Today’s Reading: Mark 5:1-43; Luke 8:26-56

“Who is this man?”

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them.

When he saw the storms, he silenced them.

When he heard their cries, he answered them.

When he saw evil, he commanded it to flee.

As Jesus was climbing out of the boat, a man who was possessed by demons came out to meet him. For a long time he had been homeless and naked, living in a cemetery outside of town…This spirit had often taken control of the man. Even when he was placed under guard and put in chains and shackles, he simply broke them and rushed into the wilderness, completely under the demon’s power. – Luke 8:27,29

This man may have been under the demon’s control, but Jesus had authority over the demons. He cast them out of this man who had been forced to live among the dead. He freed him from bondage and gave him a new life. No power was too large for Jesus to control. He had power over the storm, the demons, and even death itself.

When the sick reached out to him, he healed them.

Then a man named Jairus, a leader of the local synagogue, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come home with him. His only daughter, who was about twelve years old, was dying. As Jesus went with him, he was surrounded by the crowds. A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding, and she could find no cure. Coming up behind Jesus, she touched the fringe of his robe. Immediately, the bleeding stopped.

“Who touched me?” Jesus asked.

Everyone denied it, and Peter said, “Master, this whole crowd is pressing up against you.”

But Jesus said, “Someone deliberately touched me, for I felt healing power go out from me.” When the woman realized that she could not stay hidden, she began to tremble and fell to her knees in front of him. The whole crowd heard her explain why she had touched him and that she had been immediately healed. “Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” – Luke 8:41-48

What a lonely, isolated life this woman must have experienced. She was considered unclean for twelve years and “untouchable” during her time of bleeding. Only her bleeding never stopped. That is, until she reached out to Jesus. In the midst of her suffering and sickness, she reached out to touch the hem of her Savior’s garment and her life was forever changed.

When death threatens to undo us, Jesus takes us by the hand and says, “My child, get up!”

While he was still speaking to her, a messenger arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. He told him, “Your daughter is dead. There’s no use troubling the Teacher now.”

But when Jesus heard what had happened, he said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith, and she will be healed.”

When they arrived at the house, Jesus wouldn’t let anyone go in with him except Peter, John, James, and the little girl’s father and mother. The house was filled with people weeping and wailing, but he said, “Stop weeping! She isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.”

But the crowd laughed at him because they all knew she had died. Then Jesus took her by the hand and said in a loud voice, “My child, get up!” And at that moment her life returned, and she immediately stood up! Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. Her parents were overwhelmed, but Jesus insisted that they not tell anyone what had happened. – Luke 8:49-56

“Who is this man?”

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them.
When he saw the storms, he silenced them.
When he heard their cries, he answered them.
When he saw evil, he commanded it to flee.
When the sick reached out to him, he healed them.
When death threatens to undo us, Jesus takes us by the hand and says, “My child, get up!”

I don’t know what you are facing or the emotions you are struggling with, but my Jesus knows every detail. The One who can heal, who can calm storms, and who can bring back the dead knows. Reach out and touch the hem of his garment. Stretch out your hand and hear him say, “My child, get up!” It’s time to be fed. It’s time to be strengthened again. Jesus is here to restore and it’s your turn to receive.

Today’s Reading: Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25; Psalm 93

Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. When he saw crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” – Matthew 9:35-38

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them.

When Jesus sees our needs he has compassion on us. But how often do we feel like God does not care about what we are going through? How often does it feel like Jesus is in the back of the boat asleep during our storm? We cry out to him — Do you see me down here, Lord? I’m drowning! I’m doing everything I know to do but it’s not working! I need you!

As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.

Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, DON’T YOU CARE that we’re going to drown?”

When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!” – Mark 4:35-41

When he saw the storms, he silenced them.

The disciples had watched Jesus do many miraculous things for other people. Now it was their chance for Jesus to do something miraculous for them. The disciples thought they were simply crossing the lake but Jesus knew there was more for them to learn. He wanted them to see things from the other side of the lake — to see him from another perspective.

