Alone

Mark 4: ³³ And with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it. ³⁴ But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples.

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Waving at people on the convention floor was the norm for my coworkers, but not me. This was my first convention and I did not know anyone. It was time for dinner and everyone made plans with one another. I ate in my room.

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• Sometimes I can be in a crowd and feel alone.
• Sometimes I can open my mouth and say something to people and still feel alone.
• Sometimes I can sit in a room with another person and feel more alone than when I am by myself.

Being alone can sometimes feel devastating, especially when I want to be around those who appreciate what I am doing and saying or even better, know who I am. GOD spoke in parables or analogies and did not speak directly to the crowd. But when HE was alone with HIS disciples HE spoke directly to them.

• GOD sometimes takes me to a place so HE can be alone with me.
• GOD sometimes wants to speak directly to me so HE moves me out of the crowd.
• GOD sometimes desires for me to quiet down instead of screaming while I am alone with HIM.

Maturing to understand “alone” time is important to GOD. HE wants me to spend some very important time with HIM to see HIS power on a daily basis. The world’s worries can be noisy and deafen me to HIS voice. It seems like the harder I try in life, the more GOD wants to spend time with me. HE sets me down besides still waters and speaks directly to me with HIS promises.

• Do you feel alone?
• Are you worried and feel alone?
• Can you remove your worries for a moment and listen to GOD’s voice through HIS word today?

Herbs and Spices

Mark 4: ³⁰ Then He said, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? ³¹ It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth; ³² but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.”

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“You should learn this new way of doing things” exclaimed one of my coworkers. Yes, the world had changed and a new way of thinking had emerged. I now had to go on a new road and learn. “I wonder when this road will change” I thought to myself.

• Sometimes I get busy chasing new philosophies.
• Sometimes I get entrenched into learning new ways of doing things.
• Sometimes I get involved with new thinking, new values and new beliefs.

Out with the old and in with the new was my way to stay ahead of the crowd. I would learn new ingredients to success by attending philosophical discussions and grab a new herb of knowledge. Many birds would flock with me to these spicy meetings. BUT GOD had another plan for me.

• GOD says to me “Tell people about the simple message of MY love for them.”
• GOD says to me “MY kingdom’s message is simple, just believe that JESUS died for all of mankind and you will be saved.”
• GOD says to me “MY yoke is easy and MY burdens are light.”

What a tiny seed GOD gave me. I mean HIS message of grace far exceeds any new herb and spice I could ever learn. In fact, GOD’s message of grace grows in me and in the hearts of mankind stronger than any other way of thinking. Branches of joy, love, forgiveness and peace flow from this simple message of HIS grace. GOD’s message is simple, HE loves me.

• Are you busy trying to learn the “new” thing?
• Do you think the new way of thinking will save you?
• Can you turn your thinking towards GOD for a moment and absorb the simple message of HIS love for you?

Helpless and Mighty

Mark 4: ²⁶ And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, ²⁷ and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. ²⁸ For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. ²⁹ But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

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When the car stalled out for the fifth time it seemed like we would never get home. The two hour journey had now turned into six. My cousin and I sat there waiting yet again for something miraculous to happen. After fifteen minutes I started the car again. This time it made it all the way home.

• Sometimes I have problems I cannot fix.
• Sometimes I have a desire but no solution.
• Sometimes I have an immediate need but have no way to meet that need.

Helpless is never a fun feeling but it is definitely useful. Looking back on the car situation, I can truly say that it was only GOD that brought me through that situation. I had nothing to offer, no power to give.

• JESUS says to me “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
• JESUS says to me “Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.”
• JESUS says to me “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see GOD.”

In my weakness GOD’s might is made perfect. GOD is the one who knows how seeds sprout in this story. JESUS lets HIS disciples know that the power comes only from HIM. I am supposed to go out and plant seeds of love, knowledge and faith to many and let GOD grow the seeds.

As much as I may want someone to believe in CHRIST, I am helpless BUT GOD is mighty! HE wants me to be ready for HIS harvest so HIS glory will shine bright.

• Are you ready for GOD’s harvest?
• Can you stop fearing and allow GOD to deliver you the way HE wants to?
• Will you continue to spread the seeds of GOD wherever HE sends you?

Shining Light on the Subject

Mark 4: ²¹ Also He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand? ²² For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light. ²³ If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”

²⁴ Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. ²⁵ For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”

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“Ooo… I’m telling” were the words I dreaded to hear. It meant that I was caught in the act and this person was going straight to the top, namely the teacher or the parents. “Wait, don’t tell!” were my begging words. “I could get in trouble.” They told and I got in trouble.

• Sometimes I try to hide my sins.
• Sometimes I try to pretend I am good when I really am a sinner.
• Sometimes I want to keep my sins to myself and let others think more highly of me.

My sins had come into the light and I received the consequence for them, but what about the person who told on me? I mean, they just wanted to get me in trouble so they could gloat. GOD has an answer for that.

• JESUS says to me “With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
• JESUS says to me “Judge not lest you be judged.”
• JESUS says to me “Pray for your enemies.”

All of my sins will be brought into the light, so it is better for “me” to bring them into the light than for GOD to do it. By confessing my sins, I realize they actually do not have power over me. This enables me to have a tiny amount of grace that understands why others may hide their sins.

