Crumbs92

 

Crumbs 92

Growth

Scripture Mark 4:21-25 NIV 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.”

Crumbs

There are four parables in Mark 4. One of the themes that flows through most of them is judgement. To understand them I find I need to refer to the other Gospels and to the resr of Scripture. For if we believe that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God we must set a small portion of Scripture in the context of the whole of Scripture.

In this passage Jesus teaches some vital points. Isolation from the world is not expected. The light we have is for sharing. Within society we witness by being there.

God’s judgement is total. He exposes all. It is also true that the world will detect a fraud.

One of the issues of divine judgement is whether we lived according to the standards we demanded of others. Certainly society is quick to cry “ Hypocrite” for any discrepancy between profession and practice.

Nothing is static in physical and spiritual life. ,It’s either growth or atrophy. Taking away is also mentioned in the parable of the talents. A language learnt but unused is soon forgot. A gift detected in childhood and untended often goes to waste.

As I read these parables I find common sense realities of the material world are mirrored in spiritual truths. In Jesus we see the light of the world, doing what He said and sharing His gifts with suffering mankind. May He give us grace to imitate Him in these aspects

Questions

1. How should our Lord’s teaching here change us ?

2. In what ways is our calling in the world similar to that of the Lord Jesus ?

3. What gifts have you that need developing?