For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.  Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand” (Matthew 13:12-13).

The one who walks in the salvation of the Lord will prosper and become a child of the Heavenly Father.  The one who does not have salvation, though he were to gain the whole world, will lose his own soul.  In part, Jesus tells us that the narcissists will be unable to see the simple truth of salvation because they cannot think of the Lord as greater than they think they are.  They only think that they understand themselves.

Lord, the myopic pride in me also distorts the truth.  You are the Lord of the universe.  Help me to see things plainly and walk the way You have set before me.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to learn humility, obey Your instructions, and live the life You have given me.  You know what is needed; guide me to have  ears that receives what You say.  Create in me what You intend.

Author and Finisher of my faith, lead me this day to live in Your righteousness.  Through all that will come in my life today, help me to see You and Your direction in all that I do.  Open my ears to hear and my eyes to see so I may walk in faithfulness.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to serve You and my neighbors through all that I do this day.  Lead me in the way You would have me go.  Amen. 

“And the disciples came up and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”  And Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted” (Matthew 13:10-11).

When You understand who our Lord is, what He has asked of you, and know the goal of your faith, you no longer need to be taught the elemental principles.  These parables translate to every time and place, giving the fundamental truth that we need to build our lives upon Jesus.  You first receive the Good News with many things that seem like riddles, but then you grow in understanding and these things are simply a part of what you know.

We all go through the same process of learning.  Rather than ask the Lord why He is doing something, learn to hear His instruction and obey what He is telling you to do.  The mystery of heaven is not complex.  God is God and He is to be loved, feared, and obeyed.  If we do, the rebellion of this age will pass away and we shall become what He is making of us.  This is why He said that we are to have no other gods before Him.

Holy Spirit, I often make things more complex than they need to be.  I ask questions rather than simply doing what I am being told to do.  Guide me so that I may bear the fruit You intend for me to bear.  Help me to tell Your stories so that those who have ears to hear and know Your voice will follow You.  You know all that is needed.  Help me to learn from You how to live my life here, now, and always.  Amen.

“Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out.  But others fell on the good soil and yielded a crop, some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times as much.  The one who has ears, let him hear” (Matthew 13:7-9).

The good soil is the Lord, His word, knowing and understanding that every circumstance will grow us in faith.  Do not focus upon how much is produced – that belongs to the Lord.  Focus upon remaining rooted in the Lord.  The cares of the world can choke you and take your eyes off the prize.  The parable is simple to understand, and you know what the Lord is saying, so heed the word of the Lord.

Lord, I do know what you are saying.  Your word is to be taken as the source of life.  If I am distracted, carried away by the world or worry about circumstances, I will wither and die.   If I am in You, I will grow and bear fruit.  Help me so that I heed these words of Yours and grow deeper in the truth You have revealed.  You have given me the words of eternal life.  Help me to live into that life.

Lord Jesus, apart from You I can do nothing.  Help me to live these words.  You will cause me to bear whatever fruit You will give me to bear.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to have a singular focus as I willingly walk the path You have set before me.  Take my eyes off myself and what I am doing so that I may focus upon You and listen for what You would have me do.  Guide me always my Savior.  Amen.

“Others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and they sprang up immediately, because they had no depth of soil.  But after the sun rose, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away” (Matthew 13:5-6).

Many will hear the word of the Lord, comprehend that here is truth, but not let the word sink in.  The word of the Lord must take root.  You are to become like Christ.  Jesus is not after fair-weather friends, but He has come to make of you a child of the Heavenly Father.  Life is not about how you feel, but about living life with the intention of becoming what the Lord is making of you.

Lord, when times are tough, I often fold up and wither.  I need the deep roots in You to sustain my life so that in times of drought I may not wither away.  You know this, but I need help to do my part so that I may be sustained in and by You through all that life will bring my way.  Lead me to have depth in this faith that You have given me so that my weariness may be refreshed with the truth of Your word.

Lord Jesus, Word made flesh, You have come that we may have true and abundant life.  Take me away from a Sunday religion that only makes me feel good, but does not prepare me for the times of heat which come in my life.  Lead me to grow deep roots in You through daily prayer, reading of Scripture, and meditating upon and inwardly digesting the words You have given me.  Guide me, Lord, so that I may abide in You now and forever.  Amen.

“And He told them many things in parables, saying, “Behold, the sower went out to sow; and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up” (Matthew 13:3-4).

The seeds that the Lord gives us are all around us.  Many fall by the wayside.  Enamored with the earth’s beauty, we go about our business as if nothing mattered.  We live life in this physical world without much thought about the life to which we have been called by faith.  Do not let the things of this world overwhelm you such that you forget the One who created all things and who has called you to be with Him.

Lord, I do become distracted with the life I live in this world.  I am often overwhelmed both by what I am enjoying as well as what is distracting me.  You have created all things, and we may enjoy them, but You call for us –  for me – to worship You, the Creator, and not created things.  I am distracted by the good things of life and forget You, the One through whom all life has its being.

Lord Jesus, with simple and timeless words, You have given us words to live by.  Help me to be mindful lest Your word of life be taken from me.  Guide me to have Your word upon my heart and on my lips so that I may become more like You each day.  Lead me, O Lord, to walk the way You would have me walk, doing what You give me to do.  Guide me in Your goodness and grace.  Amen.

