Paul anguishes over his kinsmen because they could not let go of their tradition to embrace Jesus Christ. They reject Jesus and so are not saved. All the great things God did for them were only means pointing to Christ. They, however, loved those means more than the message.
Paul hammered away on the power of the Gospel. He reminds us that “in all things” God works for the good of those who love. On the other hand, he says that nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus.
Jesus helps us understand why difficulty and hardship enters into every Christian’s life and why God’s Kingdom faces such opposition and resistance in this world. “An Enemy has done this,” the farmer tells his servants. In this parable of the weeds among the wheat Jesus urges His church to patient faith in an ungodly world – and quiet, joyful faith in the glorious future when He returns to judge the living and dead – when “the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.”
Guest Preacher – Reverend Jeffrey Schulz
Our Savior graciously invites us to come to him and give to him our burdens and troubles. This we must do sincerely, from the heart, truthfully.
One vivid childhood memory of mine is a moment in the chicken, ducks, and geese coral: a garden snake came through it and mama duck summoned all the little yellow ducklings to her. They all ran to the safety of her wings. So the Lord calls us to find safety under His wings.