ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Saturday March 4, 2017

“Because seeing, they do not see”

13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:

‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand,

And seeing you will see and not perceive;

15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull.

Their ears are hard of hearing,

And their eyes they have closed,

Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,

Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,

So that I should heal them.’  – Matthew 13:13-15

Born Again – The Doctrine of Regeneration

Why is regeneration important?

1.  Man is flesh

2.  Man cannot see

He is blind in his spirit, and cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3). ‘See’, in this context must mean to recognize, appreciate, or understand the significance of the kingdom. In Christ’s own time this blindness was illustrated by the response men made to his great parables of the kingdom of God. Many who physically heard did not hear the voice of Christ as he called them into his kingdom. They saw in their minds the vivid pictures which he portrayed but did not ‘see’ the figure of the Savior himself striding through the parables to engage them in Christian discipleship (Matthew 13:13 – 15).

This blindness was also characteristic of Nicodemus. Sadly, it is sometimes characteristic of men and women would have given themselves to the religious life. In all their doing, there is little seeing. Nicodemus asked Jesus: how can these things be? (John 3:9). He could not see the kingdom, nor was he yet so convicted of his own need that he saw the necessity of a heavenly birth if he were ever to enter it.

Challenge:

“Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law” is often a prayer as we seek guidance from God regarding His Word. But how much more do we need His Light to illuminate our souls in order that we may see His Kingdom. Seek out ways to “see” God today.

This Day in Christian History:

March 4, 1796 – the mission ship DUFF landed on Tahiti having set sail from England in August 1796. After several weeks on Tahiti, the ship sailed and distributed missionaries throughout the Pacific islands, including Tonga, and the Marquises. After some humiliating events in the Marquises, the mission was abandoned. The work in Tonga proceeded with difficulty. The Tahiti mission showed more promise and eventually led to many conversions.

Memory Verse:

Pea tali ‘e Sīsū, ‘o ne folofola kiate ia, Ko au ē, ko au ē, ‘oku ou tala atu, ‘Ilonga ‘a ia ‘e ‘ikai fanau‘i fo‘ou mei ‘olunga, ‘e ‘ikai te ne lava ke mamata ki he Pule‘anga ‘o e ‘Otua. – Sione 3:3

Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” – John 3:3

Bible Reading Plan: (52 weeks; 5 days a week)

Week 9 – Leviticus 24-27; Psalm 81, 112, 64; Hebrews 9-13