Reading Material – (2d)

Romans 2, New Century Version (NCV)
You People Also Are Sinful
1 If you think you can judge others, you are wrong. When you judge them, you are really judging yourself guilty, because you do the same things they do.2 God judges those who do wrong things, and we know that his judging is right.3 You judge those who do wrong, but you do wrong yourselves. Do you think you will be able to escape the judgment of God?4 He has been very kind and patient, waiting for you to change, but you think nothing of his kindness. Perhaps you do not understand that God is kind to you so you will change your hearts and lives.5 But you are stubborn and refuse to change, so you are making your own punishment even greater on the day he shows his anger. On that day everyone will see God's right judgments.6 God will reward or punish every person for what that person has done.7 Some people, by always continuing to do good, live for God's glory, for honor, and for life that has no end. God will give them life forever.8 But other people are selfish. They refuse to follow truth and, instead, follow evil. God will give them his punishment and anger.9 He will give trouble and suffering to everyone who does evil—to the Jews first and also to those who are not Jews.10 But he will give glory, honor, and peace to everyone who does good—to the Jews first and also to those who are not Jews.11 For God judges all people in the same way.

12 People who do not have the law and who are sinners will be lost, although they do not have the law. And, in the same way, those who have the law and are sinners will be judged by the law.13 Hearing the law does not make people right with God. It is those who obey the law who will be right with him.14 (Those who are not Jews do not have the law, but when they freely do what the law commands, they are the law for themselves. This is true even though they do not have the law.15 They show that in their hearts they know what is right and wrong, just as the law commands. And they show this by their consciences. Sometimes their thoughts tell them they did wrong, and sometimes their thoughts tell them they did right.)16 All these things will happen on the day when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge people's secret thoughts. The Good News that I preach says this.

The Jews and the Law
17 What about you? You call yourself a Jew. You trust in the law of Moses and brag that you are close to God.18 You know what he wants you to do and what is important, because you have learned the law.19 You think you are a guide for the blind and a light for those who are in darkness.20 You think you can show foolish people what is right and teach those who know nothing. You have the law; so you think you know everything and have all truth.21 You teach others, so why don't you teach yourself? You tell others not to steal, but you steal.22 You say that others must not take part in adultery, but you are guilty of that sin. You hate idols, but you steal from temples.23 You brag about having God's law, but you bring shame to God by breaking his law,24 just as the Scriptures say: "Those who are not Jews speak against God's name because of you."[a]

25 If you follow the law, your circumcision has meaning. But if you break the law, it is as if you were never circumcised.26 People who are not Jews are not circumcised, but if they do what the law says, it is as if they were circumcised.27 You Jews have the written law and circumcision, but you break the law. So those who are not circumcised in their bodies, but still obey the law, will show that you are guilty.28 They can do this because a person is not a true Jew if he is only a Jew in his physical body; true circumcision is not only on the outside of the body.29 A person is a Jew only if he is a Jew inside; true circumcision is done in the heart by the Spirit, not by the written law. Such a person gets praise from God rather than from people.

Footnotes:
a. Romans 2:24 "Those . . . you." Quotation from Isaiah 52:5; Ezekiel 36:20.
(Scripture is from biblegateway.org)

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Here is information about another book I’ve read recently:

When God Comes to Church: Experiencing the Fullness of His Presence, by Steve Gaines, with Dean Merrill.

“People talk about getting God back into government and public schools, but what about getting God back into our churches? Gently guiding Christians to look inward about the matter, Pastor Steve Gaines calls for a determined return to the core point of corporate worship. Setting up the book’s absorbing discussion, he suggests a ‘reformation of worship, a whole new understanding based on Scripture of what it means to draw close to God’ [and] offers a reformative mission statement:

Worship services should not be designed primarily to attract people. Rather, worship services should be designed to attract
the manifest presence of God, and He in turn will attract the people.”

