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02-01-2008, 12:04 PM
Meditation
Mark 4:26-34
Readings
Have you ever seen a mustard seed? If so, you know that it really is very small. Yet, when it’s planted, it has the potential to grow into a very full tree. That’s the way the kingdom of God manifests itself in our lives. Like a seed at our baptism, our faith can eventually grow large enough to provide “shade” and life to others. And, like a tree, our faith will go through growth stages until it’s fruitful.
It’s only after a seed is buried—planted into the ground—that it begins to become something that we’d consider substantial. Because we tend to look at preliminary, outer manifestations, we might not see the promising results possible from a mustard seed. In the same way, we may not realize the promising results possible from the tiny seed of faith that we received when we were baptized.
God looks deeper than we tend to look. He is concerned with inner transformation. Nothing escapes his attention. Because it was God who formed you and who carries you in the palm of his hand, it is God who can bring his work to completion in you. This may be a time of waiting, or it may be a time of deeper prayer and fellowship with Jesus. Perhaps God is calling you to read his word a bit more every day or to experiment with sharing your faith with a neighbor. Whatever the case, God is watching over you, giving you opportunities for your faith to blossom and bear marvelous fruit.
Are you ready to grow? Do you want to see more of God in your life? Look inward! Don’t just try to do all the right things (which you must), but look to the work of the Spirit in your heart as well. Is he trying to put some sin to death in you? Is he trying to help you get over a wound that someone has left you with? Give the Spirit the chance to take the seed of your faith and grow it into something magnificent.
“Father, I say yes to you today in everything you ask of me. Take hold of my life more deeply and reveal your will for my life. Build a firm foundation within me that I might also help others to know you.”
2 Samuel 11:1-10,13-17; Psalm 51:3-7,10-11
Online Christian Devotion
Mark 4:26-34
Readings
Have you ever seen a mustard seed? If so, you know that it really is very small. Yet, when it’s planted, it has the potential to grow into a very full tree. That’s the way the kingdom of God manifests itself in our lives. Like a seed at our baptism, our faith can eventually grow large enough to provide “shade” and life to others. And, like a tree, our faith will go through growth stages until it’s fruitful.
It’s only after a seed is buried—planted into the ground—that it begins to become something that we’d consider substantial. Because we tend to look at preliminary, outer manifestations, we might not see the promising results possible from a mustard seed. In the same way, we may not realize the promising results possible from the tiny seed of faith that we received when we were baptized.
God looks deeper than we tend to look. He is concerned with inner transformation. Nothing escapes his attention. Because it was God who formed you and who carries you in the palm of his hand, it is God who can bring his work to completion in you. This may be a time of waiting, or it may be a time of deeper prayer and fellowship with Jesus. Perhaps God is calling you to read his word a bit more every day or to experiment with sharing your faith with a neighbor. Whatever the case, God is watching over you, giving you opportunities for your faith to blossom and bear marvelous fruit.
Are you ready to grow? Do you want to see more of God in your life? Look inward! Don’t just try to do all the right things (which you must), but look to the work of the Spirit in your heart as well. Is he trying to put some sin to death in you? Is he trying to help you get over a wound that someone has left you with? Give the Spirit the chance to take the seed of your faith and grow it into something magnificent.
“Father, I say yes to you today in everything you ask of me. Take hold of my life more deeply and reveal your will for my life. Build a firm foundation within me that I might also help others to know you.”
2 Samuel 11:1-10,13-17; Psalm 51:3-7,10-11
Online Christian Devotion