The Upper Room Daily Devotionals in Nashville, Tennessee, United States "DEEPER UNDERSTANDING" for Tuesday, 30 August 2016 with Scripture: Matthew 13:1-9

The Upper Room Daily Devotionals in Nashville, Tennessee, United States "DEEPER UNDERSTANDING" for Tuesday, 30 August 2016 with Scripture: Matthew 13:1 That same day, Yeshua went out of the house and sat down by the lake; 2 but such a large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there while the crowd stood on the shore. 3 He told them many things in parables:
“A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he sowed, some seed fell alongside the path; and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Other seed fell on rocky patches where there was not much soil. It sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow; 6 but when the sun had risen, the young plants were scorched; and since their roots were not deep, they dried up. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 But others fell into rich soil and produced grain, a hundred or sixty or thirty times as much as had been sown. 9 Those who have ears, let them hear!”
-------
The LORD said, “If my people would only listen to me, if Israel would only follow my ways, how quickly I would subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes!”[Psalm 81:13-14 (NIV)]
As a tutor, I like to observe my students’ diligence and seriousness in learning. Each student has textbooks, a teacher, and all they need to learn; but only some of them are actually using what they have to deepen their understanding.
Similarly, in our Christian lives, we have the Bible, spiritual leaders and mentors, and fellowship with other Christians to help us grow in our faith. However, not all of us pursue spiritual growth with the same passion. If we are close to God and always pray, read, and meditate on God’s word, we can deepen our understanding and our faith. When we face trials, the peace of the Lord can sustain us. We will be like seeds that fall on good soil and bring forth grain. We will yield a crop — thirty, sixty, a hundred times greater than the seeds we sow — for the kingdom of God.
Read more from the author, here.
"Deeper Understanding"
“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:17-19, NIV)
I wrote this devotional because I noticed something about a few of my students. Their parents have given them all of their needs: good school, textbooks, stationery, and even equipped them with a tutor. Even though they had all their needs, but they did not notice all the privileges they had. They did not use their complete facilities to deepen their understanding so they would be smarter.
I realized that in our spiritual life, we often do the same. Each of us is only human but indeed we have great privileges. We have big God who loves us so much. We know that, “[We] can do all things through Him who gives [us] strength.” (Philippians 4:13). We also have the words of God to help us face trials. Yes, God even surrounded us with good churches, good pastors, and many Christian friends.
But in fact, we often worry whenever we face severe problems. Philippians 4:6 says: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.” The Bible says not be become anxious about anything (problems, sickness, weakness, etc), but we are sometimes overwhelmed with fear and then lose hope. Rather than focus on God, we choose to seek the best way out. We forget that in Christ, we have all we need. Yes, God has given us the ability to overcome our problems because he has overcome them.
As God encouraged Joshua, so I want to encourage all of us (myself also), “[Let us] be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord [our] God will be with [us] whenever [we] go” (Joshua 1:9).[Linawati Santoso]
The Author: Linawati Santoso (East Java, Indonesia)
Thought for the Day: How can I use what I have to deepen my faith?
Prayer: Dear God, help us to draw close to you through your word as we pray, “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen” (Matthew 6:9-13, KJV).
Prayer focus: STUDENTS
-------