Why Jesus Spoke In Parables

 

Jesus says below, "This is why I speak to them in parables."

 

The Gospel of Matthew, chapter 13 (verses 3-53) says:

 

(3-4) Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.

(5-6) Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.

(7) Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.

(8) Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

 

(9) Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

 

(10-12) The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.

 

This Is Why

 

(13-14) This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “ ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.

(15) For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears,and they have closed their eyes.Otherwise they might see with their eyes,hear with their ears,understand with their heartsand turn, and I would heal them.’

(16-17) But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

 

Listen, Then

 

(18-19) “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.

(20-21) The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.

 

Your Daily Circumstances

 

(22) The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.

(23) But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

 

Another Parable

 

(24-26) Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.

(27-28) “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ “ ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’

(29-30) “ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’ ”

 

The Kingdom Of Heaven

 

(31-32) He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”

(33) He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”

(34) Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable.

(35) So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.”

 

The Parables Explained

 

(36) Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”

(37-39) He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

(40-41) “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.

(42-43) They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.

 

Kingdom First

 

(44) “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

(45-46) “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

(47-48) “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away.

 

Have You Understood?

 

(49-50) This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

(51) “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked. “Yes,” they replied.

(52-53) He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.” When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there."

(Matthew 13:3-53)

 

Get it?

Got it?

Good.

 

Well, here's hoping. :)

Strive on!

 

#StraightOuttaTheBible

 

Straight Outta the Bible: The Stone the Builders Rejected

 

"The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone."
(Psalm 118:22)

In case you're curious, but not sure, that verse is talking of the Jews crucifying the Messiah, the Christ - Jesus. This was just 1 of the prophetic words given in the times hundreds and thousands of years before Jesus was born, telling of the coming Messiah who would be the savior of the people (Luke 1:26-35).

This prophecy (along with at least 100 others in the Old Testament) was fulfilled by Jesus in his short lifetime. Israelites killed him for proclaiming (and showing via many, many miracles) that he was, yes, the Messiah (Luke 22:66-71) sent to earth to atone for our sins, to bring on a new way, a new focus.

God knew we could never fully atone for our continuing sins. So Jesus came to earth and stepped in for us (Philippians 2:6-7).

He shed his blood so that all who follow & believe in his truth, his testimony, his sacrifice, would be forgiven by the Father God.

 

--O--

Selfish people who don't like to hear what they don't want to believe (such as what Jesus says in John 14:6), say this is hate, somehow. Well, “bah humbug” to that, I say. Read the actual bible and you'll see that kind of thinking for the pile of manure that it is.

Definitely, too many times in the history of Christianity, there have been many who used God's word for their own plans and schemes, and got way off track with what God actually says throughout the whole bible, not just in 1 verse here and another there.

There have been many -- the Crusades for example -- who ignore what Christ actually said, and seem to heed the Old Testament moreso than Jesus Christ's loving ways. But what’s done is done. No denying it. They did that, and now and then someone else pops up and does it again, trying to take only small bits of what the Holy Bible actually says, and twist it to their selfish advantage.

 

--O--

Jesus brought love and grace to earth, as the new law of God (Romans 7:6, Ephesians 2:15). He is love. He is so loving that even as he was dripping blood from the cross, and the Israelites and others mocked him and spit on him, he didn't get mad. He prayed for them, asking God to forgive them (Luke 23:34).

He did tell us over and over again that God made it so that now, a belief in Jesus is the only way into heaven (John 14:6), to spend eternity in God's presence.

You know what? Big deal. That's not hate. I absolutely love my kids, our kids. But I'm not happy with absolutely every choice they make, no way. And I try to guide them towards the better way. Sometimes I straight-out tell them the right thing, smarter thing, or simpler thing, rather than letting them go on in a wrong or more difficult way.

Sometimes I merely give suggestions, hinting at a bigger picture. Because, as with most of us, the human way seems to be to learn the hard way. We are a stubborn people, indeed.