I found Romans 2 (my recent Lenten reading) reminding me of this book, in considering Christians “spiritual Jews” …

…and my journey with Him continues…

Comfort

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 (New King James Version)
Comfort in Suffering
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.

2 Corinthians 7:5-7 (New King James Version)
5 For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears. 6 Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was comforted in you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more.

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Some things weren’t going the way I expected. I wasn’t worried, though maybe just a little concerned. The Lord ministered to me through music as I drove doing errands:

Our God – Chris Tomlin
I Choose to Worship – Wes Morgan
Before the Morning – John Wilson
Wholly Yours – David Crowder Band
Beautiful – MercyMe
You Alone – Echoing Angels

I thought of all the comfort that the Lord was providing to me at this time – through His Presence, through the music. While parked, I was reading sermon notes from a church program (Providence Missionary Baptist Church); the sermon title was “God’s Comfort Can Cure” with Scripture text 2 Corinthians 1:3-11. In part, Pastor Gerald L. Durley says:

Comfort is a word which in modern speech has lost much of its New Testament meaning. It suggests to us a kind of sedative, a palliative for pain of the body or mind. The comfort of God is no narcotic. The word “comforter” applied to the Holy Spirit means “strengthener” (John 14:16). It has the same root as "fortify.” We comfort a sufferer when we give him/her courage to bear their pain
or face any misfortune. Comfort is what establishes people back on their feet. The comfort of God is rooted in His fellowship. Comfort is felt when God enters the situation. God gives us comforting thoughts to guide us on our journey. The best answer to human need is a more adequate thought of God. Comfort makes trouble bearable. It delivers us from the fear of this crushing universe. It fills life with hope. It takes us out of the grip of loneliness. … Let us find God’s comfort for whatever we are going through by learning to trust Him more and more … draw closer to God and completely, even for a brief moment, surrender to God’s divine authority and accept His comfort.

Then, I met a woman and we talked for a little while. As we were parting, I introduced myself and asked her name. It was Comfort…

…and my journey with Him continues…

Strength and Healing

Song: Time to Believe, by forever Jones (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIH10cSarLc)
Scripture: Luke 7:1-10 (New International Version, ©2011)
The Faith of the Centurion
1 When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum. 2 There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. 3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” 6 So Jesus went with them.

He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. 7 That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” 10 Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.
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Through God’s goodness and with His help, maybe I’m growing so I won’t be barren or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. – Hallelujah!

1.) As I finally lay down for the night, I felt like there was something else that I was supposed to be doing. I wanted to be obedient, but I was really just too tired. Many times before in that situation, I would beg off, asking God to let me off the hook, forgive me for what I was not going to do, and then I would just go on to sleep. This time I just told Him that I was very tired, too physically tired to do it. I‘m not even sure I asked for strength – I just admitted my need. Almost immediately I felt strengthened! I smiled, and prayed a silent “thank You” as I sang a “thank You” song chorus. Then I got up and did what I was to do.

The next day, I read the previous day’s Our Daily Bread devotional (http://odb.org/2011/03/20/the-stones/), and at the end it said:

God’s faithfulness we’ve known throughout the years,
His oneness with us in our joys and tears;
So many times the Lord has helped us through,
Has answered prayer and given strength anew. —F. Hess
Remembering God’s goodness is a good cure for doubt.

2.) So today, I’m battling this cough – not sure if it’s because of a cold or allergy or some combination. I was trying to catch a nap, but the cough wouldn’t let up. I had some cough drops in another room, but – again – felt too tired to do what I should – in this case, to get up and get the medicine.

I remembered the strength I received the other day. I had really been physically tired and sleepy, but all of that was changed in an instant. What I felt, what my body was going through, changed. I had recently read the story of Jesus healing the centurion’s servant, and I thought about that as well. So I asked God if the “go and then it goes” applied to coughs as well. The cough stopped. There seemed to be this calming that settled on my throat and chest, and the coughing stopped. WOW!!! Thank You, God!

