Devotional from Jan Ross

Today's Devotion
Tuesday, October 31, 2000

"Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will
say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in
bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn." (Matthew 13:30)

Today's Thought

If you're like most of us, you've probably just considered a "tare" as a
weed that grows among the wheat, one that can be spotted easily with the eye, and is easily plucked out of the field prior to the harvest. However, in doing a little "word study", there are a couple additional attributes of a "tare" that are worth looking at . . . ones that actually speak volumes into what Today's Verse is really all about!

Are you wheat or are you a tare?

Wheat is a grain . . . a "tare", however is more than just a weed, it is a
"false grain" The word "tare" comes from the Greek word, "zizanion" which
literally means "darnel or false grain". When the farmer looks at the
field, it is nearly impossibly to tell the wheat from the tares! They are
the same color, the same height, the same shape, grow in the same soil, and from all appearances are the same. It is only upon careful inspection that he can tell the "tare" from the "wheat" . . . the "false" from the "genuine"!

The Body of Christ, unfortunately, is full of "tares" who are growing up
amongst the "wheat". The difference is that the "tares" are a false grain .
. . they have no substance, no fruit, no purpose for anything other than to fill up space.

Without being so quick to judge others we feel may fit this description,
let's turn our eyes inward to make sure WE don't fit this description
ourselves! Let's examine our own hearts . . . Is our love for the Lord
genuine? Is our heart right toward God and our fellow man? Are we bearing
fruit, or do we just appear to be fruitful? Do we long for sweet fellowship
with the Lord, or do we seek after other "fellowship"?

God's remedy for "tares" is certainly not something we want to reap in our
own lives. If we don't find true and genuine love and zeal for God, it's
time to get back to the basics and reconsider our relationship wtih the
Lord. Perhaps we've thought all along that we were OK, but suddenly we feel that we're not. It never hurts to pray the sinner's prayer over and over again . . . why don't we all do it now, just in case we find more qualities of a "tare" in our life than of "wheat" . . .

TODAY'S PRAYER

Dear Father, I confess that I am a sinner, I have sinned and I have fallen
so short of deserving Your forgiveness and entrance into heaven. In fact, I am deserving of nothing short of death and eternal separation from You. I have read in Your Word that I can never be good enough on my own merit to gain eternal life and make heaven my home unless the Lord Jesus Christ becomes MY Lord and MY Savior and reigns in my life. Please forgive me of my sins, cleanse me from all my unrighteousness, and create in me a new heart. Come live within me and make my life new. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen!

(Prayer taken from http://focusontheword.com/freegift.asp)

Have a blessed day!

Jan Ross
jross@focusontheword.com
http://focusontheword.com