The Freedom of the Gospel

Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”

~ Matthew 13:24-30 

The kingdom of heaven is like... Well, today is our country's birthday, a day we celebrate freedom from the tyranny we can only read was in existence 200+ years ago. It's nothing we have experienced for ourselves, at least, not at the hands of a king, but --and I'm trying very hard not to turn this into a political post --it is something which we should be reminded never to allow again. Celebrating Independence Day, recalling all the freedoms we enjoy, is one way we do that. 

In the above parable, Jesus uses the story of two crops growing side by side. If you've ever pulled weeds from among the tender early shoots of vegetables or flowers growing in your garden, you know how important it is to ensure the roots of both have not become entangled; pulling up weeds could result in a much too early harvest of your intended crop. For a time, it is necessary to allow the two to grow together. Both receive rain. Both receive sunlight. Perhaps, you even spritz them with some Epsom salts solution or nourish the soil with some coffee grounds. The weeds grow right next to the crop but never yield anything of value; they will never be anything but weeds, threatening to destroy that which has been planted to provide sustenance and life. 

Obviously, weeds have no choice but to be weeds; Jesus, however, is talking about the kingdom. The kingdom is sprouting up right alongside the world. The world can see what those tiny seeds have become. The world can see the benefit of the Seed planted deeply in hearts, watered by the continued washing of the Word, cared for daily by prayer, obedience, and Scripture reading. The world can see the strong tree that sprouts up, providing shade and fruit and a place to rest. The world can see, and the world can choose. The world can choose to be cultivated and made fruitful by the Holy Spirit's presence in each heart. And the world can choose to remain a weed. That's part of the freedom of the gospel. 

Yes, the truth sets us free from our old ways of thinking, speaking, and doing things that were self-destructive and dishonoring to God --those who have been set free know that better than anyone. The gospel is offered freely to all who will receive; the debt was paid by a Savior at the cross. The gospel allows us to live a life free of sin and death with endless possibilities for the harvest in which we share. But the gospel also means the freedom to choose. It is not forced on any person. And though that may be distressing for those who have children and spouses and other loved ones who have denied the truth of the gospel, freedom is of inestimable value. 

Just imagine our country without it.

Midweek: Summer

The following was written by Heidi Gaul, and printed in Guideposts' Mornings with Jesus, May/June 2023:

Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.
~ 1 Timothy 4:15

The sun rises and sets, the moon shines in the sky, and the world continues its rotation around the sun. As the seasons advance, days lengthen from one to the next, the change imperceptible but undeniable. And then at last, the summer solstice arrives. The longest day of the year.

This has fast become one of my favorite days, and I get excited. As an avid gardener, it represents the heart of growing season to me. Seedlings stretch skyward, bees bounce from blossom to blossom, and the sun shines bright. Within weeks, harvest will begin.

As I consider Earth's slow but steady change and how it benefits my plants, I sensed an invitation from Jesus. Maybe I could turn certain behaviors around gradually, just as our planet does. This approach to self-improvement might be more successful that my failed New Year's resolutions. I decided to give it a try.

Like my garden, I allowed myself ample time and nurturing as I battled established habits. I watched for and celebrated every sign of growth. Instead of punishing myself for setbacks, I focused on growing for Jesus, with Jesus, and through Jesus. I learned to offer myself --and others --the same grace He's shown me. But more than that, I worked toward a spiritual harvest rooted in love, one rich with fruit (Galatians 5:22-23). One that is everlasting.

~ Heidi Gaul

That Dirty Word

Religious. Christians can get really heated when you call us religious. Jesus is not a religion; He's a relationship! True, true, true. But let's look at the definition of religious for a minute. Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (1936) defines religious as possessing or conforming to religion; pious, godly; set apart. Isn't that what we want to be --are called to be --set apart, holy, God-like? 1 Peter 1:15-16, "But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.'" There's even more from the dictionary, however: belonging to a religious order; bound by vows. Hebrews 10:15-18, "But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, 'This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days,' says the Lord: 'I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,' then He adds, 'Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.' Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin." Those who have been joined to the Lord by grace, through faith are one spirit with Him (1 Cor. 6:17; Eph. 2:8-9); we pledge to follow Him, and we are His in relationship. Also, we are part of God's family, bound by His love and our commitment to one another (Jn. 13:34-35).

Even the noun itself, religion, Webster's says is the outward act or form by which men indicate recognition of a god or gods to whom obedience and honor are due; the feeling or expression of human love, fear, or awe of some superhuman or overruling power. Sounds to me like the very same thing Christians do. God requires and is owed our full obedience. 1 Samuel 15:22, "...Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams." He is worthy of our worship, Psalm 29:2, "Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness," and 1 Corinthians 6:20, "For you were bought at a price; therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s" and He is the only God who is so worthy; there is no other (Is. 45:5).