We all need correction now and then, and quite often, we need guidance to do the right thing, to make the better choice. Everyone, every one of us, needs to learn of a better way, now & then. I don't care if you're 6, or 60. You know it's true.

 

--O--

You know why children and many old people tend to believe in God more easily? Kids aren’t caught up in their pride just yet (most times) and are more open to the supposedly impossible, incredible things in life. Well, there’s that, and there’s also Matthew 11:25.

As for older people, well, quite often they have simply lived life and had plenty of time to see things for themselves, and accepted the supposed truths as truth, and seen the wisdom of the reality of God.

This is, I believe, why Jesus tells us to consider the children (Matthew 18:2-3).

Be wary of what others tell you in this world of lies and deceit. Including me. Don't just take my word for it. As one well-known Christian often says, "Read the Bible - it's great for the soul!" ;-) Check out God's word for yourself. The more you learn, the more you'll see why Christians are often thought to be hypocrites, but aren't, really. Also why grace, i.e., forgiveness, is the new law. Also why it's considered "God's living word," not just 'written by man' as many unbelievers like to spout off about.

 

--O--

Want to learn for yourself? You can start here: [www.biblegateway.com/]

If you wanted to jump right into the life of Jesus and what he actually said, start with the 1st 4 books of the New Testament. Each one gives you varying notes and quotes directly from Jesus. Each was written by 3 of the Apostles who walked with Jesus during his 3 year ministry. The 4th is by a doctor who studied everyone he could find who knew Jesus personally, not too long after he died, rose again, and ascended into Heaven.

They are the first 4 books of the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John (Luke is the doctor).

You can find those 4 books and many others in the Bible, at the link above. Just look for the link below the search box on that page, titled, “Bible Book List.” ;-)

 

#StraightOuttaTheBible #Bible #Psalms #Cornerstone #Jesus

 

The Race Marked Out for Us?(7 verses to comtemplate today)

 

"You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?"
(Galatians 5:7)

"You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness."
(1 Thessalonians 5:5)

“Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.”
(Proverbs 29:25)

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”
(Hebrews 12:1)

“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,”
(Hebrews 12:28)

"...I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us."
(Philippians 3:13-14)

"Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 1:6)

 

Strive on -- all for His glory!

 

You Are God’s Cross-Stitch Pattern

 

A colleague said a very true thing the other day. She said:

"Life is messy, but that doesn't mean I'm failing."

 

Amen to that! In fact, let me reiterate that point:

Life Is Messy -- But That Doesn’t Mean You’re Failing

 

I wanted to share that very good point, and also share with you what I said to her in response:

"Nah, not failing. Just being creatively artistic along the way. In all sincerity, try to keep this in mind:

If you look at the back of a cross-stitch pattern, it's messy as all get out. All kinds of colors mixed up and jumbled up and going this way and that. You can stare at it and wonder how the heck anything that looked so screwed up, could resemble anything nice, never mind a work of beauty.

But you flip that sucker over and on the other side is an organized, transformed work of art.

I used to have a picture of a lighthouse in a small frame. I started keeping it out of the frame to share this truth with people, once someone explained this point to me. Ultimately I gave it to my pastor to use as it's such a powerful truth.

Because our lives are exactly like that cross-stitch pattern. Our lives, most often to us, look like the backside of that pattern. All jumbled up, with unrecognized beauty, if there is any at all, hidden under jumbles of... stuff.

But God is doing something with us. While we often cannot recognize it as it's happening, when our lives are said and done, God helps us to see the side he's been watching. The other side, which we rarely see when we're in the middle of... life.

God makes that jumbled up mess, those unrecognizable bits of beauty and structure that encompass our lives, connect and make something wonderful.

That's your life, [put your name here, reader]. Revel in it. God is using you, indeed. He already has, with others around you.

