Soil Makes All the Difference
It’s a psalm kind of day!
Come, let us worship and bow down.
….Let us kneel before the Lord our maker,
….for he is our God.
We are the people he watches over,
….the flock under his care. Psalm 95:6-7 (NLT)
Luke 8:4-15 (<<click to read the passage)
We love clematises! They are beautiful and some people’s get really big, covering trellises. We have tried planting them in a couple of areas of our lot and they just won’t grow! They put forth a little foliage but don’t bloom and eventually even the foliage dies off. We have tried several pieces of advice on how to care for them but to no avail.
I think our biggest problem is the soil which underlays our lot. We have a couple of inches of topsoil but underneath the topsoil is clay! And one thing clay is bad about it not letting water escape – it just lays there! I checked out a website with advice on how to get clematis to thrive and one thing they stressed was, “clematis does not appreciate having its feet in standing water.” Truly, soil makes all the difference!
And in regard to Jesus’ parable from the passage, we started with yesterday, “soil” makes all the difference in the receptivity of the Good News of the Gospel. If the “seed” does not land in good soil it will not do well.
My study Bible* has a wonderful paragraph along this line of thought.
“Footpath” people, like many of the religious leaders, refuse to believe God’s message. “Rocky soil” people like many in the crowds who followed Jesus, believe his message but never get around to doing anything about it. “Thorn patch” people overcome by worries and the lure of materialism, leave no room in their lives for God. “Good soil” people, in contrast to all the other groups, follow Jesus no matter what the cost. Which type of soil are you?”
Lord Jesus, may we be receptive to Your word for our lives. And as we take up the responsibility to sow the seed of Your word to the world around us may we be diligent and not lose heart. You are constantly working on clearing off the overgrown acres of our lives, hauling off the stones, mowing down the thorns. Soil that is hard as rock can be broken up by Your love and compassion. May we never give up on sowing the seed. Amen.
*New Living Translation Life Application Study Bible
Mar11th, 2020, Wed, 12:32 pm
Do You Want to Hear?
I can proclaim, Father, that You truly are a God who answers prayers! You are almighty! You care for us and have great compassion for us! Though the future is uncertain, we can place our trust in You. Whatever the future holds You remain our immovable Rock! Hallelujah!
Luke 8:4-15 (<<click to read the passage)
One of the most challenging things for a school bus driver to accomplish is to get students to understand and then act accordingly. I comment frequently about the struggles of dealing with my younger students, but my older ones can be a challenge, as well.
Yesterday, I had had it! Two high school guys, no matter how many times I tell them, choose to do their own thing and will not listen! In the mornings – I am sure they are not innocent! – but they really give me no grief. But in the afternoon! They make up for lost time! They are amongst the first half of my drop-offs, so they are not on too awfully long, but every day I have to tell them to sit down. Usually not just once but two, three or more times! That is ridiculous! They are freshmen in high school. If they began riding the bus in kindergarten, this would be their tenth year on a school bus…they know the rules!
We were on a back county road and I had just told them to sit (for one of them, it was already his second time in like 15 minutes!) and they totally ignored me! There was zero traffic, so I stopped right there and laid into them both! I didn’t even pick up the on-bus mic and just bellowed for all the bus to hear! They, of course, sit clear in the back. And boy, they sat that time and didn’t get up until they were getting off the bus!
In this passage from Luke 8, Jesus taught with short stories – parables. He taught this way quite often. He purposely did this so that those who truly wanted to hear, would dig to understand. He wasn’t purposely trying to hide things from His listeners but, as is the case with all people, if they don’t really want to learn they are not going to. Some of his listeners may just not have cared about what He had to say and some of them just were not interested in putting forth the effort to learn from Him. It was just easier to stay right where they were.
One other point here is that even those who struggle to learn can learn and do learn when they are given incentive and encouragement. My wife, Karen, is a great teacher! She can motivate even the most challenged of students to do well. In first grade, you learn to read and many have surpassed even what they thought they could accomplish and have discovered the joy of reading.
God has given us the seed to sow – the Good News of Jesus’ free gift of salvation. Our responsibility is to sow. We cannot control the receptivity of those who hear. But we must be faithful. We can also strive to sow in such a way that motivates our listeners to take to heart what we proclaim.
Lord Jesus, give us a burden for the lost. May we not turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to Your heartfelt pleas!
Mar 10th, 2020, Tues, 12:38 pm
Women
Dear Father, there are many things upon my heart of grave importance. May Your hand be in it all. Guide and direct it all within Your will. Amen.
Luke 8:1-3 (<<click to read the passage)
Women. Where would we be without them? Well, for one thing, we wouldn’t be. Period.
You may not be aware but yesterday (Sunday, March 8th) was International Women’s Day. The first National Woman’s Day was celebrated in the United States in 1909 when 15,000 women went on strike in New York City to protest poor working conditions, bad pay, and to demand the right to vote. A lot has been accomplished on behalf of women in the last 100-plus years but there are still many things to be overcome…grievous things.
As I watched a couple of videos in regard to this annual recognition, I heard several referrals to statistics of the abuse, neglect and victimization women are made to endure. As I further looked online there was a huge volume of information about the plight of many. Here is one paragraph that I read.
And that was in the United States. Internationally, it is far, far worse. It is overwhelming! As I read, it got to the point where I just didn’t even know where to begin!
So why do I speak of these things? We need to be aware of them. But I want to stress that I am not making a political statement of some sort at all. I am responding to God’s word. In today’s passage, Luke makes a point to make us aware that Jesus included women amongst those that He “took…with him…”
At this time in Jewish culture that just didn’t happen! My study Bible* states matter-of-factly that “women were not supposed to learn from rabbis.”
