Our verse for today is stated in a slightly different way in the gospel of Mark. In Mark 4:11, Jesus states, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables.”

Have you ever tried to learn another language? That is not an easy task, but you can become fairly fluent if you put in the effort to learn. It is quite another challenge, though, to learn the subtle nuances and humor of a language. To get to that level, you usually need to immerse yourself in the culture and talk with the local people every day.

Jesus called his disciples, and they followed along with him as their teacher. They were willing to spend time with him and learn from him constantly. In fact, they spent all their time with him, and eventually they learned and began to understand his purposes.

To those who are willing to live fully in his kingdom Jesus gives the secrets of the kingdom. But all who are not willing to turn to Jesus, and to ask and learn why he has come, will stand on the periphery, unable to understand the nuances, the mysteries.

Do you need to press further in? Do you need to spend more time listening to the whis­pers that Jesus speaks to your heart? He wants us to turn to him and be forgiven, and to have life to the full! This is the only condition for life in his kingdom.