Today’s Reading: Matthew 17:14-27

The disciples were not the only people paying attention, anticipating what Jesus might do next.

At the foot of the mountain, a large crowd was waiting for them. A man came and knelt before Jesus and said, “Lord, have mercy on my son. He has seizures and suffers terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. So I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn’t heal him.” – Matthew 17:14-16

Can you picture it? There’s a beautiful mountain and a crowd of people waiting in anticipation to hear from Jesus. A man approaches Jesus and falls to his knees, pleading for the life of his son. He has tried to receive help from Jesus’ followers but their lack of faith has left him disappointed, so here he is calling out to Jesus for help.

THIS FATHER BELIEVED IN THE IMPOSSIBLE AND SO HE CAME TO JESUS.

As a parent, it is painful to consider what this man must have been feeling. His son was very sick and there was nothing he could do to help him – nothing but fall on his knees before the one man whom he believed could free his son. He had done all he knew to do and he was in need of divine intervention.

At times, life’s circumstances feel a lot like “going through the fire”. Stress presses in on every side and makes it hard for us to breathe. “I’m drowning here, Lord! Please save me!” Hear the desperation of a believer in Jesus crying out to be rescued; he’s crying out for healing, begging for escape. He would do anything to see the one he loves so deeply healed of the seizures that take over his little body, so he pleaded for mercy for his son.

Jesus said, “You faithless and corrupt people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” – Matthew 17:17

Can you hear it? It’s the HOPE of a father as he runs to get his son. I imagine the words of Jesus were still ringing in his ears and bouncing around his heart as he returned to Jesus with his precious boy.

Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”

“From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”

“If you can?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for the one who believes.”

Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” – Mark 9:21-24

Jesus then rebuked the demon in the boy who was causing the seizures and it left him. When the disciples saw that the boy was well, they asked Jesus why they were unable to cast out the demon.

“You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.” – Matthew 17:20

THIS FATHER BELIEVED IN THE IMPOSSIBLE AND EXPERIENCED A MIRACLE.

Can you feel it? What kind of fire is life throwing you into? What situations or circumstances are you drowning in? God, we ask that you strengthen our faith in you today. Strengthen the faith of your church and your followers. May we empty ourselves of any thoughts that we are capable of helping others without you. May we humbly fall on our knees before you, believing that nothing is impossible for you. Lord, will you cast the enemy from our midst and free us from the evil that tries to control us — that throws us into the fire. Lord, give us the kind of faith that moves mountains.

Today’s Reading: Matthew 17:1-13

Six days later, Jesus took Peter and the two brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. — Matthew 17:1

What a privilege it was for these three disciples to journey up the mountain with Jesus. Scripture does not tell us why these three were chosen, or why the others were not invited to be a part of this moment. We only know that these three, who had been with Jesus since the beginning of his ministry, were with Jesus that day as he walked up the mountain. These three who had left their jobs and their families to follow Jesus were now about to experience something amazing.

THEY KEPT THEIR EYES ON JESUS AND EXPERIENCED GOD.

There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. – Matthew 17:2-3

WOW! What an experience for these three disciples. They were chosen by Jesus for this moment in history, and they watched intently, careful not to miss a moment. Right before their eyes, the appearance of Jesus was transformed so that his face shone like the sun and his clothes became as white as light.

As the appearance of Jesus transformed, I imagine the faith of these three men changed rapidly. If they had any doubt that Jesus was who he said he was, that doubt was now gone. If they were tempted to go back to their old way of life, that thought was no longer an option. They had seen the heavenly appearance of Jesus and they would never be the same.

THEY PAID ATTENTION AND THEY WERE TRANSFORMED.

Don’t you wonder what Elijah, Moses and Jesus were talking about? It was believed by the Jews that Elijah would return before the Messiah appeared, and here he was. Jesus had come to fulfill the law, and here was the prophet Moses who had brought the law down from the mountain on tablets of stone. The law, the prophets and Jesus standing in conversation with each other. What an incredible moment. Not knowing what else to say, Peter made this awkward yet sincere statement: “Lord, it’s wonderful for us to be here! If you want, I’ll make three shelters as memorials — one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.” — Matthew 17:4-5

The disciples were terrified and fell face down on the ground. But Jesus once again gave them the strength to get up and overcome their fear. He told them not to tell anyone what they had seen until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead, but they did not understand.

