Daily Devotional
Whose Job Is It, Anyway?
“Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: ‘Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away.’”
Matthew 13:3-6
June 27, 2024
Ponder This
As you share Jesus with others, expect many to reject the Gospel, but don’t think that you have failed. I used to feel ashamed if I preached and there was not a response. As a matter of fact, as a younger preacher, when I would preach and give an invitation and there was no response, I felt that I had failed God horribly. I felt so much like a failure that I did not want to go to the door and shake hands with anybody. I wanted a back door to get out of, and if somebody were to tell me afterward it was a good sermon, it would make me angry. I would think, “What did I do wrong? How did I fail?” And then it finally dawned on me that I’ve not failed if I’ve preached the Word of God.
There was nothing wrong with the seed. Some seed falls on stony ground, some seed falls on shallow ground, some seed falls among weeds. The truth is, if you’ll keep on giving the Gospel, some folks will get saved. Don’t get weary. Don’t get discouraged. People will come to know the Lord Jesus Christ. Your job is to scatter the seed. It is God’s job to make it germinate. It is others’ responsibility to open their hearts and receive the good Word.
- What responses have you received as you’ve sought to share the Gospel?
- How does this passage give you hope as you share with others?
Practice This
Pray for the boldness to continue sharing the Gospel when the response is not what you desire.
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.’”
