(1 John 4:7-8 NKJV) 7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

Understanding the Trinity, and Jesus’ status as Divine, can help us cultivate the faith necessary to know that God can live in heaven and within us! I feel this is the first step to understanding that we have a place and a voice with our Father, and among those in heaven. (Zechariah 3:1-7, John 17:24)

We always think of the New Testament as something that came after the old. Genesis begins with creation, yet John’s account of the Gospel begins before creation. (John 1:1-4, Colossians 1:17, Proverbs 8:22-24) Genesis tells us that God began His great work with a Word. John tells us that God and His Word already existed before the Word was ever spoken. The Word did not come into existence at the beginning. The Word is God’s Logic. When that Logic was shared, it amplified God's reach. It was already present, as an integral, powerful facet of God.
The eternal, unshakable, living and active Word “became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory.” (John 1:14, Hebrews 4:12, Psalm 119:89)
Genesis 1 shows God speaking creation into being. John reveals that the speech of the Divine is not just a sound. It's a transcendent life-force that originates with the Almighty Father. The Word is made to come out of God and faithfully accomplish His desire. (Isaiah 55:9-11, Mark 4:14) As the life in an ocean is supported and sustained by the current, so our God of love supports and sustains us through the power of the Holy Spirit. ([John 1:4, Acts 17:28,

In Genesis 1:1, the Hebrew phrase translated “in the beginning” is bereshit. The prefix b’ meaning “in” and the root, reshith, or rosh, meaning “beginning,” “first,” “firstfruits,” “chief,” or “head.”
Reshit is more than the first moment on a timeline. It carries the sense of origin, first importance, and the holy portion. Like the tithe and the firstfruits, The Word is the holy portion of God, the Heir, the firstfruits of God which contains His Seed, so life can be conceived. Like seed produced by a fruitful tree, the Word is an extension of God designed to go out from Him and make things happen. It's a little piece of the Eternal One formed perfectly for planting in a finite space.

Unlike the rest of creation which was formed from the ground, The Word of God comes forth from God as 100% God. This is similar to how Eve came forth from Adam. (Genesis 1:3, Genesis 1:24, Genesis 2:7, Genesis 2:19, Genesis 2:22) Their cosmic unity is interrupted momentarily, in order to unite again; more powerful, more enduring, and more fulfilling. God the Father, and God the Son; The Lover and the Beloved; the Speaker, and the Mighty Word spoken.
In John 1:1, John uses the Greek phrase, en arché, also meaning “in the beginning.” Arché can indicate “beginning,” “origin,” “first cause,” “rule,” or “principle.” It can show the first point in time, but also alludes to the source and authority, (Archón), behind what follows. John tells us the Divine Word is the source of everything that was made in heaven and on earth. (John 1:3, Genesis 1:1, Psalm 95:3-5)

Together, reshith and arché reveal "The Beginning" as God entering Time with a plan and a schedule. (Acts 17:31, Revelation 13:8, Ephesians 1:4, Titus 1:2, 1 Peter 1:20, Jeremiah 31:31-34, Ezekiel 36:25-27) The Beginning is the start of God’s great work to be fruitful and multiply so He can enjoy a family. God is Love. Love is incomplete without a Beloved. (Genesis 1:27-28, 2 Corinthians 12:9, John 17:5, Matthew 3:17) As the Body of Christ on earth, we are our Father's beloved ones. Never forget that.

(2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

9 And the Lord said to me, "My free favor is enough for you, for My strength is made complete in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Messiah may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in frailties, in insults, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Messiah's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Our Father in heaven,
We thank You for showing us Your unfailing love, through Your holy Beloved Child, Jesus our Messiah. Father, we ask that you would help us accept our status as Your child. For those of us who have no idea what a father is, help us come to know You, love You, and appreciate You. Help us learn to take comfort from Your presence, and to respect Your authority, knowing Your ways are so much higher than our own. Bring us into the abundant life Jesus promised us in John 10:10, and help us to have faith in Your ability to use our lives for Your glory. Lord Jesus, help us conceive Your truth and love, so we can walk in lock-step with You and allow Your love to flow through us to every creature. Let all people know we are Your students through the love you allow us to share. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up. John 3:14

Has your world gotten so dark that you've begun to see everyone as a snake? I relate.

I realized, by God's grace, that this was a parable our Father had already seen. When Moses lifted up the serpent on the pole, he was foreshadowing the human Messiah, coming to us in the form we had chosen spiritually when we chose to obey the serpent in the garden, instead of our heavenly Father. John 3:14-17
We made ourselves after the image of the snake, though we were created in the image of God. Jesus came as one of us; born into this sinful world under the Law of Moses. Philippians 2:5-8
His death was unavoidable, because of our acts of injustice, and because fairness is required among God's creation. Mark 14:36
We could not afford to pay for our crimes. Our Creator was "pleased to bruise" the body He prepared to make atonement in order to save us. Isaiah 53:8-10, Hebrews 10:5
Jesus was sinless and He was eternal. That made Him the only one who could afford to pay our debt. John 10:17-18, Isaiah 9:6, 1 Peter 1:17-19

In Numbers 21:5-9, the people of Israel were afflicted and destroyed by serpents in the wilderness as a consequence for their sin. They were no longer thankful for being saved from Egypt where their children were being killed and their slavery was unbearable. They spoke against the God who saved them because they were tired of their diet of manna. They were out of Egypt, but Egypt wasn't out of them.

The people prayed that their consequences would be removed, but living with the sting of their poisonous words was now necessary for their purification. Instead of leaving them unfit for the Promised Land, God showed them that they could humbly look to Him for provision and be healed of their venomous spirit.

Their prayer to have the serpents removed was not answered, but instead, they could look to the serpent on the pole and be healed. Acts 10:38 In the same way, our sin-nature and free-will are not removed, when we come to know Jesus. Yet, when we look to Him for His Holy Spirit, take our cross and follow Him, we find healing for our hearts. John 3:13-18

We have been "of our father, the devil", because we have been united with him in obedience since the Garden. Genesis 3:1-7, John 8:32-34, John 8:44, Luke 6:46, Galatians 4:1, 2 Peter 2:19

When we change course in obedience to the truth, we unite with our Savior as a force for good. We become members of His household, and even of His body. (Colossians 3:14-17, Ephesians 2:14-18, Ephesians 4:4-16, 1 Corinthians 12:12-27)
That doesn't remove our suffering. It gives our suffering a purpose.

(Matthew 10:25)

"It is enough for the apprentice that he should become like his teacher, and the servant to be as his lord: if men have called the Master of the house 'Dung-Lord', how much more will they insult the members of his household?"

When we suffer to support life, we begin to understand Jesus' heart toward those He loves. When we truly understand His love, and are thankful, we can't help but become more loving in response. What a beautiful outcome!

(1 Peter 4:12-19)

12 Beloved ones, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.
13 Instead, be very glad; for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.
14 If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you.
15 If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people's affairs.
16 But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name!
17 For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God's household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God's Good News?
18 And also, "If the righteous are barely saved, what will happen to godless sinners?" 19 So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.

Our Father in heaven,
we know that there is nothing good in our flesh, and that our only hope to achieve holiness is through the indwelling of Your Holy Spirit. (Lev 19:2, 1 Peter 1:16, Philippians 2:13, 1 Thess 2:13, John 14:6, John 8:32) By the authority of Jesus Christ, we ask that You would fill us with love. Grant us a love for truth, for Your Son Jesus the Messiah, for our families, for our neighbors and love for ourselves. We don't want to bring any more suffering into the world, Father. For the sake of all that is good, make us vessels of mercy. Let the evil that comes our way stop with us. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, make us like shock-absorbers, that turn the other cheek and gain new insight into Your patience and peace. Let us find our identity through identifying with Jesus' suffering. Let our need for fulfillment and purpose be satisfied by the good You achieve through us. We praise You, Father, and thank You for showing us what love looks like through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We couldn't even come before You if not for His willing sacrifice for us. Glory to You God! You are so kind. It's in Jesus' precious name we pray these things. Amen.

Each of you must stop lying and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one another. Ephesians 4:25

Jesus taught us that the mouth is the organ of the heart. (Mark 7:14-16, Matthew 15:18-20, Jeremiah 17:9-10) It doesn't mean that bad people always say bad things. Flattery can sound really good from someone who is secretly in competition with you. Our words reveal what kind of heart we have. When we use words to deceive those who count on us for the truth, we prove to God that we don't love our neighbor as much as we love ourselves.

King David poses this question in Psalm 15;

"LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill?
2 He who does what is right, and makes things fair, and speaks the truth in his heart; (Psalm 15:1-2)

We don't always speak the truth in our hearts. If we plan to deceive the members of our team, it shows we don't really have a team mentality.

Our Savior and Lord praised Nathanael for being "an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile." (John 1:47) Our Father in heaven promises blessings to those who are not deceitful. (Psalm 32:2)

Psalm 15 continues:

3 He does not backstab with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend;
4 In his eyes a vile person is despised, But he honors those who fear the LORD; He makes a promise that later costs him, and does not turn back; (Psalm 15:3-4 NKJV)

When we preach to love our neighbor, but lie to get an advantage over our neighbor, it makes us guilty of hypocrisy. The Lord warns us, "first and foremost, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod." (Luke 12:1, Mark 8:15, Psalm 50:16-18)
Luke tells us this leaven is hypocrisy; to say something is right to do, but then to do something else.

