If Others Get It, Why Don’t I?

Smart people make me itch. Perhaps I should qualify that. My husband is very intelligent, but he can at least boil things down to a level I can get. Maybe that’s why I don’t read much poetry, go to art museums, or attend the opera. That feeling of “I don’t get it” saps the joy right out of perfectly enjoyable activities.

Jesus Explains “I Don’t Get It”

During one of my quiet times this week, I played a little Bible roulette and let my Bible fall open to Matthew 13, the Parable of the Sower. Trying not to sigh as I read through the familiar passage, I was stunned (why stunned- God’s Word is alive!) when several NEW truths leapt from the page! Don’t you LOVE it when that happens?

You Don’t Get It—Yet

After Jesus told the Parable of the Sower (farmer sowing seed along the path, on rocky places, among thorns, and in good soil), His disciples asked this question:

“‘Why do you speak to the people in parables?’ [Jesus] replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to [my disciples], but not to them…[the Jewish leaders] will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”     Matthew 13:10-11, 14

Did that mean the Jews would NEVER understand the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, never “get it”? Nope. But it was vital to God’s plan of salvation (and for Gentiles to be included in His plan) that the Jewish leaders in that day were deaf and blind to the Truth of Jesus as Messiah. It’s a beautiful example of our Infinite God’s sovereign wisdom to say, “Not now.”

Those Who Get It—Rejoice!

Jesus then makes sure His disciples realize the honor and privilege they are enjoying:

“But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”     Matthew 13:16-17

How often have you and I praised God for the PRIVILEGE of living in the days of knowing the Gospel truth? Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah, and we are filled with the Holy Spirit of God Almighty! You and I GET IT!!! How cool is that?

If You Don’t Get It—Snatched

I must be a little thick because I thought the seed sown along the path meant hard-hearted people, not just folks who didn’t get it! But listen to Jesus’s explanation of why the birds snatched away the seed:

“When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.” Matthew 13:19

It’s not enough to skim God’s Word and hope it makes sense. We’ve got to get it—or the enemy will snatch it away.

But I Don’t Get It Like You Do

Lots of folks have asked me how I get these lessons from Scripture. My answer is simple. It comes from the Spirit within. I know that because I’ve also experienced desert times of His silence—and it was terrifying…painful. He is the only Source of these words.

Those of you reading this post have other gifts and talents that I don’t get. How can you actually enjoy cooking? Or leading children’s worship? And, BTW, I can’t play the piano—even Chopsticks is a challenge. All those things seem like insurmountable tasks to me, and yet I’m called to cook for my family, help with children from time to time, and at least make a joyful noise during corporate worship. Just as you are called to read God’s Word even when it feels like you don’t get it sometimes.

Thankfully, there are lots of great tools out there to help you understand Scripture: devotionals, Bible studies, specialty Bibles (study, women’s, etc.). I think well-researched biblical novels are also one of those tools, and my BFF team agrees.

My BFF Team Gets It

Today is the deadline to fill out your application to join my BFF team (Biblical Fiction Fans). This team of folks helps me promote my books, gets inside info on Miriam, my 2016 release, and gathers online to offer prayer and encouragement to me and each other. Our team uses social media, personal blogs, and community outreach to share our passion for biblical novels.

Why biblical novels? Think of it as bird insurance—helping people understand God’s Word, so the enemy can’t snatch away the seeds sown in a particular Bible story.

The “I Don’t Get Computers” Brain

If learning Twitter makes you feel like a bird-brain, if Pinterest is of little interest, and if you’d rather slog through a bog than create your own blog—don’t despair! My BFFs have various gifts and talents—some of them specialize in promoting my books in their communities. Here are a few tips from my current team on how you can share your favorite biblical novels in “non-techy” ways:

• Recommend to small groups, Bible studies, or Sunday school classes as a complement to their curriculum on a specific topic (Job, Song of Solomon, Kings, Hosea, Exodus).
• Loan the book to friends and family.
• Recommend to friends in other spheres of your life—carpool, mom’s clubs, at work, etc.
• Recommend to those who love other genres of Christian fiction.
• In naturally-occurring conversations, share how the book(s) impacted you spiritually/practically.
• Suggest purchase to Christian high schools, church libraries, and local libraries.
• Ask your local bookstore (Christian, Barnes & Noble, etc.) to order my books and carry them in the future.
• Request free bookmarks from my website (https://mesuandrews.com/books/). Click on any book page, and scroll down to “Reader Resources” to order bookmarks that you can distribute to friends, family, libraries, and church groups.

If You Don’t Get It

Due to the number of free books available from my publisher, we must limit our team membership, and we’ve already received more applications than the open slots on our team. Some folks simply won’t “get it” this time. I hate that.

If you’re one of those who doesn’t get on the team for this campaign, please remember the Parable of the Sower and that little word—yet! We’ll do another membership campaign for my next book!

Regardless of your BFF status or even how much of God’s Word you understand when you read it, if you know Jesus as Lord and Savior, there is ample reason to rejoice. You know the Truth of the Messiah, and have the Holy Spirit dwelling within you, which secures your position as a child of the King. Walk in joy and privilege today because—you got it!

“In the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘children of the living God.’”             Romans 9:26

Tweet-A-Licious!

• 13:10-11,14 – a beautiful example of our God’s sovereign wisdom to say, “Not now.”
• Have you praised God for privilege of knowing the Truth of Jesus as Messiah and the indwelling H.S.?
• It’s not enough to skim God’s Word. We’ve got to get it—or the enemy will snatch it away.

Today’s Question:

• Are there things that we, today, simply aren’t meant to “get” (like the Jews of Jesus’s days)?