Meditations

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

Some of the sower’s seed “fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit” (Matthew 13:8).

I want that kind of good ground. But if I don’t have it, how do I get it (or become it)?

It’s in how I hear the Word (Matthew 13:19, 20, 22, 23).

How I hear the Word, how I receive it — that’s a choice I get to make.

Another choice I have is to ask God to create in me a soft heart, a receptive heart, an obedient heart.

It is the choice to live “by every word of God” (Luke 4:4). Read it all

John 1:29-34

John the Baptist identified himself as a voice, specifically, “the voice of one crying in the wilderness.” John cried for repentance. John cried out the news of the coming One. John cried forth that the kingdom of Heaven was at hand. John was a voice, John had a voice, John used his voice to prepare the way for Jesus. Have you found your voice?

John was very busy preaching repentance, baptizing the repentant, and preparing the repentant for Jesus. Then one day he saw Jesus Himself coming. “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

Read it all

Matthew 12:1-13

“Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day” (Matthew 12:2).

Earlier, some Pharisees had asked the disciples why Jesus ate with publicans and sinners (Matthew 9:11).

When Jesus had heard about that, His response had included this: “But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Matthew 9:13). This seems to be a quote from Hosea 6:6, “For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.”

But they were unpersuaded, asking soon after: “Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days?” (Matthew 12:10).

Do we understand their fixation with the Sabbath?

If you accepted that God established the Sabbath as a sign and a covenant with Israel (Exodus 31:13,16,17; Ezekiel 20:12,20), would you endorse its violation? Of course you wouldn’t!

Nevertheless, their priority choices regarding God’s Law were different than His. Let’s see to it that our own spiritual priorities come in line with God’s. Read it all

Ephesians 6:10-20

10 — If our strength and power aren’t from Him and in Him, we are weak and powerless. The Christ life can be lived no other way.

12 — Never forget the identity of the real enemy! If you’re a Christian, it isn’t your comrade-in-arms.

14 — This is the third time we’re told to stand. We can only do this “in the Lord.”

18 — Behold the armor for your back and your fellow soldier’s back! Who said we don’t have protection for our backs?!

20 — In bonds but bold. Amazing! May I as an ambassador for Christ speak as I ought to speak. Read it all

Job 38:1-5; 40:1-5; 42:1-9

38:1 — God sure waited a long time to speak to Job!

Perhaps God had to wait that long before the hearts of Job and his three friends were open to what He had to say. Perhaps the wait hints at unrevealed developments in the conflict between God and Satan.

God didn’t pull the curtain back on Job’s suffering. We know what it was about. It seems apparent that Job never did.

38:2 — Job 42:2 may be Job’s answer: “I uttered that I understood not.”

40:4 — When God is our standard of measure, we respond as Job did, “I am vile.”

42:3 — He realized he had misunderstood and misrepresented God.

42:4 — KJV uses demand when a much more frequent translation of the Hebrew term is ask.

42:5 — Remember Job 23:8? There Job talked about not being able to see God. Now he sees Him. Perhaps this was a similar experience to Isaiah’s as recorded in Isaiah 6:1-7. Read it all