October 6

Jesus often used common and ordinary objects visible by the human eye, to illustrate spiritual truths that were not always so obvious to ordinary human beings. “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost it’s flavor?......You are the light of the world......let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father” (Matthew 5:13-16). “Don’t worry about everyday life......Look at the birds. They don’t need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to Him than they are......And why worry about your clothes? Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing......And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won’t He more surely care for you?” (Matthew 6:25-30).
Jesus would talk about fishing, crops, cooking, and buried treasure to illustrate how the kingdom of God grows. “In fact, in his public teaching he taught only with parables” because those to whom he was teaching couldn’t understand in any other way (Mark 4:34). “Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds. In fact, he never spoke to them without using such parables” (Matthew 13:34). Jesus was not trying to impress anyone with his teachings. It was not Jesus’ intention to purposely sound so educated that no one understood him. Jesus knew that a change in people’s lives and character could never take place unless they first understood the truths of God. Jesus wanted people to understand what he was saying. Unfortunately, because some weren’t really listening, or their minds were on a different train of thought, most, including Jesus’ disciples, still didn’t always understand what he was trying to say. That is when he was alone with his disciples, Jesus would later “explain the meaning to them” (Mk.4:34).
The fact is, when we “keep on looking, we will find what we are looking for” (Matt.7:7-11).
“Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand,” Jesus told his disciples (Matthew 13:43). So, how seriously are we really listening? How much do we really want to know the truth? Because if we do, we will.