Matthew – Page 12 – Crews N Away

September 17, 2026

WEED OUT … EVERYTHING THAT CAUSES SIN / MATTHEW 13:41

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) Matthew 13:41

The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.

The Great Separation: What It Means to Weed Out Sin

The Gospel of Matthew gives us a vivid, sobering picture of the final harvest. In Matthew 13:41, Jesus explains that at the end of the age, He will send His angels to “weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.”

This isn’t just a metaphor for general self-improvement; it points to a literal, historic timeline of divine judgment.

The Harvest Timeline

When Christ returns to Earth after the tribulation period—a time when God releases His end-time judgments on the earth (Revelation 19:11-21)—there will be a massive spiritual harvest. This gathering includes both the wicked and the righteous still living on the earth.

According to scripture, this final harvest follows a strict order:

The separation of the wicked: The wicked are gathered first and separated from the righteous (Matthew 13:30, 41, 49).
The gathering of the righteous: The righteous are gathered next from “out of His kingdom” (Matthew 13:30, 41-43, 49).
The final destination: After the wicked are judged and sentenced to eternal punishment apart from God, the righteous will receive their reward. They “will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father” (Matthew 13:43; 25:31-34; Revelation 20:4).

A Call to Personal Examination

Knowing that Christ will ultimately purge everything that causes sin should change how we live today. We don’t have to wait for the final harvest to begin weeding. God calls us to look into our own hearts right now. What habits, relationships, or thoughts are causing us to stumble?

Living as citizens of the Kingdom means actively partnering with the Holy Spirit to root out compromise before the Great Separator arrives.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

We come before You humbled by the weight of Your truth. Your Word reminds us that a day of final harvest is coming, where holiness will be established and all evil will be completely removed. Lord, we ask that You search our hearts today. Show us the hidden areas, the compromises, and the distractions that cause us to sin. By Your grace and the power of Your Holy Spirit, give us the strength to weed them out of our lives.

We look forward to the day when Your righteousness reigns completely, and we pray that we would be found faithful, ready, and shining bright for Your Kingdom. Protect us, guide us, and keep our eyes fixed on You.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Bible Study Tools I Use

NIV Bible
King James Bible
www. biblegateway.com
www.biblestudytools.com
Map Pencils
College Ruled Spiral Notebook
Ballpoint Pens
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!

Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

Thanks for stopping by the blog today! I love having you here. If this post resonated with you, please drop a comment below and share your thoughts. See you in the next post!

Blessings, Margarita & Stace

September 17, 2026

YEAST / MATTHEW 13:33

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) Matthew 13:33

He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds^[a] of flour until it worked all through the dough.”

The Quiet Power of the Kingdom: Lessons from a Loaf of Bread

We live in a world that loves things that are loud. We measure success by big numbers, flashy metrics, and instant results. But when Jesus wanted to explain how the Kingdom of Heaven operates, He didn’t point to a roaring army or a towering monument. He pointed to a kitchen counter.

In Matthew 13:33, Jesus shares a one-sentence parable that turns our definition of influence completely upside down:

“The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.”

If you’ve ever baked a loaf of bread, you know exactly what Jesus is talking about. But for His first-century audience, this tiny story carried a couple of shocking twists.

1. The Shocking Scale of the Dough

First, let’s look at the sheer volume. The “three measures of flour” mentioned here isn’t a casual Sunday morning baking measurement. In the ancient world, three measures equaled roughly 60 pounds of flour. That is enough dough to bake over 50 loaves of bread—plenty to feed an entire village!

Into this massive, heavy mound of flour, the woman “hides” a tiny, almost microscopic amount of yeast. On the surface, the yeast seems completely outnumbered and entirely swallowed up by the dough.

2. The Unseen, Unstoppable Transformation

Yeast doesn’t make a grand entrance. It doesn’t announce its presence with a trumpet blast. Once it is kneaded into the flour, it disappears entirely from sight.

But don’t mistake its anonymity for inactivity.

