{"id":2806,"date":"2026-04-09T03:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/reflectivebiblestudy.com\/gospeladventure\/?p=2806"},"modified":"2022-11-25T07:00:17","modified_gmt":"2022-11-25T14:00:17","slug":"a-place-of-refuge-and-shelter-luke-13-18-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/reflectivebiblestudy.com\/gospeladventure\/a-place-of-refuge-and-shelter-luke-13-18-19\/","title":{"rendered":"A Place of Refuge and Shelter: Luke 13:18-19"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"powerpress_player\" id=\"powerpress_player_4787\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-2806-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"http:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/reflectivebiblestudy\/rbs-ga-parables-15_mixdown.mp3?_=1\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/reflectivebiblestudy\/rbs-ga-parables-15_mixdown.mp3\">http:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/reflectivebiblestudy\/rbs-ga-parables-15_mixdown.mp3<\/a><\/audio><\/div><p class=\"powerpress_links powerpress_links_mp3\" style=\"margin-bottom: 1px !important;\">Podcast: <a href=\"http:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/reflectivebiblestudy\/rbs-ga-parables-15_mixdown.mp3\" class=\"powerpress_link_pinw\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Play in new window\" onclick=\"return powerpress_pinw('https:\/\/reflectivebiblestudy.com\/gospeladventure\/?powerpress_pinw=2806-podcast');\" rel=\"nofollow\">Play in new window<\/a> | <a href=\"http:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/reflectivebiblestudy\/rbs-ga-parables-15_mixdown.mp3\" class=\"powerpress_link_d\" title=\"Download\" rel=\"nofollow\" download=\"rbs-ga-parables-15_mixdown.mp3\">Download<\/a><\/p><p class=\"powerpress_links powerpress_subscribe_links\">Subscribe: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.iheart.com\/podcast\/256-reflective-bible-study-gos-31078545\/\" class=\"powerpress_link_subscribe powerpress_link_subscribe_iheart\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Subscribe on iHeartRadio\" rel=\"nofollow\">iHeartRadio<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/reflectivebiblestudy.com\/gospeladventure\/feed\/podcast\/\" class=\"powerpress_link_subscribe powerpress_link_subscribe_rss\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Subscribe via RSS\" rel=\"nofollow\">RSS<\/a><\/p><hr class=\"powerpress-player-divider\"><div class=\"spoiler spoiler-style-2\"><div class=\"spoiler-title\">Read the Transcript<\/div><div class=\"spoiler-content\">\r\n<p>As we continue looking at the parables Jesus told, we turn our attention to one of Jesus\u2019 shortest parables. While the setup for this parable gives this parable an extra verse, the parable itself is only one verse long. This isn\u2019t the only parable that is under two verses, but because it is so short, don\u2019t think for a moment that it isn\u2019t challenging, relevant, or significant. In just a few short phrases, Jesus masterfully illustrates several aspects of God\u2019s kingdom in a way that lifts us up while also challenging us regarding our mission in this world.<\/p>\r\n<p>Let\u2019s read this parable and discover what we can learn from Jesus\u2019 illustration. While this parable is found in Matthew\u2019s gospel, Luke also includes it. Since most people look at Matthew\u2019s version of it, let\u2019s be different and focus in on Luke\u2019s gospel, even if both parables are written almost identically. With this said, our passage for this episode is found in Luke\u2019s gospel, chapter 13, and we will read it from the New Century Version of the Bible. Starting in verse 18, Luke tells us that:<\/p>\r\n<p><strong><sup>18\u00a0<\/sup>Then Jesus said, \u201cWhat is God\u2019s kingdom like? What can I compare it with?\u00a0<sup>19\u00a0<\/sup>It is like a mustard seed that a man plants in his garden. The seed grows and becomes a tree, and the wild birds build nests in its branches.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p>In these few phrases, we have our parable. While Jesus then immediately shares another parable, we\u2019ll hold off on focusing on that parable until our next episode, even though both parables have a number of similarities.<\/p>\r\n<p>In this parable, we discover God\u2019s kingdom being compared to a mustard seed. I don\u2019t know much about mustard seeds, but what I do know is that they are among the smallest seeds that can be seen without magnification. Perhaps what is significant about this truth is that while the seed is small, the seed\u2019s smallness does not indicate the size of a plant the seed will become. In a similar way, <strong><em>God\u2019s kingdom started incredibly small, but with the Holy Spirit and a little bit of time, God\u2019s kingdom has expanded in amazing ways.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p>Something else that seems to stand out to me whenever I read about this parable is the final phrase. The last thing Jesus shares about the seed that became a tree is that this tree had \u201c<strong>wild birds build nests in its branches<\/strong>\u201d. This is significant, because it tells us that <strong><em>God\u2019s kingdom exists to be a shelter and refuge for God\u2019s creation.