But my mouth would encourage you; comfort from my lips would bring you relief.
Job 16:5 (NIV)
| Perception by Cathy Vinson |
Rarely do preacher or authors venture into expounding a biblical truth without an arsenal of analogies. Pastors' files are collected and stuffed full of them, waiting for the opportune moment when each will provide just the right nuance for the truth at hand. Is there a precedence for such use, or is this merely a way to hold people's attention? "And He spoke many things to them in parables..." (Mt 13:3). What is a parable? Parable denotes a placing beside (para-around or beside). It signifies a placing of one thing beside another with a view to comparison...earthly things with a spiritual meaning (Vine's Dict). Isn't this what analogies do for us? How often that very "placing beside" enhances the whole spiritual meaning! Bringing the 2 together...this must be the "Aha!" moment when understanding comes. (Understanding (suneimi) ironically means to bring or set together, of perceiving, uniting (sun-with) the perception with what is perceived) - Vine. But not all understand or perceive. "Hearing they hear, but do not understand..." (Matthew 13:13), "when anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand..." (Mt 13:19), "the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit..." (1 Cor 2:14). "...it is given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven" (Mt 13:11), "we have received...the Spirit of God that we might know..." (1 Cor 2:12). Henry Blackaby writes in EXPERIENCING GOD that when understanding the spiritual meaning of a verse, God's Spirit has been at work...this does not lead to an encounter, but IS an encounter with God. We can't understand except by the Spirit. Let us humbly be thankful for perception that has united earthly examples to life-giving, spiritual truths. May we delight and find useful the inspired creation of pictures that surround our lives, ones that can propel us and others to the mysteries of heaven!" |
|
| Hearing
they hear, but do not understand.... (Matthew 13:13) |
||
|
Send a note to Cathy Vinson , the writer of this devotion.
Other Whispers from the Wilderness Devotions are found HERE
Return to the Daily Miscellany