Image via WikipediaKingdom of God(Luke 13:20-21)Again Jesus asked, "What shall I compare the Kingdom of God with? It is like this. A woman takes some yeast and mixes it with a bushel of flour until the whole batch of dough rises."
When have you felt that your faith was too small to matter? What does this parable teach you about significance?
We must mix yeast in our lives and others. You no doubt would wish to share good news with people around you when the time is right. You would not normally share a happy event (i.e. marriage) at a difficult time in another person's life (e.g. divorce, death of a spouse, etc.). But this is exactly when a person may be most receptive to sharing your childhood in God. When a person is currently happy about their earthly life, they will not normally be receptive to changing it. Jesus needs workers who knows how to deal with people's problems. We can comfort others and show them the way to live because we have been helped with our problems by God and his laborers.
(Matthew 9:36-38)"As he saw the crowds, his heart was filled with pity for them, because they were worried and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. So he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is large, but there are few workers to gather it in. Pray to the owner of the harvest that he will send out workers to gather in his harvest.'"
What have you learned about the Kingdom and what it means to labor in the field where God has placed you?
Their are some people who God may select that would be a messenger for him, and who will be chosen to share this important information on a broader basis. But for the average child of God; it would be sufficient to share with those people that you come in contact with on a day by day basis. These people should be ready for this sharing. God will prepare you and them for this sharing. You will know it is right, if you have prayed to God about the individual and the circumstances and have spiritually listened for guidance.
I'm going to set up a situation for you. Your at the airport. You have a good friend there; one who has never asked you about your faith before, never even talked about religion. The person has only one minute before getting on the plane. Suddenly he or she says, "What's your happiness all about?" and you have just one minute to respond. What do you say?
One of the ways God will tell you when it is right, is that God will provide you the opportunity to discuss this news. Then as a Child of God you are REQUIRED by your Father in Heaven to SHARE. This is not an option you have. If you turned down this opportunity, you are saying to God; that I do not agree with your plan, I am not proud to be your Child, I have not really turned my life over to you, and I do not love you enough to want to share you. What do you think God the Father's viewpoint will be concerning this rebellion on your part. Jesus told his disciples that they should not worry about what they should say - God's spirit would speak through them.
(Matthew 10:18-20)"For my sake you will be brought to trial before rulers and kings, to tell the Good News to them and to the Gentiles. When they bring you to trial, do not worry about what you are going to say or how you will say it; when the time comes, you will be given what you will say. For the words you will speak will not be yours; they will come from the Spirit of your Father speaking through you."
How can you best represent to your neighbors that the kingdom of heaven is near?
If you do act, God will provide you with the guidance you need. And since He is in control of your life, He is the one that is acting through you. Therefore there is no question of your ability or lack, success or failure, acceptance or rejection by the individual you are presenting to. All you are required to do is make the contact and do the best you can do in presenting the opportunity to rejoin as God's child. The very least you are expected to do is to present, how it happened to you, what it means to you, and ask them if they would like to know more. If they would, and you do not feel capable to answer their questions, then you are obligated to arrange that they can get more information. We should always be ready to give an answer, gently and respectfully, when asked about our faith, our life-style, or our Christian perspective.
When have you felt that your faith was too small to matter? What does this parable teach you about significance?
We must mix yeast in our lives and others. You no doubt would wish to share good news with people around you when the time is right. You would not normally share a happy event (i.e. marriage) at a difficult time in another person's life (e.g. divorce, death of a spouse, etc.). But this is exactly when a person may be most receptive to sharing your childhood in God. When a person is currently happy about their earthly life, they will not normally be receptive to changing it. Jesus needs workers who knows how to deal with people's problems. We can comfort others and show them the way to live because we have been helped with our problems by God and his laborers.
(Matthew 9:36-38)"As he saw the crowds, his heart was filled with pity for them, because they were worried and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. So he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is large, but there are few workers to gather it in. Pray to the owner of the harvest that he will send out workers to gather in his harvest.'"
What have you learned about the Kingdom and what it means to labor in the field where God has placed you?
Their are some people who God may select that would be a messenger for him, and who will be chosen to share this important information on a broader basis. But for the average child of God; it would be sufficient to share with those people that you come in contact with on a day by day basis. These people should be ready for this sharing. God will prepare you and them for this sharing. You will know it is right, if you have prayed to God about the individual and the circumstances and have spiritually listened for guidance.
I'm going to set up a situation for you. Your at the airport. You have a good friend there; one who has never asked you about your faith before, never even talked about religion. The person has only one minute before getting on the plane. Suddenly he or she says, "What's your happiness all about?" and you have just one minute to respond. What do you say?
One of the ways God will tell you when it is right, is that God will provide you the opportunity to discuss this news. Then as a Child of God you are REQUIRED by your Father in Heaven to SHARE. This is not an option you have. If you turned down this opportunity, you are saying to God; that I do not agree with your plan, I am not proud to be your Child, I have not really turned my life over to you, and I do not love you enough to want to share you. What do you think God the Father's viewpoint will be concerning this rebellion on your part. Jesus told his disciples that they should not worry about what they should say - God's spirit would speak through them.
(Matthew 10:18-20)"For my sake you will be brought to trial before rulers and kings, to tell the Good News to them and to the Gentiles. When they bring you to trial, do not worry about what you are going to say or how you will say it; when the time comes, you will be given what you will say. For the words you will speak will not be yours; they will come from the Spirit of your Father speaking through you."
How can you best represent to your neighbors that the kingdom of heaven is near?
If you do act, God will provide you with the guidance you need. And since He is in control of your life, He is the one that is acting through you. Therefore there is no question of your ability or lack, success or failure, acceptance or rejection by the individual you are presenting to. All you are required to do is make the contact and do the best you can do in presenting the opportunity to rejoin as God's child. The very least you are expected to do is to present, how it happened to you, what it means to you, and ask them if they would like to know more. If they would, and you do not feel capable to answer their questions, then you are obligated to arrange that they can get more information. We should always be ready to give an answer, gently and respectfully, when asked about our faith, our life-style, or our Christian perspective.
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