Sunday 31st January 2010

Luke 8.18

18 Be careful how you listen. Whatever someone has they will be given more, and whoever does not have, whatever they think they have will be taken from them.

Perhaps these words of Jesus are linked to the parable of the sower; it may be that Jesus is referring to those who are happy to have their ears tickled by God’s word, but do not let it take root in their life. This would be like the seed that falls on the rocky ground.

In these days we would liken this to those who are eager to attend Christian conference after Christian conference, having their ears tickled, but never allowing it to become the root of a fundamental change in their life.

Jesus warns us that when this happens they will lose whatever they may think they have gained.

It simply means that if we do not listen carefully to Jesus and act upon what He says, then we will be worse off than we were before hearing His word.

In days gone by if someone was looking miserable a comment that was likely to be directed to them was: “You look as though you have lost a bob (5 pence) and found a tanner (2.1/2 pence)”. Losing £1.00 and finding 10 pence leaves us worse off.

Paul writes to Timothy these words: For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to right teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever they want to hear – 2 Timothy 4.3.

However, if we listen carefully to Him and put into practice whatever He says, then He will lead us into receiving even more from Him. The more we listen and obey, the more we will receive from Him.

Being obedient to Jesus means that our life in Him will bring much progression. Each step forward will be built upon our careful listening to Him. Let today and every day be a day for telling the Lord that we are listening to Him with a determined heart to follow His leading.

Saturday 30th January 2010

Luke 8.17

17 Nor is anything hidden that will not become obvious, neither will there be secret things that will not also become known and made obvious.

Jesus tells us that it is inevitable for anything which is hidden in a person, for it to become obvious.

This happened to King David concerning his immorality with Bathsheba. This private act led him into the public action of having her husband, Uriah, put on the front line of battle, where the fighting was fiercest, so that he could get rid of him. This would leave him free to marry Bathsheba – 2 Samuel 11.2-27. The way he conducted certain parts of his private life caused him a lot of heartache.

Each one of us has things in our history that we would rather they remain hidden, because we are afraid that others will think less of us if they really knew all about us. However, since we are all in the same situation, none of us is in a position to point the finger at anybody else.

Jesus had already told His listeners to remove the log from their own eyes before trying to remove the splinter from someone else’s eye. Sadly there is a tendency for us to highlight the hidden things in other people, whilst keeping quiet about the secret things in our own life.

We try to hide things from ourself, from God and from those closest to us, as well as the world at large. In this we are all good actors.

However, Jesus tells us that everything that is hidden will be made known. It is impossible to hide things from God.

Our best course of action is always to repent of the wrongs that we do, especially in thought. Then to confess these to Jesus and receive His cleansing for that which is hidden: 1 John 1.9: But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.

He sees all and knows all.

Therefore, His knowing everything about us is a display of His great love towards us.

There is another sense in which we can understand this verse. There are many who hear what God says and do it, but it is unseen. Many carry on doing the work that the Father has called them to, but that work is often hidden from view. This can mean that others think less of them, because they do not see the secret things of God that they are engaged on. The promise of Jesus is that these things will become obvious.

Friday 29th January 2010

Luke 8.16

16 Now no man lighting a candle covers it with a container, or puts it under a table (bed), but he puts it on a candlestick, so that those who are coming in might see the light.

Some of us may remember the days when electricity was not in every house. Some were lit by gas and others by paraffin lamps. Still others had candles; others had a mixture of light source.

I remember having to use a candle to light the way upstairs and to bed. When working on the railway in the 1960’s I mostly worked with the aid of paraffin lamps. Gas lighting was a luxury.

When working as a porter we used paraffin lamps to signal to the engine driver that he was clear to start the train. These lamps had small reflectors behind the flame to improve the light distribution.

The whole point of having a light is not to hide it, but to display it so that others may see it and take notice of what it meant. The lamps I referred to had different coloured aspects: red for the driver not to start and green for him to move the train.

It would have been a waste of time hiding these lamps so that the driver could not see them.

Jesus said that He is the light of the world – John 8.12, and He also said that we are the light of the world – Matthew 5.14.

