The Daily Dose

Reap WHAT you sow

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.  Matthew 13:19

Have you ever heard the old saying you will reap what you sow?  There is actually a scripture in Galatians that says: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” (Galatians 6:7)  This scripture is not talking about planting a garden, it is about the things you do and say in life.  It is explained in the very next verse in the 6^th chapter of Galatians when it says: For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

Today’s text is talking about the Word of God.  God’s Word is a seed that is planted in the hearts of those who HEAR it.  Jesus explained to His disciples that when the Word of God is planted in the heart of people, it can produce 4 different types of results.  In the case where someone is hearing the Word but doesn’t understand it, then it is easy for the enemy to come and steal what was sown in that person’s heart. (that’s disturbing) Satan can steal what has been planted in your heart, which is the reason that Proverbs tells us to guard our heart. (See Proverbs 4)

Next Jesus said that the Word of God can be planted and received with joy, but when trouble comes, those will stumble because they have not reinforced their root system by abiding in that Word.  Then He talked about the cares of life choking the Word and cutting off the flow of it in life because the cares and riches can steal your focus and smother the work God’s Word is doing.

Lastly, there is good ground to receive the Words of God and that is the place that God’s Word will thrive, grow up and produce a great harvest.  The good ground has been prepared, cultivated and fertilized.  It doesn’t have weeds and thorns (distractions).  It is full of nutrients that are waiting to receive seed to grow it to maturity.

Today I want to encourage you to, first of all consider what you are planting in your heart.  If words are seeds, whose words are you allowing to grow in the soil of your heart ? Is it the voice of the world with its bad news and current headlines?  Is it the voice of social media with all the perfect and pretty pictures or is it the words of your past that haunt and grow up into shame and condemnation?  If it is any of these, change the words you are listening to today and begin to fill up with God’s eternal and loving Words.  God’s Words will encourage you; God’s Words will strengthen you and God’s Words will move you forward in the plan and purpose for your life.  If you are already growing God’s Word in your heart, look around for someone you can help to prepare their heart’s soil and begin planting seeds of God’s love in them today.  You will reap what you sow but thank goodness you can choose what to sow.  Plant the Word of God in yourself and others today and soon you will see the harvest of His goodness wherever you go.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 13:10-23

10 And the disciples came and 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 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: ‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, and seeing you will see and not perceive;

15For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their e yes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they 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 But he who received the seed on stony places, this 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 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and 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.”

Your root system

But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away.  Matthew 13:6

On of my favorite parables that Jesus told was about planting seeds.  Jesus often talked about things in the physical world and compared them to things in the spirit realm.  (That is a place we live in, but cannot see with our physical eyes.)  He did this for a few reasons, but one was so that people could understand and remember what He taught.  In today’s parable, He talked about planting seeds.  It is a timeless illustration because seed time and harvest have been the same since the beginning of the world’s existence.  This way His teaching could carry down through the generations and hold it’s meaning because the principle would always be the same as long as the earth exists.

The part of the parable I want to focus on today is the root system.  God created the root system in a plant to sustain its life.  A root system anchors a plant in the soil so it cannot be moved by the weather and elements around it.  It provides nourishment to the part of the plant that is above the surface, and it reserves food for the times when a plant isn’t getting what it needs from the outer world.  Essentially, the root system keeps the plant alive and without it, it cannot survive.

Later in the chapter, Jesus compares this system to the foundation of our Christian life.  He said that when a person receives the Word of God in their life unto salvation, they must build a foundation to be able to hold their faith in tact when the trials and troubles come.  The storms of life will blow a new believer away because they do not have an anchor or root system in place to keep them grounded.

This is where we as God’s people come in.  We are to disciple new converts to help them sustain the tribulations in life.  When a crisis comes, we help hold them in place by going through the storm with them encouraging them and making sure they are getting a steady dose of the word.  It isn’t enough to just show them the way, you have to walk the path with them until they are strong enough to stand firm on their own.

Some ways you can do this is by meeting with others in a small group study or activity.  You can invite a new believer to come to church with you or make a regular lunch or coffee date with them.  By simply inviting them along with you in your day, you will be encouraging them and helping them not to feel alone.  In this way, you are nurturing their foundation and building it strong so that the enemy will not be able to pluck them up and destroy their roots.

Today I want to encourage you to help a new Christian in their walk with God. Bring them along with you in life to begin building their foundation for them.  You cannot do it all, but you can get them started.  Teach them how to have their own quiet time with their loving heavenly Father and help them to learn how to put away the things in life that want to steal them away from their new life in Christ.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 13:1-9

1 On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. 

2 And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

3 Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. 