Song: Doxology, by Helen Baylor (http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4aa6o_doxology-by-helen-baylor_music)

Romans 4:19-25

GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
19Abraham didn’t weaken. Through faith he regarded the facts: His body was already as good as dead now that he was about a hundred years old, and Sarah was unable to have children. 20He didn’t doubt God’s promise out of a lack of faith. Instead, giving honor to God for the promise, he became strong because of faith 21and was absolutely confident that God would do what he promised. 22That is why his faith was regarded as God’s approval of him.

23But the words “his faith was regarded as God’s approval of him” were written not only for him 24but also for us. Our faith will be regarded as God’s approval of us who believe in the one who brought Jesus, our Lord, back to life. 25Jesus, our Lord, was handed over to death because of our failures and was brought back to life so that we could receive God’s approval.

New Living Translation (NLT)
19 And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb.
20 Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. 21 He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. 22 And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. 23 And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded 24 for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.

…and my journey with Him continues…

Reading Material – (2c)

Here is information about another book I’ve read recently, and its relevance in and to my life:

I Saw The Lord: A wake-up call for your heart, by Anne Graham Lotz.

“When we call ourselves Christians, we expect that our love for Jesus, our hunger for His presence, our urgent longing to see Him again will be a constant,motivating force in our lives. Yet sometimes …

in the busyness of our days
or the duties of our jobs
or the familiar habits of our worship
or the everyday routine of our homes,

the longing becomes complacency, and we sleep through opportunities to be with Him. … It’s then … that we most need … a jolt that pushes us to seek out a revival of our passion for Jesus that began as a blazing fire but somehow has died down to an ineffective glow.”

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Since unfortunately I do so often, literally, sleep through opportunities to be with Him, I knew I had to read this book…
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Song: Bring the Rain, by MercyMe (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8HgAVenbUU)

Isaiah 6 (New International Version, ©2011)
Isaiah’s Commission
1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another:
“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”
4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.”
6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”
8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
9 He said, “Go and tell this people:
“‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ 10 Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”
11 Then I said, “For how long, Lord?”
And he answered:
“Until the cities lie ruined and without inhabitant, until the houses are left deserted and the fields ruined and ravaged, 12 until the LORD has sent everyone far away and the land is utterly forsaken. 13 And though a tenth remains in the land, it will again be laid waste. But as the terebinth and oak leave stumps when they are cut down, so the holy seed will be the stump in the land.”

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In writing yesterday’s blog, I said that I didn’t want to be ruined. In writing this one today, the translation used for the Scripture from Isaiah has the prophet saying, in verse 5, “I am ruined!” In humility and honesty, I find I must confess with Isaiah that I, too, am ruined. I found myself telling a lie to get my way (actually, out of fear that I wouldn’t get to do what I wanted), and I was convicted almost immediately (although I rationalized it for myself, and for those with whom I shared.) After repenting and asking the Lord’s forgiveness, I remembered instances where this type of behavior was exampled, instructed or accepted in my life. So, like Isaiah, I am a person of unclean (defiled, impure, untruthful) lips living amongst a people of unclean lips. But – praise God! – like Isaiah my guilt has also been taken away and my sin atoned for.

Romans 7:21-8:2 (New International Version, ©2011)
21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of in at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
Life Through the Spirit
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

Not too long ago, I heard someone speaking on prayer and I believe the statement was made (at least to my understanding) that revival is not something for which we (the Church) are to pray. Because I immediately thought of Scriptures having to do with revival, I didn’t quite agree with what I believed to have been said. The message of this book is for personal revival – “not a tent meeting or a series of church services designed to save the lost” but instead, something that “involves a quiet, miraculous, eye-opening revelation of” God within our spirits that will change us and the way we live our lives for Him.

