The Story of My Life as told by Jesus
Christ
(Seed Sowers Christian
Book Publishing House. http://www.seedsowers.com/)
Wednesday, December 05, 2012 I Told Simple Stories
Page 111-112 Matthew 13:24-52; Mark 4:10a, 26-34
The parables in today’s reading
all are built on Old Testament teachings about the establishment of God’s
Kingdom. Jesus is teaching that God is moving, and though the beginning of
Jesus’ ministry may seem small and inconsequential, nevertheless God is at
work, and ultimately His Kingdom will provide shelter and comfort for the
entire world.
Jesus was a master at revealing
the contrasts within the Kingdom of God. One person is simply trying to make
their way through life and stumbles upon the Kingdom. The discovery is so
profound for them; they give the Kingdom top priority in their life. Another
person is searching desperately for meaning in life and finds the Kingdom of
God. It is just what they have been looking for, and everything else in their
life pales in comparison to the love of God.
This love of God is so amazing.
All people everywhere are invited to live under the care and love of God. Many
respond, but not all for the right reasons. Some just follow the crowd; others
are seeking only to find themselves, not God. Jesus’ stories may be simple, but
they are also quite profound. God gives all people the freedom to choose. All
choices have consequences. Choosing Jesus as your Messiah leads to life
eternal. Denying Jesus as God’s Messiah leads to a Christ-less eternity.
Like any good story teller, Jesus
uses humor and hyperbole to make his point. Remember, these parables follow
Jesus encountering some significant opposition, so he is trying to lighten the
mood of the disciples, as well as provide assurances that God will prevail over
the forces of evil. The stories about seeds, wheat and weeds give that
assurance, and the mustard seed story provides the comic relief, as well as
gives an insight about the Kingdom of God.
The mustard seed isn’t the
smallest seed nor does it grow into a huge tree with branches sufficient to
house flocks of birds. This reference to such a tree comes from the Book of
Daniel where a majestic tree is pictured as standing at the center of the earth
with its branches reaching to heaven. I am sure the disciples were snickering
at the image of a mustard bush being compared to Daniel’s mighty tree. (Daniel
4)
Jesus is saying that his
followers might be few in number, but God is going to do a mighty work through
them, using the most unlikely of means.
Jesus is teaching that just one
person choosing not to laugh at a racist joke can make a difference. Jesus is teaching
that just one person who exercises Christian integrity at the point of decision
can make a difference. Jesus is teaching that his little band of followers,
armed with the Good News, living for God in a fallen world, can change the
course of history.
They did.
We can.
Sē’lah
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What word or phrase
in today’s reading attracts your attention?
Reflect on that word
or phrase.
What insights come to
you?
How does this passage
touch your life today?
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(Selah is a word that appears in the
Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my
correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about
these things.)
These
meditations are available by email. Contact me at Amkrom812@gmail.com to be added to the email list.
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BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription
The Story of My Life as told by Jesus
Christ
(Seed Sowers Christian Book Publishing House.
http://www.seedsowers.com/)
Thursday, December 06, 2012 The Farmer, the Seed, and the Soil
Page 112-114 Matthew 13:1-23; Mark 4:1-9, 10b-20;
Luke 8:4-15
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