Matthew 13:3
   Parables were often used for teaching in that time and place. The Jews were used to the Rabbis employing this method. However, Jesus used it to greater effect, and had greater truths in mind. Telling a parable about farming was an easy way to get the attention of the multitude. They would readily understand the setting and specifics of the farmer’s situation.

Bible Reading: Numbers 32:1-33:56

Scripture Memory: 1 John 2:27 “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for another day to serve You. It is always nice to go to church and worship You with Your people. We really love coming together to make much of You. You are worthy of all our praises and thanksgiving. We are so blessed to be a part of Your plan. Thank You for using us in Your service in spite of our limitations. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Requests: Pray for a man recovering from a knee operation. Pray for a man needing a shoulder operation. Pray for a man preparing to make a change at work.

Journal Entry #13160

Matthew 13:2
   In our day, it is the audience that is made comfortable while the speaker stands. Jesus was doing the work of sharing the Truth. His hearers did not mind if he sat while they stood. Imagine what would happen today if people were asked to listen to a man sitting down speak while they stood. Also, remember, he had no public address system. There was no amplification for his voice. His words had to be listened to closely. Would people today even try to hear a speaker like that?

Bible Reading: Numbers 30:1-31:54

Scripture Memory: 1 John 2:27 “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, You are so powerful! You made the fish in the sea and the stars in the sky. And yet, You have time to consider even the smallest sparrow. You are so amazing! If I could spend my whole life just exploring Your creation, I would still find myself unable to describe the fullness of Your majesty as it is reflected in Your works. You are worthy of all praise! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Requests: Pray for a woman who is not getting around well.

Journal Entry #13159

Matthew 13:1
   This is one of those little verses that we forget about. Jesus just goes out and sits down by the sea. He already knows the people are coming. He already knows what he will teach them. He simply picks a good place for the day’s activities and sets to work on them. Jesus made the Truth available to the common man.

Bible Reading: Numbers 27:1-29:40

Scripture Memory: 1 John 2:27 “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for all that You do in our lives. Your grace is amazing and Your love is boundless. Your mercy is limitless, and Your kindness is wonderful. Your holiness is inspiring. Your goodness is comforting. How could we ever praise You enough? You are worthy of all our praise and adoration. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Requests: Pray for a man making some choices about work right now.

Journal Entry #13158

Matthew 12:50
   True Christianity is about being part of a family. When you are part of a family, there are certain things that you share that will never change. You can be separated from your family by many miles, but you still have a connection to them that cannot be altered. You belong together, you came from the same group of folks.
   The same is true for the family of God. Almighty God has made it possible for us, humble humanity, to become part of his family. This is an amazing thing, but it is exactly what Jesus has in mind in this verse. Those who do the will of God, who follow his plan for their lives, are a part of his family.

Bible Reading: Numbers 25:1-26:65

Scripture Memory: 1 John 2:26 “These things have I written you concerning them that seduce you.“

Prayer: Heavenly Father, it is so good to know You are always there. Even when we know that we are not pleasing to You, You are there loving us and being interested in our lives. You know everything about us not just because You know everything naturally, but also because You want to know. You make us holy by the Your salvation through Jesus Christ Your Son. You call us for Your purposes. Father, thank You for taking an interest in our lives. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Requests: Pray for pastors all over America.

Journal Entry #13157

Matthew 12:49
   Jesus was not, by this illustration, saying that his disciples were a better family to him than his own. His family was still his family. But, the disciples were closer still to him than his family because they believed in him and followed him. And, among them there was at least one who was not genuine. Thus, we must be careful not to misunderstand this illustration. Jesus is trying to explain to his hearers how the family of God works.

Bible Reading: Numbers 22:1-24:25

Scripture Memory: 1 John 2:26 “These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the things about You that we often forget. We get so busy in our lives with our own lives that we forget about You and all that You do in our lives. You care for us so much. You love us more than anybody else, and yet You are often the last person we think to talk to. Thank You for being so faithful to us, and patient with us. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Requests: Pray for an older lady who is not able to get around very well.

