【双语灵修】我是枝子I AM A BRANCH

约翰福音 15:1-8

“我是真葡萄树，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，他就修理乾净，使枝子结果子更多。现在你们因我讲给你们的道，已经乾净了。你们要常在我里面，我也常在你们里面。枝子若不常在葡萄树上，自己就不能结果子；你们若不常在我里面，也是这样。我是葡萄树，你们是枝子。常在我里面的，我也常在他里面，这人就多结果子；因为离了我，你们就不能做什么。人若不常在我里面，就像枝子丢在外面枯乾，人拾起来扔在火里烧了。你们若常在我里面，我的话也常在你们里面，凡你们所愿意的，祈求，就给你们成就。你们多结果子，我父就因此得荣耀，你们也就是我的门徒了。

5月19日

我是枝子

“我是葡萄树，你们是枝子。常在我里面的，我也常在他里面，这人就多结果子；因为离了我，你们就不能做甚么。” - 约 15:5

你有没有见过树木被大风暴摧毁的景象呢？支离破碎的枝子往往散落在地上，有些更落在房屋和汽车上，造成了更严重的毁坏。那些枝子通常都仍然挂着健康的树叶和果子，不过我们知道它们很快便会枯萎了。当枝子与树干分开后，它便失去生机。它失去了生命之源，它的叶子会枯干而死，而它的果子也会腐烂。

在《约翰福音》第十五章中，耶稣也表达了同样的信息。衪说：“我是葡萄树，你们是枝子。”衪帮助我们看到，我们若离开衪——那棵真葡萄树——我们便没有衪的灵在我们里面了。或许我们暂时看来仍有生命力，但单靠自己，我们却缺少了属灵生命、健康和结果子的能力了。惟有常常依附着耶稣，我们才能够结出不毁坏的属灵果子。

藤蔓植物（例如葡萄树）的主要作用是结果子。身为跟随耶稣的人，结果子乃是我们生命目标的总纲。事实上，耶稣解释说，不结果的枝子便会被剪掉。然而，既有祂的灵活在我们里面，我们便能够结出果子，例如仁爱、喜乐、和平、忍耐、恩慈、良善、信实、温柔、和节制（参看加拉太书 5:22-23）。这就是我们的呼召。

祷告

圣灵啊，求你借着你赐生命的能力，在我们生命中结出属灵的果子。惟愿你的荣耀发出亮光，好叫别人能因我们生命中结出的果子得益。奉耶稣的名祈求，阿们。

John 15:1-8

MONDAY, MAY 19

I AM A BRANCH

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” — John 15:5

Have you ever seen the damage to trees after a heavy windstorm? Limbs and branches are often strewn about the landscape, and some land on houses and cars, causing even more damage. Often those branches still have healthy-looking leaves and fruit, but we know they will soon die. When a branch is severed from the main trunk, its vitality is lost. Its lifeline is gone. Its leaves will wither and die, and its fruit will decay.

Jesus conveys a similar message in John 15, saying, “I am the vine; you are the branches.” He helps us to see that if we break away from him—the true vine—we will not have his spiritual life in us. Though we may appear vibrant for a while, we will lack the capacity to produce spiritual life, health, or fruit on our own. Only if we stay connected to Jesus can we bear spiritual fruit that endures.

The main function of a vine such as a grapevine is to bear fruit. And fruit-bearing sums up our purpose as followers of Jesus. In fact, Jesus explains that every branch that bears no fruit will be cut off. But with his Spirit living in us, we will yield fruit such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (see Galatians 5:22-23). This is our calling.

Holy Spirit, by your life-giving power, produce a crop of spiritual fruit in our lives. May your glory shine forth, and may others be enriched by the fruits of our lives. In Jesus, Amen.