GOD wants me to be extremely careful when shining light on someone else’s sins. Instead of saying “This person has sinned” I can say “We have similar sins” this way GOD is placed as the judge and I am not the accuser rather I am an advocate for forgiveness.

• Are you hiding your relationship with GOD from others?
• Are you hiding sin so you can look good in front of the crowd?
• When you “tell on someone” do you desire to feel superior to “that” person?
• Can you stop talking about others so GOD will stop taking even what little you have from you?

Overcoming Barriers

Mark 4: ¹³ And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? ¹⁴ The sower sows the word. ¹⁵ And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. ¹⁶ These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness;¹⁷ and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble. ¹⁸ Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, ¹⁹ and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. ²⁰ But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

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Station four was my nemesis. It was the part of the obstacle course that I could not overcome. The gym teacher required that I do ten pullups before moving on to the rest of the course. “Ten? I can’t even do one!” I said to myself.

• Sometimes life feels like a huge obstacle course.
• Sometimes life has big things in it that seem hard to overcome.
• Sometimes life deals out difficulties that seem impossible to overcome.

Ailments, broken relationships, poor grades, job pressures, job loss and death of loved ones are a few obstacles that have kept me from shouting from the mountain that GOD is awesome! I mean how awesome is HE when I am standing out in the rain, getting soaked waiting on a bus? GOD wants me to get stronger.

• GOD wants me to open my eyes to see Satan trying to steal GOD’s promise of peace and his attempt to replace it with worry.
• GOD wants me to open my eyes to understand there will be tribulation and persecution so I need to prepare myself.
• GOD wants me to open my eyes to know I am susceptible to lust of money, lust of power, and lust in general.

When I feel scared, worried, lustful or judgmental, GOD wants me to get my answers from HIM instead of acting on impulse. HE enables me to see that in the middle of a trial, I can still bear fruit for HIM. HE wants me to quiet down, seek HIS face for direction and actually go where HE leads me. There is where I will find fruit for HIS kingdom!

• Have you given up on GOD?
• Do you feel more worried than full of praise?
• Can you look at what GOD has said about your situation in HIS word and act accordingly?
• Will you accept HIS message of peace for you today?

Spinning the Spinners

Mark 4: ¹⁰ But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable. ¹¹ And He said to them, “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables, ¹² so that

‘Seeing they may see and not perceive,
And hearing they may hear and not understand;
Lest they should turn,
And their sins be forgiven them.’”

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In an effort to make the situation better, my bosses told me to “Update the message to make it more palatable.” In other words they wanted me to put “spin” on the message. Instead of saying “This flat out does not work” they suggested “At this time, certain features are being reviewed.” I wonder if I try to “spin” the explanation of JESUS.

• There were times when I used “spin” to make the story easier.
• There were times when I used a more palatable story to explain things.
• There were times when I would take a lie and try to spin it to “a” truth that was close enough.

JESUS saw through the hearts of those who would never believe in HIM. HE spoke in parables because speaking in direct terms to someone who would never believe in HIM would be a waste of HIS time. HE wants me to believe in HIM whether HE speaks directly or indirectly to me.

• JESUS speaks to me through written history and letters compiled in a Bible.
• JESUS speaks to me through humans who speak highly of HIM.
• JESUS speaks to me through circumstances that only HE can orchestrate.

Amazement can happen on a daily basis if I allow it. I mean I could walk out my door and be absolutely amazed if I were to open my eyes and ears to what GOD is doing. Unfortunately the worries of the world blind me at times to the amazing things around me. GOD says “Relax. Let ME guide you with MY plan.” When I allow HIM to be GOD I can truly “perceive” and “understand.”

• Are you confused about something?
• Do you have a very specific answer for your problem that you are not getting no matter how hard you try?
• Will you open your eyes and ears to GOD so you can see what HE is doing in your life today?

Motivation

Mark 4: And again He began to teach by the sea. And a great multitude was gathered to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat in it on the sea; and the whole multitude was on the land facing the sea. ² Then He taught them many things by parables, and said to them in His teaching:

³ “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. ⁴ And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it. ⁵ Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. ⁶ But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away. ⁷ And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. ⁸ But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

⁹ And He said to them, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

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“I wanna go!” was my immediate response when I heard that my siblings and some neighbors would possibly travel to the local amusement park. I just knew it would be fun and I imagined myself on all the rides. I also said “I wanna go” on vacations, restaurants visits to relatives and recreation.

• Sometimes I am motivated by getting something that I will enjoy.
• Sometimes I am motivated to work hard so I can get to some place where I can relax.
• Sometimes I am motivated to endure life’s trials so I can eventually reach society’s utopia.

Where there was fun I wanted to be there, but what about GOD? I mean HE has stuff for me to do as well right? Yes, but sometimes I am not motivated to do HIS work. I was quite amazed at the beginning of the parable. “A sower went out to sow.” What motivated the sower?

• GOD wants me to be motivated to seek the lost because HE sought me.
• GOD wants me to be excited to spread HIS Gospel because HE saved me with it.
• GOD wants me to be inspired to seek HIS kingdom first then HE will add to me what HE pleases.

Saving people from eternal death was the motivation of the sower. HE created me and does not want me to be lost. HE gives me seeds of wisdom, knowledge and understanding and it is up to me to allow them to grow. HE wants me to do the same to others.

• Are you stuck?
• Do you feel like hiding instead of running out and shouting in praise?
• Can you come out of your hiding place to serve JESUS today just because HE loves you?