02/25               Matthew 13:18-23

18 “Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds: 19 The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts. 20 The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. 21 But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. 22 The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced. 23 The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” 

JESUS

Everything depends upon Jesus.  When we belong to Him, He takes good care of us.  If we are trying to live in the lost world and the kingdom at the same time we will lose.  There is no other way to the Father-ONLY JESUS. 

02/24               Matthew 13:10-17

10 His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?” 11 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. 12 To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. 13That is why I use these parables, For they look, but they don’t really see. They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand. 14 This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says, ‘When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend.  15 For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’ 16“But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. 17 I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it. 

LISTEN

Listen, do you hear the Lord?  Whoever calls upon His name will be saved.  Listen closely and you will hear the Lord. 

02/23   Matthew 13:1-9

1 Later that same day Jesus left the house and sat beside the lake. 2 A large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat there and taught as the people stood on the shore. 3 He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. 4 As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. 5 Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. 6 But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. 8 Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!  9Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” 

GOOD

Prepare your heart.  Surrender to Jesus.  Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you.  Listen to the parable.  Only the good soil produces much.  Claim your life in Christ.  Jesus is Lord. 

02/22               Matthew 12:46

46 As Jesus was speaking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him.  47 Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, and they want to speak to you.” 48 Jesus asked, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” 49 Then he pointed to his disciples and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers. 50 Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!”

FATHER

The Lord God is our Father.  He cares for us in ways we cannot comprehend.  His love for us is consistent, complete and eternal.  He is always near.  He hears us.  He cares for us 24/7.  What an amazing Father we have!

02/21               Matthew 12:43-45

43 “When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order. 45 Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. That will be the experience of this evil generation.” 

BELIEVE

Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and repent of your sins.  Then if you will draw near to Him, He will draw near to you.  Trust Him and develop an obedient lifestyle.  He will deal with the demons.  We surrender to Him. 

02/20               Matthew 12:38-42

38 One day some teachers of religious law and Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, we want you to show us a miraculous sign to prove your authority.”  39 But Jesus replied, “Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. 41 “The people of Nineveh will stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah. Now someone greater than Jonah is here—but you refuse to repent. 42 The queen of Sheba will also stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for she came from a distant land to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Now someone greater than Solomon is here—but you refuse to listen. 

STOP

You and I must stop demanding things of God.  He has revealed Himself in the Word and in Jesus.  Spend time in prayer.  Spend time listening.  Read the Word and permit the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart.  When we surrender to Him, He picks us up and takes care of us. 

02/19               Matthew 12:33-37

33 “A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad. 34 You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. 35 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. 36 And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. 37 The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.” 

WHAT?

What are you saying about the Lord as you live your life each day?  Our words are remembered, and our actions are remembered even more.  Be careful how you live.  Be careful what you do.  We are action creatures.  We are accountable for our words and deeds. 

02/18               Matthew 12:30-32

30“Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.  31 “So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven—except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come. 

CAREFUL

Careful what you say.  Too often the crowd curses the Lord and people get caught up in it and then they curse the Lord.  Careful how you live and what you say.  The Lord is with you. 

02/17               Matthew 12:26-29

26 And if Satan is casting out Satan, he is divided and fighting against himself. His own kingdom will not survive. 27 And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists? They cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have said. 

28 But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you.  29 For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man like Satan and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house. 

POWER

WE Live by the Power of God.  He is able to bring us into His family and take care of us forever.  We are blessed by the glorious strength of our loving Father who will always take care of us.  One day we will stand before Him and see Him face to face.  Praise the Lord. 

02/16               Matthew 12:22-25

22 Then a demon-possessed man, who was blind and couldn’t speak, was brought to Jesus. He healed the man so that he could both speak and see. 23 The crowd was amazed and asked, “Could it be that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard about the miracle, they said, “No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons.”  25 Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart. 

GOD

Jesus said He was the Son of God and that He and the Father were One.  You and I believe by faith that Jesus is Lord and that He has paid the price for our sin, forgives us of our sin and sinfulness and brings us into the Family of God.  He is Lord and praise God that we believe in Him.