Daily Bible Study

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Day 36 Matthew 13:1 On the same day, Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. 2 And great multitudes gathered to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat, and the whole multitude stood on the shore. 3 Then He said many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 As he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. 6 But when the sun was up, they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. 7 Some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. 8 But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” 10 The disciples said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 11 He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 13 Therefore, I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: ‘Hearing you will hear and will not understand and seeing you will see and not perceive; 15 for the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes are closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their hearts and turn so that I should heal them.’ 16 But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; 17 for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. 18 Therefore hear the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 20 He who received the seed on stony places is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 22 He who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” What kind of person are you? Do you run after people with causes? People have a cause for everything on earth. You only need to decide what cause you will back and give your all to it. Even among causes, you will find people who are vested in the cause, and some who only give because it’s the right thing to do, but their heart isn’t into it. Jesus told the people there were four groups of people. People heard but didn’t react to what they heard. Some with stony hearts who heard and walked away from what they heard. Those who liked what they heard, but their interests came first. Then some heard and took to heart what was said and changed their lives because they believed what they heard. Those who call themselves Christians, have the same reactions as the people Jesus described in the parable. People like to call themselves Christians, but their lives don’t reflect a Christian lifestyle. They wear the jewelry and have bumper stickers and signs on their vehicles stating they’re Christians, but to see and hear them, you wouldn’t know they were Christians. Then there are those you see in church a couple of times a year, mostly for Christmas and Easter, and maybe a few times in between, but rarely because their life doesn’t accommodate the Christian lifestyle. They show up to be seen, but their heart is on their life and what they accomplished, not on Jesus. Then some want to live a more devoted life, but the world gets in the way, and they don’t have time to devote to Jesus. A true Christian doesn’t need jewelry or bumper stickers. You find them in church for every service. They help where needed, pray, and spend time in the Word. If someone needs their help, they are right there with a helping hand. When life tries to get in their way, they pray and seek God’s counsel. Nothing separates them from God’s love. Do you recognize yourself in the description above? Which type of Christian are you? Do you need to make changes in your life so that you reflect Jesus and not you, your wants and desires? Or is your life one of devotion and prayer, willing to help and go wherever Jesus leads you? Let’s pray: Father, let my life be fully devoted to You. Help me be dependable, willing to help where needed, to go where You lead, to pray, and study Your Word, so I can know Your will for my life. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 18 August 2023 by Valerie Routhieaux The image belongs to me.