Jesus is our light to illuminate His way before us. Psalm 119.105 says: Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.

With the light of His word shining in our hearts, our minds are transformed into His ways of thinking, our minds are able to see and understand things that are not discernable by natural thinking. We need the light of His word shining in us.

Also we are the light of Jesus shining in this dark world. The light that we are called to shine is His light. We are the beacons that Jesus uses to draw people out of this dark world. The darkness of this world cannot overcome the light of Jesus within us.

Thursday 28th January 2010

Luke 8.12-15 cont.

12 Now the seed that fell on the footpath are the ones who hear (the word), but then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, lest they believe and might be saved.

13 But the seed that fell on the rocks are like those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy, but they have no roots; they believe for a time, but in a time of testing they fall away

14 Now the ones falling among thorns are those who hear (the word), but the worries of riches and pleasure of life choke them and they do not bear fruit.

15 Now the one (falling) in the good earth, these are those who are honest and good in their hearts, hearing the word they keep it and produce a crop through patient endurance.

This parable that Jesus told informs us that different people react in diverse ways. The good news of Jesus is not universally popular; because it offends the natural thinking that mankind can earn his own salvation. This thinking does away with the need for Jesus to die on the cross to pay the price of our sin. Therefore, there are those who will be offended by the good news of Jesus, rejecting and fighting against it.

Jesus warns us about this in Matthew 5.11 “God blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about because you are my followers”. Jesus does not say ‘if’, but ‘when’. As we sow His word we should expect these reactions.

However, the great news is that there is a harvest, because the good soil produces a bumper harvest.

If we put ourselves in the shoes of the disciples, as they heard Jesus begin to explain the parable, maybe they began to think that on hearing the first three types of reaction, things were looking a bit bleak. They could have got quite discouraged. Then comes the good news that in spite of the negative reaction of some, the positive reception of the good soil more than makes up for previous hard times.

They had already experienced the mocking and rejection of the religious leaders; they knew what it was like to be thrown out of the synagogues and excluded from certain parts of society. Yet they could still see that the word and ministry of Jesus was producing a harvest.

In our life and work for Jesus there will be those times when we may face setbacks, rejection, and exclusion. Yet as we continue to sow His word we can be sure there will be a harvest.

Paul writes these words: So don’t get tired of doing what is good. Don’t get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time – Galatians 5.9.

Wednesday 27th January 2010

Luke 8.15

15 Now the one (falling) in the good earth, these are those who are honest and good in their hearts, hearing the word they keep it and produce a crop through patient endurance.

As I write, it is the last day of December and I have been into our green house and reaped some new potatoes. I knew that when the seed potatoes were planted they would not produce a crop straight away. The seeds had already been treated to make them produce a crop at Christmas.

As with all plants there is a gap from the time of sowing to the time of reaping. It is during this time that other things have to take place, like keeping the weeds away. (Weeds always seem to grow quicker and stronger that what has been planted).

So it is with the seed that falls into good soil. Jesus says that it is through patient endurance that the good soil produces the harvest.

As soon as we receive God’s word some things will immediately change within us. Immediately Jesus becomes the focus of our life; instantly we have a relationship with Him that turns our world upside down with a joy and enthusiasm that is the product of heaven.

Other changes in our life take more time; some of our worldly thought patterns have long roots and need time to be uprooted. The continued sowing of God’s word takes place throughout our whole life. Therefore, as we receive His word so we will be constantly being changed to conform to His ways.

The reading of the Bible is a life time’s experience with the expectation that as we read so we grow more into producing His fruit within our life.

In Galatians 5.22-23 Paul tells us what fruit we believers need to produce: [22]  But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23]  gentleness, and self-control.

With the Holy Spirit within us the seeds of these fruits are within us. Let’s look forward to a bumper harvest.

Tuesday 26th January 2010

Luke 8.14

14 Now the ones falling among thorns are those who hear (the word), but the worries of riches and pleasure of life choke them and they do not bear fruit.