Pay attention. Listen. You have been chosen for this moment; you have a calling on your life. Open your eyes and see that Jesus is Lord; open your ears and listen to what he is saying. You may not understand everything that is happening in your life but trust the God who knows it all and has a plan in place. When he leads you to the mountain, follow him. When he invites you to spend time alone with him, pursue his invitation and you will experience God in a new way. When he asks you to wait for understanding, trust him.

Today’s Reading: Matthew 16:13-28

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

“Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”

Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” – Matthew 16:13-15

What a powerful question for the disciples; what a powerful question for us today. Who do we believe Jesus to be? When others ask us about our faith, who do we declare Jesus to have been 2,000 years ago, and how do we describe his presence in our lives today? Simon Peter declared in confidence who he now understood Jesus to be.

“YOU ARE THE MESSIAH, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD.”

Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”

Then he sternly warned the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. – Matthew 16:17-20

This was a pivotal moment in the lives of the disciples; this was a moment of affirmation for Simon, Son of John. Jesus took the faith of a man who believed Jesus was who he said he was and made it a foundation on which to build generation after generation of faith. Believing in Jesus provides a solid rock on which to grow a community of faith for the sake of building the Kingdom of God. When we stand strong on our acknowledgement of the divine nature of Christ, hearts are strengthened and the church is effective in doing the work to which God has called us.

From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead. But Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things. – Matthew 16:21-22a

“HEAVEN FORBID, LORD,” HE SAID. “THIS WILL NEVER HAPPEN TO YOU!”

Peter was listening to Jesus. Jesus had said that whatever Peter would forbid on earth would be forbidden in heaven, and whatever he permitted on earth would be permitted in heaven. He was ready to test this new authority because he loved Jesus with all of his heart. The thought of Jesus suffering was more than he could bear; it was more than he wanted to allow. Perhaps if he confidently forbade the death of Jesus, he could stop these horrible things from happening. But Jesus made it clear to Peter that he was to follow the heart and will of the Father rather than lead according to his own desires. No matter how much he wanted this one thing, it was not for him to change the plan of God.

Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds. And I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.” – Matthew 16:23-28

“WHO DO YOU SAY I AM?”

We are human and, therefore, we tend to see this life through a human point of view. With a heart of mercy, we often want to protect those we love — to permit something on earth so that it will also be permitted in heaven. This leads us to softening our stance on sin and looking for ways to broaden the way to God’s Kingdom so that more can enter in — so that those we love will not be lost. But Jesus made it clear that it is not for us to lead according to our own way, but God’s; if we hang on to our own life, we will lose it. It is the Son of Man who will judge all people according to their deeds.

Peter’s understanding of who Jesus was did not come from human teaching; it came from God. The Spirit was actively working in Peter’s life to build a faith on which others could find their way to salvation. Now Peter was being called to follow Jesus by giving up his own way and letting go of his own life, allowing the Spirit to continue to give him a heavenly perspective. God is calling us, the Church, to do the same — to take up our cross and follow Jesus, to pray for God’s will to be done and not our own, and to lead others according to God’s way. May we submit to our Lord and declare today that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.

Today’s Reading: Matthew 15:21-39, 16:1-12

SHE BEGGED FOR MORE.

Next we see a direct contrast between what was in the heart of the Jewish leaders and what was in the heart of one Gentile woman. This woman’s daughter was possessed by a demon who was tormenting the daughter severely. With the intense love of a mother, this woman continued to beg Jesus to heal her daughter, even to the point that the disciples begged him to make her go away. The Jewish people, including the disciples, did not want to share Jesus with the Gentiles, whom they considered below them. Jesus, knowing the sinful prejudice in their hearts, had this conversation for their benefit:

Then Jesus said to the woman, “I was sent only to help God’s lost sheep – the people of Israel.”

But she came and worshiped him, pleading again, “Lord, help me!”

Jesus responded, “It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.”

She replied, “That’s true, Lord, but even dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall beneath their master’s table.”

“Dear woman,” Jesus said to her, “your faith is great. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed. – Matthew 15:24-28

JESUS GAVE MORE.

While the Jewish leaders were demanding miraculous signs and explanations (Matthew 16:1-4), this Gentile woman was worshiping Jesus and HUMBLY BEGGING for a miracle. She received what she wanted because she came to Jesus with words that revealed her heart – a heart of faith.

