5-13-21   THOUGHTS

I was reading the passage area below and noticed something I have missed all these years.
The parable in focus is the Parable of the Sower.  In Mark 4:13, Jesus says, “If you can’t understand this parable, how will you understand all the others?”   I am pondering that statement with you this morning.  I believe this is the most fundamental of all parables. Nothing is more ROOT to God’s system than   GOD’S WORD PLANTED!  The parables that start at verse 21 grow out of the Sower parable.  

Mark 4:10-25     As soon as He was alone, His followers, along with the twelve, began asking Him about the parables. 11  And He was saying to them, "To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables, 12  so that WHILE SEEING, THEY MAY SEE AND NOT PERCEIVE, AND WHILE HEARING, THEY MAY HEAR AND NOT UNDERSTAND, OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT RETURN AND BE FORGIVEN." 13  And He said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? How will you understand all the parables? 14  "The sower sows the word. 15  "These are the ones who are beside the road where the word is sown; and when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word which has been sown in them. 16  "In a similar way these are the ones on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy; 17  and they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away. 18  "And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, 19  but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 20  "And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold."
21  And He was saying to them, "A lamp is not brought to be put under a basket, is it, or under a bed? Is it not brought to be put on the lampstand? 22  "For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it would come to light. 23  "If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear." 24  And He was saying to them, "Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides. 25  "For whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him."
Matt 28:19-20    "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,  20  teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

My Prayer:
Help us Father to bring this world to you.  Your name O God,  and the story of Jesus, may we boldly ring it out.  May our life’s  focus be on things above.  Show us our selfishness so that we may learn to defeat self.  Teach us the truth that the love of Jesus bought us away from the self.  Help us to love with our all, and increase our capacity for loving.   

In the name of Jesus      Amen