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“Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household who brings out of his treasure things new and old.” Matthew 13:52 NASB

      This verse comes at the end of Matthew chapter 13 after Jesus finishes giving seven different parables about the kingdom of heaven. He relates the kingdom of heaven to seven different real-life examples to help us understand it more easily. Seven different, yet un-contradicting ways of describing His kingdom. After all seven, Jesus asks in verse 51 “Have you understood all these things?” and the reply is “Yes,” leading directly into verse 52.  

        My mom’s side of the family is Jewish, and my dad was raised Baptist. I went to a Presbyterian early elementary school, a Church of Christ school for 3rd through 12th grade, a Methodist church on Sundays, a Presbyterian church in college, and have now been on a year long adventure with some crazy Charismatic’s. At times, it gets confusing. Every single one of these groups believes differently on some issue or another, yet I refer to all of them with LOVE as I am close to people within every single one of these religions and denominations who love the Lord with all their heart. This isn’t a blog about the differences within these churches and it’s definitely not about who’s right or wrong; it’s about how I, Blair Brendle, fit into this equation.

 
       You see, what the Lord has reveled to me through this scripture is that I am the “head of a household” Jesus is referring to. And it is my joy, honor, and responsibility to bring out of my treasure things new and old. I have been taught by some amazing men and women of faith all my life who have left lasting impressions while playing a role in helping build my foundation.  My foundation is solid; I say with confidence, not pride, that my house is built upon the rock of Jesus Christ.  This doesn’t mean temptation no longer exists or that I never fall captive to sin, but it means I know who my Savior is and the power and grace that abounds within him while at the same time knowing who I am in Him. My foundation is built on the age-old truths of the Word of God that are the same yesterday, today and forevermore and are apart of the “old treasure” I am called to bring out. 


       The World Race has been a year of learning more about the role and power of the Holy Spirit who lives within me. A year of learning what true Acts chapter two community is suppose to look like amongst believers. A year of learning how to tune in and hear the voice of the Lord more clearly. A year of redefining my Christianity to look more and more like a relationship than a religion. A year of breaking free from any and everything that holds me back from being who the Lord has called me to be. A year of recognizing and daily fighting the spiritual warfare that exists all around me. These are a few of the “new treasures” I am called to bring out.

 
 
            As we are less than two months away from being home, it is a bittersweet feeling all around.  However, I know the Lord spoke to me through Matthew 13:52 as an encouragement as well as a responsibility I have in going home. The Lord has blessed me with both a head and a heart knowledge of who He is and as I have “been instructed about the kingdom of heaven” I have been called to be like the “head of a household who brings out of my treasure things new and old.”  If you haven’t figured this out already, I’m not coming home the same person that left. I promise this is a good thing! But here is fair warning… get ready Montgomery, I’m only 7 weeks away.