This woman was not the only Gentile to display faith. Many brought their lame, blind, crippled, mute and sick to Jesus to be healed. They were amazed when Jesus healed them. Word spread fast among the people of how wonderful Jesus was. For three days they stayed near Jesus in anticipation of what he was about to do. Jesus had compassion and fed 4000 men, along with the women and children, with only seven loaves and a few small fish. They displayed a heart of faith and experienced the miracle of satisfaction.

So where do I sit on this continuum between those who try to serve a Jesus-on-demand and those whose life reveals a heart of faith? Do I ever demand a miracle from God or demand an explanation for something He has allowed in my life? Or am I in the habit of simply inviting the God of miracles to come and do something supernatural among us?

Recently I had a friend reveal to me what she and her husband are praying for. The magnitude of the miracle she is requesting from God is bigger than anything I have ever prayed. I found myself humbly asking God for that kind of faith — a faith that would dare to pray BIG, believing that God is capable of giving us anything we ask for while trusting Him no matter how He answers.

Lord, give us a heart of faith as evidenced by both the life we live and the words we speak. As we worship you, may you be pleased with the heart of our worship. We thank you for giving your life on a cross for our salvation. We worship you today with hearts wide open so that you can reveal in us anything that needs changed, and so that you can place in us the desires of your heart. Lord, we pray this morning for those who are grieving a loss, or who are in desperate need of a miracle today. Today we come to worship you and to humbly beg for your healing touch. We love you! Amen.

I am asking for prayer this morning for the Waldron family as they gather around the bed of their daughter, Sarah, who is in the final stages of her battle with cancer. Like the woman in this story, we have been begging God for a miracle for Sarah. Praying for God to make His presence known in new and powerful ways today.

Today’s Reading: Matthew 15:1-20

One day some teachers of religious law and Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, we want you to show us a miraculous sign to prove your authority.” – Matthew 12:38

THEY DEMANDED MORE.

The Pharisees demanded miraculous signs from Jesus. There was a popular expectation in Jewish tradition that the Messiah would perform spectacular miracles on demand when he arrived. So to test whether or not Jesus was the Messiah, the Jewish leaders demanded that he perform for them.

But Jesus replied, “Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights…” – Matthew 12:39-40

JESUS REVEALED MORE ABOUT WHO HE WAS.

Jesus was revealing to them THE most incredible thing that would happen in all of history and they missed it. The people of Nineveh repented when they heard Jonah’s message but the Jewish leaders refused to repent when they heard the gospel message straight from the Son of Man’s lips. The queen of Sheba had traveled a great distance to hear words of wisdom from Solomon and she was not disappointed at what she found, yet the Pharisees refused to listen to the words of wisdom spoken by someone SO much greater than Solomon (12:41-42).

Jesus told the religious leaders that he would spend three days and three nights in the heart of the earth or the grave, and it was as if they never heard him. Instead of listening closely and finding the powerful truth Jesus was revealing, the Pharisees DEMANDED AN EXPLANATION from Jesus.

“Why do your disciples disobey our age-old tradition of ceremonial hand washing before they eat.” – Matthew 15:2

Jesus answered their demanding question with a demanding question of his own: “And why do you, by your traditions, violate the direct commandments of God? For instance, God says, ‘Honor your father and mother,’…” (Matthew 15:3-4a).

Then Jesus called to the crowd to come and hear. “Listen,” he said, “and try to understand. It’s not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth.”

Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you realize you offended the Pharisees by what you just said?”

Jesus replied, “Every plant not planted by my heavenly Father will be uprooted, so ignore them. They are blind guides leading the blind, and if one blind person guides another, they will both fall into a ditch.”

Then Peter said to Jesus, “Explain to us the parable that says people aren’t defiled by what they eat.”

“Don’t you understand yet?” Jesus asked. “Anything you eat passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer. But the words you speak come from the heart – that’s what defiles you. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying and slander. These are what defile you. Eating with unwashed hands will never defile you.” – Matthew 15:10-20

Just as the religious leaders were revealing the sin in their hearts by the words they spoke and the demands they made, we also reveal our spiritual condition by what we say. When our heart is not completely submitted to what God has for us, we see the results of that in our behavior and our conversation. So choosing our words carefully and intentionally avoiding strong language does not have to be a sign of legalism, but can simply be the outflow of the Spirit’s work in our lives. He takes away the desire to sound like the world and behave in a way that does not bring Him glory.