 

"Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 1:6)

"...I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us."
(Philippians 3:13-14)(NLT)

"Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."
(Hebrews 4:16)

"Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'”
(Matthew 19:26)

 

He's Talking About You

 

Paul was sent by Jesus to share god's offer of His son to us -- the outsiders, the pagans, the non-Jews. What Jesus Said to Paul was this, straight out of the Bible:

 

"I'm sending you off to open the eyes of the outsiders so they can see the difference between dark and light, and choose light, see the difference between Satan and God, and choose God. I’m sending you off to present my offer of sins forgiven, and a place in the family, inviting them into the company of those who begin real living by believing in me."

(Acts 26:17-18)(MSG)

 

Prayer for Today

Thank You, Father, for your son, Jesus Christ the Risen Messiah. Please, open the eyes of my heart. Do not let me lead myself any longer. Give me your Spirit, Lord. I open myself to you now, the best I know how. I want you. Please, make me yours and lead me down your narrow path. In Jesus name I ask this. Amen.

 

#StraightOuttaTheBible

 

Straight Outta the Bible: From All Nations & All Times

 

The Book of Revelation, chapter 1, verses 4-7 say:

 

"...All the best to you from The God Who Is, The God Who Was, and The God About to Arrive, and from the Seven Spirits assembled before his throne, and from Jesus Christ—Loyal Witness, Firstborn from the dead, Ruler of all earthly kings.
Glory and strength to Christ, who loves us,
who blood-washed our sins from our lives,
Who made us a Kingdom, Priests for his Father,
forever—and yes, he’s on his way!
Riding the clouds, he’ll be seen by every eye,
those who mocked and killed him will see him,
People from all nations and all times
will tear their clothes in lament.
Oh, Yes."

(Rev 1:4-7)(MSG)

 

#StraightOuttaTheBible‬

 

Those Who Can’t Hear the Music

 

"Those who dance are considered insane by those who can’t hear the music."
-- George Carlin

Yes, indeed. Christians, too, are called weak, foolish, crazy, whatever. Due simply to the fact that those who mock Christianity have not yet ever truly heard the music, the sweet melodies that only the Holy Spirit can provide.

 

Thank You, Jesus, for opening the eyes of my heart. Please, Lord, I ask you to open the eyes of all the hearts of *everyone* who reads this. Don't let any of them escape. Give them hearts of flesh that you can reshape, Lord, and cast out their hearts of stone, as you say in the Bible. If you can do it to me, and to hard-headed Marines I've prayed for and whom you've changed, I know you can also save all who read this. In Jesus mighty name I ask this, all for your glory, Father. Amen.

 

A Proper Response!

“As surely as God lives, what God says, I’ll say.”
   -- Micaiah the Prophet (in response to the King's messenger - 1 Kings 22:14)

 

Oh, but that we all had that determination & faith. More men (including me at times!) need to stop being typical males, and start being men - real men of God.

Thank you, Jesus, for your model. You, for sure, let your yes be your yes, and your no be your no.

 

Jesus May Not Be Santa Claus, But...

I've heard it said that "Jesus is not Santa Claus." Meaning He is not there simply to give us stuff. While I know that's true, still, there are these verses to contemplate:


Psalm 5:3 says:

"In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation."

There's also James 4:2, which says you do not have because you do not ask.


Thank You, Lord, for your love and your guidance -- and for all your blessings.

Two Apostles Named ‘Judas’

I don't know about you, but I often forget that there were 2 apostles named Judas. More often, my thoughts are along the lines of, 'I feel bad for anyone named Judas, after a bit of history like that.' But there was a ‘good’ Judas!

Poor guy. He gets a bad rep, I'm telling you. Far more people I'm sure, remember the Judas who betrayed Christ. But there were two apostles named Judas.

Thank You, Lord, for the reminder.

The Twelve Apostles
(Luke 6:12-16)

"In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles:
Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor."

More Than Just A Prophet Or Miracle-Worker

Jesus shows us many times throughout the Gospels (the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John, the first 4 books of the New Testament) that he is far more than 'just' a Prophet or a miracle worker.

He not only says quite clearly, but shows us again and again, that He is the Son of God, and One with God.

Jesus tells us and shows us that He is the Messiah foretold of in the Old Testament. Here's just one example:

Mark 2:1-12 says --

“And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!” (ESV)

Cheer for Your Favorite Team!

