The Race

Behold, the sower went out to sow; and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road and the birds came and devoured them.  Others fell upon the rocky places where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up because they had no depth of soil.  But when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. Others fell among the thorns and the thorns came up and choked them out.  And others fell on the good soil and yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.

Hear then the parable of the sower:  When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the devil comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart.  This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road.

And the one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away.

And the one on whom the seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word and it becomes unfruitful.

And the one on whom seed was sown on good ground, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.

And the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run but only one receives the prize?  Run in such a way that you may win.  Everyone who competes in the games exercises self control in all things.  They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 

Therefore I run in such a way as not without aim; I box in such a way as not beating the air; but I bruise my body and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.

You believe that there is one God.  You do well; the demons also believe and shudder.  But are you willing to recognize that faith without works is dead.  Show me your faith without works and I will show you my faith by my works.