Key Passage
"So listen to the meaning of that story about the farmer. And what is the seed that fell on rocky ground? That seed is like the person that hears the teaching and quickly and gladly accepts that teaching. But that person does not let the teaching go deep into his life. He keeps that teaching only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the teaching he accepted, then he quickly quits."
— Matthew 13:18, 20-21 ERV (Read Full Text)
Key Thought
Short bursts of faithfulness are not hard. Stringing them together is hard. Sustaining them for long periods of time is incredibly hard. The difficulty comes from the challenge of being faithful. But a key part of the difficulty is that Satan never gives us a free ride. He's always in there trying to mess things up, making them harder, and raising our frustrations. Faithfulness, however, is about a long haul that maintains its target and delivers its payload on time. Jesus wants us to know that it will be easy for us to lose that first flush of joy and sink into mediocrity—or worse—if we do not seriously pursue Jesus through his life and teachings.
Prayer
Father, please help my heart to remain soft and my passion and commitment to be resolute as I face the journey ahead. I don't want to waver or leave room for Satan to come in and steal my heart and life away. Please protect me from the evil one and empower me toward the road ahead. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Related Scriptures
At one time you were separated from God. You were God's enemies in your minds, because the evil things you did were against God. But now Christ has made you God's friends again. Christ did this by his death while he was in his body. Christ did this so that he could bring you before God. He brings you before God as people who are holy, with no wrong in you, and with nothing that God can judge you guilty of. Christ will do this if you continue to believe in the Good News you heard. You must continue strong and sure in your faith. You must not be moved away from the hope that Good News gave you. That same Good News has been told to all people in the world. I, Paul, help in telling that Good News.
— Colossians 1:21-23
I don't mean that I am already exactly like God wants me to be. I have not yet reached that goal. But I continue trying to reach that goal and to make it mine. Christ wants me to do that. That is the reason Christ made me his. Brothers and sisters, I know that I have not yet reached that goal. But there is one thing I always do: I forget the things that are past. I try as hard as I can to reach the goal that is before me. I keep trying to reach the goal and get the prize. That prize is mine because God called me through Christ to the life above.
— Philippians 3:12-14
So, brothers and sisters, be careful that none of you is sinful, and refuses to believe, and stops following the living God.
— Hebrews 3:12
Devotional provided by Heartlight®
© 1996-2017. All rights reserved.
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"So listen to the meaning of that story about the farmer. And what is the seed that fell on rocky ground? That seed is like the person that hears the teaching and quickly and gladly accepts that teaching. But that person does not let the teaching go deep into his life. He keeps that teaching only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the teaching he accepted, then he quickly quits."
— Matthew 13:18, 20-21 ERV (Read Full Text)
Key Thought
Short bursts of faithfulness are not hard. Stringing them together is hard. Sustaining them for long periods of time is incredibly hard. The difficulty comes from the challenge of being faithful. But a key part of the difficulty is that Satan never gives us a free ride. He's always in there trying to mess things up, making them harder, and raising our frustrations. Faithfulness, however, is about a long haul that maintains its target and delivers its payload on time. Jesus wants us to know that it will be easy for us to lose that first flush of joy and sink into mediocrity—or worse—if we do not seriously pursue Jesus through his life and teachings.
Prayer
Father, please help my heart to remain soft and my passion and commitment to be resolute as I face the journey ahead. I don't want to waver or leave room for Satan to come in and steal my heart and life away. Please protect me from the evil one and empower me toward the road ahead. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Related Scriptures
At one time you were separated from God. You were God's enemies in your minds, because the evil things you did were against God. But now Christ has made you God's friends again. Christ did this by his death while he was in his body. Christ did this so that he could bring you before God. He brings you before God as people who are holy, with no wrong in you, and with nothing that God can judge you guilty of. Christ will do this if you continue to believe in the Good News you heard. You must continue strong and sure in your faith. You must not be moved away from the hope that Good News gave you. That same Good News has been told to all people in the world. I, Paul, help in telling that Good News.
— Colossians 1:21-23
I don't mean that I am already exactly like God wants me to be. I have not yet reached that goal. But I continue trying to reach that goal and to make it mine. Christ wants me to do that. That is the reason Christ made me his. Brothers and sisters, I know that I have not yet reached that goal. But there is one thing I always do: I forget the things that are past. I try as hard as I can to reach the goal that is before me. I keep trying to reach the goal and get the prize. That prize is mine because God called me through Christ to the life above.
— Philippians 3:12-14
So, brothers and sisters, be careful that none of you is sinful, and refuses to believe, and stops following the living God.
— Hebrews 3:12
Devotional provided by Heartlight®
© 1996-2017. All rights reserved.
