Today's Verse: Matthew 13:22 (KJV)

Friday, September 22, 2023

He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
— Matthew 13:22 (KJV)
Now you can listen to Today's Verse on iTunes, Spotify, Echo devices, and more!

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

All sorts of things can distract us from Kingdom matters. The wear and tear of everyday life can make it hard to keep our spiritual focus. In an affluence-driven society, our desire for riches, our pursuit of material things, and our selfishness with wealth can entangle us. The worries of this life can stifle our faith. Eventually, the fruitfulness of the Gospel is choked out, and we lose our spiritual vitality. Our most valuable riches are found in Jesus, not in stuff that decays or can be stolen from us. If he is our priceless treasure, so his Kingdom must be our highest priority, then we can handle the other things that come our way (Matthew 6:33).

My Prayer...

Gracious Father, please help me faithfully use the blessings you have lavishly poured upon me. Please, Holy Spirit, don't let me be deceived or owned by the things I possess, nor do I want to covet what I do not have. Give me an undivided heart, Lord Jesus, about the matters of your Kingdom. Please bring to life the fruitfulness of a heart full of your grace. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

5 Related Resources by Heartlight

Time to weed.
Illustration of Matthew 13:22
Inspirational illustration of Matthew 13:22 -- The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.
Choke Point
Devo: What Jesus Did!
"[Jesus continued:] "Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds: ... The seed that fell among the thorns represents....."
Teach Us to Pray 09: Recalibrating Need
Article by Phil Ware
Our prayers often treat God as if he is the free Amazon delivery service for our every whim and want. Phil Ware with Andy Johnson remind us that our prayer is for the bread we need today, not the extravagance we want for ourselves.
The Latest Thing
Article by Tim Archer
It's new! Improved! It's easy to want what everyone else is getting. But it's also very, very dangerous. God can help you learn to be happy with what you have.
See All 5 Related Resources about Matthew 13:22

Illustration

Illustration of Matthew 13:22 (KJV) — He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Friday, September 22, 2023

Passion for Praise
A daily passage of Scripture emphasizing praise to our God.
'Thank God!' (Ro. 7:23-25)
"Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our..."
Unstoppable!
A one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts.
'A Great Mission, A Junior Partner'
"Meanwhile, the word of God continued to spread, and there were many new believers. When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission to Jerusalem,...."
A Year with Jesus
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
'A Clear Command'
"Dear Lover of God, During My earthly ministry, I was asked: "which commandment is the greatest?" (Matthew 22:36). Quoting Old Testament Scriptures,....."
Praying with Paul
Features the apostle Paul's writings turned into daily, powerful prayers.
'Holy and Blameless' (1 Th. 2:5-12)
"Dear Father, Keep all your preachers from using words of flattery, any cloak of greed, or from seeking glory for themselves, even though they have..."

About This Devotional

Today's Verse is a free daily devotional that includes a Bible verse, thought and prayer.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.

More Today's Verse