“Who is this man?”

Jesus knew his disciples were not fully aware of who he was, that they still underestimated him. I heard a friend say once that Jesus probably knew it was storming. Perhaps he chose to sleep while his disciples tried everything they knew how to do. They were fishermen and had been in storms before. Jesus was simply waiting for them to ask, waiting for them to stop trying on their own and call on him for help.

Oh, how often we are guilty of this! Troubles come into our lives and we try to take care of them in our own strength first. The winds and the waves threaten us and we grab a bucket and start throwing water overboard. When we have tried everything we know to do, we finally fall to our knees and do what we should have initially done – we pray.

The floods have risen up, O Lord.
The floods have roared like thunder;
the floods have lifted their pounding waves.
But mightier than the violent raging of the seas,
mightier than the breakers on the shore—
the Lord above is mightier than these! – Psalm 93:3-4

Jesus has power over creation — over the elements and over the storms. Jesus has power over the things going wrong in our lives, whether it is the natural circumstances of this broken world or the consequences of our own sinful decisions. Jesus is bigger than all of it. Let’s not underestimate our Lord today. Let’s PUT DOWN THE BUCKET and stop looking for our own solutions. Let’s make prayer our first reaction to today’s situations.

When he heard their cries, he answered them.

David sang this song to the Lord on the day the Lord rescued him from all his enemies and from Saul. He sang:

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me,
and my place of safety.
He is my refuge, my savior,
the one who saves me from violence.
I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
and he saved me from my enemies.
“The waves of death overwhelmed me;
floods of destruction swept over me.
The grave wrapped its ropes around me;
death laid a trap in my path.
But in my distress I cried out to the Lord;
yes, I cried to my God for help.
He heard me from his sanctuary;
my cry reached his ears.” – 2 Samuel 22:1-7

Today’s Reading: Matthew 13:31-35

Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds. In fact, he never spoke to them without using such parables. This fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet: “I will speak to you in parables. I will explain things hidden since the creation of the world.” – Matthew 12:34-35

I love a good story. There is power in hearing a story and letting it change your life. Stories keep us engaged and help us remember God’s teaching. Jesus’ stories do the same thing. They bring theology into full color and make it easier to understand.

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

We have to trust the way God uses His Word in the heart of another person. It is mysterious and beyond what my human effort can produce. I can plant the seed and I can pray for the harvest, but I have to leave the results up to the Lord. In the words of the apostle Paul: “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow” (1 Corinthians 3:6).

God calls us to plant the seed but what happens after that is beyond our control. We cannot make the decision for another person. We can stay close by to support them and encourage them; we can answer their questions, but the decision to live for Christ is theirs and only theirs to make.

I CAN PLANT THE SEED AND I CAN PRAY FOR THE HARVEST, BUT I HAVE TO LEAVE THE RESULTS UP TO THE LORD.

Here is another illustration Jesus used: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.” – Matthew 12:31-32

What an encouraging verse! We cannot get discouraged at our small attempts to plant seed, even when we do not see immediate results. Like a farmer, we need to have patience and trust that there is growth below the surface that we cannot see. We need to have faith and believe that God can grow that seed into something large and spectacular — something that will one day help others who come to rest in its shade.

Jesus also used this illustration: “The Kingdom of Heaven 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.” – Matthew 12:33

The Kingdom of God is permeating and has the power to transform! Jesus started with 12 disciples, and now look how the gospel has spread across nations, cities, communities, and neighborhoods! One by one, the gospel is shared and new life springs up. The change in a new Christian is small compared to the work that God intends to do over time in the life of His children. Transformation and growth will take place and continue in that person’s life, and soon they will be planting seeds in the lives of those around them. This is how the message of Jesus spreads and takes root; this is how the Kingdom of God continues to increase.

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

OH THE LOVE OF OUR JESUS, THAT HE WOULD NEVER GIVE UP ON US!

