Unblock our ears

 
"It is not given to men/women to make God speak. It is only given to them to live and to think in such a way that, if God's thunder should come, they will not have stopped their ears." - A.M. Hunter

Holy week is such a special time for the Christian community, but it is also a time where we pray that the Gospel reaches the hearts and ears of many other people. 

It is my prayer that all of us would be mindful of the things that block the message of God reaching our inner being. God desires to speak to all of us  during this most sacred season. 

Matthew 13:15 - "For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them."

Living in Grace

D3LM3

13

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it." - Matthew 13:44-46

I believe that the season of Lent is a time for us to reflect on the "treasure" we have in Jesus Christ. When we have discovered this amazing gift, we should consider how much we would be willing to 'lay down' for Christ. The two people in today's parable sold everything in order to purchase the treasure. 

Following Jesus is not a matter of giving a little, but rather a choice of laying down our lives for Christ. 


Living in Grace
D3LM3

Story of 2 Eagles - Ezekiel 17

<sup>The beginning of Ezekiel 17 reads more like a story from one of Aesop's fables - it tells the story of 2 eagles, which represent Israel's relationship with both Egypt and Babylon. In the end, God will punish Israel for betraying a promise they made with the Babylonians, which may seem strange at first but when you read through the verses you will understand why. God is angry for their choice to swear allegiance to one kingdom and then to go back on their word. God doesn't people who are fickle and full of deceit. 

Thankfully the chapter ends on a more positive note (again), with God offering a remarkable promise to the Israelites. You will note a clear similarity with the words of Ezekiel and the words of Jesus in Matthew 13:31

22</sup> “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will take a branch from the top of a tall cedar, and I will plant it on the top of Israel’s highest mountain. ²³ It will become a majestic cedar, sending forth its branches and producing seed. Birds of every sort will nest in it, finding shelter in the shade of its branches. ²⁴ And all the trees will know that it is I, the Lord, who cuts the tall tree down and makes the short tree grow tall. It is I who makes the green tree wither and gives the dead tree new life. I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will do what I said!” (Ezekiel 17)

Reflection: 
What does this passage say to you today? 
When you read Ezekiel's words in light of the life of Jesus, what do you make of the 'MAJESTIC CEDAR' mentioned in verse 23?

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Lost in translation

One of the most humbling conversations a Pastor can have is around the Sunday sermon - and in particular what a person has "heard" from the message. It is quite a test to see if what you preached got across to the hearers in the way you intended. It can either be a "good" conversation or a "distressing" one, especially if the message gets LOST in translation.

But, I guess, it is not just Pastors who experience this anxiety? Employers wonder if their workers have actually listened to the crucial instructions. Teachers hope their pupils are listening to the classes and lectures. Parents pray that their kids get the right message. Sadly, too many messages get lost along the way and end up causing confusion.

What message do we need to listen to today? How can we prevent it getting lost along the way?

"But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it." - Matthew 13:23

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Are you rooted?

· “What is firmly rooted, can’t be pulled out!” - Anon

Matthew 13:20-21 – “The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. ²¹ But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.”

I have been challenged again by the parable of the Sower (or the soils). It has reminded me that I will always be tested in life and especially in my faith. What will get me through the storms is not how good I am, but rather how deep my ‘roots’ go down into the ground. If I can ground myself firmly in the presence of Christ, then we those times of testing come, I may be battered and bruised, but I will be able to stand firm.

How deep do your roots go down?

What are you doing to make them stronger?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Uproot

Most of you know this already, but let us hear it again. It is no good cutting the weeds in our gardens, we need to actually uproot them. It may look like we can get rid of them, by simply cutting them with the weed-eater, but in a few days they will grow back.

It is the same with the sin in our lives. We mustn't fool ourselves and merely think that we can "cut it out" for a while - we need to uproot these areas in our lives and then ask God to fill the gap with his grace and love.

So what 'weeds' need some uprooting today?

Matthew 15:13 - "He replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots."

Matthew 13: 40 - “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age."

"If only such people were as diligent in the uprooting of vices and the planting of virtues as they are in the debating of problems, there would not be so many evils and scandals among the people, nor such laxity in communities." - Thomas a Kempis

Uproot the sin in your life - don't just cut it down for a few days!

Living in Grace
D3LM3