Nikke's thoughts
I just love how Jesus talked in parables. I think sometimes as Christians we get all caught up in talking like Christians (I call it Christianeese) and no one has an idea what you are talking about.
Jesus talked the way those could understand. To a man that grows crops, to a fisherman of the sea, to a woman cooking and more. He made it as simple as He could and it worked! People got it.
I love Peter I can relate to him in so many ways! I love the part where he jumps out of the water to meet Jesus and is totally walking on water with Jesus! How rad is that!? Then Peter getting scared and distracted by the wind starts sinking and cries out to Jesus "save me!" and Jesus comes to his rescue. Oh ye of little faith is what Jesus says to him.
I think this is such a good analogy of our relationship with God. Well I will speak of myself currently.
I will jump into something blindly having faith and then get totally scared, worried or fearful of something and begin to stumble and sink if you will. Then I cry out to God "Help! please?" and God will give me a hand. And there is another lesson of faith for me that day.
I am learning to have faith and also persevere with my faith all at the same time. It is a lesson in progress and I still stumble and fall but the Lord is so merciful and gracious and is there in my turmoil to help me back up. He never gives up on me and is a constant strength in my life.
For this I am so thankful.
My favorite verse James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
And then.. in in Matthew 13:23, Jesus says,
I see a lot of my old self in Matthew 13:20-21. And I believed in God and Jesus. Very much so. And I had accepted His gift for me. But my faith was flimsy. And it easily got knocked down. Now, I am happy to say that my faith is very strong. I'm slowly building it up slab by slab, making a strong brick wall that won't be flimsy against attack. It's taken much more time and dedication but I'm so much stronger now. (hehe kind of like the Three Little Pigs, right?)
I think that sometimes like in my case faith is something that has to be built up. You can't have a strong house without a foundation. A lot of people claim to be faithful.. but a lot of those people have never been trialed with persecution and trouble. I think a lot of people that claim to have strong faith would "fall away" if faced with issues like persecution. But then again, we don't know until it happens.
And lastly..
Praise the Lord that we were blessed to hear these parables. We read the bible sometimes (well I do) and I think we take it for granted (and again.. I mean, I take it for granted) that these words were gifts from Jesus. These parables.. so simple in form.. are words of liberation and freedom. Testament of His love for us. Jesus died so that he could speak to us these parables, and be the light in a formerly blind world. Through Jesus, our eyes are opened. And through these simple words, he speaks to us simple truths, that we were were blind to perceive before he came along.
We are loved.
Jesus talked the way those could understand. To a man that grows crops, to a fisherman of the sea, to a woman cooking and more. He made it as simple as He could and it worked! People got it.
I love Peter I can relate to him in so many ways! I love the part where he jumps out of the water to meet Jesus and is totally walking on water with Jesus! How rad is that!? Then Peter getting scared and distracted by the wind starts sinking and cries out to Jesus "save me!" and Jesus comes to his rescue. Oh ye of little faith is what Jesus says to him.
I think this is such a good analogy of our relationship with God. Well I will speak of myself currently.
I will jump into something blindly having faith and then get totally scared, worried or fearful of something and begin to stumble and sink if you will. Then I cry out to God "Help! please?" and God will give me a hand. And there is another lesson of faith for me that day.
I am learning to have faith and also persevere with my faith all at the same time. It is a lesson in progress and I still stumble and fall but the Lord is so merciful and gracious and is there in my turmoil to help me back up. He never gives up on me and is a constant strength in my life.
For this I am so thankful.
My favorite verse James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Angie's thoughts
When Jesus is speaking in parables for the large crowds on the boat on the lake, one of the parables he told was the one of the Four Soils. And you can find this parable in Matthew 13:10.
But in Matthew 13:20-21 Jesus says,
But in Matthew 13:20-21 Jesus says,
"The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away."
And then.. in in Matthew 13:23, Jesus says,
"But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."
I see a lot of my old self in Matthew 13:20-21. And I believed in God and Jesus. Very much so. And I had accepted His gift for me. But my faith was flimsy. And it easily got knocked down. Now, I am happy to say that my faith is very strong. I'm slowly building it up slab by slab, making a strong brick wall that won't be flimsy against attack. It's taken much more time and dedication but I'm so much stronger now. (hehe kind of like the Three Little Pigs, right?)
I think that sometimes like in my case faith is something that has to be built up. You can't have a strong house without a foundation. A lot of people claim to be faithful.. but a lot of those people have never been trialed with persecution and trouble. I think a lot of people that claim to have strong faith would "fall away" if faced with issues like persecution. But then again, we don't know until it happens.
And lastly..
Matthew 13:35 " 'I will open my mouth in parables,
I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.' "
Praise the Lord that we were blessed to hear these parables. We read the bible sometimes (well I do) and I think we take it for granted (and again.. I mean, I take it for granted) that these words were gifts from Jesus. These parables.. so simple in form.. are words of liberation and freedom. Testament of His love for us. Jesus died so that he could speak to us these parables, and be the light in a formerly blind world. Through Jesus, our eyes are opened. And through these simple words, he speaks to us simple truths, that we were were blind to perceive before he came along.
We are loved.
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