Not Everyone Who Hears Understands

FAITH:

Matthew 12:46 - 13:17

Our Lord warns that the human heart can be so pounded and beaten down with the traffic of sin that it becomes completely insensitive to the gospel. This is the heart that know no repentance, no sorrow over sin, no guilt, and no concern for the things of God. It allows itself to be trampled by an endless procession of evil thoughts, cherished sins, and ungodly activities. It is careless, callous, indifferent, never broken up or softened by conviction or sorrow for wrong doing. this is the heart of the fool described in Proverbs. The fool hates knowledge, and resists instruction. The fool despises wisdom and says in his heart there is no God. He will not hear. His mind is closed. And he does not want to be bothered with a gospel invitation.

Many people have hearts like that. You can shower them with seed, but it just lies there. It does not penetrate. And it does not stay very long before Satan comes and takes it away completely. Each time you try to witness to such a person, you must start again at the beginning.

Dry, hard, soil on the edge of the field does not necessarily signify someone who is anti-religious. Some of the hardest individuals in the world remain on the fringes of true religion. But because sin has so hardened their hearts, they are utterly unproductive and unresponsive to God.
by John F. MacArthur, Jr.

Applying it: How are the teachings of Jesus received by those who follow him? Why is it that some people are unable to understand God's words? Pray for a soft heart that wants to understand all that God teaches.

FRIENDS:

Father, In your word in Zechariah it says, "But they refused to pay attention; they were stubborn and did not want to listen anymore. they made their hearts as hard as rock and would not listen to the teachings of the Lord All-Powerful. And they would not hear the words he sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. So the Lord All-Powerful became very angry. Please don't let us be those people Lord. Please keep our hearts soft and our ears open to you. We want to be led by your Spirit and to be your children. In Jesus' name, Amen.

DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE

Luke Ephesians Psalms 1 Kings
3. 1:39-56; 2:1-10; 119:17-24; 4-5
4. 1:57-66; 2:11-22; 119: 25-32; 6-7

~Luke~
Nearly two thousand years ago a doctor named Luke began a letter to a friend with there words:

Many have tried to report on the things that happened among us. They have written the same things that we learned from others---the people who saw those things from the beginning and served God by telling people his message. Since I myself have studied everything carefully form the beginning, most excellent Theophilus, it seems good for me to write it our for you.. I arranged it in order to help you know that what you have been taught is true. (1:1-14)

Luke and Theophilus shared two loves: a love for Christ and a love for the facts. They didn't want legends, they wanted truth. And so Dr. Luke Begins to sort the truth and report the facts to Theophilus. The result is part letter and part research paper.

It is part letter because it was written for a friend. What a bond must have existed between these two that Luke would labor so! It is part research paper, because Luke had studied everything carefully from the beginning and he wanted Theophilus to benefit from his study.

Can't you envision him in the home of Mary, "Tell me again what happened in Bethlehem." Can't you see him peppering Matthew with questions? "Let me see if I got this parable right." Or on long walk with Peter, " When you denied him the third time, did Jesus know?" With the skill of a surgeon, Luke probes for the truth.

Why?

So his friend could know that what he had been taught was true.

Did Luke have any idea that millions of us would benefit from his study? I doubt it. All he did was share the truth with a friend.

Can you imagine what would happen if we all did the same?

FOOD:

Turkey in the Crock
Ingredients
4-6 lb. turkey breast or 3 lb. boneless breast
1 pkg. dry onion soup mix
1 can whole cranberry sauce
2 tart apples, cored and sliced into eighths
1/2 c. raisins
1/2 c. chicken broth, optional
Directions
Place turkey breast in a large crock-pot; add remaining ingredients.
Cook on low heat for 6-8 hours. Serves 8.

FUN:

SAYING GOODBYE TO MOTHER.......

You don't have to own a cat to appreciate this one! You don't even have to like 'em!

We were dressed and ready to go out for the New Years Eve Party. We turned on a night light, turned the answering machine on, covered our pet parakeet and put the cat in the backyard. We phoned the local cab company and requested a taxi. The taxi arrived and we opened the front door to leave the house. The cat we put out in the back yard, scoots back into the front door.
We didn't want the cat shut in the house because she always tries to eat the bird. My wife goes out to the taxi, while I went inside to get the cat. The cat runs upstairs, with me in hot pursuit. Waiting in the cab, my wife
doesn't want the driver to know that the house will be empty for the night. So, she explains to the taxi driver that I will be out soon, 'He's just going upstairs to say Goodbye to my mother.'
A few minutes later, I get into the cab. 'Sorry I took so long,' I said, as we drove away. 'That stupid old bag was hiding under the bed. I had to poke her with a coat hanger to get her to come out! She tried to take off, so I
grabbed her by the neck. Then, I had to wrap her in a blanket to keep her from scratching me. But it worked! I hauled her fat butt downstairs and threw her out into the back yard!
The cab driver hit a parked car.

Thanks to Cbev for sending this one.....keep those jokes coming folks.