国，这些东西就必加给你们了。
Consider How We Grow
"Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these." — Luke 12:27
My interest and ability in gardening is only mildly remarkable—especially considering I grew up in a family that did not garden. I do remember showing a keen interest in my grandparents' garden. And one of my first jobs as a bumbling teen was to help my Aunt Helen in her gargantuan garden.
My interest in gardening grew gradually with experience over the years. But I think my interest goes deeper because Jesus, our Creator and Savior, is a most insightful observer of how his creation grows. He uses examples from nature to make important points in his teaching.
As Jesus sits on a mountainside teaching his fickle followers and the distractible crowd, his sharp eyes light on the splendor of nearby wild flowers. Considering them, Jesus makes a stunning comparison that produces a simple and profound life lesson. In God's garden, fretting and wearisome work are not only unnecessary but are actually a counter-productive insult flung in the face of our caring Creator. If God renders such beauty from nature, will he not care for you?
This month, we'll follow Jesus' counsel to "consider" how we grow and are being formed in God's garden. Although you may not feel at home in an actual garden, the beauty and glory of life have deep roots in our souls, which need to find their home in the Lord.
King of Creation, as I walk with you to consider God's garden, open my eyes to your abundant blessings of life. Amen.
诵读: 孙大中
片头: 张妙阳
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