I Told Simple Stories

Meditations based on readings from

The Story of My Life As Told by Jesus Christ

September 18, 2019

I Told Simple Stories

Page 111-112

Matthew 13:24-52; Mark 4:10a, 26-34

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.

The parable of the mustard seed is a good example of the way Jesus used humor to make his point. 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.

My Takeaway: I see this parable as an invitation to consider whether I believe I am vital to Jesus’ mission to build his Kingdom. I know I have a tendency to downplay my significance to the Kingdom’s work, but this parable is a reminder that God doesn’t downplay my role at all. I really need to see, and own, myself from God’s perspective.

How about you?

Sē’lah

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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 written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

Copyright © 2019 by Alex M. Knight

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

• Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

• The second edition of  First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.