Apicontent

“Then Jesus said, ‘A man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, “Father, give me the share of the estate that will belong to me.” So he divided his assets between them. After a few days, the younger son gathered together all he had and left on a journey to a distant country, and there he squandered his wealth with a wild lifestyle. Then after he had spent everything, a severe famine took place in that country, and he began to be in need.’” —Luke 15:11–14

Jesus begins this familiar story of the lost son by setting the scene for a display of God’s immeasurable grace. The lost son represents the tax collectors and “sinners”—and ultimately, each one of us! At the beginning of this story, the son arrogantly demands from his father: “Give me the share of the estate that will belong to me.” Isn’t that so like us! We want what we want—and we want it now!

Matthew Henry observes:

“The great folly of sinners is being content to have their share in hand, now in this lifetime to receive their good things. They look only to the things that are seen, and covet only a present enjoyment, but have no care for future happiness.”

I am reminded of the words in Proverbs:

“Remove falsehood and lies far from me; do not give me poverty or riches, feed me with my allotted portion of bread, lest I become satisfied and act deceptively and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or lest I become poor and steal and demean the name of my God.” —Proverbs 30:8–9

While riches and material goods are not in themselves intrinsically bad, the love of them will surely lead us astray. Paul’s words to Timothy describe this situation perfectly:

“Those who long to be rich, however, stumble into temptation and a trap and many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all evils. Some people in reaching for it have strayed from the faith and stabbed themselves with many pains.” —1 Timothy 6:9–10

The son takes his inheritance and proceeds to waste it on riotous living, leaving him destitute and in desperate need when famine falls on the land. Now this young man is in big trouble! He has put his focus on the wrong things and it has led him to a desperate place.

As believers, we are to be kingdom seekers displaying a life of daily faith. Unfortunately, many refuse to be bound to God’s authority, but like the lost son, bind themselves to the things of this world.

Isn’t it sad that it often takes difficult circumstances for God to get our focus back on Him? Jesus tells us:

“So then, don’t worry saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For the unconverted pursue these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” —Matthew 6:31–33

Become More

“It is natural for us to wish and to plan, and it is merciful of the Lord to disappoint our plans and to cross our wishes. For we cannot be safe or happy until we are weaned from our own wills and made simply desirous of being directed by His guidance. Although we understand this we seldom learn to put it into practice without being trained for a while in the school of disappointment. The schemes we form look so plausible and convenient that when they are broken we are ready to say, ‘What a pity!’ We try again, and with no better success; we are grieved, and perhaps angry, and plan another, and so on; eventually, in the course of time, experience and observation begin to convince us that we are no more able than we are worthy to choose correctly for ourselves. The Lord’s invitation to cast our cares upon Him, and His promise to take care of us, appear valuable; and when we have done planning, His plan in our favor gradually opens, and He does more and better for us than we could either ask or think. I can hardly recollect a single plan of mine, which if it had taken place in the time and the way I wanted would, humanly speaking, have proved my ruin; or at least would have deprived me of the greater good the Lord had designed for me. We judge things by their present appearance; but the Lord sees them in their consequences. If we could do the same we would be perfectly of His mind; but since we can’t, it is an unspeakable mercy that He will manage for us, whether we are pleased with His management or not; and it is regarded as one of His heaviest judgments when He gives any person up to the way of their own hearts, and to walk according to their own wisdom.” —John Newton

Further Reflections

“It is our self-importance, not our misery, which gets in His way.” —Daniel Considine

“We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us. We are far too easily pleased.” —C.S. Lewis

“The man who has God for his treasure has all things in one.” —A.W. Tozer

“Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search thoroughly until she finds it? Then when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.” —Luke 15:8–10

Consider for a moment losing something extremely valuable to you. Would you not search high and low until finding it—giving yourself no rest and having no peace of mind until it was discovered? Recounting every step you took when you knew it was in your possession? Perhaps recalling to mind with fondness and joy the past when everything was in its “proper place”? Constantly reminding yourself of where you could have possibly placed this cherished item?

This is the illustration Jesus gives of a Father full of compassion and love toward His wayward child. It is a glorious picture of our heavenly “Daddy” and His angels welcoming a wayward child. Our Father is full of compassion and mercy, slow to anger, and abounding in great love. He does not treat us as our sins deserve but desires for us to be in constant fellowship and relationship with Him. When we are in sin, that relationship is broken.