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p>While we could take the idea of wild birds literally, they might also be a metaphor for those living in this world. While many of us listening to this episode are already a part of God\u2019s kingdom, <em>when we have intentionally allied ourselves to Jesus, do we live our lives in a way that helps those in this world who are not yet followers of Jesus? Is the witness we display in the world one where other people are loved, welcomed, helped, and lifted up?<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p>According to this parable, God\u2019s kingdom grows into a place where those who are near it benefit from it. God\u2019s kingdom gives more than it takes; God\u2019s kingdom does not behave like a parasite. Everyone near God\u2019s kingdom benefits from its presence.<\/p>\r\n<p>When I look out at the world today, I don\u2019t see many clear examples of people living to serve others in a sacrificial way. Most serving, if we could call it that, seems to be centered on how we can help others while being compensated in some way for it. While there is nothing wrong with being compensated for helping others, is the goal of our help to get paid, or is the goal of our help to serve? Is the goal of our help and our service towards others aimed at building up a name for ourselves or is aimed at building up the name of Jesus Christ?<\/p>\r\n<p>One test we can use when asking ourselves if we live up to this ideal is if a random person passing by would miss what we are doing if we were to disappear. Another way we could test this is asking ourselves if we were to stop doing what we are doing, would God miss it? While these are not perfect tests, know that <strong>if the mustard tree in our parable were to disappear, the wild birds who had taken up residence would definitely notice. God would also notice because He values every plant, animal, and human He created!<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p><strong><em>When we join God\u2019s kingdom, we get a new perspective.<\/em><\/strong> This perspective changes from what can I do to help me succeed to what can I do to help others succeed. Our perspective also changes from what can God do to help me to what can I do to help bring glory to God through blessing others. <strong><em>When we join God\u2019s kingdom, our focus shifts away from ourselves and onto saying thank You to God by giving Him glory, honor, and praise.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p>Another way to describe this from our parable is remembering that the tiny mustard seed that grew into a tree represents God\u2019s kingdom. This seed does not represent us and it does not represent anything we can do. Without the Holy Spirit, any efforts we put into growing our own spiritual seeds will result in nothing more than tiny, spiritual seeds.<\/p>\r\n<p>However, with the Holy Spirit, our efforts into helping God\u2019s kingdom grow transform from the insignificant gifts we have into being the transformative gifts God will use to bless others. This only happens when we remember that <strong><em>we are building up God\u2019s kingdom, and God\u2019s kingdom is focused on giving glory to Jesus!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p>As we come to the end of another podcast episode, here are the challenges I will leave you with:<\/p>\r\n<p><strong>As I always challenge you to do, intentionally seek God first and place Him first in your life. Choose to say thank You to God for everything He has done for you by helping others, by blessing others, and by giving God the glory and credit for everything you accomplish. <em>If it was not for God, you would not be alive today!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p><strong>Also, always pray and study the Bible for yourself to learn and grow closer to God each day. While learning from other people is nice, choose to let the Holy Spirit teach you through the pages of the Bible as you study it personally. Nothing can replace personal prayer and Bible study as you build a strong spiritual foundation for your life!<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p><strong>And as I end every set of challenges by saying in one way or another, never stop short of, back away from, chicken out of, or abandon where God wants to lead you to in your life with Him!<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div>\r\n<p>\r\nYear of Parables &#8211; Episode 15: In one of His shortest parables, discover how Jesus challenges His people with a huge vision of God&#8217;s kingdom, and how God would challenge all of His people alive today to be in order to represent His love for all of creation!\r\n<\/p><p><strong>Join the discussion.<\/strong> Share your thoughts on this passage.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2806","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-audio"],"nelio_content":{"autoShareEndMode":"never","automationSources":{"useCustomSentences":false,"customSentences":[]},"efiAlt":"","efiUrl":"","followers":[2],"highlights":[],"isAutoShareEnabled":false,"networkImageIds":[],"permalinkQueryArgs":[],"series":[],"suggestedReferences":[]},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - 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