2021-11-23
Matthew 13:28 NLT
‘Here is another story Jesus told: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away. When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew. The farmer’s workers went to him and said, “Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds!”…”An enemy has done this!” the farmer exclaimed. “Should we pull out the weeds?” they asked. “No,” he replied, “you’ll uproot the wheat if you do. Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds”‘ (vv. 24-30 NLT).
There are two important lessons for us here. 1) We must get to know God’s Word so well that any mistakes (accidental or deliberate), however convincing they are, can’t mislead us. Paul warned the leaders of the church at Ephesus: ‘Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard!’ (Acts 20:30-31 NIV).
2) We must stay spiritually awake and alert. The seeds that were sown that night didn’t produce a harvest of weeds until later, and by that time they couldn’t be uprooted. We might think that one little slip-up doesn’t make much difference. One degree off course seems harmless – but if we stay on that trajectory long enough, we’ll end up far from where God wants us to be. So we need to deal with every mistake and failing, no matter how tiny. The Bible gives us this advice: ‘They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching…to fellowship…the breaking of bread and…prayer’ (Acts 2:42 NIV). Let’s choose to do that too.
2 Chr 29-31; John 12:37-50; Ps 102:18-28; Prov 27:13-16
Matthew 13:28 NLT
“Here is another story Jesus told: ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away. When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew. The farmer’s workers went to him and said, ‘Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds!’…’An enemy has done this!’ the farmer exclaimed. ‘Should we pull out the weeds?’ they asked. ‘No,’ he replied, ‘you’ll uproot the wheat if you do. Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds'” (vv. 24-30 NLT). There are two important lessons here.
(1) You must know God’s Word so well that error, regardless of how convincingly it’s presented, can’t mislead you. Paul warned the leaders of the church at Ephesus: “Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard!” (Acts 20:30-31 NIV).
(2) You must stay spiritually awake and alert. Notice, the seeds that were sown that night didn’t produce a harvest of weeds until later. And at that point they could not be uprooted. Perhaps you think this is no big deal. Think again! One degree off course may seem harmless enough. But if you stay on that trajectory long enough, spiritually speaking, you will end up far from where God wants you to be and realize “an enemy has done this!” So what is the answer? “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching…to fellowship…the breaking of bread and…prayer” (Acts 2:42 NIV).
Soul food: 2 Chr 29-31; John 12:37-50; Ps 102:18-28; Prov 27:13-16
2021-11-05
Matthew 26:40 CEV
In Gethsemane, Jesus “came back and found his disciples sleeping. So he said to Peter, ‘Can’t any of you stay awake with me for just one hour? Stay awake and pray that you won’t be tested. You want to do what is right, but you are weak'” (vv. 40-41 CEV). Jesus was just hours from the cross, and He asked His disciples to pray for Him. Imagine His disappointment when He found them sleeping! Perhaps they didn’t get enough rest the night before. Maybe they were worn out from a hard day’s work.
We have all been victims of drowsiness, so we shouldn’t be surprised that they fell asleep, but we are! We’re shocked because it was such an important night. This night, more than any other, required the discipline of prayer. But the disciples missed a great opportunity to encourage and strengthen Jesus in His hour of need. They missed an opportunity to strengthen themselves as well.
Satan knows if he can keep you from prayer, you will be powerless. He is the master of distraction. Think how often he has robbed you of your quiet time with God by using things like TV, the telephone, the internet, a messy house, your to-do list, your wandering mind, your heavy eyelids. Your quiet time with God isn’t something you try to “fit into” your schedule; it must be something you prioritize, or it won’t happen. The King James Version says, “Pray, that ye enter not into temptation” (v. 41). You don’t know what each day holds, but through prayer and spending time in God’s Word, you can prepare your heart for whatever life throws at you.
Soul food: 1 Chr 7:20-9:44; John 8:31-41; Ps 30; Prov 25:13-17
2021-11-02
John 14:26 NKJV
First, listen to the Holy Spirit within you. He will constantly remind you of God’s plan and show you how to carry it out. He will “teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you” (v. 26 NKJV). What has God’s Word instructed you to do? Have you done it yet? Obedience is the doorway to blessing.
Second, spend time with God in prayer daily: “In the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion” (Psalm 27:5 KJV). A “pavilion” was a secret chamber in a king’s palace, and it was so well fortified that even if an enemy found it, they couldn’t penetrate it. All hell could have been breaking loose and it didn’t make a difference; in the secret place there was peace. Are you letting things that don’t really matter overwhelm you? Are you upset over things that should be dismissed as trivialities? Get alone with God and let Him restore your perspective.
Third, never be too proud to seek advice and assistance. The Bible says those of us who are strong ought to bear the burdens of the weak (See Romans 15:1). There are times when we need to lift others, and times when we need to be lifted. Jesus healed a woman who had been bowed down by sickness for eighteen years and “could in no way raise herself” (Luke 13:11 NKJV). Sometimes you need help because you can’t help yourself. David understood this, and he turned to the men of Issachar because they “had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do” (1 Chronicles 12:32 NKJV). God has provided help – reach for it!
Soul food: 1 Chr 1-2; John 7:45-53; Ps 9; Prov 24:30-34
2021-11-01
Philippians 4:7 CEV
Someone once said, ‘I know God won’t give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish He didn’t trust me so much!’ Is that how you’re feeling today? When it feels like there’s too much to do or the things we’re facing are too big to handle, let’s try to focus on these words of peace and let our minds rest in them: ‘May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit’ (Romans 15:13 NIV).
We won’t find true and lasting peace from anything external. The peace that stays with us through troubles and challenges only comes when we let God fill us with His Holy Spirit. He can satisfy our spiritual hunger and give us a sense of calm and serenity even when we’re sounded by stresses and strains.
If you feel overwhelmed at the moment, and in need of God’s peace, here’s a prayer of encouragement: ‘Father, You said there’s no weapon that’ll succeed when used against me (see Isaiah 54:17). I can’t stop the enemy’s weapons being use, but I know You’ll stop them winning against me. You said that if I ask for anything in line with Your will, You’ll grant my request (see 1 John 5:14-15). You said that when I walk in obedience, I’ll be blessed when I come in, when I go out, when I lie down, and when I get up (see Deuteronomy 28:6; Psalms 1:2; 3:5). You told me to give all my worries and troubles to You and You’ll take care of me (see 1 Peter 5:7). So here they are. Today I’m trusting in Your promises. You said it, so I believe it’s true. Amen.’
1 Chr 17:1-20; Heb 11:4-12:3; Ps 18:20-29; Prov 4:18