As we look at this parable of Jesus it is necessary for us to realize that there is nothing wrong with the seed, which is the word of God. This may seem obvious, but it is important for us to realize that it is His word, and as such it will last forever. Therefore, it is indestructible. Many governments have tried to destroy God’s word. Countries have banned the printing of Bibles, its distribution and its import from other countries. These efforts will all fail, because it is God’s word that will never pass away.

Therefore, the parable that Jesus told is about the response of people to His eternal word.

Now we come to consider the seed that falls into ground, which is productive, but the seed gets choked by brambles and thorns.

Jesus makes it clear that this is ground that produces a harvest; it is ground that makes room for God’s word. However, the issues of this world are given a greater importance than God’s word. Jesus is given a place that is subject to other things that press upon us.

Today’s lifestyles appear to be so very busy that Jesus  and His word can quickly be pushed to the margins of our life. Our concentration on what we think is important in life can soon snuff out the light of Jesus within us.

Being busy has the potential to starve us of the oxygen of His word.

It has been said that the enemy of doing our best is settling for second best. The reason for this is that second best chokes out the best.

The best comment on these words comes from Jesus, who said: [19] “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where they can be eaten by moths and get rusty, and where thieves break in and steal. [20] Store your treasures in heaven, where they will never become moth-eaten or rusty and where they will be safe from thieves. [21] Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be - Matthew 6.19-21.

Monday 25th January 2010

Luke 8.13

13 But the seed that fell on the rocks are like those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy, but they have no roots; they believe for a time, but in a time of testing they fall away.

When I was a young junior porter on the railway, the station master showed me how to plant some Aubrieta in the station rockery. (I found the name on the internet!). I was amazed at how little soil it needed to survive. Most plants do not survive on rocky ground, because there is insufficient soil to feed them. The Aubrieta does not grow tall, but it does spread. It is easily pulled up.

The ground that Jesus refers to is most likely to be rocky ground that is covered with a thin layer of soil, such as would be found on our hills and mountains where there is enough soil to give an initial growth to seed, but not enough depth to produce and support a crop.

Jesus tells us that there will be those who are very pleased to hear Him and to take on board what He says. Yet they do not take His word to heart. They do not let His words live in them in all their richness.

The words of God are the most powerful creative force; by His word the whole of creation has been made, and He is still creating.

The wonder is that He does not force His word into us, or to remain in us. He has given us the choice to either live and be shaped by His word, not to pay lip service to it, whilst ignoring its’ power to effect, change and mature us.

It would appear that there are two kinds of rock to take note of.

There is the rock that is just underneath the surface of our life that eventually rejects the growth of God’s word. 

Then there is the rock of Jesus upon whom our life needs to be built. As we build on Him we shall be constantly changed to reflect His glory.

Sunday 24th January 2010

Luke 8.11-12

11 Now this is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God’s word.

12 Now the seed that fell on the footpath are the ones who hear (the word), but then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, lest they believe and might be saved.

In New Testament times a farmer’s land was divided into small strips, between which there were footpaths. The people would have been familiar with these footpaths, which they could walk along. As with any well used public footpath today, there were hard and well compressed. Therefore, there was no loose soil into which seed could bury itself and take root.

No doubt many of us that use computers have had a message come up that tells us that there is insufficient memory to complete a task. The memory has become packed full and there is no room for anything else. Try as we may the computer will refuse to have anything to do with the task we wish to perform.

Both the path and the computer memory represent the heart that has become hardened and incapable of taking anything in.

In these cases Jesus warns that the devil soon comes and takes God’s word from the person’s heart.

Maybe, Jesus was referring to the Pharisees in this parable when He spoke of the hard ground. In their strict observance of the law and their traditions they had become incapable of receiving anything from God, and could not imagine that He would require anything other than what they already knew.

I am aware that the older I get the more likely it is that there will be areas in my life that are well trodden down. As such they can become resistant to God’s word, causing me to lose out on an opportunity to be expanded into more of the things of God.

In these instances the answer is to be found in Hosea 10.12: Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of steadfast love; break up your fallow (empty – seedless) ground, for it is the time to seek the LORD, that he may come and rain salvation upon you.

