Wednesday, July 29, 2015

The greatest of story Tellers



Luke 8:9-15

I worked with David Flemming in Corpus Christi and when David told a story he had your full attention, he could keep you in almost a spell waiting to hear how the story would end.  But David could not carry the bucket for Jesus; Jesus is the very best at story telling.  If you do not believe me ask this question; of all the stories ever told, whose have been read, written about and retold the most in the last 2000 years, and it’s Jesus, hands-down.
So this came into my mind, why have so many heard, or read the parable of the sower and come away with a lack of understanding?  We may find a key as to why in 1 Corinthians 2:12-14, Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.  The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”

Do not be mislead this is not referring to the gospel message!  That message is clear to one and all, God loves you so much, no matter what color your skin, or the condition of your sinfulness, that He sent His Son, His only Son to pay for your sin, and Jesus took on flesh and lived among us and was pure, without sin, and died on a cross making payment for your sin, with His blood.  That message is clear to all.

But when it comes to God’s ways and God’s wisdom it cannot be fathomed by non-believers, it is on a level they cannot attain.  We find no one in the crowd who would ask Jesus, Teacher we do not understand the story, but once alone with Jesus His disciples did just that.  This is what Jesus said to them in verses 11-15, “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.”

Many have heard the gospel message as I did as a child, but until I was 27 years old, I followed Jesus from a distance.  We believe He is the Christ the Son of God, but the devil deceives us letting us put self first, and not trusting our very lives to Jesus, that is my testimony for 27 years.  Where do you fit in the story of the Sower?

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

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