Hour after hour, a quiet chemical reaction takes place. The yeast consumes the sugars, releases gases, stretches the gluten, and fundamentally alters the makeup of the dough from the inside out. You cannot see it working, but tomorrow morning, the proof is in the rising. It doesn’t stop until all of it is transformed.

What This Means for Us Today

Your Small Acts Matter: You might feel like a tiny speck of yeast in a massive, overwhelming culture. It is easy to think your quiet prayers, honest work, and small acts of kindness don’t move the needle. But Jesus promises that the Kingdom infuses the world through small, faithful presences.
God Works in the Secret Places: Are you waiting on a prayer? Praying for a changed heart in a loved one, or waiting for growth in your own life? Growth in the Kingdom is often slow, quiet, and subterranean. Just because you can’t see God moving right now doesn’t mean He isn’t thoroughly permeating the situation.
We Are Called to Infect the World with Good: Instead of pulling away from the world out of fear, we are called to be kneaded into it. We bring the flavor, the life, and the rising power of the Holy Spirit into our workplaces, our schools, and our neighborhoods.

You don’t need to be loud to be impactful. You just need to be faithful to where God has mixed you in.

Closing Prayer

Gracious Lord,

Thank You for the quiet, confident, and unstoppable way You work in our lives. Forgive us for the times we get discouraged by small beginnings or impatient with Your timing. We ask that You knead Your Holy Spirit deep into our hearts today. Let Your love, joy, and peace saturate every corner of our lives until we are fully transformed.

Use us, Lord, as yeast in this world. Place us in our communities, our families, and our workplaces to be a quiet influence for Your good. Give us the patience to trust Your unseen hand and the faith to know that Your Kingdom is rising. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Bible Study Tools I Use

NIV Bible
King James Bible
www. biblegateway.com
www.biblestudytools.com
Map Pencils
College Ruled Spiral Notebook
Ballpoint Pens
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!

Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

Thanks for stopping by the blog today! I love having you here. If this post resonated with you, please drop a comment below and share your thoughts. See you in the next post!

Blessings, Margarita & Stace

September 17, 2026

A MUSTARD SEED / MATTHEW 13:31

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) Matthew 13:31

He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field.

Small Beginnings, Mighty Grace: The Power of the Mustard Seed

Have you ever looked at your life, your faith, or your current circumstances and thought, “It’s just too small to make a difference”?

In a world that obsesses over the massive, the loud, and the instantly famous, it is incredibly easy to feel disqualified by our own insignificance. We look at our tiny budgets, our small acts of service, or our fragile, doubt-filled prayers, and we wonder if God can really use them.

If you have ever felt dwarfed by the mountains in front of you, Jesus has some incredibly comforting news for you in the Gospel of Matthew.

The Text: Matthew 13:31-32

“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” (NRSVUE)

1. God Loves Small Beginnings

Historically viewed as a proverb for something microscopic, Jesus used the tiny mustard seed to represent the grand reality of the Kingdom of Heaven. God is never intimidated by humble or small starts, welcoming simple acts of faith.

2. The Growth is Supernatural

The real power lies in the life God places within the seed rather than the seed itself. When we offer our modest faith and everyday obedience, God takes responsibility for the supernatural growth and the resulting fruit.

3. We Grow to Give Shelter

As the parable concludes, the mature shrub becomes large enough to offer nesting places for birds. Similarly, our spiritual maturation serves as a refuge and source of comfort for others navigating difficult seasons.

Plant Your Seed Today

Direct your focus toward a big God rather than measuring your own capabilities, offering your small “yes” to experience His work in your daily life.

Closing Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,

Sometimes I look at my life and feel like what I have to offer is completely insignificant. Forgive me for buying into the lie that bigger is always better, and help me to see my life through Your eyes.

Lord, I bring You my small faith, my quiet obedience, and my imperfect love today. I plant them in Your field. Take these tiny mustard seeds of my life and breathe Your supernatural growth into them. Let Your grace take deep root in my soul, transforming me from the inside out.

