January 31, 2013
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 13:47-52
OBSERVATIONS
What Jesus initiates (taking back the throne of creation for God and humanity) has happened, and everyone is caught up in it; God’s kingdom is expansive and inclusive!
Only at the end will the separation occur, when the good fish (ie those that reveal good hearts and good lives) are kept while the bad fish (ie those that reveal bad hearts and bad lives) are not.
Jesus’ reference to the ‘blazing furnace’ may go back to the ‘fiery furnace’ that Nebuchazezzar set up to punish people who refused to worship him (Daniel 3) – it is the very ‘pit’ that the wicked dig for the righteous (Psalm 7:14-16); in other words the ‘bad fish’ will ultimately get what they gave their whole lives.
The phrase ‘weeping and gnashing of teeth’ does not refer to sadness and misery in hell, but to the howling and growling of vicious, angry and unrepentant sinners (Acts 7:54); to the bitter end they will fight the goodness and mercy of God.
Re. teachers of the law becoming Jesus/kingdom followers, Jesus seems to be showing the disciples that His kingdom message is a new treasure from the old treasure house (ie the Old Testament).
What do you notice in this passage?
APPLICATION
According to Jesus, we have this whole lifetime to experience and respond to God’s kingdom message; we all live in the kingdom (net) but we do not all receive it… some of us rage (howling and growling) against it!
The issue for me is whether I WANT (desire, strive with God’s help) to be good, to do good.
Is my life characterized by God’s kind of goodness (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control, Galatians 5:22-23), this is what He is working to produce in me by His Spirit, and what He is looking for in His fish… am I a good fish like this, do I want to be?
It is God’s goodness that sets me free, and I am set free to be good; if I do not strive to do good (with humility and dependence on God for help), I show that I do not know God’s goodness.
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
God, You my know heart, You know my struggle against the sinful me to be the saved me, the me You made me to be. Thank You for helping me to be a good fish, I couldn’t do it without You.
Jesus follower
trying to find His way
Observations:
The kingdom of heaven is here and not yet. The net was cast into the sea – His kingdom – and when it was full, then it was pulled in and the good and the bad separated. Until that time, the number of ‘fish’ grew – both the good and the bad. The weeping and gnashing reminds me of a spoiled child still trying to get his own way, defying the authority of the parent. Do you love Me? No!
The owner of the ‘house’ practices hospitality. The best is brought out from the harvest of yesteryears and today. Nothing but the best. Overflowing. Being a follower of the Way – a disciple – we learn from the old and the new always in His presence to do His bidding. Serve Him,
Application:
I have a choice – as Adam and Eve did -to serve. And yet by His choosing I can be that person living the fruit of the Spirit each day. Not mine will, but Your will be done. Good fruit. Good fish. growing and using the treasure given to serve. Still growing. New treasures still found. All for Jesus.
That’s only a possibility when He is leading and guiding in my child like faith/trust. All for the Father – my ‘Dad’ is capable of anything.
Prayer:
Today is a new day. A new beginning. A restart.
Thank You Lord for all the restarts. I need Your help every hour. Lead me and guide me along the way so that I am a good fruit producing good works that honor You always.
Chorus 1:
The Savior is knockin’ at your door
Won’t you let Him in
He’s knockin’ at your door
Won’t you let Him in
Knock and the door will be opened to you
If you will answer He’ll carry you through
He’s knockin’ (knock, knock)
Knockin’ at your door (knockin’ at your door)
Repeat Chorus 1
In these days of tribulation
We’re oppressed by what we hear (what we hear)
And the worldly noise around us
Can distract us from what’s clear
We must never fail to listen to what He has called us for
‘Cause He is knockin’ (knock, knock)
Knockin’ at your door
Chorus 2:
The Savior is knockin’ at your door
Won’t you let Him in
He’s knockin’ at your door (won’t you let Him in)
Won’t you let Him in
Knock and the door will be opened to you (and He will answer you too)
If you will answer He’ll carry you through
He’s knockin’ (knock, knock)
Knockin’ at your door (knockin’ at your door)
Now there are those who heard the calling
But continue on their way (on their way)
Someday I will obey Him
That’s exactly what they say
But I know a day is coming
And that’s one thing for sure
And He’ll be knockin’ (knock, knock)
Knockin’ at your door
Chorus 3:
The Savior is knockin’ at your door (won’t you let Him in)
Won’t you let Him in
He’s knockin’ at your door (won’t you let the Savior in)
Won’t you let Him in
Knock and the door will be opened to you
If you will answer He’ll carry you through
He’s knockin’ (knock, knock)
Knockin’ at your door (knockin’ at your door)
Chorus 4:
The Savior is knockin’ at your door (the Savior is knockin’ at your door)
Won’t you let Him in
He’s knockin’ at your door (I’ve heard Him knockin’ like this before)
Won’t you let Him in
Knock and the door will be opened to you (and He will carry you through)
If you will answer He’ll carry you through
He’s knockin’ (knock, knock)
Knockin’ at your door (knockin’ at your door)
He is knockin’ (knock, knock)
Knockin’ at your door (knockin’ at your door)
Oh yeah He’s knockin’ (knock, knock)
Knockin’ at your door (don’t you hear knockin’ at your door) (knockin’ at your door)