Wednesday, February 16, 2022

😎🐫🎤 Christ’s peace and presence be with you.  This week I’ve been reading the parables in the Gospel of Matthew.  Christ takes lessons we need to hear and apply and puts them into stories that we can relate to and remember.  They’re so memorable, I’m sure you could name a few parables right off the top of your head. 

Something that stood out to me as I’m reading through them this time is not so much the story itself, but the “meeting after the meeting”.  The parables seem to have three sides to them.  First is in the hearing of the crowds.  Second is in the discussion with the few.   Third is us who get to experience both the first and second. 

Have you noticed how after Jesus retreated from the crowds, the disciples would basically ask Him…What did you mean in speaking that parable?  Jesus would then go on to give the backstory and guiding principles related to the parable.  What this brought to light for me is, His words are great and life giving, in and of themselves.  But it’s the willingness to ask the questions, fellowship, and deep dive into the meanings of His words that produce a greater harvest.  Just after The Parable of the Sower, Matthew 13:10-17 is actually titled “The Purpose of the Parables”, in which the disciples approach Jesus and ask Him why He speaks to the crowds in parables. 

“¹¹He 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.

Many times we hear “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.” and apply that saying to material items, money and wealth, but as you see, that’s not really what Jesus is talking about here.  He was talking about the knowledge and wisdom of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven.  These are incredible gifts that you have been given.  Use and share these gifts and you will have an abundance.  Although if you hoard or squander these gifts, they will be taken away.  Take a moment, reflect, and ponder…What will you do with the gifts you’ve been given?  

Bless others and be blessed.

If the Lord has touched you in some way with His message today, I ask that you pay it forward by sharing this message, so that you and He may also bless others.  Click subscript to receive your message every Wednesday.

#ChrisTomlin Feat. Chris Lane – Gifts From God