June 28th, 2013
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Hidden and Revealed

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Opening Prayer

Loving Lord, walk with me on the paths of living this day. May Your will be done in me.

Read Mark 4:21-34

[21] He said to them, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand? [22] For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. [23] If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.” [24] “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you-and even more. [25] Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.” [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-first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. [29] As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.” [30] Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? [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.” [33] With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. [34] He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

God wants to communicate with us and we need to know how to hear God speak. How can we eliminate the hindrances to hearing God’s voice?

Think Further

Jesus again urges the people who are flocking to him to listen to him, really listen (23). What this means is now becoming clearer. His “hidden” and “concealed” (22) message will only be revealed to those willing to take the risk of faith and follow him. Mark is telling us something very important and often forgotten: genuine Christian learning is only possible for committed disciples with a passion to live as Jesus wants them to live. Real theology, therefore, is lived theology, resulting from obedience and the constant exercise of faith. We don’t set the terms of engagement: Jesus does. We’re called to listen and act, and keep on listening and acting.  We’re invited to follow him even when we have only an inkling of where we’re going.

Jesus must have intended the parables of the growing seed and mustard seed to be a source of sustenance and strength to his disciples in every age. They remind us that, regardless of how it may sometimes seem, the work of the kingdom is constantly under way, “night and day” (27). The work of the kingdom, like a mustard seed, will grow out of that which in human terms looks tiny and of little significance. 

Do you yearn and strive for that day when no child will die prematurely, when human society will be just and fair, when there will be no more pain and no more tears, and when the time of death and decay will be over (Isa. 65:17-25; Rev. 21:1-5)? Then take heart, for it is the Holy Spirit who plants this yearning within you, and Jesus is the guarantee that this day will come to pass. Keep the faith. You can count on it!

Apply

As you participate in the work of the kingdom, there will be outcomes and events that discourage, and others that encourage you. How can you handle the discouragement?

Closing prayer

Lord, I know that unless You work through my efforts, they are in vain. I offer You my endeavors and pray that You will work through them for Your glory.

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