Pursue the Potential | Matthew 13
Matthew 13
Please comment below with your conversation with God and/or insights from today’s Scriptures.
You can answer the following:
What are your overall thoughts about the chapter?
Which parable spoke to you most?
What is your prayer to God brought on by this chapter?
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Chapter Notables:
The Parable of the Sower - verses 1-9
The secrets of the Kingdom are for the children of the Kingdom - verses 10-17
The Parable of the Sower explained - verses 18-23
The Parable of the Tares (or Weeds) - verses 24-30
The Parable of the Mustard Seed - verses 31-32
The Parable of the Yeast - verse 33
Prophecy of Jesus fulfilled speaking only in parables - verses 34-35
The Parable of the Tares (Weeds) exampled - verses 36-43
The Parable of the Treasure and the Pearl - verses 44-46
The Parable of the Net - verses 47-51
The teacher is filled with treasures new and old - verse 52
Prophet has honor everywhere else but where people know him - verses 53-58
It Starts Small | Lemuel Ayudtud
In the right environment small, seemingly insignificant things can flourish into incredible proportions. What may look like nothing to some can have the potentials of being great.
Jesus speaks on so many parables on this chapter. One after another Jesus drops the wisdom of heaven on unsuspecting people. It was so rich even His own disciples needed Him to break it down for them. He speaks of a sower who sows seeds, of the good seed and the tares, of a mustard seed, of a treasure in a field, of a pearl of great price, and of small fish caught in the net. Jesus explains all these parables in light of the Kingdom of God—some about growth and others about the end time judgment. But rereading it today I see Jesus using small things as subjects and emphasizing their potential.
For instance on the parable about the sower, Jesus speaks of the seeds that is sown which had the potential to bear fruit. Depending on the soil the seed is sown in, the seed can bear a tree that can bear thirty, sixty, or even a hundred fold. Then He shared the parable of the mustard seed how that it’s one of the most insignificant seeds, yet it can grow to a tree that animals can find shade in. Then there’s the treasure in the field, and then the pearl. Both of which are small compared to what their price was and what those who found them gave up to purchase them.
When we consider the vein of Jesus’ teachings we find the theme: something small can become large. I believe Jesus was teaching the people about the potential of each one of us.
At times we can look at ourselves and think of how small or insignificant we are. Compared to some other people that may have money or greater skill or some other “better,” we at times set a belief about ourselves that God does not see nor have ordained. These internal comparisons foster a limiting belief in ourselves. They set an imaginary cap over what we believe we can.
Limiting beliefs are psychological barriers that we ascribe to ourselves. Whether it’s work, money, family, or even efforts, limiting beliefs can dictate our courage to step up or move ahead because we think we’re not enough. Limiting beliefs can make you feel that you shouldn’t be in the same room as more “successful” people. It makes you feel small around people you feel are much “bigger” or smarter or richer than you. These beliefs make you doubt your own abilities and knowledge. It makes you doubt even your value add in any given situation.
Limiting beliefs also stir up fears and memories of failures. It’s crippling depending on where or with whom you are around. These belief systems make you concerned about how others see you and what others maybe thinking about you—and most of the time, they are negative and self deprecating. It makes you second guess your actions even among peers. Limiting beliefs have disabled the most abled body; it has demoted even the most deserving; it has frozen in fear the most gifted.
Don’t get too down on yourself. These limiting beliefs are natural. Even the prophets of old experienced them. Moses told God, “But I can’t speak,” right after God told him He will send him as His spokesman. Isaiah said, “But I’m a sinner,” after God told him to preach righteousness. Jeremiah said, “But I’m just a child,” when God told him to His ambassador. Yeah, limiting beliefs are natural, but our God is supernatural!
Jesus uses small objects as the subject matter for His parables, comparing the future outcomes to their initial appearance. Yes, the pearl may be small, but its price is great! The yeast maybe small, but it makes the dough rise in heat. Even the weed can grow with the wheat! Small things can be great (or destructive) if given the proper environment to grow.
You and I have incredible potential. Jesus sees us as seed in the world. He sees us as small but packed with potential and power. And when given the right time and place, we can grow and multiply.
Our task is not to see ourselves as we currently are. Paul tells us that in our weakness, God’s grace is perfected. We must not view our size to determine our potentials, we must see our God given potential and overlook our size. Of course we’re not talking about our height or our girth, we’re talking about how God sees us.
Goliath saw David as bird food when David approached him. Thankfully David had spent time in the Presence of God and didn’t see himself as the child that he was. While his brother’s saw David nothing more than their baby brother, David saw himself as God’s champion. And when Goliath saw David’s courage as foolishness, God had victory in David’s hand. God didn’t see David, the young shepherd boy, the way David’s brothers saw him. God saw a giant slayer in this small child. Ultimately, God saw a king when the world saw a kid.
God doesn’t see us as weaklings. Sure we may look weak or underserving or unqualified and you may even be all of that, but only on the outside. Inside lies in us the breath of God. Divinity passes through our lungs with every breath. The God who spoke worlds into existence breath in Adam the breath of life and that portion of God is innate inside of us.
Brilliance, creativity, ability to shift and adapt, energy, purpose, power lives inside of us. Given the right soil, we can flourish like the tree that resides in us as potential. Just because you may start, doesn’t mean you are small. The Kingdom of God is the Kingdom of greatness in small beginnings.
Lord, I am who you say I am not who I feel I am. I am gifted, talented, and valuable. I am not less than anyone else. I am Your child, full of potential and purpose. And no matter where You place me, I capable of performing. Father, help me to embrace that wherever I maybe, You have guided me to be there, and because of that, then You will help me to flourish and thrive. I pray this in Your Name, Jesus, amen.