Not too long ago I had this desire to read the whole bible because I had never done it before. I was really nervous and doubtful if it would be possible and I don’t like to start something if I don’t think I’ll be able to follow through until the end. I wanted to give up before I even started, but praise God for making this desire grow in my heart. I couldn’t shake it off so I dove right into reading.
Another huge thing I struggled with was deciding how I was going to go about this. I couldn’t decide if I was going to start from the Old Testament and read through to the New Testament OR read them both at the same time. I didn’t think reading them both at the same time was going to make sense, but I ended up doing that and I honestly like it! Actually, I really enjoy it! I read 2 chapters from the Old Testament and then 2 Chapters in the New Testament. Some days, I really want to read more, but I’m trying to slow myself down so that I can really let it sink in instead of speeding through it just to get it done. I want this to be a meaningful experience and not something I try to complete as quick as I can.
With all of that being said, this journey hasn’t been a perfect or easy one. I have days where I open the bible and then close it because I’m tired and then there are days where I don’t even open it. Even though I have these days where I feel like I’m failing, I really trust that God will build discipline in my heart if I just don’t give up. So, here I am, at the beginning of my imperfect journey, but I look forward to growth as I continue to delve into His word and see Him for all that He is.
Also, I’ve been reading through Matthew and I forgot how mind blowing some of these parables are, like seriously. I question myself and wonder if I would have been able to understand them if I had heard them from Jesus himself. My prayer is that I would have been one of the ones who listened and heard the message of the Gospel. But, I hope that you will enjoy them and be in awe of some of these parables too!
The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13: 3-9)
“Consider the sower who went out to sow. As he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seed fell on rocky ground where it didn’t have much soil, and it grew up quickly since the soil wasn’t deep. But when the sun came up, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and chocked it. Still other seeds fell on good ground and produced fruit: some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times what was sown. Let anyone who has ears listen.”
The Parable of the Sower Explained (Matthew 13: 18-23)
“So listen to the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word about the kingdom and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the one sown along the path. And the one sown on rocky ground – this is one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. But he has no root and is short-lived. When distress or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he falls away. Now the one sown among the thorns – this is one who hears the word, but the worries of this age and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. But the one sown on the good ground – this is one who hears and understands the word, who does produce fruit and yields: some a hundred, some sixty, some thirty times what was sown.”
The Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds (Matthew 13: 24-30)
“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while people were sleeping, his enemy came, sowed weeds among the wheat, and left. When the plant sprouted and produced grain, then the weeds also appeared. The landowner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Master, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? The where did the weeds come from?’
“‘An enemy did this,’ he told them.
“‘So, do you want us to go and pull them up?’ the servants asked him.
“‘No,’ he said. ‘When you pull up the weeds, you might also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At harvest time I’ll tell the reapers: Gather the weeds first and tie them in bundles to burn them, but collect the wheat in my barn.”
Jesus Interprets the Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds (Matthew 13: 37-43)
“The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world; and the good seed – these are the children of the kingdom. The weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. Therefore, just as the weeds are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather from his kingdom all who cause sin and those guilty of lawlessness. They will throw them into the blazing furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. Let anyone who has ears listen.”
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