Monday 2 Jul 2012

Monday Reading: Matthew 13:10-16

Key Verse: Matthew 13:13
13  Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

Devotion:
When I first had children I found it quite interesting to see all the children’s stories from the other side of the page as it were. As a child I used to love having stories read to me but I did not care too much for having to read things for myself. As an adult I did enjoy reading some stories to my children and now as a Christian I do enjoy being able to find new ways of telling Christ’s words to those around me.

The most successful children’s books are those that engage the children the most by reaching to their ways of thinking and bringing the story to them rather than trying to teach them a new story. The most successful teachers at school were the ones who were able to take me to the knowledge rather than forcing the knowledge down my throat. When we are faced with circumstance like that we all tend to do the same thing – we reject anything that is forced upon us because we like to think that we are in some sort of control.

So Jesus would talk to the unbelievers in parables to make sure that they listened, not as learned adults or scholars, but as children. I can relate to people who say that the teacher was talking so much gobbledygook that they got lost at the beginning of the lesson. Sometime we are like that in trying to explain things to others; we get so caught up in the explanation that we forget to tell them about the most simple truths. Jesus wants us to know the simple truth that He loves us. Let us not get too caught up in finding out about all manner of laws just to prove that He loves us; let us rather take His Word as the truth and trust Him like a child would trust their parents.

When our hearts are hardened, when our ears deafened or when our eyes blinded, we need to turn to the One who is telling us the story and simply believe what He is saying. That is when we will be filled once again as we learn to understand His love and care for each one of us. It is a love that has inspired people to write about Him. It is a love that has inspired people to show their love for Him. It is a love that has inspired us to share our love for Him. It is a simple truth but it does need to be told!

Points to Ponder:
Do you find it hard explaining God to others?

Have you tried starting with how much He loves you?