“On that day Jesus had gone out of the house and was sitting by the sea.  And large crowds gathered to Him, so He got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd was standing on the beach” (Matthew 13:1-2).

Jesus is practical.  All things were created through Him, so of course He knows physics and how things work.  He’s in the boat and they are on the shore.  It’s a natural amphitheater.  Our Lord will use current situations and circumstances for His word to go forth.  Be a part of what the Lord is doing and know that You also may be called upon to be His voice speaking the words of truth.

Lord, You always seem so natural when You do things.  You just sit in a boat and start talking to thousands.  You and the Father are One and in that mystery, I think of myself as one in the crowd and would never be one to speak.  But You have given me the words of eternal life.  How can I stand by and watch as the multitudes go hungry for the lack of the eternal sustenance that You give?

Lord Jesus, You have called for me to follow You.  No matter where I am, or what I am doing, give me Your word to speak.  Holy Spirit, bring to remembrance everything I need to know so that I may speak Your words when needed.  In all things, Lord, grant that I would be faithful to use every situation and act in all circumstances to be faithful to the call of grace You have given me.  Lead me to be a child of the Heavenly Father.  Amen. 

“But to the one who had told him this, Jesus replied, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother” (Matthew 12:48-50).

For those who focus upon earthly circumstances, see what Jesus is saying. The ones who do the Father’s will are the children of God. It is not what we are now, but what we are becoming, that matters. Do not be led by the false words of this world, but by the Author of life, Whose word is truth. You were born in the circumstances into which you were born. Christ offers to make of you a child of the Heavenly Father.

Holy Spirit, help me to see the simplicity of the reality of Your kingdom. My earthly circumstances are temporary, but being a part of the heavenly family is eternal. By grace, I have been called into the fellowship of the saints. Lead me to see that where I belong is important. Take away any hindrance which would keep me from seeing the simple reality of what Jesus says.

Lord Jesus, You are inviting me to be in Your family. It is not a privilege which I can claim, but one that You give by grace. Though I be the least in Your family, You have included me. Guide me in Your grace and mercy to honor the family of my rebirth. Guide me to be gracious with others as You are gracious to me. Help me to understand more fully this day the privilege that You have given me. Amen.

“While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers were standing outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, “Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you” (Matthew 12:46-47).

Some look at this verse and say to those who believe that Mary was a perpetual virgin and say, “See, this cannot be.” Do not go there. It is what it is. Whether cousins – which were considered brothers – or whatever, what is important is that Jesus grew up in a family just as you and I have grown up in a family. He lived a fully human life. Through His death, we have received grace upon grace.

Lord, after I see you face to face, I will know fully. Help me to respect my brothers and sisters who believe differently than me about Your earthly mother. It is what it is and either way changes nothing about what You have done. Guide me to look to You alone and be a part of Your family. Lead me in the way of grace and mercy so that I may humbly walk in the way You have established.

Lord Jesus, I do have my opinions about many kinds of things. Guide me away from looking at simple things that might distract me from the truth. Help me to be guided by Your grace and mercy. Amidst the distractions of this life, keep me from being carried away by all the speculations and remain true to the Gospel which You have revealed. Lead me always in the way of revealed truth, for You are Truth. Amen.

“When it comes, it finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and live there; and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So will it be also with this evil generation” (Matthew 12:44b-45).

Thinking we know what we’re doing, without the Lord, the more we think we improve, the worse it will be. The wicked one excels in corruption. The Lord alone gives life. The offer of grace is to see the house cleaned by the Lord so that He may dwell with us. He will not fill us with nothingness, as the world does, but fulfil us with life, meaning, and joy.

Lord, I see two kinds of wickedness. There is that which most agree is heinous, and the worse which are the smug self-righteous people who look down upon others with a hateful attitude of superiority. Let me be neither. Sweep my house clean and go into the dark corners to rid all the rebellion in my heart. Keep me full of the truth of Your presence and purpose.

Thank You, Holy Spirit, for dwelling in me. Lead me according to Your goodness and grace so that I may humbly walk under Your guidance. Let not the wicked one have his way with me but keep the house of my soul clean. Create in me a clean heart, renewing my spirit so that I may go about the Father’s business with joy. Teach me how to love others as You love me. Amen.

“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it wanders through waterless regions looking for a resting place, but it finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came’” (Matthew 12:43-44a).

We are plagued by the wicked spirits of this age. Those banished from heaven torment with their temptations. Sadly, we listen. If we seek to clean our house on our own, they will find a place prepared for even more to live. If the LORD cleans our house, it will be cleansed, and He will come and dwell with us. On your own, or by the power of the LORD; one works, the other does not.

Lord, why do I wrestle for control? You are the Lord of all. I can do nothing without You and yet, I go through life as if I could do things on my own. Help me to see that if I try to do things without You, there will be a mess because of what I do not know. Help me to do all things by Your direction and in Your power so that what is done is within the plans of the Father. Yes, clean my house and then come dwell with me.

Lord Jesus, apart from You I can do nothing. I may be busy and believe I am doing something, but without You, I will make a mess of it. Guide me in the way of everlasting life so that I may live with Your guidance all the days of my life. I must decrease and You must increase. Lead me to increase my faith in You that I may live in the way You have established. Amen.