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. – 2 Peter 3:9

If He does not give up on us, then we should not give up on the lost. Even when we cannot see the growth that is happening below the surface, we must TRUST GOD FOR THE RESULTS. We must listen carefully and obey what He prompts us to do and to say. We must never give up on the seed. We must see in it the potential of being the largest plant in the garden. For the sake of the birds who will someday nest in its branches, we must give it time, special attention and plenty of prayer.

Today’s Reading: Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43, 47-52

“A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.” – Matthew 12:35

Good and evil. Jesus spoke of these two opposites many times, often in the context of judgment. He spoke of dividing what is evil and what is good, and then separating them into two distinct places — heaven and hell. Jesus told a story that answers the question that we continue to ask today.

WHY DOES GOD ALLOW EVIL TO CONTINUE TO IMPACT THE WORLD, LEAVING BEHIND A TRAIL OF PAIN, SICKNESS AND DEATH?

Here is another story Jesus told: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away. When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew. – Matthew 13:24-26

Imagine the reaction of the fieldworkers when they saw the growing weeds. They asked the farmer where they came from, and he told them that an enemy had planted the weeds among the wheat. They asked if they should go ahead and pull out the weeds.

“‘No,’ he replied, ‘you’ll uproot the wheat if you do. Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.’” – Matthew 13:29-30

God has not wiped evil off the face of the earth because He is not willing that any should perish. There are many who have yet to accept the gift of salvation and God is patiently beckoning them to Himself. God loves His children and desires for their destiny to be heaven, not hell. But He gives us free will — the choice between good and evil, between serving Him or serving ourselves.

Peter understood what Jesus was teaching. Later he wrote: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

God does not want anyone to be destroyed, or to perish. We do not like to talk about hell because it makes us uncomfortable. We have softened our talk on hell enough that there are many who doubt its reality. But Jesus did not back down from speaking about a judgment day or the harvest when good and evil will be separated. The reality of this separation should not quiet our discussion; instead we should be busy planting seeds and spreading the gospel in order to spare anyone from being “thrown into the fire.” Their destiny should matter enough to us that it impacts our behavior.

Then, leaving the crowds outside, Jesus went into the house. His disciples said, “Please explain to us the story of the weeds in the field.”

Jesus replied, “The Son of Man is the farmer who plants the good seed. The field is the world, and the good seed represents the people of the Kingdom. The weeds are the people who belong to the evil one. The enemy who planted the weeds among the wheat is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world, and the harvesters are the angels.

“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 13:36b-43

“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that was thrown into the water and caught fish of every kind. When the net was full, they dragged it up onto the shore, sat down, and sorted the good fish into crates, but threw the bad ones away. That is the way it will be at the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked people from the righteous, throwing the wicked into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Do you understand all these things?” – Matthew 13:47-51

Jesus spoke of a day when evil will be separated from good. Until that day, we live in an imperfect world where evil and good coexist. We have a choice to either be influenced by the evil around us or cling to what is good. We have a responsibility to overcome evil and spread the good news to those around us.

“Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.” – Matthew 12:30

Father God, 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. Remind us that you, God, can make great change in the lives of the unsaved around us, just as you are transforming our lives. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Matthew 13:1-23, 9:35-38

Let’s consider Matthew’s version of the day the crowd gathered around Jesus on the shore of the lake. Jesus stepped into a boat and began teaching them in parables — a simple story with a deeper meaning.

“A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.” – Matthew 13:3b-9

My life has been greatly impacted by the book The 4 Disciplines of Execution by Chris McChesney, Sean Covey, and Jim Huling. The book talks about using lead measures and lag measures when trying to obtain your wildly important goals. These concepts are making a huge difference on how much we get done each year at work because it helps us determine where to place our focus.