Journal Entry #13156

Matthew 12:48
   Jesus intention here was not to deny the identity of his family. What he was doing was making a powerful statement about the kingdom. The family ties that the Jews held so dearly were not as strong as the ties between those who practice the will of God. Christians are to have a bond with each other stronger than the cultural mores in regards to family ties.

Bible Reading: Numbers 19:1-21:35

Scripture Memory: 1 John 2:25 “And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.“

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for sometimes allowing us to serve You allongside family members. It is a great blessing to work with any of Your servants. However, it is an extra comfort to have our family close by. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Requests: Pray for a woman who just recovered from cancer.

Journal Entry #13155

Matthew 12:47
   Jesus did not lose contact with his family during his ministry. He did not shun them or act as if they were unworthy of him. He did not publicly attack them for their disbelief. He was quite busy, so he probably did not have a lot of contact with them. But, he did not neglect them. This is a lesson for all of us. We may be very busy in ministry and have a lot on our plate. but, we should make an effort to stay in touch with others, especially our family.

Bible Reading: Numbers 16:1-18:32

Scripture Memory: 1 John 2:25 “And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for all of the blessings that our families bring to our lives. We sometimes take for granted all of the people that You put into our lives to be a blessing to us. We expect You to use things in our lives rather than people. But, using people is a good idea, of course. You always know the best way to go about things. Thank You for being so wise and so considerate. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Requests: Pray for a man having an MRI on his shoulder tomorrow. Pray for a young man going on a missions trip.

Journal Entry #13154

Matthew 12:46
   We are here reminded on the humanity of Christ. He was, and is, completely human, though completely Divine.

Bible Reading: Numbers 14:1-15:41

Scripture Memory: 1 John 2:25 “And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your love for us. You are incredible! We can never truly understand just how much You love us. Thank You for Your faithfulness and grace. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Requests: Pray for churches all over America today.

Journal Entry #13153

Matthew 12:45
   Jesus would not stay there on earth forever. The Jews needed to accept him into their hearts. Yes, some of them would still have the chance to do so after his ascension. But, today is always the day of salvation. The time to accept him is always now. Later is never the message. Now is the proper time. Later may not be too late, but now is never too early.
   This generation of Jews would not only see the coming of the Messiah to them, but also the decline that would lead to the destruction of their nation. Though they were ‘cleaned out’ by John the Baptist and the Lamb himself, many of them hardened themselves to the Truth and became worse off than they were before.

Bible Reading: Numbers 11:1-13:33

Scripture Memory: 1 John 2:24 “Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.“

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You so much for this day! You are so good to us. We can get excited about the simplest of things. However, rather than laughing at us for having such plain tastes, You bless us in the simple things anyway. Knowing that You keep the sun in the sky not only for Your Divine purposes, but for our pleasure as well is a great comfort. Indeed, that You care about our sentiments is a glory to Your magnanimous character. You are so beneficent! May we always be thankful for Your personality. It is what makes our lives happy. Without knowing that You are there, this world would make little sense. Oh Father, teach us to live lives of worth and goodness! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Requests: Pray for our local and national political leaders. Pray for a church that recently flooded. Pray for an elderly woman on her deathbed. Pray for a man that is going to have a test to determine if cancer treatments have been successful.

Journal Entry #13152

Matthew 12:44
   The demon returns to the man that he was cast out of. The man has attempted to put his life in order by himself. This attempt will lead to just this outcome. It makes an empty, though organized, mess. We must have Christ in us in order to be anything other than empty in our hearts.

Bible Reading: Numbers 8:1-10:36

Scripture Memory: 1 John 2:24 “Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for all that Jesus does in our lives! He makes us able to live so much differently. We must rely on him to help us be the best that we can be. Oh Father, what a mercy it is to have him in our hearts! Thank You for Your power to enable us to be Your children. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Requests: Pray for a missionary family travelling in France.

Journal Entry #13151