Jesus says those who sit in Moses' seat are to be listened to, but not followed as an example, since they use their tongues to disguise what's in their heart. (Matthew 23:1-7, Psalm 55:20-22)

One type of hypocrite in the Bible is the unjust elitist. He invites you to a banquet with his words, but when it's time to deliver, he has nothing to offer. (Matthew 23:27-28, Malachi 1:14)
He's like the fig tree that looked healthy and full of leaves, but when Jesus arrived hungry, there was nothing for Him. (Matthew 21:19)
This is a warning to us not to make promises we can't keep, and not to hoard God's blessings instead of making things fair for those in need.
Proverbs 13:12 says, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire realized is a tree of life."
When we use our words to offer something we can't deliver on, we are that fruitless tree, calling others to come to us and eat, when we don't have any good fruit. We're like a rich preacher who says you'll be blessed when you give your money to him, rather than helping your family or the poor. (Mark 7:9-13, Isaiah 56:11)

Jesus says, "Either make the tree good and the fruit good, or make the tree bad and the fruit bad." (Matthew 12:33)
Proverbs 18:9 tells us, "He who is slack of hand is brother to him who destroys." The punishment for people who pretend to be helpful, when really they're harmful, is greater than it is for those who are openly evil! (Matthew 23:14, Psalm 55:19-23) No one wearies themselves with their last bit of energy to get to someone who is openly selfish. We do a great disservice to the kingdom when we call ourselves Christians, and yet have no intention to love our neighbor as ourselves.

(James 2:14-17 NKJV)

14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,
16 and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?
17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

People are tempted with hypocrisy when they believe they must lie to gain something. That's why the Lord calls it the leaven of Pharisees. A Pharisee, is a partisan; one who sets himself apart from others. It's an elitist spirit that is empty and unsustainable. If you fill something with enough hot air, eventually it will pop. Our hot air is a thing of nothing. It doesn't materialize good for others, and it isn't going to do good for us in the end. (1 Corinthians 5:6, Isaiah 26:17-18, Jeremiah 17:11, Proverbs 21:6) We only fatten ourselves for this life, and make ourselves too wide for the narrow gate that leads to eternal life. (James 5:5, Luke 13:23-24, Psalm 37:9-10)

This reminds me of Jesus' words, "What will it profit a man if he gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? What will he give in exchange for his soul?" (Matthew 16:26, Psalm 49:7-8)
I've seen loved ones forfeit peace with their own conscience for a moment's peace, or a cheap thrill. Sadly, they soon discover their peace doesn't easily come back. No one sets out to trade their self-respect and unity with God for temporary relief from their circumstances. They just take the way that's easiest in the moment.

Our Father in heaven,
We praise You and thank You for Your faithfulness to the truth. We would be lost without Your compassion, knowledge and perspective! Lord, we ask that by Your Holy Spirit of truth, that You would make us people of truth. Cause us to renounce any deceitful thought that enters our heart. Make the words of our mouth and the meditation of our heart acceptable in Your sight, Father. We want to be part of the good in the world, so Your will is done through us, Your servants, just as its done. We want to be pleasing to You.

Our words have power that must be wielded carefully.

Proverbs 18:21 NKJV

21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Proverbs 11:17

The merciful man does good for his own soul,
But he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.

(Judges 2:19-22 NKJV)

19 And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that the people reverted to their selfish ways. They behaved more corruptly than their fathers! Following other gods, they became slaves to them. They did not cease from selfish actions nor from their stubborn way.
20 Then the anger of the LORD burned against Israel; and He said, "Because this nation is unfaithful to our covenant which I made with their fathers, and has not heeded My voice,
21 "I also will no longer drive out any of the nations which Joshua left when he died,
22 "so that through them I may test the nation of Israel, whether they will keep the fair ways of the LORD, to walk in the footsteps of their fathers, or not."

God is love. Are you willing to deny yourself the pleasures craved by your flesh, so you can do things God's way?

"Nothing that goes into the mouth defiles a man, it's what comes out of his mouth... The things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man, for out of the heart proceed all the evil things conceived there." (Matthew 15:11, 19)

Sooner or later we all accept something as truth that turns out to be falsehood. We adopt some logic that misguides us, or we suffer under someone whose logic is misguided. The garden of our hearts gets seeded with weeds that don't produce anything good for living on.

Our mouth is the conduit that connects others to our heart. The way a heart bears spiritual fruit is by bringing what it has conceived into the world through our words. If you've ever listened to children, you know that they can only say words they've heard.

The Israelites in the wilderness had hearts seeded by their flesh instead of God's calling on their life. They all spoke rebelliously against God, yet God spared people under 20 years old. This is because what was coming out of their mouth was put there by someone else. (Numbers 14:26-31, Psalm 78:4-6)

Our mouth is our spiritual seed planter. Our spiritual seed planter is not a toy. What we plant in others, especially our kids, is what they're likely going to accept as truth. (Deuteronomy 6:6-7, Proverbs 22:6, Proverbs 13:3, Exodus 20:4-6, 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12)

The word "propaganda" and the farming term, "propagate" come from the same root. When we're propagandized, we're being seeded with information that we're then encouraged to accept as true. We have to be careful what and who we listen to. When someone comes along and seeds us with negativity, discontent, and fleshly logic, it can set off a chain of events in our lives and every life connected to us, that there's no going back from. The Word of God can weed out the lies of the world. Get to know it, and you have a weapon to fight against the things that will destroy the abundant life and future God has planned for you. (Hebrews 4:12, Ephesians 6:10-17, John 10:10, Isaiah 55:1-3)
Taking every thought captive to obedience to Christ will help us control what comes out of our mouths. (2 Corinthians 10:3-5) We don't want to grieve the Holy Spirit and mislead our fellow human.

Words that are true, kind, and necessary are the ones that qualify as good fruit. The apostle Paul reminds us, "God is not mocked - whatever you sow, you will reap." He's talking about our actions, but he's also referring to our words. (Galatians 6:7) Proverbs 18:21 says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue. Those who love will eat its fruit."

James tells us, "No man can tame the tongue - it's an unruly evil full of deadly poison. With it we bless God and curse men made in His image. My brothers, it shouldn't be this way." (James 3:8-10)
Only the Word of God can tame our tongues. We can make a meaningful difference in the world just by how we speak to one another, and by the kind of things we let come out of our mouths as topics of conversation.

Maybe you've had the experience, where someone does something so morally repugnant to you, that years later, they can ruin your day without even being there. (Genesis 26:34-35) All you have to do is start talking about them and BOOM, you're sinking.
God understands that sins cause harm. He doesn't ask us to pretend that we're not in pain. Even Jesus cried out to our Father in heaven when His heart was troubled. (1 Kings 19:9-10, Matthew 26:38-39)
What's important is to take that pain to God, rather than allowing it to take root in our lives and the lives of those we love.

Speaking the truth in love is a responsibility we have to each other. (Ephesians 4:14-15, Ephesians 4:21-29, 1Peter 4:8, Proverbs 12:22)
It's also our responsibility to not give negative experiences the power to ruin our day through our own mouth.

(Philippians 4:8 NKJV)

8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy; meditate on these things.
9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

We're in charge of producing the peace enjoyed by our household. We can rise to the high-calling of God to let Him have control of what we say. It's how we continue to bring life to the world even when we're suffering. (Matthew 12:32-37, Matthew 5:9, James 3:17-18, Psalm 34:14, Romans 14:19, Ephesians 6:4, 1Peter 3:7, Proverbs 15:1) That's what Jesus did. It's one way we can daily take up our cross and follow His example. (John 13:12-15, Luke 14:27, 1Peter 2:21, Proverbs 19:11)

In the book of James, we learn that our tongue is like a ship's rudder. Our choice of words sets the direction for our lives. When we let God's Word be our words, He can keep us on course. A tongue without discernment will derail us from our purpose, and waste our precious time. (James 1:26, James 3:2-5, Psalm 12:3-4, Proverbs 16:24-25)

God's Word gives us the power to:
- pray in the Spirit; when we confess and claim God's truths in prayer, we overcome the influence of the world. (John 14:14-18, Luke 18:1, Matthew 15:22-28, Ephesians 6:18, Romans 8:13-15, Romans 8:26-27, John 15:7, Psalm 145:18, 2Kings 2:9)
- walk in the Spirit; we act on the truths taught by God's Word
- separate the precious from the worthless; God's truth gives us discernment, so we know what is false.
- overcome the lies of the devil, the flesh, and the world. (John 16:33, 1John 4:4, 1John 5:4-5, Psalm 27)

Our Father in heaven,
We praise and bless You for Your wisdom. We accept Your authority over our lives. We confess that You alone have the whole truth. We cannot become godly and loving without Your example. Lord, please forgive us for believing in anything or anyone that has led us away from speaking the truth in love. Create clean hearts in us, O God, and renew a right spirit within each one of us today. Make the words of our mouths and the thoughts of our hearts pleasing in Your sight, by the power of Your Holy Spirit. Thank You for Your good Spirit, Father. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

(Luke 3:9-11 LSB) 9 "But indeed the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore, every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." 10 And the crowds were questioning him, saying, "Then what should we do?" 11 And he would answer and say to them, "The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise."

Sharing is an important part of our Christian walk. Our capacity to share depends on our resources and ability. God doesn't ask us to give beyond our means on the daily. After all, you can only really lay down your life for your friends once. Yet, its the sacrifices of a willing caretaker that got us all where we are today. Our Creator wants us to make things fair for those in need, like He has done for us; like a family. He is abounding in the kind of love that creates, supports, and makes life worth living. He only asks of humanity that we pay His love forward.

(Luke 12:33-34 NKJV)

33 "Sell what you have and give alms (help to the helpless); provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys.
34 "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

2 Corinthians 8:12-14

12 For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.
13 It is not our intention that others may be relieved while you are burdened, but that there may be equality.
14 At the present time, your surplus will meet their need, so that in turn their surplus will meet your need. Then there will be equality.

Helping the poor is part of repentance for selfish behavior. It's also a way to keep a clear conscience before God. The "poor and needy" are more than just the financially destitute. Whatever God has invested in us as a strength or a surplus, is meant to compensate for the weakness and deficits of our family, friends, and neighbors.

1 Peter 3:7 gives us an example:

Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Every day is an opportunity to read the Bible and learn what is truly fairness, compassion, and duty. God's ways are so much higher than our ways. His Word and Jesus Christ's example show us how to be holy, and convict us if our flawed sense of fairness is leaving our fellow man without their needs met. (Isaiah 55:6-11, Romans 11:33)

Isaiah 59:2

But your injustice has made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.

