The Pharisees didn’t get Jesus at all. That didn’t stop Jesus from ruffling their feathers any chance He got.
The thirteenth chapter of Matthew’s gospel begins a litany of stories Jesus told to anybody who listened to Him.
The prophets said He would do that so some eyes wouldn’t see what He was talking about, or hear and understand it anyway.
I wonder what the Pharisees thought about some of Jesus’s stories.
The parable of the sower placing seeds on different types of soil likely went over their heads even though the seeds landed on the ground.
The next parable about weeds being mixed with wheat followed closely by something about mustard seeds had to have them guessing Jesus was about to open a gardening shop somewhere.
How in the world was any of this going to help anybody live like they expected them to live, anyway? After all, they were the guys responsible to make sure people obeyed God and His laws. Planting gardens was a springtime event. Was it even that time of year when Jesus said these things? If it wasn’t then He was definitely blowing smoke to cover something up. Right?
Jesus’s miracles were a joke to them as well. They wanted Jesus to perform at their command.
Don’t we all?
Sorry. I didn’t mean to step on your toes there. But, it’s true. Isn’t it?
When one of our close friends or family members gets diagnosed with cancer we expect God to come through with a miracle per our prayers.
When our finances become a fiasco because of our bad choices we demand God come through for us to keep us from bankruptcy.
When our spouse becomes distant despite our best efforts to draw closer to them we require reconciliation immediately.
But, God’s ways are not our ways.
Remember that.
Death, disasters and divorce aren’t something we can avoid if they’re in God’s will.
All things are working together to make us more like Christ.
Death reminds us of our need to tell everyone of their need for the Savior.
Financial ruin proves who, or what, we’re really depending on.
Divorce only shows us who is the only One who promised to never leave us.
God’s heart is broken when anyone is separated from Him or trusts in their own efforts over His own.
A heavenly perspective is only gained by walking in some dark valleys.
When God places you there look up.
That’s God’s objective all along.
Keep smiling. Â Wade
