九月八日
你的果子从我而得。（何14：8）
我们的果子从神而得，因他与我们有联系。枝上的果子在于根，断开了它们的连结，枝子就枯干，果子也结不出了。因爲我们与基督联合爲一，所以我们才结出果子来。每一挂葡萄的汁水都是来自根，经过干，输入枝，于是就结成了果子，但它先经过干；因此一切善工都先在基督里，以后才传到我们里面。基督徒呀！要宝贵与基督和而爲一的关系，因爲这是你得果子的唯一来源。若你不连于耶稣基督，你就必成爲光秃的枝子。
我们的果子从神而得，因他养育我们的灵性。霞自天而降，云浮于高空，倾下丰雨，日光使果子长大，属天的恩惠都对树说：“你的果子从我而得。”果子亏得有根——根对于果子有很大的贡献——但也亏得外界的一切影响力。我们也多亏得神恩的眷佑！他常常苏醒我们，教训我们，安慰我们，加力量给我们，幷供给我们一切的需要。我们一切的功用和美德都在于此。
我们的果子从神而得，因他是一位聪明的栽培者。园丁锋利的刀割去瘦小的果子，截去无用的枝子，使树结的果子更好更多。基督徒也是这样，神也要修理你。“我父是栽培的人。凡属我不结果子的枝子，他就剪去；凡结果子的，他就修理干净，使枝子结果子更多。”既然我们一切属灵的佳果都是从神来的，就当把我们一切救恩的荣耀归于他。
September
8
“From
Me is thy fruit found.” — Hosea 14:8
Our fruit is found from our God as to
union. The fruit of the branch is directly traceable to the root. Sever the
connection, the branch dies, and no fruit is produced. By virtue of our union
with Christ we bring forth fruit. Every bunch of grapes have been first in the
root, it has passed through the stem, and flowed through the sap vessels, and
fashioned itself externally into fruit, but it was first in the stem; so also
every good work was first in Christ, and then is brought forth in us. O
Christian, prize this precious union to Christ; for it must be the source of
all the fruitfulness which thou canst hope to know. If thou wert not joined to
Jesus Christ, thou wouldst be a barren bough indeed.
Our fruit comes from God as to spiritual
providence. When the dew-drops fall from heaven, when the cloud looks down from
on high, and is about to distil its liquid treasure, when the bright sun swells
the berries of the cluster, each heavenly boon may whisper to the tree and say,
“From me is thy fruit found.” The fruit owes much to the root–that
is essential to fruitfulness–but it owes very much also to external
influences. How much we owe to God’s grace-providence! in which He provides us
constantly with quickening, teaching, consolation, strength, or whatever else
we want. To this we owe our all of usefulness or virtue.
Our fruit comes from God as to wise husbandry. The gardener’s
sharp-edged knife promotes the fruitfulness of the tree, by thinning the
clusters, and by cutting off superfluous shoots. So is it, Christian, with that
pruning which the Lord gives to thee. “My Father is the husbandman. Every
branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away; and every branch that
beareth fruit He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” Since
our God is the author of our spiritual graces, let us give to Him all the glory
of our salvation.