4 And 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 And 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!”

The will of your Father

“For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” Matthew 12:50

Have you ever wondered how you can know for sure that you are part of God’s family?  In today’s verse, Jesus answers that question.  We know that after Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection and ascension, salvation was available for all who would receive it.  However, in today’s passage, Jesus tells His disciples and us how we can identify His family.  He said it is those who do the will of His Father in heaven. 

On the surface, this is an awesome revelation. You and those around you can actually see that who belongs to the God of the universe simply by who is doing His will.  Now the question is:  How do I know what God’s will is for me to be doing?

For starters we know that God’s Word is His will.  It is the best place to start.  If you see something in the scriptures that hasn’t quite fit into your life yet, begin to step into that now.  Salvation starts with stepping into a personal relationship with our heavenly Father through the blood of Jesus that cleans us from all sin and the stains sin left in our lives.  Now that you have entered into that personal relationship, the way to grow it is to nurture and give attention to it.  Purpose to spend some quiet time with your Father each day and you will begin to know His leading in the way that you should go.  Take some time to read His words in the scripture, give Him some praise and thanksgiving and then talk with Him and listen to the things He is speaking to your heart.

Next, do what Jesus did and begin to reach out to others in kindness and love.  The scripture says that the fruit of God’s Spirit is: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and patience.  Begin to line your daily walk up with these characteristics and you will be displaying the fruit of your relationship with your Father.

It is not about doing good works to receive your salvation, but it is about doing good to imitate your Father in heaven to be known as one of His children.  As you hang out with Him, you will take on more of His attributes and begin to look more like Him each day. (See Eph. 5)

Lastly, instead of killing all your free time with social media and television, spend time listening to podcasts and reading material that will grow your faith and trust in His goodness and love for you.  And don’t forget to take time to worship with others at least once a week. 

Today I want to encourage you to do the will of you Father in heaven.  Step into a closer walk with Him by setting aside special quiet time each day to get to know Him and His blessed plan for your life.  Then start displaying His grace and love for others in the relationships of your life.  Let the world around you identify you as part of God’s family by the way you walk out His will and plan for you each day.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 12:38-50

38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.”

39 But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 

40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 

41 The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here. 

42 The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here.

43 “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. 

44 Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. 

45 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.”

46 While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. 

47 Then one said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.”

48 But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” 

49 And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! 

50 For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”

Fill up your heart

For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.  Matthew 12:34

What is in your heart?  Is it love?  Is it grace?  Is it forgiveness?  How can you even know what is in your heart?  I hope love, grace and mercy are there, but how can I be sure?

Today’s scripture says that what your heart is full of will come out in what you speak?  When you stub your toe or make an error, do you speak blessings or cursing.  What about when you are irritated or upset with someone?  Do you criticize them or do you pray for them and God’s blessing to be on them?

I recognize that many people have been through some terrible struggles and have been deeply wounded, but the test of true healing is what is coming out of their mouth.  Is the focused still on the pain of the past or do they have hope for the future with God’s help.

If you have open wounds, there is good news.  There is healing available.  It starts with turning it over to your heavenly Father and then turning your focus on to His goodness.  The blessing and cursing part will take a little practice, but if you are purposefully praying for those who have hurt you and speaking life and God’s Word into the situation, your heart will fill up with these thoughts and these words.  If you are holding on to past hurts and replaying them and letting the pain of the events haunt you, your heart will fill up with bitterness and resentment.

What you are speaking is what you are filling your heart with.  Begin to fill your mouth with good words and God’s words.  When the enemy tries to remind you of those past traumas and the damage that was done through them, begin to pray for those who did that evil and speak God’s healing into the situation.  That is where your freedom will come from because by your words you will be justified/set free or by your own words you will be condemned. (vs.37)

Today I want to encourage you to speak life into every issue, situation and circumstance you encounter.  Begin to turn your perspective toward filling your heart to the overflow with blessings.  Use your negative feelings as a prompt to pray and ask God for the strength to forgive and let go of the pain.  Then bless others and be an encouragement to those who have suffered in the past.  Be the one who is always looking to help others, not the one who only talks about their own drama. Your words show everyone on the outside where your heart is.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 12:31-37

31 “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 

32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.

33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. 

34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 

35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. 

36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 

37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Be a blessing

He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.  Matthew 12:30

You don’t have to have the title of Missionary to gather people into the kingdom of heaven.  You can do it wherever you are.  You can talk about the love of Jesus every where you go.  Whether at work, school or in your own town and neighborhood, you can share the good news of salvation wherever you are.

