PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 13:36-43
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom.” (Matthew 13:38)
In His explanation, Jesus makes it clear that this world is God’s kingdom.
The problem in the kingdom is not the kingdom itself, but the people in the kingdom.
The enemy sowed bad seed in God’s kingdom (Genesis 3), and humans became his people.
Humans have sown bad seed ever since, making the world a dominion of darkness.
As Jesus followers, our hope for the kingdom is not to leave this world.
Our hope is for evil to be weeded out of the world, and for humans to shine again!
The righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” (Matthew 13:43)
If we claim to follow Jesus, we need to be good seed, producing good crops.
Our deeds, reflecting Jesus, must be bright and good, making things better.
“Whoever has ears, let them hear.” (Matthew 13:43)
Having ears to hear does not just mean understanding this, it means living it.
The Lord is helping us to change, to produce the kind of fruit that remakes His world.
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control!
Ears that hear result in lives that produce, so that what we do will not be weeded out.
PRAYER
Lord, may Your kingdom come… in my day to day thoughts, words and deeds. Help me to make this part of Your world a better place by how I live in it.
Lord thank you for showing us how to live so we may “shine like the sun” in the kingdom. Help us stay on the path of the good seeds, and give us wisdom so that we may lean on You!
Living together with the weeds. To me it is a really helpful picture – I need to be encouraged to be the good seed as I rub shoulders with others. But how do I know who ultimately is good – some may be bad all their life and at the end finally bear a good seed and be saved. Therefore, the harvester waits until the end – and so must I – not condemn anyone and write them off. While there is life there is opportunity!
Expect the weeds – but don’t run away from them nor let them choke me!
Our world belongs to God. But since the fall, the kingdom and light and darkness are at odds. My words and deeds need to show that the kingdom of light is the only one that will produce good fruit, the fruit I need to bear. And that can only happen when I start each day by dressing myself with the armour of God.
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You
To see You high and lifted up
Shinin’ in the light of Your glory
Pour out Your power and love
As we sing holy, holy, holy