• Are you producing fruit—or looking for a throne?

    https://patrickryanlewis.com/2026/08/22/the-bramble-king-when-ambition-replaces-faithful-service/

    In Judges 9, Jotham tells one of the most striking parables in the Old Testament.

    The olive tree was producing something valuable.
The fig tree was producing fruit.
The vine was fulfilling its purpose.
    None of them were desperate to rule.
    Then came the bramble.
    It had little to offer but thorns, yet it was eager to become king.

    There is a powerful lesson here for every believer: faithfulness is more important than position, and character matters more than a title.

    We live in a world that encourages us to chase recognition, influence, platforms, and authority. But Scripture continually calls us back to something greater—faithfully serving God wherever He has planted us.

    Before seeking a bigger platform, be faithful with the one you already have.

    Before asking for more influence, steward the influence God has already given you.

    Before looking for recognition, ask whether your life is producing fruit.

    My latest blog takes a detailed look at Judges 9:7–21 and Jotham’s warning about the “Bramble King.”

    Read the full article and consider this question:

    Am I more concerned with being important—or being faithful?

    #Judges9 #BibleStudy #BiblicalLeadership #ChristianLeadership #Faithfulness #ServantLeadership #ChristianLiving #GodlyCharacter #Humility #BibleTeaching
    🌿 Are you producing fruit—or looking for a throne? https://patrickryanlewis.com/2026/08/22/the-bramble-king-when-ambition-replaces-faithful-service/ In Judges 9, Jotham tells one of the most striking parables in the Old Testament. The olive tree was producing something valuable.
The fig tree was producing fruit.
The vine was fulfilling its purpose. None of them were desperate to rule. Then came the bramble. It had little to offer but thorns, yet it was eager to become king. There is a powerful lesson here for every believer: faithfulness is more important than position, and character matters more than a title. We live in a world that encourages us to chase recognition, influence, platforms, and authority. But Scripture continually calls us back to something greater—faithfully serving God wherever He has planted us. Before seeking a bigger platform, be faithful with the one you already have. Before asking for more influence, steward the influence God has already given you. Before looking for recognition, ask whether your life is producing fruit. My latest blog takes a detailed look at Judges 9:7–21 and Jotham’s warning about the “Bramble King.” 📖 Read the full article and consider this question: Am I more concerned with being important—or being faithful? #Judges9 #BibleStudy #BiblicalLeadership #ChristianLeadership #Faithfulness #ServantLeadership #ChristianLiving #GodlyCharacter #Humility #BibleTeaching
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  • http://crossmissionmedia.blog/2026/08/22/sacred-spaces/
    http://crossmissionmedia.blog/2026/08/22/sacred-spaces/
    CROSSMISSIONMEDIA.BLOG
    Sacred Spaces
    A federal appeals court has ruled to keep restrictions in place that prevent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from carrying out certain immigration arrests at eight specific houses of wors…
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  • http://crossmissionmedia.blog/2026/08/22/nine-months-in-the-dark/
    http://crossmissionmedia.blog/2026/08/22/nine-months-in-the-dark/
    CROSSMISSIONMEDIA.BLOG
    Nine Months in the Dark
    Kevin Rideout was a pilot. His whole life had been about lifting off the ground – carrying supplies, carrying people, carrying the gospel to places roads couldn’t reach. Then one day la…
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  • http://crossmissionmedia.blog/2026/08/21/wildly-open/
    http://crossmissionmedia.blog/2026/08/21/wildly-open/
    CROSSMISSIONMEDIA.BLOG
    Wildly Open
    In a parking lot in Ames, Iowa, a young man sat in his car for thirty minutes just to find a spot. He wasn’t waiting for a concert or a game – he was waiting to get into church. Corners…
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  • http://crossmissionmedia.blog/2026/08/20/take-up-focus-and-inherit/
    http://crossmissionmedia.blog/2026/08/20/take-up-focus-and-inherit/
    CROSSMISSIONMEDIA.BLOG
    Take Up, Focus, and Inherit
    The cross doesn’t just tell us we’re saved – it tells us how to live. “If anyone will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” …
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  • THE SUNDAY BLOG….. Sunday August 23, 2026

    Confused Priorities Can Seriously Hinder Our Walk With Christ

    Walking with Christ is a journey of intentional devotion, yet many believers find their spiritual progress stalled. The culprit is rarely overt rebellion; rather, it is the subtle, creeping danger of confused priorities. When worldly ambitions, anxieties, and fleeting pleasures crowd out the Lord, our spiritual vitality withers.
    Jesus addressed this peril directly in the Parable of the Sower. In Luke 8:14, He describes the seed that falls among thorns: "The seeds that fell among thorns stand for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature." Notice that these individuals heard the Word, but their spiritual growth was choked out. Misplaced priorities—chasing wealth, stressing over daily survival, or living for entertainment—act like spiritual weeds. They consume our emotional and mental energy, leaving no room for a vibrant relationship with Christ.
    When our focus is divided, our spiritual sight becomes completely blurred. Jesus warns in Matthew 6:24: "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." Financial security or worldly success easily masquerades as a master, dictating our time, decisions, and passions. When we attempt to split our allegiance between God and the world, spiritual paralysis sets in. We become lukewarm, drifting away from the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.
    Moreover, accommodating sin or holding onto competing loyalties fractures our intimacy with God. As James 4:4 sharply reminds us, "You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." Friendship with the world here denotes adopting its value system. When we prioritize worldly acceptance over divine obedience, we actively hinder our communion with Christ.
    Ultimately, confused priorities rob us of our spiritual fruitfulness and joy. To experience the abundant life Jesus promised, we must ruthlessly evaluate our schedules and hearts, cutting away the clutter. Realigning our lives with Christ restores our purpose, clearing the thorns so we can walk closely and powerfully with our Savior.

