March 30th Devotions
Memory Verse:
“Create in me a clean heart O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”
Psalm 51:10
Sermon Sentence: Don't expect fruit, if you haven't prepared the soil.
“Create in me a clean heart O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”
Psalm 51:10
Sermon Sentence: Don't expect fruit, if you haven't prepared the soil.
Day 1
Read Mark 4:1-20
It was a really cold day this year that I was driving at night, in 15 degree weather while it was snowing quite heavily, listening to some really good praise and worship music on a really mind taxing day. I was alone in the car and that was a good thing for the situation because I needed it. At a red light, a Chevrolet Avalanche pulled up beside me and I saw out of the corner of my eye that the driver was quite bundled up and wearing one of those cold weather hats that even had the flaps that came down over his ears. Makes sense…it's a cold day. I was seeing everything that was happening, but I had not yet perceived what I was seeing. Understanding of what I was seeing started to hit me like a wave: it was a Chevrolet Avalanche and it was a convertible. The dude was bundled up because he was cruising in a truck he had chopped the top off of and was driving around in 15 degree weather while it is snowing!
I like that Jesus quotes the proverb that explains that there are people that hear God’s word and see it, but that is not the same as perceiving and understanding. Those two things lead to repentance. The other walks away with no real action or change in their lives. We should pray for perception and understanding.
What are the differences that are described in the types of ways God’s word is received in this parable?
How have you experienced these and which of these have you experienced in your life?
How does this become part of your prayer today?
It was a really cold day this year that I was driving at night, in 15 degree weather while it was snowing quite heavily, listening to some really good praise and worship music on a really mind taxing day. I was alone in the car and that was a good thing for the situation because I needed it. At a red light, a Chevrolet Avalanche pulled up beside me and I saw out of the corner of my eye that the driver was quite bundled up and wearing one of those cold weather hats that even had the flaps that came down over his ears. Makes sense…it's a cold day. I was seeing everything that was happening, but I had not yet perceived what I was seeing. Understanding of what I was seeing started to hit me like a wave: it was a Chevrolet Avalanche and it was a convertible. The dude was bundled up because he was cruising in a truck he had chopped the top off of and was driving around in 15 degree weather while it is snowing!
I like that Jesus quotes the proverb that explains that there are people that hear God’s word and see it, but that is not the same as perceiving and understanding. Those two things lead to repentance. The other walks away with no real action or change in their lives. We should pray for perception and understanding.
What are the differences that are described in the types of ways God’s word is received in this parable?
How have you experienced these and which of these have you experienced in your life?
How does this become part of your prayer today?
Day 2
Read Matthew 13:1-23
It is the same story that we read yesterday, but we will approach it a bit differently. The disciples hear this parable and then wonder why Jesus talks to the crowds differently than he talks to them. The crowds get seemingly cryptic messages in the parables. When He sits with His disciples, it seems that they get straight teachings. It almost seems like the disciples are standing up for the crowds here, doesn’t it? Like they are saying, “Why are you making it a whole thing for them? Just speak plain to them.” But that is not how Jesus was doing things. He was giving the meat of it all to His disciples, and then drawing in the crowds to come closer and hear the stories. This would leave them with questions too. So what then? That is what the disciples were to be doing, working through it all with those that were looking for more. It is not that the disciples got a secret knowledge that only they could give out, but that they were taught differently and there was a different expectation for the crowd…most of them were just there for a good story or to benefit themselves. Only a few of them would be sticking around, those that were hungry for more of the word of God.
How is this idea different than the idea that only the church leaders can understand the Bible so people should just listen to them rather than study it on their own?
Why do you think Jesus had this strategy?
How does this become part of your prayer today?
It is the same story that we read yesterday, but we will approach it a bit differently. The disciples hear this parable and then wonder why Jesus talks to the crowds differently than he talks to them. The crowds get seemingly cryptic messages in the parables. When He sits with His disciples, it seems that they get straight teachings. It almost seems like the disciples are standing up for the crowds here, doesn’t it? Like they are saying, “Why are you making it a whole thing for them? Just speak plain to them.” But that is not how Jesus was doing things. He was giving the meat of it all to His disciples, and then drawing in the crowds to come closer and hear the stories. This would leave them with questions too. So what then? That is what the disciples were to be doing, working through it all with those that were looking for more. It is not that the disciples got a secret knowledge that only they could give out, but that they were taught differently and there was a different expectation for the crowd…most of them were just there for a good story or to benefit themselves. Only a few of them would be sticking around, those that were hungry for more of the word of God.
How is this idea different than the idea that only the church leaders can understand the Bible so people should just listen to them rather than study it on their own?
Why do you think Jesus had this strategy?
How does this become part of your prayer today?
Day 3
Read Matthew 13:24-33
This is a couple of really good examples of the parables being easier teachings. Remember, for the crowds, Jesus gave the parables mainly. The meanings were not deep and hard to understand. That may bother you that I said that because you have not understood some of the ideas presented even here. I am not saying they were easy to understand, but rather that their understandings were easier teachings. The point of the parable was not to get across an incredibly complex idea that can be peeled apart layer by layer. In fact, the meaning was on the surface. Most everyone could understand it, and it was meant to be like that. For these parables, Jesus was talking about the kingdom of Heaven that was meant to be a sort of an advertisement that got people interested in the idea of the Kingdom of heaven. The point was not to give all of the details of the kingdom of Heaven, but rather just enough that the people would know it when they saw it. The truths of the kingdom that Jesus was offering to the people, were meant to draw many to Himself.
What do you understand these parables to mean?
What do you think the idea was that Jesus wanted to teach the people about the idea of the mustard seed?
How far can you take this parable and how do you know when you are going too far?
How does this become part of your prayer today?
