Matth. 13: 24-30, 36-43[i]
24 Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
27 “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’
28 “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.
“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’
29 “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”
36 Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”
37 He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man.38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
40 “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.
Comment & Question:
Dealing with “weeds” – weeds are a metaphor for those parts/places in life that choke spiritual, emotional, and physical health. They must be dealt with, pulled up, and destroyed. Do you have some “weeding” to do in your life? If so, what do you need to deal with? Do you need help?
Gen. 32: 22-31
Jacob Wrestles with God
22 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions.24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak.25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”
But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
27 The man asked him, “What is your name?”
“Jacob,” he answered.
28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”
29 Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.”
But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there.
30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”
31 The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob’s hip was touched near the tendon.
Comment & Question:
Wrestling with God often occurs when we are wrestling with the very real challenges life brings our way. Wrestling with God, and with issues within our “inner life”, can be marked by times of loneliness, or confusion, even heartache and despair. However, successfully dealing with these times of struggle does lead to spiritual and personal growth and renewal. Are you engaged in a time of “wrestling”? What is going on? Do you need help?
Eph. 3:14-20
A Prayer for the Ephesians
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Comment & Question:
This is a wonderful prayer that the Apostle Paul used to encourage, bless, and offer as “inner healing” to the Ephesian Church. The prayer to the Ephesians is also my prayer for you. I pray that you too, will have an overwhelming sense of God’s presence in your – “inner life” (vs.16). Is there anything you will need to change in your life to help you experience God in a more real and powerful way?
John 10:10
“I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.”
Comment and Question:
Jesus is very clear in his intention – he brings us “life”, and lots of it! A life with the Lord is an invitation to experience this life in the way that God always intended it, a life filled with meaning, purpose and abundant blessing. How is it going with your life?
God bless you for the week ahead,
Rev. Tim
[i] All Scripture passages: New International Version (NIV)
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