Daily Devotion
UNDERSTANDING THE PARABLE OF THE TARES OF THE FIELD
Jesus explains the parable to His disciples by saying that He is the one who sows the good seed (the Gospel -1 Corinthians 15:3-4). True believers living in the world are going to be attacked by unbelievers (tares) and they will also try to deceive others into...
THE TRUE BELIEVER
In Matthew 13:23 we see the true believer. Jesus described the ones who never wanted salvation, the ones who cared more about riches and things, and the ones who did not want to be persecuted in previous verses. The true believer is one who understands the message,...
THE LORD WAS WITH JOSEPH
This phrase the Lord was with Joseph occurs 4 times in this chapter. It is important to note that the reason for Joseph’s success is that this was true. This was not because the Lord randomly chose this man, but because he was faithful in a little and therefore...
TRUE FAMILY
Jesus is not dismissing his family or saying they have no part with Him, but He is saying His true (spiritual) family are those who have trusted in Him as their Lord and Savior. It is not those who try to do good things, go to church, get baptized or take...
REST FOR OUR SOULS
Matthew 11:28-30 is an invitation for all to come to Christ and be saved. It was originally offered to Israel as they struggled and toiled as we also do in this world’s difficulties. Trying to live life without Christ is wearisome and hard as all of life’s...
A NEW NAME
Here we see God (Jesus, the Angel of the Lord) wrestling with Jacob. God initiates this fight to bring Jacob to the end of himself. This is not a dream, but a real event and God is showing Jacob that He is in control of all, not Jacob. This happens right after...
WHAT THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS ALL ABOUT
Jesus is teaching that we must love other people, but we are always to love Him more. Anything that we love more than Him is an idol. That is why Jesus would say that we are to die to ourselves (take up our cross) and put Him first in everything. Sometimes this...
THE ONLY WAY TO GOD IN HEAVEN
Here we see God promising Jacob as he is leaving the promised land that He (God) will still be with Jacob. He is not without protection, care, and the blessings that God had promised previously and now restates here. This ladder which Jacob dreamed about is later...
I DESIRE MERCY AND NOT SACRIFICE
The Pharisees were hateful. They were saying true religious people, righteous men like we are, we shun such vile sinners. That’s what they’re saying. There’s a lot of people in the church today and that’s how they act. Their world begins and ends with people who...
A REFUGE IN TIMES OF TROUBLE
I remember when I was younger one of my favorite passages that I had marked with my grandfather’s obituary was one that spoke of God being a refuge, a stronghold or fortress in times of trouble. I guess I marked that passage with his obituary because I remember...
THE STORMS OF LIFE
Here we are having just come out of one storm and are now in the midst of another bad storm but this will pass and there will be other storms but there are also storms in our lives that come every single day. Are you prepared for those storms? I’m not talking about...
GREAT SACRIFICES
God called on Abraham to make five great sacrifices: his native country, his extended family, his nephew Lot, his son Ishmael, and his son Isaac. Each sacrifice involved something obviously dear to Abraham, but each resulted in greater blessings from God. Here we...