Here is the revelation that is shaping my life today – the Kingdom of God comes in my life miraculously and supernaturally, not by my efforts and understanding.
[26] Jesus also told them this parable: “God’s kingdom realm is like someone spreading seed on the ground. [27] He goes to bed and gets up, day after day, and the seed sprouts and grows tall, though he knows not how. [28] All by itself it sprouts, and the soil produces a crop; first the green stem, then the head on the stalk, and then the fully developed grain in the head. [29] Then, when the grain is ripe, he immediately puts the sickle to the grain, because harvest time has come.”
Observation
I love to know how things work. I want a formula to follow for success. If I do X then I can expect Y to happen. What must I do? It’s the desire for control. If I can understand then the power of knowledge gives me the control I need, and then I feel secure in myself. This is why the church continually tries to put in place programs for discipleship or growing in the kingdom of God. Understanding and obedience seems to be their key mantras. But Jesus ruins this.
“God’s kingdom realm is like..” “someone,” you, me, spreading seed on the ground. Then by doing nothing but sleeping and waking up, this someone sees the kingdom grow and produce a harvest. What??? Where is the here’s what I must do? Where is the role I must obediently play? How can I be in control of this process I don’t control, don’t understand and have no part to play? Make it harder God, give me the hidden wisdom that gives me control.
Here is the mystery of Gods kingdom, you spread the seed in your life and it miraculously and mysteriously releases a harvest of Kingdom life. Okay, got it, “I spread seed,” what does this look like? How can I do this really well? I will be an obedient seed spreader. Settle down my beating heart. The seed is the presence and word of God. Simply be present with God and allow His word to be present with me. Inherent in the presence of God, inherent in His word is the harvest, you plant it and it will grow. Just go to bed and get up and watch what happens in your life. The mystery of His intimate presence and the miraculous of His alive word will produce the harvest of life in me and through me.
Application
Pressure off – no control. Mystery and miraculous released. I will not seek control and knowledge of the process, I will simply get up and spread the seed in my life. His presence and love will enable and motivate me and His word will give direction to our conversation and interpret my life. Pleasure will be my motivation for seed spreading as I wake and go about my day.
Response
Thank you that you invite me into mystery and miraculous not training and obedience. Thank you that you don’t give me the wisdom with which I would shape my life as having no need of you. Thank you that you only give me yourself as the way to life. It’s with you, through you and by you, this is how Kingdom life is released. I will live free of the pressure to perform and run in the wide open space of intimate life with you. I can feel the burdens fall of when I know how the harvest comes. I am a blessed man.
Meditation
How often do you try and work out the formula for kingdom life? How often do I feel the pressure to understand and get it right? Is it time to rest in Gods intimacy each day and allow the Kingdom to grow in you?
JOURNEY DEEPER
Manwell
The idea that we have no idea and have no need to know is false. The Bible advises to “Prove all things. Hold fast that which is good.”