Seeds of Faith 信心的种子
Dexu Xia
Always be prepared to give an answer . . . for the hope that you have. 1 Peter 3:15
Last spring, the night before our lawn was to be aerated, a violent windstorm blew the seeds off our maple tree in one fell swoop. So when the aerating machine broke up the compacted soil by pulling small “cores” out of the ground, it planted hundreds of maple seeds in my yard. Just two short weeks later, I had the beginnings of a maple forest growing up through my lawn!
As I (frustratedly) surveyed the misplaced foliage, I was struck by the prolific abundance of new life a single tree had spawned. Each of the miniature trees became a picture for me of the new life in Christ that I—as merely one person—can share with others. We each will have countless opportunities to “give the reason for the hope that [we] have” (1 Peter 3:15) in the course of our lives.
When we “suffer for what is right” with the hope of Jesus (v. 14), it’s visible to those around us and might just become a point of curiosity to those who don’t yet know God personally. If we’re ready when they ask, then we may share the seed through which God brings forth new life. We don’t have to share it with everyone all at once—in some kind of spiritual windstorm. Rather, we gently and respectfully drop the seed of faith into a heart ready to receive it.
By: Kirsten Holmberg
Who in your life is sharing or asking about the reason for your hope? What will you share with them?
Jesus, thank You for growing the seed of faith in my life. Help me to share the reason for my hope—You—with those who ask and may they grow in their love for You.
有人问你们心中盼望的缘由，就要常作准备。—彼得前书3章15节
去年春天，我们的草坪因为土壤过于紧实，透水性差，需要打孔通气。在进行草坪养护的前一天晚上，一场暴风雨把我们枫树上的种子全吹落了下来。因此在第二天，当草皮通风机在地上打孔，捣碎硬化的土壤时，也同时在我的院子里种下了数百颗枫树种子。短短两周之后，在我的草坪上长出了一大片枫树苗！
当我泄气地看着这些长错地方的小树苗时，不禁对一棵枫树能孕育如此多的新生命而感到震惊。这些小树苗也不由得让我联想到在基督里的新生命，我虽然只是一个人，却可以和许多人分享福音。在我们的一生中，我们每个人都有无数的机会向人说明我们“心中盼望的缘由”（彼得前书3章15节）。
当我们“为义受苦”却仍对耶稣心存盼望时（14节），我们周围的人都会看到，而那些还没认识上帝的人可能会因此感到好奇。如果我们在他们询问时准备好了，那么我们就可以与他们分享上帝的福音，撒下带来新生命的种子。我们不必像属灵风暴般地一次把种子全撒了出去，相反地，我们可以温和而谦恭地，把信心的种子分别撒在已准备好接受福音的心田里。
作者： 洪可婷
有谁曾与你分享或询问你心中盼望的缘由？你会和他们分享什么？
其实每个人都知道上帝存在，晓得祂的大能和公义。
耶稣，感谢祢在我生命中播下信心的种子。求祢帮助我能与人分享祢就是我盼望的缘由，使他们能认识祢，生命成长且愈发地爱祢。