Matthew 13:18-23 Good Ground, the Path, Rocks, or Thorns?
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: April 3, 2019, Matthew 13:18-23
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
“Hear then the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
(Understanding the Text / Application) In the first part of the parable, the seeds fall along the path and birds eat them. Jesus says that this is the person who hears but does not understand. The lesson goes right over their head, and they leave the Teacher with nothing gained. I feel like the first part happens to me many mornings when I am trying to study. I am trying to focus, and then the drowsiness hits. It’s like the lesson that was almost going to come to me was snatched away by drowsiness as I nod off.
(Revelation of God) It’s interesting that I always think that the lessons are sown in my mind, but Jesus says here that the lessons were sown in the heart of the listener. Jesus wants more than an intellectual foothold in our lives. He is all-or-nothing, not because He is arbitrarily possessive but because anything else hurts us. He wants us whole and happy. Also, God does not withhold His seed just because someone will not receive it. He is constantly working through His Spirit to improve the ground so that the seeds will grow and bear fruit.
(Understanding the Text / Application) The rocky ground had no depth of soil. The plants sprang up right away, but then withered because they had no place to spread out their roots. Palestine was a rocky place, so this example was fitting. This is the fair weather Christian, who mouths the words of the Bible with joy, but when push comes to shove rejects the ways of the kingdom. This person has no staying power because there is a shallowness inside of him/her that cannot be stretched and deepened. There are rocks of ideas and opinions that refuse to move and expand. There are cherished beliefs that will not be let go of in order to make room for the true gospel. These Christians remain shallow in their beliefs and cannot grow more because they refuse to allow Christ to go deeper in their lives. They want to have religion up to their ankles, but won’t immerse themselves in Christ Himself. I see a lot of Christians like this. They try to limit Jesus in their lives to one place or time or group, not realizing that when they limit Jesus, they limit themselves. When times of trouble come, they have no staying power because there is so much of their lives that has not been touched by Jesus. They fall away completely.
The thorny ground is the Christian who is sincerely wanting to let Jesus into every part of his/her life, yet does not have room for Jesus, just as the rocky ground Christian does not. However, in this case it is because of worries and ambition. It is not that this person has inflexible barriers of thought that limit where Jesus can enter into his/her life. Instead, it is that this person allows outside ideas to come in and crowd out Jesus from his/her life. This person tries to serve two masters and ends up pushing Jesus right out of his/her heart replacing Jesus with material stuff or with fears and worries. This Christian’s focus is not on Jesus as the only worthy goal. Instead, Jesus has become one among many worthy goals. Thus, Jesus is excluded from parts of the heart because of the other cares and ambitions. I think this may be my worst weakness. These Christians remain loyal in word, but they do not bear fruit. In other words, they cannot develop enough to begin to display the characteristics of a servant of Jesus. They don’t grow right because the necessities for growth are sucked out of their lives by other priorities.
The final group hear the word and understand it. They allow the word to alter their thinking rather than remaining inflexible and limiting what the word can be. They bear fruit, so they are pulling out the weeds in their lives that interfere with their walk with Jesus. They make Jesus their priority above any other goal. They trust Jesus to be their Savior in all times, even times of care.
(Prayer) I pray to be good ground, and not let cares of the world, ambitions, or inflexible thinking limit Your place in my life.