Now maybe you are thinking, “Well, that’s a bit of a stretch, isn’t it? Jumping from women who are not supposed to learn to men murdering their partners?”
Is it though? Any mentality that places anyone on a lower plain of value eventually leads to a downward spiral of neglect and abuse.
Again, if it were not for women, none of us would be here! So why do we find it so easy to tread them underfoot. A portion of a wedding ceremony I have used comes to mind.
In the consummation of the first marriage, the woman whom God made as a helpmate for man was not taken from his head to rule over him, nor from his feet to be trampled by him, but rather from his side that she might be his equal, from under his arm that she might receive his protection, and from near his heart that she might own and command his love.
Jesus made a point to show His love and acceptance of women. His example showed us that they were not subordinates but partners, companions, helpmates. With the Lord’s enablement, may we strive to end the abuse, neglect, and victimization of women at home and abroad! Instead, may we love, honor, and cherish them as did our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Mar 9th, 2020, Mon, 12:49 pm
*New Living Translation Life Application Study Bible
Reaction
“Broken” a painting by Lyn Deutsch
As this week begins anew, Father, may we all be back to good health and may we all sleep well tonight so as to be well-rested for the day and week ahead. Amen.
Luke 7:36-50 (<<click to read the passage)
Reaction.
What would be your reaction after hiking through dense woods on a humid summer’s day upon coming to the top of a rise and seeing before you a stream flowing with clear, cool water enticing you to dip in your hand for a drink to satiate your thirst?
What would be your reaction to, after a long exhausting day of labor, full of rain and windy storms, to place yourself by a cozy, crackling fire with a mug of hot cocoa held between your chilled hands as your favorite music enveloped you in its comforting, soothing embrace?
What would be your reaction after a life of disappointment and unfilled desires, that despite all of your disreputable attempts to satisfy, you realize that you have failed miserably in your endeavors to do so but…you find yourself in the presence of One who accepts you right where you are and even as He acknowledges your sordid lifestyle, He ever so lovingly extends a hand of forgiveness and compassion in the midst of your pain and loss?
That is where this woman in today’s passage finds herself. She has been lustfully pursued by some and disdained by many more but knowing, having heard herself, the unequivocal love of Jesus she weeps. Bitter tears for a life wasted – her life. But here she has fallen at the feet of the very Creator of life. There is no condemnation falling from His lips but spilling forth from His heart are words of compassion and understanding…and in a single heartbeat, her bitter tears are no more, for they have turned into tears of joy! Inconsequential are the words and thoughts of the nay-sayers for her faith in the only One that matters has brought her irrevocable salvation and peace!
Lord Jesus, may I whose “sins…are many”, may my reaction be to love You much, for my sins are truly forgiven. Praise to You my Redeemer!
Mar 8th, 2020, Sun, 5:26 pm
A Child No More
Father, I am sorry that we have taken Your perfect gift of Creation and defiled it. At its core it is still “good”, but we have piled upon it the refuse of our lives. We have buried so much of it in hate, violence, and perversion. Forgive us of our sinful ways. May we embrace the salvation freely extended to us and with Your goodness in us may we begin the reclamation of what is rightfully Yours. May the “good” be restored. Amen.
Luke 7:24-35 (<<click to read the passage)
To say the least, children can be very entertaining! Their imaginations run wild (and quite often they do, too!) I hear all kinds of things on my elementary bus. One kindergartener likes to call me, Mr. Chicken (I think he just has a thing for chickens!) A first grader calls me, Mr. Pickles…I have no idea. I hear a lot about the Tooth Fairy and have been asked if unicorns are real.
One problem, especially for my younger kids is that they get carried away in their little worlds and it is easy for them to zone out to the realities of this world.
Kindergarteners tend to live in their little worlds. It is hard for them to stay out of trouble on the bus because they really only see the here and now. The “big picture” is totally beyond their comprehension. I want them to be safe – staying seated in their seats, not leaning out in the aisle or over the back of their seat, not standing on the floor in front of their seat because it makes a great stage upon which to play or a great table upon which to draw or color. Their mile-a-minute minds potentially put them in harm’s way.
Being a child is all well and good and sometimes we may give up too much when we grow up but eventually, we have to put aside childish things. Paul in his infamous “love” chapter of 1 Corinthians wrote,
When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. 1 Corinthians 13:11 (NLT)
In the last portion of yesterday’s passage, Jesus compares the people of that generation to children. The Amplified Bible’s translation is right on target (the bracketed portions really clarify what is being said).
“To what then shall I compare the people of this generation [who set aside God’s plan], and what are they like? They are like children sitting in the market place and calling to one another, and saying, ‘We played the flute for you [pretending to be at a wedding], and you did not dance; we sang a dirge [pretending to be at a funeral], and you did not weep [so nothing we did appealed to you]. … Yet wisdom is vindicated and shown to be right by all her children [by the lifestyle, moral character, and good deeds of her followers].” vs31,32,35
The people of that generation, and really Jesus was pinpointing the Pharisees and teachers of the Law, were just pretending that they had a right relationship with God. They were going through all the motions of reality but they were zoned out to the realities of God’s Kingdom. They couldn’t stay out of trouble in their interactions with Jesus because they really only saw the here and now in their lives.
Lord Jesus, help us to grow up. Being a child is fun in its time but if we stay in that mode, we miss out on the wonderful things that maturity has to offer. It may be tough having to grow up, but it brings rewards to the fullest!
Mar 5th, 2020, Thurs, 12:10 pm