Thursday 10 April 2014

Seeking Meaning

Seeking Meaning

“The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” 
He replied, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.  
Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.  
This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. 
In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “ ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 
For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’  
But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.  
For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.” 
Matthew 13:10-17
  Kenneth L. Barker in the Zonderban NIV study Bible copy right 2002 states,”Jesus used parables more extensively as a means of teaching. They were particularly effective and easy to remember because he used familiar scenes. Although parables clarified Jesus’ teaching, they also included hidden meanings needing further explanation. These hidden meanings challenged the sincerely interested to further inquiry, and taught truths that Jesus wanted to conceal from unbelievers. From parables Jesus’ enemies could find no direct statements to use against him.”
It’s interesting that today many hear and read the Bible but the majority of people fail to understand fully the truths therein.
I have spoken to many very well educated people who have read the Bible and know it’s content yet fail to fully comprehend the deep meaning inside. They see the Bible as a combination history and philosophy book and Jesus as a good moral teacher.
Most of these people are more interested in trying to find fault with the Bible than the truths it has for them. So called mistakes.
If there are mistakes with the Bible they are of man’s own doing.
When someone tells me the bible has mistakes or contradictions for the most part they can’t show them to me.
I do recognize that over the years so called Christian groups have interpreted the Bible with their own particular bent.
They have misinterpreted words and whole passages to conform it to their way of thinking. Such things are the only errors that occur. Man made errors.
The Bible interpreted correctly and in context has no contradictions or errors.
I have found over the years that those who truly are seeking God. Who are seeking a meaning for life do indeed search for the hidden truths in the Bible and ultimately find them.
They find the truths God wanted them to.
Being a Christian is a lifestyle. A way of life one cannot enter into half heartedly. It is a daily walk of faith. The writer of Hebrews noting
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” 
          Hebrews 11:1 
Think about it?

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