Daily Devotional
Are You Keeping Your Spiritual Eyes Open?
“Another parable He spoke to them: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.’”
Matthew 13:33
June 24, 2024
Ponder This
Before “eating a meal” at a church, it’s good to check out the kitchen, to see who’s in there. Don’t go by the taste test alone, judging only by how you feel. Read the ingredients, get to know the teaching and heart of the staff and members, and see what is there because the devil wants to infiltrate, and he does so in many ways.
The devil doesn’t have just one way to work. Remember the parable of the Sower? How does the devil work there? He catches away the seed. Remember the parable of the tares? How does he work there? He imitates the seed. What about in the parable of the mustard seed? How does he work there? He corrupts the seed. In this parable of the leaven, he infiltrates the Church.
How do we defend against this? We need to come before the Lord and ask Him to take out these areas of leaven in our lives. We need to know if our sin is affecting the body we are a part of. This needs to be our focus so that the Lord would cleanse us as the body of believers. We need to desire that He purge any leaven, that we will be one body. Our faith is not about being filled with knowledge. Good wheat has died to itself: it has been crushed and broken, baked in the fire, and fused with every other grain of wheat. We need to keep our eyes open to how the bread is being made, keep our eyes open to the devil’s schemes, and be people who surrender to God so that we may reflect what gives Him pleasure.
- What are some ingredients that make up a good church?
- What are some areas of “leaven” in your life? What needs to change?
Practice This
Talk with fellow church members and encourage one another about the good ingredients you see in your church.
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Front Porch Moments by Gayle Foster
WITH KEY INSIGHTS FROM HER FATHER, ADRIAN ROGERS
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”
