Day Eight
Scripture: Mark 4:1-9
1 Again he began to teach beside the lake. Such a very large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat on the lake and sat there, while the whole crowd was beside the lake on the land. 2 He began to teach them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: 3 ‘Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and it sprang up quickly, 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 Other seed fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.’ 9 And he said, ‘Let anyone with ears to hear listen!’
Observation:
Considering the significant decline in the number of Christians in the U.S., I believe I've heard far too many excuses.
“There were birds—some came and went, others flew around but never stayed. I had no control over them. They came and ate up the seeds I planted before I could nurture them.
It was like planting on rocky ground. I did my part to teach and share the Words of God, but their hearts were hardened like Pharaoh’s. When trials came, like scorching sunlight, they were uprooted.
Too many thorns hindered its growth. No one in that broken family, harsh working environment, or toxic congregation would grow to bear fruit.
It’s not my fault!”
Oh, I realize I've made too many excuses for not bearing fruit as well. First and foremost, may my heart become good soil. May I have the courage to cast out the birds, remove the rocks, cut down the thorns, and cultivate the ground in my heart so that it may bring forth grain, “growing up and increasing and yielding thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.”
Application:
What are the “birds, rocks, and thorns” in your life journey at this moment?
How can you cultivate your heart to be a good soil?
Prayer / Reflection:
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