Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God and Jewish Messiah having come from Heaven, taught the Jews about the kingdom of God through parables. A 'parable' is a simple story about something that is known to reveal or explain something unknown. On one such teaching occasion Jesus used the following parable found in Luke 13:18-19 to explain how the kingdom of God is planted and grows:
18 Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?
19 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.
Jesus explains the kingdom of God as being like a small seed, in this case a mustard seed. He goes on to tell how a man planted this small seed in his garden. Over time, the small mustard seed grew into a great tree, so big that the birds of the air were able to build nests and live in the tree; the tree that was once only a small seed!
In what way does the kingdom of God resemble the planting of a small seed you might ask? Because it begins by the planting of simple words into the hearts of people like you and me.
Our hearts are like gardens, able to sustain life and growth of whatever is planted in them. Through words, ideas are sown into our hearts. When we hear these words we are compelled to believe or disbelieve them.
Jesus explained to the people that when they hear his words, and believe them, the kingdom of God begins to grow in their hearts like a small mustard seed grows in a garden. And over a period of time, his words will produce a great dwelling place of life in their hearts! Jesus said "...I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10
One of the first things Jesus preached was, "Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matthew 4:17. The word 'repent' means to turn from one thing to another. What Jesus wants us to turn from are our sins. What he wants us to turn to is Him, for the forgiveness of sins. For He is our Salvation!
If you will repent of your sins and turn to Jesus now, you will be forgiven by God the Father and the kingdom of God will begin to grow in your heart today!
The way to repent: Simply tell Jesus you are sorry for your sins. Ask him to forgive you and make you a new person. He will! Then read your Bible, pray daily and live for him! E-mail me, I will be glad to assist you in growing in the kingdom of God as it grows in you!
No comments:
Post a Comment