Let's take a quick walk down memory lane and the 2015 World Series. Fantastic! If you are a Royals fan, that is. Many were amazed that they were able to pull it off. How did the Royals win? One reason is because they worked together as a team. They were unified with one goal in mind. Ever watch a team that doesn't work well together? Any sport really: football, soccer, basketball, volleyball, etc. If a team isn't working together for a common goal, they will not win, or they won't win well.
Almost anyone who has ever played a sport or belonged to a team of some kind had probably heard the phrase. “There is no ‘I’ in TEAM.” The same goes for belonging to the body of Christ. There is no ‘I’. It isn't about us. Never has been. Never will be. When we believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God and receive his grace and forgiveness we are no longer alone. We are part of the body of Christ working towards a common goal; loving God as we love others. Jesus, after praying for his disciples, prays specifically for us; those who will hear and believe the message of the gospel delivered by the disciples. That's us. And what does Jesus pray? He prays we will be one body, that we will be unified just as Jesus and the Father are unified working for one purpose. And not only that we work together as one body but that we remain in the love of God so His love may flow through us. What differences might you need to set aside in order to be one in the body, unified with your brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the world? John 17:10-26 Jesus Prays for All Believers 20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” Sent from my iPhone
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To belong. Isn’t this what most everyone wants in life; to belong to some group, a family, a network of friends? This desire runs deep through our very being. We were created for community, for the need to be a part of something bigger than ourselves. God created us to belong, to long to be His, for we are His creation.
Jesus, as he prays for his disciples, addresses this need for belonging. Throughout his prayer, there is a theme of unity and togetherness. “I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.” God the Father and God the Son together. Jesus as he prays to his Father in the presence of his disciples reminds them that they belong to God because they have fellowship with their Savior. He asks his father to protect his friends, those he loves for the world will be against them. He prays that they may “have the full measure of my joy within them.” Oh to see the love Jesus had for his disciples and knowing what they would go through, doesn’t pray that they won’t go through it, but that they will be protected and have joy during the trials they will face. Jesus loves you. We will go through trials, we will struggle. When we take a stand for the truth we believe in which God has given us, the world will hate us. But know that you are protected in God’s love and that you can have joy. You belong to God and he loves you. He is with you. Do not be afraid to go where God sends you. And as you go, know that when we love as He loved, we are one in spirit and truth. John 17:1- Jesus Prays to Be Glorified After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. Jesus Prays for His Disciples 6 “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. 13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. Growing up, my mother had these beautiful rose bushes growing alongside the house. She also had tulips and irises on the other side. I loved watching them grow. Everyday I would check the roses to see how they were doing. I didn’t want to miss the day they bloomed. Even as an adult, I find joy in watching spring come to life all around me.
Quite often, my siblings and I would cut some of those roses to present to our mother as a gift. She would say thank you and place them in water, the best she could. You see, as children, we would cut them too close to the bloom, leaving no stem. As we got older, she would explain to us that when we cut the flowers, they would die faster than leaving them on the vine. She told us it was better if we came and grabbed her hand to show her which flower we wanted to give her. We then left it there so it would continue to flourish. It took us a while to learn this lesson. A flower can’t live without its life source. We also, can’t truly live without our life source. In the passage below, Jesus is explaining to the disciples the importance of remaining in Him, to be constantly connected to their Savior. If the disciples were going to carry on the work of Jesus, they needed to rest in his love, to cling to his promises and his teachings, to live and love as he demonstrated each and every day. We, as Christ’s disciples today, will not flourish apart from Christ. We cannot love as he has called us to love, if we do not remain and abide in his love. I encourage you today, to rest in the Father’s arms and allow yourselves to be loved. And being filled with the love of the Father, love one another. The Vine and the Branches John 15:1-17 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 “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. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. 9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other. Have you ever seen a life insurance commercial? It's often times followed up with the saying "Provide your family with some peace of mind..." This idea of safety and peace of mind is something tightly woven into our American culture. We want to be safe. We want our families to be safe. We want our legacies to be safe. Because safety equals peace of mind, right?
