O. Addison Gethers
e-mail address [email protected] [email protected] twitter URL http//:twitter.com/OAddisonGethers Messenger contact window live/msn messenger: [email protected] aim: durangoadd64 skype: cowboys62 yahoo messenger: OADDISONGETHERS rs ----- Original Message ----- From: "Donnie Parrett" <[email protected]> To: "Donnie Parrett" <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, October 13, 2009 9:39 PM Subject: Daily Bible Reading For Wednesday October 14 > Day 287 > > Matthew 13-15 (The Message) > > Matthew 13 > A Harvest Story > 1-3 At about that same time Jesus left the house and sat on the beach. In > no time at all a crowd > gathered along the shoreline, forcing him to get into a boat. Using the > boat as a pulpit, he > addressed his congregation, telling stories. > 3-8"What do you make of this? A farmer planted seed. As he scattered the > seed, some of it fell on > the road, and birds ate it. Some fell in the gravel; it sprouted quickly > but didn't put down roots, > so when the sun came up it withered just as quickly. Some fell in the > weeds; as it came up, it was > strangled by the weeds. Some fell on good earth, and produced a harvest > beyond his wildest dreams. > > 9"Are you listening to this? Really listening?" > > Why Tell Stories? > 10The disciples came up and asked, "Why do you tell stories?" > 11-15He replied, "You've been given insight into God's kingdom. You know > how it works. Not > everybody has this gift, this insight; it hasn't been given to them. > Whenever someone has a ready > heart for this, the insights and understandings flow freely. But if there > is no readiness, any trace > of receptivity soon disappears. That's why I tell stories: to create > readiness, to nudge the people > toward receptive insight. In their present state they can stare till > doomsday and not see it, listen > till they're blue in the face and not get it. I don't want Isaiah's > forecast repeated all over > again: > > Your ears are open but you don't hear a thing. > Your eyes are awake but you don't see a thing. > The people are blockheads! > They stick their fingers in their ears > so they won't have to listen; > They screw their eyes shut > so they won't have to look, > so they won't have to deal with me face-to-face > and let me heal them. > > 16-17"But you have God-blessed eyes-eyes that see! And God-blessed > ears-ears that hear! A lot of > people, prophets and humble believers among them, would have given > anything to see what you are > seeing, to hear what you are hearing, but never had the chance. > > The Meaning of the Harvest Story > 18-19"Study this story of the farmer planting seed. When anyone hears news > of the kingdom and > doesn't take it in, it just remains on the surface, and so the Evil One > comes along and plucks it > right out of that person's heart. This is the seed the farmer scatters on > the road. > 20-21"The seed cast in the gravel-this is the person who hears and > instantly responds with > enthusiasm. But there is no soil of character, and so when the emotions > wear off and some difficulty > arrives, there is nothing to show for it. > > 22"The seed cast in the weeds is the person who hears the kingdom news, > but weeds of worry and > illusions about getting more and wanting everything under the sun strangle > what was heard, and > nothing comes of it. > > 23"The seed cast on good earth is the person who hears and takes in the > News, and then produces a > harvest beyond his wildest dreams." > > 24-26He told another story. "God's kingdom is like a farmer who planted > good seed in his field. > That night, while his hired men were asleep, his enemy sowed thistles all > through the wheat and > slipped away before dawn. When the first green shoots appeared and the > grain began to form, the > thistles showed up, too. > > 27"The farmhands came to the farmer and said, 'Master, that was clean seed > you planted, wasn't it? > Where did these thistles come from?' > > 28"He answered, 'Some enemy did this.' > > "The farmhands asked, 'Should we weed out the thistles?' > > 29-30"He said, 'No, if you weed the thistles, you'll pull up the wheat, > too. Let them grow together > until harvest time. Then I'll instruct the harvesters to pull up the > thistles and tie them in > bundles for the fire, then gather the wheat and put it in the barn.'" > > 31-32Another story. "God's kingdom is like a pine nut that a farmer > plants. It is quite small as > seeds go, but in the course of years it grows into a huge pine tree, and > eagles build nests in it." > > 33Another story. "God's kingdom is like yeast that a woman works into the > dough for dozens of > loaves of barley bread-and waits while the dough rises." > > 34-35All Jesus did that day was tell stories-a long storytelling > afternoon. His storytelling > fulfilled the prophecy: > > I will open my mouth and tell stories; > I will bring out into the open > things hidden since the world's first day. > > The Curtain of History > 36Jesus dismissed the congregation and went into the house. His disciples > came in and said, > "Explain to us that story of the thistles in the field." > 37-39So he explained. "The farmer who sows the pure seed is the Son of > Man. The field is the world, > the pure seeds are subjects of the kingdom, the thistles are subjects of > the Devil, and the enemy > who sows them is the Devil. The harvest is the end of the age, the curtain > of history. The harvest > hands are angels. > > 40-43"The picture of thistles pulled up and burned is a scene from the > final act. The Son of Man > will send his angels, weed out the thistles from his kingdom, pitch them > in the trash, and be done > with them. They are going to complain to high heaven, but nobody is going > to listen. At the same > time, ripe, holy lives will mature and adorn the kingdom of their Father. > > "Are you listening to this? Really listening? > > 44"God's kingdom is like a treasure hidden in a field for years and then > accidentally found by a > trespasser. The finder is ecstatic-what a find!