Watch out for Rocks (day 14)

And other fell on the rocky ground, where it had not much earth; and straightway it sprang up, because it had no deepness of earth: and when the sun was risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. (Mark 4:5-6)

Sometimes someone will come to a meeting of some kind and get really excited. They may come a few times or a few years. They get active and are converted for all appearances. They may even get baptized and have a testimony. But then they disappear and the next time you see them they are almost hostile or outright hostile to you and for sure to the idea of following Jesus.

What happened?

Jesus says “they have no root in themselves.” (vs :17) In John 15 Jesus says, “I am the true vine and my Father is the husbandman.” When a branch is grafted to a vine or other plant of any kind, it gets its nourishment from that parent plant. If I am looking at the music or the programs or the personalities for my growth, I am looking at things that cannot give me life. They are like stones that have no nourishment in them for me. I must be connected to Jesus in love and obedience in order to be nourished and to grow. Otherwise there is the danger that I will die away.

Enjoy the music, the programs and the people, but first and always be connected to Jesus and through him to the Father.

I suspect that this has other applications also. Things such as hobbies or possessions or ambitions about success or happiness can also be stones that keep me from being rooted in Jesus.

Father in Heaven thank you for helping me see that things in my life that I look to for gratification or satisfaction can be stones that hinder me from being properly connected to you. I need grace Oh Father to see this danger and to keep all of these other things in their proper place. In my heart. Amen.

Stir Continuously (day 13)

Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow.  And as he sowed, it happened that indeed some fell by the wayside, and the fowls of the air came and ate it up. (Mark 4:2-4)

A hard heart is one that cannot hear the word of God. This does not mean that my ears are not functioning properly. It means that my heart is not functioning properly.

Have you ever gone to a church meeting where the music was exhilarating, and the teaching seemed inspired, but by the time you got to your car you couldn’t remember anything that was said? I have. When that happens I have not prepared my heart to receive God’s word. It is just like that hard packed soil by the wayside.

Now you may have thought that this section referred to those who will not hear the word of God because they are not born again, or saved or something like that. You’re probably correct but the word of God does me little good if I am always looking for ways to apply it to others. And this can surely be applied to my life when I approach any situation where God’s word will be active without preparing the soil of my heart.

If I read God’s word or a devotional or listen to a speaker without taking at least a moment to recognize that I am approaching something that is truly holy and God may be here to speak something very important to my heart, my heart may be rock solid hard to what He has for me.

All day long people and circumstances are trampling across our hearts packing that soil down. If I do not stir it up continually, soon, oh too soon, it will be too hard for God’s word to penetrate and Satan will steal it away before it can even begin to sprout.

Father in Heaven, I thank you that I can hear and understand that my heart is often inclined to become hardened by contradictions and unpleasant circumstances and people. Please help me find the grace to stir my heart to receive your words of life so that I might be a light in this dark world. In the wonderful name of Jesus. Amen.

A Sower went out to Sow (day 12)

Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. (Mark 4:3)

This is the beginning of what is called “the parable of the sower” but I believe it should more accurately be called “the parable of the soils.” It is the condition of the soils that is truly what we need to see here.

And what is so important about the soil?

The answer to that lies in the explanation of the parable which comes later in the text. In verses 14 and 15 Jesus is explaining to disciples the meaning of the parable. He says,

“The sower sows the Word. And these are those by the wayside, where the Word is sown. And when they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the Word that was sown in their hearts.”

So if you will notice, it is the Word that is sown and it is sown in the heart.

A very wise gentleman once said, ‘The heart is that place where I like it.’ It is not uncommon to hear someone say, ‘I love this house, car, dog, cat” or whatever you like. The place that is called love, that strong emotion of attachment is what this is about. The place where I like it.

Therefore, it would seem reasonable to assume that this parable is about the condition of my heart. Here I can find wonderful instruction to help me be aware of the condition of my own heart by comparing the results of each condition to my own results.

·         Who sows the word in my heart?

·         Does that word grow?

·         Is it producing fruit?

·         Do I think about baseball, cars, kittens or anything else more than I think about the word that has been sown in my heart?

Father in Heaven your word says much about the condition of my heart. Help me to take these words seriously and listen to what you would say to me as I proceed. Today help me to think about what occupies my affection, that place where I like it, and help me be aware of your intention for that place.

Listen Behold (day 11)

Mark 4:3 Jesus says “Listen! Behold,”

Just the first 2 words for now.

So often we read over things and don’t pay attention. Verses of God’s word become familiar and we can repeat them but have put no thought into what they truly mean.

These are the words of Jesus! Do we value them?

Think of some item that you received, whether you purchased it or it was a gift. If you truly valued it, you would look at it from every angle, you would take care of it and keep it clean. You would study all sides of it and spend time just looking at it.

These are the words of Jesus! Do we value them?

Jesus is about to share a valuable truth but only a few will get it. Only a few will listen and behold what he wants us to know.