Lag measures define the result you are trying to reach while lead measures determine what will predictably influence the lag measures. Here is a simple example that helps these concepts make sense. I am trying to lose weight. How many pounds I lose will be my lag measure, but I am probably not going to lose weight if my focus is on how much I weigh each morning. Stepping on the scales each day is simply not going to take the pounds and inches away. I need to focus instead on the lead measures — how many calories I am burning and how many calories I am consuming. It is reasonable to predict that if I burn more calories than I consume, I will lose weight.

Now let us consider Covey’s concepts while reading the parable of the farmer scattering seed. If the farmer’s goal is to grow more plants, and he knows that the more seed he sows the more plants he grows, it makes sense for him to plant more seeds in order to grow more plants. It is predictable. If he wants his harvest to be a certain size, his focus must be on how many seeds he plants and how many fields he works in.

“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” – Matthew 13:18-23

Not everyone who hears the message of salvation is going to accept it. Not everyone who hears how they can receive forgiveness and freedom from sin will choose to believe. Some of the seed we plant will fall on the footpath, some on rocky soil, some among thorns, and some on good soil. If our lag measure is how many people pray to accept Jesus as their Savior, then what are our lead measures? If we want to lead someone to Christ, as the Great Commission commands us to do, what do we need to do?

At the Pregnancy Resource Center, our desire is to equip women to make their pregnancy decision from a place of hope, faith, knowledge and support. So our lag measure is the difference we make in someone’s life but our focus needs to be on our lead measures. How many opportunities do we have each day to present a woman with her options, provide material assistance and parenting education to help her prepare for the birth of her baby, and comfort a woman grieving from her abortion experience? If we want to make a bigger difference in our community, we have to have a strategy for getting the message out there of who we are and what we do. So client marketing is one of the lead measures we are looking at, along with our availability as reflected in our hours, location, and team size. After all, how can we help her if she does not know we exist, and how can she receive resources from us if our doors are locked?

If our mission as believers is to see those around us finding hope in Jesus, we could ask ourselves what we are doing to encourage those opportunities. In light of Jesus’ parable, we could ask how many seeds we are planting each day. If we don’t plant seeds, there will be no harvest. But if I see myself as a planter of seeds today, I will look for opportunities to reach out to those around me, because it may just be the seed needed to grow a plant.

In a youth leaders meeting, someone voiced the burden they were carrying for some of our struggling teens. While encouraged by the spiritual growth taking place in the lives of some of our teens, we are also saddened by the choices being made by others. By the end of our discussion, we were reminded that we need to just keep “planting seeds” by creating opportunities for the teens to grow in their understanding of God as well as opportunities to live out their growing faith. We need to keep investing in their lives, trusting God with the results.

He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” – Matthew 9:37-38

Lord, thank you for the reminder to keep my heart focused on you today. May this not just be another day about me but about the fields in which you have called me to work. Open my eyes to the opportunities around me so that I do not miss the chance to make a difference in the life of someone else today. May the seeds planted through my obedience help someone to grow in their faith. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Mark 4:26-34; Luke 13:6-9, 18-21

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. Amen.

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 this spring 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, Lord, for today’s 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 the patience and strength needed 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.

Today’s Reading: Mark 4:1-25; Luke 8:4-18

A large crowd had gathered around Jesus as he paused along the shore of the lake. Jesus stepped into a boat, took a seat, and began to tell them many stories. Each parable Jesus told had a significant lesson for the people to hear. If they chose to listen, they would gain a new level of understanding.

“Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed. As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it. Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died. Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” Then he said, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” – Mark 4:3-9

Consider this. A preacher stepped onto the platform and across the stage. He stood behind the pulpit, looking out at the congregation in the pews. The Lord had given him a message and he was eager to share it with the church family. He knew it would not be an easy sermon to hear, so he had spent hours finding ways to clearly illustrate each point, adding stories and examples. His hope was that the congregation would both understand and accept the message — that it would make an impact on their lives. He had spent all morning saturated in God’s presence and the Spirit was moving through him, giving him the words to say as he stood before his people.

