“Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and at the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the weeds and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn” (Matthew 13:30).

The harvest is ready, and the fields are ripe.  One part of this is not to just wait for the day of judgement, but to spend time in the field looking for those who have received the grain of seed of the word of the Lord and gather them together.  We are meant for fellowship with the Lord and each other.  We are meant to be workers in the field.  We are meant to be a seed of the Lord that grows to maturity.  Are you doing these things?

Lord, I know that I have weed-like behavior.  But I also know that Your grace is upon me.  Lead me out of the weeds so that I may grow as You intend me to grow.  Guide me in the upward way to live the life to which I have been called.  When the time of reaping comes, guide me in Your goodness and mercy so that I may dwell in the house of the Father.  Come and take me to be with You.

Lord Jesus, without You, there is no hope.  With You, I have faith and hope as You teach me how to love.  You know what I need and what stands in the way.  Guide me always so that I may walk the narrow path that You set before me.  Set my feet to walk with You and my heart to look to do what pleases the Father.  Through all things, lift me up daily to become more and more like You in thought, word, and deed.  Amen.

“And he said to them, ‘An enemy has done this!’ The slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?’  But he said, ‘No; while you are gathering up the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them” (Matthew 13:28-29).

We must, for this age, allow the weeds to grow amongst the good seed.  We do not know who is which.  Some that we think good seed are bad and some we think bad seed are good.  That is the Lord’s business.  But we do not need to tolerate weed behavior.  That we can and must confront, if necessary.  If the weed- behavior person leaves for affronted pride, they leave.  In all things, look to the Lord as the One who must lead in all things.

Lord, I do judge others.  I see their behavior and condemn it.  Help me to not live condemning others, but to use every opportunity for growth in the seed which You have planted in others and in me.  You will gather all at the end and You are the One who must judge us all.  Lead me now and always to take my instructions from You so that I may grow in the likeness of Christ and do what is pleasing in Your sight.

Holy Spirit, I sometimes think beyond what a situation reveals.  Guide me to look to You for all instructions.  Where You would have me be silent, guard my tongue.  Where You would have me speak, grant me boldness to move beyond my fear to speak what needs to be spoken.  Through all things, help me to be faithful to the call You have given me through faith by an abundance of Your grace.  Amen.

“And when the wheat sprouted and produced grain, then the weeds also became evident.  And the slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ (Matthew 13:26-27)

A faithful person causes the unfaithful person to be seen for what they are.  Those looking will ask, “How did this good person arise amongst all of those who are not good?”  The mystery of faith shows forth in this way.  The good arise amongst the bad.  It is the way of this age.  You have been told plainly and although you may marvel at it, do not be surprised.  The Lord does what He does.

Lord, I am often puzzled by the wickedness of the wicked.  I see one who rises in faith alongside another that does not grow at all.  It is only by Your calling to faith that those who hear Your voice, and believe, live in salvation.  You ask that we grow as You have planted us.  Help me to not get caught up in the anxieties of this age, but to grow where You have planted me.  Lead me to live in the righteousness You give.

Lord Jesus, You have spoken plainly for any who hear Your voice.  There are tares amongst the wheat.  In this age, it serves Your purpose.  Lead me to not become held up by the mystery of this but live into the life for which You have called me by grace.  Guide my moving and being today so that I would reflect the shining light of Your presence through all that I do.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy always.  Amen.

“Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.  But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and left” (Matthew 13:24).

The enemy is always seeking to thwart the work of the Lord.  Yes, one day the wicked one will be banished, but until that day, there are weeds among what the Lord has planted.  You do not need to tolerate weed behavior.  Sadly, many do.  If one in your fellowship does not contribute, love them, enjoy their fellowship, but don’t support them becoming a leader.  They are willfully unrepentant.

Lord, it is hard when you know someone is bragging about sinning, and whose offering to the fellowship is opinion and advice.  Help me to stand strong as one of Yours and, when it is my place to stand in the way, help me to stand up faithfully and peacefully against willful and sinful behavior.  I know the weeds are around me and sometimes I am the weed; but help me to see through my (first) and others (second) sinfulness to seek to do what is right.

Lord Jesus, lead me in humility so that I do not judge another, but help me to be willing to judge actions righteously.  Guide me to understand that the weeds are all around, but that You have purpose in everything.  Help me tolerate every tolerable situation, but to understand the way things are supposed to be.  Then, Holy Spirit, guide me to do what You would have me do.  Guide me in living life as one of Your redeemed.  Amen.

“But the one sown with seed on the good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces, some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times as much” (Matthew 13:23).

Seek to understand the ways of the Lord.  Do not be guided by  worldly advice which is like shifting sand, but be guided by the word of the Lord, which is forever.  Do not be concerned with  how much, fruit you bear, just grow and bear fruit that benefits the kingdom of heaven.  You have been given the words of eternal life.  Walk in the way of Jesus and live out the Good News which you have received.

Lord, You alone know the plans You have for me.  Lead me away from thinking about myself to focus upon You, and then others.  You will grow in me that which You will grow in me.  In You alone do we have hope.  Lead me to understand that all things are in Your hands.  Guide me to know that in You alone do I have hope and a future.  Abide in me that, with Your help, I may bear fruit befitting Your heavenly kingdom.

Lord Jesus, You have come in order that there may be abundant life in and through me.  Guide me in the goodness of Your grace and mercy this day.  Nourish me with the heavenly food You give so that I may bear fruit where You send me according to the Father’s will.  In and through all things, guide me in the goodness of Your grace and mercy to humbly walk in Your presence as I am guided by You step by step.  Amen.

“And the one sown with seed among the thorns, this is the one who hears the word, and the anxiety of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful” (Matthew 13:22).

