It was the end of the summer. Instead of our regular walk, I wanted
something more exiting. The higher grounds where dirt bikers race would
be the ideal place. I had no idea, however, that there would be so many
mud puddles in the tracks. My first miscalculation. It truly was an
adventure trying to avoid all the mud that we were facing. Sadly, we
were unsuccessful, and we were soon walking around with thick layers of
mud sticking to the soles of our shoes.
On our return trip I
decided on a new strategy. Instead of avoiding the mud, which seemed
impossible, I would jump over it. My second miscalculation.
At
first I was quite successful, and I soon became overconfident. I was
facing a huge mud puddle, but hey, if I could jump over the other
obstacles, I sure could do so with this one as well. And I almost
succeeded. I only fell slightly short of my goal. Unfortunately it was
short enough to send me head over heels into the water. Now my shoes
were not the only things that were muddy. My pants and shirt had also
joined the ranks, and for some reason, my right hand had two additional
holes, both of which were bleeding.
My wife couldn't help but
laugh. I'm sure it was merited!
The lesson I learned was this:
don't jump over muddy puddles!
No, not really. The lesson I
really learned was to not become too cocky!
We can also end up
cocky when we think we can eliminate the weedy members of our church
congregation. When Jesus' disciples asked, "Do you want us to go and
pull them (the weeds) up?" (Matt 13:28, NIV2), He answered: "No, because
while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them."
(Matt 13:29, NIV2)
Last time we learned that the evil one cannot
resist sending his human agents into places of worship, in order to
create doubt and strife. They are the ones who give the church a bad
reputation. It would make human sense to weed these out.
Instead
Jesus advices, "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."
(Matt 13:30, NIV2)
Only at the end of time will the weeds be
weeded out, not by human agents, but by God's angels. But why leave
them? Don't they wreak havoc in our midst?
It's here where we
fall short, a miscalculation of some sort. Who can say with any
confidence that these human agents from the evil one himself could not
be touched by the love from above? If we weed them out, some would miss
the opportunity to know Jesus, and we would become way muddier than when
I fell into the mud puddle.
Interestingly enough, Jesus follows
this parable with two others, giving credence that God's kingdom cannot
be stopped from growing. I strongly believe that any trouble maker
cannot help but be affected by God's grace.
"He told them another
parable: 'The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took
and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet
when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so
that the birds come and perch in its branches.'" (Matt 13:31-32, NIV2)
That same mustard seed is also referred as a symbol of the faith
that moves mountains (See Matthew 17:20). Do we believe that God cannot
reach these weedy individuals? They may be the very ones Jesus doesn't
want to see uprooted, as they truly are not weeds, but wheat! What a
blunder we would create!
"He told them still another parable:
'The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into
about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.'"
(Matt 13:33, NIV2)
Miscalculations can be costly! I had a hard
time writing for several days due to my miscalculations, and it could
have been even worse.
May we have the same compassion that Jesus
displayed when he took Judas under his wing. God cannot help but give
every opportunity possible to help us truly experience His grace. "The
Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.
Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but
everyone to come to repentance." (2Pet 3:9, NIV2)
Would you like
to join me in jumping over some mud puddles? It's stupendously fun!
Rob Chaffart
http://answers2prayer.org/nancy/June%202014/FriJune20.html
Today's Bible Verse:
"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." (Matt 13:30)
Miscalculations. Kingdom of Power, Part 14
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