April 11, 2026

The Parables Of Jesus: 32

The Lost Coin

The story of the lost coin gives us a glimpse into the heart of Jesus and his love for us. The heavens erupt in rejoicing when just one sinner repents and turns to him. We are more important to him than we can imagine. It was about 52 years ago that I repented and turned my life over to Jesus; and though I was given a guardian angel at birth, the whole choir sang for joy when I turned my life over to him, and they have protected me ever since. Can you imagine it? We are dearly loved by our Savior, so much so that he gave us the Holy Spirit to accompany us on our earthly journey and to intercede for us to the Father. We were that lost coin of great value, and he sought us until he found us. Sing a song of praise and give thanks to him because he is good and his mercy endures forever.

Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. Luke 15:10

April 10, 2026

The Parables Of Jesus: 31

The Invited Guests

This story seems to be more of wise instruction rather than a parable, but it is something that is repeated throughout scripture, so we should take notice and follow Jesus’ advice. 

When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; Luke 14:8

It is likely that you won’t have to worry about where you sit at a wedding nowadays because the hosts usually reserve your seat for you. It’s humbling when you expect to sit near the wedding party or the hosts, only to find out you aren’t as important as you think you are and they’ve seated you in the back. However, on any occasion where you are free to seat yourself to dine, be modest and find a seat that is the least desirable so you are not embarrassed by the hosts moving you because they want to sit near someone more important to them. If they move you near them, then you have don’t the right thing. 

For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. Luke 14:11

April 9, 2026

The Parables Of Jesus: 30

The Barren Fig Tree

When Jesus said, “I come not to bring peace but sword” he wasn’t kidding. Many look at Jesus as passive but some of his words cause fear. We may not need to fear what the world can do, but we should fear what God can do to us eternally. If you aren’t barring fruit necessary for His purpose, He might take you out. Here is scripture that causes me to shudder because Jesus doesn’t stutter:

Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? Luke 13:7

In this instance Jesus is talking to Israel and Judah, but we can take him at his word that if we are not a fruitful part of his kingdom, we should be concerned for ourselves. Praying the sinners prayer and being baptized is not the end of our responsibility, it is only the beginning. We must turn from our sinful ways and transform into the likeness of Jesus. We may not be completely sinless, but it should be our goal. If you go to church, you are that fig planted in the vineyard where the ground is fertile, so you had better hope the vinedresser keeps praying for you so you are not cut down.

And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down. Luke 13:8-9

April 8, 2026

The Parables Of Jesus: 29

The Parable Of The Rich Fool

A man asked Jesus to tell his brother to divide his inheritance with him, but he refused, telling him he wasn’t a judge or divider over him. Then he told the parable of the rich fool who had an abundance of crops and thought to himself that he would tear down his barns and build new ones to hold all of it. 

And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. Luke 12:19-21

The point is that you never know when your soul will be collected, so you should cultivate the things of God rather than attend to worldly affairs because one is more profitable than the other in the hereafter. We should be mindful of who will ultimately take our soul. When our soul is divided from the body, where will you go? Who will collect your soul? Will it be the devil or God? Set your mind on things above.

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. Colossians 3:1-3 

April 7, 2026

The Parables Of Jesus: 28

The Friend Seeking Bread 

The disciples had just asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. In his response, he taught them what we now call The Lord's Prayer. It wasn't a standard prayer because the gospels were slightly different, but more of an outline to give us direction. Instead of the flowery prayers of the J*ws, which were mostly praise, adoration, and doxology, The Lord's Prayer outlines mostly petitions and requests. That doesn't mean we should stop our praises and adoration; it means we should include our petitions and requests. 

In teaching the importance of asking the Father for what we need, he shared with them the parable of a friend who had a friend in need of bread for his traveling. It was late in the evening, and the man had no bread to give him, so he went to his neighbor's house after he was already in bed and asked for bread for his friend. Still, the man didn't want to wake his family, so he told him to go away, but the man kept knocking and aggravating him, so he got up and gave him bread.  

Jesus, who is God, is telling us to keep asking for what we need and to intercede for others until we receive an answer. Jesus makes it clear that it's okay to ask the Father for things and that we should do so. However, if you really want to increase your faith and see your life change, ask Him to deepen your communication with the Holy Spirit, because you already have Him if you are saved, and hearing Him more clearly is truly a gift. 

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall yourheavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? Luke 11:13

April 6, 2026

The Parables Of Jesus: 27

The Good Samaritan 

A lawyer challenged Jesus by saying, “Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus answered him by asking him what the law says.

And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. Luke 10:27

Jesus told him he answered correctly. Then the lawyer asked, “Who is your neighbor?” He was trying to catch him saying something illegal. Then Jesus blew his mind by telling the parable of the Good Samaritan. Here is a summary of the story:

A J*w fell to robbers on the side of the road between Jerusalem and Jericho and was seriously injured and nearly half dead. A priest came upon him and passed him on the other side of the road. Then a Levite priest came along and also passed by him on the other side. Fortunately for the injured man a Samaritan man, not a J*w, but someone the J*ws detested, came along, and having compassion, bound the mans wounds, put him on his horse and took him to a nearby inn, paying the innkeeper to continue caring for him. 

So, who is our neighbor? Everyone! We must have compassion for other human beings because all people are considered our neighbors. As far as the lawyer goes, he found nothing to charge Jesus with because he didn’t give him instructions that were against the law. 

April 5, 2026

He Is Risen

Nothing thrills my heart more than to write about Jesus! David wrote about him without even knowing it. Psalms 22 points to Jesus’ suffering and dying on the cross. Those who deny him, especially of the J*wish faith, only do so out of ignorance because the words of this song point to Jesus and the words he spoke as he was hanging on the cross. It also depicts the actions of those around him as they divided his clothes and cast lots for them. Even the heckling he received is alluded to by the spectators telling him that if he were the son of God, why didn’t he take himself off the cross? This entire psalm happened during the crucifixion. Some commentators think that he probably recited the whole psalm, if only to himself. 

Take comfort in knowing that when you think God isn’t hearing your prayers, Jesus felt the same way when hanging on the cross. He cried out in pain to his Father, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” God turned his eyes away from His son because of our sins, that he bore upon the cross, but once those sins were burned up in the pit of hell, he awakened from the dead. Jesus was resurrected to become our King and Savior. The Old Testament and New Testament agree that Jesus is the Son of God and that He is the Savior of all humanity; we will all bow before Him in reverence, whether we are lost or saved. Feel privileged that God chose you as part of His kingdom. 

All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and he is the governor among the nations. Psalms 22:27-28