This world is constantly pulling at us to engage in its insanity.  Yes, we are in the world, but do not fall into its deceits.  Anything that pulls you away from the Lord cannot be good.  Yes, help those in need, but do not let your help control you.  You have been called by the Lord God to walk with Him in all His ways — all of them.  Walk with the Lord and know that He will guide you in all your ways.

Lord, the weeds and forceful movements of this age seek to choke out the reality You have revealed in the Good News I have received.  You allow the weeds to surround me, but do not let them choke You out of my life.  Help me to grow deep roots so that regardless of the times or events, I may be led by You alone, the One who is the author and finisher of my faith.  Lead me into all truth.

Lord Jesus, You have come to save us.  I need saving.  Daily, there are those things which keep me off track and would lead me away from doing what You give me to do.  Guide me  now and always so that I may humbly walk in Your presence and do what is pleasing in the Father’s sight.  Through all that comes my way today, help me to understand that in You alone am I to live, grow and have my being.  Amen.

“The one sown with seed on the rocky places, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution occurs because of the word, immediately he falls away” (Matthew 13:20-21).

It is easy to be tossed about by the winds of this age.  A glorious experience feeling the Lord’s presence can be swept away by the next thing that comes along.  Being a follower of Christ includes everything you are.  It is not easy.  To ride on emotions is to guarantee being tossed about.  The word of the Lord will plant you firmly where you may grow despite your circumstances.

Lord, teach me to see the weather of this world, its flowing winds, gales, and the rocky places that will distract me.  You have given me the words of eternal life.  Without You and without being rooted in You, I will be blown away by the prevailing winds of the times.  Let me not be carried away by this world or its wickedness but grow where You have planted me.

Lord Jesus, You are giving sound advice and telling me to grow where I am planted.  Help me to be permanently rooted in You so that I may grow as You give the  growth.  Help me to stand firm against the winds of this age.  Help me to keep my eyes upon You so that I may be transformed to Your image and grow into Your likeness.  Through all things, help me to see that You are the One who is leading me.  Amen.

“Listen then to the parable of the sower.  When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one sown with seed beside the road” (Matthew 13:18-19).

If your heart is closed down you will believe the lie and reject the truth.  This is the way of this wicked generation.  If the Lord opens your ears do not again harden your heart.  At first, it will be difficult, for the truth can be hard that will truly set you free from the bondage of this age of death.  The Lord has sown His word in you and calls you to have a new heart that seeks righteousness.  Do not resist the Holy Spirit.

Holy Spirit, You know the state of my heart.  You know where there is residual rebellion that shuts down my heart when the truth is spoken.  Guide me out of that so I willingly learn how to listen to the truth when it is spoken.  Let not the wicked one snatch anything You give away from me.  You have prepared the soil under my feet.  Grow in me the likeness of Christ my Savior that I may be on the journey to eternal life.

Lord Jesus, You have come in order that we who have no desire for Your word would receive it.  Help me to hear and heed the words of truth which You have spoken.  Guide me in all goodness and mercy to live the life You have set before me.  Help me now and always to abide in You as You abide in me.  Lead me in the way You know I need to go and let nothing You have given me be snatched away.  Amen.

“But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.  For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it” (Matthew 13:16-17).

Blessed are those who do not see and yet believe.  This wicked generation is always looking for a sign.  Even if they are given one in the flesh, they want another one.  You have seen and heard.  Stop being disbelieving but believe that God’s salvation has been revealed to you.  Be guided by the words of eternal life and no longer reject what the Lord has given you.  Everything points to Jesus and He has introduced Himself to you.

Holy Spirit, too often my mind races in many different directions.  I will hear something I want to hear and no matter how false it is, I will believe it.  I will hear the truth and if I do not want to believe it, I won’t.  Strip me of the confusion and clear my soul so that I recognize truth and reject the lie.  Open my ears and eyes to live with the understanding that things truly are the way they are regardless of how I feel about the way things are.

Lord, help me to hear the truth You speak.  Open my ears to hear Your commands and then help me, Holy Spirit, to obey them.  In all I do, may I be guided by You, LORD, the One who knows the beginning from the end.  Let me not be hard-hearted, but pliable in Your hands.  Lead me on the narrow way of everlasting life.  Guide me always in Your goodness and mercy that Your will be done in me.  Amen.

“And in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, ‘You shall keep on listening, but shall not understand; And you shall keep on looking, but shall not perceive; For the heart of this people has become dull, With their ears they scarcely hear, And they have closed their eyes, Otherwise they might see with their eyes, Hear with their ears, Understand with their heart, and return, And I would heal them’” (Matthew 13:14-15).

Sometimes people are so into themselves that they can scarcely hear another talk.  The word of the Lord goes past their ears.  They will laugh and ridicule at what they do not know.  You and I have been there, and not listened to the word of the Lord.  The Lord will heal all who turn to Him.  Many will not.  The rebellion of this age is simple to understand.  You will either go your way, or you will go the Lord’s way.

Lord, clear my ears to hear and my eyes to see.  Let me take in the words of eternal life.  Bend my attention fully toward you and make of me what You will.  Let me not fall into old habit of just going through life but teach me how to live this life so that I may follow You into life eternal.  Through all that I experience and do, let me see Your saving and blessing hand at work on me.

Lord Jesus, heal me of all the infirmities that plague my soul.  Bring me understanding in order that I may always return to You and receive healing.  Guide me into the way of everlasting life and make me whole in You.  Lord, make my heart alive in You and take away all the dullness that is in me.  Let me know that I am found by You and I no longer need to go looking, but only ask, seek and knock.  Keep me close to You dear Savior.  Amen.