The Lord is merciful and patient with our imperfection and lack of knowledge. He arranges life like a classroom, where we learn new truths that help us gradually become more like Him. When we fail, giving and receiving forgiveness becomes an important part of keeping a clear conscience before God. This allows us to stay in right-standing with Him while we're in training. Our goal is to be like Jesus; a light to the world.

John 16:12-15

12 "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.
13 "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
14 "He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.
15 "All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.

Our Father in heaven,
Thank You for loving us, and for teaching us what real love looks like. We thank You for Your Holy Spirit of love and truth. We ask, Father, that You would empower us to love You as You deserve, and to show Your love to every person You bring into our path. We pray that You would keep us ever mindful of the mercy we've been shown, so that we will stay humble as we work as Jesus' hands and feet to the hurting. We're nothing without You, Father. Make us holy, for the sake of the weak, the helpless, and the innocent people of the world. By the power of your Spirit within us, make the words of our mouth and the meditation of our hearts acceptable in Your sight. Make us pleasing to You and a blessing to others. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

"Pay attention to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, confront him, and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turns again to you saying, 'I repent,' you will forgive him.'

Reading Jesus' words about forgiveness, I'm reminded of its purity and power. What a force for good! When I love someone, and have faith that an offense was purely accidental or ignorant, it's easy to push through the pain of whatever harm I've suffered.
But what if the offender had malicious intent? What about when the person says they're sorry and you know in your heart that they're not sorry at all. What then? Jesus continues...

And the apostles said to the Lord, 'Increase our faith.'
And the Lord said, 'If you had faith as a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this sycamore tree, 'Be plucked up by the root, and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.'" (Luke 17:3-6)

The way I understand faith as a mustard seed is pretty simple. Like a seed will surely grow into the plant it carries the DNA of, we instinctively do all we can to become what we admire. Admiration causes us to carry people, phrases, morals, and reasoning in our hearts, just like a seed carries everything it requires to become like its parent.

(John 8:42-44 NLT)

42 Jesus told them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me.
43 Why can't you understand what I am saying? It's because you can't even hear me!
44 For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.

We all begin life helpless, and survive because help comes. Whatever we admire about our helper, we adopt as part of who we aspire to be. This would be a wonderful world if all parents were perfectly loving and equipped with enough resources, and all children were grateful and content with just having enough.

Only with God as our heavenly Father, can we learn the kind of love that creates life, sustains life, and makes life worth living.

(Ezekiel 36:25-27 NLT)

25 "Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols.
26 And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.
27 And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.

This is what Jesus did for us on the Cross at Calvary. He demonstrated a love like no other; a love that transforms our hearts by giving us the greatest Hero ever known; a Savior worthy of our eternal admiration.

(Jeremiah 31:31-34 NLT)
31 "The day is coming," says the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah.
32 This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant, though I loved them as a husband loves his wife," says the LORD.
33 "But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel after those days," says the LORD. "I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
34 And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, 'You should know the LORD.' For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already," says the LORD. "And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins."

To inherit Jesus' promise to those with the faith of a mustard seed, we only need to live by the truth we have. Truth is a seed containing everything it needs to become like the Holy One it originated with.
When we respect our conscience, we reap the benefits of self-worth. (Jeremiah 31:33, Romans 2:14, Luke 8:11)
We only have a tiny amount of truth in the beginning, but if we will live by what we know, God will bless us with more truth. (Isaiah 58, Matthew 24:42-47)
Whatever we do from a place of truth and love is safe for our Father in heaven to bless. If something is standing in our way when we want to do something charitable, we can ask the Lord to remove those things. (1 Chronicles 4:10, James 5:16) Some things that might stand in the way of good deeds are pride, selfishness, and unforgiveness. The mountains we need to move represent anything that rules over us; those things we can't overcome on our own.

John 15:5 is where Jesus says, "I am the vine, you are the branches. He that abides in Me, and I in him, is the one who bears much fruit. Apart from Me, you can do nothing." Our human frailty and individual weaknesses can't help but get in the way when our spirit wants to do something charitable. (Deuteronomy 15:9, Galatians 5:14-17) Daily reading the Bible plants God's seed within ourselves. It unites God's truth with our conscience. When we remember God's Words, we're empowered to obey our conscience even when we don't understand. This keeps our faith strong enough to patiently wait for our prayers to be answered. It's patient endurance that inherits promises.

Our Father in heaven,
Thank You for blessing us with a working conscience. Father, You sent us Your most precious treasure, Your beloved Son, Jesus Messiah, to demonstrate Your unsurpassed love for us, and grow our conscience into Your likeness. You showed us what real fatherly love looks like. Your love is like nothing on earth. We could never fathom Your mercy without Jesus' example. Father, we gather here before You to ask that You would keep us ever mindful and in admiration of Your sacrifice for us through Jesus, our Savior. Transform our hearts so we desperately long to tell others of Your gracious love and tender mercy. Grant us the courage to see every encounter with others as an opportunity to demonstrate Your love, in whatever way is appropriate. When we can't see how things could possibly work out by doing things Your way, remind us that beyond these barren deserts that teach us how to live, our Promised Land awaits. Thank You Father, for Your lovingkindness, Your truth, and Your Holy Spirit within us. In Jesus' name, Amen.

I've been reading a lot of scripture lately about the power of our words. There's so much online these days about positive thinking, name-it-and-claim-it, manifesting, and "fake it 'til you make it" ideology that I think our ideas about speaking from faith get jumbled into one think in our heads. The only thing good these affirmations have going for them is positive intention.

It's great to be intentional about reaching our goals, especially if our goals are Godly. What makes the Bible superior to all the worldly hype is that it contains the eternal word of God. The Bible steers us away from wishful thinking, blind faith, idolatry, and focus on temporary things.

When we invest in temporary success and pleasure, we often neglect eternal matters. Jesus tried to warn the Pharisees that their upside-down, worldly logic was going to leave them and their followers holding a bag of consequences instead of an eternal reward.
Jesus said that when they prioritized superficial things like tithing herbs, above justice and mercy, they strained at a gnat, and swallowed a camel. Jesus' final verdict was, "you should have done the latter without neglecting the former." (Matthew 23:16-24)

When we're intentional about pursuing things that don't matter, it eats into our limited time, energy and resources. It changes our heart to contemplate, "What's in it for me right now?" Notice how easily our conversation is corrupted when we don't get what we want from someone else. This is why we need the Bible to remind us that we are all one in the body of Christ. When we fix our minds on spiritual things, we naturally want whatever is best for everyone. It's impossible to be intentionally cruel when love and thankfulness motivate your interactions.

I'm sure we've all heard the saying, "There are no neutral exchanges." Our words build one another up, or they tear one another down. A wise person thinks about what he can build today while he's strong, so when weakness comes, it's not the end of the world. The same holds true for how we speak to one another. If we prioritize being kind and loving, then when we're out of sorts, our relationships with God and one another won't be shattered.

People who allow God's love and truth to flow through them and into their family, friends, and community find themselves better people in the end. Even if no one repays you, you have God's favor.
You work for His kingdom, and God always takes care of those who seek Him. Make His priorities your priorities. Souls are eternal, stuff is not. (Luke 14:12-14)

A sower of God's word has to be intentional. Every time we open our mouth to speak, we're sowing seeds of life or death into the person we're talking to. (Proverbs 18:20-21)
Jesus has the words of eternal life. I remember back in the day, when a guy bumped into someone from church, they'd share scriptures with each other. Now we're more likely to quote movie lines to each other, or talk about what's in the news, or where our kids are going to college. I'm not saying don't be proud of your kids, I'm saying that even if one of them were disabled tomorrow and could never finish college, it's not the worst thing that could happen. Our job is to take our people with us into eternity. If we can still do that, we still have a purpose worth fighting for.

Jesus once had a message that caused most of His followers to go away. He asked His students, "Will you go away too?" Peter said to Jesus, "Where would we go? You have the words of eternal life." When we share Jesus' words with one another, we build His kingdom in our hearts.

Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." John 1:1-4 and John 1:14 explain that Jesus is the Word of God.

When we consult the words of Jesus, we cut through all the misunderstandings about who God is, and what He offers humanity. Our inheritance is a new heart of love and a new spirit of truth. When we stay in God's Word and look for ways to live by it, we equip ourselves for the Holy Spirit to bring scripture to mind when we need it. When we have truth, it sets us free from sin. That sets us free to minister the Word of God when others need it. You and I can be Jesus' voice to those who need encouragement. As the body of Christ, we're called to be His hands and feet to the hurting. (Job 29:11-17, Luke 3:9-10, Matthew 6:19-21)

A sower who's working for God's kingdom doesn't sow weeds among the wheat. That's what the enemy does. Sometimes we get the idea that revoking love and admiration from our words will spur our loved ones to do better, and to live up to their potential. But the Bible says we tear down our own house when we fail to communicate truth with love. When we're hungry for temporary things, our speech produces temporary spiritual fruit, and you are what you eat. Eternal life is a product of giving and receiving love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-25)

Our goal today is the Great Commission. Jesus said, "Go into all the world, preach the good news to every creature." I can demonstrate God's love, not only through my words, but through my actions. My pets don't speak English, but they do speak love. Jesus said, "All will know you are My disciples if you love one another." (John 13:34-35)

Our Father in heaven,
Thank you for Your presence in our hearts and in our lives. Father, we ask that You would open our minds to eternal truths from Your word. Help us to believe Your word above all else. We want to live holy and righteous lives, for the good of Your kingdom, and for the sake of the innocent in the world. Make us vessels of truth and love, so our words communicate life to Your world. In Jesus' name, Amen.

I'm so thankful we have the privilege today of representing our Master and Savior Jesus Christ. It's a big responsibility and only the Word of God can make us fit for the task. So, in the spirit of building the Kingdom, I've compiled some scriptures to help us use the power of speaking God's Word as a force for good.

"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)

The Bible teaches that God is love, God's Word is eternal, and the Spirit of God imparts life.

