The Kingdom of Heaven is Like… — Matthew 13:24-30

This is a brief series looking at every time Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like…” 

²⁴ Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. ²⁵ But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. ²⁶ When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.

²⁷ “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’

²⁸ “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.

“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’

²⁹ “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. ³⁰ 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.’”

—

³⁶ Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”

³⁷ He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. ³⁸ The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, ³⁹ and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

⁴⁰ “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. ⁴¹ The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. ⁴² They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ⁴³ Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

Dear God, I think the first thing to notice about this is that the kingdom of heaven is here and now. This is part of the process. Yes, there is heaven, but we are its kingdom.

I wonder if this passage isn’t the answer to the age-old question, “Why does God allow evil in the world?” Well, first, it wasn’t place here by you, and, second, there’s no way to remove it without removing all of us (see Noah).

So what do I do with this? I think the first thing is to accept the idea that this is our world and I have a place in it. Evil is around me. Unfortunately, evil is in me. I am tainted by this world too. The evil takes water and nourishment that was meant for me. It exists at my expense. And I can feel its influence: greed, lust, hate, racism, insecurity, etc. It’s all there.

But my job is to grow. To be here, resist being choked out by the evil, lean into you for my nourishment and grow. In Texas we have weeds commonly referred to as sticker burs. They are the worst and you can’t kill them with chemicals. The chemicals only kill the grass around them and then they grow back stronger because they no longer have to compete with the grass. And by the time you realize what they are it’s too late. They have seeded and started to spread. No, apparently the only way to get rid of them is to choke them out with good grass. Give St. Augustine so much water that it will win its battle with the sticker burs.

Father, help me to be so attached to you as my nourishment that I will overcome the evil around me. Help me to reject the things that distract me and simply feed on you. I don’t want to be removed from the world. You can’t use me then. But I do want to remove any of my nourishment that comes from the world…Wow! Am I really ready to say that? Do I mean those words? Well, we’ll see I suppose. But help me to be so in touch with you that all of the evil that tries to consume my own life will be choked out. And please help your church in the same way. Help us all to thrive among the weeds and completely attach our roots to you.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

 

Matthew 5:13-16

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. 14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:13-16

Dear God, my wife said something interesting a couple of days ago that was really profound. In the gospels, whenever Jesus says, “The kingdom of heaven is like…,” it is always something very humble. It is never something that seeks power. It is always portrayed as something that is growing from grass roots. Literally roots since most of the stories are about seeds growing. It makes one wonder why the church today seems more focused on seeking political power and influence than it is on planting seeds and gathering people to you.

It feels like the power struggle began in the 80s with evangelical leaders like Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson and James Dobson encouraging Christians to make a difference at the ballot box by voting for conservative values. And while there is nothing wrong with encouraging people to vote their conscience, over time this tended to morph into an “us vs. them” mentality among Christians. We started to lose our saltiness and we started to see those who didn’t vote with us as our enemy instead of part of the harvest to be gathered.

So let’s bring this down to me. What am I supposed to do to be part of planting seeds? What kind of light am I supposed to be. I suppose the first step is to practice what I preach and live the life you’ve called me to live. Love you. Love others. Deny myself and take up my cross. Let go of the cares of the world.

Now, assuming I’ve done those things, what’s next? I think the next step is just to speak peace to people. Right now, the divisive debate on Facebook/Twitter is about which medications to use to treat COVID-19. And I’ve kind of fallen into the trap of throwing out my two cents, although I’ve kept it more general. But when I see these posts–especially the ones supporting some controversial medications–the emotions I’m attaching to the motivations behind them are fear and frustration. They are afraid and frustrated that there is a conspiracy against us as Americans. There is a fear that the decisions are politically motivated and will ultimately result in a loss of political power in the election in November. There is a fear that they or a loved one will get sick and the doctor will not be allowed to prescribe the best medication for treatment.

On the other side are people who are tired of conspiracy theories (just because I’m paranoid doesn’t mean they aren’t out to get me). They are afraid of fringe beliefs that might influence national policy. They are afraid of losing influential power to people whom they don’t believe are thinking correctly/clearly.

Father, help me to be a light to all of these people that happen to be in my sphere of influence. Help me to not worry about changing their mind, but to draw them to peace in your presence. Help us all to let go and embrace you. Help it to start with me.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

John 17:20-21

20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

John 17:20-21

Dear God, maybe this is just the bargaining stage of mourning.

• Denial
• Anger
• Depression
• Bargaining
• Acceptance

We have denied the reality of COVID-19. We have been angry about having to quarantine and wear masks. I’m sure some have been depressed. And now there is a group out there that is once again pushing a seemingly false solution to the problem so that we can take a shortcut and get out of this pandemic more quickly. And I mention all of this this morning not to take shots at those that believe this. They are good people. The part that is on my heart is that it is one more thing that Satan (and the earthly powers and principalities) is using to tear us apart. To tear apart our unity. Our country is called the United States of America. Well, there is not much about us right now that is united. This turmoil is awful and it is making me sick to my stomach. One answer would be to just ignore it and focus on me, but I don’t think that’s what you’ve called me to do. I think you’ve called me to go back to Jesus’s simple prayer for us before he died. He prayed that we would be one, as you, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are one.

