Tag: Psalm 119:11

The Seeds of Life

On By KateIn Devotionals, Thoughtful ThreadsLeave a comment

Matthew 13:19-23  When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.  (20)  But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;  (21)  Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.  (22)  He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.  (23)  But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

The greatest seed is that of God’s Word as we see in the Parable of the Sower. The seed of the gospel falls on a rocky heart when the hearer doesn’t understand it. Then the seed that falls in stony places doesn’t take root firmly or deep enough. The hearer understands what he has heard but because it has not taken root in his heart, he quickly loses interest. The next is when the seed falls amongst the thorns. The hearer understands the gospel and accepts it, but then the cares of this world, the distractions from riches choke everything he understood, and he falls away. Lastly the seed that falls on good ground, a ready heart, hears the gospel, accepts it and understands it, and the person comes to salvation in Jesus Christ. This seed grows in the person’s life, and he bears fruit. There is evidence in his salvation.

What kind of seeds are being sown in life and in the lives of others? Let’s compare our spiritual life as that of a peach tree.

  • Adequate sunlight – You cannot bear fruit with the sunlight. Neither can a person bear fruit for God without His Son, Jesus Christ. You must be born again (John 3:3) in order to bear fruit.
  • The soil must be well drained. It cannot be hardened mud but good soil. When the heart is hard, it won’t listen or absorb what the Bible teaches.
  • Soil needs consistent watering. Just like in our own spiritual life, we need the Bible to water our spiritual heart. Jesus said: (John 7:38)  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
  • Pruning and controlling pests – Our spiritual lives are pruned when we recognize sin in our lives and repent from them. Repentance is a change of one’s mind and a determination that we won’t do that sin again. Jesus said: (Joh 15:2-3)  Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.  (3)  Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. What would you consider as the fruit of verse 2?
  • Fertilizer – God’s Word is the best fertilizer for our spiritual life. Reading, meditating and applying what we have learned. (Psa 119:11)  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Many a time God brings a verse to my mind in time of need. I may not remember the address but I remember the verse. There is always a Bible verse that applies to every area of life.
  • Spreading Your Faith – The Holy Spirit started the Church when the disciples were in the upper room waiting as the Lord had told them to do. (Acts 2:2) And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. Just as the Holy Spirit came to the Church, so are we to spread that wind to the world. When the wind gets a hold of seeds from a dandelion or a maple tree, it carries it to its destination and that seed creates another life. So are we to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with those that cross our path.

Having a spiritually healthy “fruit tree” in our lives helps us to plant healthy seeds in those people we come in contact with. If you’re a shy person, hand out tracts. The gospel’s seeds are spread, and the Holy Spirit is in charge of the rest!

Day 8 – Thy Word

On By KateIn VariousLeave a comment

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. (Psa 119:11) God’s Word is the only thing in life that comes with a promise such as this. Do you know of anything or anyone who can promise that if you read and hide their product, it will keep you from sin? Nothing can do this. No one can do this, but God! God’s compassion is so great that He provided His Word to strengthen us in time of weakness.

Not only did our Heavenly Father give us His Word to grow by so that we wouldn’t sin, but He also provided His Word so that we could be cleansed should we fall into sin. BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. (Psa 119:9) The Word will cleanse us and keep us from sin.

So why don’t we spend more time in the Word? I believe that ole slew foot has managed to keep the Christian today from the Word by way of distractions and excuses. Today’s distractions are many. Everyone has them. If you’re not in the Word daily and gleaning from it, then you have too many distractions. If you’re not in the Word daily and gleaning from it, you will continuously struggle with sin.

The fact of the matter is this: the believer who does not read the Word is plain lazy. Would you deprive your family from nourishment? Would you deprive yourself? Of course not! When you are not in the Word, you not only allow sin to come into your life, but you cause sin to come into your home. Your children will see it and will follow in your footsteps. So when you do fall into temptation and sin, you have no one to blame but yourself. It isn’t God’s fault, but your own. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Cor 1:9) If we fall, we fall because we chose to fall.

The more you spend time in the Word, the less time you will have to devote to sin.

NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psa 119:105)

Discouragement – Day 5 – Heaviness for a Season

On By KateIn Various3 Comments

Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: (1 Pet 1:6)

How can one rejoice when they are experiencing numerous trials and tribulations? Is this possible to do? It is possible if you are walking in the Spirit. If you are suffering from discouragement, however, this verse in 1 Peter seems “out there”! This verse seems like an impossible task.

Everyone I have spoken with who has suffered from discouragement at one time or another has admitted that they are guilty of two things: (1) focusing their thoughts on their problem, and (2) not being in the Word as they should. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. (Gal 6:8 ) What are you sowing, Christian? Step back and look at your life – the results of sowing will appear in what you are reaping. Discouragement is not a fruit of the Spirit. The Word says that the fruit of the Spirit is: :… love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Gal 5:22-23) I don’t see discouragement in this list, do you?

Since the Word says that these are the fruit of the Spirit, it stands to reason that no sowing is being done in these areas to reap these fruit. Christian, examine yourself. If you can get to the root of this discouragement in your life, you will overcome it. The Word is our guide – the Holy Spirit is our Teacher. I know I sound like a broken record but, “Get in the Word”! Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. (Psa 119:11) If you’re not reaping to the Spirit, then you are reaping to the flesh. There is nothing good in the flesh. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: …(Rom 7:18 ) Therefore, if you are reaping to the flesh it stands to reason you are not in the Word for the Lord tells us that if we hide the Word in our hearts (through reading and memorizing), we will not sin against Him. Since discouragement is not one of the fruit of the Spirit, it is a work of the flesh and is sin. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

It is easier to understand now how Paul could rejoice through numerous trials. Paul walked in the Spirit and the Word encouraged his heart. How else could he be singing with Silas in prison at midnight (Acts 16:25)? If anyone had the right to be discouraged, it would be Paul and Silas – but yet they were found singing! When was the last time you felt like singing in the wee hours of the morning while you were discouarged? Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: (1 Pet 1:6) The Book of Psalms is filled with encouraging verses. Our Heavenly Father knew we needed these – He placed those words there just for you! Read Psalms 84, 121, 139 to name a few.

What a tremendous testimony you would have and the ability to help others through their discouragement if you would allow the Spirit of God to dwell in you and encourage your heart the same way He did Paul and Silas. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. (1 John 4:13) Yes, that’s right – help others! There’s nothing like a good dose of doing for others to help us take our eyes off our own circumstances. God allows trials in our lives for a reason – it is to mold us into His image and then we take what we have learned and try to help someone else. Why would someone who is discouraged listen to someone who has never been through it? How would they know?

A Christian with the purpose of helping someone else to overcome discouragement is a Christian who is in the Word daily and has taken his eyes off his own circumstances. This same Christian is walking in the Spirit and reaping the fruit of the Spirit. Won’t you take that first step in this walk?