The Good Seed
www.moravian.org/daily_texts/
Readings for Today:
Psalm 20
www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm20&version=NIV
Genesis: 36:9-43
www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=genesis36&version=NIV
Matthew 13:10-23
www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew13&version=NIV
Psalm 20
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 May the LORD answer you when you are in distress;
may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
2 May he send you help from the sanctuary
and grant you support from Zion.
3 May he remember all your sacrifices
and accept your burnt offerings.
4 May he give you the desire of your heart
and make all your plans succeed.
5 May we shout for joy over your victory
and lift up our banners in the name of our God.
May the LORD grant all your requests.
6 Now this I know:
The LORD gives victory to his anointed.
He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary
with the victorious power of his right hand.
7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
8 They are brought to their knees and fall,
but we rise up and stand firm.
9 LORD, give victory to the king!
Answer us when we call!
The psalmist begins by petitioning the Lord to hear the cries and answer those who are children of the covenant of Jacob. Zion was a term that meant the nation of Israel as it was led by the one true God. I love verse 4 when it says, “May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.” How often do you think of God giving you the desires of your heart? This assumes the desires of your heart stem from a relationship with God and you begin to want the things that He wants.
The psalm ends with the confidence knowing that God gives victory to those He has called and chosen, which he calls “his anointed”. We often use oil in baptism to christen a young child in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. There is a sense in which Baptism sets apart a person for a life in Christ, surrounded by Christ and anointed by Christ in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Have you ever thought of yourself as anointed? Take some time to mark yourself with the sign of the cross this morning and remember whose you are, and that you too are called to represent His name to the world.
Genesis 39:40 These were the chiefs descended from Esau, by name, according to their clans and regions: Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, 41 Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, 42 Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, 43 Magdiel and Iram. These were the chiefs of Edom, according to their settlements in the land they occupied. This is the family line of Esau, the father of the Edomites.
We see that just as God has promised He blessed Esau and his family and they became a great nation. While in this generation we see that Esau’s and Jacob’s descendants are separated and at peace, later there will be strife between these two nations that descended from Issac son of Abraham.
Matthew 13:18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
Jesus’ main teaching style when preaching to the crowds was speaking in parables. A parable used an earthly analogy (often in farming terms like this one which those in this society would have readily understood) but containing a deeper metaphorical spiritual truth or reality. When the disciples asked him about this, he said that he spoke in parables so that those who were called would hear the message and understand. But others would only see the earthly meaning, and make no spiritual application in regard to the kingdom expansion. For those seeking the power of the kingdom, they would make application and grow exponentially, but others either through the power of the evil one or other factors would not bear the fruit intended by the seed.
Importantly, we see the purpose of God’s Word is to bear fruit and reproduce itself. As we hear God’s Word it is not meant for us alone, but also to multiply and reach others. As the Scripture says, “God’s Word does not return void.” Meaning God’s Word has the power to change lives and then change more lives. As you seek God in His Word each, it will not return void. God has called us into relationship with Him through His Son, who was the complete revelation of God’s Word and His Purposes.
As we not only read about and meditate on His Word, but also understand it and put it into practice we will be like the good seed that yields, hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. That is my prayer for you and for me that we might hear, understand and multiply what has been so graciously given to us.
Lord of heaven and earth, you are high above all creation. You continue to provide for us the sustenance needed to sustain our lives. May we live lives worthy of the peace that Jesus brings to all humankind! Amen.
Readings for Today:
Psalm 20
www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm20&version=NIV
Genesis: 36:9-43
www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=genesis36&version=NIV
Matthew 13:10-23
www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew13&version=NIV
Psalm 20
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 May the LORD answer you when you are in distress;
may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
2 May he send you help from the sanctuary
and grant you support from Zion.
3 May he remember all your sacrifices
and accept your burnt offerings.
4 May he give you the desire of your heart
and make all your plans succeed.
5 May we shout for joy over your victory
and lift up our banners in the name of our God.
May the LORD grant all your requests.
6 Now this I know:
The LORD gives victory to his anointed.
He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary
with the victorious power of his right hand.
7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
8 They are brought to their knees and fall,
but we rise up and stand firm.
9 LORD, give victory to the king!
Answer us when we call!
The psalmist begins by petitioning the Lord to hear the cries and answer those who are children of the covenant of Jacob. Zion was a term that meant the nation of Israel as it was led by the one true God. I love verse 4 when it says, “May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.” How often do you think of God giving you the desires of your heart? This assumes the desires of your heart stem from a relationship with God and you begin to want the things that He wants.
The psalm ends with the confidence knowing that God gives victory to those He has called and chosen, which he calls “his anointed”. We often use oil in baptism to christen a young child in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. There is a sense in which Baptism sets apart a person for a life in Christ, surrounded by Christ and anointed by Christ in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Have you ever thought of yourself as anointed? Take some time to mark yourself with the sign of the cross this morning and remember whose you are, and that you too are called to represent His name to the world.
Genesis 39:40 These were the chiefs descended from Esau, by name, according to their clans and regions: Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, 41 Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, 42 Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, 43 Magdiel and Iram. These were the chiefs of Edom, according to their settlements in the land they occupied. This is the family line of Esau, the father of the Edomites.
We see that just as God has promised He blessed Esau and his family and they became a great nation. While in this generation we see that Esau’s and Jacob’s descendants are separated and at peace, later there will be strife between these two nations that descended from Issac son of Abraham.
Matthew 13:18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
Jesus’ main teaching style when preaching to the crowds was speaking in parables. A parable used an earthly analogy (often in farming terms like this one which those in this society would have readily understood) but containing a deeper metaphorical spiritual truth or reality. When the disciples asked him about this, he said that he spoke in parables so that those who were called would hear the message and understand. But others would only see the earthly meaning, and make no spiritual application in regard to the kingdom expansion. For those seeking the power of the kingdom, they would make application and grow exponentially, but others either through the power of the evil one or other factors would not bear the fruit intended by the seed.
Importantly, we see the purpose of God’s Word is to bear fruit and reproduce itself. As we hear God’s Word it is not meant for us alone, but also to multiply and reach others. As the Scripture says, “God’s Word does not return void.” Meaning God’s Word has the power to change lives and then change more lives. As you seek God in His Word each, it will not return void. God has called us into relationship with Him through His Son, who was the complete revelation of God’s Word and His Purposes.
As we not only read about and meditate on His Word, but also understand it and put it into practice we will be like the good seed that yields, hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. That is my prayer for you and for me that we might hear, understand and multiply what has been so graciously given to us.
Lord of heaven and earth, you are high above all creation. You continue to provide for us the sustenance needed to sustain our lives. May we live lives worthy of the peace that Jesus brings to all humankind! Amen.
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