-and proceeds to sell > everything he owns to raise > money and buy that field. > > 45-46"Or, God's kingdom is like a jewel merchant on the hunt for excellent > pearls. Finding one that > is flawless, he immediately sells everything and buys it. > > 47-50"Or, God's kingdom is like a fishnet cast into the sea, catching all > kinds of fish. When it is > full, it is hauled onto the beach. The good fish are picked out and put in > a tub; those unfit to eat > are thrown away. That's how it will be when the curtain comes down on > history. The angels will come > and cull the bad fish and throw them in the garbage. There will be a lot > of desperate complaining, > but it won't do any good." > > 51Jesus asked, "Are you starting to get a handle on all this?" > > They answered, "Yes." > > 52He said, "Then you see how every student well-trained in God's kingdom > is like the owner of a > general store who can put his hands on anything you need, old or new, > exactly when you need it." > > 53-57When Jesus finished telling these stories, he left there, returned to > his hometown, and gave a > lecture in the meetinghouse. He made a real hit, impressing everyone. "We > had no idea he was this > good!" they said. "How did he get so wise, get such ability?" But in the > next breath they were > cutting him down: "We've known him since he was a kid; he's the > carpenter's son. We know his mother, > Mary. We know his brothers James and Joseph, Simon and Judas. All his > sisters live here. Who does he > think he is?" They got their noses all out of joint. > > 58But Jesus said, "A prophet is taken for granted in his hometown and his > family." He didn't do > many miracles there because of their hostile indifference. > > Matthew 14 > The Death of John > 1-2 At about this time, Herod, the regional ruler, heard what was being > said about Jesus. He said > to his servants, "This has to be John the Baptizer come back from the > dead. That's why he's able to > work miracles!" > 3-5Herod had arrested John, put him in chains, and sent him to prison to > placate Herodias, his > brother Philip's wife. John had provoked Herod by naming his relationship > with Herodias "adultery." > Herod wanted to kill him, but he was afraid because so many people revered > John as a prophet of God. > > 6-12But at his birthday celebration, he got his chance. Herodias's > daughter provided the > entertainment, dancing for the guests. She swept Herod away. In his > drunken enthusiasm, he promised > her on oath anything she wanted. Already coached by her mother, she was > ready: "Give me, served up > on a platter, the head of John the Baptizer." That sobered the king up > fast. Unwilling to lose face > with his guests, he did it-ordered John's head cut off and presented to > the girl on a platter. She > in turn gave it to her mother. Later, John's disciples got the body, gave > it a reverent burial, and > reported to Jesus. > > Supper for Five Thousand > 13-14When Jesus got the news, he slipped away by boat to an out-of-the-way > place by himself. But > unsuccessfully-someone saw him and the word got around. Soon a lot of > people from the nearby > villages walked around the lake to where he was. When he saw them coming, > he was overcome with pity > and healed their sick. > 15Toward evening the disciples approached him. "We're out in the country > and it's getting late. > Dismiss the people so they can go to the villages and get some supper." > > 16But Jesus said, "There is no need to dismiss them. You give them > supper." > > 17"All we have are five loaves of bread and two fish," they said. > > 18-21Jesus said, "Bring them here." Then he had the people sit on the > grass. He took the five > loaves and two fish, lifted his face to heaven in prayer, blessed, broke, > and gave the bread to the > disciples. The disciples then gave the food to the congregation. They all > ate their fill. They > gathered twelve baskets of leftovers. About five thousand were fed. > > Walking on the Water > 22-23As soon as the meal was finished, he insisted that the disciples get > in the boat and go on > ahead to the other side while he dismissed the people. With the crowd > dispersed, he climbed the > mountain so he could be by himself and pray. He stayed there alone, late > into the night. > 24-26Meanwhile, the boat was far out to sea when the wind came up against > them and they were > battered by the waves. At about four o'clock in the morning, Jesus came > toward them walking on the > water. They were scared out of their wits. "A ghost!" they said, crying > out in terror. > > 27But Jesus was quick to comfort them. "Courage, it's me. Don't be > afraid." > > 28Peter, suddenly bold, said, "Master, if it's really you, call me to come > to you on the water." > > 29-30He said, "Come ahead." > > Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus. But when he > looked down at the waves > churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He > cried, "Master, save me!" > > 31Jesus didn't hesitate. He reached down and grabbed his