Focal passage: Matthew 13:1-13
Every year around this time people make New Year’s resolutions to read their Bible more. Yet, every year many people will give up on their Bible reading plans yet again.
Why is this? Why do we find it so difficult to read our Bibles like we ought?
While some of us are merely undisciplined, I believe that is not the main reason why our Bibles lay unopened on our coffee tables most days.
I believe the main reason we do not read the scriptures like we should is because we have a motivation problem.
We forget the privilege of being able to understand the powerful treasure contained in between the leather covers of our Bibles.
In Isaiah 55:11, God makes a wonderful promise about His Word saying that it “shall accomplish that which I purpose and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”
In Matthew 13, Jesus uses the parable of the sower and the seeds to illustrate a similar point.
Jesus shows His disciples that though there are different responses to the Word of God, we can rest assured God’s Word works.
As the great prince of preachers, Charles Spurgeon, once said, “the same sun that melts wax hardens the clay.”
This reality sparks a great question in the disciples causing them to ask, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” Jesus responds by saying that it has been given to them to know the secrets of the Kingdom (v. 11) and that they will continue to gain more and more understanding of the great mysteries of God (v. 12), while those who have not entered the kingdom will not be able to comprehend the unsearchable riches of His teaching.
Brother or sister, when you repented of your sin and trusted in Christ and received the Spirit of God, you were given the ability to open your Bibles and read and enjoy the inexhaustible glories of the secrets of the Kingdom?
Go open the treasure chest lying on your coffee table and enjoy the riches therein!