Expand Your Kingdom through my everyday actions. Make my life a place of refuge, kindness, and shelter for those who are weary and searching for hope. I trust in Your transforming power, knowing that You are not done with me yet.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Bible Study Tools I Use

NIV Bible
King James Bible
www. biblegateway.com
www.biblestudytools.com
Map Pencils
College Ruled Spiral Notebook
Ballpoint Pens
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!

Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

Thanks for stopping by the blog today! I love having you here. If this post resonated with you, please drop a comment below and share your thoughts. See you in the next post!

Blessings, Margarita & Stace

September 17, 2026

LET BOTH GROW TOGETHER / MATTHEW 13:30

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) Matthew 13:30

Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”

Growing Together: Grace, Discernment, and the Wheat among the Tares

In a world that thrives on instant reactions and immediate separation, patience is a rare virtue. We often want to root out the bad, fix the broken, and separate ourselves from anything that feels counter to our faith. But in Matthew 13:30, Jesus offers a different, deeply profound strategy for living out our faith in a flawed world: “Let both grow together until the harvest.”

This command comes from the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares. It challenges us to look closely at how we navigate our faith, our churches, and our daily interactions with the world around us.

Here are three vital truths we must understand as we live out this calling:

1. The Reality of Coexistence

As long as God provides the opportunity for people to hear and accept the message of forgiveness and new life through Christ, both good and evil will exist together. God, in His infinite patience, will not command His angels to destroy the children “of the evil one” until the final end-time judgments (Matthew 13:38-41).

This coexistence isn’t an accident; it is a season of extended grace. Christ’s true followers must understand that they will encounter and have to deal with those who pretend to be true Christians but who are really promoting Satan’s work (2 Corinthians 11:13-15). Our role is not to panic, but to remain rooted.

2. The Balance of Discipline and Final Judgment

Allowing both to grow together does not excuse sin among God’s people. This parable does not contradict the Bible’s clear instructions that the church must discipline rebellious members and expel those who refuse to turn away from sin (Matthew 18:15; Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 5:1).

However, we must realize that human discipline—even at its absolute best—is only a partial solution to weeding out evil within the kingdom. We do not see the human heart perfectly. God and His angels will make the final, flawless separation. Our boundaries must be kept, but our hearts must leave final justice to the Ultimate Judge.

3. The Call to Spiritual Vigilance

Because the enemy plants counterfeits, faithful Christians must always be alert to deceptive and spiritually rebellious elements. Satan actively works to plant individuals within all areas of God’s word and work.

In many ways, these counterfeits will look exactly like true children of God (2 Corinthians 11:13). This reality demands that we develop deep spiritual discernment. We cannot rely on outward appearances alone; we must rely on the Holy Spirit and the truth of Scripture to guard our hearts.

A Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Grant us the wisdom and discernment to navigate this world with grace and truth. Help us to stand firm in our faith, remaining alert to the deceptions of the enemy without losing our commitment to love and patience. Where there is counterfeit faith, let your truth expose it in your perfect timing. Keep our hearts pure, protect your church, and help us trust your final judgment. May we grow strong, deep, and unshakeable as we wait for your harvest. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Bible Study Tools I Use

NIV Bible
King James Bible
www. biblegateway.com
www.biblestudytools.com
Map Pencils
College Ruled Spiral Notebook
Ballpoint Pens
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!

Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

Thanks for stopping by the blog today! I love having you here. If this post resonated with you, please drop a comment below and share your thoughts. See you in the next post!

Blessings, Margarita & Stace

September 17, 2026

GOOD SEED … WEEDS / MATTHEW 13:24-25

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) Matthew 13:24-25

Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. ²⁵But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.

The Battle in the Field: Discerning the Good Seed and the Weeds

In Matthew 13:24-25, Jesus shares a profound truth through the Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.”

This simple agricultural illustration reveals a sobering spiritual reality about the world we live in today.