The Anxiety and Depression Association of America state that 18% of the population struggle with some sort anxiety or depression, but that that percentage is only the number of people who report having issues. For a country that focuses on peace of mind, this is astounding. There seems to be no peace of mind in stuff... ***Before I continue, if you struggle with anxiety or depression, here is a number you can call to get help: (212) 673-3000 (The Samaritans Hotline).*** In the reading today, Jesus talks about leaving and going to the Father/God. If I were a disciple hearing this for the first time, I'd be a little freaked out! Like what?! You can't go! I love the translation the NLT has for this... "[Jesus speaking] But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid." John 14:26-27 Here Jesus is promising that when he leaves, he's not leaving them behind nor will he be gone for an eternity. Jesus is also saying he will be sending us the Holy Spirit that will proivde us with peace of mind AND heart. This is not something we can attain for ourself, or something that society can grant us. Not even the American dream can do this. Only the Holy Spirit. While we long for the arrival of Jesus, we have someone still working with us and for us. Do not underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit. Be blessed today. John 14:15-31 NLT (Red lettering means Jesus is speaking) “If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.” Judas (not Judas Iscariot, but the other disciple with that name) said to him, “Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large?” Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me. I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am. I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do happen, you will believe. “I don’t have much more time to talk to you, because the ruler of this world approaches. He has no power over me, but I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father. Come, let’s be going. Have you ever watched a basketball or football game and saw a player who was wide open for a pass and they didn't get it? Which, if you're like me, leads to you yelling at a screen of people who can't hear you. "HE/SHE WAS WIDE OPEN! HOW DO YOU MISS THAT?!"
Or perhaps you hear a friend say something along the lines of "Yeah, well, I just don't have anyone to talk to about this." And in the awkward silence you think, "Well here I am..." Or maybe you have a toddler, like I do, who asks about a million questions, but can't really see the answer right in front of them. Yeah...parenthood. The disciples fall into this category. In the reading today, we will see Jesus straight up telling them the answers and truth they need, but they keep asking questions or say they need to be shown. Jesus at one point is even like "BRO I'M RIGHT HERE! PAY ATTENTION!" How many times is this us? We look and look and look for God and miss it. Or we want a blessing of some kind so much so that we miss the blessing that's already been given to us. Over the last year or so, my consistent prayer is along the lines of "God, don't let me miss anything." I don't want to miss an opportunity. I want to be faithful in the opportunties that God provides, but in the midst of working and looking for opportunities, I don't want to miss out on God. (That's kind of what the disciples did at times; looking for Messiah and he was right in front of them...) Today, be watchful, but slow down. Don't miss anything. John 14:1-14 NLT (Red lettering means Jesus is speaking) “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. Or There are many rooms in my Father’s house.If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? Or If this were not so, I would have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you. Some manuscripts read If this were not so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.” “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. Some manuscripts read If you have really known me, you will know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!” Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you?Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do. “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it! In Matthew chapter 12, you will read where the religious leaders had rejected Jesus and then at the end of chapter 13, you find that even the people he grew up around don't believe in him. There is a lot happening here...but in the middle of those related events in Jesus life, Jesus is using another parable to relate a very serious truth to the people listening. This parable takes on a different feel than the other parables Jesus had been teaching with...this particular parable in verses 47-50. (Available at the bottom of the page. I would encourage you to read chapters 12-13 in Matthew to get a better feel for this particular parable.)
The word net in this passage is the Latin word for "sweep net" or in other words a "dragnet"...meaning that the net is cast into the water to catch fish, and the particular purpose of this net is to drag fish up from the bottom. As this is dragged along it keeps gathering all in its way, both good and bad, small and great; and, when it is brought to the shore, those which are good for use are preserved, and those which are not, are either destroyed or thrown back into the water. The use of the word "net" here could be understood as the preaching of the Gospel of the kingdom, which keeps drawing men to become Christ Followers and into the fellowship of the Church of Christ. The word "sea" is referring to sinful depth of error, ignorance, and wickedness in which men live, and out of which they are drawn, by the truth and the Holy Spirit which presents salvation through the preaching of the Gospel. 1 Corinthians 18:21 says, "21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe." When Jesus refers to the phrase "drawing to shore", he is pointing out that there is coming and end to this whole process of opportunity when He returns to do as He said before...to separate the tares from the wheat. In verse 49, Jesus makes a very strong point that there is a difference between those who serve Him and those who have not...there will be those who wear his name but not living in a true relationship with him. There is an end to this thing called opportunity...an opportunity to come to know salvation through Jesus Christ...God will call this some day. While we are living and before God says it is over, we have been given the privilege to know this Jesus in a real and dynamic way...to have the joy only he can give and to experience the relationship of a living Savior and Master. The Pharisees did not like what Jesus was doing, who He was or what He said...educated but closed to truth...aware of what scripture said but unaware of its power...claiming the name of God but willing to deny the Name at the same time. We can't escape the net because the net is the command of God as in Acts 17:30 (NASB) 30 Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent...". Good thing is this...God is calling us to repent...because He is mad? No...because He loves wildly...deeply...maybe you are not familiar with "THE WORD ON THE STREET" bible and I ask you to not be offended by how it reads but I want to share with you what John 3:16-17 says..."Cause God's so passionate about the planet that he donates his one and only Son. Whoever invests their life in his Son doesn't die, but gets given this limitless life. D'you think God sends his Son to slam people down? No! He sends his Son to liberate people." To liberate...to liberate from our own destruction to His awesome redemption...liberate from sin to be given everlasting life...and to liberate from eternal judgment to His eternal joy! READING: Matthew 13:47-52New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) 47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; 48 when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50 and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 51 “Have you understood all this?” They answered, “Yes.” 52 And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.” Last year, a California couple discovered a trove of gold coins in their backyard while walking their dog. Burried in eight buried cans were 1,427 rare mint-condition coins dating from 1847 to 1894. Don Kagin, an expert in rare coins who represents the finders, appraised the U.S. coins at $11 million!