The same is true about confusion.  You can be the kind of person who plants seed of joy, peace and rest, or you can be the type that sows the bad news with gossip, strife and chaos.  You can even be someone who thinks they are sharing the message, but with a heart of condemnation and pride, just to be the one with the last word.  You don’t really care about people; you just want others to know that you are smarter because you know the way to salvation.

Jesus talks about these two types of people in today’s reading, in fact, He was actually talking to these two types.  There were some that had come to Him for help and healing, but the Pharisees were there too.  They were there because they wanted to discredit Jesus and tell the crowd that He was using the power of the ruler of the demons.  They wanted to be the ones that were drawing the crowds that Jesus did, so they constantly tried to make Him look bad.

Jesus’ response? He said before you can be effective in the kingdom of darkness, you have to first bind up the one that is causing the trouble (the devil).  Then He tells the crowd, including the Pharisees, “if you are not with Me, you are against Me and if you are not gathering others in, you are scattering them abroad.

This is an extreme accusation and worth considering even today.  Am I with Him, helping to plant the seeds of His goodness, grace and mercy? Or am I just expressing my frustrations at other people’s lack of competency?   I find myself falling into the pit of criticizing and complaining about others whom I don’t understand.  Instead, my reaction should be one of love and compassion for those who may not know how much God loves them.

Today I want to encourage you to be patient with those in your life.  When frustrations with others come, and they will, make the decision now to love them and bless them with the God kind of love.  Pray for others to know the great gift of salvation that Jesus died to give us, and be the one who bring peace and unity into every situation.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 12:22-30

22 Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. 

23 And all the multitudes were amazed and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”

24 Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.”

25 But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. 

26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 

27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. 

28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. 

29 Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. 

30 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.

He healed them all

^{But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew from there. And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all.  Matthew 11:15}

Jesus never turned anyone away when they came to Him for healing.  He was always ready to respond to someone who came to Him in faith.  In today’s reading, Jesus healed a man in the synagogue and then those who followed Him out, had faith to believe for healing because they saw it happen to the man with the withered hand.  The scripture says He healed them all!

Where did believers today get the idea that healing was only for certain people that God decided?  There is no evidence for this in the scripture.  Jesus plainly said, anyone who comes to Him He will in no way turn away (see John 6).  Even in the Old Testament it says when we call on Him, He answers us. (Psalms 91)

He will not turn us away when we come to Him in faith.  Whether a sickness or disease?  Through treatments or even something that looks incurable, nothing is too difficult for Him to heal.  The truth is, it is up to us to go to Him in faith.  We cannot go with the mentality that it probably won’t make a difference or just assume that because I am a Christian, Jesus should just heal me.  It has to be an intentional step of faith.  Through faith is how we received our salvation, and through faith is how we receive anything from Him.  Hebrews 11:6 says without faith it is impossible to please or reach Him.  You must believe that His is and He rewards those who diligently and purposefully seek Him.

Today I want to encourage your to walk with Him daily and continually cultivate your own personal relationship with Him.  Make the Word of God final authority in your life and believe that God your Father is the same today.  Believe that He only wants good for you and even though it may take some time, He will see you through every struggle and every affliction to your victory, but you must hold on.  Don’t be discouraged about setbacks or slow progress.  Only believe that He is working all things together for your good because you love Him, and you have a mission to complete and He will accomplish it in you until it is finished.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 11:9-21

9 Now when He had departed from there, He went into their synagogue. 

10 And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—that they might accuse Him.

11 Then He said to them, “What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? 

12 Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 

13 Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other. 

14 Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him.

15 But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew from there. And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all. 

16 Yet He warned them not to make Him known, 17that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:

18 “Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased! I will put My Spirit upon Him, And He will declare justice to the Gentiles.

19 He will not quarrel nor cry out, Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets.

20 A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench, Till He sends forth justice to victory;

21 And in His name Gentiles will trust.”

Mercy and grace

For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”  Matthew 12:8

The Sabbath was a big deal in Jesus’ day.  In fact, it was a big deal all through the Old Testament.  One of the ten commandments is:  Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it Holy or separated.  It had become such a strict rule that there was no room for error with the Pharisees. They were watching everywhere to make sure no one was breaking the rule, not to do any work on the Sabbath.