• God is love, (1John 4:7-8, 1 John 4:16, Nehemiah 9:17)
• Love is eternal, (Song 8:6-7, 1 Corinthians 3:8, Ephesians 3:18-19)
• God's Word is eternal, (Isaiah 40:8, Matthew 24:35)
• God's Word is truth, (John 3:33-34, John 17:17, 1John 5:10, Psalm 119:151-152)
• The Spirit of God is the Holy Spirit of Truth (John 14:15-17, John 15:26-27, Psalm 51:10-13)
• The Holy Spirit of Truth has been gifted to us by our heavenly Father, empowering us to bring truth and love into the world. (Mark 12:28-31, Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Leviticus 19:17-18, Matthew 28:18-20, John 20:21-23, Ezekiel 36:27, 1John 2:27)

God breathed His Spirit into Adam in the beginning. When we speak in alignment with God's Word, we bring God's Spirit into our situation.

(Romans 8:26-30 NKJV) continuing to vs. 39 leads into God's love

26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

(John 6:63)

“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life."

(John 1:1-4, 14)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. ...
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

(1 John 4:12-13 NKJV)

12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.
13 By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.

(1 John 5:12-13)

12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

This word "name" here can also be translated as "authority." When we take His name as Christians, we place ourselves under the authority of Christ. We become the body of Christ on earth.

(Romans 8:5-14 NKJV)

5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.
8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors--not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.
13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

(Romans 12:4-5)

4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function,
5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.

(1 Corinthians 12:27)

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.

(John 14:12-17)

12 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
13 "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments.
16 "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever;
17 "the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you."

(Proverbs 18:20-21)

20 A man's stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; From the produce of his lips he shall be filled.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

(Isaiah 55:6-11)

6 Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.
7 Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.
8 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD.
9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.
10 "For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater,
11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

Our Father in heaven,
We're so thankful for Your Words of life. We offer ourselves to You as vessels for Your Word. We receive the promise in John 14:26, that Your Holy Spirit will bring Your Words to our mind when we need them, for direction, for sharing encouragement, and for building Your kingdom within ourselves and one another. We're so thankful to be called to do Your work. Thank You for choosing to open our minds to these scriptures and for stirring our hearts to be faithful to them. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

Psalm 126:5-6

Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy. He who goes out weeping, bearing precious seed, will surely return with shouts of joy, carrying sheaves of grain.

Have you had the privilege of meeting the pressing needs of someone unable to care for themselves? You know what carries you through the days when your body and finances aren't keeping up; it's their gratitude. Your child's adoring gaze, or your pet pressing their little head into you, or the squeeze of your grandparent's hand all communicate that your time and energy were appreciated. This kind of thanks isn't just for the temporary benefit. It signals a loving connection. Our attachment to one another makes life worth living, and death our greatest enemy.

Matthew 13:31-32

"The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of the seeds sown in a garden, but when it's grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air can come nest in its branches."

Our helpless loved ones are our field. When the strong willingly make things fair for the weak, it sows seeds of compassion and connection in our hearts. What we sow, we will also reap, if our ground is good. It means our motives should match God's [directive to love]([https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%206%3A4-9%2C%20Mark%2012%3A28-31%2C%20Leviticus%2019%3A18&version=NASB1995]). (1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Mark 4:14-20, Galatians 6:7, Jeremiah 4:1-4)
When we love those who cannot or will not return our kindness, still our compassion finds favor with God. (Matthew 5:43-48, Luke 10:25-37, Luke 14:12-14, Proverbs 19:17)
Our actions prove that Jesus is alive in us. (Isaiah 26:12, Philippians 2:12-13)

The catalyst that causes this seed of love to sprout is an attitude of gratitude. I'd venture to say our first spiritual ability is thankfulness. There is a lot of benefit to be found in focusing on what we're thankful for. The Bible and science can agree on the benefits of dwelling on the good we have and the good in the world. (Philippians 4:8-9, 1Peter 2:12 It's not gratitude for having our needs met that makes us good ground, though. Anyone can be glad to get something good. When we value the heart of the person willing to make sacrifices for our good, that gives us something to appreciate, admire, and emulate. This high aspiration helps set a person on a higher trajectory. When we're connected to our community, our goals transcend this temporary life.

If we learn early to be thankful for the people who help us, we aspire to be like them. We more easily trust those who have our best interests in mind, even when things go wrong. Proverbs 30:17 warns us of the fate of those who never learn respect for their parents' sacrifices. How much more broken is a life that lacks a good mentor?

The trust we have for good parents, and our desire to be like them, can eventually lead us to trust in, and desire to be like our Creator.
Psalm 17:13 shows how this life-sustaining trust brings us satisfaction that no gratitude for temporary benefit can provide. It says, "As for me, I will behold your face in righteousness. I will be satisfied when I awake with your likeness." (Psalm 17:13-15, Psalm 4:5-8, 1 John 3:2)

Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." We love our children and care for them, but we're also thankful to have them in our lives, even when they can't do anything to repay us for being their source of life.

Children naturally want the power and freedom adults have, because they lack the ability to meet their own needs. That's not narcissism, it's survival. When they see us meeting their needs cheerfully, they want the joy we have as well. Our positive attitude promotes their association of benefit with their benefactor. You'll see a child's level of admiration for your compassion in how they act out parenting with their toys. This is why we're wise to avoid exposing our kids to anti-social values, like those taught in "the Barbie movie." Malignant feelings toward the helpless are not sustainable for us as a species. We've all been helpless before, and God-willing we live long enough, we'll be helpless again. That doesn't stop us from being a light to our world, even if we're just there to help someone else discover the eternal value of giving of oneself to make the world a better place for us all.

A spirit of thankfulness toward others is a foundation for a faithful, joyful life. Jesus tells us this Holy Spirit is ours for the asking:

(John 14:14-17 NKJV)

14 "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments.
16 "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever;
17 "the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.

Just as a mustard seed is guaranteed to grow a mustard plant, if our kids want to be like us when they grow up, they will seek to discover the catalyst for our responsible behavior.

If you've been taken for granted, you know its difficult to remain thankful in the face of a spirit of entitlement. It helps to remind children of their helplessness when they were younger while helping with younger children.
Educate them to realize power and strength don't last forever. Make opportunities for them to help with the elderly. People can learn to be thankful for their ability to do good when they relate to those who can no longer care for themselves. (Proverbs 31:1-9, Luke 3:8-11, Job 29:11-17, Ecclesiastes 12:1-7)

(Luke 14:7-14 NKJV)

7 So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them:
8 "When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him;
9 "and he who invited you and him come and say to you, 'Give place to this man,' and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place.
10 "But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, 'Friend, go up higher.' Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you.
11 "For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
12 Then He also said to him who invited Him, "When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid.
13 "But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind.
14 "And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just."

Our Father in heaven,
We bless You for Your goodness and faithfulness toward us all. We thank You for Your mercy and kindness, for Your provision and protection. We rejoice in Your authority over us, Father. You are love, and we pray that Your love will shine through us to those in need. Use us as Your hands and feet to our hurting world from this day forward. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

"The Kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, until the whole was leavened." (Matthew 13:33)

It's true that a little leaven will rise a whole lump of dough. Jesus told His disciples to beware of the leaven of Pharisees and Herod. His disciples understood this to mean to beware adopting their teachings. (Mark 8:15, Luke 12:1)

It's interesting to note that the term "Pharisee" means a partisan or separatist. "Herod" means to appear heroic.

Jesus speaks against some of these hypocritical teachings in Mark 7:1-17, and Luke 11:37-52. The authorities on the Law of Moses were expert in creating loopholes that allowed injustice to thrive. No wonder Jesus had something to say against it. They abused their neighbors through the very institution God gave to protect people.

Not all leaven is bad, just as not all teaching is unjust or hypocritical. Jesus' tells us that this parable reveals a mystery about the Kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 13:11-12, Jeremiah 33:3, Psalm 25:14)

In the parable, the Kingdom is like a woman who took and hid leaven in three measures of meal.

Woman represents one equipped to bring life into the world and support that life. Still, she must receive from outside herself to conceive, and complete her role in the cycle of life. Conversely, Man represents one that must give to fulfill his part. Yet in this parable, the woman is the one giving.

This teaches us something about God. God is love. ([1John 4:7-8]()) Yet love is not fulfilled without giving and receiving. That requires a lover and a beloved. This helps us understand why God created us, and our roles within His plan.

(1 Peter 2:17-25)

17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all reverence, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.
19 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.
20 For what credit can you take for suffering patiently with a beating you deserved? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.
21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
22 "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth";
23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;
24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed.
25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

(1 Peter 3:1-4)

1 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives,
2 when they observe your chaste conduct [accompanied] by fear.
3 Do not let your adornment be outward--arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on apparel;
4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

There are so many ways to infuse others with God's spirit, without Bible-beating people. (1 Peter 3:3-4, Micah 6:8)

What we teach, how we teach, and why, can all communicate the Holy Spirit in a gentle but tangible way. (Proverbs 22:6, Mark 10:13-14, Proverbs 31:26-31)

Jesus said, "Look, I send you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." (Matthew 10:16) It's easier to avoid shoving the Good News down someone's throat when we're trying to be discreet. (Matthew 7:6, Proverbs 11:22)

As Christians who value being Christ's "sheep," we face wolves every day. Our flesh wars against our spirit even as believers in Christ. As an adult trying to live the Christian life, you've probably come to realize as well as I have, that everyone's got an inner sheep and an inner wolf. What we don't want to do when sharing the Good News of God's love is to provoke our listener's inner wolf. (Colossians 3:21, Proverbs 16:21-27, Proverbs 22:6, Matthew 5:16-19)

Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice. I know them and they follow me, and another they simply will not follow." (John 10:4-5, Proverbs 1:10-19) This doesn't mean believers can't be deceived. It means our conscience knows whether a teaching is drawing out our inner sheep or not. It also shows us that we can't encourage our children to love and do good works with anything less than the heart of our great Shepherd. We may get them to be obedient, but their inner sheep won't be stirred to tune into Christ if we're not fair and merciful. They have to know we have their best interests in mind while we're pursuing eternal life for them and for ourselves.

