October 14, 2017
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Reading along with us in Mark? Here’s today’s reading:
Mark 4 (ESV)
Again he began to teach beside the sea. And a very large crowd gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat in it on the sea, and the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. 2 And he was teaching them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: 3 “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow.4 And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. 5 Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. 6 And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain.8 And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.” 9 And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
10 And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. 11 And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, 12 so that
“‘they may indeed see but not perceive,
and may indeed hear but not understand,
lest they should turn and be forgiven.’”…Continue Reading
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I read Mark 4 today. I have been reading the final chapters of Revelation and studying closely chapter 10 as I prepare for the Women’s Bible study.
Often the phrase he who has ears to hear ….I wonder why that is repeated so often other than obvious. I would think there is a deeper meaning
It really could apply to many others sight thought feelings and more
The truth is certainly there for the taking if we will search and believe. But God also doesn’t want to make it too easy to find Him in order to make sure the will is engaged, that we are truly seeking and believing and not just falling into the truth. There are certainly other propositions out there, other ways to go and truths to believe. And we cannot mix those with the truth of God. They will both choke each other out and eliminate each other. But we get to choose what kind of soil we are. Soil where the seed will grow and bear fruit. That is the goal. And when that brings light to our lives, we shouldn’t hide it but put it on a stand. And the kind of faith God asks us for…that of a mustard seed. So it is not the size of faith that matters, but what it is directed towards.
And I love the account of the calming of the storm. Certainly Jesus sees our storms differently than we do. We should be as calm as He is knowing His power, presence and plan. “Quiet. be still is the word given…if only we would have the faith that unleashes this power in our lives!
I’m noticing that these parables all have to do with taking I initiative in faith. We must grow and bear fruit in faith, we need to keep our faith in the right direction (even if it’s as small as a mustard seed), faith to trust God’s word, and faith that He will calm the storms in our lives or give us the faith to stay standing during the storm.
39And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm
Just not in the disciples’ hearts.