“Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked. “Yes,” they replied. Matthew 13: 47-51
The first thing that comes to mind when you read this parable is that when we die, we will all be taken from this familiar world like fish taken from the water in a net. Good will be sorted from bad, righteous from wicked, and the bad will be discarded into a blazing furnace where they will suffer. The good will be collected in baskets for use by God. Jesus then asks his listeners: "Do you get it?" and the listeners answer: "Yes".
I think that sums it up pretty well. I know from past experiences that the words of the Bible are unique in that they are both words to live by and they are living words. What I mean by "living words" is that although the words do not change, the depth of wisdom and understanding that you receive each time you read the same passage or story can most certainly grow. I don't know how it works for others but for me, sometimes I just have a simple basic understanding when I read a passage, like now with The Parable of the Net, yet I feel certain that at some point in my life I will read the same verses and see so much more. I will visit The Parable of the Net again.
For now, it is important for me to realize that even with the grace that Jesus has won for us on the cross, God expects us to be good. I have come to the belief that we are good because the sacrifice of Christ but maybe we need to be reminded to keep on trying. And maybe the message provides a way for Jesus to encourage us when we encounter people who seem to enjoy tearing down or discouraging others instead of building up and encouraging those around them.
Prayer: God thank you for reminding us to be good. Please remind me to be a positive influence on those around me and lead me away from being negative. Father, I also ask that each time I revisit your Word I find deeper meaning and new understanding of the timeless wisdom found in Your Living Word. Amen
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl (Matthew 13: 44-46)
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. Matthew 13:44-46
What is heaven like? It is so wonderful that when you discover it, you realize that everything else pales by comparison. Imagine getting everything that you strive for here on earth - wealth, physical beauty, athletic ability, academic ability, that cool car, that awesome mansion, etc. Whatever you can imagine - if you gained all of that and then "discovered" heaven, you would trade it all for heaven. In fact, once you focus on the treasures that come from following Christ, you realize that all other earthly goals and treasures are hollow and meaningless without putting Christ/God/heavenly things first.
All power, all glory, all treasures originate from God! Thank you God for all the blessings that I have received and all that I will receive today! May you give me the wisdom to use these blessings according to Your Will. Amen
What is heaven like? It is so wonderful that when you discover it, you realize that everything else pales by comparison. Imagine getting everything that you strive for here on earth - wealth, physical beauty, athletic ability, academic ability, that cool car, that awesome mansion, etc. Whatever you can imagine - if you gained all of that and then "discovered" heaven, you would trade it all for heaven. In fact, once you focus on the treasures that come from following Christ, you realize that all other earthly goals and treasures are hollow and meaningless without putting Christ/God/heavenly things first.
All power, all glory, all treasures originate from God! Thank you God for all the blessings that I have received and all that I will receive today! May you give me the wisdom to use these blessings according to Your Will. Amen
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast (Matthew 13:31-33)
He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”
He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.”
Matthew 13: 31-33
These are a two very short and simple parables. Both parables basically tell us that wondrous things can come from very small beginnings. A tiny seed or working a fine powder into some flour can produce useful things: a tree for birds to perch in or the beginnings of bread. Likewise, even the simplest of the wisdom of the Bible or the smallest act of kindness can grow to change the world.
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
"The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field.Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches."
In the Judeo-Christian tradition we tend to think of "heaven" as a place we go after we die if we have been good. If that is what you believe, I think that is certainly a valid thought. However, I don't think it is the only way of thinking about heaven. The minister I grew up listening to much of my life, Reverend D.L. Dykes - First United Methodist Church - Shreveport, lamented more than once in a sermon that it was far too easy for people to readily believe that you could build your own hell on earth and yet they would too easily overlook the possibility of heaven on earth. Is heaven a much better distinct place from this world? Absolutely! Does that stop us from praying to God in the Lord's prayer "Thy Will be done on earth as it is in heaven . . . ."? Nope. So what does this discussion have to do with the verse: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field."
