The Good Seed
Friday, September 6
Matthew 13:35-39 (KJV)
“That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world. Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.”
Devotion
Jesus explains to his disciples (and to us) the deeper meaning of a parable he recently told them. (Matt 13:24-30). He explains that just as in the field where there will be good seeds and tares mixed together, in life there will also be children of God and children of the wicked one mixed together. Although it may feel like we should take it upon ourselves to sift through and determine who is a true Christian, who is authentic in their worship, and who is truly living for Christ and not just hiding behind the Christian façade, we are told it is not our position to do that.
Jesus clearly tells us that we are the good seed, not the reapers. We don’t get to make those decisions. The angels do. The angels are responsible for reaping the field at the end of the world and separating out the wheat from tares: the children of God from the children of the wicked one.
Although we do not get to make the decision in the dividing of the wheat from the tares, we are in the mixture and are called to be active in it. While in the mixture, we don’t just get to look around and judge. We are called to show love to others (Matthew 5:44; 22:39) and preach the good news of the gospel (Mark 16:15).
Today’s Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
I praise You for Your faithfulness to me, even when I willingly make a wrong decision and come to You in true repentance. Please help me to remember Your grace for me when I see Christian brothers and sisters walking in an ungodly manner and lift them up in prayer that they may come to true repentance as well. Use me to light their way back to a right relationship with You. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Apply It Today
Is there someone who comes to mind when you think of a brother or sister not walking the true path of God’s word? Take time today to pray for them. Be willing to reach out to them if God so leads.
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