Day 25 in 90 days Through the New Testament
Daily Reading John 7-9
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about why Jesus chose to teach through parables. I mean, He could have stood on a mountain and given a full blown theological lecture word for word truth straight from Heaven. But instead, He told stories. Simple ones. Ones about farmers, seeds, sheep, and lost coins. Things people could understand in their everyday lives.
And I get that now more than ever.
I’m originally from California a big city girl by birth , but I was raised in a rural community, and yep, I was even in FFA. (Blue corduroy jacket and all!) Fast forward to today, and I’m living in small town West Tennessee, where life moves slower and the stories people connect with are the ones that sound like home.
I’ve learned something here, when my writings or devotions connect to real life, people lean in. I can share a deep, well studied message about theology (and there’s a place for that), but do you know what hit the most hearts? A devotion I wrote about stink bugs.
Yep, stink bugs.
It had more reach, more engagement, and more connection than anything else I’d written that week. Not because it was fancy or profound on the surface but because the truth was tucked inside a story people could relate to. It was a parable in its own way.
Jesus didn’t tell stories just to entertain.He told them so the message could reach hearts that might not understand it otherwise. He wrapped truth in familiar words, just like seeds planted in soil that already felt like home.
And isn’t that the heart of ministry?
Meeting people right where they are in the fields, at the kitchen table, or scrolling on their phones late at night and giving them a glimpse of God’s love in a way that makes sense in their world.
So whether you’re writing devotions, leading a small group, or just talking with a friend, remember, sometimes the most powerful truth isn’t found in the deep waters of theology, but in the simple story that floats right on top.
Jesus knew that.
And now, I’m learning it too. One stink bug at a time.
Because the Gospel isn’t complicated...It’s just real.
And as we read through John 7-9, we see that same truth unfold. Jesus teaching in ways that divided the crowds, healed the blind, and revealed who He truly was to those who were ready to see. Some still missed it, but for the ones whose hearts were open, light broke through the darkness.
That’s the power of His words. Whether told through a parable, a healing, or a quiet whisper, they still plant hope in the hearts ready to receive.
Love Pastor Mandy
Ark of Hope Ministry
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