January 10th, Saturday: Matthew chaps. 13-14

The parables in Matthew 13 explains how God is at work in the world today.

The kingdom of heaven is not the true church – for the kingdom of heaven contains both the true and false, saved and lost.

The kingdom of heaven is made up of all who profess any kind of allegiance to the King.

God is sowing His Word in human hearts and looking for it to fruit.

He is sowing His people into the world, where they can produce a harvest.

At the end of the age, He will separate the true from the false, and the good from the bad.

Is your profession of Christ authentic? Or will you be seen as a fake at the end of the age?

Does your heart receive the Word?

The seed has life you know, and some power, and can produce a harvest of blessing in your life.

Do you hear it?

God has wonderful plans for your life.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, 'I know the plans I have for you. Not plans for calamity, but to give you a future and a hope.'

Can God plant you where He wants you, do you believe He can do that?

You're a seed containing His divine life, but a seed must be planted to produce fruit.

Do you share with others what He teaches you?

Truth must not be hoarded – it must be shared so that others can be saved and then built up in the faith.

There're some principles here in these passages of Scripture that I don't want you to miss.

First principle is this, 'Tell it to Jesus.'

The disciples of John the Baptist were stunned, so they shared their grief with Jesus.

Life will bring its disappointments, no doubt, and you've got to learn how to handle them.

Jesus will help you.

Another principle – not only to 'tell it to Jesus,' but 'bring it to Jesus'.

The 12 disciples said, 'Send them away!'

But Jesus said, 'Bring what you have to me.'

Give Him your all, and He will use it to meet the need.

He can do the impossible with whatever is wholly given to Him.

So give it all to Him, withholding nothing.

You can even bring to Him people who need His touch.

Another principle is 'look to Jesus.'

Some storms come because of our disobedience, but this one came because they obeyed Jesus.

Peter did walk on the water, but when distracted by dangers around him, he took his eyes off Jesus.

We look to Jesus by faith, when we trust His Word.

So beware of distractions.