The kingdom of heaven is described as something that grows from a small seed that a man takes and plants in his field. I believe that if you take in the Words of the Bible and plant them in your heart and nurture them in your daily living that it will grow into a large tree like garden plant that benefits others.
I believe that if you nourish the small seed of a prayer into a life of praying that it can grow into something much larger that provides for you and others.
I believe that if you take the smallest seeds of a single blessing and nurture and grow that single blessing into a life of accepting and giving blessings that that is very much like the kingdom of heaven.
Can you have heaven on earth? No, but you can have something "like" the kingdom of heaven on earth. Everything falls short of the kingdom of heaven and everyone's life fall short of the life of Jesus but, we are all called to follow Christ and so we should do our best to follow the Will of God as if His Will dictated our every action like it does in heaven.
The Parable of the Yeast
“The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.”
Yeast causes dough to rise. The kingdom of heaven is described to us, it's rules are laid out for us, stories to help us understand it are all in the Bible. Read the Bible daily and some of that "yeast" that will help you rise is worked into you, you blob of dough. Act selflessly, abiding by the direction that the Bible leads you in and more heavenly yeast is worked into your soul. Accept blessings/acts of kindness from others and life becomes very much like heaven on earth.
The Parable of the Mustard Seed and the parable of the Yeast taken together
It is possible that these two parables were kind of lumped together simply because both parables are very short. That is why you and I might lump them together but, since I believe that this is the perfect inspired word of God, I suspect that these two parables are lumped together for a reason. There is something clearer in Jesus' message by thinking of these two parables closely together. (I think I just set myself up to comparing each of the parables and thinking about how Jesus arranged the parables in a certain order and why explanations of the parables are place where they are placed in this chapter.) But, why are these two parables place so closely together. You may have some better ideas than I do. Seeds and yeast are both small. Both must be cared for or each could die and produce nothing. Both seeds and yeast the crucial element in producing a food product. Both tiny mustard seeds and yeast are so small that either could be passed up without notice. It takes some understanding to know how to get anything at all from a tiny seed or a tiny powdery micro-organism. Neither is man-made but man benefits greatly from both. So, what is the kingdom of heaven like?
He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.”
Matthew 13: 31-33
These are a two very short and simple parables. Both parables basically tell us that wondrous things can come from very small beginnings. A tiny seed or working a fine powder into some flour can produce useful things: a tree for birds to perch in or the beginnings of bread. Likewise, even the simplest of the wisdom of the Bible or the smallest act of kindness can grow to change the world.
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
"The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field.Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches."
In the Judeo-Christian tradition we tend to think of "heaven" as a place we go after we die if we have been good. If that is what you believe, I think that is certainly a valid thought. However, I don't think it is the only way of thinking about heaven. The minister I grew up listening to much of my life, Reverend D.L. Dykes - First United Methodist Church - Shreveport, lamented more than once in a sermon that it was far too easy for people to readily believe that you could build your own hell on earth and yet they would too easily overlook the possibility of heaven on earth. Is heaven a much better distinct place from this world? Absolutely! Does that stop us from praying to God in the Lord's prayer "Thy Will be done on earth as it is in heaven . . . ."? Nope. So what does this discussion have to do with the verse: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field."
The kingdom of heaven is described as something that grows from a small seed that a man takes and plants in his field. I believe that if you take in the Words of the Bible and plant them in your heart and nurture them in your daily living that it will grow into a large tree like garden plant that benefits others.
I believe that if you nourish the small seed of a prayer into a life of praying that it can grow into something much larger that provides for you and others.
I believe that if you take the smallest seeds of a single blessing and nurture and grow that single blessing into a life of accepting and giving blessings that that is very much like the kingdom of heaven.
Can you have heaven on earth? No, but you can have something "like" the kingdom of heaven on earth. Everything falls short of the kingdom of heaven and everyone's life fall short of the life of Jesus but, we are all called to follow Christ and so we should do our best to follow the Will of God as if His Will dictated our every action like it does in heaven.