In today’s reading, we see the Pharisees at it again.  They saw Jesus’ disciples harvesting grain to eat on the Sabbath Day.  They immediately brought the charge to Jesus.  Not because they were concerned for His disciples, but because they wanted to accuse Him. Jesus gives them a brief lesson on Sabbath, but then He tells them He is Lord, even of the Sabbath.  He wasn’t telling them that it was ok for Him to break the rules because He was God in the flesh.  His point was that the Sabbath was made for man to take a rest not made for man to be controlled by a rule.  Jesus also told the Pharisees that He desires people to be merciful to others more than He wants people to be controlled by a set of rules.  Loving people is what matters to God, not controlling them.

In today’s world, we also have become a bit legalistic.  Oh, I know it’s not to the point that we don’t do any work on the Sabbath.  However, we are quick to judge others when we see them doing something wrong.  I’m not even talking about the actual commandments in the Bible, I’m talking about wrong in being different.  Mercy and grace are not the first response most people have when someone is not following procedures and policies.  Usually, people go right to condemnation.

Jesus said He wants us to be merciful with one another.  He wants to see His people with a different mind set.  This is not a tolerance of sin, but rather a love for people perspective.  When we look at others, our first thoughts should be how much God loves them and how much we can love them.  Jesus said:  I am Lord even of the Sabbath so Love God and love people and you won’t have to worry about keeping the rules. Love is the new commandment that fulfils all the rules. (see John 13)

Today I want to encourage you to be merciful not legalistic.  Make a conscience decision to love others.  When you see someone doing the wrong thing, make an effort to love them.  You don’t love their sin or their bad behavior, but you remember that you have missed it at times too. If the person is shown love, then the Holy Spirit will draw them closer to God and the God way of living and loving.  Decide today to not focus on what is wrong in the world, love the people who are living in the world despite their shortcomings.  Remember, the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 12:1-8

1 At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 

2 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!”

3 But He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: 

4 how he entered the house of God and ate the showbread which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? 

5 Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless? 

6 Yet I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple. 

7 But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. 

8 For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

Lowly in heart

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30

Rest!  It’s a good thing!  It’s different than peace because peace is something that God gives, but rest is something we enter into, on purpose.  Today’s scripture says When you go to Jesus, on purpose, then He will give you rest.  Glory to God!  With all the struggle and anxieties in life, it’s so wonderful to have a place of rest, and that place is in Christ Jesus.  A rest that we don’t have to wait for, we can enter in immediately. Whenever we are feeling the uneasiness of day to day life, we can easily enter in by getting quiet and submitting (unloading) everything to Him.

But how?  How do you unload these burdens and get into rest, that God kind of rest?   Jesus says in this passage “take My yoke on and learn from me.”  A yoke?  That sounds like more work.  A yoke is not a reference we commonly use today, but in the days when Jesus was speaking, everyone could understand this picture.  It was used to team up a pair of oxen and then attach them to a plow so they could work together to pull it.  You may be saying, “that doesn’t sound very restful to me.”  However, Jesus said, “get into the yoke with me and I will make your labor/burden easy and light”.  He’s saying that I don’t have to struggle through life when I have attached my life to His, because when the hard times come, He pulls the load and carries the weight.  My part is to enter into His rest by submitting everything to Him and let Him do the work of turning things around for good.

There’s only one question left and that is how do I get into the yoke with Jesus?  He answers that question for us.  He says, “learn of me and of my gentle and lowly (humble) heart.”  So by becoming a person of humility, submitted to God and His word I can then enter into His rest.  By turning all the care over and taking on God’s Word (Jesus) instead, I then enter in.  This is where our relationship with the Lord grows.  When we “get in the yoke” with Him, we are spending time with Him, talking to Him and walking with Him.

Today I want to encourage you that no matter what you are going through, it doesn’t have to be a struggle.  Enter into the Father’s rest by getting into the “yoke” of life with Jesus.  Humble yourself by submitting to and obeying His Word then apply it to all your circumstances.  Let the force of God’s Word do the work on your troubles while you take a rest.

Today’s scripture reading:  Matthew 11:20-30

20 Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent: 

21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 

22 But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. 

23 And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 

24 But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.”

25 At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. 

26 Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. 

27 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. 

28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 

29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 

30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

You are greater!

_{“Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.  Matthew 11:11}

John the Baptist.  Jesus said he was the greatest of all prophets.  In fact, Jesus said he was the greatest of those ever born up until that time.  The reason was because he was the one who prepared the way for the Lord’s ministry here on the Earth.  John was the forerunner, the one who announced Jesus to the world.  He told the people: “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the word.” (see John 1)  John was the greatest prophet because he was the last one before the coming one, Jesus.