This is a couple of really good examples of the parables being easier teachings. Remember, for the crowds, Jesus gave the parables mainly. The meanings were not deep and hard to understand. That may bother you that I said that because you have not understood some of the ideas presented even here. I am not saying they were easy to understand, but rather that their understandings were easier teachings. The point of the parable was not to get across an incredibly complex idea that can be peeled apart layer by layer. In fact, the meaning was on the surface. Most everyone could understand it, and it was meant to be like that. For these parables, Jesus was talking about the kingdom of Heaven that was meant to be a sort of an advertisement that got people interested in the idea of the Kingdom of heaven. The point was not to give all of the details of the kingdom of Heaven, but rather just enough that the people would know it when they saw it. The truths of the kingdom that Jesus was offering to the people, were meant to draw many to Himself.
What do you understand these parables to mean?
What do you think the idea was that Jesus wanted to teach the people about the idea of the mustard seed?
How far can you take this parable and how do you know when you are going too far?
How does this become part of your prayer today?
Day 4
Read Matthew 13:34-52
Jesus continues sharing parables in this part of Matthew 13 as well. Again, you see that they are delivered to the crowds and again you see that their meanings are not layered truths so much as a quick point meant to connect with the crowd. He talks of a treasure hunt and even of a merchant looking for a great find. Both of these would have been relatable to a general audience. Who hasn’t dreamed of a treasure hunt or finding something super special and it being life changing? We do things like play the lottery and love things like game shows because we can only imagine what that would be like to experience a change in life that comes from finding something like that. Jesus is tugging on those heart strings. The Kingdom of Heaven is that treasure that we would love to find. So he is inviting the crowds to give up all they have to receive that treasure. They (and we) are being urged to leave the crowd and be the hunters that find the kingdom of God.
Now, how do you interpret the meaning of the parable of the nets?
How do you understand what Jesus is saying at the end of our reading in verses 51 and 52?
How does this become part of your prayer today?
Jesus continues sharing parables in this part of Matthew 13 as well. Again, you see that they are delivered to the crowds and again you see that their meanings are not layered truths so much as a quick point meant to connect with the crowd. He talks of a treasure hunt and even of a merchant looking for a great find. Both of these would have been relatable to a general audience. Who hasn’t dreamed of a treasure hunt or finding something super special and it being life changing? We do things like play the lottery and love things like game shows because we can only imagine what that would be like to experience a change in life that comes from finding something like that. Jesus is tugging on those heart strings. The Kingdom of Heaven is that treasure that we would love to find. So he is inviting the crowds to give up all they have to receive that treasure. They (and we) are being urged to leave the crowd and be the hunters that find the kingdom of God.
Now, how do you interpret the meaning of the parable of the nets?
How do you understand what Jesus is saying at the end of our reading in verses 51 and 52?
How does this become part of your prayer today?
Day 5
Read Psalm 10
The Psalms are another part of the Bible that uses somewhat similar language styles to the parables. The Psalms contain a little more depth in their teachings and are meant for more than just the crowds. Great theological truths are wrapped up in these poetic teachings. At the same time, exaggerations are also used to get the points across. For instance, in this Psalm it is describing the person that denies God and what their life is like. At one point the writer says the wicked person “sits in ambush in the village, in hiding places he murders the innocent.” Now the point of this text is not to teach that every single person that doesn’t follow God sits in villages and murders innocent people. That would not really work as a truth. But to sit in the villages and murder innocent people is certainly a trait of someone that is not following God. This is the point of a story that teaches. The story is for the analogy, and it doesn’t work if we start to dissect every piece of what is being talked about here. The point is the feelings and thoughts that you get when you brush over these ideas. A good Bible student will learn how to read and express these things.
The overall point of the Psalm is important. God does not let injustice go and lifts up those that are helpless and needy. That is a much needed truth that can really help you in your understanding of how life works and why things are happening. For me, those truths are best explained in stories and parables, even in poetry. All of the pieces may not get explicitly said, but they do get implicitly communicated as you sit with the stories and go along for the ride.
How does this Psalm help you or even ease your mind as you are reading it today?
At one point in this Psalm, the writer declares that God does see what others think has been hidden. For you personally, how does this thought help you?
How does this become part of your prayer today?
The Psalms are another part of the Bible that uses somewhat similar language styles to the parables. The Psalms contain a little more depth in their teachings and are meant for more than just the crowds. Great theological truths are wrapped up in these poetic teachings. At the same time, exaggerations are also used to get the points across. For instance, in this Psalm it is describing the person that denies God and what their life is like. At one point the writer says the wicked person “sits in ambush in the village, in hiding places he murders the innocent.” Now the point of this text is not to teach that every single person that doesn’t follow God sits in villages and murders innocent people. That would not really work as a truth. But to sit in the villages and murder innocent people is certainly a trait of someone that is not following God. This is the point of a story that teaches. The story is for the analogy, and it doesn’t work if we start to dissect every piece of what is being talked about here. The point is the feelings and thoughts that you get when you brush over these ideas. A good Bible student will learn how to read and express these things.
The overall point of the Psalm is important. God does not let injustice go and lifts up those that are helpless and needy. That is a much needed truth that can really help you in your understanding of how life works and why things are happening. For me, those truths are best explained in stories and parables, even in poetry. All of the pieces may not get explicitly said, but they do get implicitly communicated as you sit with the stories and go along for the ride.
How does this Psalm help you or even ease your mind as you are reading it today?
At one point in this Psalm, the writer declares that God does see what others think has been hidden. For you personally, how does this thought help you?
How does this become part of your prayer today?
Devotions
Archive
2025
January
February
March
2024
January
March
May
June
July
August
September
2023
January
February
July
No Comments