hand. Then he > said, "Faint-heart, what got > into you?" > > 32-33The two of them climbed into the boat, and the wind died down. The > disciples in the boat, > having watched the whole thing, worshiped Jesus, saying, "This is it! You > are God's Son for sure!" > > 34-36On return, they beached the boat at Gennesaret. When the people got > wind that he was back, > they sent out word through the neighborhood and rounded up all the sick, > who asked for permission to > touch the edge of his coat. And whoever touched him was healed. > > Matthew 15 > What Pollutes Your Life > 1-2 After that, Pharisees and religion scholars came to Jesus all the way > from Jerusalem, > criticizing, "Why do your disciples play fast and loose with the rules?" > 3-9But Jesus put it right back on them. "Why do you use your rules to play > fast and loose with > God's commands? God clearly says, 'Respect your father and mother,' and, > 'Anyone denouncing father > or mother should be killed.' But you weasel around that by saying, > 'Whoever wants to, can say to > father and mother, What I owed to you I've given to God.' That can hardly > be called respecting a > parent. You cancel God's command by your rules. Frauds! Isaiah's prophecy > of you hit the bull's-eye: > > These people make a big show of saying the right thing, > but their heart isn't in it. > They act like they're worshiping me, > but they don't mean it. > They just use me as a cover > for teaching whatever suits their fancy." > > 10-11He then called the crowd together and said, "Listen, and take this to > heart. It's not what you > swallow that pollutes your life, but what you vomit up." > > 12Later his disciples came and told him, "Did you know how upset the > Pharisees were when they heard > what you said?" > > 13-14Jesus shrugged it off. "Every tree that wasn't planted by my Father > in heaven will be pulled > up by its roots. Forget them. They are blind men leading blind men. When a > blind man leads a blind > man, they both end up in the ditch." > > 15Peter said, "I don't get it. Put it in plain language." > > 16-20Jesus replied, "You, too? Are you being willfully stupid? Don't you > know that anything that is > swallowed works its way through the intestines and is finally defecated? > But what comes out of the > mouth gets its start in the heart. It's from the heart that we vomit up > evil arguments, murders, > adulteries, fornications, thefts, lies, and cussing. That's what pollutes. > Eating or not eating > certain foods, washing or not washing your hands-that's neither here nor > there." > > Healing the People > 21-22From there Jesus took a trip to Tyre and Sidon. They had hardly > arrived when a Canaanite woman > came down from the hills and pleaded, "Mercy, Master, Son of David! My > daughter is cruelly afflicted > by an evil spirit." > 23Jesus ignored her. The disciples came and complained, "Now she's > bothering us. Would you please > take care of her? She's driving us crazy." > > 24Jesus refused, telling them, "I've got my hands full dealing with the > lost sheep of Israel." > > 25Then the woman came back to Jesus, went to her knees, and begged. > "Master, help me." > > 26He said, "It's not right to take bread out of children's mouths and > throw it to dogs." > > 27She was quick: "You're right, Master, but beggar dogs do get scraps from > the master's table." > > 28Jesus gave in. "Oh, woman, your faith is something else. What you want > is what you get!" Right > then her daughter became well. > > 29-31After Jesus returned, he walked along Lake Galilee and then climbed a > mountain and took his > place, ready to receive visitors. They came, tons of them, bringing along > the paraplegic, the blind, > the maimed, the mute-all sorts of people in need-and more or less threw > them down at Jesus' feet to > see what he would do with them. He healed them. When the people saw the > mutes speaking, the maimed > healthy, the paraplegics walking around, the blind looking around, they > were astonished and let > everyone know that God was blazingly alive among them. > > 32But Jesus wasn't finished with them. He called his disciples and said, > "I hurt for these people. > For three days now they've been with me, and now they have nothing to eat. > I can't send them away > without a meal-they'd probably collapse on the road." > > 33His disciples said, "But where in this deserted place are you going to > dig up enough food for a > meal?" > > 34-39Jesus asked, "How much bread do you have?" > > "Seven loaves," they said, "plus a few fish." At that, Jesus directed > the people to sit down. He > took the seven loaves and the fish. After giving thanks, he divided it up > and gave it to the people. > Everyone ate. They had all they wanted. It took seven large baskets to > collect the leftovers. Over > four thousand people ate their fill at that meal. After Jesus sent them > away, he climbed in the boat > and crossed over to the Magadan hills. > > > > > > > > ~~~~~ > Please join us on Skype Monday thru Friday at 8:00 EST for our Morning > Skype Prayer Time. > Also, follow my tweets on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/Donnie1261 > > > Contact Me At: > Donnie Parrett > 1956 Asa Flat Road > Annville, Kentucky 40402 > Home Phone: 606-364-3321 > Church Phone: 606-364-PRAY > Skype Name: Donnie1261 > Email: [email protected] > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Deaf-Blind Inspirational Life Group" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/dbilg?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
