Matthew 13 Devotional Thoughts by Stephen Taylor

Matthew 13:3-8

Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. ⁴ As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. ⁵ Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. ⁶ But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. ⁷ Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. ⁸ Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 

 

In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus talks about a farmer who is out sowing seed, which represents the Word of God. Last night, I was lying in bed and God brought it to my attention that at one point or another in my life, I have been each one of those types of soils and have let numerous outside circumstances dictate my relationship and growth in God.

 

The thing that stuck out to me, though, is that the farmer isn’t out there gently placing the seed on the ground; he is out there slinging it! LOL! He doesn’t care that most of it is falling in bad soil. It’s not his job to make sure it hits the target. It’s his job to make sure it gets out there! I’m so thankful for the men and women in my life who didn’t look at “my soil” before planting! Instead, they were obedient and trusted in God to do what God does best, reconcile us and allow us to grow in Him! Trust me, some of these people have been hitting me with seed for 20+ years before it actually found good soil, but they never gave up and neither can we!

 

Let’s be like these people who didn’t see a drug addicted, prideful narcissist but instead saw a child of God longing to be accepted!! They didn’t judge the exterior but loved the interior, and I pray we can all follow their lead!!! Thank you, true examples of Jesus!!!

 

I love you all! God bless, and Glory to God always!!!!!!

 

 

Matthew 13:16

“But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.”

 

Those are Jesus’ words to His disciples, and as I was reading them this morning, the Holy Spirit reminded me that He is saying this to the same disciples that miss the mark all the time! The same disciples that ask Him time and time again to explain the parables or react/act the exact opposite way Christ calls them to!

 

So, what do I think He is talking about here? The eyes and ears of their hearts! It’s not about head knowledge but about their hearts! Their hearts were open, they were willing, and they were clueless on how to get there themselves but knew that Jesus would show them the way! Do we still believe this today? Let me tell you, it’s all about the heart! Always has been, always will be! So, who does your heart belong to? The world or the One who created the world? Does it belong to self or the Savior? Are you directing your steps, or is He? Who is planning your future, the One who knows it or yourself?

 

The disciples weren’t brilliant scholars or profound distinguished men of their day but were regular guys who recognized and accepted Truth when they saw and heard Him! They weren’t special, but they were willing, and they didn’t cling to the right to what they had but surrendered it all to follow Christ! Can we say the same? There are only two choices: accept Him or reject Him. Please be a part of the first category and surrender to Him today!

 

2 Corinthians 13:5 - Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you - - unless, of course, you fail the test?

 

God bless! I love you all, but He loves you more! Glory, Honor, and Praise forever to Creator God, Jesus Christ the ONLY Messiah, and The Eternal Spirit of God the Holy Spirit! 

 

 

Matthew 13:45-46

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”  

 

I fell in love with this parable after I heard it taught that Jesus is the merchant, and we are the pearls!! We were of such great value to Him that He gave up everything to buy us! It doesn’t say He thought about it or tried to haggle the price but sold everything He had and bought it! Nothing was off limits or worth as much as our souls to Him! Thank You, Jesus!!

 

As I was praying yesterday, God brought to my attention that true power isn’t what you do to someone; it’s what you do for someone. Jesus is the perfect example; the world was His to begin with because He created it. But instead of doing things to us for our sins, He decided to do something for us to cover our sins!!

 

Meekness is a trait of Jesus that I love because, to me, being meek is having power but keeping it under control!!! Our Savior was meek, not weak, and I should strive to be the same!!!!

 

You are a fine pearl, and Jesus gave all for your salvation, not because He had to but because He wanted to and said you were worth it!!!!

 

I love you all, God bless. and Glory to God, His Son, and The Holy Spirit!!!

 

 

Matthew 13:52

He said to them, "Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old."

What's in your storeroom? We must be filling our hearts, minds, and lives with His truth because we can't pull treasures out if we don't first put them in! Christ is the center of our faith. We are saved by grace through faith in Him. It is as profound as it is powerful and the pinnacle of our faith.

That being said, I love that the epicenter of our faith is saying that the Old Testament still matters. In fact, He calls it a treasure, saying both are valuable and have worth. It would be easy for us to only read the New Testament since that is the covenant we live under, but Christ knows just how important the entire Word of God is. He knows the power that is found in the entire counsel of God's Word. How often the Old Testament points to Christ, and then He points back to it.

It's encouraging to me that when I read the Old Testament, I see prophecy and pictures of the Messiah to come. It was always the plan to redeem us, and He wants us to know that! Our God had a plan before we ever had a problem! So don't sell yourself short or rob yourself but instead, read the entire Word of God and store up His many treasures inside of you!

2 Timothy 3:16,17- All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Genesis 3:14,15- So the LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, "Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly, and you will eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."

God bless! I love you all, but pictures of His love are sprinkled throughout the pages of the Bible! Glory, honor, and praise now and forever to Papa God, Jesus Christ our King, and the Holy Spirit!