The couple, who want to remain anonymous, held onto a few of the coins and donated some of them to local charities before selling it on Amazon. Today, you can find some of the coins offered for sale by Kagin's on the internet. What would you do if you had stumbled on a treasure like that? $11,000,000.00...what a treasure just to stumble on. Would you ever give up a treasure like that? Probably not entirely and yet, Jesus is sharing two powerful parables, in two short sentences, that describe giving something up to acquire something even more valuable. Jesus portrays faith like a man finding buried treasure in a field who is so excited about what he has found that he hides it again until he can sell everything he owns to buy the field and secure this treasure. He then illustrates the discovery of salvation through him like a jewelry buyer who searches and finds a single pearl that is so precious to him that he sells everything he has to buy it. Apostle Paul relates his experience in finding this great Treasure in Philippians 3:8 when he says "8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ...) Let's say you are an art dealer and you found a Rembrandt worth tens of millions of dollars that is up for sale by someone for a thousand dollars...you might sell whatever you need to do to buy the painting. This is what the Christian does when they find Jesus. What does it take to realize how important our salvation and relationship with Jesus is? Sacrifice? Discipline? The responsibility a person has to feel you have to give or the "Christian" obligation to give it all up? We really do not need the willpower to sell everything you own to come and have Jesus. People think they have to work at this and then attempt it...just so you know...this is impossible! What we need is the joy that only God can give to to sell everything you own to come and have Jesus. When joy is involved, the sacrifice involved in leaving oneself is manageable, and the reward is indescribable. Ephesians 3:20-21 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) 20 Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. READING: Matthew 13:44-46New American Standard Bible (NASB) 44 “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, 46 and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. It started in a very small village to people who were poor and unknown except to those who lived in the neighborhood…the dad was a common, skilled laborer and the mother was just another young girl in the town...you are right…that is where Jesus was born. A very humble and small beginning…but within 33 years Jesus‟ life was shaking the minds and beliefs of the religious and political authorities in occupied Israel and in a few short decades after Jesus was crucified and risen, the Christ Followers had transformed the Roman Empire through the faithfulness of martyrs!
Jesus understands the small beginning…His was and his disciples were getting to participate in the beginning of something great! He was telling the people all around him that they could be a part of something powerful and bigger than they could understand if they would only trust and believe in Him. Here, Jesus used a mustard seed as part of the parable. He was using something that some of the gardeners and farmers were familiar with. He was referring to the smallest seed that they would be acquainted with…the black mustard seed in Israel that will typically grow to heights of 3.7 meters, or 12 (twelve) feet—plenty large enough to hold a bird nest. The Lord shows us the truth about how effective our “little” can be, as recorded in Luke 17:6: And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, Be uprooted and be planted in the sea; and it would obey you.” Are you looking at yourself and thinking that you could be of no use to God’s Kingdom? Maybe your past has limited you because of sin or failure or just the fact you struggle with self-worth or confidence? I want you to be encouraged as you read this. Jesus knows our weaknesses and the Bible says that his strength is made known in our weaknesses…when you invite this Jesus of small beginnings into your heart and life, He can make it beautiful, strong and more than you can ask or imagine! (Ephesians 3:20) Nothing is impossible with God…you are being invited to participate in a small beginning Kingdom that has only expanded since Jesus spoke to the crowd on this day…a Kingdom without end!! Matthew 13:31-43New Living Translation (NLT) Parable of the Mustard Seed 31 Here is another illustration Jesus used: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.” Parable of the Yeast 33 Jesus also used this illustration: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.” 34 Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds. In fact, he never spoke to them without using such parables. 35 This fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet: “I will speak to you in parables. I will explain things hidden since the creation of the world.” Parable of the Wheat and Weeds Explained 36 Then, leaving the crowds outside, Jesus went into the house. His disciples said, “Please explain to us the story of the weeds in the field.” 37 Jesus replied, “The Son of Man is the farmer who plants the good seed. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed represents the people of the Kingdom. The weeds are the people who belong to the evil one. 39 The enemy who planted the weeds among the wheat is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world, and the harvesters are the angels. 40 “Just as the weeds are sorted out and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the world. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will remove from his Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 And the angels will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s Kingdom. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand! This Lent series has been titled, “Jesus Who”…who is this Jesus really? In Matthew 13 we get a glimpse of a Jesus who is a wonderful teller of truth in a relative way…you get to think about and relate to what he is saying.