Father, first, it starts with me. Help me to love beyond my exasperation. Help me to let things go and just rest in you. Help me let go of my need to be right or what I perceive as reasonable. Help me to just love. Yes, let it start with me. And then I pray for your church. The pastors and the lay leaders: let them be a source of your unity. Make them one. Then let that filter down to your people. Unite us together. I am afraid of what kind of persecution it will take to answer this prayer, Father. I can’t imagine another way for us to unite except through persecution. But whatever you have for me, I submit to it and I accept.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

Hebrews 10:19-11:2

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another —and all the more as you see the Day approaching. If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For, “In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.” And, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved. Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.

Hebrews 10:19-11:2

Dear God, it’s interesting to go back and take these last two verses about faith and put them into the context of the words that came before. This is all about suffering for you and having faith that the “possessions” I have in you are worth losing my earthly possessions.

You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.

See, the problem is, however, that I really don’t know what it is to suffer at the hands of others. Outside of some occasional bullying in my life, I’ve never been persecuted. I’ve had loss. I’ve had trials, but I haven’t suffered the kinds of persecution the author is referring to here. That kind of “faith” is something with which I cannot empathize.

I think that lack of empathy is what those who are angry about things like those who protest by kneeling during the national anthem are experiencing. I understand those who are angry about it thinking that those who are doing it are being ungrateful, but it’s likely they have never experienced the persecution that minorities experience. They haven’t experienced the same America the minority has experienced.

So Father, help me to have the faith I need to accomplish what you need me to accomplish. Help me to have empathy for others and to stand beside them as they need faith to go through the trials before them. And help me to be who you need me to be to be a bridge builder between so many who are currently divided.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

Psalm 119:57-64

You are my portion, Lord; I have promised to obey your words.

I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.

I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes.

I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands.

Though the wicked bind me with ropes, I will not forget your law.

At midnight I rise to give you thanks for your righteous laws.

I am a friend to all who fear you, to all who follow your precepts.

The earth is filled with your love, Lord; teach me your decrees.

Psalm 119:57-64

Dear God, well, I made a mistake this morning. I spent time reading social media and news before I spent time reading scripture and centering my mind on you. You are my hope. It doesn’t matter what my “friends” think. It doesn’t matter what the liberal or conservative press think. In the long run, I will be left with the life you have given me to live. I will be left with the stewardship of the people you have put in my sphere. The resources you have put in my sphere. The work you have put in my sphere. I cannot solve our country’s response to COVID-19 or racial injustice, but I can look around and ask you what you would have me do. Yes, I need to read news and know what is going on, but that’s not where I need to start. I need to start with you. I need to be in tune with you. So I’m sorry for going out there on my own this morning. I’m sorry for looking at the world and my friends with my eyes and not yours. I’m really sorry. I paid for it with a sickness in my soul and spirit. But here I am now.

You are my portion. I promise to obey your words. I will seek your face with all of my heart. Please be gracious to me and forgive me. I know enough of you that I am compelled to turn from my own foolishness and follow you. The world’s wisdom will entangle me in my sin, but your laws will free me. I will worship you. I worship you now. I will be good counsel to those who love you and I will also be good counsel to those who to not regard you. I will live my lie to comfort others and point them to you. As I sit in this town square and look around at the birds, trees, grass, and sky, I am in awe of your beautiful world. It is yours. I give you the glory for all of it, and each person I see right now as well.

In Jesus’s amen I pray,

Amen

 

Psalm 112

1 Praise the Lord.

Blessed are those who fear the Lord,
who find great delight in his commands.

2 Their children will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches are in their houses,
and their righteousness endures forever.
4 Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.
5 Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely,
who conduct their affairs with justice.

6 Surely the righteous will never be shaken;
they will be remembered forever.
7 They will have no fear of bad news;
their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
8 Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear;
in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.
9 They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor,
their righteousness endures forever;
their horn will be lifted high in honor.

10 The wicked will see and be vexed,
they will gnash their teeth and waste away;
the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.

Psalm 112

Dear God, see, this is why I don’t spend too much time praying through Psalms. I’m not sure this content has been thoroughly theologically vetted. It’s a little too much prosperity gospel for me. The verse of the day for Bible Gateway was verse 5: Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice. Really? Always? I mean, this is a nice platitude, and I wholeheartedly believe we should give generously and conduct our affairs with justice, but sometimes good coming our way just isn’t part of your plan–and that’s okay.

I don’t understand your ways, but I know they are better than mine. And I know that I cannot and should not put rewards like this in front of me as my motivation for giving generously and conducting my affairs with justice. That only turns my eyes on me and my selfishness, and takes them off of you.

One of the hardest parts about the fundraising aspect of my job is to check my motivations at the door. Sometimes I’m better at this than others. Am I just trying to do good to people so they will give our organization money, or is their joy and health my motivation. I’m about to spend the next few hours writing thank you notes to people who donated this week. Will my communication with them be motivated by selfishness and manipulation so they will send another donation, or will I put my own needs and desires to the side and love them (and be your love for them) through what I say?