The Parable of the Yeast
“The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.”
Yeast causes dough to rise. The kingdom of heaven is described to us, it's rules are laid out for us, stories to help us understand it are all in the Bible. Read the Bible daily and some of that "yeast" that will help you rise is worked into you, you blob of dough. Act selflessly, abiding by the direction that the Bible leads you in and more heavenly yeast is worked into your soul. Accept blessings/acts of kindness from others and life becomes very much like heaven on earth.
The Parable of the Mustard Seed and the parable of the Yeast taken together
It is possible that these two parables were kind of lumped together simply because both parables are very short. That is why you and I might lump them together but, since I believe that this is the perfect inspired word of God, I suspect that these two parables are lumped together for a reason. There is something clearer in Jesus' message by thinking of these two parables closely together. (I think I just set myself up to comparing each of the parables and thinking about how Jesus arranged the parables in a certain order and why explanations of the parables are place where they are placed in this chapter.) But, why are these two parables place so closely together. You may have some better ideas than I do. Seeds and yeast are both small. Both must be cared for or each could die and produce nothing. Both seeds and yeast the crucial element in producing a food product. Both tiny mustard seeds and yeast are so small that either could be passed up without notice. It takes some understanding to know how to get anything at all from a tiny seed or a tiny powdery micro-organism. Neither is man-made but man benefits greatly from both. So, what is the kingdom of heaven like?
Saturday, March 19, 2011
The Parable of the Weeds (Matthew 13: 24-30 &36-43)
Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. “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?’ “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 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.’” Matthew 13: 24-30
Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”
He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear. Matthew 13: 36-43
At the surface
This is such a perfect and simple story. The sower is Jesus. The field is the world. Good seeds are Good people. Weeds are bad people. The devil plants the bad people. Angels are the servants. The angels are eager to take out the bad people but God has concern for the well being of the Good people and so he tells the angels to hold off until harvest. At harvest the Bad people will be tied up and thrown into a blazing furnace and Good people will be stored safely in God's barn.
If this is all you understand of this story, it is more than enough to be a wonderful and rich blessing.
This story gives you hope and the knowledge that you may suffer at the hands of bad people here on Earth but, in the next life those bad people will get what is coming to them. Likewise, you have the eternal hope that, if you stick to being Good, you will be sorted from those bad people and given a nice comfortable spot in God's barn. So that you do not get distracted by it being a barn: a barn built by the hands of God has to be nicer than the finest home here on Earth.
If you read this parable at this basic level you are blessed with the knowledge that ultimately Justice will prevail and that gives you strength and hope in times of trouble.
A little bit below the surface
The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. Matthew 13: 41
When you focus on these Words of Jesus' explanation of The Parable of the Weeds, you realize that it is not just bad people that will be bound up and burned as weeds. "Everything that causes sin" will be bound and burned.
The Good News of looking a little more deeply is that if you are one of those people mostly committed to being Good, but, you have times of weakness where you slip, Jesus assures us that at judgement all things that might cause you to slip will be bound and burned with the people that choose to be mostly bad.
Of course the big takeaway from The Parable of the Weeds is: "Don't be a Weed!" Be Good. Don't just avoid being bad. Actively find a way to be Good.
Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”
He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear. Matthew 13: 36-43
At the surface
This is such a perfect and simple story. The sower is Jesus. The field is the world. Good seeds are Good people. Weeds are bad people. The devil plants the bad people. Angels are the servants. The angels are eager to take out the bad people but God has concern for the well being of the Good people and so he tells the angels to hold off until harvest. At harvest the Bad people will be tied up and thrown into a blazing furnace and Good people will be stored safely in God's barn.
If this is all you understand of this story, it is more than enough to be a wonderful and rich blessing.