The Two Sowers in the World

Jesus later explains that the “field” is the world. The “good seed” represents the children of the kingdom—those who know God and live faithfully by His Word. Christ’s message and His followers are intentionally planted throughout the globe to be light and salt.

However, we do not operate in a vacuum. The enemy, Satan, actively works to counteract God’s truth. He plants his own followers—the “sons of the evil one”—right alongside God’s people.

The Strategy of Deception

The enemy rarely attacks the church through obvious, external means alone. Instead, his primary strategy is counterfeiting and infiltration. The weeds mentioned in the parable are likely darnel, a weed that looks exactly like wheat in its early stages of growth.

The main task of these spiritual weeds is to:

Cause doubt: Questioning the absolute authority of God’s Word, echoing the ancient deception in Genesis 3:4.
Distort the truth: Promoting attitudes and actions that twist scripture to excuse unrighteousness.
Spread false teaching: Shifting focus away from the true Gospel to comfort human pride (Acts 20:29-30).

Jesus warned that this deception would be so subtle that even leaders claiming to be “Christian” would rise up as false teachers to turn people away from God (Matthew 24:11).

Living with Discernment

This mixed condition of believers living alongside unbelievers is a theme echoed throughout the Gospels (Matthew 22:11-14; 25:1-30). It requires us to live with deep spiritual discernment. We cannot blindly trust every voice; we must test everything against the unchanging truth of Scripture.

The good news is that this overlapping period will not last forever. This present age will come to a sudden end when Christ returns to earth to judge the wicked and gather His harvest (Matthew 13:38-43). Until that day, our calling is to remain rooted in truth, growing strong as the good seed God has planted.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for planting us as good seed in Your world. Give us the spiritual discernment to recognize the lies and deceptions of the enemy. Guard our hearts against doubt, and keep us firmly rooted in the authority of Your Word. Help us to stand strong, live faithfully, and bear good fruit until the day of Your return. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Bible Study Tools I Use

NIV Bible
King James Bible
www. biblegateway.com
www.biblestudytools.com
Map Pencils
College Ruled Spiral Notebook
Ballpoint Pens
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!

Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

Thanks for stopping by the blog today! I love having you here. If this post resonated with you, please drop a comment below and share your thoughts. See you in the next post!

Blessings, Margarita & Stace

September 17, 2026

EVIL ONE SNATCHES AWAY / MATTHEW 13:19

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) Matthew 13:19

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.

The Thief of Truth: When the Evil One Snatches the Word Away

We have all experienced moments where a powerful truth hits us—whether during a Sunday morning sermon, while reading a devotional, or during a quiet moment of prayer. We feel a sudden spark of inspiration and resolve to change our habits, deepen our faith, or treat others with more grace.

But then, Monday morning rolls around. The alarm blares, traffic is a nightmare, an email chain causes our blood to boil, and by noon, that powerful weekend truth is completely gone. What happened?

Jesus gives us a sobering explanation for this exact phenomenon in the Parable of the Sower. In Matthew 13:19, He warns us:

“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 Danger of the Hardened Path

In this famous parable, Jesus compares the Word of God to seeds scattered by a farmer. The very first environment the seed encounters is “the path”—a walkway packed down tight by the heavy, constant foot traffic of life. Because the soil is hard, the seed cannot sink beneath the surface. It just sits exposed on top of the ground, completely vulnerable.

Jesus reveals a startling spiritual reality: Satan is on standby, ready to snatch the Word of God from you.

The enemy doesn’t need to wage a massive, dramatic war to neutralize the impact of God’s truth in your life. He just needs to wait for a moment of spiritual apathy or confusion. If the truth we hear remains entirely on the surface, the “birds of the air” will swoop in and carry it away before it ever has a chance to take root.

The Role of Understanding

Notice the specific condition Jesus mentions: the evil one snatches the seed when someone hears the message and does not understand it.

This isn’t just about intellectual capability or having a degree in theology. In the biblical sense, true understanding involves leaning in, pondering the message, and letting the Holy Spirit apply it directly to your life.