2 Chronicles 7:13-14, King James Version (KJV)
13If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;
14If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

The book has much to say of the benefits of daily Bible reading and prayer. While I have been trying to keep up with the lectionary readings (it’s just the third day and I’m already struggling!), I must also do more for a focused prayer strategy (which may include praying the “Jesus Prayer” as mentioned in yesterday’s blog) to “pray without ceasing” during this Lenten season – and beyond. (I do realize that some of the changes I will be led to make during Lent this year may be more in the nature of a permanent lifestyle rather than that of a temporary activity.)

Referring once more to yesterday’s blog of my study involving Luke 18:35-43, I noticed that in some translations the blind man’s request of Jesus was “to see again.” The “again” part is not always obvious when the request is translated “to receive sight.” In this book, one of the chapters is called “A Longing to See Jesus … Again.” To see Him, know Him in a new, fresh way …

So the author says:

“My prayer for you as you read this book is that the eyes of your heart will be opened and you will not just see what genuine revival is but that you will see the Lord.”

“So center down. Be still. Listen with the ears of our heart. Can you hear Him? The still, small voice of God is calling you to see Jesus … again. He is calling you to an experience of personal revival. Here. Now.”

“So …

Stir up the fire! Throw on the logs! Talk to Him! Listen to Him! Fan into flame your love for Jesus! Stay Awake!

… until your faith becomes sight and you can exclaim, “I saw the Lord!””

…and my journey with Him continues…

Reading Material – (2b)

Here is information about another book I’ve read recently:

Soul Provider: Spiritual Steps to Limitless Love, by Edward L. Beck.

“In The Ladder of Divine Ascent, Saint John Climacus described the thirty steps all seekers must take on the path to spiritual fulfillment. In Soul Provider, Beck explains the significance of the steps, demonstrating how they lead to deeper understanding of our present-day spiritual journeys, provide for our souls, and draw us closer to God.”

Psalm 73:28 (NKJV)
But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, That I may declare all Your works.

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Drawing closer to God – that is what (I think) I want. So I had picked up this book at the library …

James 4:6-10, New King James Version (NKJV)
6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
Humility Cures Worldliness
7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

I had a birthday during this time, and I reflected on my life – who and where (I think) I am, who and where (I think) I want to be, who (I think) God says I am - and what (I think) I have to do to get me where (I think) I need to be.

Psalm 139:23-24, King James Version (KJV)
23Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Romans 12:1-3, New Living Translation (NLT)
A Living Sacrifice to God
1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
3 Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this
warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.

So then I keep getting all these messages about “change” and “transformation.” With the Lenten season coming up, I am already thinking about change, and spiritual growth. But when I am finally ready to read this book, I open it and see this quote:

We would rather be ruined than changed;
We would rather die in our dread
Than climb the cross of the moment
And let our illusions die.~W.H. Auden

I don’t want to be ruined, and I think I want truth more than illusion … so I kept reading on and off for several days. Finally, I am almost finished with the book. I go to church on Sunday, and hear the following Scripture read:

1 Peter 5:5-7, New King James Version (NKJV)
Submit to God, Resist the Devil
5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

I thought about humbling myself “under the mighty hand of God” as I read the chapter on prayer, and note the reference to the “Jesus Prayer” – “Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” The book mentions the healing of Blind Bartimaeus (as found in the 10th chapter of Mark.) The next day, I went to a Bible study and we were studying from Luke 18, verses 31-43, with verses 35-43 involving what appears to be the same healing – a blind man who called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” So now I may look into praying the “Jesus Prayer” – especially during this Lenten season – and see what effect it will have on my spiritual development.

Hebrews 10:19-25 (New International Version, ©2011)
19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

While I was looking up the Auden quotation on the internet(http://www.quotegarden.com/change.html), I found another one as well, still in regards to change:

If you would attain to what you are not yet, you must always be displeased by what you are. For where you are pleased with yourself there you have remained. Keep adding, keep walking, keep advancing. ~Saint Augustine

Makes me think of the ending of the song: It Ain’t Over, by Maurette Brown Clark (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnHDDgdJ7Y8)

Serenity Prayer
(from http://www.thevoiceforlove.com/serenity-prayer.html)
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him forever in the next. Amen.