This story gives you hope and the knowledge that you may suffer at the hands of bad people here on Earth but, in the next life those bad people will get what is coming to them. Likewise, you have the eternal hope that, if you stick to being Good, you will be sorted from those bad people and given a nice comfortable spot in God's barn. So that you do not get distracted by it being a barn: a barn built by the hands of God has to be nicer than the finest home here on Earth.
If you read this parable at this basic level you are blessed with the knowledge that ultimately Justice will prevail and that gives you strength and hope in times of trouble.
A little bit below the surface
The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. Matthew 13: 41
When you focus on these Words of Jesus' explanation of The Parable of the Weeds, you realize that it is not just bad people that will be bound up and burned as weeds. "Everything that causes sin" will be bound and burned.
The Good News of looking a little more deeply is that if you are one of those people mostly committed to being Good, but, you have times of weakness where you slip, Jesus assures us that at judgement all things that might cause you to slip will be bound and burned with the people that choose to be mostly bad.
Of course the big takeaway from The Parable of the Weeds is: "Don't be a Weed!" Be Good. Don't just avoid being bad. Actively find a way to be Good.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13: 3-9 & 18-23)
“A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.” Matthew 13: 3-9
“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone 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. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 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. 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. 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.” Matthew 13: 18-23
Like most of us I remember hearing the parable of the sower when I was very young. It is a simple story and I thought that I had learned everything that this story had to offer. After reconsidering this story, I feel like there is a much more to think about. There is quite a bit more depth than I could have possibly imagined when I first heard this story.
The Path
". . . some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up." "When anyone 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."
Think about the word: "path." A path is a worn down route that many have followed. It has been hardened by frequent travel. For a path to form, many people have walked over it trampling out most or all of the life along the way and packing the dirt to hardened surface. A path's sole purpose is to be used by others to get where they want to go.
Are you part of the path? Have you allowed yourself to become devoid of life and hardened? Have others used you to get where they want to go? Of course you have. We all have. You have to keep your faith in God where all good things originate. With God, hope springs eternal!
When you choose to remain part of the path, you turn away from God.
Jesus tells us that the seeds in the parable are "the message about the kingdom" of God and I believe truely understanding the message brings with it grace, mercy, forgiveness, peace, joy, love, wisdom, healing, and every other good gift possible.
It is your choice to remain a part of the "path" or to follow a way that leads to believing in and receiving the only truly wonderful and lasting gifts. God is eager to give many wonderful gifts to you. Don't be the path.
Rocky Ground
"Some [seeds] fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. . . . The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 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."
I hate to admit it, but; I can identify with being "rocky ground". I think I have pretty much grown out of it. But I am the type of person that is full of energy and excited when I first enter a new opportunity and then as time passes things involved with the opportunity get boring or too hard. When I see God's handiwork, I get excited and then as time passes, sometimes my excitement dwindles into nothingness. I think it is human nature to be motivated by truly wonderful and beautiful blessings only to lose that motivation over time. How many of us are pointed in the right direction by a moving sermon only to fail to follow up with a concrete action? How many Americans were true patriots for months and even a couple of years after 911 only to lose some or most of that patriotic fervor before 2011? I have been a member of my church for my entire life and I have never seen the church as packed as it was the Sunday after 911. Some of us have so many rocks in our soil that it would seem that we need to be very afraid before we will seek God. I know; I'm casting stones. All of us have stones or rocks that we need to cast out but preferably not in the direction of others.
The "rocks" in our "rocky ground" are those things in our lives that serve as obstacles to successfully receiving the Word of God and benefiting from all that follows being rooted in the word. What is standing between you and God? Remove those rocks now and let the Word of God take root. I hope and pray that without the rocks in my life I can thrive in my walk with God.
Trouble, persecution, situations that make us feel awkward are part of life. It is only these rocks that are making your soil shallow. Let's remove the obstacles and allow the seeds of the sower to grow strong roots.
Among the Thorns
"Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. . . .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."