When we treat the gospel as mere background noise—or when we listen to a sermon out of obligation without actually contemplating how it applies to our lives—our hearts remain hard. The devil loves spiritual confusion and spiritual laziness. He uses distractions, busyness, and entertainment to ensure that the message never transitions from something you merely heard into something you actually live.

Cultivating Soft Soil

If you want to protect the truth God is speaking into your life, you have to intentionally break up the hard ground of your heart. You can do this by:

Slowing Down: Don’t rush away from your Bible study or a church service. Give the message room to breathe.
Asking Questions: Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal what a passage means for your specific situation.
Guarding Your Heart: Be mindful of the distractions you allow into your mind immediately after receiving God’s word.

Don’t let the enemy rob you of the spiritual growth, peace, and transformation God has planned for you. Protect the seed, soften the soil, and watch the fruit grow.

A Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

We come before You today recognizing that Your Word is alive, powerful, and full of truth. Lord, we confess that all too often, we allow the foot traffic, worries, and distractions of this world to harden our hearts. We apologize for the times we have listened to Your voice but failed to truly lean in and understand.

We ask right now that You protect the seeds of truth You have planted within us. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, rebuke the enemy who stands ready to snatch Your Word away. Break up the hard, compacted soil of our hearts and give us a soft, receptive heart of flesh.

Open the eyes of our hearts so that we may truly grasp the message of Your Kingdom, live it out with confidence, and produce a harvest that honors You.

In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Bible Study Tools I Use

NIV Bible
King James Bible
www. biblegateway.com
www.biblestudytools.com
Map Pencils
College Ruled Spiral Notebook
Ballpoint Pens
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!

Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

Thanks for stopping by the blog today! I love having you here. If this post resonated with you, please drop a comment below and share your thoughts. See you in the next post!

Blessings, Margarita & Stace

September 17, 2026

WHOEVER HAS WILL BE GIVEN MORE / MATTHEW 13:12

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) Matthew 13:12

Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.

Cultivating a Receptive Heart: Understanding the Kingdom Principle of Matthew 13:12

At first glance, Matthew 13:12 can sound incredibly jarring, almost unfair to our human ears:

“For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”

In a world plagued by economic inequality, we might read this and mistakenly assume Jesus is endorsing a “rich get richer” philosophy. But Jesus wasn’t giving a lecture on financial economics. He was revealing a profound, foundational law of the Kingdom of Heaven: the principle of spiritual receptivity and stewardship.

When we understand what Jesus is truly offering, this verse transforms from a stern warning into a beautiful invitation to experience life in its absolute fullness.

The Context: Why Parables?

To understand this verse, we have to look at why Jesus said it. His disciples had just asked Him why He was suddenly speaking to the crowds in parables.

Jesus explained that the secrets of the Kingdom were being given to the disciples, but not to the crowds. Why? Because the religious leaders and many in the crowds had already hardened their hearts. They had seen the miracles, heard the truth, and willfully rejected it.

The “one who has” is the person who welcomes the truth of God with an open, eager, and humble heart. The “one who has not” is the person who closes their mind, letting their heart become hard like path-soil.

Use What You Have, and Watch it Multiply

This principle shows up everywhere in the Christian walk. God has entrusted every single one of us with a unique measure of spiritual wisdom, gifts, talents, and opportunities. He is watching to see how we steward them.

Faith: When you act on a small, mustard-seed size of faith, God expands your capacity to trust Him through deeper trials.
Wisdom: When you obey the spiritual insights God gives you through His Word, He trusts you with deeper revelations and clarity.
Service: When you use your natural and spiritual talents to bless others, God multiplies your opportunities and increases your impact.

Spiritual growth is never stagnant. If we are actively cultivating our relationship with Christ, we are moving forward into abundance. But if we neglect what we’ve been given—if we let our Bibles gather dust and keep our faith hidden away—even the spiritual momentum we once had will begin to wither.

