Heritage Blog
The Lost Sheep
“Suppose one of you had a hundred sheep and lost one. Wouldn’t you leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until you found it? When found, you can be sure you would put it across your shoulders, rejoicing, and when you got home call in your friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Celebrate with me! I’ve found my lost sheep!’ Count on it—there’s more joy in heaven over one sinner’s rescued life than over ninety-nine good people…
Follow Me
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23:6 (NKJV) We are being pursued by the goodness and mercy of God. God wants to love his children and do good things for them. His mercy or unconditional love is also always with us. No matter where we go, they are there. Even when we blow it, God’s goodness and mercy are there. Everywhere…
Which Path to Take
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT) Life is full of choices. Each of the choices we make leads us down a path that we may not fully understand when we are in the middle of making the choice. All of the choices arranged, they make our life story. When we get to…
My Shepherd
The LORD is my shepherd. I shall not want. Psalm 23:1 (NKJV) Shepherds play an important role in the lives of sheep. The shepherd makes sure the sheep have all the food and water they need. He protects them from wild animals and also guards them at night no matter wherever they are. We have a shepherd that provides everything we need. He knows what we need before we know ourselves. When we look at God as our shepherd, we…
Own Way
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way… Isaiah 53:6 (NIV) Sheep aren’t the smartest creatures. They can wander into places of danger by moving away from the group. They may not even be aware they are in trouble or of the dangers around them. We can be like those sheep also. God has a path laid out for us but we think we know better and do things our way. But…
Treasure
2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ,3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:2-3 (NKJV) Have you ever come upon a diary or love letters from your grandparents or someone who lived long ago? Have you held these precious pages written in their…
Old
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; 8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than…
New
51 Jesus said to them, “Have you understood all these things?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” 52 Then He said to them, “Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.” Matthew 13:51-52 (NKJV) JESUS IS MAKING A POINT ABOUT A “SCRIBE” SCRIBE: A person trained in writing skills and used to record events and decisions. An ancient Jewish record-keeper, a professional theologian, and jurist. A…
Old & New Treasures
51 Jesus said to them, “Have you understood all these things?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” 52 Then He said to them, “Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.” Matthew 13:51-52 (NKJV) We will look deeper at the scribe in tomorrow’s devotional. The householder is the owner of the home or head of household. The treasures of new are the mysteries revealed by Jesus…
Understanding the Secrets
51 Jesus said to them, “Have you understood all these things?” Matthew 13:51 (NKJV) Jesus began teaching in a new and different way. Jesus began teaching in parables. This style included taking a known truth and an unknown truth and putting them alongside each other. The disciples noticed right away that Jesus had changed things up and asked Jesus about it. Jesus explained three reasons for using parables: To reveal truth to the disciples, making known the secrets of heaven…
Planting Good
12 I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.’ Hosea 10:12 (NLT) You reap what you sow is a very common saying that most of us know. It’s about karma, you get back what you put into the world. It is actually a biblical statement. When you…
Recap
Let’s do a quick recap about this lesson that Jesus is teaching. It starts with the original parable which talks about the farmer and where he is planting his seeds. That is verses 1-9. Then the disciples question the meaning of the parable. They didn’t understand. Jesus explains it’s not about just hearing, it is about truly listening, that it’s not about just listening, it’s about working to understand. This is verses 10-17. Then Jesus explains the verse in bigger…
Understanding
18 “Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds: 19The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts. 20The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. 21But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall…
Questions
10 His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?” 11 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. 12 To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. 13 That is why I use these…
The Parable
1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell…
Living Sacrifice
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2 (ESV) We have a choice to make every day. We can conform to the…
Created For
After all this, there is only one thing to say: Have reverence for God, and obey his commands, because this is all that we were created for. Ecclesiastes 12:13 (GNT) Each of us was created for a purpose. We need to have love and respect for God and to obey his commands. While there are many commands that apply to all of us, there will also be commands that are specific to each of us. God has a unique purpose…
Nothing Gained
I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun. Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 (NIV) The world we live in is temporary. We were created for eternity. We can spend our…
Creator or Created
They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. Romans 1:25 (NIV) We are children of the creator of the universe. God spoke and all things were created, including us. At times, we forget how big our God really is and focus on the things in our lives. What we focus on becomes big in our lives. These things take over our thoughts, minds, emotions and…
No-god
All those who make no-god idols don’t amount to a thing, and what they work so hard at making is nothing. Their little puppet-gods see nothing and know nothing – they’re total embarrassments! Who would bother making gods that can’t do anything, that can’t “god”? Watch all the no-god worshipers hide their faces in shame. Watch the no-god makers slink off humiliated when their idols fail them. Get them out here in the open. Make them face God-reality. The blacksmith…
Expect the Unexpected
33 Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. 34 He brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God. Acts 16:31-34 (NLT) Notice the unexpected turn of events of this dreadful night. From being responsible for harm to Paul and Silas to nursing their wounds and restoring health and strength to…
Bad = Good
29 The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” 32 And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household. Acts 16:29-32 (NLT) What an incredible opportunity would have been missed if only things went according…
When God Shakes Things Up
26 Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! 27 The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. 28 But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!” Acts 16:26-28 (NLT) The first mission trip of Paul and Silas was a life-changing event for more than just…
Who’s Your Daddy?
25 Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Acts 16:25 (NLT) Imagine the hopeless situation Paul and Silas found themselves in. The two men do what brings them most comfort and remind themselves who is for them. They begin to sing words of comfort to their souls and confidence in their heavenly Father. God hears the songs of His children. That night in prison, God was listening and so were the jailer and…
New Beginning Setbacks
22 A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. 23 They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. 24 So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks. Acts 16:22-24 (NLT) Have you ever found yourself preparing for a new chapter in life? Did you expect that it would be great? For the Believer, it may have been…
Review
1. THERE IS NO MISTAKE TOO BIG FOR GOD TO FORGIVE.Matthew was known as a dishonest tax collector that was very greedy. Jesus still choose him and used him to further His kingdom. God can not only forgive your mistakes, but He can still use you. 2. THERE IS NO LIFE TOO FAR GONE FOR GOD TO REDEEM.After Matthew decided to follow Jesus he instantly introduced him to other tax collectors. Matthew not only became one of Jesus’ disciples but…