I think most of us can understand how the "worries of this life" can "choke out" the fruits of the Word. I know that I am not alone when I say that I can testify that if you let the "worries of this life" rule, life can be Hell on earth. I have always been a worrier - Thank God - almost always my worries have been needless. In my experience, most worrying is needless. The closer I get to God, the less I worry.
But allowing the worries to dominate your life are not the only types of thorns that may thrive and choke out the small plants that have sprouted from the seeds. Do you place being rich or sexy before seeking God? Do you seek business success or popularity before seeking God? Allowing worries or any other desire to dominate your life or even take a place higher than God in your life will just as surely choke . . . you . . . out. God is constantly having to remind us not to follow these false gods. When any other thing(false god) takes priority over God in your life, you lose. Don't feed the thorns in your life.
Be the Good Soil
"Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear. . . . 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.”
I feel like that I am so familiar with living the path, rocky ground, and among the thorns of life that I could use some spiritual "miracle grow".
If you identify with one or all of the wrong ways of living, how do you prepare yourself to become good soil? I'm sure there must be hundreds of ways to change your life into the "good soil". I have found that I have been most successful at preparing my soil by: finding opportunities to pray as often as possible, attending church regularly, and simply reading the Bible and reflecting on what you have read. Probably the best way to "be" the good soil is to find ways to be a blessing to others.
The "message of the kingdom" is more than just words. The Words of God are living words. Living words provide real and tangible gifts to those that are willing to receive the gifts of God. And probably even more rewarding are the gifts from God that are given to you to share with others.
Be the Good Soil!
“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone 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. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 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. 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. 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.” Matthew 13: 18-23
Like most of us I remember hearing the parable of the sower when I was very young. It is a simple story and I thought that I had learned everything that this story had to offer. After reconsidering this story, I feel like there is a much more to think about. There is quite a bit more depth than I could have possibly imagined when I first heard this story.
The Path
". . . some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up." "When anyone 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."
Think about the word: "path." A path is a worn down route that many have followed. It has been hardened by frequent travel. For a path to form, many people have walked over it trampling out most or all of the life along the way and packing the dirt to hardened surface. A path's sole purpose is to be used by others to get where they want to go.
Are you part of the path? Have you allowed yourself to become devoid of life and hardened? Have others used you to get where they want to go? Of course you have. We all have. You have to keep your faith in God where all good things originate. With God, hope springs eternal!
When you choose to remain part of the path, you turn away from God.
Jesus tells us that the seeds in the parable are "the message about the kingdom" of God and I believe truely understanding the message brings with it grace, mercy, forgiveness, peace, joy, love, wisdom, healing, and every other good gift possible.
It is your choice to remain a part of the "path" or to follow a way that leads to believing in and receiving the only truly wonderful and lasting gifts. God is eager to give many wonderful gifts to you. Don't be the path.
Rocky Ground
"Some [seeds] fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. . . . The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 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."
I hate to admit it, but; I can identify with being "rocky ground". I think I have pretty much grown out of it. But I am the type of person that is full of energy and excited when I first enter a new opportunity and then as time passes things involved with the opportunity get boring or too hard. When I see God's handiwork, I get excited and then as time passes, sometimes my excitement dwindles into nothingness. I think it is human nature to be motivated by truly wonderful and beautiful blessings only to lose that motivation over time. How many of us are pointed in the right direction by a moving sermon only to fail to follow up with a concrete action? How many Americans were true patriots for months and even a couple of years after 911 only to lose some or most of that patriotic fervor before 2011? I have been a member of my church for my entire life and I have never seen the church as packed as it was the Sunday after 911. Some of us have so many rocks in our soil that it would seem that we need to be very afraid before we will seek God. I know; I'm casting stones. All of us have stones or rocks that we need to cast out but preferably not in the direction of others.
The "rocks" in our "rocky ground" are those things in our lives that serve as obstacles to successfully receiving the Word of God and benefiting from all that follows being rooted in the word. What is standing between you and God? Remove those rocks now and let the Word of God take root. I hope and pray that without the rocks in my life I can thrive in my walk with God.