…and my journey with Him continues…

Reading Material – (2a)

I’ve finished some more books which I checked out of the public library. Again, I feel like I am supposed to list them in the blog, telling a little about them (from the jackets) and if there is a personal story involving them. [I think this may be to record what things I’m being led to read, the things that are feeding into my spirit at this particular time.] So here is the first one of this second set of books (unless otherwise noted, most Scripture is (New International Version, ©2010) from biblegateway.org):

Rooted in Good Soil: Cultivating and Sustaining Authentic Discipleship - A Farmer looks at the Parable of the Sower, by Tri Robinson.

“Just like a fruitful tree, authentic faith is the result of careful tending, the passage of time, and good growing conditions. According to Jesus’s parable of the sower, true belief takes root in good soil. … In a culture that seems enamored with quick fixes and superficial amusements, Rooted in Good Soil will show you a more intentional and fulfilling way to live.”

Some things I noted from the book:

“Four different scenarios are portrayed in the parable, and of the four, only the seed that fell on good soil grew to spiritual maturity. This is something to note – only one group managed to grow roots that penetrated deep into the love, grace, and mercy of God. Only one group became sustainable to the point of bearing a harvest that could reproduce itself in the lives of others. … Often even those I would consider to be Christians miss the richness that can be found only in the depth of the good soil.”

"Jesus’s parable tells us it was in the good soil where the seed took root, matured, and produced a harvest. … Timing are soil preparation are important parts of the process of growing things to maturity, both in plants and in our lives. …The soils in Jesus’s parable of the sower represent your heart and my heart. God wants every one of us to receive His seed and mature spiritually so we will bear fruit. … Life has a way of compacting and hardening the soil of our hearts. Life’s hurts combined with the gradual accumulation of guilt and shame as a result of sin constantly weigh us down … Over the course of time, all of this can produce a hardened heart; and like soil, it eventually becomes so crusted over, it is impossible for the seeds of truth to penetrate. Like the soil, until the heart is cultivated and broken, God’s truth cannot take root.”

“…Through the work of Jesus, God made provision for us to have our past washed clean so that we can have a fresh start and a new beginning. This is the reason the gospel is called the Good News – because it really is good news for a hurting world. The good news is that there is a way to break up the fallow ground of our hearts and enter into a life with God that will allow us to produce a great harvest.”

Matthew 13:1-23 (New International Version, ©2010)
The Parable of the Sower
1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”
11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables:

“Though seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:
“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15 For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’

16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
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The parable of the sower or, as some say, the parable of the soils … although I am familiar with the story in Scripture, I have had different thoughts about the “harvest” or, as noted in the NIV passage above, the “crop.” First, I thought it was souls saved, then, as I read about the fruit of the Spirit and the wording in 13:22 regarding being “unfruitful” I thought the harvest was the fruit of the Spirit. But I see now that it is any fruit, any reproduction of the Word of God evident in our lives. This includes (again, not mutually exclusive with our “and” God) souls saved, and the fruit of the Spirit, and other attributes in our lives which would show forth the nature and the glory of God (acceptance, embrace, and receiving and giving of forgiveness; obedience; healing unto wholeness; repentance unto salvation.)

…and my journey with Him continues…

He Is Our Peace – In Christ Made Nigh

Scripture:

Ephesians 2 (King James Version)
1And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
11Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
12That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
13But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
18For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
19Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

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Saw an interesting program with an interview with a former Muslim, now Christian:

http://www.tbn.org/index.php/2/37/92.html, Wednesday Feb 16, 2011: Paul Crouch, Sr. and Paul Jr. host Afshin Javid @ TCCI.

Isaiah 6:5-8 (King James Version)
5Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
6Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:
7And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine
iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.
8Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

Afshin Javid's bio and testimony are also shown on his website:
http://www.afshinjavid.com/bio.html

John 3:16-17 (King James Version)
16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

…and my journey with Him continues…