January 20, 2017
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Noble And Abundant

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Shine your light into my heart, Lord. May Your light produce the generous desire to share Your blessing with others.

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 THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

“To know God in the Scriptures always goes beyond information to intimacy” (Erwin Raphael McManus).

Jesus’ word shines a light into the mysteries of God that had been “kept hidden for ages and generations” (Col. 1:26). Jesus sows the word into his hearers’ minds and, like a seed germinating underground, its growth is at present hidden. Jesus knows for certain that his word will produce kingdom growth where the soil is good. Kingdom growth is abundant and glorious, but it is beyond human skill and it is beyond human understanding: it is the work of God. Kingdom growth exceeds human expectations, like a tiny mustard seed becoming the largest plant in the garden, a miracle of creation. Jesus’ hearers—even his disciples—may doubt what will come of Jesus’ ministry, but Jesus knows that the kingdom is taking root among them. In Mark 3, we read that the crowds could not understand the message. Here we read that Jesus taught the crowds “as much as they could understand” (33). It seems that the more time the crowds spend with Jesus, the more they take in. Those with “ears to hear” (23) are challenged over and over again to respond, because they will be held accountable for how they respond (24,25). Jesus’ teaching echoes Proverbs 11:24: “One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.” Jesus, however, is concerned about wealth and poverty in the kingdom of God rather than earthly riches. The word is being sown now but, when the harvest of the kingdom is eventually gathered up (29), it will be obvious who has received the word but produced nothing (25): these people will lose everything. Those who do respond to the Word of God, however, will not only produce fruit now, they will also be given the fullest measure of God’s eternal blessings (24,25).

Apply

We must let the Word of God germinate in our heart and mind so it can produce growth and fruit. How has God spoken to you today and how will you respond?

Closing prayer

Mighty Father, You are unlimited, unbound and unpredictable. Inspire and guide me, illuminate Your Word to me.

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