種子的奧秘

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種子的奧秘


馬可福音 4:26-29
「黑夜睡覺,白日起來,這種就發芽漸長,那人卻不曉得如何這樣。」 - 可 4:27

  我和妻子種過各式各樣的蔬菜:一排一排的豆角和水蘿蔔,一堆一堆的西葫蘆和南瓜。種植的方法雖多,卻沒有一樣能解釋種子發芽生長這個微妙的奧秘。當然,如今對於種子發芽和嫩苗生長都有一些科學的解釋,但每一個解釋,都在我心裏增添一份對神的敬畏。

  我們孩子還小的時候,很喜歡讀艾諾·洛貝爾的《青蛙與蟾蜍》系列叢書。其中最喜歡的一個是蟾蜍種植花園的故事。一兩天之後,它就開始發愁種子是否還能發芽長大。所以它就唱歌給種子聽,整晚陪著它們 (恐怕它們怕黑) ,甚至對著它們尖叫和哭泣。最後蟾蜍精疲力盡地睡著了。當它醒來的時候,看到種子已經發芽了,才大大地鬆了一口氣。

  有很多次,在神的教會及國度中作工時,我也像這個蟾蜍一樣,行動和感受仿佛就只能靠我自己。然而,正如耶穌在祂的比喻中告訴我們的,神的園子從發芽到收割都是「出於自然的」。這其中有太多奧秘的成分。誠然我們需要盡我們的責任——播種、澆水、護理、收割——但我們不能使種子生長。那是神恩典的工作。我們可以盡情為自己在神的國度裏所貢獻的一小部分,歡喜快樂!

禱告

親愛的神,感謝祢賜下種子這個禮物和奧秘。求祢幫助我,謙卑地盡自己工作和祈禱的本分,並為自己裏面及周圍的成長來倚靠祢。奉耶穌的名禱告。阿們。


馬可福音 4:26-29

26又說:「神的國如同人把種撒在地上。
27黑夜睡覺,白日起來,這種就發芽漸長,那人卻不曉得如何這樣。
28地生五穀是出於自然的:先發苗,後長穗,再後穗上結成飽滿的子粒;
29穀既熟了,就用鐮刀去割,因為收成的時候到了。」

种子的奥秘


马可福音 4:26-29
“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。” - 可 4:27

  我和妻子种过各式各样的蔬菜:一排一排的豆角和水萝卜,一堆一堆的西葫芦和南瓜。种植的方法虽多,却没有一样能解释种子发芽生长这个微妙的奥秘。当然,如今对于种子发芽和嫩苗生长都有一些科学的解释,但每一个解释,都在我心里增添一份对神的敬畏。

  我们孩子还小的时候,很喜欢读艾诺·洛贝尔的《青蛙与蟾蜍》系列丛书。其中最喜欢的一个是蟾蜍种植花园的故事。一两天之后,它就开始发愁种子是否还能发芽长大。所以它就唱歌给种子听,整晚陪着它们 (恐怕它们怕黑) ,甚至对着它们尖叫和哭泣。最后蟾蜍精疲力尽地睡着了。当它醒来的时候,看到种子已经发芽了,才大大地松了一口气。

  有很多次,在神的教会及国度中作工时,我也像这个蟾蜍一样,行动和感受仿佛就只能靠我自己。然而,正如耶稣在祂的比喻中告诉我们的,神的园子从发芽到收割都是“出于自然的”。这其中有太多奥秘的成分。诚然我们需要尽我们的责任——播种、浇水、护理、收割——但我们不能使种子生长。那是神恩典的工作。我们可以尽情为自己在神的国度里所贡献的一小部分,欢喜快乐!

祷告

亲爱的神,感谢祢赐下种子这个礼物和奥秘。求祢帮助我,谦卑地尽自己工作和祈祷的本分,并为自己里面及周围的成长来倚靠祢。奉耶稣的名祷告。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。”

The Mystery Of Seeds


Mark 4:26-29
"Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how." — Mark 4:27

My wife and I plant a variety of seeds—beans and radishes in rows, zucchini and squash in mounds. These methods make the sprouting and growing of seeds no less of a mystery. Surely there is a scientific explanation today for the sprouting of seeds and the growth of tender shoots, and that will only increase my awe.

When our children were young, we enjoyed reading the stories of Frog and Toad Together by Arnold Lobel. One favorite was the tale of Toad planting a garden. After a day or two he began to fret about whether his seeds would ever sprout and grow. So he sang to them, stayed up with them all night (in case they were afraid of the dark), and even screamed at them and wept over them. Exhausted, Toad finally fell asleep. When he awoke, he saw to his great relief that the seeds had sprouted.

Too often, I am like Toad when working in Jesus' church and God's kingdom. I act and feel as if it all depends on me. As Jesus tells us in his parable, however, God's garden grows from seed to harvest "all by itself." So much of this is a mystery. We need to do our part—sow the seed, water, tend the garden, and reap the harvest—but we do not make the seed grow. That happens by God's gracious work. We can simply delight in doing our small part in growing the kingdom.

Prayer

Dear God, thanks for the gift and mystery of seeds. Help me to humbly do my part in work and prayer and to rely on you for growth in and around me. In Jesus I pray. Amen.