2月2日
标 题：生命的四季
经 节：凡事都有定期，天下万务都有定时。（传道书三章1节）
四季虽然各有其特色，但整个四季却带来了活泼的生气──这是神所设计的四季最美之处。春天是一段清新与新生命的时期；夏天是成长与多产的季节；秋天是收割过去劳苦收成的时刻；冬天是冬眠与终结的时节。每个季节都有它独特之美，每个季节对生命都有其重要的贡献。诚如神设计大自然的四季，祂也为人类设计了生命的四季。春天的生命是开始一份新的工作，并且兴奋地期待未来的时刻。夏天是我们冒着白天的暑气，辛勤耕耘做神所指定的工。秋天来临，是收割早期人生成就的时刻。冬天则为人生某段特别的时刻，谱下休止符。冬天有时会带来苦难，但我们仍旧怀抱希望，因为另一个春天正在转角等着呢！神对我们有完美生命的计画。祂设计结实累累、充满生气的时期，也设立安静、休憩的时期。祂有时会要求我们日复一日，忠实地做同一件事情。然而，我们有时也会兴奋地着手展开新的事务。我们因着神的恩典，能享受自己辛勤劳苦的果实；也因着神的恩典，能克服痛心疾首的寒冷冬季。没有冬季就没有春季的到来。正如同大自然的四季，生命的四季为我们每一个人带来神完美的旨意。
Life’s Seasons
To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:1)
The beauty in the way God designed the four seasons is that, though each one is distinct, they all work together to bring life and growth. Spring is a period of freshness and new life. Summer sees growth and productivity. Autumn is a time for harvesting the rewards of past labors. Winter is the season of dormancy and closure. Each season has its own unique beauty and makes a significant contribution to life.
Just as God planned seasons in nature, He planned seasons in life as well. Life has its springtime, when we begin new things and look excitedly toward the future. Summer comes and we work diligently in the heat of the day at all that God has assigned to us. With autumn comes the fruition of things begun at an earlier time in our lives. Winter brings an end to a particular period in our lives. Sometimes winter brings hardship, but we remain hopeful, for another spring is just around the corner!
In God’s perfect design for our lives, He has planned for times of fruitfulness and activity. He will also build in times of quiet and rest. There will be times when He asks us to remain faithful doing the same work day after day. But there will also be periods of excitement and new beginnings. By God’s grace, we will enjoy seasons of harvesting the fruit of our faithfulness. By God’s grace we will also overcome the cold winters of heartache and grief, for without winter there would be no spring. Just as it is with the seasons of nature, these seasons in our lives work together to bring about God’s perfect will for each one of us.
