I just do, ok? Analogies, too, but mostly metaphors. I've reached a whole new level of nerd this week with that realization. But I stand by my conviction: metaphors are awesome!
We ALL know those and many more. Classic and timeless. There are also some lesser known ones, like My husband is a food processor. He is. You can ask him yourself. The food processor is my favorite of all the kitchen appliances, for starters. The food processor can take a bunch of nuts and make from those a smooth, delicious butter. Likewise, my husband is able to take a bunch of nuts {i.e., our family} and help us blend and work well together through good communication, forming relationships as smooth as peanut butter. Most of the time. Sometimes the nuts are too raw and the butter never really comes together. But, like the blade in the food processor, he can also be sharp. And loud. ;)
Less is more.
Life is like a box of chocolates.
We ALL know those and many more. Classic and timeless. There are also some lesser known ones, like My husband is a food processor. He is. You can ask him yourself. The food processor is my favorite of all the kitchen appliances, for starters. The food processor can take a bunch of nuts and make from those a smooth, delicious butter. Likewise, my husband is able to take a bunch of nuts {i.e., our family} and help us blend and work well together through good communication, forming relationships as smooth as peanut butter. Most of the time. Sometimes the nuts are too raw and the butter never really comes together. But, like the blade in the food processor, he can also be sharp. And loud. ;)
I, on the other hand, am more of a coffee pot. So yes, I love metaphors. And guess what? Jesus did, too, so I'm in good company. :) In fact, the Bible is full of them! About 500 or so.
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. {Matthew 7:24}
Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. {Matthew 13:24} It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches. {Luke 13:19}
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. {Matthew 13:45}
Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. {Matthew 13:47}
Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. {Mark 10:15}
But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete. {Luke 6:49}
Why did Jesus teach in parables? In metaphors? Because by doing so, He was able to make lofty concepts like the "kingdom of heaven" and the "Holy Spirit" understandable to mere humans. By painting a picture with words, using things that were familiar to us, He enabled us to see into the vast and incomparable heart and mind of God. A good metaphor instantly sparks understanding in a reader, creating an ah-ha! moment, a new and fresh understanding. A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. {Proverbs 25:11}
What type of kitchen appliance best describes you? Husbands, if you're thinking about how to describe your wives, a leaky faucet is off limits. Just FYI.
No comments:
Post a Comment