Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Daily Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

19 January 2024

Reading From Matthew 13:1-30

“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 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. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 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. 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. 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.”

–Matthew 13:18-23

     The people of the world receive the Word of the Lord in many different ways and what they do with it also varies.  The first one Jesus mentions doesn’t understand it, the second one only has a superficial faith, the third one may be established for a time but allow themselves to be carried away with the ways of this world.  The fourth one not only understands it, but the Spirit bears good spiritual fruit in their lives.  From this passage, I believe it is necessary for us to learn from each of the four examples to be spiritual successful and endure to the end. 

     Rather than obsessing over where hypothetical lines are located defining how far one can go before they lose their salvation, we should be more focused on what we must do to continue in the faith and experience solid, balanced and healthy spirituality.  From this parable, we know that we should seek to understand the Word, ask the Lord to increase and strengthen our faith, follow the principles laid out in Scripture rather than worldly guidance and the lies of the enemies, and surrender to the work and movement of the Holy Spirit instead of our flesh so that we can yield spiritual fruit of excellent quality. 

This is how we continue in the faith, prove our faith to be genuine, and endure to the end to realize our destiny in Jesus. Those who do so are the elect. Though they may wander, their return to the fold before it’s too late shows that they were sealed by the Spirit when they were first truly born again. Throughout Scripture we find warnings from the Lord to stay on the highway of love and holiness. We need to heed those warnings for the good of our spiritual wellbeing and survival.

     What about those who don’t understand?  We should make every effort to find ways of communicating the Gospel in ways that every person can understand.  How about those who seem to participate in the trappings of Christianity but lack spiritual depth?  We need to actively invite them to groups, classes and activities that deepen our understanding of Christ and His Word.  And what of those who seem to follow Jesus, perhaps even for a long time, but become deceived or seduced by the ways and philosophies of the world?  We need to develop and share good, solid apologetics to not only defend the faith but also encourage those struggling with doubts.  Ministry flows through relationship.

“Heavenly Father, I pray that You would increase and strengthen the faith of Your sons and daughters.  Give us a hunger and thirst for righteousness and the truths of Your Word the Holy Bible.  May the delights of following and serving You appeal to us far more than the fleeting, momentary pleasures of the sinful world around us.  Keep our focus upon You and Your ways.  Help us to remember Your benefits and empower us to resist temptation, reach out to You for forgiveness when we inevitably stumble, and move forward in the newness of life.  In the Name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen.”

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forcesof this world rather than on Christ.

 –Colossians 2:6-8