6月4日
標 題:心田的土質
經 節:那落在好土裡的,就是人聽了道,持守在誠實善良的心裡,並且忍耐著結實。(路加福音八章15節)
無論何時,你的心對神話語的領受程度,決定了你對神話語的回應(路加福音八:5∼18)。倘若你的心田被苦毒與不饒恕的罪所踐踏摧殘,變成硬土,你將無法由神那裡接受任何信息。雖然你聽見信息的每一個字,你仍然不會改變。倘若你的心田像磐石上的淺土,你會領受神的話語,但真理卻無法刺透你的心,你的行為仍然與過去一樣不會改變。心田像荊棘的生命,則是被世界的思慮弄昏了頭,對屬世享樂的追求使得神的話語失去影響力,以致結不出公義的果子。心田像好土的生命,則會領受神的話且實踐它,在收成的時節結出成熟的果粒。這是耶穌希望我們能夠擁有的心田,結出的果子是似基督的生命。
任何時候,不管是讀經、禱告或敬拜,當你聽到神的話,你的反應取決於你如何開墾自己的心田(何西阿書十:12)。你如何開墾你的心田,讓它像塊好土呢?為那些使你硬心的任何苦毒、憤怒與不饒恕而悔改。默想神的話,直到它深深地進入你的內心,而不只是進入你的意志而已。當你讀到或聽見神的話語,要應用到你的生活上,讓神使祂的話語化為你生活的實際行動(加拉太書六:9)。謹守你的生活方式,不要把你的精力都放在追求屬世的思慮,卻不去追求你與神之間的關係。你的心田土質如何,取決於你如何去開墾它。如果它昨天領受神的話,並不保證今天它還會領受神的話。每日當預備好自己的心田,好接收神賜予你的話語!
The Condition of
the Heart
But the ones
that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble
and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience. (Luke 8:15)
At any time, the receptiveness of your heart will determine your
response to God's word (Luke 8:5–18). If your heart is like the trampled ground,
hardened by the sin of bitterness and unforgiveness, you will be unable to
accept a message from God. Though you hear the words of the message, you will
remain unchanged. If your heart is like the shallow soil on top of a rock, you
will accept God's word in your mind, but the truth will not penetrate your
heart to make a difference in your actions. A heart like thorny soil is a life
that is distracted by the cares of the world; the pursuit of earthly pleasures
prevents God's word from taking hold and producing righteousness. The heart
that is like good soil receives a word from God, applies it, and brings forth
fruit in due time. This is the heart that Jesus desires in us, for the fruit
will be a Christlike life.
Any time you hear a word from God, whether through Bible reading,
prayer, or worship, the way you respond will depend on how you have cultivated
your heart (Hos. 10:12). How do you develop a heart that is like good soil?
Repent of any bitterness, anger, or unforgiveness that is hardening your heart.
Meditate on God's word until it enters deep into your heart and not just your
mind. When you read or hear a word from God, apply it to your life and let God
bring His word into reality in your life (Gal. 6:9). Protect your lifestyle.
See that you don't devote all of your energy to worldly concerns, rather than
to pursuing your relationship with God. The condition of your heart will vary,
depending on how you cultivate it. If it was receptive to a word from God yesterday,
this does not guarantee it is receptive today. Daily prepare your heart for the
word God has for you!