Matthew 13:47
Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the
lake and caught all kinds of fish. (NIV)
Growing up in Scotland, one of the joys of childhood that
I experienced, was spending a day at the local park with a cane fishing net and
an empty jelly jar. There were several ponds in the park and all of them
contained minnows and sticklebacks which I enjoyed catching. I spent hours
trolling around the edge of the pond with my net in the water, earnestly hoping
to scoop up a shoal of small fish and place them in my water filled jar. It was
the simplest of pleasures and cost practically nothing. As the sun went down over
the horizon and the gloaming magically appeared, I would tip the fish from my
jar back into the pond before I walked home. Life was good and I felt very
blessed.
I like the simple stories that Jesus told about the
Kingdom of God. Instead of using complicated theological descriptions to convey
what He meant, Christ shared His ideas about God in very basic and appealing
ways. At the end of today’s passage (Matthew
13:47-48), He describes God’s Kingdom in three different ways. The one I
like best, of course, is the fishing illustration. I can relate to it
personally and find it both meaningful and comforting. For me, God’s Kingdom contains
that simple happiness I discovered as a boy in Scotland, fishing around the
park pond. This is what attracts me to Jesus and I look forward to being in God’s
everlasting realm through Christ’s grace and love.
Perhaps you are going through a rough time or you feel
unsettled. Maybe you have many worries and deep concerns. Whatever the case,
please know this: God cares for you and His Kingdom is all around us. We are
children of His grace, loved at all times, and will be blessed beyond anything
we can imagine.
Point to ponder
What makes me happy? Can I find that same happiness
with God’s Kingdom?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You told the simplest of stories
to reveal to us the love of God and His
Kingdom. Help us to know that we are
cherished and that your words show us God’s compassion and care. In Your Holy
Name, we thankfully pray. Amen.
John Stuart is the pastor
of Erin Presbyterian Church in
Knoxville, Tennessee. Please come along and join us on Sunday mornings for
worship at 11:00 AM. You will be made very welcome 😊
Today’s image is one of
John’s fish drawings called “Fantail.” If you would like to view a larger
version, please click this link: Fantail.
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