神是园丁
我对植物认识不多，但我可以想象一棵葡萄树被修剪的过程是很痛苦的。我也想象到，如果我是一棵植物，亦会因为园丁没有征求或得到我的同意，便砍伐我某些部份而感到沮丧。
但深想一层，园丁修剪植物不是出于愤怒或沮丧。他们修剪是希望植物能生长得更健壮，可以结好果子。园丁能看到植物的远景，但植物本身只能「看到」眼前的事。若明白这一点，便会觉得耶稣所说的话有道理。
神修剪我们，是要除去我们中间长得太大和不结果的部份。这意味着我们要放弃生活上的一些舒适，才能清除我们生命中某些会构成问题的干扰。尽管在修剪的过程中会受些痛苦，但我们却可以看清楚自己是谁，以及神对我们的计划。
无论在被修剪的过程中受到甚么苦，目的都是要把我们的心思意念和心灵，改变成为神希望看到的。因为神要我们的果子成长，以至有一天，我们可以与别人分享这果子，藉此彰显我们的主，最伟大的园丁的善良和荣耀。
祷告
温柔的神，感谢祢今天在我们生命上作出的修剪。我们可能不喜欢被修剪，但我们需要把我们的将来交托给祢。奉耶稣名求，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。
God, the Gardener
“He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” - John 15:2
I don’t know much about plants, but I imagine it might be painful for a vine to go through the pruning process. I also imagine that if I were a plant, I might get frustrated with the gardener for lopping off parts of me without asking for my opinion or permission.
Thinking about it a little more, gardeners don’t prune out of anger or frustration. They prune because they want the plant to grow healthier and stronger so that it can bear good fruit. The gardener sees the overall vision of the plant, while the plant can only “see” what’s right in front of them. With that in mind, Jesus’ words here make good sense.
Pruning is the way God removes parts of us that are overgrown and not producing. It may mean we have to let go of some comforts, and doing that can remove troublesome distractions in our life. Through pruning we are able to see more clearly who we are and what God has in mind for us, even if that means enduring some pain along the way.
Whatever might pain us in the pruning process, it’s the transforming of our heart, mind, and soul that God wants to see, because he wants our fruit to grow—fruit that one day we will be able to share with others for the goodness and glory of our Lord, the master gardener.
Gentle God, thank you for the pruning you are doing in our lives today. We may not like it, but we need to trust you with our future. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
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