Saturday 23rd January 2010

Luke 8.4-10

4 Now from each city a large crowd came together to Him, and He spoke to them by means of a parable;

5 A famer went out sowing his seed, and as he was sowing some of the seed fell on the footpath and was trodden on. The birds of the air came and gulped it down.

6 And other seed fell on rock, which sprang up but shrivelled because it did not have any moisture.

7 And other seed fell in the middle of brambles; it also sprang up with the brambles, which choked it.

8 And other seed fell on good earth and it sprang up producing a hundred times as much. In saying these things He called out: “The one who has ears must listen”.

9 Then His disciples asked Him what the parable meant.

10 Then He said: “It has been given to you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of God, but to the rest (I speak) only in parables so that they do not see what they look at and they do not understand what they hear”.

Verse 10 presents us with a bit of a puzzle. W Barclay tells us that there are various explanations of this verse.

1 Matthew records these words of Jesus in such a way which suggests that Jesus uses parables because the people could not understand the truth of God’s word without their use. The parables were intended to help people realize what Jesus was saying.

2 Matthew follows this saying with the words of Isaiah 6.14 With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah which says: ‘You shall indeed hear but never understand, and you shall indeed see but never perceive.

The suggestion here is that even with the parables the people still did not understand what Jesus was saying.

It would seem that no matter how Jesus put the message across, people had become so dull in their understanding that there was no possibility of them grasping God’s truth.

This was certainly true for the disciples. They were in no different a position, since they took Jesus to one side and asked Him what He was talking about.

It is easy to believe that using the picture of a farmer sowing seed would immediately strike a cord of understanding with His listeners. Indeed it was something with which the crowd and the disciples would have been familiar with. However, their familiarity with the picture did not open their eyes with faith filled understanding.

Just as the disciples needed Jesus to explain the parable, so, also, do we often need the Holy Spirit to teach us and explain to us some of the mysteries of the gospel.

Often times there are things which Jesus says to us or leads us into, but we fail to understand the purpose or meaning. In such times the disciples made use of the access they had to Jesus to ask for the explanation.

Through the Holy Spirit, we also have access to Jesus, to ask Him to give us understanding about the things we do not understand. He will answer; sometimes by telling us things we did not know, or by telling us to patiently wait till the time is right for Him to reveal things to us.

Friday 22nd January 2010

Luke 8.1-3 cont.

1 And it happened that afterwards he travelled through every city and village proclaiming and preaching the Kingdom of God, and the twelve were with Him.

3 And there were some women having been healed from evil spirits and ailments, Mary, who is called Magdalene (a tower), out of whom had gone seven demons,

3 And Joanna (Jehovah is gracious), the wife of Chouza (the seer), steward of Herod, and Susanna (a lily) and many others; theses met their needs (Jesus and the disciples) from their wealth. 

The nature of humanity is to create rank or position. Once I was on a course where those leading it wanted to see who were the ones that would take the lead. It is true that these things are important in order to accomplish many of the things in life. There has to be leaders and followers; those who supervise and are supervised.

The Roman centurion recognized this, as we have seen at the beginning of chapter 7. He was a man both in authority and under authority, and he saw this truth in Jesus.

In 1 Corinthians 11.3 Paul writes: But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a woman is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.

In order for any society to function effectively there has to be some form of rank, order and position.

However, the wonderful thing in the Kingdom of God is that people of different rank and positions are mixed together. This is what has happened with the women mentioned in these verses.

There was Mary Magdalene, who had been a prostitute, and, therefore, not a woman to be associated with. Then there was Joanna, whose husband was highly ranked as the chancellor to Herod.

Here is one of the marvels of Jesus. In Him we are all the same. We are all redeemed sinners and we all need His salvation. No one can claim that their rank or position in society will earn them salvation. It is within the church of Jesus that all streams of society become one. It is in Jesus that all who are born again become brothers and sisters together.

Peter preached: “I see very clearly that God doesn’t show partiality” – Acts 10.34.

James tells us that it is a sin to pay special attention to some above others. – James 2.9.

Perhaps the best way to treat our brothers and sisters with no partiality is to constantly remember exactly where Jesus has rescued us from.