Luke 18:2,3 - He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary’. Here Jesus tells the story of a man with power, authority and great responsibility.… Continue reading Persistence
Category: Lessons from Jesus
Kingdom Work
Matthew 20:8 – And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ When you read the parable of the labourers in the vineyard, what image comes to mind? Is it working for God in His… Continue reading Kingdom Work
Who is the Greatest?
Matthew 19:13 - Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples had been having a conversation about importance which got a bit heated and turned into an argument. I have tried to imagine how this particular discussion might have started. Were they just talking in… Continue reading Who is the Greatest?
Valuable Treasure
Matthew 13:44,45 - The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field… it is like a merchant in search of fine pearls… Jesus continues to explain the complexities, through simplicities, of the kingdom of heaven. Because, realistically, how do you convey the wonder, the glory, the nature, the power and the cost of… Continue reading Valuable Treasure
Positive Influence
Matthew and Luke both put the story of the mustard seed alongside this second parable in which Jesus says, “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened” (Matt 13:33). Bread was such a major part of the daily diet that… Continue reading Positive Influence
Starting Small
Jesus spent time trying to explain the kingdom of heaven to his listeners even though He knew that very few would understand. As always, He tried explaining in ways and concepts that they could relate to in order that their eyes might be opened to the truth. The Palestine mustard plant was widely grown and… Continue reading Starting Small
Growing Among Weeds
Matthew 13:24,25 – The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. For those of you who are gardeners, weeds are most certainly the bane of your garden. If… Continue reading Growing Among Weeds
Come and Rest
Matthew 11:28 – “Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Is there anyone who doesn’t enjoy a good rest? Our bodies all need a certain amount of rest; while we sleep, for example, the body has time to repair itself, rebuild energy levels and restore its… Continue reading Come and Rest
The Cost
Luke 9:23 – And He said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” When we think of the cross, we think of God’s love and Christ’s sacrifice, but what did those listening at the time think of? It was not unlikely… Continue reading The Cost
House Building
Luke 6:47 – “Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like:” Jesus finishes this first section of teaching by comparing his listeners with builders and dividing them into two types. One group hear what He has said and do what He has taught;… Continue reading House Building
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