Eternal Salvation
The Sower of God’s Seed
Jesus often used parables to teach spiritual truths. Such is the case with the parable of the sower and seed recorded in Matthew 13.
Let’s start at the beginning of the parable. “Jesus went out of the house” (Matthew 13:1).
Why does the parable begin with such a seemingly inconsequential point? Maybe Jesus just wanted to get some fresh air. Maybe He wanted to gaze at the sky and worship His Father. Maybe He went out so people would see Him and come to Him to hear Him speak. We find that is exactly what happened in Matthew 13.
First a few people saw Him. I imagine the people excitedly told others, “Go get the neighbors. Tell them Jesus is teaching!”
Word spread and as Jesus spoke a large crowd gathered. He began the parable by saying, “Behold, the sower went out to sow; and as He sowed, some seeds fell beside the road and…” (Matthew 13:3-4). It’s an important parable that I encourage you to read in Matthew 13.
The bottom line is Jesus sowed seeds of eternal truth among people. Whether the seed bore fruit depended on the person’s heart. The Sower still sows seed through His Word, teachers, and His still quiet voice that speaks into our hearts. Is our heart open, fertile ground to receive Christ and His words to us?
Lord Jesus, SOWER OF GOD’S SEED, prepare my heart each day to hear and act on Your Word so I bear much fruit that glorifies You.
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The Devastation of Separation
Have you ever been separated from someone and you desperately wanted to be with them? Whether the separation was due to death, divorce, disease, or distance, the pain of not being able to be with a loved one can be devastating.
Jesus understands such depth of emotion. He loves us and created us to live in union with Him. Because of His Indescribable love for us, He left heaven’s glory and came to earth to save us.
Yes, Jesus, separated from sinners as Hebrews 7:26 describes, crossed the chasm between heaven’s glory and earth. He stretched out His hands on a cross to die so that we might be saved and be reunited to Him and the Father. “For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens.”
Jesus, separated from sinners, took on human flesh and lived among sinners; taking our sin upon Himself. Only when we ponder the heights of holiness that Jesus left to secure our salvation are we able to begin to grasp the depth of His love.
How well are we loving Jesus in return? How intentionally are we abstaining from sin? How faithfully are we sharing with others who Jesus is and how they can also be reunited to Him?
Lord Jesus, SEPARATED FROM SINNERS, thank You for coming to earth to save me and reunite me to Yourself and the Father. May I cling tightly to You with a heart overflowing in gratitude.
Find spiritual rest and renewal in God’s presence today by spending time in His Word. Use one of our free online Bible studies to guide you in your study.
Marco Polo
Did you ever play Marco Polo in the swimming pool? I have fond memories of playing it with my sister, Vicki. We’d take turns closing our eyes and calling out, “Marco.” The other one would respond, “Polo,” then swim away to avoid getting tagged.
Some of us may think of Jesus as one who is blindly searching for us when we call out to Him. That is far from the case. Jesus has His eyes on us and is waiting for us to call on Him.
Jesus is the seeker of the lost as He explains in Luke 19:10, “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which is lost.”
What does the Bible mean when it refers to people as being “lost”?
The Greek word for “lost” is apollymi. The context of this verse is that people have strayed from Jesus. They are “lost” in sin. Jesus came to earth to “reclaim people from wickedness,” like a shepherd might reclaim his sheep from a wolf.
Jesus came to earth to seek and to save the Father’s children who are bound in sin and Satan’s snare.
Jesus loves you. He sees your unsaved family and friends. He loves them and is seeking the unsaved to come to Him and be saved.
Lord Jesus, SEEKER OF THE LOST, thank You for seeking and saving me. Thank You for continuing to seek my unsaved family members and friends.
The Gospel of John is full of examples of Jesus seeking and saving the lost. It also recounts the death and resurrection of Jesus, which made a way for all to come to Him for salvation. Access Debbie’s free online Bible study of John along with her other online Bible studies HERE.