Mark 4:24-25 The Blessing Of The Word

So consider carefully the things you're hearing. If you put it to use you'll be given more to wrestle with-much more. Those who have listened will receive more, but those who don't hear will forget even the little they understand.

Observation

Jesus taught in parables many times and the crowd very often was confused. The disciples ask Jesus why He teaches in parables. Jesus tells them in Mark 4:11 that God has let the disciples in on the workings of the kingdom, but the crowd He teaches in parables. There is something incredibly special in knowing that God has chosen you to receive His Word, His Teaching, to eat the Bread of Life from His own hand. Psalm 119:103 says that the Word of God is sweeter than honey. His word tastes good....it tastes great!  Not only does it taste great it nourishes the Spirit. 

Mark 4:26-29 goes onto say that the Kingdom of God is like a farmer who is sowing seed. Even when he is sowing and sleeping the seed is growing into the light. He doesn't know how, and doesn't need to, for the seed to bear fruit. That is us with the Word of God. We just keep meditating on, praying through, devoting ourselves too, and even though we don't know how it happens the Word of God bears much fruit in our lives. Praise You God!

Application

I haven't always been passionate about the Word of God. When I decided to find out more about who Jesus is (14 years ago), for several months I read through the New Testament. At the end of it I could say that I liked Jesus and thought Paul was extremely difficult to understand and close-minded. I didn't pick up the bible again for another five or six years. Was I still a Christian? Yes. But I didn't think it too necessary to study the Word, most Christians I knew didn't think so either.

 I decided to read the whole bible when I began to get heavily involved with RiverPoint. Although there were still several times where I couldn't understand what was being said, the Word became more alive to me. Soon after I decided to memorize scripture. So several times a week I would (and still do) review and meditate on scripture. Then I was taught the SOAP method of studying the bible, and the Word became even more alive to me. Today I'm passionate about the Word of God and I make consistent time each day to read and meditate on it. I have slumps, days when I don't feel like it or I seemingly get nothing out of it, but I can see where the Word of God has produced a harvest in my life. I don't know how it happened, I just know that I'm stronger, spiritually healthier, wiser, more compassionate,loving, encouraging, faithful, joyful, patient, kind, and self-controlled then I could have ever imagined. 

Prayer

Father, I am blessed to have received Your Word and to have eaten from Your own hand. I am blessed to know the freedom and refreshment that Your Word brings. Your Word is more precious than gold, it is sweeter than honey. May the SOAP group persevere in Your Word so that they too receive a harvest 30, 60, or even 100 times more than expected.