In this particular parable, Jesus is relating a story about 2 sowers, one good - one bad. Unlike the parable before with 4 types of soil, this soil is one where growth takes place…good and bad. There is a weed that grows in Israel that looks very much like wheat when it is maturing. The word that is being used here is the Greek word for weed or “zizania”… which is referring to a type of weed called darnel. Before it matures completely, it is very similar in appearance to wheat…helping us to understand the command that the “zizania”should be left to grow until the harvest. The darnel looked so much like the wheat, the men were told to leave the weeds. Verse 29 says "because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them." Those that were in close enough proximity to hear Jesus speaking in Matthew 13:24-30, included some of the Pharisees that considered themselves to be so holy, they could judge everyone else…Jesus points out that there was a bad sower, “daibolos”, or the accuser, deceiver, liar, and betrayer, that put some others up to planting the “darnel” or weeds in with the “good sowers” wheat. Pharisees…pay attention! The “look alike” weeds could have destroyed the crop but the “good sower” saw this and told the caretakers of the field to leave them alone…eventually the bad seed would show itself in the end for what it really was…a “poser”…a fake. Just like true followers of Christ, you will find the seed planted by “diabolos” going to church, praying and reading the bible…but it is just a religious hobby. The opportunity Jesus provides us outside of the parable is this…we do not have to remain seed planted by “diabolos”…we don’t have to stay a“poser”…we have the ability to change by turning the bad seed of our hearts over to the God and allowing ourselves to transplanted as good seed…brining about wonderful results and living spiritually productive lives. Just a thought…where would we fit in the parable Jesus is giving us below? A “poser” or sincere follower of Christ? I invite you to let Jesus be the one planting in your heart and life. Matthew 13:24-30 New International Version (NIV) 24 Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. 27 “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ 28 “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ 29 “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’” The last couple of years I have tried to plant grass seed in areas of my lawn…with not much success. The grass will sprout up and turn a very pretty green…then die. I have tried fertilizer, aeration, treatments and some will grow but the same areas struggle every year. I know there is an issue but I have a lot that takes time away from concern about grass that is not growing. I have a suspicion that there is something that I am missing…probably something elementary…something very basic…but I am missing it. If I were to hire an expert, they could probably use some words or instruction to express what I am missing…and I may still miss it. People listening to Jesus did.
In Matthew 13, Jesus is addressing…something very basic…and he uses “parables”, an illustration of one subject by using another subject to illustrate it. In verses 1-23, he takes three basic elements that were familiar with the people who were gathered around him…the sower, the seed and the soil. Now at first, the people around him get how the sower/seed/soil thing works as he illustrates what happens with the fate of the seed and where it landed – 1) along the path where the birds ate it, 2) some fell on rocky soil with shallow growth, 3) some landed in good soil but was suffocated by thorns that took away all its nutrients and chocked the life out of it , 4) yet some landed on good soil and produced 100/60/30 times the crop compared to what the seed originally looked like. “Whoever has ears to hear let them hear”…that is what Jesus said after that…referring to those that hear the spiritual truth that Jesus is giving them in a very basic way. What he is saying is something close to this: Do they hear the important, pointed truth with it going in one ear and then letting it slip all the way through the other ear with no opportunity for affectual change? Do they hear the truth and act like they get it but do nothing with the truth so that when things get hard and tough, the truth doesn’t fit their lifestyle anymore? Or is it that they have heard the truth, it found some soil in an open mind, grew in an hungryheart but then disappointment, discouragement, hurt, negative voices they heard from other “Christians” or fellowshipping with shallow friends and their faith was choked out? Do you find yourself identifying your relationship in any of these categories? Well, let me share some good news with you…there is a way to cultivate good soil! Hear the truth Jesus is speaking into your life, read the word of God and listen to truth…ask God to help you to have an open mind and heart to the truth you are reading or hearing, ask Him to soften your heart, renew your mind and give you a right spirit…(Psalm 51:10 – “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me”) The good soil that will be cultivated by the Holy Spirit will produce great results. When the truth of God is allowed to work in the good soil of your life, there is no limit to what God can do for you and through you! Read these following verses from Matthew 13 and let God’s word speak to you. MATTHEW 13:1-23 13 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.” 10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” 11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. 14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 15 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ 16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. 18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 Whenanyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” |
AuthorThe Pastors of Cornerstone Wesleyan Church Archives
July 2017
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