Manna issue 81 - Editorial 編輯的話
The Soil and the Seed of God’s Plan
神計劃的土壤和種子
by Marian Shek
譯：朋童
In the temperate regions of the world, autumn is a time of transition.
As the air chills, the leaves turn to gold and fall from the trees.
Animals begin to store food, or fatten themselves up, ready for hibernation.
In times past, many cultures would store provisions to see them through the lean winter months,
so a bountiful autumn harvest was crucial to their preparations.
在世界上的溫帶地區,秋天是轉變的時間。
在寒冷的空氣,葉子變成金黃色並從樹上落下。
動物們準備要儲存食物,或養肥他們自己,準備冬眠。
在過去的時間,許多文化會存糧,看他們能不能通過這貧乏的冬天,
所以秋季有豐盛收成是很重要。
In Palestine, autumn is the time of the early rain—showers which soften the ground after the dry and arid summer.
This prepares the soil so that farmers can plough and sow their fields. If there is no early rain, the ground would be
unable to absorb any heavy deluges. Once the seed is planted, the farmer only has to wait patiently for springtime,
when the crops will grow. Rather than a darkening time of approaching hardship, autumn is in fact a time of hope
and preparation for the future.
在巴勒斯坦,秋天是下早雨的時間—夏天氣候較乾燥把雨會下在草地上軟化它。
這讓土壤準備好，可以讓那些農民耕地和種植物在他們的土地上。
假使這裡沒有早雨,草地將不能承受嚴重的洪水。
一但種子種下,農民只要耐心等待春天,直到作物長大。
秋天事實上是希望和準備未來的時間，而不是逐漸灰暗，漸漸接近堅苦的冬季來到。
Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the
earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. (Jas 5:7)
The writers of the Bible saw the giving of rain as a sign of God’s faithfulness and providence. In spiritual terms, the
autumn showers point to the depth of God’s love and grace in that He has already prepared the ground for the
salvation of His elect.
因此要有耐心,弟兄們,直到主再來。
看看那些農民耐心等待地球上的珍貴水果 ,耐心等待直到它接受早期的春雨。(雅 5:7)
聖經的作者認為看雨是神的信實，及神對萬物的預備。
若以屬靈的說法,秋天的陣雨指向神的愛和恩典的深度,他已經為了拯救他的選民而準備好的地土。
The roots of God’s salvation plan, planted before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4), is seeded throughout the
history and prophecies of the Old Testament. Without fail, many of these promises have blossomed and borne fruit in
the events of the New Testament and in the end time. The rest will surely come to pass—all we need to do is trust
God’s word, and ensure that our faith is built on the foundation laid by Christ.
神的拯救計劃的根基,在世界有基礎之前就立定了(弗 1：4)在舊約的歷史和預言之中，種下了這個種子。
應許一個也沒有失敗，許多這樣的承諾已經開花結果了，並且在新約及末後的日子的許多事件中結出果子來。
剩下的將會一一實現—我們所要作的，就是要相信主的話,保證我們的信仰是在基督所建立的基礎之上。
This is why, as this issue’s theme article “Late Autumn Trees Without Fruit” warns, we should beware of apostates
who would spread the disease of heresy, sowing doubt in God’s words and causing disunity throughout God’s vineyard,
the church.
這就是為什麼，作本期的主題文章<晚秋的樹上沒有果子>，
要警告,我們要小心那些離教者，所傳的異端的瘟疫,在神的話植入一些讓人懷疑的問題，導致神的葡萄園變的不團結。
Everything laid down in the Old Testament was written for our learning (Rom 15:4). Part one of “The Dwelling
Place Where God Has Chosen to Establish His Name” looks at Shiloh, which was the first center of worship for Israel,
and sees in it the significance of finding the one church with God’s presence. This, and many other articles in this issue,
highlights how Old Testament examples resonate with our lives today, outlining teachings which are so pertinent for
God’s chosen people.
每個寫在舊約的事情，都可以讓我們學習(羅 15:4)。
第一篇文章<主要選擇在何處建立祂的名>是要探討示羅,這是第一個以色列崇拜的中心,
從從其中得出，能找一間有真神同在的教會，其重要性。
這篇文章及其他本期的文章，強調舊約的例子可以在我們今天的生活中產中共嗚,為神的選民概述了教義。
Our God is the same today, yesterday and forever (Heb 13:8), and He has clearly prepared a path of salvation and
hope for us. With this comforting knowledge, we can all the more cultivate ourselves to bear good fruit for the Lord
(“Now Is the Time to Bear Fruit”), and hold fast to His promises when we see winter approaching (“Be Thou My
Vision”).
我們的神昨日今日到永遠都是一樣的,(來 13：8),他原是明白地為我們準備了得救和希望的道路。
有了這種另人安慰的認知，我們就更該靈修自已，為主結出好果子來，(現在正是要結果),當我們看見冬天接近時緊緊抓住祂的應許(讚美詩452首-我願常見你)。
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
Manna 嗎哪 56 (1)