JCSM's Weekly Devotions (click here to listen!)

"The Parable of the Sower"

Matthew 13:1-23  "On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea.  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.  Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: 'Behold, a sower went out to sow.  And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them.  Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth.  But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away.  And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them.  But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.  He who has ears to hear, let him hear!'

And the disciples came and said to Him, 'Why do You speak to them in parables?'  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.  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.  Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.  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;
For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears Bare hard of hearing,
And their eyes 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.’

But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; 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.  Therefore hear the parable of the sower: 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.  But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 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.  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.  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."

Insight: Sow the seeds of the gospel.  God will water them and some will grow.  We must do our part and watch what God does with our faithfulness.

Prayer: "Dear Lord, thank you for loving us so much!  There is no other like You.  Thank you for being faithful and good.  Praise your holy name in all the Earth.  Let us seek You all day and do your will.  Thank you for giving us your revealed will in the Bible and thank you for giving us your Holy Spirit, so we can determine your specific will for us.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

On February 19th, 1671, Isaac Newton published a paper which explained the formation of rainbows. He had calculated the multiple reflections and refractions of light through raindrops which produce the beautiful spectrum of colors in the sky. The rainbow is described in Genesis 9:13 as a visible promise of no further worldwide judgment by water. Isaac Newton’s scientific explanation did not diminish the beautiful symbol of God’s care.

This excerpt was taken from Donald DeYoung's book called, "365 Fascinating Facts From the World of Discovery."

Be ready to share the gospel with the gangster and the little girl.

Friendly Christians talk to people more convincingly about Jesus Christ.

You're blessed if you share the gospel; despite the effects.

Asking someone, "What is your name?" is a great way to show them you care before witnessing to them.

Some of us keep putting on a big, pouty face for the Lord.

These quotes came from the Holy Spirit, Robert Agin, and Jason Gastrich.  If you'd like to read more wise quotes, you can either visit our Quotations Archive or get a copy of Dr. Gastrich's book called, "10,000 Wise Quotes and Spiritual Sayings"!  It's the largest collection of Bible-based quotations in the world.