BIAY - Kingdom Priority
Matthew 11-13, Psalm 63
Welcome to the Bible in a Year for 2025. Intro to this series and resource links available here, plus here’s how I’m approaching this year.
Scriptures for Today:
Reflection:
Look at the fruit (11:2-6) - John the Baptist, from prison, hears about Jesus and inquires through his disciples if Jesus is indeed the Messiah. Jesus taught this idea in the Sermon on the Mount — “by their fruit you will recognize them” (7:20). Here, He essentially makes that appeal by referring to a list of deeds that be pointers to the Messiah from Isaiah 35:5-6. In other words, compare the evidence of His life and ministry with the scriptures.
Condition of the human heart (13:1-23) - The marvelous parable of the soils describes a sower indiscriminately scattering seed along the way. The seed is the Word of God and the soil represents the condition of the human heart. This is the variable that determines whether the kingdom will take root and grow. The convicting invitation is for us to take stock of our hearts and how conducive they are to welcoming the Word of God to shape us or if we are more interested in obstructing the work of God’s Word somehow.
The value of the Kingdom (13:44-46) - The striking thing about the parables of the hidden treasure in the field and the pearl is that it was worth parting with the money it took to buy the field or the pearl simply because possessing them was so desirable. That person was poorer in some things in order to have the greater thing.
Questions:
What fruit gives evidence of your life?
What in your heart is open or obstructing to God’s kingdom taking root?
What else might the Holy Spirit be speaking with you about in the text today?
Prayer: Lord, make room in my life for more of you and produce the fruit you desire through my life. Amen.
“But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13:23)
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