Trouble, persecution, situations that make us feel awkward are part of life. It is only these rocks that are making your soil shallow. Let's remove the obstacles and allow the seeds of the sower to grow strong roots.
Among the Thorns
"Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. . . .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."
I think most of us can understand how the "worries of this life" can "choke out" the fruits of the Word. I know that I am not alone when I say that I can testify that if you let the "worries of this life" rule, life can be Hell on earth. I have always been a worrier - Thank God - almost always my worries have been needless. In my experience, most worrying is needless. The closer I get to God, the less I worry.
But allowing the worries to dominate your life are not the only types of thorns that may thrive and choke out the small plants that have sprouted from the seeds. Do you place being rich or sexy before seeking God? Do you seek business success or popularity before seeking God? Allowing worries or any other desire to dominate your life or even take a place higher than God in your life will just as surely choke . . . you . . . out. God is constantly having to remind us not to follow these false gods. When any other thing(false god) takes priority over God in your life, you lose. Don't feed the thorns in your life.
Be the Good Soil
"Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear. . . . 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.”
I feel like that I am so familiar with living the path, rocky ground, and among the thorns of life that I could use some spiritual "miracle grow".
If you identify with one or all of the wrong ways of living, how do you prepare yourself to become good soil? I'm sure there must be hundreds of ways to change your life into the "good soil". I have found that I have been most successful at preparing my soil by: finding opportunities to pray as often as possible, attending church regularly, and simply reading the Bible and reflecting on what you have read. Probably the best way to "be" the good soil is to find ways to be a blessing to others.
The "message of the kingdom" is more than just words. The Words of God are living words. Living words provide real and tangible gifts to those that are willing to receive the gifts of God. And probably even more rewarding are the gifts from God that are given to you to share with others.
Be the Good Soil!
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Matthew 13: 1-2 - Beside the Lake
"That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore." Matthew 13: 1-2
What a great way to begin a story! I firmly believe that the Bible contains the perfect word of God and I have come to accept that perfect word can be mangled badly by imperfect people but, anyone who has ever tried to write a couple of sentences that hooks the reader from the first couple of sentences has to marvel at the first two verses of Matthew 13.
The good Reverend Derek Joyce recently alerted me (and the rest of a packed house at First United Methodist Church Shreveport's Contemporary Service) that cults have been formed from people taking verses of the Bible out of context and while I am wary of this, I think the beauty of these two verses is that they immediately have your mind forming questions.
The first sentence is simple enough: "That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake."
"That same day . . . ."
If you had just blindly opened the Bible to Matthew 13 and the first three words that you read were "That same day," I think it would be hard not to go back and read Matthew 12 because clearly, something big had happen. Remembering what Rev. Joyce had warned, I found out what had happened "that same day". It was the sabbath and the Pharisees were following Jesus around trying to collect evidence of Jesus "breaking the law". Naturally, Jesus was more than happy to break the laws that the Pharisees followed but clearly to show that there was a much higher law. The Pharisees were delighted to discover and point out that both Jesus and his disciples were working on the Sabbath. They were first caught picking grain because they were hungry and then Jesus healed a man with a shriveled hand, healed a bunch of sick people, and finally healed a demon possessed man who was also blind and mute. The Pharisees responded to the last of these miracles by suggesting that Christ cast out the last demon by the devil. Jesus pointed out the obvious that demons work for the devil and so it makes no sense that he would be a party to casting his own out. Centuries later Abraham Lincoln would give a speech where he proclaims that "a house divided against itself cannot stand" which is a total rip off of Christ's explanation of why a person would not call on the devil to cast out demons. Now I am not so sure I like Lincoln's speech quite as much. But I digress, back to "that same day". Next, on "that same day" some Pharisees and teachers of the law requested that Jesus do a miracle. Following this request, in Matthew 12: 39-45, Jesus pretty clearly told the Pharisees and teachers what he thought of their request.
