所以，你們既除去一切的惡毒（或作陰毒）、詭詐，並假善、嫉妒，和一切毀謗的話，就要愛慕那純淨的靈奶，像才生的嬰孩愛慕奶一樣，叫你們因此漸長，以致得救。 你們若嘗過主恩的滋味，就必如此。」（彼前2:1-3）
「愛慕那純淨的靈奶」又作「愛慕那純淨的話語之奶」,也就是說像喝奶的寶寶般非常渴慕聖經內神的話的滋潤，大喝一頓才安靜下來得以滿足。不是偶爾淺嘗一下，而是每日必須和首要的事情！以神的話得著餵養，吸收而長大成人，以至承受救恩，並每天經歷與神同行。
的確，人活著不是單靠食物，而是靠神口裡所出的每一句話。寶寶一天不吃奶，肚子餓壞了；人一天不禱告、不讀神的話、不與衪溝通、不穿上新人、不活像基督，我們的靈命會不進則退而凋謝啊！不要讓住在我們裡面的聖靈為我們擔憂。
在畫這幅畫的過程才了解到一些杏仁樹的知識，原來杏仁結果前是會開出白色、淺粉紅色的漂亮小花，遠遠看著似櫻花。杏仁樹並不是一長成便結果，而是待至五至十二年後才開始結果，但結果子的年日可長達25年！ 聯想到作為基督徒，也像如此。靈命長成至開花結果需用苦工，用時間，用精神，花功夫，羅馬非一日建成的。我想這也適用在成聖之路、事奉神的道路、回應呼召之路上吧。願我們在靈命上努力栽種，長年不斷增長，用耐心持之以恆，及至開花結果。開花的杏樹故然燦爛，結果的杏樹也相當茂盛，不過全盛時期最多只也有25年，始終有凋謝的一天。我們的靈命卻是可以長久生長，不斷結果子，只要靠著基督努力成長！
© 2021 關慧心Rebecca Kwan 版權所有
“Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” (1 Peter 2:1-3)
“Crave pure spiritual milk” can be translated into “desire the pure milk of the word” in the NKJ Version. We are asked to crave the word of God like little babies craving milk and would not settle down until they are satisfied. It is not to long for a drink once in a blue moon, but studying the word of God is the priority of our daily routine. Moreover, we are to absorb the nutrients from the Word, such that we act and live by it, and grow up in our salvation. Definitely, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4) A baby starves when there is no milk to drink for one day. Likewise, the Holy Spirit within us grieves when we do not pray, read the bible, maintain our connection with Him, put on our new self and live for Christ for one day. Our spiritual life would wither quickly when it does not flourish.
When I was researching for this piece, I learned that the flowers of almond trees are small pinkish white, kind of like cherry blossoms in springtime. They can take as long as 5-12 years to begin producing almonds. But once they do, they can produce for 25 year maximum!
I can somewhat relate this to being a Christian. It takes time, efforts, and energy for our spirituality to bloom, maintain and become fruitful. Rome wasn’t built in a day. I believe this also applies on the path of sanctification, answering the calling of God, and serving the Lord. It is hard work and requires perseverance, patience, endurance and sacrificial love. But the taste of the Lord is guaranteed to be good, and none of our input would be wasted. May we keep watering our spiritual plant within us, keep it growing year after year with patience, such that it would flourish and bear much fruit! A blooming almond tree is beautiful, and a almond tree with lots of produce is magnificent, but its most glorious days can only reach up to 25 years. But our spirituality can keep growing till eternity! May we all work hard and rely on Jesus to grow!
© 2021 Rebecca Kwan All rights reserved
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