Scripture confirms God’s great love for us:

“In a far-off land the LORD will manifest himself to them. He will say to them, ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love. That is why I have continued to be faithful to you.” —Jeremiah 31:3

“I led them with leather cords, with leather ropes; I lifted the yoke from their neck, and gently fed them.” —Hosea 11:4

“They refused to obey and did not recall your miracles that you had performed among them. Instead, they rebelled and appointed a leader to return to their bondage in Egypt. But you are a God of forgiveness, merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and unfailing in your loyal love. You did not abandon them.” —Nehemiah 9:17

Matthew Henry explains this parable in this way:

“That which is lost is a piece of silver. The soul is silver, of intrinsic worth and value; not base metal, as iron or lead, but silver. It is a silver coin. It is stamped with God’s portrait and superscription. This silver was lost in the dirt; a soul plunged in the world is like a piece of money in the dirt; anyone would say, ‘It is a thousand pities that it should lie there.’”

Become More

“God loves us not because of who we are, but because of who He is.” —Anonymous

“I remember two things: that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior.” —John Newton

Further Reflections

“I love the LORD because he heard my plea for mercy, and listened to me. As long as I live, I will call to him when I need help.” —Psalm 116:1–2

“We forget that God is a specialist; He is well able to work our failures into His plans.” —Erwin Lutzer

“Then when he has found it, he places it on his shoulders, rejoicing. Returning home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, telling them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost.’ I tell you, in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need to repent.” —Luke 15:5–7

God takes great pleasure in the repenting and returning of the wandering!

“Now, dear friends, do not let this one thing escape your notice, that a single day is like a thousand years with the Lord and a thousand years are like a single day. The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” —2 Peter 3:8–9

Jesus’ rejoicing over the lost sheep that is found certainly shows us a heavenly perspective! Repentance, the lost one coming home, always brings a smile to God’s face and starts the angels singing! Great rejoicing abounds in heaven when the children of God finally “get it”! We are so earthbound in our thought processes. We rarely think eternally. But one day our partial reflection will give way to perfect vision. If we only truly understood what we are saved for and from, we would be rejoicing over the returning of the repentant.

“For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him. The one who believes in him is not condemned. The one who does not believe has been condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.” —John 3:16–18

Our verses today describe what occurs in heaven when a lost sheep is found. Basically, rejoicing abounds! The lost sheep repents, it wants to come home! Specifically, repentance is “to undergo a moral reorientation of the soul,” according to the New Testament Lexical Aids of the Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible. It goes on to explain:

“This reorientation acknowledges the error of one’s ways and turns them towards the divinely prescribed way of truth and righteousness. In terms of salvation (or conversion), repentance denotes a turning away from unbelief, mistrust, and rebellion against God and toward complete reliance upon His forgiveness and favor on account of Christ. Although repentance can be attended by and expressed through sorrow or contrition, it is fundamentally tied to the mind or heart and not the emotions.”

Become More

We simply cannot trust our emotions—they ebb and flow like the waves of the sea. If we are basing our belief on this tossing and turning, we are certain to be unstable in our ways. When we allow our emotions to control us, we vacillate over trusting in God’s provision and turning to our own fears and anxieties.

Trust in the truth of God’s Word. He is looking for the lost sheep … and rejoices when He finds it!

Further Reflection

“‘The supreme happiness of life,’ Victor Hugo said, ‘is the conviction on that we are loved’… Unfortunately, many people go through life feeling unloved–and unlovable … No matter the reason, your feelings aren’t telling you the truth! God loves you, and if you begin to see yourself the way God sees you, your attitudes will begin to change. If He didn’t love you, would Christ have been willing to die for you? But He did! The Bible says, ‘By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us’ (1 John 3:16). God loves you. Hammer that truth into your head and mind every day. It will make all the difference.” —Billy Graham

“So Jesus told them this parable: ‘Which one of you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go look for the one that is lost until he finds it?’” —Luke 15:3–4

Jesus came to save. Of all the different religions in this world, Christianity is the only one where God comes down to humankind—seeking us at our own level. Think about Adam and Eve right after their sin in the Garden of Eden. Prior to their disobedience, they had the unique experience of literally walking with God—totally naked, yet not ashamed. Then sin comes into the world, and they hide from God:

“Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God moving about in the orchard at the breezy time of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the orchard. But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, ‘Where are you?’” —Genesis 3:8–9

God is still seeking after us today!

