What is the role and purpose of a light? This sounds strangely philosophical but the answer is pretty simple. We turn on a light in order to see when it is dark! I remember one night in a big storm in Sydney, we experienced a blackout. All the family were in one room because us kids couldn’t sleep. It was all dark in the room until my brother turned on a torch and the room was brilliantly lit up. Now just previously, Jesus told his disciples that the parables were meant to hide the secrets of the kingdom but now he is saying that the kingdom, or the light, isn’t supposed to be hidden! What’s going on here?

Well, the final and ultimate purpose of the parables is to reveal these secrets, however, they will be made known to those who search them deeply, who plumb the depths of what the parables are saying. Now, this isn’t about being a parable ‘guru’ or trying to allegorise every detail in the story, but this is about the condition of our heart when approaching them. If we come with a heard heart, well we will not produce much fruit, and not get anything out of the parables. However, if we come with a heart that longs to hear what God says to us, that longs to know Jesus better, then we will produce much fruit.

So then, how will this fruit come? How does the kingdom grow? Well not by our work or by our efforts, but it happens by the grace of God! It can grow in the most unlikely places, and from immeasurably small to huge and magnificent. There is no limit on the growth, all we are called to do is to receive the word. MC

Questions

Prayer

Heavenly Father, you have given us the secrets of the kingdom of God and have made them known to us. Please plant your word down deep in us and cause it to produce fruit in our lives. Please shape our hearts and our lives by your word, that we might live like Jesus for your glory. Amen.