Devotion:
Read Matthew 13:44-52.
In these parables Jesus describes the Kingdom of Heaven. In the Parable of the Hidden Treasure Jesus says the Kingdom of Heaven is more valuable than anything else we have. He describes a man who discovered a valuable treasure hidden in a field. He paid nothing for it, but realized its great value and sold everything he had in order to keep it. Nothing is more precious than eternal life with God in the Kingdom of Heaven and he gives it to us as a gift, yet we must be willing to give up everything in order to obtain it. The Parable of the Net concerns fishermen using a dragnet, a weighted net dragged along the bottom of a body of water to collect an assortment of fish. This net is cast into the sea and pulled onto shore full of all kinds of fish. Then the fishermen go through the business of sorting the fish into the “good” and the “bad.” The fish worth keeping are gathered into containers, but the rest are tossed away. Jesus then interprets the parable for His disciples: “This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (verses 49-50).
Just as the net was cast into the sea drawing many fish, the gospel message is spread into the world, drawing many people to it. Our job as followers of Christ is to tell others about the saving grace of God and his goodness. But we cannot dictate who is actually part of the Kingdom of God and who is not. That sorting will be done at the last judgment by God. What a relief that we don’t have that responsibility! Let’s cast the net as widely as possible, inviting anyone who will listen, into God’s kingdom. It’s not for us to decide who is in and who is out but to faithfully issue invitations.
Personal Worship Option:
Meditate on the lyrics to the gospel song “Share His Love” –
Share His love by telling what the Lord has done for you
Share His love by sharing of your faith
and show the world that Jesus Christ is real to you
every moment, every day!
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