MORNING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 9/13/2026
7:56 AM
My
Worship Time Focus:
“The Thorny
Soil”
Bible
Reading & Meditation Reference: Luke
8:14
Message of the verses: “The seed which fell among the thorns,
these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked
with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to
maturity.”
The seed which fell among the
thorns pictures another group of those who have heard the gospel and
initially accepted it. However the truth
is soon crowded out not by suffering, but by pleasure. The soil appears good; it is not hard-packed,
it is deep and has no underlying rock bed.
However there are impurities in it, other life that is native to
it. On the other hand the seed, the word
of God, is not natural in the hearts of sinners. As a result though the seeds sprout, what
happens is they are chocked with worries and riches and pleasures of this
life (cf. Matt. 13:22) which, as they did with the rich young ruler (Luke
18:18-25), keep the people pictured by the thorny soil from receiving eternal
life.
(cf. Matt. 13:22)
“22 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.”
(Luke 18:18-25)
“18 ¶ And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what
must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19
And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good
except God alone. 20 You know the
commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear
false witness, Honor your father and mother.’" 21 And he said, “All these I have kept from my
youth.” 22 When Jesus heard this, he
said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute
to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”
23 But when he heard these things, he
became very sad, for he was extremely rich. 24
Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, "How difficult it is
for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through
the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."
MacArthur writes “Those
double-minded people (James 1:8) illustrate the truth that a person ‘cannot
serve God and wealth’ (Matt. 6:24).”
(James 1:8)
“8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all
his ways.”
“They are
consumed with temporal things—sinful pleasures, longings and desires, ambition,
career, homes, cars, prestige, relationships, fame—all of which choke the seed
of the gospel so that they bring no fruit to maturity. The seed of the gospel will not produce
the fruit of righteousness unless the heart is purged.
“This is the preoccupied worldly
heart, swept away by the deceitfulness of riches. Paul wrote of such people, ‘Those who want to
get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires
which plunge men into ruin and destruction’ (1 Tim. 6:9). The apostle John warned his readers,
“15 Do not love the world or the things in the
world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of
the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father
but is from the world. 17 And the world
is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides
forever.”
“There is
nothing wrong in enjoying the things that God graciously provides (1 Tim.
6:17).”
(1 Tim. 6:17)
“17 As for the rich in this present age, charge
them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches,
but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.”
“The
priority, however, is to ‘seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all
these things will be added to you’ (Matt. 6:33). “Those who understand the true value of the
gospel would willingly give up all to possess it if that was what the Lord
asked (Matt. 13:44-46).”
(Matt. 13:44-46)
“44 ¶ "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure
hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes
and sells all that he has and buys that field. 45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a
merchant in search of fine pearls, 46
who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he and
bought it.”
Spiritual
Meaning for my life today: Trusting the Lord to help me to first His
kingdom first, and not hold tightly to the things of this world.
My
Steps of Faith for Today: Continue to trust the Lord in the
healing of my grandson Jagger who underwent another surgery last night.
9/13/2026
8:32 AM
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