South's SOAP for the Day
S-Read Mark 4:21-34
O-Jesus spoke no more than what the people could understand.
A-How often do you forget that God will never give you more than you can handle?
P-Pray for the courage to face life with the knowledge that God will never let you be in over your head.
Today we have an eclectic grouping of Scripture chunks. They are a continuation of the conversation Jesus is having with those around him. We need to talk about that for a moment. Yesterday's reading began with Jesus sharing the Parable of the Sower to the crowd on the shore from a boat. After that, his disciples and some other people gather around Jesus to get an explanation about the parable. I totally read over this yesterday. The large crowd always followed Jesus. Yet, at times, the crowd would disperse and leave a smaller crowd. Think of it as more committed followers. Then, in amidst this smaller group were the disciples. This helps us make sense of the last few lines of this section of scripture.
So, our reading today is a continuation of the discussion that Jesus is having with this group of followers. He has just explained the parable of the sower to them - a parable that they did not understand. Now, he is leaning into them more. I think he is telling them that what he is saying is meant to be understood. You wouldn't hide good news under a bowl. Even more, as they hear the good news, they are responsible for it. They would be considered in the "those who have more measured to them" class in verses 24 and 25.
I've heard someone say before, "...with responsibility comes accountability." We simply cannot sit, hear, understand, and do nothing. There is more too it. We saw that yesterday in the parable of the sower. The good news calls us to action.
Jesus continues the conversation by giving two more parables. One is about a man who sows seed and does nothing more. The soil does its thing and the seed ends up growing into a plant that produces more seed. The intriguing thing to me in this parable is the statement that the man doesn't fully understand how the seed grows. I can relate to that. Even more, the man's focus is harvesting the grain...to use it and to plant more seed. Sort of ties in to the previous account about being responsible. You don't have to know all the mechanics of the good news, you simply need to be sharing and living the good news so that the seed has a chance to fall on the soil. God will do the rest.
Then one final parable, about a mustard seed. A mustard seed is about the size of a pinhead. Yet, as Jesus states in the parable, it grows large enough to become a shady resting place for the birds.
So, what's the point of these parables that are strung together. They all focus on the Kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is like the man who sows seed, expects it to grow though he doesn't fully know how, and then harvests. Its like the mustard seed that is tiny, yet grows huge. The Kingdom of God has potential! Yet, I think the key for me is, that it needs to be used. the man with the seed needs to plant it. The mustard seed must be put in the ground, fertile soil, before it can become something. The problem isn't the ability to grow, its about getting the opportunity to grow.
To me, this points back to the first passage we read today. The New American Standard translates the beginning of verse 24 this way, "Take care of what you listen to!" Take care of it. Treasure it. Make it active. Plant it every type of soil you can. Allow God the chance to grow the Kingdom.
Lord, help us to shine your Kingdom. Help us to hear what you are calling us to, and give us a desire to live it out with tenacity.
So, our reading today is a continuation of the discussion that Jesus is having with this group of followers. He has just explained the parable of the sower to them - a parable that they did not understand. Now, he is leaning into them more. I think he is telling them that what he is saying is meant to be understood. You wouldn't hide good news under a bowl. Even more, as they hear the good news, they are responsible for it. They would be considered in the "those who have more measured to them" class in verses 24 and 25.
I've heard someone say before, "...with responsibility comes accountability." We simply cannot sit, hear, understand, and do nothing. There is more too it. We saw that yesterday in the parable of the sower. The good news calls us to action.
Jesus continues the conversation by giving two more parables. One is about a man who sows seed and does nothing more. The soil does its thing and the seed ends up growing into a plant that produces more seed. The intriguing thing to me in this parable is the statement that the man doesn't fully understand how the seed grows. I can relate to that. Even more, the man's focus is harvesting the grain...to use it and to plant more seed. Sort of ties in to the previous account about being responsible. You don't have to know all the mechanics of the good news, you simply need to be sharing and living the good news so that the seed has a chance to fall on the soil. God will do the rest.
Then one final parable, about a mustard seed. A mustard seed is about the size of a pinhead. Yet, as Jesus states in the parable, it grows large enough to become a shady resting place for the birds.
So, what's the point of these parables that are strung together. They all focus on the Kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is like the man who sows seed, expects it to grow though he doesn't fully know how, and then harvests. Its like the mustard seed that is tiny, yet grows huge. The Kingdom of God has potential! Yet, I think the key for me is, that it needs to be used. the man with the seed needs to plant it. The mustard seed must be put in the ground, fertile soil, before it can become something. The problem isn't the ability to grow, its about getting the opportunity to grow.
To me, this points back to the first passage we read today. The New American Standard translates the beginning of verse 24 this way, "Take care of what you listen to!" Take care of it. Treasure it. Make it active. Plant it every type of soil you can. Allow God the chance to grow the Kingdom.
Lord, help us to shine your Kingdom. Help us to hear what you are calling us to, and give us a desire to live it out with tenacity.
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