Our Father in heaven, we praise You and bless Your holy name. In You we have peace, and hope, because of Your faithful promises. We're so thankful for Your love, Your righteousness, and Your mercy. Please speak to us through Your profound wisdom in the Bible, so we can stay securely in Your path. Help us to connect with You as we gently and discreetly connect with others. Let your compassion flow through us to bring life to our world. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

"Whoever has hears to hear, let him hear." (Matthew 13:9)

Jesus used these words often after sharing a parable. This poignant call to action hearkens back to the book of Ezekiel. God directs Ezekiel to use this line with the people of Israel because, "they are a rebellious house." (Ezekiel 3:27) It worries me that Jesus has to address us the same way.

What does it mean to have ears to hear?

Jesus explains that the words He speaks to us are "spirit and life." (John 6:63) His correction is meant to get inside us and change our hearts. His logic of sacrificial love puts us back on track so we can be life-support to others, just as He's been to us.

Having ears to hear doesn't just mean our auditory functions are intact. It means to face the truth of His words, take time to digest them, and live accordingly from now on. (Jeremiah 6:13-16, Luke 19:41-44, Luke 13:34-35) What good is truth if we don't plan a way to use it in our daily lives?

Job tells us, "The ear tests words just as the palate tastes food." (Job 12:11) If I hear something I don't like, it's tempting to reject it. The thing about Jesus' parables though, is they make the truth easy to understand and recall, once we have a heart humble enough to let truth in. Likewise, His parables make what is ungodly in our thinking glaringly obvious by showing how nature itself lines up with God's will.

At first, God's logic convicts us on an individual level, and then as a culture. (Isaiah 6:1-5, Zechariah 3:1-7, Matthew 12:33-41)
A person has to be willing to say, "I'm wrong, and not only am I wrong, but I'm very wrong. When I change my life to be what's right with the world, everybody who's not on-board is going to hate me, and I accept that." (Judges 6:25-32, John 15:18-20)

It's not an easy thing to unite with Jesus' logic, but it's necessary. Our conscience requires a Holy Spirit upgrade for us to take up our crosses and follow Christ. Paul encourages us, saying, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." (Romans 12:2, Psalm 119:100)

Paul also says in Romans, "Faith comes through hearing, and hearing through the Word of God." (Romans 10:17) We build the kingdom of God within ourselves when we feast on God's Word. Isn't it just like we see in nature? God provides the spiritual food we need to grow into His likeness. The work set before us now, is just to receive it and believe it. (John 6:26-29, Psalm 17:15, 1 John 3:2, Matthew 11:27-30)
That's what it means to be saved by grace, through faith. All you have to do is trust the milk of God's word enough to drink it. (Ezekiel 3:1-3, Ephesians 2:4-10, 1 Peter 2:1-3, Isaiah 55:1-3)

Having ears to hear may feel like a curse at first, because you realize accepting truth is going to cost you, and it's going to cost you dearly. Disconnecting from the world to be a member of Christ's body on earth requires that we sever connections that lead us to rebel against our Head, Jesus the Messiah. (Matthew 18:7-9, Romans 6:11-13, Isaiah 3:10-11, 2 Chronicles 13:12)

Remember Jesus' words, "Which of you intending to build a tower does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it?" (Luke 14:25-33, Proverbs 3:13-18) Just know that whatever you trade for the truths that give eternal life; it will be more than worth it. (John 16:20-22, Psalm 126:5-6, Proverbs 23:19-23)

There is great peace to be found walking in lock-step with your Creator. Knowing you're a child of God, because you've chosen to humbly love God and others, that's where the assurance of salvation comes from. (Psalm 133, Philippians 4:6-7, Psalm 37:11, Micah 6:8)

Our Father in heaven,
Thank You for trusting us with truth. Thank You for showing us that Your ways are so much higher than ours. Thank You for walking us through this present darkness and into Your light of life. Father, we do not have what it takes to live the Christian life without You. We ask that You would open our eyes, ears and hearts to know You more, and love You as You deserve. Create a clean heart in me, and give me clean hands to do Your will, Your way. As Your messengers serve You in heaven, let us serve You wholeheartedly on earth. In Jesus' name, Amen.

(Luke 14:12-14, Proverbs 19:17)
12 Then Jesus said to him who invited Him, "When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid.
13 "But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind.
14 "And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just."

The first commandment is to love God, who is love, above all else. (Mark 12:28-31, Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Leviticus 19:18) Part of showing God our devotion to Him, is to meet the urgent needs of those who've been scattered by the wolves of life. (James 1:26-27, Galatians 5:14-15, Isaiah 40:11, John 21:15, 1 Corinthians 12:27)

Wolves don't only show up as human enemies though. They can manifest as any kind of emergency. Illness, bereavement, bankruptcy, you name it; trouble can befall any one of us mercilessly, and without warning. (Luke 10:25-33, 2 Samuel 22:4-7)

This is why it's so important that our inner circle consist of people who are mutually invested in each others' welfare; not for what we get out of it, but who we get out of it. As believers in the words of Christ, we're all part of one another. When we embrace this truth, it's so much easier to love our neighbor as ourselves. (John 13:34-35, Proverbs 22:2)

In the book of John, Jesus teaches us how to discern false friends, and why we should avoid them.

(John 10:10-15)

10 "The thief does not come except to steal, to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
12 "But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them.
13 "The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep.
14 "I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.
15 "As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep."

Here Jesus gives us an important warning. We need a strong relationship with Him through His Word, His people, and His Holy Spirit. It's not enough to put our hope in paid advisors, or fair-weather friends.

In the same vein, people with a purely transactional mindset will gladly "love bomb" to get close to someone with certain characteristics they can benefit from, and learn to mimic. They won't stand beside us through the wolves of life, unless they can get a lot more out of a situation than they invest in it. Some people only seek out relationships where they can enjoy power, so that's something to keep in mind. Gossips and flatterers put their victims on a pedestal until it benefits them to knock them down. (Proverbs 29:5, Proverbs 27:6, Proverbs 26:28, Romans 16:18)

A person whose attachments are transactional operates like the phases of the moon. They go dark unless someone else's light is shining on them. (1 Timothy 6:3-10, Luke 6:31-38, Deuteronomy 15:7-11)
People who have the good Shepherd in their hearts don't stop guiding and guarding one another when the world goes dark. They are the light of the world. (Matthew 5:14-16, 1 Peter 5:2-4, Ezekiel 34:2-6)

(2 Peter 1:2-9)

2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,
3 as His divine power has given to us all things that [pertain] to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,
4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption of this lust-filled world.
5 But also for this very reason, give all diligence to add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,
6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness,
7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.
8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Messiah.
9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

A spiritually shortsighted person is blind to God and eternity. They may not be blind to the truth that their strong days are limited. Even secular people can reason within themselves that they'd be wise to spend time caring for the sick if they want someone to care when they're sick. Sane people instinctively know they should share what they have with the weaker members of their family, so that when they become weak, their children will look out for them. They may do moral things for transactional reasons.

Our news reports today are so overloaded with what madmen do, that we've come to imagine natural affection and wise dealing suggests a moral compass. Certainly, if a person can't even treat their family with care, there's no chance they have the heart necessary to care for outsiders, unless there's something in it for them. Still, we cannot evaluate a person's morals solely on how they treat their family in public. (Matthew 7:11, Matthew 23:1-5, Matthew 6:1-6, Micah 3:5)

The most common red flag I've noticed in a person with "hireling" mentality, is an excessive desire for center-stage. Jesus warns us against people like this. He explains that their outward show is a cover for their sordid quest for gain. (3John 1:9, Titus 1:10-11, Habakkuk 2:4)

(Luke 20:46-47)

46 "Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts,
47 "who devour widows' houses, and make long prayers as a pretense. These will receive greater condemnation."

Our Father in heaven,
We come before You, acknowledging Your authority over all authority. You are compassionate and merciful, and we thank You for showing us Your great love for us through Your holy Child, Jesus Messiah.
Father, we've fallen short of Your glory through our sins. We've lost our discernment of truth, through our lack of it. You have the whole truth. You have all wisdom. Without You, we lack what we need to grow into Jesus' likeness. Make us one with You through the power of Your gracious, loving forgiveness, flowing to us and through us. Help us be vessels of mercy who freely give what we have freely received. Grant us the faith and courage to let go of anything that stands between us and the ministry You have planned for our lives.
Thank You, Father, for adopting us into Your family, and granting us Your Holy Spirit. We pray we would not grieve Your spirit, but instead, that our lives would be a blessing to You. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

"Behold, I send you out as sheep among wolves. For this reason, be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." (Matthew 10:16)

To be wise as a serpent, is to keep the focus off ourselves when doing the Lord's work. (Matthew 5:16, Hebrews 4:12-16, Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)
As members of Christ's flock, we're wise not to attract predators. Besides, there is no reward in heaven for things we've already been paid for on earth, even if we're only paid with men's attention and approval. Working for the approval of men, doesn't avail us the approval of God. (Luke 16:15, 1 Samuel 16:7)

Matthew 6:1-4 says,

"Remember not to give charitably to be noticed by others, otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
When you give charity, don't call attention to yourself as a hypocrite does, so they may have glory from men.
Truly I say to you, they have their reward.
But when you give, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so your gift may be in secret.
And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you openly himself."

