THE STORY OF JESUS: Matthew 13:24-30
“No… you may uproot the wheat with them.” (Matthew 13:29)
The kingdom of God/heaven is this world, as originally created by God.
We know the story from Genesis 1-3 how the Enemy sows weeds of selfishness.
But God does not give us up on, He doesn’t kill us to start over.
God knows that goodness remains and will wait for the harvest to separate good from evil.
We live in a weed-infested world because God gives us a chance to show our hearts.
Will we cling to wheat of goodness, or will we surrender to the weed of selfishness.
We cannot defeat the Enemy – Jesus came to do that for us.
But with God’s help, we can refuse to be defeated by the Enemy.
We can devote ourselves, with the Spirit’s help, to producing good fruit.
Life is hard in this weed-infested world, but it cannot stop us from striving to do good.
Our challenge, and the invitation of God, is to overcome evil with good.
“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord. On the contrary: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:14-21)
Everyday we face this choice: will we be overcome by evil, or will we overcome evil with good?
Jesus beat Satan by His goodness, He will help us overcome evil as well!
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, help me to refuse the weeds in my life, and be the kind of wheat You created and saved me to be!
Jesus follower
trying to find His way
Know how you sometimes say “don’t give into Satan?”
I know for me personally I try very hard not to. It’s an on-going battle…!
Some of us are faced with family loss, relational loss, illness both mental and physical, real life changing circumstances, or struggle with the lies, defeat and much more.
Or some of us are negative thinkers, or struggle with the thought of walking away from faith altogether.
It can “feel” that we are imprisonment to his lies because that’s what seems to take hold and the upper hand. Does that make us bad? Or evil? Or a slave to it? I don’t think so. I know sometimes darkness and negative thinking can take hold of my own heart BUT I know even in that moment I want to overcome evil with good. I’ll never not struggle. Especially against the enemy’s lies and schemes. No matter how much I grow or don’t grow. The jerk doesn’t just go away. Especially when you actively want to do in God’s kingdom. But I need to learn where to channel my focus, and how to combat the lies. I need to learn to not let it become true and defeat me from shining the light. But it’s real, hard, and messy and I’d rather be real and admit that and know I am working on it with His help. So that hopefully one day I don’t give into the weeds…and that I do plant good seeds…
God’s kingdom.
Ever since his fall, Satan continues to sow his seed in God’s kingdom. That seed also takes hold and those weeds will be destroyed in time. God is the victor through Christ Jesus. But if the weeds are uprooted too soon, it will also uproot the wheat. And so in the garden today, both are growing together until the end – harvest time. What was sown will be reaped.
Good seed = good fruit. Seeds growing into kingdom workers doing His will for His glory.
Weeds = bad fruit. Tares growing into workers for Satan’s dark kingdom doing his will.
God’s kingdom has overcome and His Word is rooted in my heart so that I may bear good fruit.
All for Jesus, all for Jesus!
All my being’s ransomed powers:
All my thoughts and words and doings,
All my days and all my hours.
Refrain
All for Jesus! All for Jesus!
All my days and all my hours;
All for Jesus! All for Jesus!
All my days and all my hours.
Let my hands perform His bidding,
Let my feet run in His ways;
Let my eyes see Jesus only,
Let my lips speak forth His praise.
Refrain
Worldlings prize their gems of beauty,
Cling to gilded toys of dust,
Boast of wealth and fame and pleasure;
Only Jesus will I trust.
Refrain
Since my eyes were fixed on Jesus,
I’ve lost sight of all beside;
So enchained my spirit’s vision,
Looking at the Crucified.
Refrain
Oh, what wonder! how amazing!
Jesus, glorious King of kings,
Deigns to call me His belovèd,
Lets me rest beneath His wings.