Horticultural Advice from the Messiah

 

When the plants sprouted and produced grain, then the weeds also appeared.

Matthew 13:26

This verse is in the middle of a parable Jesus told comparing the Kingdom to a field containing both good seed and weeds. The landowner's servants suggested going into the field and pulling out all the weeds, but that plan was rejected for fear of damaging the good crop while attempting to get rid of the bad.

In Jesus' words, “‘No,’ he said. ‘When you pull up the weeds, you might also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At harvest time I’ll tell the reapers: Gather the weeds first and tie them in bundles to burn them, but collect the wheat in my barn.’”

Leaning into the obvious interpretation that "the harvest" represents the end of time / the second coming of Christ / the final judgement, let me make two observations:

     1. This calls into question all the speculations about a "rapture" where God's people get taken away and the unsaved folks get left behind.

But more importantly...

     2. It seems that when it comes to determining what (i.e., who) is a weed or part of the good crop, God's intention is for it to be done at the end of all things by the harvesters, not in the midst of the growing season by the plants themselves.

In other words, while I certainly am called to be discerning about what advice I take or whose example I follow, it is never my job to say, "You're in. You're out." Plenty of plants and weeds look alike when they're growing. It's only later on, when fruit is produced, that you can really be sure.

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Truth is...The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

What the Old Guys in the Front Row Knew

Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate the loaves and were filled.

John 6:26

In my growing-up years, I spent Sunday mornings in the second pew from the front, seated behind a row of old, big-eared deacons who were waiting to serve communion and take up the offering. I sang the hymns, listened to the sermons, and never passed notes or whispered to my friends.

When I became a teenager, I started wishing for something more than ancient songs and sitting quietly. I started looking for a faith that expressed itself in more exciting ways. And I soon found a group of friends who wanted the same.

It started with the attitude of "Jesus loves us and died for us. Isn't that worth getting excited about?" It didn't take long, though, before excitement alone wasn't enough. We started evaluating musical skills and speaking abilities to determine where to be involved.

One day, it hit me. Those old guys on the front row didn't need the latest musical style or the hippest graphics to keep them interested in Jesus. They faithfully served for decades because the gospel is true and God deserves to be honored.

To bring it back to John 6, they weren't looking for a free meal, they were sitting at the feet of The Teacher.

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Truth is...It is worth considering whether I am seeking God, or seeking blessings from God.

 

Tiny Creatures, Big Wisdom

 

Hyraxes are creatures of little power,

yet they make their home in the crags

Proverbs 30:26

Right off the bat, let's get something straight. On my own, I've got absolutely no idea what a hyrax is...other than the antlers of a notably tall elk, perhaps.

The King James Version calls them coneys, which, of course, is a particular style of chili dog.

The Amplified Bible doesn't even translate the word, but anglicizes it to shephanim and defines them as "small, shy, furry animals (Hyrax syriacus) found in the peninsula of the Sinai, northern Israel, and in the region around the Dead Sea."

None of which is really all that important.

There's a greater point being made than Solomon's mastery of wildlife identification.

This verse is second in a list of four creatures that are small in stature but exceedingly wise:

• The ant, who stores food for itself
• The hyrax, who dwells in the safety of a rock-solid domicile
• Locusts, who never travel alone
• Lizards, who are small enough to hold in your hand, but they live in kings' palaces.

So...what's that greater point I mentioned?

If you think you are disadvantaged compared to others who have a bigger influence or a healthier body or a larger bank account...stop fretting. Yahweh provides for your well-being and intends the very best for you.

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Truth Is...Consider how the wildflowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you  -  you of little faith!
-  Luke 12:27-28

Linus and the Half-Shined Shoes

 

Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.

Matthew 23:26

Oddly enough, Jesus didn't have a very good relationship with the Pharisees of his day, even though they were well-known for being experts in the law and very particular about following every little detail.

This verse is in the middle of seven "woe to you" statements by Jesus against the Pharisees and it reminds me of a set of panels from the Charles Schulz comic strip, Peanuts:

Jesus used the metaphor of a half-cleaned cup to emphasize that it's not a person's public persona or image that matters, but the content of their character. If the whole shoe doesn't shine, what's the point?

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Truth Is...It's not about keeping up appearances as much as it's allowing Jesus to raise up within us a factory of faithfulness.

We're Gonna Rock This Town

 

Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains came loose.

Acts 16:26

This verse comes in the middle of an amazing story, and has nothing to do with God answering prayer.

Paul and Silas had freed a slave girl from demon possession. Her owner (who was using her to "tell fortunes") was upset about losing his source of income, so he dragged them into the town square and trumped up some charges against them, until they were beaten and thrown into the deepest, darkest part of the city jail.

There they sat, feet in stocks: white-collar criminals treated like thugs.

But they didn't cry out to God in anguish. They didn't call down fire from heaven to destroy their oppressors. They didn't even ask God to free them.

What were they doing just before the earthquake hit? According to verse 25, "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them."

And I know those prayers didn't include "please free us," because when the doors of the prison flew open, and the manacles and chains burst asunder, nobody got up and ran out.

Paul and Silas took their chance at freedom and turned it into an opportunity to talk with the jailor about Jesus...resulting in that jailor and his whole household being saved.

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Truth is...The next time you're feeling low or wrongly accused or beaten up by your circumstances, don't lash out or complain. Try spending some time worshipping the One who controls earthquakes. Who knows what might happen and what good might result?

Giving a Future Apostle the Side-Eye

 

When he arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, since they did not believe he was a disciple.

Acts 9:26

It's hard to blame the Jerusalem Christians for being a bit leery of Saul of Tarsus.

The last time they had seen him, he had promoted himself from coat-checker at Stephen's stoning to judge-jury-executioner on his way to Damascus, warrant in hand, ready to round up and jail every Christian he found.

So when he shows back up in Jerusalem trying to be all "Hey! Shalom shalom, my brother!" they were, naturally, sceptical.

He hadn't changed his name to Paul yet. He hadn't travelled throughout Asia Minor and the coastal regions of the northern Mediterranean planting churches yet. He had yet to set pen to papyrus to write a quarter of the New Testament. 

I'm so glad those Jerusalem believers got beyond their distrust of Paul's past. I'm even more glad that Paul didn't let their scepticism destroy his bold faith.

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Truth is...Mutual funds and stock portfolios will tell you that "Past performance is no guarantee of future results," but that also applies to everyone you meet...and you, too.

I Wonder About Simeon

 

It had been revealed to [Simeon] by the Holy Spirit
that he would not see death
before he saw the Lord’s Messiah.

Luke 2:26

The prophets of Israel had been silent for 400 years. The promise of Yahweh that he would send a deliverer who would make all things right was getting harder and harder to hope for.

"How long, O Lord?"

And while it must have been personally encouraging to Simeon to know that it was all going to finally come to pass in his lifetime, I do wonder about a few things:

• What was Simeon's age when he was told by the Holy Spirit that he would live to see the Messiah? How long had he been waiting since he was given this news?
• How was Simeon told? Was there writing on the wall? Was it a strong feeling or thought that just wouldn't go away?
• Did Simeon tell other people about his special standing as the countdown clock to the Messiah?
• And if he did, what was their reaction to this news? Was he a revered elder, looked up to by everyone...or was he the crazy old man who hears voices in his head, avoided and whispered about by young and old alike?

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Truth is...I am probably asking these kinds of questions because I'm not sure I'm all that good at differentiating between the Holy Spirit and my personal convictions, opinions, and wishes. That's also why it's important not just for me to be in the Scriptures, but for the Scriptures to be in me...fueling my ability to recognize the voice of God when I hear it.