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Exchanged Glory III: Wise as Serpents
If a man was handing out $100 bills and offered to fill whatever container you brought to Him, how big of a container would you bring? Would you settle for a paper cup? How about a bucket? Wouldn’t you be more likely to bring a giant cargo ship?
Also He said to them, "Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand? For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."
Why do we wrap birthday presents in attractive paper? Is it so that the gifts can stay hidden? Of course not – we do it so that the present can be revealed to the right person at the right time. A parable is like a birthday present. It is truth wrapped up. It is hidden so that it can be revealed.
These verses tell us clearly that God’s goal isn’t to keep secrets. He deeply desires that they should come to light, but He wants us to do our part to search for them.
It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
We shouldn’t throw up our hands and give up when we don’t understand the Bible. God has placed within it the keys to unlock our bound hearts. He calls for us to dig deep until we discover its hidden treasures – to ask, seek, and knock until it is given, we find, or it is opened. If we lack the desire to do that, He calls for us to ask Him to give us that desire.
That energy is God's energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure.
(Philippians 2:13, The Message)
Even circumstances that make us feel far from God can prepare us for life changing insight. When we don’t know what is happening, He wants us to press in by faith until He shows us what He is doing. He loves to give wisdom.
How much can we receive from God?
Then He said to them, "Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.” (emphasis added)
Therefore take heed how you hear. … (emphasis added)
If a man was handing out $100 bills and offered to fill whatever container you brought to Him, how big of a container would you bring? Would you settle for a paper cup? How about a bucket? Wouldn’t you be more likely to bring a giant cargo ship?
Jesus is using that kind of an analogy to describe how we receive from our Father in heaven. It is the size of our container (our measure) that determines how much of His grace and goodness we receive. His generosity is limitless. It’s the room that we make for Him that decides how much comes to us.
If we shrink our measure by having an insensitive God sensor and devoting little time and effort, we will receive little. If we expand our measure by having a sensitive God sensor and devoting a great deal of time and effort, we will receive much. He is always willing to give more than we are ready to receive.
It is not just how we listen that is important, but also what we listen to. If we receive the devil’s lies with an open heart, the devil will fill our measure with destruction.
A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of. I am the Good Shepherd…
(John 10:10-11, The Message)
A good deal of the trouble we have in life comes because our containers are overflowing with Satan’s counterfeit money. We need to listen closely to the Good Shepherd who leads us to more and better life than we ever dreamed of.
For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
Those who have were given what they have because they prepared their lives to receive it. They used large measures, and God filled them. Their hearts will only grow larger over time, and they will be given more. They are good at making investments into the kingdom of God and will continually reap greater benefits from their efforts.
Those who lack are in need because they use small measures. If they don’t repent, their spiritual poverty will slowly starve them until they become deceived and lose even what they have. They hold God at a distance, robbing themselves of His living reality. Is it any wonder that some of them then decide He isn’t real?
He is offering a banquet. Nothing else makes sense but to drop everything and run to it.
Jesus followed up. "Yes. For there was once a man who threw a great dinner party and invited many. When it was time for dinner, he sent out his servant to the invited guests, saying, 'Come on in; the food's on the table.'
Then they all began to beg off, one after another making excuses. The first said, 'I bought a piece of property and need to look it over. Send my regrets.'
Another said, 'I just bought five teams of oxen, and I really need to check them out. Send my regrets.'
And yet another said, 'I just got married and need to get home to my wife.'
The servant went back and told the master what had happened. He was outraged and told the servant, 'Quickly, get out into the city streets and alleys. Collect all who look like they need a square meal, all the misfits and homeless and wretched you can lay your hands on, and bring them here.'
The servant reported back, 'Master, I did what you commanded — and there's still room.'
The master said, 'Then go to the country roads. Whoever you find, drag them in. I want my house full! Let me tell you, not one of those originally invited is going to get so much as a bite at my dinner party.'"
(Luke 14:16-24, The Message)
Our Father in Heaven will make sure that someone feasts at His banquet. Why shouldn’t it be you and me?
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