Martin Luther King Jr. shared a dream he had. With God's help, he brought that dream to fruition in many ways.

Much like MLK Jr., I too have a dream.

I dream of a day when people will, without being hindered or concerned, get up off their seats and cheer and chant and scream their heads off with joy and competitiveness and love for God -- as they now do for their favorite sports team.

With pride, love, and passion for the lover of their souls.


Enjoy the Superbowl this weekend, all of you who will take part in the many celebrations involving it.

But please, also consider -- if you claim to love God -- why you show more passion and zest and zeal for a sports team than for your Almighty God?

Jesus Was Not A Good Man

It's been pointed out many times by Christians that Jesus in no way could simply be, "A good man," a good teacher, or good prophet. If you read even a little of what he actually said to us in 4 separate books of the Bible (the Gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John), it's clear that Jesus is either who he said he was (the Son of God, & One with God) or he was a raving lunatic.

Then there's this, about Mary:

"Don't be afraid, Mary," the angel told her, "for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!"

(Luke 1:30-33)

This small grouping of 3 verses says to me that Mary could be said to have been a lunatic too. Either that or truly have heard from God, as it states clearly).

Because who gets told she is carrying God in her womb? Who claims to have been impregnated by a Spirit rather than by a man? These are not statements to take lightly. And seems to me that Jews wouldn't have taken such statements about David's throne lightly, either.

Yep, seems Mary was either crazy, too -- or was a noteworthy part of God's plan for our salvation.

Prayer for Today

Thank You, Jesus, for the clarity & wisdom you provide to many, to recognize the truth that has been shown throughout history. Thank You, Jesus, for being our bridge back to God the Father.

Please, Lord, open the eyes of our hearts now. Reveal yourself to those of us reading this, who do not yet truly know You.

Father, we ask this in the mighty name of your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Whole of the Old Testament Speaks of Jesus

My pastors (www.TheMovementChurch.info) have said many times that the whole of the Old Testament speaks of Jesus, that the Holy Bible is ALL about Jesus Christ and God's plan through Him.

I just read first-hand that Jesus says the exact same thing (in one of the Gospels, the Book of Luke, Chapter 24):

"He said to them, 'How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?' And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself."
(Luke 24:25-27)

"He said to them, 'This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.'”
(Luke 24:44)

Thank You, Father, for your ways being above our ways, and your thoughts above our finite thinking. Thank You for Jesus, and for the Holy Spirit -- and for Your divine plan.

The Only Work God Wants from You

"Jesus told them, 'This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.'" (John 6:29)

'Work' isn't easy. It's why they generally have to pay you to do it. It's often challenging, takes effort, and is at times hard.

We are to WORK to believe.


Learn what you need to, in order to grasp the truth of God, of Christ.

Strive for a fuller understanding of God. Put forth effort in knowing Him better.

Work at it! :)

Prayer for Today

Father God, thank You for your son, Jesus. Thank You for your word to guide us, in the Holy Bible.

Please continue bringing us closer to You, Lord. Please bless us with a strengthening of faith.

Bless us with your Godly wisdom.

Bless us with discernment -- so that we may tell the truth from lies, the hype from the holiness, and your righteousness from our own rotten pride.

Please, Lord, help us to know You better, deeper, more intimately. Give us a fuller understanding and faith in You, the One, True, Almighty God.

Thank You for Jesus. It's in Him that we pray to You now. Amen.

A Prayer for Your Day

Good Morning Jesus, Lord. Thank you for today, Lord. Thank you, Father. Thank you for the Holy Spirit to lead us today.

Lord, we’ve got a ton of stuff we think needs doing today. We often get caught up in worry and concern over things we ‘think’ are important. We know you know all that is truly important, and what is not.

We put our day, our plans, our very lives, in your hands, Jesus. We know we are under your authority anyway, even if we chose to ignore you. But Lord, we willingly, happily, give ourselves to you today, the best we know how.

