Today’s Reading: Mark 4:21-34; Luke 13:6-9, 18-21 (what about Mark 4:21-25)
Then he added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given —and you will receive even more. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.” – Mark 4:24-25
The closer we listen, the more we will understand; the more we choose to block out or ignore the words of Jesus, the more our understanding will fade away. God is calling us to lean in and pay attention — to be a student of the Word, seeking to understand the Kingdom of God.
Spirit of God, give us a new understanding of the parables Jesus taught his disciples. Open our ears to hear, and give us clarity of mind to grasp the truth of your message. Help us to understand the Kingdom of God.
Jesus said, “How can I describe the Kingdom of God? What story should I use to illustrate it? It is like a mustard seed planted in the ground. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of all garden plants; it grows long branches, and birds can make nests in its shade.” – Mark 4:30-32
THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS LIKE A MUSTARD SEED.
The Kingdom of God has the potential to grow exponentially from even the smallest moment of faith or action of obedience. God takes our humble willingness to be used by Him and does things too amazing for us to fully grasp. In fact, we are often oblivious to the ripple effect set into motion when we respond to the nudge of His Spirit to do what He has told us to do or to say what He has led us to say. God takes even the smallest trace of our faith and grows it into something bigger and wider than we can fathom.
He also asked, “What else is the Kingdom of God like? It is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.” – Luke 13:20-21
THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS LIKE A LITTLE YEAST.
Have you ever tried to make bread without yeast? Have you ever tried to make a cake without baking soda, or cookies without baking powder? Without these key ingredients, our efforts fall flat and our baked goods remain dense. What seems like the smallest ingredient in the recipe is often the most important ingredient of all.
Jesus also said, “The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, while he’s asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens. The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens. And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle, for the harvest time has come.” – Mark 4:26-29
THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS LIKE A FARMER SCATTERING SEEDS.
We cannot cause a plant to grow. All we can do is plant the seeds. What God is calling us to do is within our ability, but the result of our obedience is beyond our control. God takes the imperfect words that come from our genuine desire to serve HIm, and He blesses it for the sake of His Kingdom. When a seed begins to grow into a seedling, and then becomes a plant that bears fruit, the glory goes to the God who is able to take a humble prayer of repentance and make something beautiful out of it.
Then Jesus told this story: “A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.’
“The gardener answered, ‘Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down.’” – Luke 13:6-9
THE KINGDOM OF GOD REQUIRES LONG-SUFFERING.
Father God, as we see the farmers preparing the fields or as we pull back the dead plants from our landscaping, remind us of our calling. Help us to see that there are those around us who need us to reach out and save them from the influence of this world. Let us not become so comfortable in our own salvation that we are no longer uncomfortable with the knowledge that others are without salvation. As we see winter turning into spring, remind us that you, God, can make great change in the lives of the unsaved around us, just as you are transforming our lives. Thank you for the reminder that you are the One who does something magnificent through us, and that all we have to do is humbly allow you to use us in the lives of those around us. Give us patience and strength to never give up on those who have wandered away or who are struggling to grow in their faith. May we be conduits of your grace and truth today. Amen.