日头照好人，也照歹人
在晚春明媚而炎热的天气过后，我们很高兴迎来了一场雨，因为我们园子里的小幼苗已经开始枯萎了。园内的喷水器虽然有些帮助，但任何种植的人都知道，没有什么比天上降下的雨水更好了。因此，我们很感恩天父降下一场滂沱大雨。
我们每个人都得到雨水的祝福——哪怕是那些只相信“大自然”、而不相信也不感激父神降雨水之福给他们的人。有时我会对此感到纳闷，也许你也会。我和妻子总是尽力教导孩子们在收到礼物时说“谢谢”。 (如果他们没有表达感谢，我很想下次就不给他们礼物了。)
我们今天引用的经文，在神学上已经被争论了数百年。而神的园子中的这一课，说明天父的供应会赐给所有不配的儿女，包括“好人和歹人”。不但如此，这一课有更深入的教导。那就是，凡向神心怀感恩的儿女，要向叛徒、骗子、及逼迫者这等“仇敌”显出属天的爱来。
对于这项爱的功课，我建议你以祷告开始一天，求问神如何使你将祂的温情和良善带进朋友和仇敌的生命中。并在这一天中，祈求神使你所有的邻舍，都能透过圣子耶稣来认识祂。
天父啊，我为着阳光雨露感谢祢。当我接受祢的礼物时，求祢提醒我，这些礼物都是我要与他人分享，使之能彰显祢完全的爱的。奉耶稣的名祷告，阿们。
马太福音 5:43-48
43“你们听见有话说：‘当爱你的邻舍，恨你的仇敌。’
44只是我告诉你们，要爱你们的仇敌，为那逼迫你们的祷告。
45这样就可以作你们天父的儿子；因为他叫日头照好人，也照歹人；降雨给义人，也给不义的人。
46你们若单爱那爱你们的人，有什么赏赐呢？就是税吏不也是这样行吗？
47你们若单请你弟兄的安，比人有什么长处呢？就是外邦人不也是这样行吗？
48所以，你们要完全，像你们的天父完全一样。”
Sun, Rain, And Love For Everyone
"He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." — Matthew 5:45
We welcomed the rain after the first sunny, hot days of late spring. The tender young plants in our garden had begun to wilt. Sprinkling had helped, but as any gardener knows, there's nothing like rain from the heavens. So we were grateful for the soaking rain from our heavenly Father.
Everyone around us received rain—even people who speak of "Mother Nature" or express no gratitude to the Father for raining his blessings on them. I sometimes wonder about this. Maybe you do too. My wife and I did our best to teach our children to say thank you for the gifts they received. (When they did not give thanks, I was tempted to withhold gifts the next time around.)
Our verse for today has been quoted across the centuries in theological debates. This lesson from God's garden demonstrates the heavenly Father's providence to all his undeserving children—"the evil and the good." And the lesson goes further. God's grateful children are to show heavenly love to "enemies" such as betrayers, cheats, and persecutors.
For this work of love, I recommend beginning the day with prayer for how you can shine God's warmth and goodness into the lives of friends and enemies alike. And throughout the day, pray that all your neighbors will come to know the Father through Jesus, the Son.
Father in heaven, thank you for sunshine and rain. As I receive your gifts, remind me that they are for sharing and reflecting your perfect love with others. In Jesus, Amen.
诵读: 孙大中
片头: 张妙阳
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