TENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
This is the day the LORD hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.
1 Kings 3:5-12 Romans 8:28-30 Matthew 13:44-52 Psalm 105:1-11
Our text consists of parables instructing us about the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven means God's activity of calling sinners to salvation through the gospel. The first two parables speak of how precious that message of salvation is. They tell us that it brings joy and dominates the believer's life. It changes him. It becomes more important to him than anything else.
The parable of the net contains a warning about hypocrisy. It tells us that being a Christian involves more than externals. Being a Christian involves the heart. God isn't looking for outward motions, but for inner repentance.
The final parable teaches us about the purpose and effect of training in God's truth. We are trained so that we can teach others. The more we learn of God's truth, the better prepared we will be to carry out the task He has assigned to every Christian, the privilege of sharing the message of salvation with all mankind.
Christian friends, God's ultimate provision is the working of His Spirit in us, leading to final victory. We can understand each parable best when we consider it in the context of Christ's work of salvation.
O LORD, You'd have us ponder this, One truth You'd have us see: It's in this life we chart our course For all eternity.
PRAY with me- O God, the protector of all who trust in You, without whom nothing is strong and nothing is holy, increase and multiply Your mercy on us that with You as our Ruler and Guide we may so pass through things temporal that we lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our LORD, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen