Scripture: Luke 13:20-21
Again he said, “To what can I compare God’s kingdom? It’s like yeast, which a woman took and hid in a bushel of wheat flour until the yeast had worked its way through the whole.”
Thought for the Day: Again, there is an invitation for the person in the parable to do something, and then to wait. As I look around the world, I see people who do not respond to the invitation. I see others who respond, but then have no patience in the period of waiting that follows. Let me be confessional at this point – I have done both of those at one time or another. In thinking about this parable today, I want us to ponder the waiting part. As I see it, God has chosen to do most of the Kingdom work through human beings and other parts of creation – both living and non-living. Speaking specifically to those of us who fall under the category of human being, there is something called freewill. We have a choice to say to God, YES or No or MAYBE or POSSIBLY LATER or GET LOST… or other responses. God is so incredibly patient, and so when we are frustrated about the snail-like pace of something we have deemed important, it might be that God is waiting on someone to change his/her response from GET LOST to YES. In the end, I’m glad God is gracious enough to still believe in those whose initial response is something other than YES.
Prayer: When others are waiting patiently for me, O Merciful God, I give thanks for your patience. There is nothing I want more than to be a participant in the work of your Kingdom here on earth, but for all kinds of reason, I have too often offered something less than an enthusiastic YES. In your love, I pray for my heart to be softened and for my life to offer a committed YES. Amen.
