“Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out.  But others fell on the good soil and yielded a crop, some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times as much.  The one who has ears, let him hear” (Matthew 13:7-9).

The good soil is the Lord, His word, knowing and understanding that every circumstance will grow us in faith.  Do not focus upon how much is produced – that belongs to the Lord.  Focus upon remaining rooted in the Lord.  The cares of the world can choke you and take your eyes off the prize.  The parable is simple to understand, and you know what the Lord is saying, so heed the word of the Lord.

Lord, I do know what you are saying.  Your word is to be taken as the source of life.  If I am distracted, carried away by the world or worry about circumstances, I will wither and die.   If I am in You, I will grow and bear fruit.  Help me so that I heed these words of Yours and grow deeper in the truth You have revealed.  You have given me the words of eternal life.  Help me to live into that life.

Lord Jesus, apart from You I can do nothing.  Help me to live these words.  You will cause me to bear whatever fruit You will give me to bear.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to have a singular focus as I willingly walk the path You have set before me.  Take my eyes off myself and what I am doing so that I may focus upon You and listen for what You would have me do.  Guide me always my Savior.  Amen.

“Others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and they sprang up immediately, because they had no depth of soil.  But after the sun rose, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away” (Matthew 13:5-6).

Many will hear the word of the Lord, comprehend that here is truth, but not let the word sink in.  The word of the Lord must take root.  You are to become like Christ.  Jesus is not after fair-weather friends, but He has come to make of you a child of the Heavenly Father.  Life is not about how you feel, but about living life with the intention of becoming what the Lord is making of you.

Lord, when times are tough, I often fold up and wither.  I need the deep roots in You to sustain my life so that in times of drought I may not wither away.  You know this, but I need help to do my part so that I may be sustained in and by You through all that life will bring my way.  Lead me to have depth in this faith that You have given me so that my weariness may be refreshed with the truth of Your word.

Lord Jesus, Word made flesh, You have come that we may have true and abundant life.  Take me away from a Sunday religion that only makes me feel good, but does not prepare me for the times of heat which come in my life.  Lead me to grow deep roots in You through daily prayer, reading of Scripture, and meditating upon and inwardly digesting the words You have given me.  Guide me, Lord, so that I may abide in You now and forever.  Amen.

“And He told them many things in parables, saying, “Behold, the sower went out to sow; and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up” (Matthew 13:3-4).

The seeds that the Lord gives us are all around us.  Many fall by the wayside.  Enamored with the earth’s beauty, we go about our business as if nothing mattered.  We live life in this physical world without much thought about the life to which we have been called by faith.  Do not let the things of this world overwhelm you such that you forget the One who created all things and who has called you to be with Him.

Lord, I do become distracted with the life I live in this world.  I am often overwhelmed both by what I am enjoying as well as what is distracting me.  You have created all things, and we may enjoy them, but You call for us –  for me – to worship You, the Creator, and not created things.  I am distracted by the good things of life and forget You, the One through whom all life has its being.

Lord Jesus, with simple and timeless words, You have given us words to live by.  Help me to be mindful lest Your word of life be taken from me.  Guide me to have Your word upon my heart and on my lips so that I may become more like You each day.  Lead me, O Lord, to walk the way You would have me walk, doing what You give me to do.  Guide me in Your goodness and grace.  Amen.

“On that day Jesus had gone out of the house and was sitting by the sea.  And large crowds gathered to Him, so He got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd was standing on the beach” (Matthew 13:1-2).

Jesus is practical.  All things were created through Him, so of course He knows physics and how things work.  He’s in the boat and they are on the shore.  It’s a natural amphitheater.  Our Lord will use current situations and circumstances for His word to go forth.  Be a part of what the Lord is doing and know that You also may be called upon to be His voice speaking the words of truth.

Lord, You always seem so natural when You do things.  You just sit in a boat and start talking to thousands.  You and the Father are One and in that mystery, I think of myself as one in the crowd and would never be one to speak.  But You have given me the words of eternal life.  How can I stand by and watch as the multitudes go hungry for the lack of the eternal sustenance that You give?

Lord Jesus, You have called for me to follow You.  No matter where I am, or what I am doing, give me Your word to speak.  Holy Spirit, bring to remembrance everything I need to know so that I may speak Your words when needed.  In all things, Lord, grant that I would be faithful to use every situation and act in all circumstances to be faithful to the call of grace You have given me.  Lead me to be a child of the Heavenly Father.  Amen. 

“But to the one who had told him this, Jesus replied, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother” (Matthew 12:48-50).

For those who focus upon earthly circumstances, see what Jesus is saying. The ones who do the Father’s will are the children of God. It is not what we are now, but what we are becoming, that matters. Do not be led by the false words of this world, but by the Author of life, Whose word is truth. You were born in the circumstances into which you were born. Christ offers to make of you a child of the Heavenly Father.

Holy Spirit, help me to see the simplicity of the reality of Your kingdom. My earthly circumstances are temporary, but being a part of the heavenly family is eternal. By grace, I have been called into the fellowship of the saints. Lead me to see that where I belong is important. Take away any hindrance which would keep me from seeing the simple reality of what Jesus says.