Jesus demonstrates God’s seeking with Zacchaeus a bit later in Luke:

“Then Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this household, because he too is a son of Abraham! For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.’” —Luke 19:9–10

What mercy the Father bestows upon His lost sheep! Charles Spurgeon suggests that we “meditate for a moment on the mercy of God.” When we take time to meditate on God’s mercy we discover:

• God’s mercy is tender: With gentle, loving touch, He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds. He is as gracious in the manner of His mercy as in the matter of it.
• God’s mercy is great: There is nothing little in God; His mercy is like Himself—it is infinite. You cannot measure it. His mercy is so great that it forgives great sins to great sinners, after great lengths of time, and then gives great favors and great privileges, and raises us up to great enjoyments in the great heaven of the great God.
• God’s mercy is undeserved: As indeed all true mercy must be, for deserved mercy is only a misnomer for justice. There was no right on the sinner’s part to the kind consideration of the Most High; had the rebel been doomed at once to eternal fire he would have richly merited the doom, and if delivered from wrath, sovereign love alone has found a cause, for there was none in the sinner himself.
• God’s mercy is overflowing: Some things are great, but have little efficacy in them, but this mercy is a cordial to your drooping spirits; a golden ointment to your bleeding wounds; a heavenly bandage to your broken bones; a royal chariot for your weary feet; a bosom of love for your trembling heart.
• God’s mercy is unending: As Bunyan says, ‘All the flowers in God’s garden are double’. There is no single mercy. You may think you have but one mercy, but you shall find it to be a whole cluster of mercies.
• God’s mercy is unbounded: Millions have received it, yet far from its being exhausted, it is as fresh, as full, and as free as ever.
• God’s mercy is unfailing: It will never leave thee. If mercy be thy friend, mercy will be with thee in temptations to keep thee from yielding; with thee in trouble to prevent thee from sinking; with thee living to be the light and life of thy countenance; and with thee dying to be the joy of thy soul when earthly comfort is ebbing fast.

Become More

“But this I call to mind; therefore I have hope: The LORD’S loyal kindness never ceases; his compassions never end. They are fresh every morning; your faithfulness is abundant! ‘My portion is the LORD,’ I have said to myself, so I will put my hope in him.” —Lamentations 3:21–24

Further Reflection

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry.” —Matthew 11:28–30

“So the slave came back and reported this to his master. Then the master of the household was furious and said to his slave, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and alleys of the city, and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ Then the slave said, ‘Sir, what you instructed has been done, and there is still room.’ So the master said to his slave, ‘Go out to the highways and country roads and urge people to come in, so that my house will be filled. For I tell you, not one of those individuals who were invited will taste my banquet!’” —Luke 14:21–24

I am reminded of the promises recorded in the book of Isaiah:

“Strengthen the hands that have gone limp, steady the knees that shake! Tell those who panic, ‘Be strong! Do not fear! Look, your God comes to avenge! With divine retribution he comes to deliver you.’ Then blind eyes will open, deaf ears will hear. Then the lame will leap like a deer, the mute tongue will shout for joy; for water will burst forth in the wilderness, streams in the arid rift valley.” —Isaiah 35:3–6

Jesus demonstrated again and again that His ministry was directed toward those who realized they had a desperate need for Him. He specifically said:

“Those who are healthy don’t need a physician, but those who are sick do. Go and learn what this saying means: ‘I want mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” —Matthew 9:12–13

And this presents an important question: Do you and I realize that each one of us has a need? 

The Pharisees did not think that they were sinners so consequently they felt no need for a Savior. When one is filled with self-sufficiency and self-righteousness, the sufficiency and righteousness of a Savior is the furthest thing from their mind. The Laodiceans experienced this very thing:

“Because you say, ‘I am rich and have acquired great wealth, and need nothing,’ but do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked, take my advice and buy gold from me refined by fire so you can become rich! Buy from me white clothing so you can be clothed and your shameful nakedness will not be exposed, and buy eye salve to put on your eyes so you can see!” —Revelation 3:17–18

The Laodiceans were wealthy with possessions! And yet, clad in expensive and beautiful clothing, dripping in gold, they were oblivious to their need for clothes of righteousness to cover their nakedness and for God’s salve to open their spiritually blind eyes. Unaware of their own depravity, they needed a wake-up call!

“The LORD your God is in your midst; he is a warrior who can deliver. He takes great delight in you; he renews you by his love; he shouts for joy over you.” —Zephaniah 3:17

The Bible Knowledge Commentary has this to say about our verses for today:

“The people who originally had been offered a share of the kingdom had rejected it, so now the message was going out to others including Gentiles. The excuses seemed good to those who gave them, but they were inadequate for refusing Jesus’ kingdom offer. Nothing was so important as accepting His offer of the kingdom, for one’s entire destiny rests on his response to that offer.”

