"HE BECOMES UNFRUITFUL"

"But he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the Word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the Word, and he becomes unfruitful."  (Matthew 13:22)

Mark's Gospel adds, "and the lust of other things."  What seemed to jump out at me today is that in such a case, "....he becomes unfruitful."  The Word is always "fruitful."  Could it be that something in my relationship in the very, "Word of God," Jesus Himself, has suffered loss?   

I may preach, teach, write, "....the Word..," yet I can still be, "unfruitful."  People can attract millions of followers, write number-one-best-sellers, and appear to be "successful."  In their personal lives, however, there is, "....he is unfruitful."  The outward man seems to be fruitful, but the personal life is a shambles. 

There is an unfruitfulness in the life of those who are overcome by, "the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things."  Perhaps it is the unfruitfulness of loneliness, a sense of, "I do not sense His presence."  Whatever, this, "....he (himself) becomes unfruitful," should press us in to, "the fear of the Lord," more than ever.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I confess that there have been times when I seemed outwardly fruitful, but inwardly was not.  Thank You for Your Word of warning and exhortation.  Amen.

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CROW MISSION: AUGUST 2-13

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"A GREATER THAN SOLOMON IS HERE"

"The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here."  (Matthew 12:41)

Indeed, He Is.  Jesus says in this same discourse, "....for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here."  I guess that we can call King Jesus, "The Greater One."

This means for me that my entire life is Christ's, determined by Jesus, walking in Jesus, and as Philippians 2:13 declares, "For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him."  Always happen?  No, but I press on in The Greater One.

Father, in Jesus' Name, just how "great" I really do not know.  Amen.

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CROW MISSION: AUGUST 2-13

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

A REFRESHER

"A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed."  (Proverbs 11:25, NIV)

Everyone wants to prosper and be refreshed.  Here we are told a "how to" which is the opposite of the world's. 

Perhaps this is another way of saying what our Lord Jesus Christ taught, "Do to others what you would have them do to you."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray to be a "refresher."  Amen.

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CROW MISSION: AUGUST 2-13

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

WORSHIP BY LISTENING

"In the first year of Darius...I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the Word of the Lord through Jeremiah...."  (From Daniel 9:1, 2)

I read the Bible at times, and I listen to the Bible at times.  I noticed particularly today just what a "worship experience" it is for me while I listen to the reading of the, "God-Breathed," Words.

The Bible is the Word of God, Jesus Christ, speaking the Words of the Living Triune God to humanity.  Since when is worship a "one way street?"  Worship is just as much "listening" as it is expressing.  

            

Listening to the Bible with the attitude expressed by our Lord Jesus Christ, "....see with their eyes, and hear with their ears," is as much worship as our expressing of words and songs of praise.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I worship You by listening.  Amen.

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CROW MISSION: AUGUST 2-13

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2