Mark: Light, seeds, mustard, chain reaction

Mark 4:24-34

Jesus says this: 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.”

Then he has a message about seeds and the Word of God and the parable of the mustard tree.

The first part is the second part of his discourse on Christians being the light of the world.  God has blessed us with his saving message.  We have to share that light with the rest of the world.  We have to be good stewards of the gift God has given us because it is the only Word that can save people from damnation. How dare we not care for our neighbors by sharing with them the same Word that God let us hear?

It's like verses 26-29 are more words about seed and the sower.  This is a little different because we are the sower.  And Jesus is assuring us that we are not responsible for results.  We are only responsible to obey him and share the Word of God with the world.  This is good because often I do get scared about what people will say or think about me if I tell people the truth about their sins and about the good news of salvation.  What if they get angry and I scare them away from church for life?  I don't have to worry about that.  Jesus will make sure the seeds will grow.

Finally, I love the mustard seed parable.  I loved teaching this to the first and second grade girls at CBC Sunday school.  I learned how to make a rubber band ball for the first time and had a hard time figuring out how to do it.  But some of the more brilliant kids got it and really, we all had to work together to make it grow.  Christians need to work together to make sure that Jesus and his Gospel come to all people and that people are welcomed.  

I don't know if I could ever do what I have done if it wasn't for help from other people in the church and God guaranteeing that he is in charge of the results.  From supporting and telling the truth to pregnant but unsure women to helping young kids grow in faith, it has all been a group effort with God orchestrating everything.  God's Word is a chain reaction and we simply need to keep it going.