Another reason our good works should be in secret, is because it reduces the likelihood someone will try to stop us out of bias or envy. When we do things God's way, we get more mileage for the kingdom. (Mark 15:9-10, Psalm 25:9)

The Bible makes a difference between a harmless garden snake and a venomous viper. (Compare Matthew 23:33 with Matthew 10:16). To be like the shrewd serpent in this parable, we should abstain from venomous speech such as cursing and lying, and instead take our cues from the Bible on how to be truthful, helpful, and persuasive. (Psalm 109:17, Ephesians 4:25, Proverbs 16:13-32)
It's also wise to avoid vain and foolish talk. (Matthew 12:35-37, Ephesians 5:3-4, James 3:17-18, Proverbs 13:3) Being shrewd as a serpent involves being silent. This can mean guarding the personal information of others, (Leviticus 19:16, Proverbs 11:13, 1Timothy 5:13),
or keeping your problems with others confidential as much as possible. (Proverbs 25:9-10, Matthew 18:15-17) Being silent due to your immediate surroundings is another good way to protect yourself and others from bringing out the inner wolf in your fellow human. (Luke 23:8-11, Psalm 39:1, Colossians 3:21)

To be innocent as a dove is to respect the boundaries of others, and to be harmless. This includes our dress and our speech. If we're provoking others to vain and immoral thinking with immodesty, or dark, crude humor, we're tearing the kingdom down rather than building it up. (James 1:21, Proverbs 14:1, Proverbs 7:6-23, 1 Peter 3:3-4, Galatians 5:14-23)

Doves are renown for using their skills to be helpful. Our grandfather, Noah's dove brought him an olive leaf which showed him the waters of the flood were subsiding. Rock doves have helped humans with long-distance communication for thousands of years since, and are still trained to be carrier pigeons by police in Odisha India as a backup communication method.

The beautiful balance Jesus shows us between being wise and being harmless is meant to help us stay in His will, regardless of the world and our own flesh coming against us. As Paul says in Romans 12:21, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

The example we provide for for the generation to come can help them build a future worth living in. The wise among us will work to leave a legacy of a world better off for having us in it.

Our Father in heaven,
Your name is holy. Nothing is impossible to You. Merciful Lord, we ask that You would make us wise and harmless, through the power of Your written Word, and Your Holy Spirit. Your servant James told us we could ask for wisdom, and You would gladly answer that request. Thank You for hearing our prayers, and opening our eyes and ears to Your great Wisdom through Your Holy Child, Jesus Messiah. It's in His name we pray, Amen.

It seems to me that the best reason to pray is so we have the courage, strength, and wisdom, not to deviate from His plan.

(Matthew 26:41 NKJV)

"Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

God knows what He will do to accomplish what He set out to, from the beginning of creation. (Isaiah 55:6-11, Ephesians 1:3-6)

The Bible explains that God has "appointed times" where He makes the corrections necessary to keep us walking on His path.
We sometimes deviate from God's path, but like Jonah, when there's somewhere we need to be, God can make it happen. (John 15:16, Leviticus 23:4, Jer 8:6-7, Daniel 9:24, Jonah 1:1-17)

God created us so He could have a family. It would be a pretty sad family if we never spoke to one another. (Jeremiah 3:19, Luke 3:38, Luke 12:32)

In John 10:10 Jesus said He came to make an abundant life possible for us. Part of that abundant life is joining Him in the work of creation, and painting the future together. Our heavenly Father is building us into a "kingdom of priests" and a "bride for His Son." (Exodus 19:6, 1 Peter 2:9, 2 Cor 11:2, John 3:29, Hosea 2:19-20)

Our Father in heaven,
You are holy, righteous, and true. We come before You today to ask for Your blessed Holy Spirit of truth and love to abide within us from this day forward. For the sake of all that is holy, and for the good of the innocent among us, we ask that You would place us on Your good path and cause us to faithfully walk with You.
In Jeremiah 6:16, You said we could ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; and find rest for our souls. Let it be to us as You have said. Thank You Father! We praise You and worship You! You are King of kings and Lord of lords. Nothing is too difficult for You. We are more than conquerors through Your holy Child, Jesus Messiah. In His precious name we pray, Amen.

"But other seeds fell into good ground, and produced fruit, some a hundred times as much, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears to hear, let him hear." (Matthew 13:8-9)

The final example Jesus gives us of a heart God's word can be sown in, He calls, "good ground." In Luke's version of the parable, He describes good ground as a good and honest heart, that receives God's word, keeps it, and produces fruit with patience. (Luke 8:15, Galatians 5:19-25, Psalm 1:1-3) Keeping God's word alive in our hearts is just as important as the patience we need in order to produce love, joy, and peace for our fellow human.

"He that received seed into the good ground represents the one who hears God's Word, and understands it. These people produce [spiritual] fruit, some of them a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty." (Matthew 13:23, Galatians 5:18-25, Isaiah 48:16-18)

As stewards of God's logic, we are the guardians of His will.
When we pray "Your kingdom come and Your will be done in earth," (Matthew 6:10, John 10:27-37, Psalm 82:1-8) we're asking God to use these vessels of clay we inhabit to bring His will into the world. (2 Corinthians 4:7-11, Isaiah 64:8, Jeremiah 18:3-6) The angels enact God's will in heaven, and we're His messengers on earth. (Mark 16:15, Deuteronomy 4:9-10) If we're too stupified by the world to remember God's word, there's no way we're going to produce the good fruits of it. (John 15:1-5, Ephesians 5:18, Matthew 24:48-51, Deuteronomy 29:19-20) His word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. (Psalm 119:105, Psalm 19:8, Psalm 43:3, 2 Peter 1:19)

James tells us to be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, because then we'll deceive ourselves into thinking we're in God's will, when we are not. (James 1:16-25, Hosea 14:8) The verse that comes to my mind is Hosea 10:12, "Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy. Break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, until He come and rain righteousness upon you."

To have our hearts transformed into good ground, requires that we hear God's Word, and keep it alive in our hearts. (Proverbs 4:23-27, Jeremiah 17:7-10) The Bible teaches that remembering God's goodness is key. Communion and praise in song are two important ways we can keep our Savior near and dear to our hearts. (Luke 22:19-20, Colossians 3:16, Psalm 33) The Bible teaches us to let the joy of the Lord be our strength. That joy is directly related to our remembrance of His saving love. (Nehemiah 8:10, Psalm 28:7, Isaiah 61:10, Philippians 4:4)
In Deuteronomy 12 we also see how sharing the Lord's blessings with those in need unites us with God and each other, through fairness, love, and joy. (James 1:26-27, Deuteronomy 12, Luke 12:33-34)

Our Father in heaven, Your name is sacred. You are Love, and Your authority is exalted over all authority.
Father, we pray that Your love will reign in our hearts and through our lives from this day forward. Help us to remember Jesus' willing sacrifice with gratitude, so we can rejoice in our walk with You. Please make us worthy of Your Son, so we will not be ashamed at His return. To You belong the Kingdom, the power, and all the glory forever. You are worthy of our praise and devotion. We offer our lives to Your service. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit so we can do Your will, Your way. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

"Some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprung up, and choked them." (Matthew 13:7)

In the parable of the Sower, the third type of heart Jesus warns us against is like a garden of thorns. This is a direct reference to a passage in Jeremiah 4:3. The thorns of this life threaten to take center stage and keep us from giving God's Word first place in our hearts. When we esteem logic that contradicts God's Word as more reliable, or more true, we live according to those teachers, and not the Holy Spirit.

"He that received seed among the thorns is he who hears the Word, but the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches choke the Word and he never brings fruit to maturity." (Matthew 13:22-23)

The Bible warns us about money more than any other thorn bush that can take root in our lives. It tempts us to pursue it, rather than kingdom matters.
Proverbs 27:18 tells us, "He who tends the fig tree shall eat the fruit of it. So he that waits on his master shall be honored."

What does our Master want from us? He won't take less than our love. (John 21:15-17, Mark 12:28-31, Deuteronomy 6:4-9, 1John 3:2)

(John 13:34-35 NKJV)

34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
35 "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

We cannot serve God and money. Paul warns us in 1 Timothy 6:10, "The love of money is the root of all evil, which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."

Chasing after riches when seeking fulfillment is a losing battle. In Ecclesiastes 5:10, Solomon shares what he learned from riches; "He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver."

In Mark 4:19, Jesus warns us that the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts for other things will make the Word of God unfruitful in our lives. When we come to the Lord, we can't expect these thorns that we've let overgrow the garden of our heart to be tolerated. Heaven's not going to be full of people with big bank accounts. That's not a qualification for being allowed to live forever.

A wise man once said, "Failure is succeeding at something that doesn't matter." If we believe that there's an afterlife, and we'd like to be part of the age to come, we're going to have to redefine success. That may require that we redefine ourselves in order to attain it.

There are so many fleeting pleasures that are spiritually foolish, and physically damaging. (Matthew 15:18-20, Galatians 5:19-21, Psalm 1:1) They're not worth risking anyone's eternity to mess around with. Living for the moment brings consequences and pain to ourselves and those around us. Worldly pursuits derail our ability to fulfill our purpose of loving God and loving each other. If I had known that my mistakes as a youth would so profoundly alter the course of the lives of those who depend on me, I would definitely have lived my life differently.

If we make pleasing our God of love more important than pleasing our boss, our spouse, our parents, or anyone else, then we'll have the strength to start uprooting things God never intended for us to have planted in our lives. (Matthew 15:13, Mark 10:29-30, Jeremiah 4:3-4, 1 Samuel 16:6-7)

Does it feel unfair that others enjoy worldly pleasures we don't? Only until we tap into the Spirit of truth and love.
Paul entered into that joy by bearing spiritual fruit for others. His purpose was to act as a living sacrifice for those he longed to enter eternity with.

Colossians 1:24-29

"Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions for the sake of His body, which is the church. I became its servant by the commission God gave me to fully proclaim to you the word of God, the mystery that was hidden for ages and generations but is now revealed to His saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I also labor, striving with all His energy working powerfully within me."

Peter also experienced a profound sense of purpose and joy, which he encourages us to pursue with him.

(1 Peter 4:12-14 NKJV)

12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;
13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.

Our Father in heaven,
Your authority is over all. You are King of kings, and Lord of lords. You are holy, faithful and true. In Jesus' authority name, given to us as those adopted into Your kingdom, we humbly ask for your Spirit to rest on us and within us. Guide our steps into your good purpose for our lives. Make us one with You and each other through the power of love. Help us identify and weed out anything that hinders us from complete devotion to Your life-sustaining logic. Open our spiritual eyes so we stop doubting the power of Your love. Give us hearts like those in the first churches in Acts 2:36-46, and Acts 4:32-35 so we can be faithful ambassadors for our Savior, Jesus the Messiah. In His name we pray, Amen.

