Mark 4
Man, I could've used this Scripture yesterday! One thing that is amazing about the Word of God, it's how it stabilizes us and brings us peace. When we are reading a passage about controlling our tempers and on the way to school or work we happen upon a fistfight that we break up, it's like we're equipped to handles the obstacles we face. If a friend approaches us with sad news, sometimes we have "water" in our "well" that we can pour out for them -- whether it's empathy and compassion or actual comforting words. The Bible instructs us, equips us, and gives us a grounding so that we don't have to ride an emotional roller coaster throughout the day. We can be "anchored" by God's Word.
Jesus' parable about the "sower" gives us much food for thought. I'm concerned about not being "thorny" soil, which Jesus likened to the worries of this life being nearby -- the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the Word, making it unfruitful. Perhaps the way to not have thorns in my soil is to make sure it (my heart, my mind, my soul) gets "plowed up" by regular meditation on God's Word. Some people are good and disciplined about reading God's Word. They do this on a consistent basis and they are a regular joe. I admire them. Their outlet for ministry is often friends, co-workers, and people that happen across their path. This is the healthiest person, I think. Then there is the "professional" or "vocational" minister, who studies God's Word because it is their job. A lot has been said about that motivation being off a little bit and how that can become dry and routine; but you know what? They are still in God's Word on a consistent basis and God is still blessing them and that. Just because the situations may not be "ideal," does not take away from the power of the Word and its effectiveness. Whatever it takes to get us into God's Word is a good thing.
This consistent study and meditation (just reading and pondering quietly) of Scripture is so healthy and will probably make the "soil" of our hearts good, so that the "seed" of the Word grows healthy and strong (and produce a "crop" that is 30, 60 or even 100-times what was sown).
I admire Jesus and how He was so calm in the midst of the storm that "happened" at the tail end of Mark 4. His disciples were freaking out. Meanwhile, Jesus was sleeping. He trusted that His Father would take care of Him. How I want to be like that. Sometimes it's a friend or a stranger or even a sign on a wall that "makes" me like that, because "it" reminds me that God is in control.
Have you ever seen (or been) a "hanger-on" or a "wanna-be?" You know the type: they somehow get backstage and get to hang out with the members of some great band. When they pass by a line of people waiting to get in, they have a prideful look on their face, like they are better than the rest. Like they are somehow "rock's royalty?" Well, that hypocrisy is sick, and it stinks. I think even the followers of Jesus got this way. In Mark 10 a guy called "Blind Bartimaeus" keeps calling out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet.
"Shut up!" They probably sneered, just like the backstage queen who sneers at an autograph seeker that's trying to "pry in, invade, and steal" her time with the band.
Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called to the blind man, "Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you." I am reading into this, but I can almost sense an attitude of, "You better appreciate this, cuz the important Man is giving you some attention (that we want all for ourselves)." Jesus asked him what he wanted. He replied, "Rabbi, I want to see." Jesus healed him.
Posted by Doug Van Pelt at October 13, 2005 09:48 AM