Father, you must increase and I must decrease. I must give my utmost for your highest. I need to keep my eyes on you, following you, my Lord. Help me to do that as selflessly as possible.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

Matthew 19:13-15

Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.
Matthew 19:13-15

Dear God, I know a lot of theological points have been made about this passage over the years, and I’m one who has tried to deep dive it. But I want to look at one simple thing.

Maybe this is just as simple as Jesus telling the disciples to be nice. “Hey, guys. Just chill out. These people want me to bless their children. Be nice.”

It’s easy to get so focused on my own agenda that I can let anything that gets in my way irritate me. And I can see that sometimes in my coworkers as well. And because they are on the front lines of working directly with clients than I am, I can sometimes have more perspective than they do because they are in the fog of war. So in those moments it’s not only important that I help them to see the need for additional kindness, but also show them kindness as well.

Father, remind me throughout the day that even the most difficult people need to see your kindness through me. Help me to lead with that, model that, and encourage that through others. For your glory, for your glory, for your glory.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

Matthew 16:13-17

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.
Matthew 16:13-17

Dear God, the part I want to focus on this morning is when Jesus tells Peter that his knowledge came from divine revelation and not his own senses. I would love for that to be said of me sometime, but I am always to quick to trust in myself that I don’t think I allow myself to be still and just look to you.

It’s the part about not waiting on you that frustrates me with myself. For example, I have a friend who came to my wife and me recently with some of their personal concerns and fears. And while my wife and I have prayed for them, I can’t say that I ever stopped and waited on you to tell me what my personal response should be. I’ve just picked some actions and offered to help, but is the help I’m offering what it needed.

On the other hand, with the pandemic, last week our local hospital was under siege with COVID-19 patients maxing out its capacity. Then I felt you tell me that a prayer walk around the hospital campus would be appropriate so I’ve done three of them and I plan to do more. And you’ve seemingly said yes to the prayers I’ve made for the staff, patients, executive leadership, etc. The hospital went from 12 admitted COVID-19 patients to 1 within three days. Thank you. And that’s not to say that if they go back to 12 today you aren’t answering my prayers. Your will and your plan are yours. I trust you. I just don’t want to miss or take for granted anything you might be doing to show mercy.

Father, remind me with the Holy Spirit’s still small voice to seek you more and more. Give me the resolve to wait on you and not be in a hurry to solve things on my own timeline. And live through me so I can be a life that brings your kingdom and will into the earth.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

Disney Princess Theology

Dear God, I was listening to a podcast tonight and they discussed this quote from Erna Kim Hackett. It’s from a blog post she wrote in August 2017. Yeah, I guess I’m guilty of this for sure. I especially like the analogy she made of our country seeing ourselves as Israel when it is likely we have more Egypt in us that we think.

But I’m not going to cast stones at my fellow Americans right now. I want to look at myself first and see how I might have missed this simple truth in all of these prayer journals I’ve done with you. When I did David and Goliath, did I ever consider that I am Goliath in the story? That any part of me is Goliath? How about the New Testament Saul before he became Paul? The Pharisees? Am I a Pharisee? Is there any part of me that is the men Sodom? But have I ever looked in my heart to see if I’m Judas?

I can say that when I did the parents of the Bible series, I found myself sympathizing with Hagar and Peninnah in ways I hadn’t before. But that wasn’t me identifying with them as much as me maybe cutting them a break. But am I willing to ask myself if there is a part of me that is Pharaoh when he is stubborn and refuses to let the Israelites go because it will cost him and his dominant class too much? If I had been born to slave owners 200 years ago, would I have been willing to part with a good portion of my inherited wealth and free my slaves? What do I not do now because I am afraid it will impact my income?

Oh, Father, these questions are almost too painful to consider. I know there is so much sin in my life of which I am not aware. Thank you for loving me anyway. Thank you for not expecting me to get all of this figured out and resolved before I am able to come and commune with you. Thank you that there is grace for me to be who I am, but also a Holy Spirit to guide me into who you are calling me to be. Even on a night like this, I am humbled, repentant, but also at peace before you. Teach me to be better.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

1 John 1:5-7

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
1 John 1:5-7

Dear God, of course, I immediately thought of the dc Talk cover of the Charlie Peacock song “In the Light” when I read this. Since I just looked at the dc Talk version a couple of days ago, here’s a link to the Charlie Peacock version.

In terms of this passage, verse six is important:

If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.

The important thing here is that one of the people we are lying to is ourself. I think one of the biggest problems in the church today is that we have no idea how to walk in the light. We think believing there is a God and believing there is a Jesus and everything the New Testament says about him means we walk in the light. But as I saw Stuart Hall day last week in his interview with Andy Stanley, we need to worship the God of our theology and not our theology.

Father, help me to legitimately walk in your light today. That means spending time with you in prayer, listening for your voice, worshipping you with all my souls, mind, and strength, and loving my neighbor as myself. It means forgiveness. It means generosity. I love you.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen