2016年3月21日
陽光充足 Full Sun
读经: 以弗所書5章1-16節
Reading: Ephesians 5:1-16
行事為人就當像光明的子女。-以弗所書5章8節
Live as children of light.- Ephesians 5:8
全年读经: 約書亞記7-9章;路加福音1章21-38節
Bible in a Year: Joshua 7–9; Luke 1:21-38
我雖然知道，但仍舊不斷地嘗試。盆栽上清楚地標示著：「需要充足陽光。」所以在我家那缺乏陽光的庭院裡，並不適合栽種。但我卻喜歡這植物的顏色、葉子的形狀、大小與香味，所以我毅然買回家種植。可是，即使我費盡心思地照料，這盆栽還是長得不好。原來單靠我細心照顧是不夠的，它仍需要陽光，而那是我無法提供的。我以為只要對植物花多一點心思，就能彌補陽光不足的問題，但事實並非如此，這植物就是需要充足的陽光。
人們的成長也是如此。雖然我們在不甚理想的狀況中，仍能暫時勉強生存，卻無法健康成長。我們除了基本的生理需求之外，也有屬靈的需求，是沒有任何其他代替品可以滿足的。
聖經說基督徒是光明之子，意思是我們需時刻活在上帝同在的榮光之中，才能茁壯成長（詩篇89篇15節） 。若我們活在黑暗裡，就只會做「暗昧無益的事」（以弗所書5章3-4、11節）。耶穌是世界的光，若我們活在祂的光中，就能因祂的榮光照耀而結出良善、忠心又真實的果實。
親愛的主，謝謝祢救贖我、賜我新生命。
幫助我能活出光明之子的生命樣式。
光明之子行在主耶穌的光中。
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I know better, but I still keep trying. The instructions on the label are clear: "Needs full sun." Our yard has mostly shade. It is not suitable for plants that need full sun. But I like the plant. I like its color, the shape of the leaves, the size, the scent. So I buy it, bring it home, plant it, and take really good care of it. But the plant is not happy at my house. My care and attention are not enough. It needs sunlight, which I cannot provide. I thought I could make up for lack of light by giving the plant some other kind of attention. But it doesn't work that way. Plants need what they need.
And so do people. Although we can survive for a while in less-than-ideal conditions, we can't thrive. In addition to our basic physical needs, we also have spiritual needs that can't be met by any substitute.
Jesus invites us to be a part of His story.
Scripture says that believers are children of light. This means that we need to live in the full light of God's presence to thrive (Ps. 89:15). If we try to live in darkness, we will produce nothing but "fruitless deeds" (see Eph. 5:3-4, 11). But if we are living in the light of Jesus, the Light of the world, we will produce the fruit of His light, which is good, faithful, and true.
Dear Lord, thank You for redeeming me and giving me new life. Help me to live as a child of the Light.
Children of the Light walk in His light.