Repeatedly

Two days ago I wrote Again, so I couldn’t use that word – but some things not only bear repeating, but God repeats them. He did for me fifty years ago.

There was an issue, a difference of opinion, an open rift between me and what had been a close friend. It was so wide, and the edges so painful, that I didn’t even want to look back at the quake that opened it.

When my mother-in-law mentioned that I would have to be the one to reach across the gulf, I touched the painful edges and decided she could be ignored. You know how mothers-in-law are, somewhat interfering, right? When we got home from that visit, my mother made a similar comment. Not a problem, I wasn’t far out of my teen years, I was used to ignoring her. But – that Sunday the sermon was on forgiving seventy times seven. Third time the admonition was repeated, I got the idea. We healed the rift.

Last Wednesday night we had preacher drop in with his youth department. Their church was under construction and could not be used for that particular service, so the whole group came and joined with us. He sang for us, then preached on the parable of the sower – the first part of Matthew 13.

Last night during my Chronological Bible Reading in YouVersion, Matthew 13 was one of the chapters.  This time it didn’t take the third repeat for me to take a close look, not only at the parable, but at the explanation.  Jesus didn’t explain much, though he spoke often in parables.  In Matthew 13:18-23, Jesus explained the seed was God’s word, the parable was how it was received.

There is the very real wicked one (mentioned him yesterday) who works to remove the word that was heard. Satan misuses verses, lies about the word of God and remains alert to work to keep hearers from learning more.

Then there’s the hearer that likes what is said, but is so ready to forget it when it causes problems. Perhaps he says grace, and someone makes fun of it. Perhaps he speaks of Jesus, and is told that’s a fairy tale myth. Perhaps he does offend someone, and he becomes politically correct. He stops learning.

Now the third trusts more in what the world has to offer. The ‘Now’ person who cannot see beyond the next paycheck and what it can buy. The one who see’s what is growing along side, and not the harvest that is to come. He has no time to learn more.

Finally, the fruitful example – heard, understood and bore fruit.

All heard, one understand. Instead of applying themselves, learning more, spending time looking for the answers, seeking God, the others gave up. It really didn’t matter where the seed fell, what mattered was the desire to come to an understanding of God’s word.

I leave it up to the reader to continue to Matthew 13, read both the parable and the explanation, then continue studying until an understanding is reached. Understanding is available to those who seek it. The Bible says so.