Lord Jesus, You are inviting me to be in Your family. It is not a privilege which I can claim, but one that You give by grace. Though I be the least in Your family, You have included me. Guide me in Your grace and mercy to honor the family of my rebirth. Guide me to be gracious with others as You are gracious to me. Help me to understand more fully this day the privilege that You have given me. Amen.

“While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers were standing outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, “Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you” (Matthew 12:46-47).

Some look at this verse and say to those who believe that Mary was a perpetual virgin and say, “See, this cannot be.” Do not go there. It is what it is. Whether cousins – which were considered brothers – or whatever, what is important is that Jesus grew up in a family just as you and I have grown up in a family. He lived a fully human life. Through His death, we have received grace upon grace.

Lord, after I see you face to face, I will know fully. Help me to respect my brothers and sisters who believe differently than me about Your earthly mother. It is what it is and either way changes nothing about what You have done. Guide me to look to You alone and be a part of Your family. Lead me in the way of grace and mercy so that I may humbly walk in the way You have established.

Lord Jesus, I do have my opinions about many kinds of things. Guide me away from looking at simple things that might distract me from the truth. Help me to be guided by Your grace and mercy. Amidst the distractions of this life, keep me from being carried away by all the speculations and remain true to the Gospel which You have revealed. Lead me always in the way of revealed truth, for You are Truth. Amen.

“When it comes, it finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and live there; and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So will it be also with this evil generation” (Matthew 12:44b-45).

Thinking we know what we’re doing, without the Lord, the more we think we improve, the worse it will be. The wicked one excels in corruption. The Lord alone gives life. The offer of grace is to see the house cleaned by the Lord so that He may dwell with us. He will not fill us with nothingness, as the world does, but fulfil us with life, meaning, and joy.

Lord, I see two kinds of wickedness. There is that which most agree is heinous, and the worse which are the smug self-righteous people who look down upon others with a hateful attitude of superiority. Let me be neither. Sweep my house clean and go into the dark corners to rid all the rebellion in my heart. Keep me full of the truth of Your presence and purpose.

Thank You, Holy Spirit, for dwelling in me. Lead me according to Your goodness and grace so that I may humbly walk under Your guidance. Let not the wicked one have his way with me but keep the house of my soul clean. Create in me a clean heart, renewing my spirit so that I may go about the Father’s business with joy. Teach me how to love others as You love me. Amen.

“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it wanders through waterless regions looking for a resting place, but it finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came’” (Matthew 12:43-44a).

We are plagued by the wicked spirits of this age. Those banished from heaven torment with their temptations. Sadly, we listen. If we seek to clean our house on our own, they will find a place prepared for even more to live. If the LORD cleans our house, it will be cleansed, and He will come and dwell with us. On your own, or by the power of the LORD; one works, the other does not.

Lord, why do I wrestle for control? You are the Lord of all. I can do nothing without You and yet, I go through life as if I could do things on my own. Help me to see that if I try to do things without You, there will be a mess because of what I do not know. Help me to do all things by Your direction and in Your power so that what is done is within the plans of the Father. Yes, clean my house and then come dwell with me.

Lord Jesus, apart from You I can do nothing. I may be busy and believe I am doing something, but without You, I will make a mess of it. Guide me in the way of everlasting life so that I may live with Your guidance all the days of my life. I must decrease and You must increase. Lead me to increase my faith in You that I may live in the way You have established. Amen.

“The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here!” (Matthew 12:42)

How is it not better when what you are looking for is right before you and you are ignoring it as opposed to searching far and wide until you find it? It seems some want everything handed to them, but the Lord has chosen to have you seek these things. What is behind this is the simple truth of sin. You want it your way, but it must be in the way the Lord has determined.

Lord, will others judge us from their various perspectives? I judge others from my perspective.  Take me beyond my own perspective to see things through Your eyes. Without Your grace, it is hopeless, but by Your grace, I can journey in the way of salvation that You have established. The world plays games, but You invite us to come into true life. Lead me out of death and into life.

Lord Jesus, I do play so many games with myself and others. Help me to be guided by You and Your grace so that I see only hope and a future in You. You have come that we may have life and have it more abundantly. Lead me in the way of true life, being less concerned with what others think and more concerned with doing what is pleasing to the Father. Help me to walk humbly with You always. Amen.

“The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here!” (Matthew 12:41)

Justice moves beyond what you or I think. It moves through reality of circumstances and place. The people of Nineveh were evil but repented. People today do not believe they are evil. Looking truthfully at oneself is not easy. You are where you are. Where you have done evil, repent and walk in the grace given to you. The Lord has come, and He bids us to walk with Him now and forever.

Lord, it is not about the amount of evil done. It is not about my place in time or even the situation. It is about acknowledging my need for You. Death has swallowed me up so that I struggle to not die rather that walk with You and simply live. Lord, teach me to confess so that I do not fear judgement. Teach me to live looking to You, knowing that all things are in Your hands.

Lord Jesus, judgement is in Your hands. Where I fear judgement, bring me to repentance. Guide me so that I come to you for the directions I need each day. Correct me as I walk the life of faith. In all things, help me to see that I am being transformed to Your image as You prepare me for that day when I stand before You face to face. Let me see that there is plenty to condemn, but only You who gives life through faith and forgiveness by grace. Amen.