Topic: Let Them Grow Together [Tuesday December 12, 2017]
Text: Matthew 13:24-43
Key Verse: “But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.” (Matthew 13:29,30).
The desire of every good and efficient classroom teacher is that all his students should excel and earn promotion to the next class. The students that want this desire actualized would normally devote their time to study, resisting all attempts to engage in unprofitable activities. But the dull, playful and those that are not serious would not be bothered. The teacher would allow them to remain in the class till the examination does the inevitable separation.
The enemy had gone to sow tares among the farmer’s good crops. Soon both the wheat and the tares sprang up together. Was it not necessary, the disciples wondered aloud, for the tares to be pulled out leaving the edible wheat? But Jesus cautioned otherwise that they should leave them to grow together till harvest time when the reapers would separate them, the wheat to the barn while the tares would be burnt.
The kingdom of God is made up of the tares and the wheat. Jesus explains thus: “As therefore the tares are gathered and bound in the fire so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth His angels and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that offend and them which do iniquity and shall cast them into a furnace of fire, there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father…” (verses 40-43). Today, the only claim many people have to Christianity is in their name. Inside the Church of Christ are all sorts of people – the unrepentant harlots, hardened thieves/robbers and adulterers. But the time to separate the false from the real is coming soon, when the King would come in His Majesty to judge the earth. Are you among the tares in the Church? You can change your position today by turning away from sin.
Thought for the day: You cannot enter heaven with false identity.
Bible Reading in one Year: Luke 23-24
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
