無用的樹

無用的樹
聖經閱讀：路加福音13:6-9 現代中譯本|合和本
2015年9月3日(四)

在今天閱讀的經文中，耶穌說了一個無花果樹的故事。三年來，主人期待這棵樹能長出果子，但是這棵樹並沒有結任何的無花果。這是一棵沒有用的樹，所以主人想把它砍掉。 　但是看顧這棵樹的僕人說：「主人，請再給這棵樹一年的時間去結果子吧。等我挖鬆它周圍的泥土，加上肥料。也許它明年就會結出果子」（第8b-9a節）。這個僕人很有耐心，他想要再給這棵樹一個機會來結果子。 　上帝也對我們很有耐心，這就是祂差派耶穌死在十架上、為我們的罪付上贖價的原因，這也是祂一再給我們機會悔改並請求赦免的原因。 　當你犯了罪，一定要為所犯的罪悔改，並請求上帝赦免你，而且不要忘記感謝祂賜下奇妙的愛和耐心。 —PN* 「如果我們向上帝認罪，他是信實公義的，他要赦免我們的罪，洗淨我們所犯的各種過錯。」 約翰一書1:9 禱告：上帝，謝謝?賜下?的愛、?的赦罪之恩，並且耐心對待我！奉耶穌的名，阿們！ (江惠蓉譯)

The Useless Tree
Bible Reading: Luke 13:6-9
Thursday, September 3, 2015

In our Bible Reading today, Jesus told a story about a fig tree. For three years, the owner of the tree looked for fruit. But the tree did not produce any figs. The tree was useless. So the owner wanted to cut down the tree. 　But the servant who took care of the tree said, “Master, let the tree have one more year to produce fruit. Let me dig up the dirt around it and fertilize it. Maybe the tree will have fruit on it next year” (verses 8b-9a). The servant was patient. He wanted to give the tree another chance to produce fruit. 　God is very patient with us, too. That's why He sent Jesus to die on the cross and pay the penalty for our sins. And that's why He always gives us an opportunity to repent and ask for forgiveness. 　When you sin, be sure to repent of that sin and ask God to forgive you. And don't forget to thank Him for His wonderful love and patience.—PN* “But if we confess our sins, God will forgive us. We can trust God to do this. He always does what is right. He makes us clean from all the wrong things we have done.” 1 John 1:9 PRAYER: Dear God, thank You for Your love, Your forgiveness and Your patience with me! In Jesus' name. Amen.