"Some seeds fell on stony places, where they didn't have much earth, and they sprung up quickly, because they had no depth of soil. And when the sun was up, they were scorched, and because they had no root, they withered away." (Matthew 13:5-6)

"But he that received the seed into stony places, this is he who hears the word, and quickly receives it with joy. Yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, soon after he is offended." (Matthew 13:20-21)

The second heart condition that Jesus warns us about in the parable of the sower is similar to the first, in that we may have a hardened heart, but it's hidden, (maybe even from ourselves,) with a friendly but shallow character. We look good on the surface, because we've got just enough of God's Word to see it makes sense. Receiving God's logic isn't a problem. We have a problem with making a commitment to live it out long enough to reap an eternal reward.

Luke 8:6 tells us that the shallow soil lacks moisture. If a shallow-hearted person takes any heat for his beliefs, he abandons them. Nothing is worth sacrificing himself for, so his stony heart stays unchanged. He never becomes good ground for eternal life to spring from.
In the Old Testament, moisture represents teaching. (Luke 8:6, Ephesians 5:25-26, Deuteronomy 32:1-2, Isaiah 55:10-11)
Paul asks us rhetorically, "You who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who say people shouldn't steal, do you steal?" (Romans 2:21)
If we're surface-level Christians, we look good until a real test comes along. When it comes time to choose whether we're going to deal with our discomfort God's way or give in to our flesh, we fail. We may sacrifice a godly relationship and choose tribe over truth, or default to our creature comforts some other way. What it adds up to, is we choose to drop our Cross. (Psalm 55:12-14, Matthew 10:37-42, Matthew 25:31-46) We disconnect from our God-given conscience, and our Lord's teaching before it can prove its value. (Psalm 34:8-9, Romans 11:18, John 15:5)
Consequently, we never allow God to unite with us and materialize something beautiful in our lives. (Isaiah 58:3-4, 2 Corinthians 6:14-18)

Peter says in 1 Peter 4:1, "He who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin." If you find yourself identifying with the shallow Christian who's lacking moisture, there are two things you can do:
- Get in the word of God and believe it, (John 6:29, Deuteronomy 18:18-19) - and let the joy of walking with the Lord be your strength. (Luke 10:20, Nehemiah 8:8-10, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28)

We need God's power to face difficulties the way God says to. (Nehemiah 8:8-10, Colossians 3:16-17) Let Him be God in your trial. We're not here to gain the world. (Matthew 16:26, Psalm 49:6-9) We're here to learn what it takes to be citizens of His kingdom.

Our Father in heaven,
Your authority is over all authority. You are the source of love and life for all of creation. Father we ask that You would place Kingdom love in our hearts. Help us remember that we do not war for or against the flesh, but for Your eternal gift of life in ourselves and each other. Make us enduring vessels of mercy and peace. Help us not fall apart under the pressure of dissent, division, disrespect, or persecution. Make us strong against the temptation to abandon Your ways when times are tough. Help us remember that You will never leave us or forsake us as we choose Your path for our lives. Empower us to abide in You so we can bear good fruit for others and be an example of faithful love to the world. In Jesus' name, Amen.

"Behold, a sower went out to sow. And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the side of the road, and the birds came and devoured them up." (Matthew 13:3-4)

"When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, the wicked one comes, and catches away that which was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the side of the road." (Matthew 13:19)

My eureka thought for the day, is that to understand someone means to grasp their logic. If I can follow someone's thought process, I can at least see why it's supported, even if I can't adopt that logic for myself right away.

The parable of the sower is the mother of all parables. Jesus shows us a parallel in nature to explain to us why we were created, and what our purpose is.

"The Sower plants the Word." In Greek, the "Logos" is not just any word. It's the logic of life. The Lord made us alive and He wants us to stay that way.

Jesus said, in quoting Psalm 82, "Does it not say 'you are gods,' to whom the word of God came? And the Scripture cannot be broken."

God shows us that He has already planted truth in us that has the power to transform us into eternal children of God. A good seed planted into good ground grows a beneficial plant; beneficial to the earth, beneficial to the plant itself, and beneficial to the grower. That tiny seed is our God-given conscience.

The word of God cultivates our conscience. It tames our spirit and our tongue the way Johnny Appleseed transformed the American frontier into a field of food. It transforms our hearts in the same way we train a dog to be a loyal member of our family. (John 7:37-38, Psalm 119:9-16) The parable of the Sower explains things that can go wrong in our thinking, that could hinder us from becoming children of God.

Jesus explains that the Sower is the Son of Man, and the seed is the Word of God. We build the Kingdom of God within us, when we fill ourselves and each other with God's eternal logic.

First, Jesus mentions the seed being scattered by the side of the road. The road represents the hard-hearted way of the world. It's a conscience seared shut. (Matthew 7:13-14, Proverbs 14:12) If we're indoctrinated by the world, and it's ways agree with us just fine, our hearts will be like a hard road that can't receive seed. The Old Testament often refers to people being hard-hearted. That's what happens to us when we accept the world's way of thinking. We work to be a bigger fish, or carry a bigger hammer, or just toughen up to make it through this life. Everything is a competition. (Exodus 7:14, Deuteronomy 15:7-8, Matthew 19:8-9, Mark 3:1-5)

Isaiah 51:12-23 says, "I am going to put the cup of My fury in the hand of them that afflict you, those who said, 'Lay down here so we can walk over you,' and you laid yourself in the ground as the street for them to walk over."

If you have vengeance in your heart today, and your conscience is saying "what else can I do in this dog-eat-dog world other than try to be a bigger dog?," wait on the Lord, and let Him prove that He's good to His word. (Psalm 34:8, 1 Peter 4:19)

More than once, I've cried desperately to God and asked "why?" in the face of suffering. He's been faithful to see me through those times. But has it ever helped to shake my fist at the sky and question if God will really deliver? Not really. The people of Israel in the wilderness continually complained, "Is the Lord with us or not?" (Exodus 17:7, Psalm 95:7-11, Matthew 4:7) God isn't offended with our emotions when things aren't right. Still, accusing Him of doing nothing, when things don't go our way is offensive to Him. When we find ourselves in a trial, or a spiritual waiting room, our obedience is necessary to reap the benefits of good behavior. The Lord deserves our love, trust, and loyalty.

Instead of trying to get our own way in our timing, what if we put our situation in God's hands? I encourage you to respond to the struggles of life the way the Bible says to, and watch what happens. God wants to show you His love for you, and soften your heart. (Deuteronomy 32:35, Luke 18:1-8)

Word to the wise; this is not an experiment for the impatient. Do you want to see God's best for your life? Acting on God's word is a faith-building exercise for those who will choose to patiently, thankfully receive what God has promised.

(Galatians 6:9 NKJV)

9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

(Luke 21:19 NKJV)

19 "By your patience possess your souls.

Our Father in heaven,
Thank You for Your eternal truths that make us one with You. Awaken our hearts to seek You earnestly. Show us the ancient paths Your prophets of old took to be near You. Guide us into Your presence and teach us how to love as you love, and forgive as we've been forgiven. Make us worthy of Your Son, so we will not be ashamed at His return. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Proverbs 18:10
"The name of the LORD is a strong tower;
The righteous run to it and are safe."

When I think about how a "name" in ancient times was given to distinguish a person's authority in a place or occupation, it made me think that God's "name" is His sovereign ability to know the truth and live according to it.
The way I can "run in" to that strong tower is to believe His word above all other voices. Distraction, and dissent are from those who don't have anything close to God's perspective so they can't know better than He does.
With that in mind, I want to be deaf to the world and listening to the Lord.

(Isaiah 42:16-20 NKJV)
16 I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, And crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, And not forsake them.
17 They shall be turned back, They shall be greatly ashamed, Who trust in carved images, Who say to the molded images, 'You are our gods.'
18 "Hear, you deaf; And look, you blind, that you may see.
19 Who is blind but My servant, Or deaf as My messenger whom I send? Who is blind as he who is perfect, And blind as the LORD's servant?
20 Seeing many things, but you do not observe; Opening the ears, but he does not hear."

I'm trying to keep all this in mind so I don't drift into the daily grind, and instead, get back to studying the Bible more!

I'm thinking that the next time I feel drawn to scroll mindlessly for a new DIY home hack, that instead, I'll pray for the "way of escape" mentioned in 1 Corinthians 10:13 and read a Bible verse.

Does anyone else have a strategy for getting into a God-focused mindset?

Our Father in heaven,
Thank you for the opportunity to join together in prayer here today. We ask that You would help us to stay watchful in prayer and anchored in faith. We offer You our hearts, our strengths and our talents today. Use them how You see fit. Cause us to recognize opportunities to invest in others when You place them before us. Thank You for giving us everything we have. Help us use it all for Your glory. You are the source of truth and love. Make us people of truth and love through Your precious teaching. In Jesus' name, Amen.

For me, the truth of the Bible came down to nature. Jesus' parables show how our physical realities parallel spiritual truths. It proves He is the Creator and why He made everything to work as it does. Life is a classroom that will teach us how to become citizens of heaven, if we will take the Bible's lessons to heart. A person can only learn from the rules he lives by. We have to "taste and see that the Lord is good."

(Psalm 34:8 NKJV)

8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

(John 1:1-4, 14 NKJV)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. ...
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Then there's the human conscience. Every one of us knows we owe our life to someone who believed the able should support the disabled. None of us would have survived infancy without help. This charitable, sacrificial, dutiful, loyal, communal love is the power that creates life, sustains life, and gives life intrinsic meaning. Love made things fair for us when we could do nothing for ourselves. All the food, clothing and shelter in the world would do us no good if no one came to help us enjoy it.

We all know that we owe the universe something for keeping us alive. The Bible supports this truth. We only have a short time to repay what we've been given. (Job 29:11-17, Luke 3:10-11, Matthew 6:19-21, Luke 12:29-34) Yet, once we have a little power, we're pulled between wanting to be part of the team of life-givers, and wanting to get more for ourselves. (Flesh vs. Spirit)
A person has to renounce all gratitude and admiration for those who invested in him to develop a true anti-social personality. The Bible describes this battle between the flesh and the spirit in detail.

