“Then the disciples came and said to him, ‘Why do you speak to them in parables?’” Matthew 13:10
John and Steve had been roommates in college. After graduation they moved to different parts of the country. They stayed in touch mainly through Facebook, but they hadn’t seen each other in years. Finally, Steve had a chance to visit John on a business trip. They enjoyed catching up over dinner and after the meal, John showed Steve around his new home, including his yard. John had worked hard during his first few years in his new house and he had planted a number of trees and plants.
When they walked past a small raspberry patch, John started to explain to Steve how the raspberries had struggled after being transplanted from out-of-state but now they were starting to thrive in their new location. While John was talking, Steve absentmindedly bent down and started to pull some of the young raspberry canes out of the ground (the ones that were sprouting up between the fully-grown, mature canes).
When John noticed what Steve was doing, he cried out, “What are you doing, Steve?! Please stop that, my friend!”
Steve looked up with surprise. “Why are you so upset, John? It is just a blob of plant matter, not a real raspberry yet.”
“What are you talking about, Steve? That is a young raspberry plant you just pulled out of the ground!”
“Don’t be ridiculous, John. Look how tiny these leaves are. This blob of plant matter isn’t even an inch tall yet.”
“Please stop, my friend.”
“Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?” Proverbs 24:11-12
Josh
Posted in A Word from the Pastor