PARABLES - WEEK FOUR - DAY FOUR
Hello and welcome to your Daily Devos, following our Parables series at 29:11!
Take some time today to read through the provided scriptures, meditate on the lessons we’ve learned this week, and journal your prayers. Have an amazing week, 29:11 Church!
THEME SCRIPTURE:
Parable of the Mustard Seed
31 Here is another illustration Jesus used: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.”
33 Jesus also used this illustration: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.”
- Matthew 13:31-33 NLT
TODAY’S PASSAGE:
“We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,“
2 Corinthians 10:5 ESV
REFLECTION:
There is no doubt that in today’s fast paced and information saturated world we don’t think twice sometimes about what we are consuming. We hardly ever slow down enough to think about how every input we receive plays a significant role in shaping our outlook and behavior. The saying “You are what you eat” doesn’t just pertain to food, but also the media we consume, the self-talk we engage in, and the people we surround ourselves with. The danger that this mindless behavior creates is immeasurable because though it might be small, it builds upon itself and can easily permeate throughout our lives - inch by inch, bite by bite, day by day, scroll by scroll, word by word, song by song, show by show, lie by lie, sin by sin, and next thing we know we are no longer full of the things God has for us but we are consumed by the world around us. That is why 2 Corinthians 10:5 is such a powerful verse to memorize and cling too because it reminds us to pause and evaluate our thoughts - to be MINDFUL of what we are allowing into our minds and lives - and to take every thought captive to obey Christ. This is why we must fill ourselves with God’s word and truth over our lives because it will help us to know what we should be setting our minds on. Without taking time to evaluate we will be like the dog in proverbs - “As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness.” Proverbs 26:11 NLT
THOUGHTS TO PONDER:
I think it’s important to remind ourselves today's devo that the devil isn’t behind every tree and not all things are inherently bad. Just as we can easily succumb to the world around us, we can just as easily overcome the world as we fight to obey Christ in all that we do. I loved the African proverb Pastor Karl shared:
If you think you’re too small to make a difference, you haven’t spend the night with a mosquito.
—African Proverb
I think we can all agree that the most effective mosquito is the one that knows it is a mosquito and that it has a purpose to live for. In the same way, as a believer we are most effective when we know our identity and purpose that God has created us with. So what are you allowing to define your identity? What are you allowing to consume you? What is one practical way you can begin to take those habits, thoughts, and actions captive and make them obedient to Christ?
