12月7日

標　　題：公義如雨降臨

經　　節：你們要為自己栽種公義，就能收割慈愛。現今正是尋求耶和華的時候；你們要開墾荒地，等祂臨到，使公義如雨降在你們身上。（何西阿書十章12節）

在何西阿的時代，百姓們對神的話語非常冷淡。他們早就聽過神的話千百回，並且對神的要求無動於衷。神的解決方法是衝破他們沒有生機的心田，軟化他們冷漠的心靈。當土又幹又硬的時候，農夫會犁田鬆土，好叫種子可以發芽，雨水可以為莊稼帶來生機。同樣地，神的百姓也要衝破自己生活中罪的攔阻，這些罪阻止了神的話語穿透其心田。何西阿說，神會使公義如雨降下，為他們帶來生命及更新他們。

身為基督徒，我們一定要常常澆灌自己的心思意念，好叫我們能夠接收神的話。施洗約翰告誡周圍的人，要預備耶穌的到來。我們也可以提醒其它人預備自己，好叫神的公義穿透他們，充滿他們的生命。當我們看到罪已經滲入人的生命，我們可以激勵他們悔改。我們可以分享神的話語帶給我們的喜樂，並且鼓勵朋友尋求神的旨意。我們可能成為子女們順服的榜樣，我們可以分享自己因順服而得到的祝福。我們可以幫助周圍的人突破心中的硬土。

何西阿勸神的百姓要尋求神，直到神公義的雨降臨在他們的身上。當我們的心田開始對神有冶漠的跡象，要立即耕作我們的心田。如果我們隨時預備好自己的心田，當神的話臨到時，我們會預備好的。

Raining Righteousness

Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the LORD, Till He comes and rains righteousness on you. (Hosea 10:12)

The people of Hosea’s day had become hardened to God’s Word. They had heard it many times before and had grown apathetic to what God required of them. God’s solution was for them to break up the fallow ground of their hearts. They were to allow Him to soften their hardened hearts. When the earth was dry and crusty, the farmer would plow to loosen the soil so it was receptive to the seeds and the rains that would give life to the crop. Likewise, God’s people were to break up the sinful barriers in their lives that prevented God’s Word from penetrating their hearts. Then, said Hosea, God would give life and refresh them by raining down on them in righteousness.

As Christians, we must continually cultivate our hearts and minds so that they are receptive to whatever God tells us. John the Baptist exhorted those around him to prepare for Jesus’ coming. We, too, can remind others to prepare their lives so that God’s righteousness will penetrate and fill their lives. We can urge them to repent when we see sin sinking into their lives. We can share the joy that God’s Word brings us and encourage our friends to seek God’s will also. We can model obedience for our children. We can tell of the blessings that have come to us as a result of our obedience. We can help to break up the fallow ground in the hearts of those around us.

Hosea admonished God’s people to seek the Lord until His righteousness rained down upon them. We should immediately cultivate our heart whenever it starts to become hardened toward God. If we keep our hearts prepared, we will be ready when God’s Word comes to us.