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Daily Devotionals for Thriving in Troublous Times

From Bible Teacher, Author, Pastor Kenneth L. Birks

God's Divine Seed Engrafted into our Hearts

Christian Daily Devotionals to Refresh the Heart

Empowered Living Devotionals by Ken Birks
Christian Biblically oriented devotionals intended to encourage, build faith and draw believers into more of a love for God's Word. They describe how God's Word will fill our hearts with HIs great treasures

God's Divine Seed Engrafted
into our Hearts

 

Our God is a gracious God. He loves us so much that He willingly gave of Himself by allowing His Son to be crucified on the cross so that we could be drawn unto Him to be relieved of all the misery and pain we experienced through our self-centered ways. His purpose in allowing His Son to endure such excruciating pain and humiliation was so that the divine seed of God could be firmly engrafted into our hearts causing us to grow into strong trees of righteousness.

1 Peter 1:22-23 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, 23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever.

The question is, how do we go about nurturing and watering this seed so that it produces in us the same likeness that was in Jesus Christ, who allowed His seed of righteousness to be planted in the earth to produce many sons and daughters into His likeness?

1 Peter 2:1-3 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy , envy, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious.
If we have truly tasted of the Lord’s graciousness, then we must continue in our faith journey by embracing the cross of Christ and all that it represents. Otherwise, the divine seed of God will not burst forth and produce the fruit that is necessary.

Matthew 16:24-25 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will find it.”

In illustrating the importance of the divine seed of God getting planted into our hearts, Jesus shared the “Parable of the Sower” with His disciples and all those who were following Him. In this parable He talked about four types of ground in which the seed was planted — the seed by the wayside, stony places, thorns, and good ground. Our goal is to make sure it is planted in the good ground of our hearts.

The seed by the wayside represents a heart that hasn’t been properly cultivated to receive the seed. This person has no interest in trying to understand God and His word. Their hearts are to full of themselves, and their self-indulgent ways. Therefore, Satan steals the seed before it gets an opportunity to be planted.

The seed planted on stony ground represents the person who doesn’t spend time getting to know God and His word through fellowship with the Holy Spirit and the word of God. As a result, the seed’s roots don’t go deep enough to withstand the trials and tribulations of life. The soil is filled with too many distractions that seem to be more important than making sure the seed is well watered. So, when the going gets rough they give up and return to their self-indulgent ways. The seed is destroyed before it has an opportunity to bring forth new life and fruit.


The seed planted among the thorns represents those who wanted what Christ had to offer, but found the price was too high amid their cares for the world and the deceitful riches the world had to offer them. They weren’t willing to embrace all that the cross of Christ represents. Therefore, the seed was destroyed because they allowed the deceitfulness of riches and the cares of the world to choke the new plant before its roots could go deep enough to produce the necessary fruit.

The seed sown on the good ground represents those who hear the word and understand it. They understand it because they believe wholeheartedly in God and the inspiration of the Scriptures. Even though they may not fully understand something, they choose to believe, because all Scripture is God breathed and profitable for instruction. As a result their roots go deep into God’s soil and they produce the fruit that is evident of their salvation experience.

Because they allowed the divine seed of God to be fully engrafted into their hearts, they take on the same divine nature that was in Jesus Christ. They have a measure of the fullness of faith that was found in Jesus Christ. They experience the ministry of the Holy Spirit breathing wisdom, revelation, and understanding of the will and purposes of God on a regular basis. Their eyes are opened to the glory of their inheritance in Christ in this life and in their eternal life. They experience the exceeding greatness of God’s mighty working power as they go forth fulfilling the ministries given to them when Christ rose from the dead and seated them in heavenly places alongside Him.

As we fully embrace the cross of Christ, may we all become the good ground that bears fruit, and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty having allowed the divine seed of God to be engrafted into our hearts through hearing and responding to the word of faith.


Scripture References: Hebrews 12:2, John 12:24-26, Matthew 13:18-23, Romans 12:3-8, Ephesians 1:17-23, 2:6-7.


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Thriving During Troubous Times Devotionals
 

1.  Thriving in Troublous Times

2.  Empowered for Kindom Success

3.  A Mighty Rushing Wind is Coming

4.  God's Divine Seed Engrafted

5.  No Longer Bound - Breaking Free

6.  Delighting in God Amid Adeversity

7.  The Necessity of Fruitful Characteristics

 

 

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The Journey:
Discovering the Invisible Path

By Kenneth L. Birks

The goal of this book is to give you, as a Christian, a glimpse into the path God has purposed for your life and to help you seize your destiny and purpose. In doing so, you will be able to live the role created for you. Whether you are just starting out on your journey, anywhere in the middle, or have become detoured and lost your way, this practical guidebook will help shine the light on the invisible path that not only leads to God’s goodness and experiencing His kingdom within, but also to the greatest adventure of your life.

Comment: The Journey is your GPS for the Bible. The problem is solved. The riddle is deciphered. Like a trusted guide, Ken makes complex concepts simple and masterfully unpacks the Bible’s greatest mysteries. He provides a sure foundation upon which to build a lifetime of insight.—Francis Anfuso

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 All Devotionals by Kenneth L Birks © Straight Arrow Ministries
Other Websites by Kenneth L. Birks
Sowing Seeds of Faith | Books by Ken | Wedding Officiating