Will You?

At the end of this parable Jesus say “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

And when He was alone, they who were about Him, with the Twelve, asked Him concerning the parable. And He said to them, “To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God. But to those outside, all these things are given in parables” Mark 4:9-11

Jesus spoke to the multitudes in parables, but those who valued his words were given the mystery of the kingdom.

If we will dig in and allow the Word of God to examine our lives, He will show us our need more clearly and show us the way to peace and rest. Jesus has said, “I have come so that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly.”  This is for disciples but not for the multitudes.

Oh Lord, I have been one of the multitude, and I have in the multitude been alone and lonely. Please give me grace to find grace to listen and behold, so that I can come to more of that abundant life that you desire so much to give me. Thank you with all my heart that your desire is to give me this life. Thank you that you have done everything necessary to make it available to me. All praise and glory go to you in all things, in Jesus wonderful name. Amen!

Amazing Invitation, Amazing Provision (day 10)

Jesus says, “Come to me…learn of me”

         

How can we come to him and learn about him?

Jesus was “with God and he was God” but he emptied himself and took the form of man and lived among men so that we could see the “glory as of the only begotten of the father, full of grace and truth.”

And we are instructed to learn to think like Jesus. “Have this mind in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”  In order for us to be able to do this we have to have someone who is like us so we can follow him. Jesus had to become like us in every respect so we could know that he understands our weakness.

He was made just like us and he was tempted in every way we are tempted but he did not agree with the lusts and desires of his flesh. Instead he said “not my will but thine be done.”

Not only is it God’s will that we become like Jesus; He also made it possible by giving us the perfect high priest who understands our every weakness. And he has shown us so we can understand how true this is and begin to get an idea of how great and wonderful it is.

As we look back at the wonderful thoughts from the last 6 days let us become very happy.

Think about these words from 2 Peter 1:3-4

According as his divine power has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that has called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Praise, honor and glory be yours always, Heavenly Father for the wonderful gift of salvation that results in transformation and being conformed to be like your wonderful son Jesus. Expand our understanding to see how unspeakably wonderful and precious this gift is. The forgiveness of sins and the transformation to be like Jesus, in whose wonderful name I pray. Amen.

Very bright and very loud fireworks should be included here.

Called to His Purpose (day 9)

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.  (Romans 8:28-29)

The first part of this passage has been a comfort to many people for a long time and is a popular verse especially in time of trouble. But look at it and consider what it means. What does it mean to love God? Is that just the idea of loving some unknown goodness?

So many words have had their meanings watered down to the point that there is no power in them. People love their cat, or they love their car, or pork chops, or a suit of clothes. And then they love their children, or their wife, or God. The same word! Does it mean the same thing?

This passage goes on to say that it involves being called. Possibly we could say, this person has an inner voice that is telling him to live according to God’s purpose or will. This has little to do with Heaven and Hell, it is more to do with what is right.

So possibly, loving God has to do with hearing that inner voice and setting my intention to obey that calling.

Do you hear that voice?

If you hear that voice within, be very happy, because God has made you so that you could become like Jesus. That’s just what it says.

At this point there is a temptation to think about this person or that person. That is a distraction. This verse, this word is for you, now.

Will you be called according to His purpose? Will you be transformed into the image of His Son?

Blessed Heavenly Father, thank you so much that you have this wonderful will for my life. I always need your help to realize your purpose, help me to be ever conscious of my need and of your wonderful help. All praise and glory to you forever. Amen.

The Answer for All Temptation (day 8)

Jesus, our high priest, is able to understand our weaknesses. When Jesus lived on earth, he was tempted in every way. He was tempted in the same ways we are tempted, but he never sinned. (Hebrews 4:15)

What does this mean? Read this next passage.

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no man: but each man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. Then the lust, when it hath conceived, beareth sin: and the sin, when it is full grown, bringeth forth death.  (James 1:13-15)

When I have a desire that is different from what God would have for me that is a temptation. If I follow that desire, if I entertain that desire that is when I sin. Jesus had desires that were different from God’s will, but he said, “Not my will but thine be done.” (Luke 22:42) That is the way he overcame sin and if we will follow him and say the same thing when we have desires contrary to God’s, we will overcome also.

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye may not sin. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (1 John 2:1)

Have we sinned? Absolutely YES each one of us, over and over. Do we have sinful desires within us? Again yes! Do we have to continue the pattern of sin and forgiveness? NO, each of us can go to war and begin to say, “Not my will but thine be done,” when we are tempted.

We each one will stumble and fall many times. That doesn’t matter. What matters is; will I, will you, decide that we will begin today to learn to overcome sin as Jesus did.

Heavenly Father, thank you so much for your gift of Jesus to be our savior and to be our guide and help on the way to full salvation. We always need your help to be conscious of our weakness and your willingness to see us succeed. All of the strength is yours and all of the glory is yours always and forever. Amen.