Choosing Abundance Today

The good news is that the Kingdom of God operates on an economy of grace, not human effort. God does not expect you to generate your own righteousness or gifts; He simply asks you to surrender and receive what He has already provided.

If you feel like you “have not” much to give today, simply offer your willingness. Ask God to soften the soil of your heart, and watch how He richly furnishes your life with His peace, guidance, and spiritual fruit.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the beautiful gift of Your Word and the grace of the gospel. Lord, we recognize that every good and perfect thing we possess comes directly from Your hand. We ask right now that You would search our hearts. Forgive us for the times we have been complacent, or when we have let our hearts grow hardened to Your voice.

We pray for a deeply receptive and humble spirit today. Break up any hard ground within us, and grant us the wisdom and courage to act faithfully on the truth You have already revealed to us. Multiply our faith, our love, and our capacity to serve Your Kingdom. May we live so closely aligned with Your Spirit that we walk daily in the spiritual abundance and fruitfulness You promised.

In Jesus’ mighty name we pray, Amen.

Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Bible Study Tools I Use

NIV Bible
King James Bible
www. biblegateway.com
www.biblestudytools.com
Map Pencils
College Ruled Spiral Notebook
Ballpoint Pens
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!

Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

Thanks for stopping by the blog today! I love having you here. If this post resonated with you, please drop a comment below and share your thoughts. See you in the next post!

Blessings, Margarita & Stace

September 17, 2026

LET BOTH GROW TOGETHER / MATTHEW 13:30

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) Matthew 13:3

And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

Cultivating the Soil of the Heart: Understanding the Parables of the Kingdom

Have you ever listened to a story that stayed with you for days, slowly revealing deeper meanings the more you thought about it? That is the profound power of a parable.

In Matthew 13:3, we read: “Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: ‘Behold, a sower went out to sow.’”

The word “parable” comes from the Greek parabole, which literally means “placing beside”—like holding up a mirror of daily life next to a profound spiritual reality. Jesus took everyday, familiar images—seeds, soil, weeds, and fishing nets—and used them to explain the mystery of the kingdom of heaven.

The Mystery of the Kingdom: Wheat and Tares Side by Side

Jesus’ parables in Matthew 13 reveal a critical truth about our present world: until Christ returns, good and evil will exist together within the visible kingdom on earth.

This means that within the global community of those who claim to follow Christ, we will find both the sincere and the insincere. We will see remarkable faithfulness, but we will also witness worldly compromises and rebellion. Jesus did not share these stories to discourage us, but to alert and equip us. He wanted His true followers to expect opposition and to know how to overcome it.

How to Overcome: Wholehearted Devotion

We cannot control the weeds growing around us, but we can control the soil of our own hearts. The parables teach us that the only way to overcome the influence of evil and the deception of this world is through wholehearted devotion to Jesus Christ.

True faith requires a radical commitment to what is right and true. Like the merchant who sold everything he had for the pearl of great price, we are called to value Jesus above all else. In the end, the shadows of compromise will be stripped away. As Jesus promises in Matthew 13:43, “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.”

The Double-Edged Sword of Truth

The unique beauty of Jesus’ parables is that they act as a filter for the heart. To those who are spiritually sincere, open, and hungry for God, parables reveal beautiful, life-changing truth. But to those who are cynical, prideful, or resistant to God, the truth remains concealed.

Every time we encounter the words of Jesus, it demands a decision. Will we let the seed of His Word take deep root in our lives, or will we allow the cares of this world to choke it out? Let us choose today to be the good soil.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the beautiful truths hidden within Your Word. Lord, give us ears to hear and hearts that are soft, sincere, and open to Your teachings. We ask that You cultivate the soil of our hearts today. Root out any seeds of bitterness, compromise, or worldliness, and help us to stand firm against the opposition around us.

We desire to be wholeheartedly devoted to Jesus, placing Him above every earthly treasure. Empower us by Your Holy Spirit to live lives of pure godliness, so that we may shine like the sun in Your kingdom. We love You, we trust You, and we commit our ways to You.