God gives us many wake-up calls and warnings through His Word, through His people, and through the circumstances that He allows in and around our lives orchestrated to turn our hearts back to Him. Patiently, lovingly and mercifully He waits for us to come.

I am reminded of Jesus’ words in Revelation:

“All those I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent! Listen! I am standing at the door and knocking! If anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come into his home and share a meal with him, and he with me.” —Revelation 3:19–20

Become More

“God hovers over the entire world, seeking to pluck from sin immortal souls who are in danger of ‘drowning’ in hell. He tosses out a line to all those who are in trouble. Some grab on to God’s line and freely receive the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ … But others ignore the line, or even knock it away, believing they are not really in peril, or that they can make it to safety on their own. Tragically, they are lost not because God has rejected them, but because they have rejected God. Don’t make the wrong choice!” —Billy Graham

Further Reflections

“I remember two things: that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior.” —John Newton

“In the gospel we discover that we are far more wicked than we ever dared believe, yet more loved than we ever dared hope.” —Tim Keller

“A man once gave a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time for the banquet he sent his slave to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, because everything is now ready.’ But one after another they all began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going out to examine them. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I just got married, and I cannot come.’” —Luke 14:16–20

Scripture makes it clear—all are invited! Unfortunately, few choose to come. And here we have two difficult doctrines—predestination and free will—living side by side. God’s foreknowledge and man’s responsibility both presented clearly. To deny either doctrine is to not hold to the truth of all of Scripture. The Bible tells us:

“For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before him in love. He did this by predestining us to adoption as his legal heirs through Jesus Christ, according to the pleasure of his will.” —Ephesians 1:4–5

At the same time, the Bible also makes it clear that Jesus died for all and that the invitation to believe in Him and be saved is extended to all. We are held responsible for either our acceptance or rejection of Christ:

“The one who believes in the Son has eternal life. The one who rejects the Son will not see life, but God’s wrath remains on him.” — John 3:36

In our story today Jesus is describing His people, the Jews, who are simply too preoccupied to accept the invitation of the Master of the banquet. Their excuses appear legitimate—a field bought, oxen purchased, and a marriage. And yet these concerns are inconsequential in light of eternity. How often we make similar excuses for not following the call of Jesus. The still small voice that keeps calling out to us we often quiet with busyness and distraction. We are so preoccupied with our responsibilities that we neglect our Savior. The “tyranny of the urgent” creeps in. Before you know it, we have wasted a lifetime!

Become More

In the little two-page book of Haggai God says no less than five times: “Think carefully about what you are doing.” In the very first chapter, He begins with:

“Here then, this is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies has said: ‘Think carefully about what you are doing. You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but are never filled. You drink, but are still thirsty. You put on clothes, but are not warm. Those who earn wages end up with holes in their money bags.’” —Haggai 1:5–6

The people’s activities are proving fruitless and unsatisfying. Going about business as usual with no consideration or preeminence to God and their relationship with Him, the Israelites give us insight into our own times. How much fruitlessness and dissatisfaction are you experiencing? God’s warning turned the people back to Him. Lovingly, He disciplined them for their good. He does the same with us.

Further Reflection

“For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” —John 3:16

“When you host a dinner or a banquet, don’t invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors so you can be invited by them in return and get repaid. But when you host an elaborate meal, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.” —Luke 14:12–14

God is concerned about everyone, regardless of their economic status or popularity. I am reminded of how David became King over Israel. His predecessor, King Saul, and Saul’s son Jonathan (David’s beloved and loyal friend) were dead. At that time, it was a customary practice for new kings to execute all remaining heirs of the previous king’s family to ensure the safety of their throne. But … wanting to show kindness in remembrance of Jonathan, King David throws a kink in the custom:

“Then David asked, ‘Is anyone still left from the family of Saul, so that I may extend kindness to him for the sake of Jonathan?’ Now there was a servant from Saul’s house named Ziba, so he was summoned to David. The king asked him, ‘Are you Ziba?’ He replied, ‘At your service.’ The king asked, ‘Is there not someone left from Saul’s family, that I may extend God’s kindness to him?’ Ziba said to the king, ‘One of Jonathan’s sons is left; both of his feet are crippled.’ The king asked him, ‘Where is he?’ Ziba told the king, ‘He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.’ … ‘You will cultivate the land for him—you and your sons and your servants. You will bring its produce and it will be food for your master’s grandson to eat. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, will be a regular guest at my table.’ (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.) Mephibosheth was living in Jerusalem, for he was a regular guest at the king’s table. But both his feet were crippled.” —2 Samuel 9:1–3, 9–10, 13

It has been said that you can tell a great deal about a person’s character by how they treat those who can do nothing to benefit or help them. We see from this account of David’s life that it is no wonder God calls him “a man after my own heart” (Acts 13:22).

