Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 on biblegateway.com
Verse 31He put before them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; Verse 32it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches." Verse 33He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened."
Verse 44"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Verse 45"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; Verse 46on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. Verse 47"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; Verse 48when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. Verse 49So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous Verse 50and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Verse 51"Have you understood all this?" They answered, "Yes." Verse 52And he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old."
Devotion
One afternoon while I was on internship, my supervising pastor called and asked me to accompany him to visit a dying church member. The member chose to live out his last days at his home surrounded by family, friends, the red plains of the Texas panhandle, and the blooming cotton fields. At our arrival we were met and ushered to the bedside by the dying man’s spouse. Darkness shrouded the room except for a sliver of light coming through the closed blinds.
As the visit ensued, my supervisor inquired, “Would you like communion today?” Without hesitation the man said, “I am always hungry for my Lord’s Supper!” So we ate and drank of the treasure of Jesus’ presence and the promise of new life.
So it is in the fields of our lives—the treasure of Jesus’ presence is for us, today, tomorrow, and all of our tomorrows. Where today will the treasure of Jesus’ presence meet and answer your hunger?
Prayer
Jesus, you have promised your presence in all the fields of our lives. Open our eyes to see and trust in your promise today, tomorrow, and all of our tomorrows. Amen.