Lord, we thank you for the ways your words continue to teach us today. We ask that you continue to do a work in our hearts and that you will be glorified in everything that we say and do today — not as a result of our human effort but as an indicator of the impact you are having on our hearts. Father, open our eyes to the miracles you are willing to perform all around us if only we will believe. Thank you for saving us from ourselves and teaching us your ways. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Matthew 14:22-36

Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone. – Matthew 14:22-23

JESUS SENT THEM OUT ONTO THE LAKE.

Jesus intentionally spent time alone in prayer. So much had happened and he had been consistently surrounded by people. It was time to spend the evening with God — to be refreshed, restored, and renewed. He knew there would be difficult days ahead for him and for his disciples. It was time to reveal himself to his closest followers in a new way.

Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!” – Matthew 14:24-26

Imagine what this might have been like for them. Many of them were fishermen, so this probably was not the first time they had been in a boat when the weather had turned. But perhaps they were farther out from the land than they had been during a storm; perhaps the waves were stronger than they had experienced before. In the midst of the familiar, there was a new challenge, and they were struggling.

JESUS WAS WITH THEM IN THE STORM.

The disciples were where they were told to be. Jesus had insisted they get into the boat and cross over to the other side of the lake. It had been a long day. It was time to send the people home and time to travel to the next place. It was in obeying Jesus that the disciples found themselves in a storm they could not get themselves out of. And in the midst of the heavy waves and strong winds, Jesus made himself known to them. In order to experience the power of Jesus, they had to fully experience the storm.

But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”

Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”

“Yes, come,” Jesus said. – Matthew 14:27-29a

JESUS INVITED PETER TO WALK OUT ON THE WATER TO HIM.

The invitation was clear — Jesus was calling Peter to come out onto the water, even though the waves were large and the wind was strong. Peter had a choice to make. He could experience Jesus from the safety of the boat or he could experience Jesus in a place that required a whole new level of faith.

So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.

Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”

When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed. – Matthew 14:29b-33

Today’s Reading: Matthew 13:44-46, 53-58, 14:1-21

“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.

“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!” – Matthew 13:44-46

Jesus painted a beautiful picture of what God desires from us — to be all in. He wants our full attention as we give ourselves completely to the life He is calling us to. Nothing is more important; nothing has more value than the Kingdom of Heaven.

The man discovered the treasure in a field. Perhaps he was not looking for it but knew the value of what he had found. He sold EVERYTHING in order to have the treasure. On the other hand, the merchant was searching. He was on the lookout and his attentiveness caused him to discover a pearl of great value. He was looking for choice pearls and found one of even greater value than he was expecting. He sold EVERYTHING. He bought into it and fully owned it.

The merchant was amazed at what he had found, just as the people of Nazareth were amazed at the wisdom and healing power of Jesus. They had known him as the son of Joseph, but they struggled to see him as the King of Kings.

When Jesus had finished telling these stories and illustrations, he left that part of the country. He returned to Nazareth, his hometown. When he taught there in the synagogue, everyone was amazed and said, “Where does he get this wisdom and the power to do miracles?” Then they scoffed, “He’s just the carpenter’s son, and we know Mary, his mother, and his brothers—James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. All his sisters live right here among us. Where did he learn all these things?” And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him.

Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family.” And so he did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief. – Matthew 13:53-58

THEY MISSED OUT ON THE EXPERIENCE OF JESUS.

They did not see Jesus as special. They went from being amazed by what Jesus could do to offended that he was trying to be anything other than the Nazarene carpenter’s son. They dug in their heels and refused to believe in him. And because of their unbelief, many went unhealed. Their experience of the ministry of Jesus was minimal because they lacked the faith to believe he could make that kind of impact on their town.

Upon hearing the news that Herod had put John the Baptist to death, Jesus went away to have some time alone. But crowds of people from many different towns followed him to that area and met him as he stopped out of the boat. Jesus had compassion on them and began to heal those who were sick.

THEY WERE HUNGRY TO EXPERIENCE JESUS.

That evening the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.”

But Jesus said, “That isn’t necessary — you feed them.”

“But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!” they answered.

“Bring them here,” he said. Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people. They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers. About 5,000 men were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children! – Matthew 14:15-21

So where do you see yourself in this morning’s coffee? Do you see the experience of Jesus as something worth seeking? Are you willing to give your all to that which has eternal value? Perhaps this describes who you used to be, when you were searching and discovering Jesus for the first time. But it is easy for the stories of Jesus to become so commonplace that we no longer treat them as special. We allow Jesus to be so familiar that we are no longer expecting something special from him.

