Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – July 7, 2019
The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. Matthew 13:24-25
God sows good seed in the world. We see the Lord’s good seed all around us: churches, ministries, hospitals, orphanages, families and individuals that love and obey Christ. Law abiding citizens, honest taxpayers, hard workers, generous givers and studious students all sprout from the good seed of our Savior Jesus Christ. Moreover, the sowing of God’s good seed never ceases. He will grow up preachers, missionaries, church planters, diplomats and executives for His glory.
However, while God is sowing good seed around you, Satan is sowing bad seed. He is creating evil influences that seek to thwart the plans for good. Evil will mingle with the righteous until Christ comes to separate the wheat from the tares. Thus, psychotic and/or demon possessed people rampage among innocent children with rapid and murderous gunfire. The sons and daughters of disobedience look for ways to steal, kill and destroy. Bad seed grows among good.
“In which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2, NKJV).
Furthermore the bad seed resembles the good seed, its real nature is not revealed until it bears the fruit of its true intent. This is how two people can both attend church together, while one is going through the motions and the other is a dedicated disciple. You can be a church member, but not be a child of God. The good seed of salvation is sown along with the bad seed of hypocrisy. But we wait for Christ’s judgment and pray God’s grace has His transforming affect on the lost tares.
We are not the judge of someone’s soul, He is, but we can model what it means to be an authentic follower of Jesus. For example, as we encounter conflict at church we can remain calm and express our concerns with a voice of reason and grace. Our role is to represent Christ in our conduct and conversion. It’s the Holy Spirit’s role to examine motives and expose evil intent. So, celebrate God’s sowing of good seed and prayerfully trust in Christ’s judgment of the bad.
“This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ” (Romans 2:16).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your good seed that grows and bears great fruit.
Application
What bad behaviors have too much influence over me? How do I need to change?
Related Reading
Matthew 3:12; Ephesians 5:6; 2 Timothy 4:1; Revelation 20:4
Today’s reading is from Boyd’s 90 day devotional book: Two Minutes in the Bible With Jesus
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Bad will mingle with the good until Christ comes to separate the wheat from the tares. #judgment
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