We see Jesus demonstrating this same compassion in a scene described in Matthew:

“When he left there, Jesus went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up a mountain, where he sat down. Then large crowds came to him bringing with them the lame, blind, crippled, mute, and many others. They laid them at his feet, and he healed them. As a result, the crowd was amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing, and they praised the God of Israel. Then Jesus called the disciples and said, ‘I have compassion on the crowd, because they have already been here with me three days and they have nothing to eat. I don’t want to send them away hungry since they may faint on the way.’” —Matthew 15:29–32

Ever the reasonable, humanly possible thinking disciples balked at the idea, saying:

“Where can we get enough bread in this desolate place to satisfy so great a crowd?” —Matthew 15:33

Yet seven loaves of bread and a few small fish in the Master’s hands were enough to satisfy the four thousand plus the women and children:

“After instructing the crowd to sit down on the ground, he took the seven loaves and the fish, and after giving thanks, he took seven loaves and the fish, and after giving thanks, he broke them and began giving them to the disciples, who then gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. Not counting children and women, there were four thousand men who ate.” —Matthew 15:35–38

Become More

“Contribute to the needs of the saints, pursue hospitality.” —Romans 12:13

Further Reflection

“I am a humble pensioner myself for my daily bread.
Shall I forget my brother who seems in great need?
I know not how it happened that I have more than they,
Unless God meant that I should give a larger part away.
The humblest wayside beggar and I have wants the same.
Close side by side we walked when God called out one name.
So brother, it happened the name He called was mine,
The food was given for both, here, half of it is thine.” —Helen Hunt Jackson

“Then when Jesus noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. He said to them, ‘When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, because a person more distinguished than you may have been invited by your host. So the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, “Give this man your place.” Then, ashamed, you will begin to move to the least important place. But when you are invited, go and take the least important place, so that when your host approaches he will say to you, “Friend, move up here to a better place.” Then you will be honored in the presence of all who share the meal with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.’” —Luke 14:7–11

In our verses for today Jesus teaches us not to seek out importance! He tells His disciples the same thing again later in Luke:

“Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.” —Luke 18:14

The word “everyone” used in both of these passages sounds pretty all-inclusive to me! Jesus applies this same principle of humility to our relationship with God—it is necessary for us to humble ourselves before Him. It is only when we admit that we need a Savior that we are in a position to receive God’s forgiveness.

Those who exalt themselves in God’s presence will be brought low, yet for those who humble themselves, God will exalt them. 

James tells us:

“But he gives greater grace. Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud, but he gives grace to the humble.’ So submit to God. But resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and make your hearts pure, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter into mourning and your joy into despair. Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you.” — James 4:6–10

Paul tells us in Philippians:

“And God will exalt you in due time, if you humble yourselves under his mighty hand.” —1 Peter 5:6

“Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself. Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well. You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had, who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature. He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross! As a result God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow—in heaven and on earth and under the earth—and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” —Philippians 2:3–11

Become More

This is how it works—we empty ourselves of our own importance and God exalts us in His timing. How much better to be exalted by God!

“Jesus is the One who shows us the paradoxical route to meaning in a chaotic and hostile world. It’s the paradox of the gospel: Strength is found in weakness. Control is found in dependency. Power is found in surrender … God uses the frustrations of this life and the hurt of relationships to compel us to look beyond what we can control to the God who controls all things in order to woo us to himself. As we move from control to surrender, we move from chasing the wind under the sun to embracing God above it.” —Dan Allender, Breaking the Idols of You

Further Reflections

“The way up is down. The lowly one becomes the lifted one. There is a marked advantage to humility—eventually it brings honor.” — Bible Knowledge Commentary

“He has told you, O man, what is good, and what the Lord really wants from you: He wants you to carry out justice, to love faithfulness, and to live obediently before your God.” —Micah 6:8

“Again he said, ‘To what should I compare the kingdom of God? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of flour until all the dough had risen.’” —Luke 13:20–21

The work of the gospel often appears weak and small in its beginnings. The first breaking out of the gospel is like the sunrise. We see the purple, blue, and pink hues beginning to appear in the sky as the sun slowly makes its entrance, eventually giving full light to the day.

