St Matthew, Chapter 13, verses: 47 - 48, The Kingdom of Heaven: Like a Net.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Parable of the net) Part 1. 

Christ continues his comparisons of the kingdom of heaven.  He gives his disciples many examples that they may understand the truth of the kingdom.  For they will be the messengers.  They will be the teachers.  They will be the miracle workers, the healers, the ones who cast out demons.  So, he continues to give them truths of the kingdom of heaven.  He tells them stories.  He tells them parables.  He tells them of things that are hidden since the foundation of the world.  Some will understand.  Some will comprehend.  Some will be lost.  Let he who has ears, hear.

Christ tells them of another parable.  This time he talks of fishing, something that the disciples understand since they were already fishermen.  They came from a background of fishing, because this is how they made their living before he called them.  They cast their nets into the sea and caught fish.  Sometimes they caught great fish.  Sometimes they caught small fish.  Sometimes they caught fish that they did not want.  But their lives revolved around fishing. 

Christ says to them,  "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net cast into the sea that gathered in fish of every kind.  When it was filled, they hauled it out, and sitting on the beach, they gathered the good fish into vessels, but threw away the bad."

All are gathered for the harvest, Christ tells his disciples.  All are taken in by the net, he wants them to know.  And the separation begins, where the just are separated from the unjust, the good from the evil, those who practice justice from those who practice iniquity.  The net will bring all to judgement.  The weeds will be gathered with the good seeds and the bundles will be set.  For the furnace of fire awaits the weeds and the barns of heaven await the good seed that produced fruit.  Where do you stand?  The net will gather all.  Be aware!  Live not for today!  Live not in this world!  For the net will bring all to judgement.

St Matthew, Chapter 13, verse: 24 - 25, The Kingdom of Heaven: the Good Seeds.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Parable of the weeds) Part 1.  

The people are astonished.  Christ has spoken to them about seeds and fruit.  He has predicted that some seeds will produce 100% of the time, some 60% of the time and some 30% of the time.  But the question remains, what happens with those that do not produce 100%?  What happens when the fruit is only being produced 60% and the other 40% of the time it is not producing?  Is this an unprofitable tree?  What happens to the one that is only producing 30% of the time and the remainder of the 70% of the time it is not producing?  Is this a tree that is fruitless?  Can we see the parallel in our lives today?  Are we only fruitful in church?  Do we show our fruit only around our christian brothers and sisters and not at other times when we are out in the public?  

Christ wants us to be fruitful at all times, 100%.  He wants us to provide fruit of love, and of peace and of joy, and obedience.  He wants us to produce fruit of patience, and meekness, and humility so that those who are hungry may partake of the fruit of the kingdom from our trees through the grace of God.  The harvest is great but the workers are few.  The needs of the people are many but few are the ones who will satisfy those needs.  We live in a world that is not of the kingdom.  We live in a world that is selfish, and greedy, and lustful, and vain, and filled with its own passion.  But we do not feed those who hunger for the fruit of life given by Christ.  Sure there are churches, and religious programs, and outreach ministries, and pastors and priest, and teachers.  But these are few to feed the multitudes of  hungry. And these are only brought forth into the public places and not into the hearts of men. 

Christ wants us to have the fruit of the kingdom in our hearts.  Christ wants us to live in him and he in us that no matter where we go he is with us.  Produce the fruit of the kingdom.  Christ tells us a story, another parable of the kingdom of heaven.  He says,  "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field;  but while men were asleep, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away."     

The kingdom of heaven is in our midst for the sower has come and planted the seed.  But the evil one has come also and planted his weeds.  And the weeds grow everywhere, all around us.  The weeds are in our schools, in our work places, in our homes.  The weeds are in our churches, in our market places, on the streets, everywhere we may go.  There is no escape from the weeds.  They will grow and we will grow, together.  But we have a weed killer.  We have a trimmer that will take down the weeds in every nook and cranny where they grow. 

We must take our weed killer with us.  We must be prepared to use it at all times.  If we do not then the weeds will overtake you when you are without your weed killer.  For our weed killer should be within us.  It should be within our hearts wherever we go.  This way we are protected at all times against the weeds of the evil one.  Do you have your weed killer?  Did you leave your weed killer at home?  Did you leave your weed killer in the church on Sunday?  Are you unprotected out in the open, surrounded by the weeds of the evil one?  Come, seek the weed killer of all times.  Roundup Weed Killer has nothing on him for he exterminates all weeds.  He will rid you of all the weeds of the evil one and protect you against further attacks.  Will you let him in?  Will you live with Him?  Will you let him protect you?  All that is needed is to surrender and believe!