ANYONE WITH EARS TO HEAR SHOULD LISTEN AND UNDERSTAND.

Halfway through his first point, he noticed a difference across the congregation. Some were leaning in, bibles open, responding with amens and head nods. They were taking notes, looking up frequently to make eye contact with him. Others seemed distracted. They were listening some of the time, but also occasionally looking at their phones or whispering to the person beside them. They had seemed engaged during the worship set, but now they looked slightly bored and restless.

There were others across the sanctuary who were completely disengaged. With arms folded across their chest, there was a visible determination not to listen. By all appearances, they wanted to be anywhere but here. He was pretty sure two had fallen asleep, and one seemed to be playing a game on her phone or perhaps filling her cart so she could do a grocery pickup on her way home.

ANYONE WITH EARS TO HEAR SHOULD LISTEN AND UNDERSTAND.

As the preacher came to the end of the sermon, the worship team stepped onto the stage to lead the congregation in a closing song. Some of the team had been listening from the front pew, while others had been out of the room during the sermon. How could they lead the congregation in this holy moment if they were not prayerfully engaged?

As the band began to play, the preacher invited the congregation to respond. As they stood to their feet, he noticed several slipping out their pews and heading to the door. Were they in a rush to get to the restaurant or were they avoiding the conviction they were feeling? Many joined in the singing and a few came forward to kneel at the altar, humbly praying for God to continue the work He had begun in their hearts. Many were aware that the Spirit was working across the room, but it seemed that most were simply going through the motions. The routine of Sunday morning church was winning out over the revival the Spirit intended to break loose across this community of believers.

ANYONE WITH EARS TO HEAR SHOULD LISTEN AND UNDERSTAND.

“The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others. The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” – Mark 4:14-20

Father God, forgive us for our lack of preparation to receive your Word each week. Thank you for the reminder today that we are entering a holy space when we unite together in worship each Sunday. Renew a passion within us and give us a fresh expectation that you are working across the room. I want to be the one leaning in and listening to your Spirit’s nudge, as I receive the message prepared by your anointed one. Lord, we pray for a revival to break out across the Church and for your righteousness to be evident in the lives of those who call themselves a follower of Jesus. May our actions either plant seeds or bear fruit today, as we allow you to work through us in the lives of others. Amen.

“No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a bowl or hides it under a bed. A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house. For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all.” – Luke 8:16-17

SO PAY ATTENTION TO HOW YOU HEAR SO THAT YOU CAN GAIN UNDERSTANDING.

“So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.” – Luke 8:18

Today’s Reading: Matthew 12:1-50

When Jesus noticed a man with a deformed hand in the synagogue, he approached the man and told him to hold out his hand. When the man did what Jesus invited him to do, his hand was brought back to health. Imagine the reaction of this man as his hand was healed and his hope was restored.

Then the Pharisees called a meeting to plot how to kill Jesus. But Jesus knew what they were planning. So he left that area, and many people followed him. He healed all the sick among them, but he warned them not to reveal who he was. – Matthew 12:14-16

The Pharisees saw Jesus as a threat, but the people saw Jesus as the healer. The religious leaders wanted to silence him, but the people wanted to follow him. He was kind and compassionate, healing those who were injured or diseased. He came to bring justice, but what most received when they met Jesus was hope.

This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah concerning him:
“Look at my Servant, whom I have chosen.
He is my Beloved, who pleases me.
I will put my Spirit upon him,
and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
He will not fight or shout
or raise his voice in public.
He will not crush the weakest reed
or put out a flickering candle.
Finally he will cause justice to be victorious.
And his name will be the hope
of all the world.” – Matthew 12:17-21

THE HOPE OF ALL THE WORLD

Then a demon-possessed man, who was blind and couldn’t speak, was brought to Jesus. He healed the man so that he could both speak and see. The crowd was amazed and asked, “Could it be that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah?”