The Good News grows within us! The seed begins to grow as our actions are changed and our knowledge becomes clearer through the power of the Holy Spirit. Our love and passion becoming more and more inflamed. Just as the yeast silently works through the dough, the seed of the Gospel grows, and the world cannot hinder its growth.

Matthew Henry observes, “Thus it was in the world. The apostles, by their preaching, place a handful of yeast in the great mass of mankind, and it had a strange effect; it put the world into ferment, and in a sense turned it upside down.”

The Gospel was effective, not because of the people presenting it, but because Jesus was working in them through the power of the Holy Spirit! For we are told in Scripture:

“When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and discovered that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized these men had been with Jesus.” —Acts 4:13

Become More

When the gospel is in the heart, it works a change. It begins to permeate all the faculties of the soul conforming us into the image of Jesus—winsome, encouraging, loving, and irresistible. It is effective not by outward force but by the inner force of the Holy Spirit.

Further Reflection

“What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? It will be quite different from what you expect. You expect it will appear great, and will arrive at its perfection all of a sudden; but you are mistaken, it is like a mustard seed, a little thing, is tiny to the eye, and promises but little; yet, when sown it became a tree. Many perhaps were prejudiced against the gospel, because its beginnings were so small. Christ wished to remove this prejudice, by assuring them that though its beginnings were humble, its future would be prosperous; so that many should fly there, to lodge in the branches of it. You expect it will make its way by external means, but it shall work like yeast, silently and intangibly, and without any force or violence. A little leaven leavens the whole lump; so the doctrine of Christ will strangely diffuse its savour into the world of mankind. But you must give it time, and you will find it does wonders. By degrees the whole will be leavened.” —Matthew Henry

“Jesus asked, ‘What is the kingdom of God like? To what should I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the wild birds nested in its branches.’” —Luke 13:18–19

Here Jesus gives us a contrast between the tiny size of the mustard seed and the great plant that grows from it. He compares it to the influence of the kingdom of heaven which appears small and insignificant but becomes a mighty force with far reaching effects. Preceding Mark’s account of this same parable, Jesus gives us another interesting story:

“The kingdom of God is like someone who spreads seed on the ground. He goes to sleep and gets up, night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. By itself the soil produces a crop, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. And when the grain is ripe, he sends in the sickle because the harvest has come.” —Mark 4:26–29

Someone spreads the seed (the good news of Jesus through the Word of God) and in the mysterious work of God, the planted seed sprouts and begins to grow! God works in the life-bearing seed which, when planted in good soil, grows from stage to stage producing the grain without human intervention. How important it is that we are faithful in the sowing! Scripture tells us:

“How are they to call on one they have not believed in? And how are they to believe in one they have not heard of? And how are they to hear without someone preaching to them? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How timely is the arrival of those who proclaim the good news.’” —Romans 10:14–15

Are we joyful spreaders of the Good News of Jesus? 

Our Lord’s last command just prior to His ascension challenges us to share the Good News!

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” —Matthew 28:18–20

Become More

Jesus’ commission was for all believers. As Jesus was always about His Father’s business, we should be likewise.

Each one of us has a field within our sphere of influence. Oftentimes we are the only Jesus many will “see.” So how are you doing? This is a high and worthy calling. Many will not hear our words because our lives are too loud. We often blend with the world and not with Christ. This is due to many things, not the least of which is ignorance to God’s will which is revealed through His Word. I will never forget many years ago when someone asked me if I thought it was acceptable for them to take a certain action that, evidently unbeknownst to them, was a blatant “no” in Scripture. This person was someone I thought had at least a basic knowledge of God’s Word. It left quite an impression on me. We must know God’s Word! We are all susceptible to sin—it is called human nature. But God’s Word will guide and guard us.

“The best protection against Satan’s lies is to know God’s truth.” —Anonymous

Further Reflections

“God has an inexhaustible enthusiasm for the fame of His name among the nations.” —John Piper

“Carrying God’s gracious offer involves human beings whom God has brought to Himself and then uses as His heralds. They share God’s message of salvation because He will save everyone who calls on His name. Paul quoted from Isaiah concerning the eagerness of the bearers of good news. Those who bear it have beautiful… feet, that is, their message is welcome.” — Bible Knowledge Commentary