He was speaking the word to them with many parables like these, as they were able to understand. He did not speak to them without a parable. Privately, however, he explained everything to his own disciples.  Mark 4:33-34 CSB

I have often heard people (who did not work in law enforcement) tell me that the neat thing about working in law enforcement or as a first responder must be having the inside scoop on what’s going on. You get the news before it hits the press. That would be great if it were good news, but sadly the scenes that first responders go to that make the headlines are often tragic.

The reason that the news media and social media draws so many in like a moth to a flame is that we, as humans, are nosy. We want to know what’s happening as soon as it’s happening and we always want the inside scoop. We want to hear first hand from someone who was there. The problem is that often times what we get is rumor running wild and we don’t get the truth.

I don’t watch the news, but I always have the inside scoop. You see, I rely on the Bible for the inside scoop. The Bible not only gives us history, but it relates to what is going on today and it tells us what to expect in the future.

We are told in Philippians 3:20 that our citizenship is in heaven. Why would we worry and get all worked up about what is going on here?  2 Timothy 2:4 tells us that no one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer.

We are called to be followers of Christ. So, if you really want to get the inside scoop, read your Bible, pray. Communicate with God through his Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus used many parables when he spoke to these vast crowds. In Mark 4:10 His disciples asked him about His using parables. He responded by telling them that the secret to the kingdom of God had been given to them, but to those on the outside, everything comes in parables so that they may look and not perceive and hear and not understand otherwise they may turn back and be forgiven. As followers of Christ, we are insiders.

I’ve come to realize that to those on the outside, our Christian lives don’t make sense. You may have witnessed to someone and their response was a blank stare. They don’t get it. They don’t understand why you are calm in the midst of a storm. They don’t understand why you choose not to do the things they do and that you used to. They don’t understand why you don’t talk like everyone else around them or like you used to talk before you were saved.

My friend, this world is a very temporary place. We are told that to be friends with the world is to be an enemy to God (James 4:4). We are just passing through. We are to leave a legacy of love. We are to imitate Christ, but we are not to get entangled in the affairs of this world. We are not to panic and be fearful when we hear bad news. We must realize that God’s got this and He holds our future in His hands. We must have faith and we must know that nothing is impossible for God. We must remember that if we love Him and are doing the work He has called us to do, that He will work all things out for our good (Romans 8:28).

If you want the inside scoop, stick close to your Lord and Savior. He not only knows the truth about everything that goes on in this world, He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). Who better to guide you through this tumultuous thing called life?

Have a great weekend!