九月八日

你的果子從我而得。（何14：8）

我們的果子從神而得，因他與我們有聯繫。枝上的果子在于根，斷開了它們的連結，枝子就枯乾，果子也結不出了。因爲我們與基督聯合爲一，所以我們才結出果子來。每一挂葡萄的汁水都是來自根，經過幹，輸入枝，于是就結成了果子，但它先經過幹；因此一切善工都先在基督裏，以後才傳到我們裏面。基督徒呀！要寶貴與基督和而爲一的關係，因爲這是你得果子的唯一來源。若你不連于耶穌基督，你就必成爲光禿的枝子。

我們的果子從神而得，因他養育我們的靈性。霞自天而降，雲浮于高空，傾下豐雨，日光使果子長大，屬天的恩惠都對樹說：“你的果子從我而得。”果子虧得有根——根對于果子有很大的貢獻——但也虧得外界的一切影響力。我們也多虧得神恩的眷佑！他常常蘇醒我們，教訓我們，安慰我們，加力量給我們，幷供給我們一切的需要。我們一切的功用和美德都在于此。

我們的果子從神而得，因他是一位聰明的栽培者。園丁鋒利的刀割去瘦小的果子，截去無用的枝子，使樹結的果子更好更多。基督徒也是這樣，神也要修理你。“我父是栽培的人。凡屬我不結果子的枝子，他就剪去；凡結果子的，他就修理乾淨，使枝子結果子更多。”既然我們一切屬靈的佳果都是從神來的，就當把我們一切救恩的榮耀歸于他。

September 8

"From Me is thy fruit found." -- Hosea 14:8

Our fruit is found from our God as to union. The fruit of the branch is directly traceable to the root. Sever the connection, the branch dies, and no fruit is produced. By virtue of our union with Christ we bring forth fruit. Every bunch of grapes have been first in the root, it has passed through the stem, and flowed through the sap vessels, and fashioned itself externally into fruit, but it was first in the stem; so also every good work was first in Christ, and then is brought forth in us. O Christian, prize this precious union to Christ; for it must be the source of all the fruitfulness which thou canst hope to know. If thou wert not joined to Jesus Christ, thou wouldst be a barren bough indeed.

Our fruit comes from God as to spiritual providence. When the dew-drops fall from heaven, when the cloud looks down from on high, and is about to distil its liquid treasure, when the bright sun swells the berries of the cluster, each heavenly boon may whisper to the tree and say, "From me is thy fruit found." The fruit owes much to the root--that is essential to fruitfulness--but it owes very much also to external influences. How much we owe to God's grace-providence! in which He provides us constantly with quickening, teaching, consolation, strength, or whatever else we want. To this we owe our all of usefulness or virtue.

Our fruit comes from God as to wise husbandry. The gardener's sharp-edged knife promotes the fruitfulness of the tree, by thinning the clusters, and by cutting off superfluous shoots. So is it, Christian, with that pruning which the Lord gives to thee. "My Father is the husbandman. Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away; and every branch that beareth fruit He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit." Since our God is the author of our spiritual graces, let us give to Him all the glory of our salvation.