But when the Pharisees heard about the miracle, they said, “No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons.” – Matthew 12:22-24

A man was freed from the evil spirit living within him, and he was now able to speak and to see. He had his life back and it was all because of Jesus. Those who witnessed this healing were dumbfounded and began to ask if Jesus was the Messiah they had been waiting for. But the Pharisees dug in their heels and made up lies about Jesus. Instead of acknowledging that Jesus had been sent by God and was performing miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit, they accused Jesus of receiving his power from Satan.

“So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven—except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven. Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come.” – Matthew 12:31-32

The Spirit was at work in Jesus, and Jesus was performing miracles through the power of the Holy Spirit. Rather than recognizing the wonderful things that were being accomplished through the ministry of the Messiah, the religious leaders doubted Jesus’ sovereignty and questioned his calling. They challenged Jesus instead of joining the crowd in their amazement of the difference that Jesus was making in the lives of so many. Jesus was offering them hope and they turned him down.

A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. – Matthew 12:35-36

God, give us eyes to see the good you are accomplishing through the ministry of others. May we be quick to give you glory and celebrate the difference you are making in the lives of so many, rather than fall to jealousy and gossip. May your Spirit dwell within us and guide our hearts. Give us wisdom and discernment to recognize the work of your hands, and may we stand in amazement when we see others giving their lives to you. We recognize this morning that you are the hope of all the world, and we give you the praise! Amen.

Today’s Reading: Luke 8:1-3,19-21; Mark 3:20-35; Luke 11:14-32

Soon afterward Jesus began a tour of the nearby towns and villages, preaching and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom of God. He took his twelve disciples with him, along with some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases. Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons; Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s business manager; Susanna; and many others who were contributing from their own resources to support Jesus and his disciples. – Luke 8:1-3

Women played a role in advancing the Good News early on in Jesus’ ministry. They were leaving their homes, giving of their resources, and responding to God’s call on their lives. Mary was coming in response to all Jesus had delivered her from and Joanna was coming from the political environment in which her husband worked. Some had been freed of their demons and some healed of their diseases, but all of them were coming with a willingness to follow Jesus and to give sacrificially.

BUT NOT EVERYONE RESPONDED TO JESUS IN FAITH.

His family tried to take him away, disrespectfully claiming he was out of his mind (Mark 3:21). The teachers of religious law claimed his authority to cast out demons came from Satan himself. Others tried to test Jesus by demanding he perform a miraculous sign for them. Jesus not only heard their words, he knew their thoughts, so he stopped what he was doing to respond to their erroneous thinking.

“Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A family splintered by feuding will fall apart. You say I am empowered by Satan. But if Satan is divided and fighting against himself, how can his kingdom survive? And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists? They cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have said. But if I am casting out demons by the power of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. For when a strong man is fully armed and guards his palace, his possessions are safe — until someone even stronger attacks and overpowers him, strips him of his weapons, and carries off his belongings.” – Luke 11:17b-22

The crowd of people who watched Jesus restore a man who had been possessed by a demon were amazed, but each had a decision to make on how they would respond after their initial moment of faith. The women who were traveling with Jesus had made their choice to believe, and the religious leaders had chosen unbelief. Jesus pointed out to the religious leaders the risk they were taking by choosing to stand against him instead of believing in him. Let’s consider the contrasting consequences of our decision of whether or not to fully follow Jesus in faith:

“Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.” – Luke 11:23

“I tell you the truth, all sin and blasphemy can be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. This is a sin with eternal consequences.” He told them this because they were saying, “He’s possessed by an evil spirit.” – Mark 3:28-30

“When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, searching for rest. But when it finds none, it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds that its former home is all swept and in order. Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before.”

As he was speaking, a woman in the crowd called out, “God bless your mother—the womb from which you came, and the breasts that nursed you!”

Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.” – Luke 11:24-28

Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they couldn’t get to him because of the crowd. Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, and they want to see you.”
Jesus replied, “My mother and my brothers are all those who hear God’s word and obey it.” – Luke 8:19-21

What a privilege it is to be welcomed into the family of God! What a blessing we experience in life when we choose to walk in faith! When we study God’s word, spending time in His presence and allowing God to fill us with His Spirit, we are changed. When we respond to all that we are learning by walking out our faith, we receive the blessing of a full inheritance into God’s family.

Jesus replied, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” Then he looked at those around him and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers. Anyone who does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” – Mark 3:33-35

Those who walk away, because they choose to follow their doubts, are walking away from all that God has to offer them. Those whose desire for the things of this world entice them away from the things of God, are walking away from all Jesus has done for them.

WHAT ARE WE RISKING BY CHOOSING FAITH?

We may lose a few friends and we may lose a few invitations, but we have so much to gain. Those who make the choice to walk away from God’s invitation to a personal relationship have so much to lose, but those who accept His invitation have everything to gain.

So how will you respond to the story of Jesus? What will your reaction be to the nudge of His Spirit today? Are you living out a growing faith in Jesus? I pray God makes His presence real to you today as you push away the doubts and choose to fully rest on Him. May your faith continue to grow as you walk in relationship with God.

Today’s Reading: Matthew 11:25-30; Romans 10

Jesus traveled from town to town, preaching the message of repentance and performing miracles. But there were many who clung to their self-righteousness rather than recognizing their own need for salvation. While the unrighteous were turning from their wicked ways and asking for God’s forgiveness, the self-righteous were continuing to rely on their religious practices and traditions rather than respond to the message of repentance. They chose their own merit over humbling themselves and admitting that they were sinners in need of a Savior.

At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way! – Matthew 11:25-26

COME TO JESUS WITH CHILDLIKE FAITH.

It is good to study God’s word in order to gain a better understanding; it is wise to spend time daily allowing the bible to mold us and teach us. To study the bible with the intent of finding errors, or to disprove the Spirit-anointed writings, is like the reaction of the religious leaders to Jesus’ teachings. They had a choice to receive the Messiah with childlike faith or to challenge the authority of Jesus. We see this same dichotomy in the church today.

“My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” – Matthew 11:27

God revealed Himself to HIs creation by allowing us to get to know the Son. When we study the life of Christ, we gain understanding of who God is and how deeply He loves us. We recognize our need to let go of our striving and attempts at self-produced righteousness in order to fully rely on the grace of God — undeserved, unmerited, and unearned.

COME TO JESUS IN HUMBLE SURRENDER.

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30

Who can you relate to in this passage? Do you find yourself striving to produce a righteousness of your own instead of surrendering yourself to Jesus? Are you weary from the effort to be good? Is your heart responding to Jesus’ invitation to find rest for your soul?

Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God. – Romans 10:1-4

COME TO JESUS AND BELIEVE.

As we studied yesterday, living a righteous life is not about a set of rules or simply a religion; it is a relationship. Right living flows from the heart that has seen God at work and desires nothing more than to serve Him every day. It is not a standard or measurement, it is an authentic effort to get to know God and to spend time with Him and to live your life connected to the One who created all things.

Jesus sees your enthusiasm to follow him; he sees your desire to serve him. But he calls your self-produced righteousness “misdirected zeal”. He invites you to stop clinging to your own way of getting right with God and come to him for his gift of righteousness. His yoke is easy to bear, not meant to be a struggle. The burden he gives us is light. So surrender your striving and let him free you from the weight of your effort. Jesus, who died for you, wants to do something in you so that he can do something through you.

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. – Romans 10:9-10

Father God, we approach your throne today with all that is weighing us down. We are tired of making our best effort to serve you; we are weary of our self-righteousness. Lord, we thank you for the yoke that is placed upon us — that we can live this life in relationship with you. Teach us, lead us, guide us. We pray for the experience of childlike faith today, resting in who you are and what you want to make out of our lives. We love you, Lord. Amen.