I have read Matthew 12: 44-45 a few times and at first I was confused. These are the verses where Jesus is explaining that once an evil spirit is driven out of a demon possessed person that it wonders around in an arid place, decides to return to the formerly possessed person and seven more evil spirits to occupy the victim. At first I thought: "why would anyone drive out a demon if it is just going to eventually return with seven other demons?!". After thinking about this I realized the context. Thank you Reverend Derek Joyce! Jesus was responding to the Pharisees request to "do a miracle for us to see". A miracle done in that context would have simply left an empty place in the formerly possessed person. When a miracle is genuine the Holy Spirit fills the "empty place" and often overflows. At least that is what I believe.
To finish up what had happened on "that same day", while Jesus was still talking to a crowd seeking healing and witnessing Jesus' so called law breaking, Jesus' mother and brothers sought an audience with Jesus and he had them turned away saying that his true mother and brothers were already with him. Jesus proclaims that his true family members are those that do the will of his Father in heaven.
Wow, what a day!
"That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore."
Out of the house to sit by the lake
What a wonderful thing to be able to walk out of a house, sit by a lake, reflect on the day, gather your thoughts and seeking the voice/wisdom of God. When I think of the 2nd verse of Psalms 23, "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters", I think of green mowed field next to a smooth-as-glass green lake. After having read about the kind of day that Jesus was having, it seemed clear that going and sitting beside a lake would be an excellent idea. Of course Jesus Christ already had more than enough wisdom, so naturally, what he needed was a crowd to share his thoughts with.
Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore.
Jesus had been healing the sick all day which had drawn large crowds. I can imagine that throngs of people must have been very nearby hoping that Jesus might return to performing miracles after settling from the insults of the Pharisees. I don't think you will find it written that Christ healed anyone else in that crowd that day but, he told some life changing/life guiding parables.
I know that we far from perfect people have to be very careful in our studies of the Bible. We must be careful not to take things out of context or read too much into the Bible. But still, this is the "Word of God" and it is rich in meaning; meaning that must be explored to find any depth of understanding. I love what I get from the literal word of the Bible but I also love to try and understand the symbolic meaning found in the Bible. In this verse of Matthew 13 I wonder if Jesus Christ standing in a boat on the water, still water, isn't meaningful. Imagining all the people standing on the shore while Christ told them simple stories of great wisdom makes a great scene but I think there is even a bit more depth in considering that Christ has left the shore and is floating on "still waters." In life we are all standing on the shore waiting for God to tell us some stories that will change our lives.
I was careful to fall just short of saying that Christ performed "no" miracles on "that day". The parables recounted in Matthew 13 following the first two verses may very well continually provide miracles.
What a great way to begin a story! I firmly believe that the Bible contains the perfect word of God and I have come to accept that perfect word can be mangled badly by imperfect people but, anyone who has ever tried to write a couple of sentences that hooks the reader from the first couple of sentences has to marvel at the first two verses of Matthew 13.
The good Reverend Derek Joyce recently alerted me (and the rest of a packed house at First United Methodist Church Shreveport's Contemporary Service) that cults have been formed from people taking verses of the Bible out of context and while I am wary of this, I think the beauty of these two verses is that they immediately have your mind forming questions.
The first sentence is simple enough: "That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake."
"That same day . . . ."
If you had just blindly opened the Bible to Matthew 13 and the first three words that you read were "That same day," I think it would be hard not to go back and read Matthew 12 because clearly, something big had happen. Remembering what Rev. Joyce had warned, I found out what had happened "that same day". It was the sabbath and the Pharisees were following Jesus around trying to collect evidence of Jesus "breaking the law". Naturally, Jesus was more than happy to break the laws that the Pharisees followed but clearly to show that there was a much higher law. The Pharisees were delighted to discover and point out that both Jesus and his disciples were working on the Sabbath. They were first caught picking grain because they were hungry and then Jesus healed a man with a shriveled hand, healed a bunch of sick people, and finally healed a demon possessed man who was also blind and mute. The Pharisees responded to the last of these miracles by suggesting that Christ cast out the last demon by the devil. Jesus pointed out the obvious that demons work for the devil and so it makes no sense that he would be a party to casting his own out. Centuries later Abraham Lincoln would give a speech where he proclaims that "a house divided against itself cannot stand" which is a total rip off of Christ's explanation of why a person would not call on the devil to cast out demons. Now I am not so sure I like Lincoln's speech quite as much. But I digress, back to "that same day". Next, on "that same day" some Pharisees and teachers of the law requested that Jesus do a miracle. Following this request, in Matthew 12: 39-45, Jesus pretty clearly told the Pharisees and teachers what he thought of their request.
