Matthew 13:16-23
Find a place and time free of distractions for the next 7-10 minutes. Sit comfortably and breathe deeply for a few seconds before you begin. As you breathe in, say the name of Jesus and become aware of his presence with you. As you breathe out, open your mind and heart to receive whatever Jesus has for you today.
Today’s passage overlaps with our last. Read Matthew 13:16-23 pausing to meditate on verses 16-17 before reading the rest.
To be blessed by God is to be enlarged as a person because of the benefits extended by God, and one of the greatest benefits God gives to those who are open to receive is the ability to hear and understand the message of the Kingdom. And what is that message? Restoration is possible because of Jesus – restoration to God, restoration among people, restoration of the world, and restoration of our true selves. This is shalom – all things set right the way God intended.
Before you go on, take a moment to get in touch with how you are feeling today. Picture yourself before Jesus. What is your posture? What does this image tell you about the current state of your emotions? Look up to the face of Jesus in your imagination and allow his blessing to flow over you. What do you notice? Talk to Jesus about this.
Read Matthew 13:16-23 again picturing the environments into which the seeds fall.
One of the most remarkable aspects of this parable is the generosity of the farmer. The farmer doesn’t reserve seeds until the perfect soil is found; the farmer tosses seeds freely letting them fall where they may.
When Jesus sacrificed his life for humanity, the grace of God that had long been hindered by human rebellion became wide, and the benefits of the Kingdom became available to any and everyone with a heart open to receive. God is not stingy with shalom – it is freely available to anyone who turns to Jesus and allows him to continually enlarge them with his message.
The environments in this parable are descriptive of the way various people react to Jesus’ Kingdom message, but they can also mirror the capricious nature of the human heart – even the heart of a follower of Jesus. We can’t make the soil of our hearts fertile, but when we recognize the rocks and thorns, we can yield to Jesus and allow him to cultivate the Kingdom in us.
As you end this time of meditation, read the last part of Jesus’ explanation of the parable again, and then take time to get quiet and listen to Jesus.
“The seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and understand God’s word ad produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted.”
What do you want to say to Jesus today?
What do you believe he wants to say to you, and how will you respond?
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