    Personal Closing Prayer…

    Lord, forgive me for the times I have allowed worldly worries, ambitions, and distractions to choke out my devotion to You. Open my eyes to see where my priorities have drifted away from Your kingdom. Cleanse my heart from a divided allegiance, and grant me the grace to reject the pull of this world. Realign my steps, Lord, so that I may walk closely, single-mindedly, and faithfully with Christ every single day. Amen.

    Next Sunday’s Blog: THE IMPORTANCE OF REGULAR FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHER BELIEVERS.

    THE BIBLE: Let’s READ IT! Let’s STUDY IT! Let’s BELIEVE IT! Let’s LIVE IT!
    ___________________________________
    THE SUNDAY BLOG….. Sunday August 23, 2026 Confused Priorities Can Seriously Hinder Our Walk With Christ Walking with Christ is a journey of intentional devotion, yet many believers find their spiritual progress stalled. The culprit is rarely overt rebellion; rather, it is the subtle, creeping danger of confused priorities. When worldly ambitions, anxieties, and fleeting pleasures crowd out the Lord, our spiritual vitality withers. Jesus addressed this peril directly in the Parable of the Sower. In Luke 8:14, He describes the seed that falls among thorns: "The seeds that fell among thorns stand for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature." Notice that these individuals heard the Word, but their spiritual growth was choked out. Misplaced priorities—chasing wealth, stressing over daily survival, or living for entertainment—act like spiritual weeds. They consume our emotional and mental energy, leaving no room for a vibrant relationship with Christ. When our focus is divided, our spiritual sight becomes completely blurred. Jesus warns in Matthew 6:24: "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." Financial security or worldly success easily masquerades as a master, dictating our time, decisions, and passions. When we attempt to split our allegiance between God and the world, spiritual paralysis sets in. We become lukewarm, drifting away from the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. Moreover, accommodating sin or holding onto competing loyalties fractures our intimacy with God. As James 4:4 sharply reminds us, "You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." Friendship with the world here denotes adopting its value system. When we prioritize worldly acceptance over divine obedience, we actively hinder our communion with Christ. Ultimately, confused priorities rob us of our spiritual fruitfulness and joy. To experience the abundant life Jesus promised, we must ruthlessly evaluate our schedules and hearts, cutting away the clutter. Realigning our lives with Christ restores our purpose, clearing the thorns so we can walk closely and powerfully with our Savior. Personal Closing Prayer… Lord, forgive me for the times I have allowed worldly worries, ambitions, and distractions to choke out my devotion to You. Open my eyes to see where my priorities have drifted away from Your kingdom. Cleanse my heart from a divided allegiance, and grant me the grace to reject the pull of this world. Realign my steps, Lord, so that I may walk closely, single-mindedly, and faithfully with Christ every single day. Amen. Next Sunday’s Blog: THE IMPORTANCE OF REGULAR FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHER BELIEVERS. THE BIBLE: Let’s READ IT! Let’s STUDY IT! Let’s BELIEVE IT! Let’s LIVE IT! ___________________________________
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  • http://crossmissionmedia.blog/2026/08/22/sacred-spaces/
    http://crossmissionmedia.blog/2026/08/22/sacred-spaces/
    CROSSMISSIONMEDIA.BLOG
    Sacred Spaces
    A federal appeals court has ruled to keep restrictions in place that prevent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from carrying out certain immigration arrests at eight specific houses of wors…
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    1
    0 Kommentare 0 Anteile 20 Ansichten
  • www.100Words.ca
    This Daily Bible Study / Blog by the late Rev. David Mainse , a renowned Christian leader in Canada.
    It is edited by Rev. Ron Mainse and is also available by EMAIL
    Visit the website at http://www.100words.ca/ to request it.
    ~ Read & Study the complete Bible in TWO years. START ANY DAY~
    ( Robin Stephen Aldrich: I am much Blessed and Instructed as I follow this Ministry from a great man of God who founded Christian tv and much, much more in Canada and worldwide. I highly recommend that you sign up to receive the daily emails. Click on the link and you will find the email sign on the RIGHT of the page )
    www.100Words.ca This Daily Bible Study / Blog by the late Rev. David Mainse , a renowned Christian leader in Canada. It is edited by Rev. Ron Mainse and is also available by EMAIL Visit the website at http://www.100words.ca/ to request it. ~ Read & Study the complete Bible in TWO years. START ANY DAY~ ( Robin Stephen Aldrich: I am much Blessed and Instructed as I follow this Ministry from a great man of God who founded Christian tv and much, much more in Canada and worldwide. I highly recommend that you sign up to receive the daily emails. Click on the link and you will find the email sign on the RIGHT of the page )
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  • https://www.blogger.com/blog/posts/4353519008045808448
    https://www.blogger.com/blog/posts/4353519008045808448
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  • Many may feel they don’t need God, relying on success and self-sufficiency. But the truth is, we all need God at some point in our lives.

    View Full Blog: www.breakfreetoday.org/i-dont-need-god

    #BreakFreeToday #NeedGod #GodsChild #Breakfree #WeNeedGod #FaithAndLife #HopeInGod
    🙏 Many may feel they don’t need God, relying on success and self-sufficiency. But the truth is, we all need God at some point in our lives. 🌐 View Full Blog: www.breakfreetoday.org/i-dont-need-god #BreakFreeToday #NeedGod #GodsChild #Breakfree #WeNeedGod #FaithAndLife #HopeInGod
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