In Jesus’ mighty name we pray,
Amen.

Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Bible Study Tools I Use

NIV Bible
King James Bible
www. biblegateway.com
www.biblestudytools.com
Map Pencils
College Ruled Spiral Notebook
Ballpoint Pens
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!

Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

Thanks for stopping by the blog today! I love having you here. If this post resonated with you, please drop a comment below and share your thoughts. See you in the next post!

Blessings, Margarita & Stace

September 16, 2026

AN EVIL SPIRIT / MATTHEW 12:43

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) Matthew 12:43

When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.

Cleaned Up But Not Filled: Understanding the Realities of Spiritual Warfare

In Matthew 12:43-45, Jesus provides a sobering look into the spiritual realm. He describes a scenario that is both fascinating and terrifying: an unclean spirit leaves a person, wanders through waterless places looking for rest, and decides to return to its original home. Upon arrival, the spirit finds the house swept clean and put in order—but completely empty. It then brings back seven other spirits even more wicked, leaving the person worse off than before.

This passage outlines three critical truths regarding spiritual confinement, demon possession, and the absolute necessity of divine ownership.

1. Evil Spirits Desire to Reclaim Lost Ground

When an evil spirit is forced to release its control over a person—where it physically inhabits, controls, and acts through a body—it does not simply disappear. It becomes a restless wanderer. As Matthew 12:44 notes, its ultimate goal is to return to the person it left behind.

Spiritual liberation is rarely a one-time event that you can just walk away from without a plan. Satan and his forces are persistent parasites; if they find an opportunity to reclaim an old territory, they will seize it with even greater ferocity.

2. Emptiness is a Dangerous State

The core vulnerability of the individual in Jesus’ teaching wasn’t that their life was messy. In fact, the text emphasizes that the house was “swept and clean”. The fatal flaw was that the house was empty.

Moral reformation without spiritual regeneration is a trap. You can break bad habits, clean up your language, and organize your life, but if your heart remains a spiritual vacuum, you are still unprotected. Evil spirits cannot return if a person’s heart is genuinely occupied by the Holy Spirit.

As scripture reminds us:

1 Corinthians 6:19: Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit.
2 Corinthians 6:15-16: Light has no fellowship with darkness.

True followers of Christ have God’s Spirit permanently living inside them. Because God does not share His temple with idols, a believer cannot be demon-possessed. However, if we act unfaithfully or leave our minds unguarded, we can still experience intense spiritual oppression and negative demonic influence.

3. Societies Can Fall Under Corporate Demonic Control

Jesus concludes this teaching with a jarring shift in scope: “That will be the experience of this evil generation”. He expands the metaphor from a single individual to an entire culture.

When a nation or society systematically rejects God and aggressively pursues the pleasures of evil, the society itself can come under demonic control. We see glimpses of this reality in prophetic texts like Revelation 16:14, which warns of demonic spirits influencing the leaders and nations of the world. A culture that empties itself of God’s truth will inevitably be filled with something far darker.

Final Thoughts: Fill the Void

It is not enough to simply say “no” to the dark; we must actively say “yes” to the Light. Ensure that your life is not just empty of bad things, but overflowing with the presence of God, His Word, and His Spirit.

A Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

We come before You acknowledging that the world we live in is a spiritual battleground. Lord, protect our hearts, our minds, and our homes from the deceptive influences of the enemy. We pray specifically against any spiritual oppression or exhaustion we may be facing today.

We do not ask simply to be cleaned up or reformed by our own strength. Instead, we ask You to flood our lives with Your Holy Spirit. Occupy every room, every thought, and every hidden corner of our hearts so that there is absolutely no room for darkness to dwell. Give us the discernment to guard our culture, our communities, and our families from the spiritual emptiness that leads to destruction.

Thank You that greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world. We rest securely under Your ownership and your grace.