Religion is not the why of our devotion to Christ, but the how. We should be religious, providing it is an outpouring of our love for a worthy, exclusive, preeminent, and gracious God, our Creator and Redeemer. In the early books of the Bible, God tells His people how to love Him, with sacrifices and obedience. He gives ten commandments and a whole lotta laws. Later, with the arrival of Christ to mankind, Jesus gives just two commandments, but they are somehow much harder to keep. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. (Mark 12:30-31) You see, the Law that marked the beginning of Israel's relationship with God spelled everything out. Imagine your husband handing you a list at the altar on your wedding day: Okay this is how I want you to demonstrate your love for me. Number One: Have no other husbands but me. Number Two: No pictures, statues, or other material representations of my character or the character of any other thing. Number Three... It'd be a little weird, right? But at least you'd have clear parameters, a list of dos and don'ts you could check off each day. And your husband would presumably feel loved, given he wrote the list himself and you made the choice to abide by it. Very contractual (and I am oversimplifying, but bear with me, please). Then came Jesus with His two commandments: Love Me. Love others. Concise, for sure, but without the Law, not simple. How? How do I love the God that created galaxies? How do I love the God who is just in punishing the wicked and abundantly merciful in calling me to adoption? There must be Law. There must be religion. It is the outward act by which we recognize the One True God to whom we owe obedience and honor; we express our love, fear, and awe of Him. We regularly attend a fellowship of believers. We daily read our Bibles. We pray without ceasing. We serve others at every opportunity. We fast. We properly steward the resources we are given. We practice critical and prayerful self-examination. We speak blessing over others and share the Gospel in word and deed. We are religious.

Religious. It's not a dirty word, but it might be a word that requires a little more explanation. And that just might be a wonderful opportunity to share with someone the Reason for your religion!

A Kingdom Reaction

The other day, someone posted on social media, longing for a convenience store that is --so far-- only located in the area in which he grew up. Whether for the nostalgia or for the once delicious pretzels (sans the recent addition of a ridiculous number of preservatives, I would imagine), I didn't ask; but I began to wonder, What if he was given the opportunity to open a franchise in his area? It would be like bringing a slice of home to someplace home is not. Over the years, a couple of our children have set out on paths that have taken them far from home. From time to time, I sent items or words of encouragement to remind them that home was in their hearts. Home is an important thing to have near you. Or, think of Disney World, "The Happiest Place on Earth" (or the most insidious, IMHO). What if Disney was going to open up a new park right in your town? It would bring all the glitter and fantasy and excitement to the place where you are! I mean, if Disney was really as wholesome as it'd like people to think it is, that would be wonderful! World-renown happiness and adventure right in your neighborhood! Happiness and adventure are nice to have close by.

As believers, we are to work to bring the kingdom of God to earth. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10) What does that look like in the practical sense? Is it like a taste of home? a place for which we long, one that provides us with security in identity, a place that tethers us to foundational hope but allows us to soar into the farthest reaches of that hope? Or is the kingdom like the epitomic wonderland? a place so secure, one can run and play with abandon, knowing nothing there can harm? a place where fun and rapture and innocence converge into reality that surpasses imagination, a place where everything pure and joyous can be savored without limit, a place where only the best things are possible and granted admittance? Or is it more? 

Over a series of articles, I'd like us to ponder the Kingdom of God --what it is, and what is the responsibility of its members here on earth --beginning with Matthew 13.

Prior to elucidating the nature of the kingdom of God, Jesus begins with a parable about hearing. In fact, not only is the parable the preface to His description and is a parable about parables, it is the very nature of the kingdom. What is your response to the gospel message? Essentially, if we fall into any of the categories in which the seed does not take root and produce fruit, we have not understood the value of the message, have not grasped it, and are therefore, not a part of the kingdom of God. The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom are restricted to those who have been given them. Some are called into the kingdom and some are not; some long to be a vital part of the kingdom --they are those who will be granted greater benefit --and some, though they hear the word of the kingdom, in their complacence and vapidity, do not understand its worth and do not guard it --they are those who will have it snatched away. 

So, let's stop there for now. What images does the word home invoke? Are there smells that take you back to a place of comfort and peace? Even if the home you were given as a child was not what you had dreamed, what do you imagine home to be? What if a world of imagination, freedom, and joy was available to you today --what would be your response? Would you jealously guard that place of refuge and elation? Would you do all you could to maintain it, at the same time inviting those you love to join you? Or would you be skeptical? careless? Would you enjoy it for a moment but, not really wanting to tackle the upkeep or weather what could be some difficult seasons, exchange it for the superficial and familiar? What would be your response to the news of something wonderful available to you today?