I have read Matthew 12: 44-45 a few times and at first I was confused. These are the verses where Jesus is explaining that once an evil spirit is driven out of a demon possessed person that it wonders around in an arid place, decides to return to the formerly possessed person and seven more evil spirits to occupy the victim. At first I thought: "why would anyone drive out a demon if it is just going to eventually return with seven other demons?!". After thinking about this I realized the context. Thank you Reverend Derek Joyce! Jesus was responding to the Pharisees request to "do a miracle for us to see". A miracle done in that context would have simply left an empty place in the formerly possessed person. When a miracle is genuine the Holy Spirit fills the "empty place" and often overflows. At least that is what I believe.
To finish up what had happened on "that same day", while Jesus was still talking to a crowd seeking healing and witnessing Jesus' so called law breaking, Jesus' mother and brothers sought an audience with Jesus and he had them turned away saying that his true mother and brothers were already with him. Jesus proclaims that his true family members are those that do the will of his Father in heaven.
Wow, what a day!
"That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore."
Out of the house to sit by the lake
What a wonderful thing to be able to walk out of a house, sit by a lake, reflect on the day, gather your thoughts and seeking the voice/wisdom of God. When I think of the 2nd verse of Psalms 23, "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters", I think of green mowed field next to a smooth-as-glass green lake. After having read about the kind of day that Jesus was having, it seemed clear that going and sitting beside a lake would be an excellent idea. Of course Jesus Christ already had more than enough wisdom, so naturally, what he needed was a crowd to share his thoughts with.
Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore.
Jesus had been healing the sick all day which had drawn large crowds. I can imagine that throngs of people must have been very nearby hoping that Jesus might return to performing miracles after settling from the insults of the Pharisees. I don't think you will find it written that Christ healed anyone else in that crowd that day but, he told some life changing/life guiding parables.
I know that we far from perfect people have to be very careful in our studies of the Bible. We must be careful not to take things out of context or read too much into the Bible. But still, this is the "Word of God" and it is rich in meaning; meaning that must be explored to find any depth of understanding. I love what I get from the literal word of the Bible but I also love to try and understand the symbolic meaning found in the Bible. In this verse of Matthew 13 I wonder if Jesus Christ standing in a boat on the water, still water, isn't meaningful. Imagining all the people standing on the shore while Christ told them simple stories of great wisdom makes a great scene but I think there is even a bit more depth in considering that Christ has left the shore and is floating on "still waters." In life we are all standing on the shore waiting for God to tell us some stories that will change our lives.
I was careful to fall just short of saying that Christ performed "no" miracles on "that day". The parables recounted in Matthew 13 following the first two verses may very well continually provide miracles.
Matthew 13 (Full Text - NIV version)
The parable of the sower
1 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 When anyone 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.”
The Parable of the Weeds
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 Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast
31 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”
33 He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds[b] of flour until it worked all through the dough.”
34 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. 35 So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet:
“I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.”
The Parable of the Weeds Explained
36 Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”
37 He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. 40 “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.
The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
The Parable of the Net
47 “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48 When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49 This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous 50 and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 51 “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked. “Yes,” they replied.
52 He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”
A Prophet Without Honor
53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. 54 Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. 55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56 Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 And they took offense at him.
But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.” 58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
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