What Jesus Did! 'Shine Like the Sun' — Matthew 13:40-43

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

The Spring Emerges: JESUShaped

JESUShaped is a discipleship and church planting work born from this ministry.

 Learn More
[Jesus continued his explanation of the parable of the weeds:] "Just as the weeds are sorted out and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the world. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will remove from his Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. And the angels will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father's Kingdom. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!"
— Matthew 13:40-43 NLT

Key Thought

While it is not popular in today's religious culture, Jesus does have a closing time, a time to settle accounts and judge us based on how we've lived our lives. What we do with our discipleship matters. Those who do not receive Jesus' message and do not live a life of righteousness, but instead choose to do evil and harm others, will be left outside his Kingdom and face eternal punishment. On the other hand, Jesus' disciples will be like the sun - not just any star, but like the brightest one we have ever seen. They will share in the glory of their Savior and live with him forever in eternal joy.

Today's Prayer

Father, help my light to shine so others will see your glory and grace. Help me invest myself in others to bring them to you so they can receive your grace and mercy. In my own life, I want to be wholly dedicated to you and live your righteousness! In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

1 Related Resource by Heartlight

Let Me Decide!
Devo: A Year with Jesus
"Dear Precious Disciple, Satan uses a very effective form of temptation on many of you who are My followers. He gets you to avoid looking at your own...."

Illustration

Illustration of Matthew 13:40-43 NLT — Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father's Kingdom.

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Wednesday, July 2, 2025

God's Holy Fire
A daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
'Who Controls You?' (Ro. 8:5)
"Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the..."
Unstoppable!
A one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts.
'God’s Deliverers Are People like Us'
"[Stephen continued his defense before the council by quoting what God said to Moses when calling him back to Egypt to save God's people:] "'I have..."
Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Morning Thought: Luke 23:27
"Amid the rabble rout which hounded the Redeemer to his doom, there were some gracious souls whose bitter anguish sought vent in wailing and..."
Spiritual Warfare
A daily devotional about God's power for our battles.
'God's Forgiveness Requires You to Forgive'
"Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him [drop the issue, let it go], so that your Father who is in heaven will....."

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

More What Jesus Did!