In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Bible Study Tools I Use

NIV Bible
King James Bible
www. biblegateway.com
www.biblestudytools.com
Map Pencils
College Ruled Spiral Notebook
Ballpoint Pens
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!

Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

Thanks for stopping by the blog today! I love having you here. If this post resonated with you, please drop a comment below and share your thoughts. See you in the next post!

Blessings, Margarita & Stace

September 16, 2026

JONAH / MATTHEW 12:40

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) Matthew 12:40

For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

The historical reality of Jonah is one of the most debated topics in modern biblical discussions, yet Jesus Christ completely settled the debate in the New Testament. In Matthew 12:40, Jesus explicitly treats the Old Testament account of Jonah as literal, historical fact, using the prophet’s harrowing experience as the ultimate architectural blueprint for His own death, burial, and resurrection.

By anchoring the core theological reality of the Christian faith to Jonah’s time in the fish, Jesus makes it clear: if Jonah’s story is a fairy tale, then the resurrection is a fairy tale too.

The Sign of Jonah: Why History Matters in Matthew 12:40

When the religious leaders demanded a miraculous sign from Jesus to prove His authority, He refused to perform a cheap trick on demand. Instead, He pointed them backward to ancient history and forward to the cross:

“For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” — Matthew 12:40

Notice that Jesus did not say, “Just as the myth of Jonah teaches a good lesson…” He used the comparative framework “For as… so…” to establish an exact historical parallel. Jesus accepted that Jonah was a real prophet who experienced a real, miraculous deliverance. He even went on to state that the people of Nineveh would rise up at the judgment to condemn that generation, because they truly repented at Jonah’s preaching (Matthew 12:41). You cannot have fictional people rising up at a literal, future judgment.

A Picture of Sovereign Mercy

Jonah is the only Old Testament prophet with whom Jesus directly and specifically compares Himself. The parallels are striking, but the contrasts show why Jesus is infinitely greater:

The Grave and Sheol: Jonah cried out from the “belly of hell” (Sheol), facing what felt like an abysmal separation from God before being brought up from corruption. In a far deeper way, Jesus descended into the heart of the earth, bearing the weight of our sins, before triumphantly breaking the chains of death.
The Storm: Jonah was thrown into a raging sea to calm the wrath of a storm his own sin had caused. Jesus, completely innocent, willingly allowed Himself to be thrown into the ultimate storm of God’s wrath so that we could have eternal peace.
The Purpose: Jonah reluctantly preached to his enemies and grumbled when they received grace. Jesus enthusiastically endured the cross, satisfied to secure salvation for a lost world.

Standing on Solid Ground

If you ever find yourself wavering or doubting the supernatural elements of the Old Testament, look to Jesus. He didn’t view the scriptures as a collection of sanitized metaphors or moral fables. He viewed them as the infallible, historically accurate word of His Father.

The empty tomb proves that Jesus is who He said He is. And because He rose from the dead, we can completely trust His validation of Jonah. The sign has been given, the work is finished, and salvation belongs to the Lord!

A Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

We marvel at the perfection of Your Word and the precision of Your divine plans. Thank You for giving us the historical Sign of Jonah to anchor our faith in the reality of the resurrection. Forgive us for the times we treat Your power as small or doubt Your historical truth.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for willingly going into the heart of the earth for three days and nights to conquer death on our behalf. Thank You that just as You delivered Jonah from the deep, You have delivered us from the ultimate penalty of our sin. Build our confidence in Your scriptures today, and give us the courage to share the message of Your radical, life-saving mercy with the world around us.

In the mighty and matchless name of Jesus, Amen.

Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Bible Study Tools I Use

NIV Bible
King James Bible
www. biblegateway.com
www.biblestudytools.com
Map Pencils
College Ruled Spiral Notebook
Ballpoint Pens
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!

Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

Thanks for stopping by the blog today! I love having you here. If this post resonated with you, please drop a comment below and share your thoughts. See you in the next post!

Blessings, Margarita & Stace