2月1日

標 題：深根栽種

經 節：不從惡人的計謀，不站罪人的道路，不坐褻慢人的座位，惟喜愛耶和華的律法，晝夜思想，這人便為有福！他要像一棵樹栽在溪水旁，按時候結果子，葉子也不枯乾。凡他所做的盡都順利。（詩篇一篇1∼3節）

你可能窮此一生追求神的真理，卻從未經歷任何神的真理。僅僅擁有神的真理知識，並不代表這些真理已經成為你生命的一部分。這裡有個重要的問題值得我們思考，就是你以甚麼態度面對神的話語？有些人受世俗觀念所左右，以至於神的話語對他們毫無影響力。倘若你聽從不信者的忠告，你會發現自己遠離神命令的指針。如果你們硬要與罪人為伴，他們會帶你走入歧路，使你遠離神。如果你選擇與好譏誚者結夥，最終你會變得憤世嫉俗。義人被神的話語鼓舞；他們對其他人的話毫無所動。經文表面的知識不能滿足他們。他們晝夜思想神的話語，直到神的話語成為自己個人的經歷。就像一棵果樹，深根栽在溪水旁。這棵樹營養充足，多結果子，並且枝葉茂盛。人們遠道而來，坐在它的樹蔭下，享受它的果子。如果你願意將神的話語應用在自己的生活中，其他人會因你而得激勵。你愈有神的公義，你就愈強壯。有些人徒勞無功地找尋能鼓舞自己的人事物，義人卻不是如此。人們會像潮流一般不斷地找你，因為他們知道你的生命是個祝福。

Firmly Planted

Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. (Psalms 1:1-3)

It is possible to spend your whole life knowing about the truths of God and never experiencing any of them. Simply knowing about the truths of God does not mean that they have become a part of your life. Here is the important question: What are you doing with the word of God? Some people allow themselves to come under the influence of ungodly thinking to the point that God’s Word makes no difference to them. If you seek your counsel from ungodly persons, you will find yourself moving away from the direction God’s Word commands. If you intentionally seek out sinners as your companions, they will lead you down paths that take you far from God. If you choose to join those who are scornful, you will eventually become cynical.

The righteous man does not find encouragement in the opinions of others but in God’s Word. He is not content with a surface knowledge of Scripture but meditates on it day and night until he is satisfied that what he reads reflects his own experience. He becomes like a fruit tree standing firmly on the bank of the river. The tree is well nourished and produces delicious fruit and bountiful leaves. People come from miles around to sit in its shade and eat its fruit.

If you allow God to implement His Word in your life, others will draw encouragement from you. The more you grow in God’s righteousness, the stronger you will become. Some people would look in vain to find anyone they were encouraging, but not so the righteous person. A constant stream of people will seek you out because they know that your life will be a blessing.