The second part of the verse is the astounding part.  Even the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John.  Jesus was not talking about those who had died and gone to heaven.   When He referred to the “kingdom of heaven,”  He was talking about heaven on earth, after his death, resurrection and ascension into heaven.  He was speaking about those who would receive salvation through His blood sacrifice to become children of God. Jesus brought the kingdom of heaven to our world in His salvation.

In today’s world it looks like this truth has slipped away.  We, like the prophets, have the power of the living Spirit of God on the inside of us.  We have been raised up to sit together with Him in heavenly places.  We were once dead, but now we are brought to life through Christ Jesus, yet, the world seems to be in the worst shape ever. What is going on?

Before salvation came into the world, God had chosen one person at a time to give His message to throughout the ages. They were never well-dressed, smooth talking, politician, or well known religious leader.  Then He sent John the Baptist, a rough around the edges man out in a deserted place.  He was bold in his witness that Jesus was coming.  He wasn’t afraid to speak up and speak out against anyone who was coming against his message. 

Now, God is speaking today and to those who some could consider “less important”.  We sometimes get the idea that if we can just get the right politician in office, or if we can just have that great pastor come and preach, then the world could be fixed.  The truth is that politicians and pastors are not the solution to the world’s problems. God’s message of salvation is the only hope for the world and we are His messengers to bring this solution.

Even though you may not have a well-known, popular platform, you still have a voice and the Word of the LORD has come to you in His scripture.  It is now your turn to tell that “good news” that Jesus, your Messiah and Savior of the world, has come and He took away the sin of the world.  You are greater than all the prophets of old because you have that great salvation that they were waiting for.

Today I want to encourage you to be the voice of one telling the message that the kingdom of heaven has come. You are the voice now so share the salvation message wherever you are in life.  Some may accept it readily and others may just listen for now, but seeds of God’s Word are being planted and He will send the next person along to water them.  Soon new baby Christians will be born all around us and the whole world will know that Jesus is LORD!

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 11:1-19

1 Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities.

2 And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples 

3 and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”

4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 

5 The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 

6 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”

7 As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 

8But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft ? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 

9 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. 

10 For this is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.’

11 “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 

12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. 

13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 

14 And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. 

15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

16 “But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, 

17 and saying: ‘We played the flute for you, And you did not dance; We mourned to you, And you did not lament.’

18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 

19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.”

A lot or a little

“Whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.” Matthew 10:42

Rewards.  If your anything like me, heavenly rewards seem far away and almost undiscernible.  I mean, what are the rewards in heaven?  Most people don’t even know what that looks like. I know there are crowns.  The Bible talks about 5 different crowns, in fact.  The Victor’s crown, the crown of rejoicing, the crown of righteousness, the crown of life and the crown of glory.  Those rewards are awesome, but certainly these are for the really great ministers that are reaching the world every day??  Or are they?

Today’s passage talks about receiving rewards, just because you received others.  For example, if you receive and accept the words of the gospels, you are receiving the disciples.   Jesus said that is just like receiving Him and our Heavenly Father and you will receive their rewards.  What about the prophets?  If we receive God’s prophets and the word they gave in the Old Testament, we will also receive their reward?  That sounds amazing!

Jesus said there are even rewards in simple acts of kindness such as giving a cup of cold water.  So, how do you know who to receive and who to be kind to?  Well, first of all kindness should be to all people.  God loves all people, so we are to love all people.  Second, we should receive God’s Word and the prophets who wrote it as the final authority on every subject.  Even though there were men that wrote the words, they were people of God that God spoke the message through.  It is the true and living Word!

Lastly, righteous people of today.  This gets a little sketchy in my mind.  Certainly, this takes some discernment.  There are many who claim to be righteous today but have gotten off track.  Maybe you do not agree with a message that the person proclaiming the message gives.  This does not have to be complicated.  Righteous people are children of God.  Not perfect people, because there are none perfect.  Just children of God and to receive them is to love them.  When we love all people as Jesus told us to, we will receive our eternal rewards.  To sum it all up:  Love all people unconditionally so they can know God and experience Him in their everyday life.

Today I want to encourage you to think about heavenly rewards.  Obviously, God wants us to know about them because He talks about them in His word.  Next, walk out simple acts of kindness wherever you go.  Lastly, love people because they are God’s creation and love is the way to draw people to Him.  Your reward will be great and best of all, you will get to hear Him say: “Well done!”

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 10:40-42

40 “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. 

41 He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. 

42 And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”