Please lead us today. Please bless us today. Please bless others through us, use us, today, Lord. Be in the middle of every interaction we have. Bless everyone, everyone we interact with. And please bless the outcome of every interaction today.

Please bless each of us with your Godly wisdom. Bless us with your Holy peace this day, Jesus. Help us to stay calm in the face of absurdity which seems so common these days. Help us to lead, rather than be led by such ignorance, such emotion.

Lord Jesus, please strengthen us this day, so that we can easily handle all that we have planned. Our responsibilities and our hopes of enjoyment today as well, Lord. We give them to you. Please lead us through them.

More importantly than our own plans and hopes, Jesus, help us handle with your grace whatever you allow in our path today. Your will be done, Lord, not mine, not ours.

Strengthen our faith in you today, Lord. Give us a deeper understanding of you, of your word. Fill us to overflowing today, Jesus, with your amazing peace, with your love, and with your grace for all those in our paths today.

Put a desire in our hearts, now, Jesus, to want to, to need to, read more of your word, the Holy Bible. Thank you for your Word, Father.

We ask Lord, please, do these things for all those we love, care about, and pray for. Our family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, peers, and even our enemies, Lord. Please bless each and every one of us in these ways today.

Thank you for your almighty power, and for paying attention to our tiny details in each of our lives as well, Jesus.

Only you, only you could hold the waters of the earth in the palm of your hand, and yet still know the number of hairs on our heads, Lord. Only you know the thoughts in the deepest recesses of our hearts. Only you could do so much, care so much, and pay attention to every detail of our lives as well.

Thank you for loving us, Lord. Please, lead us now, Jesus. Amen.


To the best of your ability today, Friend -- strive to make it extraordinary! You’ll never be able to ‘re-do’ this day, this hour.

You only get one chance at making the most of each day. Make today extraordinary.

I encourage you to begin, now, by letting Jesus Christ, THE Lord and Savior, lead you.

Sharing the Richness of Romans 12

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:21 -- NIV)

That verse was shared with me recently.

It’s a good verse. But I'm not one for simply accepting single verses as they are. I like to know what context surrounds them, too, when possible.

The Book of Romans, chapter 12, has lots of great stuff in it. It's a great chapter to show one how to live with honor, with integrity.

Here are just a few examples of the richness within:

Part of verse 2 says, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."

Part of verse 9 says: "Hate what is evil; cling to what is good."

I’m giving only bits and pieces here. To hopefully intrigue you enough so that you go and actually read it for yourself. Also to share some important points here, just in case you don't go and read it for yourself.

If you choose to actually read God's inspired word, the very breath of God (2 Timothy 3:16), you can start at BibleGateway.com -- if you don't have a bible handy.

BibleGateway.com has tons of versions -- and languages -- to choose from. You can look scripture up in 5 different versions at once, if you'd like. It's a handy tool -- and a blessing to have available.

Other bits from Romans 12 say things like:

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer"

"Practice hospitality"

"Bless those who persecute you"

"Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn."

Verse 16 is sobering. But I'll let you read it for yourself. It's worth your time to go and read, trust me. It should tap you upside your noggin and provide a bit of enlightenment -- no matter what bible version you choose.

Actually 16-19 are huge. And anyone who says the Bible is not relevant to today's world is just silly.

The last bit I'll share with you on this chapter is about heaping burning coals onto others heads. And no, it doesn't say NOT to do it. Seriously, check it out for yourself. It’s one of the ‘fun’ verses, but truly, oh so hard to live up to.

Grab your bible -- or jump on over to BibleGateway.com.

And God bless your reading!


My Prayer for You Today:

Lord, please, bless each one who reads this with your Godly wisdom. Open their eyes, their hearts, to your truth. Break down the walls every one of us puts up each day. Take away their hearts of stone, and give them hearts of flesh, Jesus, please? Allow them to begin seeing you in everything, Jesus. Soften our hearts, and sharpen our minds today, Lord. Please forgive us our sins, and put us on your narrow path starting this very day. Father, I praise you, and I pray to you, all in the name of your son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.