Prayer
Before you read, I invite you to pray this prayer based on Psalm 119:147-148.
LORD, I rise before dawn and cry for help;
I put my hope in your word.
My eyes stay open through the watches of the night,
that I may meditate on your promises.
Speak to me, Lord, for I am listening. Amen.
Briefly prepare your heart in silence, and ask the Holy Spirit to awaken your awareness to the voice of God, coming to you through His Word.
Reading
Today’s two brief parables are very closely related to yesterday’s parable of the wheat and the weeds. After all, they are set right between that parable and its explanation.
When we read them as deeply interconnected parables, Jesus’ meaning becomes very clear; and it is this: While we have to accept the reality of living in a fallen, broken world and in the midst of evil, we can take heart and be encouraged. We need never despair. His Kingdom will grow!
Like a tiny mustard seed miraculously growing into a great tree that provides shelter for all the birds of the air, or like a pinch of yeast causing a great batch of dough to rise, the Kingdom of God will grow and spread! Driven by the loving hand of Almighty God and the power of His Spirit, the Kingdom of light, life and love will grow irresistibly, even in the presence of great darkness, hatred and death.
When we observe the evil around us, and even at times the evil that takes root in our own hearts, it is easy to be overcome by hopelessness and despair. But today’s parable is a gift from the Lord to encourage and strengthen our faith. It calls us to hold on to Him, trust Him and stay faithful to Him, even in the darkest night. And, wonder above wonders, as we do so He will be faithful to use our faithfulness as an instrument to grow His Kingdom and drive back the darkness.
Cecil Northcott writes in his book called Christianity in Africa that a group of young people from many nations were discussing how the Christian gospel might be spread. They discussed propaganda literature, and all the possible ways of communicating the gospel. Then the girl from Africa spoke. “When we want to take Christianity to one of our villages, we don’t send them books. We take a Christian family and send them to live in the village and they make the village Christian by living there.”
That is the great promise of Jesus! In any group, school, community or workplace, the faithful witness of one Christ-loving individual can introduce the Kingdom of Light like yeast into a batch of dough. One man or woman set on fire for Christ can set the whole forest ablaze!.
Contemplation
Please take time to ponder what Jesus has commanded us. Turn these declarations over in your mind. Keep them in mind throughout the day and live in step with Your King, Jesus.
As a disciple of Jesus Christ,
- I will take heart even in the presence of darkness and evil.
- I will stay faithful to Jesus.
- I will trust Him to grow His Kingdom in me and through me.
Lord Jesus, help me not to lose heart, and keep me faithful by the power of the Holy Spirit! Amen.
Dave's Diary 
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