Daily Reading

Matthew 12:46-13:23; Psalm 17:1-15; Proverbs 3:33-35

Today Jesus is talking about the family of God. He's not denying His mother and brother, He is simply teaching the disciples that the family of God is just as important as your biological family. Once you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you are adopted into the family of God. These people are your spiritual mothers, brothers, and sisters. They are people who will help you on your spiritual journey, who will be a shoulder to cry on. They are your accountability partners - the ones who love you enough to tell you when you're going the wrong way. They are your cheerleaders - they will encourage you & fight for your success.

Later that day, Jesus taught the people using parables. The disciples wanted to know why He used this particular method of teaching. Well, Jesus wasn't providing an outline of salvation. He wasn't imparting knowledge. Jesus was in the business of transforming lives. Parables were a way of accomplishing that transformation. Their meaning wasn't obvious, so the hearer was left to ponder that they might understand. See, I can learn the alphabet, but that doesn't mean I can read. I can learn to count from 1 to 1,000,000, but that doesn't mean I can add & subtract. I can memorize the Scriptures, but that doesn't mean I will apply them to my life. Parables force the hearer to really seek an understanding of their meaning, which helps promote application.

This parable means there are four types of people who hear the Word of God.
1 - The person that hears the Good News and ignores it. He's offered $100,000,000 and turns it down.
2 - The person that hears the Good News and likes what it says, but never truly gives his life to Jesus. When hard times come, he walks away. This guy accepts the $100,000,000 and then gives it back.
3 - The person that hears the Good News and accepts Jesus Christ as His Lord and Savior, but never changes His life. He's still too wrapped up in the world. He believes, but He has very little relationship with Jesus, so he's missing out on the blessings of the Lord. He accepts the $100,000,000 and then buries it in the back yard.
4 - The person that hears the Good News, accepts Jesus Christ as His Lord and Savior, and allows Jesus to transform His life. This person considers Jesus a close friend, is engaged with his church family, and is actively participating in spreading THE Cause of Christ. This man accepts the $100,000,000 and then puts it to good use.

So which one are you? Is your money buried in the yard or are you putting it to good use?