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Post by Scott Ross on May 5, 2008 15:17:55 GMT -5
Last month my wife and I were baptized. I figured that it was about time since I was 51, and it just seemed to me to be the next step in my walk with Christ.... Before being baptized we each gave our testimony about how we came to accept Jesus into our lives. I finished my testimony with the following from Matthew 13: The Parable of the Sower 1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake.
2Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore.
3Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed.
4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.
5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.
6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.
7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.
8Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.
9He who has ears, let him hear." I pointed out how during my life I was all of the above. I finished my testimony with a hearty NOW I AM THE GOOD SOIL!!!!Scott
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Post by ex-teenager on May 5, 2008 18:44:28 GMT -5
Firstly I am glad for your step of Faith with Christ, I am really happy for you Scott and your wife. The parable of the sower is a precious story to me also and although a warning also shows to me the mercy of God. I enjoyed when the disciples came asking Jesus why he spoke in parables and Jesus answered by saying the mysteries of Heaven had been given to you, but to these people it had not been given. Someting we need as Christians to be thankful for that God in his mercy has shown us these things through His Son. I want to appreciate this. I will add more sometime - Have to go to bed even though its maybe not whats intended? Thought I would have a look and add some comments
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tulip2
Junior Member
Posts: 176
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Post by tulip2 on May 6, 2008 8:26:14 GMT -5
The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl
13:44"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.
45"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
Here's some questions. I've got some thoughts but I'll ask the questions first.
The treasure hid in a field. Here's the difficulties I see. What is the treasure - the "kingdom of heaven", salvation, Christ? Fundamentally, do we find God or does he find us? What does it mean to hide it again once we've found it? In what sense do we "sell all that we have" in order to buy this treasure? If the treasure is salvation, are we buying it? And what is the field that we buy (in which the treasure is hidden)?
The precious pearl. Were we like a merchant seeking for God (or do we in humility accept that God sought us out when we were in sin and helpless to even acknowledge let alone turn to Him)? The pearl of great value could be Christ, but it might equally be something else. If the pearl is Christ, can we in any sense (even by "selling everything" whatever that means) "buy him"?
I remember a worker preaching on these parables and getting herself totally tangled with these issues. The logical conclusion is that we need to have enough value to somehow buy our salvation or buy Christ or buy our way into the kingdom of heaven. Which sits very uneasily with the gospel of grace, as that worker discovered but without being able to untangle herself.
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Post by Scott Ross on May 6, 2008 10:21:12 GMT -5
There sure is a lot in these two chapters I like. This from chapter 14 is one that I hold near and dear. It is when Jesus fulfills prophesy by walking on water: 27But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."
28"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."
29"Come," he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"
31Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" Peter is my favorite apostle. He screws up on a regular basis, just like I do. Each time he does, Jesus is there for him. In my life, I find that when the 'wind comes up' and I take my sights off of Christ, I too begin to sink, just as Peter did. BUT whenever I cry out to Jesus/God: 31Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubtHe is always there to catch us. All we have to do is ask/pray for help. Scott
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Post by ex-teenager on May 6, 2008 15:07:28 GMT -5
We were having a discussion about a certain individual who "appeared" to have fallen due to some dishonest deeds. (it was a politician in the news) - one person commented about Judas betraying Christ and how he had once walked with Him. How he had fallen. Then my un-proffessing uncle commented that Peter also betrayed Christ - 3 times.... now that made me think! And I'm glad for his input Reminding me again of the Mercy that God has shown.
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Post by Rob O on May 6, 2008 23:02:13 GMT -5
The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl13:44"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. 45Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it." I understand these to refer to the cost of discipleship. Yet that cost is not a negative thing for that which we give up as the cost is more than compensated for by what we obtain in return. The focus is on the joy over what is found rather than the fear of a lack through the cost.
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midwesterner unplugged
Guest
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Post by midwesterner unplugged on May 11, 2008 7:02:04 GMT -5
He is always there to catch us. All we have to do is ask/pray for help.
Scott
So true, Scott. I feel like a mix of doubting Thomas and erring Peter most times and have found the problems I get in to is due to my lack of truly seeking out the Lord when the problem begins to develop.
Like all good soil, it yields to the seed, not vise versa. The ground has been worked and made an acceptable environment for the seed to grow(God's dealing in our lives), and as it grows, the soil is pushed aside and the fruit comes forth, and soon the focus is on the fruit and not the soil. As we become more yielded to God, we don't focus on what we have to sacrifice in this life but focus on tending to that precious fruit, realizing the importance of caring and sharing. Any of us who have had large gardens knows the intense labor and care that goes into it, but how that is not even an issue when you see how grateful people are to receive the fruits of that garden in due season. You are just as grateful to give of that fruit as they are to receive it, just like those that love and follow Christ.
Enjoy all that everyone brings to the table! thanks MW
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Post by wanttobewithGod on May 13, 2008 22:56:13 GMT -5
Thanks, MW. M.
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Post by saintfan on Jun 9, 2008 23:14:23 GMT -5
I think I am all the soils,I always need work. The wayside soil has always been a puzzle to me, you can't have a field without a way of getting to it, thats the way side soil, too busy for the seed to grow but necessary for the farm. We could be like some monks and always pray or read or sing but we would miss showing Christ to others. just rambling.
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Post by chewee on Feb 3, 2009 2:46:43 GMT -5
I am very happy for you and like yourself i am 57 and yet seeking for the truth. The devil is like a wounded lion. What i mean is that after reading Matt.13:18-23 and also Luk.8:11-15 and studying it i figured that unlike it is written the seed is you and me, not the plowed land. the important part in this parable is truly reveled in the last verse of Luke verse 15. Will you be open for a discution on this topic? no offence meant
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