Lord, we need a fresh passion from you this week. Give us a hunger to search your scriptures like a merchant searching for choice pearls. Open our hearts to the discovery of something of great value as we prepare our hearts for the celebration of your birth. May we be intentional to give you our full attention, experiencing you in new and powerful ways this Christmas. Surprise us beyond what we can even comprehend experiencing in you — a pearl of greater value than expected. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Matthew 13:31-35

Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds. In fact, he never spoke to them without using such parables. 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.” – Matthew 12:34-35

I love a good story. There is power in hearing a story and letting it change your life. Stories keep us engaged and help us remember God’s teaching. Jesus’ stories do the same thing. They bring theology into full color and make it easier to understand.

Jesus also said, “The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, while he’s asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens. The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens. And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle, for the harvest time has come.” – Mark 4:26-29

We have to trust the way God uses His Word in the heart of another person. It is mysterious and beyond what my human effort can produce. I can plant the seed and I can pray for the harvest, but I have to leave the results up to the Lord. In the words of the apostle Paul: “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow” (1 Corinthians 3:6).

God calls us to plant the seed but what happens after that is beyond our control. We cannot make the decision for another person. We can stay close by to support them and encourage them and to answer their questions, but the decision to live for Christ is theirs and only theirs to make.

Here is another illustration Jesus used: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. 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.” – Matthew 12:31-32

What an encouraging verse! We cannot get discouraged at our small attempts to plant seed, even when we do not see immediate results. Like a farmer, we need to have patience and trust that there is growth below the surface that we cannot see. We need to have faith and believe that God can grow that seed into something large and spectacular – something that will one day help others who come to rest in its shade.

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.” – Matthew 12:33

The Kingdom of God is permeating and has the power to transform! Jesus started with 12 disciples, and now look how the gospel has spread across nations, cities, communities, and neighborhoods! One by one, the gospel is shared and new life springs up. The change in a new Christian is small compared to the work that God intends to do over time in the life of His children. Transformation and growth will take place and continue in that person’s life, and soon they will be planting seeds in the lives of those around them. This is how the message of Jesus spreads and takes root; this is how the Kingdom of God continues to increase.

Then Jesus told this story: “A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.’

“The gardener answered, ‘Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down.’” – Luke 13:6-9

Oh the love of our Jesus, that He would never give up on us.

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. – 2 Peter 3:9

If He does not give up on us, we should not give up on the lost. Even when we cannot see the growth that is happening below the surface, we must TRUST GOD FOR THE RESULTS. We must listen carefully and obey what He prompts us to do and to say. We must never give up on the seeds. We must see in it the potential of being the largest plant in the garden. For the sake of the birds who will someday nest in its branches, we must give it time, special attention and plenty of prayer.

Today’s Reading: Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43, 47-52

“A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.” – Matthew 12:35

Good and evil. Jesus spoke of these two opposites many times, often in the context of judgment – judging what is evil and what is good, dividing the two and separating them into two distinct places, heaven and hell. Jesus told a story that answers the question that we continue to ask today.

WHY DOES GOD ALLOW EVIL TO CONTINUE TO IMPACT THE WORLD, LEAVING BEHIND A TRAIL OF PAIN, SICKNESS AND DEATH?

Here is another story Jesus told: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away. When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew.

“The farmer’s workers went to him and said, ‘Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds! Where did they come from?’

“‘An enemy has done this!’ the farmer exclaimed.

“‘Should we pull out the weeds?’ they asked.

“‘No,’ he replied, ‘you’ll uproot the wheat if you do. Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.’” – Matthew 13:24-30

God has not wiped evil off the face of the earth because He is not willing that any should perish. There are many who have yet to accept the gift of salvation and God is patiently beckoning them to Himself. God loves His children and desires for their destiny to be heaven and not hell, but He gives them free will – the choice between good and evil, between serving Him or serving themselves.

Peter understood what Jesus was teaching. Later he wrote: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

God does not want anyone to be destroyed, or to perish. We do not like to talk about hell. It’s uncomfortable. We have softened our talk on hell enough that there are many who doubt its reality. But Jesus did not back down from speaking about the judgment day or the harvest when good and evil will be separated. The reality of this coming separation should not quiet our discussion, instead we should be busy planting seeds and spreading the gospel in order to save others from being “thrown into the fire.”

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.”

Jesus replied, “The Son of Man is the farmer who plants the good seed. 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. 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.

