As we read your Word, may we hear Jesus calling us - Come, o children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. Help us to understand your teachings about the kingdom of God. Amen.
( Isaiah 37:16, Daniel 6:26, Psalm 34:11)
Scripture Reading - Mark 4:21-34 (ESV)
And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand? For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”
And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”
And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”
With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it. He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.
Jesus we confess that you are the light of the world, revealing the kingdom of God to us through your teachings. If we follow you, we will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life! As we hear your voice calling us and believe on you, we come into your kingdom. We, too, become the light of the world. Forgive us for when we have not brilliantly shown forth the mystery of the kingdom - Christ in us, the hope of glory!
Jesus, forgive us for when we have not paid attention to what you say in your Word. We know the Father's command - This is my Son, the beloved, listen to him! Protect us from dull ears and poor vision as we learn to live in your kingdom.
Thank you, Heavenly Father, for the pictures in Scripture that you give us of your future kingdom in all its fullness! John records:
After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice,
“Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying,
“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” (Revelation 7:9-11)
At the end of John's revelation, the King of kings says: "Yes, I am coming soon." And we cry out: "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus."
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
No comments:
Post a Comment