In the earlier parables, Jesus left people wondering what he meant. In the latter parables, Jesus was often very direct. For example, in Matthew 21:33-46, Jesus spoke a parable directly against the leaders of the Temple in Jerusalem. They had no problem understanding the parable, but they trapped themselves by their reaction to it. We too need to be careful not to fall into the same trap.
The model described in Colossians 4:2-6 of ministry to those outside the church is very simple: pray, walk, and talk.
In Daniel 2, a problem arose because of the absence of the gods among humans, but the true God showed himself through a human.
Even though his people grumbled and quarreled, the Lord satisfied their needs at his own expense.