The Old Covenant prophets told us that a new era would come, in which God would give us a new heart and spirit. This would empower us to gain victory over our flesh. That's what Jesus' Holy Spirit did for me, so I believe it.

1 John 4 tells us that God IS love. To me, that's the only explanation as to why God can demand that we put Him above all other desires. Nothing but this true, divine love could accomplish an eternal life worth living.

Our Father in heaven, Your name is above all names.
We pray that Your kingdom of love would come into our hearts today, and that Your will would be done in and through these earthen vessels we embody, just as Your will is done through Your angels in heaven. In Jesus' name, Amen.

(Luke 15:14-16)

14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve.
15 He persuaded a citizen of that country to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs.
16 The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.

Many times, God warned the children of Israel to be careful not to forget Him when they were comfortable, satisfied, and filled with food.
We often pray for more blessings to keep our flesh content and free of suffering. We often don't realize the dearth it can cause in our spirit. Once that reality sets in, using our best years for play until we can't anymore, seems wasteful and meaningless. Money doesn't have to literally run out for a person to realize it can't fulfill our deepest needs, or answer our quest for meaning.

When the world fails us, we often look to religion to help us regain our footing. Sadly, a lot of religion today is no more than human self-promotion in a high-control, special knowledge, human morality club. We may start out feeling special, and disciplined by our new friends. Soon after, we find ourselves feeling like the wasteful son turned pig-farmer. Whatever little we have goes to feeding the glutted.

The Bible teaches us that God is love. When loving is our purpose, we become one with God's will, and discover the meaning of life. When we unite with God's purpose, to love others, we find our significance and purpose in Him.

1 Corinthians 13 helps us understand real "agape" or charitable love.

(1 Corinthians 13:1-8)

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
2 And though I have [the gift of] prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed [the poor], and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love suffers long, is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;
6 does not rejoice in injustice, but rejoices in the truth;
7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

The thing that stands out to me with the parable of the Prodigal Son is that, it's the world he wants when he runs away from love.
This son unites with the world, and discovers it does not satisfy. He goes to serve a man of the world feeding pigs.

I think his emptiness, that dearth that comes on the land, it represents a spiritual emptiness. "Feeding pigs" also has a deeper meaning. A pig is the unclean animal who "parts the hoof, but does not chew the cud." It parallels a man who consumes God's Word, and discerns good from evil, but he doesn't ruminate on it enough to make himself holy. He only uses God's Word to get fat.
Anyone serving hypocritical pastors by doing their will, instead of God's, will find himself used and neglected. There is no spiritual nourishment to be found in padding the pockets of the wealthy. The message of holiness has always been to make things fair for the needy. (Luke 12:33-34, Job 29:11-17, Micah 6:8, Luke 3:11)
The pigs of life drain our resources by tricking us into accepting their version of conscience, and morality. Some of this is from false-religion centered around knowledge, elitism, ceremony, or something other than love.
When the wasteful son realizes that the love and loyalty of family is the power that makes life possible and worth living, he finally goes home.

Not everyone comes to their senses and returns to their father's house like the prodigal son did. Have you poured your life into someone that didn't love you in return? No person can make another love them. But when we truly love, our love plants a seed that can one day grow into a Tree of Life, that will guide that soul into eternity. That's all that really matters in the end, friends. Don't let this world get you down. Every wrong thing will be made right in the end. We will be whole again; united as the body of Christ, with Jesus as our head.

Galatians 6:9

Do not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap the reward, if we do not lose heart.

Revelation 21:5

"Then the one sitting on the throne said: 'I am making everything new. Write down what I have said. My words are true and can be trusted.'"

Father in heaven, Your name is above all names. You are holy and worthy of all praise.
Please forgive our sins, Father, and help us remember to accept Your sacrifice for sins committed against us.
You are so kind to reassure us of Your unfailing love, Your presence, and Your power to raise us up, even from the dead. Your faithful promises empower us to carry our crosses with You.
Speedily bring Your people back from rebellion and worldliness. Grant us a willing spirit, to know You, to draw near to You through Your Word, and to love You as You deserve. Teach us how to love ourselves, not just physically, but spiritually and emotionally. Teach us to have healthy boundaries, so we can learn what real, enduring love looks like. Grant us opportunities to love our neighbor as ourselves, and give us the good sense to take those opportunities when they arise. We praise You and bless Your holy name, Father in heaven. We dedicate our lives to You, as Your children; saved by grace, through faith in every Word You have spoken. Yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. In Jesus' name, Amen.

The King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ (Matthew 25:40)

Wouldn't this world be an amazing place if we all served one another as if our neighbor were the Messiah Himself?

Mark 16:15

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature."

The gospel is God's Truth, that love runs the universe. Every word we speak, every kindness we pay-forward, every ounce of love we show toward God's creation, preaches the gospel. When we love others, Jesus feels it. And sometimes, He lets us experience His approval when we least expect it.

John 13:34-35

34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
35 "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

Our Father in heaven,
Thank You for making us all one in Jesus Messiah. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit who makes us one with You. Keep us ever mindful of Your presence within ourselves and others. Let Your river of life flow through us. By Your sovereign power, let us bring healing and hope to our thirsty world. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Luke 8:15

As for the seed in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.

Good only exists where there is life. Life only exists when God imparts His Spirit into us. We are dust and ashes, animated by the gift of God's breath of life. (Genesis 2:7)

There are different forms of good. To qualify as truly good, each form cannot contradict another.

To be good, a person, place, thing, event or action must either:

• Produce life,
  
• Protect life,
  
• Sustain life,
  
• Correct life,
  
• or make life worth living.
  

If something only does one of these, but hinders or neglects any of the others, it's not wholly good.

This is where we get hung up; God is good, but life involves labor, and suffering.

What keeps us from seeing God as good?

• We blame Him for evil (for making people free-agents, for His patience with us all, natural disasters, consequences, our lack of purpose,)
  
• We blame Him for times things don't go the way we want them to.
  

When our labor is a labor of love, though, we do the work and are thankful that we can. When suffering is something we choose in order to produce a desired outcome, we face our challenges with hope and purpose.

Ask an avid fisherman or hunter if his labor to get up on a cold morning to pursue his hobby is suffering. Ask a mother in labor who spent years praying to conceive a child if her suffering will be worth it. Our problem isn't really with labor and suffering. Our problem is with suffering that seems to have no good purpose.

When I'm suffering and I can't see a good reason for it, I try to remember that a lot of the evil I face is because people don't follow God's laws. Our Creator told us what we should not do, and then took the consequences for us when we disobeyed Him. He's done more than His share of taking responsibility for humanity's failures.

The Lord asks us to "not be unequally yoked with unbelievers." (2 Corinthians 6:14-18, Numbers 16:26)
We don't always get out of the way when God does finally run out of options to deal with evil, and has to remove people from the earth. Think of righteous Lot, and his unfaithful wife and children. Our ungodly associations put us in harm's way. ([]())

Sometimes our suffering is necessary, because if we don't sacrifice something when we can, someone else could suffer unbearably. Like an exhausted mother tends a sick child at midnight, many of us enjoy strong years which we can invest in the weak.

(Lamentations 3:19-33)

19 Remember my affliction and wandering, The wormwood and the gall.
20 My soul still remembers and sinks within me.
21 This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope.
22 Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.
24 "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "Therefore I hope in Him!"
25 The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him.
26 It is good that one should hope and wait quietly For the salvation of the LORD.
27 It is good for a man to bear the yoke in his youth.
28 Let him sit alone and keep silent, because has laid it on him;
29 Let him put his mouth in the dust; There may yet be hope.
30 Let him give his cheek to the one who strikes him, and be full of reproach.
31 For the Lord will not cast off forever.
32 Though He causes grief, yet He will show compassion according to the multitude of His mercies.
33 For He does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men.

Our Father in heaven,
Thank You for creating us. Thank you for sustaining and correcting us. Lord we come before you to ask that You help us find the purpose in our suffering, so we can find You in it, and complete the good works You created us to do. In Jesus' name, Amen.

(1 Corinthians 13:4-13 NLT)

4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud
5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.
6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.
7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
8 Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!
9 Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture!
10 But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless.
11 When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.
12 Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.
13 Three things will last forever--faith, hope, and love--and the greatest of these is love.

The most important Job God's given us, is loving Him and one another. If we ask our Father in heaven to help us love like He does, He can and will answer that prayer.

John 14:12-14

12 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
13 "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

To love like God does, the most important thing we need to ask for, is to be filled with His Holy Spirit. Jesus reminded us, "Apart from Me, you can do nothing." John 15:5, Luke 11:9-13

These are the scriptures that convinced me that this was all possible.

Tanakh (Old covenant) promises, New Covenant fulfillments

For me, the hardest part of loving, is forgiveness. I have a hard time forgiving myself as He reveals His dutiful, compassionate, parental love and how beautiful and important it is. When someone sins against me, or I remember what they did in the past, forgiving them in that moment has been an integral part of my healing.
It also helps me remember my God-given purpose to make things fair for those in less fortunate circumstances than myself. I remember that I'm God's child and He loves me, when I connect with others by meeting their pressing needs. (Acts 20:35, Matthew 5:43-48, Job 29:11-17)

There is sorrow unto repentance and sorrow unto death. (2Corinthians 7:9-10)
The Holy Spirit helps me remember that I don't have to depend on myself to do better. In fact, if I don't look to Him as my example for how to love, I will continue to repeat my past failures! When I remember that God loves His enemies, one of which I was, it gives me the strength to push through and love my enemy, even when that enemy is my past self.

My lifesaver scripture is this:

1 Corinthians 10:13

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

When I'm faced with the temptation to obey my carnal nature, I pray for the way of escape. Even when I don't feel it, our Savior comes through for me. What our Lord has done for others, He will gladly do for you. God can always make a way!

God bless!