“Just as the weeds are sorted out and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the world. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will remove from his Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. And the angels will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s Kingdom. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand! – Matthew 13:36b-43

“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that was thrown into the water and caught fish of every kind. When the net was full, they dragged it up onto the shore, sat down, and sorted the good fish into crates, but threw the bad ones away. That is the way it will be at the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked people from the righteous, throwing the wicked into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Do you understand all these things?” – Matt. 13:47-51

Jesus spoke of a day when evil will be separated from good. Until that day, we live in an imperfect world where evil and good coexist. We have a choice to either be influenced by the evil around us or to cling to the good. In the meantime, we have a responsibility to overcome evil and spread the good news to those around us.

“Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.” – Matthew 12:30

Father God, remind us of our calling. Help us to see that there are those around us who need us to reach out and save them from the influence of this world. Let us not become so comfortable in our own salvation that we are no longer uncomfortable with the knowledge that others are without salvation. Remind us that you, God, can make great change in the lives of the unsaved around us, just as you are transforming our lives. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Matthew 13:1-23

On the same day that Jesus taught that good trees produce good fruit and bad trees produce bad fruit, he went out by the lake and sat down. Large crowds gathered around him, so Jesus stepped into a boat. The people gathered on the shore as Jesus began teaching them in parables — a simple story with a deeper meaning.

“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 13:3b-9

My life has been greatly impacted by the book The 4 Disciplines of Execution by Chris McChesney, Sean Covey and Jim Huling. The book talks about using lead measures and lag measures when trying to obtain your wildly important goals. These concepts are making a huge difference on how much we get done each year at work and on where we place our focus.

Lag measures are the measure of the result you are trying to reach while lead measures are the measure of what will predictably influence the lag measures. Here is a simple example that helps these concepts make sense. I am trying to lose weight. How many pounds I lose will be my lag measure, but I am probably not going to lose weight if my focus is on how much I weigh each morning. Stepping on the scales each day is simply not going to take the pounds and inches away. I need to instead focus on the lead measures – how many calories I am burning and how many calories I am consuming. It is reasonable to predict that if I burn more calories than I consume, I will lose weight.

Now let us consider Covey’s concepts while reading the parable of the farmer scattering seed. If the farmer’s goal is to grow more plants, and he knows that the more seed he sows the more plants he grows, it makes sense for him to plant more seeds in order to grow more plants. It is predictable. If he wants his harvest to be a certain size, his focus must be on how many seeds he plants and how many fields he works in.

“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

Not everyone who hears the message of salvation is going to accept it. Not everyone who hears how they can receive forgiveness and freedom from sin will choose to believe. Some of the seed we plant will fall on the footpath, some on rocky soil, some among thorns and some on good soil. If our lag measure is how many people pray to accept Jesus as their Savior, the lead measure is what? If we want to lead someone to Christ, not for our own gain but so that they can experience the joyful life we are blessed with each day, what do we need to do?

At the Pregnancy Resource Center, our desire is to equip women to make their pregnancy decision from a place of hope, faith, knowledge and support. So our lag measure is the difference we make in someone’s life but our focus needs to be on our lead measures. How many opportunities do we have each day to present a woman with her options, provide material assistance to help her prepare for the birth of her baby, talk about Jesus, and comfort a woman grieving from her abortion experience? If we want to make a bigger difference in our community, we have to have a strategy for getting the message out there of who we are and what we do. So client marketing is the lead measure we are looking at. After all, how can we help her if she does not know we exist?

If our mission as believers is to introduce others to Jesus or to see those around us accepting Jesus as their personal Savior, we could ask ourselves what we are doing to encourage those opportunities. In light of Jesus’ parable, we could ask how many seeds we are planting each day. If we don’t plant seeds, there will be no harvest.

I sat in a youth leaders meeting and someone voiced the burden they were carrying for some of our struggling teens. While encouraged by the spiritual growth taking place in the lives of some of our teens, we are also saddened by some of the choices being made by others. By the end of our discussion, we were reminded that we need to just keep “planting seeds” by creating opportunities for the teens to grow in their understanding of God as well as opportunities to live out their growing faith. We need to keep investing in their lives, trusting God with the results.

Where will my focus be today? Is it just another day about me or will I see myself as the farmer whose goal is to have a large harvest this year? If I do not set out with my eyes open for opportunities to plant seeds, I will most likely miss every chance that comes my way. But if I see myself as a planter of seeds today, I will look for opportunities to reach out to those around me, because it may just be the seed needed to grow a plant.