Page 13 - Living Light 89

THIS WEEK’S BIBLE INSIGHTS ARE BY:
Anne Coles and are based on Mark 4 (NIV)
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ MORE ON THIS WEEK’S MAJOR THEME:
Matthew 13 & Mark 13
1 Again Jesus began to teach by the lake... 3 “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying
thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.” 9 Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”
26 He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 All by itself the soil produces grain...
31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. 32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”
Sunday June 8 - The truth is all around us! “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed.” Mark 4:3
Jesus attracted huge crowds; doubtless they hoped to see some miracles; after all, anyone is up for a good show! Perhaps they wanted to be fed miraculously; after all, Jesus could feed 5000 people with a small boy’s picnic! Or maybe they just enjoyed the party atmosphere! Whatever the motives for the gatherings around Jesus – and maybe they haven’t changed over the years! – he set the agenda himself, and in this chapter he devotes his time with the crowd to teaching them important things about the Kingdom of God. He used stories from the real life and experience of the listener.
Jesus was essentially speaking to farmers who understood the language of seeds, sowing and harvest. Maybe this is not our everyday activity, but we still buy and eat vegetables and fruits grown from seeds! I look at the wilting pot plant on my window sill and know that there is a knack to this that I apparently lack! Not every plant flourishes, as I am well aware!
Jesus points out that just being in the crowd is not enough. In fact, just reading these daily thoughts is not enough in itself – we need to apply them to our lives if there is to be a harvest in the end. I certainly don’t want to turn out like my poor pot plant!
Lord Jesus, help me to not only hear the truth you teach but also to put it into practice in my daily life. Amen.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
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